https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDnlu7AaYvM The Beatles' post-Rubber Soul work gets so much praise that it's easy to overlook the "Hard Day's Night" period, which is a tragedy. Sure, the Fab Four's later albums may be more intellectually stimulating, but the band's early work rocks so hard that it hollers for somebody to listen. If you do take the time to listen, you'll find yourself addicted: The Beatles did a great job taking the sound of their musical idols (like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry) and putting their own spin on it. The result was a string of rock tunes that both carry the tone of '50s rock and a distinct '60s flair. One of my favorites of this early period is the overlooked 1965 tune "The Night Before." The lyrics are nothing special; it's just another song about a guy and a girl breaking up. The production, however, is incredible. The Beach Boys' influence on the Beatles is evident in the crystal-clear harmonies that sound just below the main vocal track. Paul McCartney does a great job channeling bandmate George Harrison's vibe during the guitar break. On top of all that, the piano and bass provide a jaunty-but-scrappy beat for all the other wonders to play against. Ultimately, this little gem got overlooked for the simple reason that it was an album cut and not a single. Pretty sad, I say.
Alan Howell is a native of Southern California. He loves movies of any and all kinds, Hollywood, indie, and everywhere in between. He loves pizza, sitcoms, rock and pop music, surfing, baseball, reading, and girls (not necessarily in that order).