Beatles for Sale is The Beatles' fourth album. It was released in late 1964. Many of its songs went into an American release, Beatles '65, from Capitol Records, while the rest went into Beatles VI, a compilation album.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who wrote most of the band's songs, had filled their earlier album, A Hard Day's Night, with original songs. The band began recording their next album only a week after finishing A Hard Day's Night, and they had little time to compose new music. The band filled the album with cover versions, of songs they had performed live in Hamburg, Germany and the Cavern in Liverpool, their hometown, before the Beatles were famous. Press agent Derek Taylor explained in the album's liner notes that all the recordings on Beatles for Sale were how the band played the music onstage.
The original songs on the album were praised, for showing Lennon and McCartney had grown and improved as writers. "I'm A Loser" was compared to Bob Dylan's work. "I'll Follow The Sun" was an early song, that was given a rewrite. "What You're Doing" imitated the musical style of The Byrds, who were just becoming popular.
Several live versions of the album's songs have since appeared, that the Beatles played in Germany, and for BBC Radio.