First released: 1977, May 22

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I too have a collection of rare beatles songs recorded in hamburg . It's very raw with john and paul having a little banter together on stage. They don't sound good singers but you can tell that they had potential. You can also hear the start of their oooo sounds which later they developed. I don't listen to it often as i'm afraid that the tape will get damaged.

As a beatle-ologist, and a internationally recognised beatles collector, i have found this to be a badly recorded piece of history, but at the same a great piece of what whas to be. check out the inter-play and double harmonics of the lead and and rhythm guitars.not to mention the 'tightness' of the group

I received this album as a Christmas present shortly after it was released in 1977. At the time, I was not taken by its poor quality. After playing it through once, I played it once more recording it onto a cassette tape, and filed it away. After years of sitting in a drawer, I have once again pulled out the cassette and ran it through. I now have learned to understand what these recordings have become. This album in my collection has only been played 3 times. It's condition is still as it was the day it was opened. This is truly a record worth holding on to. The contents found on this album are a rare treat, and are a part of music history.

It's raw. Very raw. The recording method? A primitive tape recorder, belonging to Ted “Kingsize” Taylor and the Dominoes used to capture the sound of various Liverpool bands playing that New Year’s Eve at Hamburg’s Star Club. Among the bands recorded that evening were the Beatles, performing their last-ever stint in Hamburg, back from London fresh after making their first recordings for EMI. Coincidentally, Ringo Starr, then the drummer for Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, sat in for the infirm Pete Best on the day these sounds were captured. The band we all know, although yet unofficial, was complete that night. Released in 1977 by Lingasong Records as a 2LP set, one can hear the noises of a crowded bar, the old-style feedback of the guitars, the sound reverberating off the walls, and the often funny interaction between the band and their audience. These up-front, personal qualities make this record very interesting and great to listen to. One can hear the Beatles when they were (according to the oft-said opinion of many) in their prime as a live performance band; a great night club band, and on the verge of international stardom. There are no Lennon/McCartney compositions here �“ that New Year’s, the Beatles went full throttle with their best Chuck Berry and Carl Perkins covers, among others. After a brief introduction by the German MC, the set kicks off with a rocking version of I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry Over You, with John on vocals and thunderous drumming by Ringo Starr, in a manner never heard on any albums after “Beatlemania” took hold. Other great tunes include familiar ones like Roll Over Beethoven, Mr. Moonlight, Till There Was You, and Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby. Special treats include Besame Mucho, Sweet Little Sixteen, To Know Her is To Love Her, and two songs sung by the Star Club bouncer, Horst Fascher, Be Bop A Lula and Hallelujah I love Her So. Don’t buy this record if you’re expecting a technical masterpiece. Far from it! Despite the techniques that were employed in 1977 to improve the listening quality, the track quality is poor and varies greatly in tone. At times the noise is thick, which makes listening difficult. In many instances you can hear obvious editing (the order of the tracks was rearranged to create a more effective stage set). On the other hand, if you want to experience listening to a historic live performance of classic Rock and Roll oldies back when they were fresh dance tunes, then this album is certainly for you. Perhaps some day, these tracks will be subjected to computerized enhancement, noise reduction, multiple tracking, and digital remastering. But maybe wouldn’t that just ruin the whole historic effect of the performance? We’ll leave that decision to you. Happy listening!