The duo's second album, rushed after the success of "The World Without Love" 45 and the eponymous debute LP. It is Merseybeat, but of a very smooth and well-behaved kind. The backing, including Rolling Stone Brian Jones on harmonica, is on the spot and the harmonies works well, but I don't get a lot that truly moves me. Most of the tracks are plain sailing ballads, some with a slightly folky twist. Ones that might touch at first listen, but then soon forgotten. Though there are moments that make me sit a little more straight in the listening chair. Like the up-tempo "A Mess Of Blues", "Love Me Baby", "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" and of course the Lennon-McCartney giveaway "I Don't Want To See You Again", a piece of very good period pop. Never heard a UK mono original, but guess that can do the tracks more justice. Cause this stereo, though true, does not allow sincere close listening. All cuts are mixed the same way - instruments in one channel and vocals in the other. That might have been considered ok in those still early days of stereo, but to my ears it just sounds unnatural. Also issued like this in Germany (Columbia SMC 83845), Japan (Odeon OP-7205), Australia (Columbia 33-OSX-1660) and a couple of South American countries. In US the tracks were spread over a number of special domestic releases. Premiere UK had label as shown here with both "Sold In UK..." and "Recording First Published 1964" in a laminated flip/back cover.
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