The Early Tapes of the Beatles

The Early Tapes of The Beatles
Compilation album by The Beatles featuring Tony Sheridan
Released	10 December 1984
Recorded	March–September 1961, Hamburg, Germany
Genre	Rock and roll
Length	40:17
Language	English
Label	Polydor
Producer	Bert Kaempfert
The Beatles and Tony Sheridan chronology
In the Beginning (Circa 1960) (1970)In the Beginning (Circa 1960)1970 The Early Tapes of The Beatles' (1984) Beatles Bop – Hamburg Days (2001)Beatles Bop – Hamburg Days2001
Alternative cover
Cover of 2004 reissue on the Spectrum label

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The Early Tapes of The Beatles is the first digital repackaging of the 1962 German album by Tony Sheridan and The Beatles called My Bonnie. The original repackage was first issued in Germany in 1964 and titled The Beatles' First. It was recorded at Hamburg in 1961. This repackage was released in 1984. Most of the tracks feature vocals by Sheridan. Only tracks 1-5, 7, 10, and 11 actually feature the Beatles; the other songs are performed by Sheridan and other musicians, identified as "The Beat Brothers". This album was reissued with a different design in 2004 on Universal Music's Spectrum label.

Track listing

All vocals by Tony Sheridan unless otherwise indicated.

1. "Ain't She Sweet" (Milton Ager, Jack Yellen) (vocal: John Lennon) – 2:15
2. "Cry for a Shadow" (George Harrison, John Lennon) (instrumental) – 2:25
3. "When the Saints Go Marching In" (traditional) – 3:21
4. "Why" (Bill Crompton, Tony Sheridan) – 3:00
5. "If You Love Me, Baby" (Charles Singleton, Waldenese Hall) – 2:56
6. "What'd I Say" (Ray Charles)  (performed by Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers) – 2:40
7. "Sweet Georgia Brown" (Maceo Pinkard, Kenneth Casey, Ben Bernie) – 2:07
8. "Let's Dance" (Jim Lee) (performed by Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers) – 2:35
9. "Ruby Baby" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller)  (performed by Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers) – 2:53
10. "My Bonnie" (traditional) – 2:43
11. "Nobody's Child" (Mel Foree, Cy Coben) – 3:57
12. "Ready Teddy" (Robert Blackwell, John Marascalco)  (performed by Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers) – 2:02
13. "Ya Ya" (Parts 1 & 2) (Lee Dorsey, Morgan Robinson)  (performed by Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers) – 5:10
14. "Kansas City" (Leiber, Stoller) (performed by Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers) – 2:38