• On Air: Live at the BBC, Vol. 2 [LP] cover art
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The Beatles

On Air: Live at the BBC, Vol. 2 [LP]

On Air: Live at the BBC, Vol. 2 [LP]

UPC: 602537505067

Format: Vinyl (3 disc)

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Nearly two decades after the first volume, the second installment of the Beatles BBC recordings arrives and, like its predecessor, On Air: Live at the BBC, Vol. 2 condenses the Fab Four's voluminous BBC sessions into an easily digestible double-disc of highlights. The generous 63-track running length is slightly misleading as this, more than the 1994 set, is peppered with dialogue, interviews, and silly sketches -- a total of 24 of them, to be exact, including the five-minute "Pop Profile" interviews tacked onto the end of each disc (CD 1 showcases John and George on the eve of the release of Rubber Soul, CD 2 Paul and Ringo prior to the release of Revolver). Such a heavy emphasis on on-air banter winds up cementing On Air as something like a documentary: it is capturing a specific moment in the Beatles history. Specifically, this moment is 1963, with three quarters of the collection dating from that year. It was a momentous year, of course, the beginning of Beatlemania in Britain and, appropriately, there's a greater emphasis on original Beatles music than there was on the covers-laden 1994 set. This is a mild disappointment, as much of the really interesting material is hearing the Beatles tear into the rock & roll classics that were staples of their club set; not only does their kinetic interplay leap alive, but it's possible to appreciate just how good McCartney and, particularly, Lennon were as interpretive singers (John kills on the Chuck Berry songs "I'm Talking About You" and "Memphis, Tennessee"). Which isn't to say these early Beatles originals are tossed off without a care. They're also treated with exuberance and, at times, the enthusiasm is intoxicating (they punch hard on "I Saw Her Standing There," "Roll Over Beethoven" swings with purpose, "You Can't Do That" retains a glinting, hard edge, and Paul's Little Richard impression always dazzles). Crucially, the banter contains a similar sense of excitement; as this concentrates on 1963, the Beatles have yet to grow tired of their shtick, so it's fun to hear them trade barbs with the BBC hosts and with each other. When the dialogue is combined with those wonderful performances, On Air: Live at the BBC, Vol. 2 helps paint a portrait of the Beatles just reaching the peak of their powers. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Tracks:

Disc 1:
1 - And Here We Are Again [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 23rd July, 1963]
2 - Words of Love [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 20th August, 1963]
3 - How About It, Gorgeous? [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles., 30th July, 1963]
4 - Do You Want to Know a Secret? [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 30th July, 1963]
5 - Lucille [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 17th September, 1963]
6 - Hey Paul… [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 25th June, 1963]
7 - Anna (Go to Him) [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 27th August, 1963]
8 - Hello! [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 25th June, 1963]
9 - Please Please Me [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 13th August, 1963]
10 - Misery [Live At The BBC For Here We Go, 12th March, 1963]
11 - I'm Talking About You [Live At The BBC For Saturday Club, 16th March, 1963]
12 - Real Treat [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 25th June, 1963]
13 - Boys [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 25th June, 1963]
14 - Absolutely Fab [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 25th June, 1963]
15 - Chains [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 25th June, 1963]
16 - Ask Me Why [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 24th September, 1963]
17 - Til There Was You [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 30th July, 1963]
18 - Lend Me Your Comb [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 16th July, 1963]
19 - Lower 5E [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 10th September, 1963]
20 - Hippy Hippy Shake [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 10th September, 1963]
21 - Roll Over Beethoven [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 3rd September, 1963]
22 - There's a Place [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 3rd September, 1963]
23 - Bumper Bundle [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 25th June, 1963]
24 - P.S. I Love You [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 25th June, 1963]
25 - Please Mister Postman [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 30th July 1963]
26 - Beautiful Dreamer [Live At The BBC For Saturday Club, 26th January, 1963]
27 - Devil in Her Heart [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 25th September, 1963]
28 - 49 Weeks [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 24th September, 1963]
29 - Sure to Fall (In Love with You) [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 24th September, 1963]
30 - Never Mind, Eh? [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 24th September, 1963]
31 - Twist and Shout [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 6th August, 1963]
32 - Bye, Bye [Live At The BBC For Pop Go The Beatles, 24th September, 1963]
Disc 2:
1 - I Saw Her Standing There [Live At The BBC For Saturday Club, 5th October, 1963]
2 - Glad All Over [Live At The BBC For Saturday Club, 24th August, 1963]
3 - Lift Lid Again [Live At The BBC For Saturday Club, 24th August, 1963]
4 - I'll Get You [Live At The BBC For Saturday Club, 5th October, 1963]
5 - She Loves You [Live At The BBC For Saturday Club, 5th October, 1963]
6 - Memphis, Tennessee [Live At The BBC For Saturday Club, 5th October, 1963]
7 - Happy Birthday Dear Saturday Club [Live At The BBC For Saturday Club, 5th October, 1963]
8 - Now Hush, Hush [Live At The BBC For Easy Beat, 20th October, 1963]
9 - From Me to You [Live At The BBC For Easy Beat, 20th October, 1963]
10 - Money (That's What I Want) [Live At The BBC For The Beatles Say From Us To You, 26th December, 1963]
11 - I Want to Hold Your Hand [Live At The BBC For The Beatles Say From Us To You, 26th December, 1963]
12 - Brian Bathtubes [Live At The BBC For Saturday Club, 21st December, 1963]
13 - This Boy [Live At The BBC For "Saturday Club, 21st December, 1963]
14 - If I Wasn’t in America [Live At The BBC For Saturday Club, 15th February, 1964]
15 - I Got a Woman [Live At The BBC For Saturday Club, 4th April, 1964]
16 - Long Tall Sally [Live At The BBC For Top Gear, 16th July, 1964]
17 - If I Fell [Live At The BBC For Top Gear, 16th July, 1964]
18 - Hard Job Writing Them [Live At The BBC For Top Gear, 16th July, 1964]
19 - And I Love Her [Live At The BBC For Top Gear, 16th July, 1964]
20 - Oh, Can’t We? Yes We Can [Live At The BBC For From Us To You Say The Beatles, 30th March, 1964]
21 - You Can't Do That [Live At The BBC For Top Gear, 16th July, 1964]
22 - Honey Don't [Live At The BBC For Top Gear, 26th November, 1964]
23 - I'll Follow the Sun [Live At The BBC For Top Gear, 26th November, 1964]
24 - Green with Black Shutters [Live At The BBC, 1965]
25 - Kansas City / Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! [Live At The BBC For Saturday Club, 26th December 1964]
26 - That’s What We’re Here For [Live At The BBC For Top Gear, 26th November, 1964]
27 - I Feel Fine [Studio Out-take] [Live At The BBC For Top Gear, 17th November, 1964]
Disc 3:
1 - John: Pop Profile [Live At The BBC, 30th November, 1965]
2 - George: Pop Profile [Live At The BBC, 30th November, 1965]
3 - Paul: Pop Profile [Live At The BBC, 2nd May, 1966]
4 - Ringo: Pop Profile [Live At The BBC, 2nd May, 1966]