LAST NIGHT IN HAMBURG

Reading the titles of the songs of this album I can say that it is another repackaging of the recordings done with a Grundig Mono Open Reel tape machine at the Star Club, in Hamburg, Germany, in December 1962. As I wrote in my review for the first version of this album released in the L.P. format in the U.K. (1977) called "The Beatles Live! at the Star Club, Hamburg, Germany; 1962" in Progarchives, The Beatles fought then to cancel the release, but the owners of the tapes won the litigation then. But in the 90s I read in one newspaper that The Beatles again fought to cancel the releases of these recordings in the CD format, and that they won then. So, I think that this CD is one of those releases of these old recordings in the CD format, but the status of this and other releases is maybe more of bootlegs now, being unauthorized by the band. The title of this CD also suggest that the recordings were done in December 1962, as it was the last time that the band played in the Star Club, but the interesting thing is that it seems that the package includes almost all the songs recorded there, as the U.K. and the U.S versions of the 2 L.P. set released in 1977 had some diferences in the songs included. For example, the songs "Sheila", "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) "and "Where Have You Been All My Life" were only released in the 1977 U.S. album, but that U.S. album also included "Till There Was You", and this song is not included in this CD. I also can see that it doesn`t include all the songs which were included in the 1977 U.K. release, so this CD has not the complete songs (30 in total) which appear in other CD releases of these recordings. For more details, visit the www.jpgr.co.uk/ website.

As I wrote in my review for the 1977 U.K. release, the quality of these recordings is not very good, but these recordings are of real historical importance and are more directed to The Beatles`greatest collectors (which is not my case) . I have never listened to all the 30 songs recorded there as I only have the 1977 L.P. version which was released in the U.K. and Germany. So, maybe one day I could be interested in listening to all the 30 songs included in one package in the CD format.

This album is really good for collectors and fans, it shows The Beatles at their earliest stages live in concert. The sound quality of this album is really poor, which is a reason why I think it's only for fans/collectors. Most of the songs here aren't their own and are also not prog or even proto prog, just straight forward 60's rock; so there are really no highlites here. And yes, this is bootleg quality sound.

2 Stars. If your a diehard Beatles fan or want everything from The Beatles this is definitely for you.

Not a good sound quality album and, in my opinion, famous omly because contain recordings from the last Hamburg concert by The Beatles. Not Prog or Proto Prog, only a Rock'n'Roll album recorded in mono (of course) and also in R'n'R field not perfect, also if this album contain good R'n'R songs. It is strange that this album not have a regular edition because this album is one of the more collected The Beatles title!

But the reason of a review is all in these words and you will forgive me if I wanted to write these words!

2 stars are good!