60 Years of Music • January, 1964 • How Many Album Versions?

Meet The Beatles

Meet The Beatles was released on January 20, 1964. It was actually their second album released in the United States and their first album on Capitol Records. From there, it gets a bit more complicated as Capitol Records (originally an American company) was sold to British owned EMI in 1955. Capitol as a subsidiary to the very powerful EMI, would often not follow the parent company as American copyright laws and procedures would allow Capitol's leadership to often deviate from EMI's rule. 

For example, why does With The Beatles (the original second release in England) have 14 songs and the American Meet The Beatles only have 12? Why does the American Meet The Beatles have their smash single hits, I Want to Hold Your Hand, and I Saw Her Standing There while England's With The Beatles does not? 

If you were ever confused why Meet The Beatles says right on the front cover, "The First Album by England's Phenomenal Pop Combo" you are in a very large worldwide group of fans who often received different album covers, titles and song selections from the early releases of Beatle albums, compared to the original Beatle releases from England. Maybe, all these different versions of songs on essentially the same albums are the genesis of "The Mix Tape."  

I recently found a great YouTube video from "Adam from Parlogram" who does a 15:40 deep dive that explains all these little mysteries, and highly recommend you circle back here to this video if you're doing a quick skim and scan of this post now. 

The Rolling Stones (EP)

The Rolling Stones (EP) was released January 10, 1964. Decca Records was not quite ready to fully commit a full album by The Rolling Stones and this four song EP was a testing of the waters to see if the band was going to be worth the risk.

The EP follows their first hit, I Wanna Be Your Man a song written by Lennon and McCartney and given to The Rolling Stones by the eager song writing duo. I Wanna Be Your Man is also a track sung by Ringo on both With The Beatles and Meet The Beatles. Both Beatle and Stones live versions are included here in the playlist, and exhibit A to all the stupid naysayers doing The Beatles vs The Rolling Stones nonsense. 

Muddy Waters folk singer

Muddy Waters folk singer was released January 30, 1964. Chess Records wanted to bring in new fans to Muddy following the early 60's Folk Music movement, and convinced him to do an all acoustic guitar album with his protege Buddy Guy, and Willie Dixon on string bass and producing the album. This album would not generate any hits but later would be critically acclaimed and voted in 2003 as the 280th of Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

This album is indicative of Muddy's influence on the impending British Invasion of artists who revered Waters and would shortly pass him in fame and fortune. The Rolling Stones name actually comes from the 1950 Muddy Waters song, Rollin' Stone. The man is simply the OG of rock 'n' roll.

Stay With The Hollies

Stay with The Hollies was released January, 1964 in England, and in the United States with the title, Here I Go Again. This debut album was released under The Beatles label, Parlophone as EMI was quick to jump on new groups that could replicate The Beatles harmony magic. 

The Hollies are also named after rock 'n' roll treasure Buddy Holly as the influence of American artists propel post World War II babies like Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, and Tony Hicks. (I mention Tony Hicks here because I really liked his guitar playing in The Hollies, and he rarely gets a shout-out). 

1964 is really the year that rock 'n' roll changes the world and I hope you can make the time to listen to some of these songs from these four albums. It's a fascinating time to see the upstarts take over from their heroes- Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Buddy Holly who collectively made 1964 happen in the first place.

Enjoy the playlist my friends.