Not only the greatest of all Beatles albums, but the greatest album ever released in the history of mankind! Perfection in 14 tracks, and a masterpiece of sophistication.

Possibly the clearest dividing line between the 'early' and 'later' Beatles. Popular music would never be the same after this.

Technically their 'last' album. And yet still one of their best.

Best of the 'early' albums. Nearly every track is fantastic.

Typically for them, this second release was already far more advanced than the previous one (a pattern they would continue for most of their career). One of my earliest (and fondest) childhood memories is of my father coming home with the "Meet the Beatles" album (essentially the bastardized American version of this one) when I was 4 years old -- it was love at first listen for me.

Their opening salvo, like a flare into the darkness of the then-current landscape of pop music crud. Although consisting largely of covers, they made many of them their own; and the music world would never be the same again (thankfully).