Sessions – The Beatles

This compilation of 13 studio outtakes, spanning 1962-69, was actually slated for release by EMI in the mid-'80s, but pulled at the eleventh hour, and has been frequently bootlegged ever since. That's really a shame; the Beatles didn't record a great deal of unreleased songs, but this collection boils down their vault material to the very most essential items (though one could argue for the addition of two or three of the brilliant alternate takes that surfaced on later bootlegs like Ultra Rare Trax). Highlights include "Besame Mucho," afrom their mid-'62 audition for EMI; "How Do You Do It?," which George Martin wanted them to release as their first single (and which was later a big hit for Gerry & the Pacemakers); the scorching 1964 R&B cover "Leave My Kitten Alone," with a great Lennon vocal; the tuneful ballad "That Means A Lot," given to P.J. Proby (the Beatles' version is vastly better); "Come And Get It," given by Paul to Badfinger (who recorded a version almost identical to this demo); and Harrison's hard-rock White Album outtake "Not Guilty," which was easily worthy of inclusion on that record. There are also outstanding, significantly different alternate takes of "I'm Looking Through You," "One After 909" (a 1963 version, re-recorded six years later), and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," an acoustic version that may rank as the Beatles' finest unreleased outtake. Sessions necessary for the serious Beatle fan. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide