On Air: Live at the BBC, Volume 2: Introduction
The “On Air: Live at the BBC Volume 2” album is similar in format to the first “Live at the BBC” album from 1994. In 2013, they re-released “Live at the BBC” (after remastering it) with this new album.
In effect, that first release became Volume 1. So we now have Live at the BBC Volumes One & Two. Likewise, they are both double CDs. However, there are LP versions available that have 3 discs due to space restrictions on the vinyl.
Both albums contain material from BBC archives, while The Beatles were in the studios at Broadcasting House in London or other BBC buildings. The Fab Four were regulars on programmes such as “Saturday Club” and “Pop Go The Beatles” in the early 1960s.
You can also hear all the snippets from “On Air: Live at the BBC, Volume 2” by clicking the play button in the audio player below. Then, why not leave a comment or two?
In Detail
- Release Date: November 11, 2013
- Recorded: January 1963 to May 1966
- Album Duration: 130:34
- Record Label: Apple, Capitol, UMe
- Genre: Merseybeat, rhythm and blues, rock and roll
- Producer: Jeff Jones, Mike Heatley, Kevin Howlett
Performers And Instruments
- John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar, and also the harmonica
- Paul McCartney: vocals, guitar, also the bass guitar,
- George Harrison: vocals, also the lead guitar
- Ringo Starr: vocals, drums, and also the percussion
** This album also has various DJ speeches, including Brian Matthew.
On Air: Live at the BBC, Volume 2 Tracks
Disc One:
01) And Here We Are Again (Speech)
02) Words Of Love
03) How About It, Gorgeous? (Speech)
04) Do You Want To Know A Secret
05) Lucille
06) Hey, Paul… (Speech)
07) Anna (Go To Him)
08) Hello! (Speech)
09) Please Please Me
10) Misery
11) I’m Talking About You
12) A Real Treat (Speech)
13) Boys
14) Absolutely Fab (Speech)
15) Chains
16) Ask Me Why
17) Till There Was You
18) Lend Me Your Comb
19) Lower 5E (Speech)
20) The Hippy Hippy Shake
21) Roll Over Beethoven
22) There’s A Place
23) Bumper Bundle (Speech)
24) PS I Love You
25) Please Mister Postman
26) Beautiful Dreamer
27) Devil In Her Heart
28) The 49 Weeks (Speech)
29) Sure To Fall (In Love With You)
30) Never Mind, Eh? (Speech)
31) Twist And Shout
32) Bye, Bye (speech)
33) John: Pop Profile (Speech)
34) George: Pop Profile (Speech)
Disc Two
01) I Saw Her Standing There
02) Glad All Over
03) Lift Lid Again (Speech)
04) I’ll Get You
05) She Loves You
06) Memphis, Tennessee
07) Happy Birthday, Dear Saturday Club
08) Now Hush, Hush (Speech)
09) From Me To You
10) Money (That’s What I Want)
11) I Want To Hold Your Hand
12) Brian Bathtubes (Speech)
13) This Boy
14) If I Wasn’t In America (Speech)
15) I Got A Woman
16) Long Tall Sally
17) If I Fell
18) A Hard Job Writing Them (Speech)
19) And I Love Her
20) Oh, Can’t We? Yes We Can (Speech)
21) You Can’t Do That
22) Honey Don’t
23) I’ll Follow The Sun
24) Green With Black Shutters (Speech)
25) Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!
26) That’s What We’re Here For (Speech)
27) I Feel Fine (studio outtake)
28) Paul: Pop Profile (Speech)
29) Ringo: Pop Profile (Speech)
On Air: Live at the BBC Volume 2: Album Cover & Content
The cover for “On Air: Live at the BBC Volume 2” obviously shows The Beatles walking casually down the street.
Since these Beatles’ recordings date from the early 1960s, they include songs from their first 4 LPs. These are obviously “Please Please Me,” “With the Beatles,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” and “Beatles for Sale.”
Of course, many of the tracks are covers of some rock and roll classics which the Fab Four admired. For example, there are cover versions of Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly.
There are some gems on this album because many tracks are unique. In other words, they did not come out on any other album, as they didn’t record them in Abbey Road Studios.
Just to clarify those two previously unreleased songs, “I’m Talking About You” and “Beautiful Dreamer”.
Speech Tracks
Since this album is a collection of recordings at the BBC, there are many speech snippets. Of course, with The Beatles being a witty bunch, we get some of their humour coming through as they chat with the shows’ presenters, Brian Matthew and Rodney Burke.
Being on the radio was an ideal opportunity to publicise themselves. But they also had a fantastic interaction with the fans this way too. For instance, how lucky would you be to have The Beatles read out your requests on the radio?
Chart Success of The Beatles On Air: Live at the BBC, Volume 2
Beatlemaniacs would not want to miss out on this album, especially if they have Volume One. So, a steady sale had to happen, and it did!
Although it has not sold as well as previous albums, “On Air: Live at the BBC, Volume 2” got reasonably high in the charts in some countries. For example, it reached the top ten in the USA, Canada and Germany. While in the UK, it reached number 12. However, in Australia and New Zealand, which have some of the most ardent Beatles fans, the album only reached numbers 28 and 31, respectively.
Be that as it may, these sales are pretty good, considering the recordings are not from a professional music recording studio. However, they are clean as a whistle and of decent quality considering the circumstances. But we must say that it offers only slightly more than its predecessor.
While there’s no earthly reason why a completist Beatles fan wouldn’t want this disc, new collectors on a budget may want to skip this album. It obviously comes down to how much Beatles material you wish to collect.
Take A Listen
Click play, and then, after you hear the sounds, leave us your thoughts about this album.
