First released: 1970, May 4

Sheet music, guitar tabs, song books at Sheetmusicplus.com

1. Ain't She Sweet (2:10)
   Recorded: June 23, 1961 at Friedrich-Eberts-Halle, Hamburg, Germany
   John Lennon - lead vocal, rhythm guitar
   Paul McCartney - bass guitar
   George Harrison - lead guitar
   Pete Best - drums
   Karl Hinze - engineer
2. Cry for a Shadow (2:22)
   Recorded: June 22, 1961 at Friedrich-Eberts-Halle, Hamburg, Germany
   John Lennon - rhythm guitar
   Paul McCartney - bass guitar
   George Harrison - lead guitar
   Pete Best - drums
   Karl Hinze - engineer
3. Let's Dance (2:32)
   Performed by Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers (Beatles)
4. My Bonnie (2:40)
   Recorded: June 22, 1961 at Friedrich-Eberts-Halle, Hamburg, Germany
   Tony Sheridan - lead vocal
   John Lennon - rhythm guitar, background vocal
   Paul McCartney - bass guitar, background vocal
   George Harrison - lead guitar, background vocal
   Pete Best - drums
   Peter Klemt - engineer
5. Take out Some Insurance on Me Baby (If You Love Me Baby) (2:52)
   Recorded: June 24, 1961 at Studio Rahlstedt, Hamburg, Germany
   Tony Sheridan - lead vocal
   John Lennon - rhythm guitar
   Paul McCartney - bass guitar
   George Harrison - lead guitar
   Pete Best - drums
   Karl Hinze - engineer
6. What'd I Say (2:37)
   Performed by Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers
7. Sweet Georgia Brown (2:03)
   Recorded: June 24, 1961 at Friedrich-Eberts-Halle, Hamburg, Germany;
   December 21, 1961 at Musikhalle, Hamburg, Germany with lead vocals re-recorded in 1963
   Tony Sheridan - lead vocal
   John Lennon - rhythm guitar
   Paul McCartney - bass guitar
   George Harrison - lead guitar
   Pete Best - drums
   Karl Hinze - engineer
8. The Saints (When the Saints Go Marching in) (3:19)
   Recorded: June 22, 1961 at Friedrich-Eberts-Halle, Hamburg, Germany
   Tony Sheridan - lead vocal
   John Lennon - rhythm guitar
   Paul McCartney - bass guitar
   George Harrison - lead guitar
   Pete Best - drums
   Karl Hinze - engineer
9. Ruby Baby (2:48)
   Performed by Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers
10. Why (2:55)
    Recorded: June 22-23, 1961 at Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Hamburg, Germany
    Tony Sheridan - lead vocal
    John Lennon - rhythm guitar
    Paul McCartney - bass guitar
    George Harrison - lead guitar
    Pete Best - drums
    Karl Hinze - engineer
11. Nobody's Child (3:52)
    Recorded: June 23, 1961 at Friedrich-Eberts-Halle, Hamburg, Germany
    Tony Sheridan - lead vocal
    John Lennon - rhythm guitar
    Paul McCartney - bass guitar
    George Harrison - lead guitar
    Pete Best - drums
    Peter Klemt - engineer
12. Ya Ya (2:48)
    Performed by Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers

Before beginning their recording career, the Beatles recorded a few tracks in Hamburg in 1961 as the backing group for British singer Tony Sheridan. Reissued in countless different packages around the globe after the Beatles became famous, this should in no way be considered their first album; not only were their skills rudimentary, but Sheridan takes all but one of the lead vocals on this set of fairly tame covers of popular and early rock standards. Several tracks are of interest: "Ain't She Sweet," with a lead vocal by John Lennon, was a small American hit single in 1964; the driving instrumental "Cry for a Shadow" was written by Lennon and George Harrison; and "My Bonnie," with Paul McCartney's shouts clearly audible in the background, was responsible for bringing the group to the attention of Brian Epstein. — Richie Unterberger

Review