Beatles For Sale LP

A Hard Day's Night, composed of all Lennon and McCartney originals, had been out for only two months when the Beatles began recording this album. Although some of its songs were more sophisticated - "I'm A Loser," "No Reply" - Lennon and McCartney were just not able to write a whole album's worth. They did come up with eight originals, however, and padded otu the album with Beatles versions of six of their stage favorites.

CHART ACTION
UNITED KINGDOM: Released December 4, 1964, and five days later it was No. 1, replacing A Hard Day's Night. It was No. 1 for nine weeks. The Long and Winding Road: An Intimate Guide to the Beatles

UNITED STATES: The U.S. equivalent, Beatles '65, was released December 15, 1964. It contained eight songs from the U.K. album, one from A Hard Day's Night, and both sides of a single. It sold more than a million copies in its first week of release. The Long and Winding Road: An Intimate Guide to the Beatles

RECORDED
August 11 to October 26, 1964, at Abbey Road

ALBUM PACKAGE
MARTIN: "They were rather war-weary during Beatles For Sale. One must remember that they'd been battered like mad throughout 1964, and much of 1963. Success is a wonderful thing but it is very, very tiring. They were always on the go. Beatles For Sale doesn't appeal to me very much now, it's not one of their most memorable ones. They perked up again after that." The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962-1970

"We're really pleased with the single and with the new LP. There was a lousy period when we didn't seem to have any material for the LP and didn't have a single. Now, we're clear of things and now that they're due out, it's a bit of a relief." The Beatles Off the Record: Outrageous Opinions & Unrehearsed Interviews