In the Beginning (Circa 1960)

Untitled

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

In the Beginning (Circa 1960) is the first consolidated American packaging of the 1962 German album by Tony Sheridan and The Beatles (credited as The Beat Brothers), called My Bonnie. In the Beginning (Circa 1960) was released by Polydor Records in 1970 (catalogue number 24-4504.) It was recorded in Hamburg in 1961. This album was originally released as The Beatles' First in Germany in 1964 and in the United Kingdom in 1967. Previous American releases of this material in LP form was split in 1964 between MGM Records and Atco Records. Polydor (which eventually absorbed MGM) established its United States branch in 1969 which explains why this package was released much later in The Beatles' history. Most of the tracks feature vocals by Sheridan. The album was released only four days before Let It Be, The Beatles' final studio album. This is therefore the last Beatles compilation album released whilst the band were still releasing studio albums. All subsequent releases of Sheridan/Beatles/Beat Brothers material are simply repackages of the same tracks. This album is available in a slightly altered CD by Polydor without the inaccurate (Circa 1960) subtitle and with both parts of "Ya Ya". Only part one of that track was released on this LP. In the Beginning (Circa 1960) was also the only Beatles album not owned by EMI though Universal's purchase of Polydor and the Beatles' main catalogue put them under the same ownership.

For a time, this was one of the only Beatles albums available on the iTunes Store until the full catalogue of the Beatles was made available in 2011.

Track listing

All vocals by Tony Sheridan unless otherwise indicated.

Side one

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

Side two

7. "Sweet Georgia Brown" (Bernie, Casey, Pinkard) – 2:03
8. "When the Saints Go Marching In" (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" (traditional) – 3:52
12. "Ya Ya" (Dorsey/Robinson) (by Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers) – 2:48

Compact Disc track listing

1. "Ain't She Sweet" – 2:14
2. "Cry for a Shadow" – 2:25
3. "Let's Dance" – 2:36
4. "My Bonnie" – 2:44
5. "If You Love Me Baby" – 2:55
6. "What'd I Say" – 2:43
7. "Sweet Georgia Brown" (First version) – 2:32
8. "When the Saints Go Marching In" – 3:22
9. "Ruby Baby" – 2:56
10. "Why" – 3:01
11. "Nobody's Child" – 3:57
12. "Ya Ya, Pts. 1 & 2" – 5:10

Charts

Chart (1970)	Peak position
US Billboard 200	117