Valentine Box by The Beatles: A Weird Little Japanese Gem That Punches Hard
Alright, let’s get real here—Valentine Box isn’t your typical Beatles album. Released in 1990 (yeah, way after they’d split), this thing is basically a quirky Japan-only compilation from Teichiku Records Co., Ltd. It's got some of their early bangers and deep cuts mashed together like leftovers on a cold plate. Genres? Pop, Rock, sure—but dig deeper, and you’ll find Rock & Roll grit, Pop Rock charm, Beat vibes, even a splash of Psychedelic Rock weirdness. It’s wild.
Now, I gotta say, the tracklist reads like a mixtape made by someone who really loved Please Please Me but also wanted to throw in random obscurities for kicks. Tracks like “Twist And Shout” and “Mr. Moonlight” stick out immediately—not because they’re perfect, but because they slap hard in ways you don’t expect.
Take “Twist And Shout,” for instance. You know it, you love it—but hearing it here feels different. Like, stripped-down raw energy mixed with that unmistakable John Lennon howl. This version reminds me why The Beatles weren’t just another boy band—they were straight-up rock rebels before suits and fame polished them up too much. Every time I hear those opening shouts, I’m ready to throw my fists in the air and lose it. No joke.
Then there’s “Mr. Moonlight.” Oh man, this one’s weird as hell but unforgettable. It’s got this creepy organ riff running through it like Dracula decided to crash a beach party. When John sings about worshipping the moonlight or whatever, he sounds half-possessed, half-stoned. Honestly, it shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. It’s the kind of song that makes you go, “Wait…did The Beatles actually record this?” And yeah, they did. Wild.
The rest of the tracks are hit-or-miss. Some, like “Til There Was You,” feel kinda cheesy, while others, like “Besame Mucho,” show off their ability to take old standards and make ‘em sound fresh. But honestly, if you’re diving into this album expecting cohesion, you’re gonna be disappointed. This is more like a chaotic love letter to The Beatles’ early days—a mess, but a fun one.
Here’s the kicker though: Why did this even come out in 1990? Like, what was Japan thinking? Was this supposed to cash in on nostalgia or something? Either way, it’s bizarre—and kinda brilliant because of it. Listening to Valentine Box feels like finding an old bootleg tape at a garage sale. Sure, it’s rough around the edges, but damn if it doesn’t have character.
So yeah, give this oddball compilation a spin if you want to hear The Beatles unfiltered, unpredictable, and unapologetically raw. Just don’t blame me if “Mr. Moonlight” haunts your dreams tonight.
