The Beatles' December 1962 performances at {~the Star Club} in Hamburg, Germany, have been reissued countless times over the years (in the U.S. as well as Europe). Offering 28 of those performances, Last Night in Hamburg is a German release from 1999. There are various reasons why casual listeners should avoid this CD. First, the sound quality is inferior; these recordings were made on a portable reel-to-reel recorder. Second, the Beatles still had some growing and developing to do in December 1962 -- not only as musicians, but also as vocalists and songwriters. Nonetheless, Last Night in Hamburg is fascinating if you're a hardcore Beatles collector. These performances take listeners back to a time when the Beatles were about to become huge; they were still playing small clubs, but it wouldn't be long before the Fab Four started selling out huge sports arenas. This CD is devoted almost exclusively to covers; "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Ask Me Why" are among the few Lennon-McCartney originals. Early rock & roll songs are a major focus, and the Beatles put their stamp on some Chuck Berry classics ("Roll Over Beethoven," "Little Queenie," "Sweet Little Sixteen") as well as Ray Charles' "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" and Carl Perkins' "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby." But the Beatles also embrace a variety of pre-rock gems, which range from the Johnny Mercer standard "I Remember You" to the English-language version of Conseulo Velázquez's "Besame Mucho." And the group is instantly recognizable whether it is exploring rockabilly or Broadway standards; although the Beatles sound like diamonds in the rough on these performances, they had clearly developed a very distinctive sound. Despite the CD's flaws and shortcomings, historians will find Last Night in Hamburg to be an interesting document of the Fab Four's club days. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide