The Beatles' First

Release history

The Beatles' First was released in 1964 by German Polydor and was available in the UK as an import. On 4 August 1967, Polydor officially released the album in the UK, but with a different sleeve and catalogue number 236-201.

In the US, the album was released under the title In the Beginning (Circa 1960) in 1970 (Polydor 24-4504.)

In New Zealand, the album was released three times: firstly in 1966 (cat. no. 237632, as above), secondly in the early 70's titled The Beatles in Hamburg (cat. no. NZ SP 125), the track "Take Out Some Insurance on Me, Baby" was retitled "If You Love Me, Baby", and in 1977 as a double LP (cat. no. 118)

All subsequent releases of the Tony Sheridan/Beatles/Beat Brothers recordings are repackages of the same tracks.

This title is available in an expanded double CD set subtitled Deluxe Edition, with bonus tracks which was issued by Universal Music on 12 June 2004. The main tracks are in stereo on the first CD and in mono on the second CD. This release also contained a new sleeve. The similar album The Early Tapes of The Beatles (1984) was re-released on CD at a similar time to this deluxe edition release.

Original LP

All vocals by Tony Sheridan unless otherwise indicated.

1. "Ain't She Sweet" (Ager/Yellen) (vocal: John Lennon) – 2:10
2. "Cry for a Shadow" (George Harrison/John Lennon) (instrumental) – 2:22
3. "Let's Dance" (Lee) (by Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers) – 2:32
4. "My Bonnie" (traditional) – 2:06
5. "Take Out Some Insurance On Me, Baby" (Hall/Singleton) – 2:52
6. "What'd I Say" (Ray Charles) (by Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers) – 2:37

7. "Sweet Georgia Brown" (Bernie, Casey, Pinkard) – 2:03
8. "The Saints" (traditional) – 3:19
9. "Ruby Baby" (Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller) (by Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers) – 2:48
10. "Why" (Compton/Sheridan) – 2:55
11. "Nobody's Child" (Cy Coben, Mel Foree) – 3:52
12. "Ya Ya" (Dorsey/Robinson) (by Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers) – 2:48

Deluxe Edition

1. "Ain't She Sweet"
2. "Cry for a Shadow"
3. "Let's Dance"
4. "My Bonnie"
5. "Take Some Insurance On Me, Baby"
6. "What'd I Say"
7. "Sweet Georgia Brown"
8. "The Saints"
9. "Ruby Baby"
10. "Why"
11. "Nobody's Child"
12. "Ya Ya"
13. "My Bonnie" (English intro)
14. "My Bonnie" (German intro)

1. "Ain't She Sweet"
2. "Cry for a Shadow"
3. "Let's Dance"
4. "My Bonnie"
5. "Take Some Insurance On Me, Baby"
6. "What'd I Say"
7. "Sweet Georgia Brown"
8. "The Saints"
9. "Ruby Baby"
10. "Why"
11. "Nobody's Child"
12. "Ya Ya"
13. "My Bonnie" (English intro)
14. "My Bonnie" (German intro)
15. "Let's Twist Again" (performed by Tony Sheridan)
16. "Top Ten Twist" (performed by Tony Sheridan)