Like its companion set '1967-1970', this double album attempts to provide a potted history of The Beatles' greatest moments. And, as is the case with the later volume, this collection could easily have been twice as long and no less flabby.
Kicking off with the wailing harmonica of 'Love Me Do', it's incredible to reflect on how primitive The Beatles' earliest efforts sound today. Yet that early run of singles - 'Please Please Me', 'From Me To You', 'She Loves You' and 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' - have a vitality that age has not stolen.
Things step up a gear with the raucous 'Can't Buy Me Love', the complex solo of 'A Hard Day's Night' and the feedback opening of 'I Feel Fine'. By this point, Lennon and McCartney were really into their stride as songwriters par excellence.
Over half of the album is given over to the 1965/66 period, and rightly so as this is the point where The Beatles stretch their wings and leave the competition for dead. The brilliance of the singles 'Ticket To Ride' and 'Help!' straddle fine individual performances from McCartney ('Yesterday') and Lennon ('You've Got To Hide Your Love Away').
Poor old George doesn't get a look in, which is a shame given that some of his songs from this era ('If I Needed Someone', 'Taxman') are easily the equal of 'Drive My Car' or 'Michelle' but miss out by virtue of the latter two songs being far more widely known.
Similarly, 'Tomorrow Never Knows' is sadly absent, particularly given that it foreshadows the band's excursions into psychedelia and tape-loop experimentation. Still, with only a certain number of tracks available the popular choices are always going to win the day, and they're no less worthwhile in their own way.
A fine introduction to the band's early days, and if this is the beginning of your journey into Beatle history, enjoy, there's so much more to discover.
by Simon P Ward