I've been working on this list for a while now. The Beatles catalog is pretty large, so I've decided to expand it to 25 songs, instead of the usual 15-20 choices for other bands. It's interesting how big of an impact The Beatles have had on our subconscious. Even if you've never intentionally listened to any of their albums, you still would know a lot of their songs.
So I present to you my picks for the 25 Best Songs of The Beatles. Please note that their catalog is quite intricate, with different US / UK / worldwide releases, so track & album info is by no means complete. Click on the album titles to purchase - or scroll down to bottom for a Spotify playlist.
25. Tomorrow Never Knows
From the album Revolver
(1966)Lead Vocals: John Lennon
24. Here, There and Everywhere
From the album Revolver
(1966)Lead Vocals: Paul McCartney
23. Rain
Released as b-side to Paperback Writer single (1966)
Lead Vocals: John Lennon
22. Rocky Raccoon
From the album The Beatles (The White Album)
(1968)Lead Vocals: Paul McCartney
21. The Long and Winding Road
Released as single; appeared on the album Let it Be
(1970)
(1970)
Lead Vocals: Paul McCartney
20. I'm Only Sleeping
From the album Revolver (1966)
(1966)
Lead Vocals: John Lennon
19. A Day in the Life
Released as b-side to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band single (1978); appeared on the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
(1967)
(1967)
Lead Vocals: John Lennon & Paul McCartney
18. And Your Bird Can Sing
From the album Revolver (1966)
(1966)
Lead Vocals: John Lennon
17. Something
Released as single; appeared on the album Abbey Road
(1969)
(1969)
Lead Vocals: George Harrison
16. Eleanor Rigby
Released as single; appeared on the album Revolver (1966)
(1966)
Lead Vocals: Paul McCartney
15. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
From the album Help!15. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
(1965)Lead Vocals: John Lennon
14. We Can Work it Out
Released as non-album single
(1965)
(1965)
Lead Vocals: Paul McCartney
13. With a Little Help from My FriendsReleased as single (1978); appeared on the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
(1967)Lead Vocals: Ringo Starr
12. Day Tripper
Released as non-album single (1965)
(1965)
Lead Vocals: John Lennon & Paul McCartney
11. Eight Days a Week
11. Eight Days a Week
Released as single (1965); appeared on the album Beatles for Sale
(1964)
(1964)
Lead Vocals: John Lennon
10. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
From the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
(1967)
Lead Vocals: John Lennon
09. Penny Lane
09. Penny Lane
Released as single; appeared on the album Magical Mystery Tour
(1967)
(1967)
Lead Vocals: Paul McCartney
08. For No One
08. For No One
From the album Revolver (1966)
(1966)
Lead Vocals: Paul McCartney
From the album Abbey Road
(1969)Lead Vocals: George Harrison
06. Dear Prudence
From the album The Beatles (The White Album)
(1968)Lead Vocals: John Lennon
05. Across the Universe
From the album Let it Be
(1970)Lead Vocals: John Lennon
04. I'll Follow the Sun
Released as single; appeared on the album Beatles for Sale (1964)
(1964)
Lead Vocals: Paul McCartney
03. In My Life
From the album Rubber Soul
(1965)Lead Vocals: John Lennon
02. Yesterday
Released as single; appeared on the album Help!
(1965)Lead Vocals: Paul McCartney
01. Strawberry Fields Forever
Released as single; appeared on the album Magical Mystery Tour
(1967)Lead Vocals: John Lennon
Bret, only because you insisted, I've relucantly taken on the same task. ("Reluctantly" because it forces me to relegate songs I love to a "not good enough" list.) Admittedly, this mission impossible was made a bit easier by considering the Abbey Road medley as 1 song (hey, if Rolling Stone can do it, so can I). I took the approach of imagining I was stranded somewhere. What songs would I want most if I had to choose 25, and in what order? Of course, if I tackled the same project tomorrow, the results could be different. So here goes nothing:
ReplyDelete1. You Never Give Me Your Money, Sun King, Mean Mr. Mustard, Polythene Pam, She Came in Through the Bathroom Window, Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, The End (Abbey Road)
2. If I Fell (A Hard Day’s Night)
3. Here Comes the Sun (Abbey Road)
4. Nowhere Man (Rubber Soul)
5. In My Life (Rubber Soul)
6. Blackbird (White Album)
7. Something (Abbey Road)
8. Come Together (Abbey Road)
9. Ticket To Ride (Help!)
10. Get Back (Let It Be)
11. Here, There and Everywhere (Revolver)
12. Paperback Writer (single)
13. I’ll Follow the Sun (Beatles For Sale)
14. Eleanor Rigby (Revolver)
15. Being for the Benefit Mr. Kite (Sgt. Pepper
16. All My Loving (With the Beatles)
17. A Day in the Life (Sgt. Pepper)
18. I Saw Here Standing There (Please Please Me)
19. And I Love Her (A Hard Day’s Night)
20. Day Tripper (single)
21. A Hard Day’s Night (A Hard Day’s Night)
22. Penny Lane (Magical Mystery Tour)
23. Dr. Robert (Revolver)
24. Eight Days a Week (Beatles for Sale)
25. The Ballad of John and Yoko (single)
Thanks!
Joe
Joe! Thanks for the list. It's pretty fascinating seeing the differences between our lists. I agree with you, this was very difficult and would be a different list if I were to do again in a month. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteIn response to Beatles Top 25. Here are mine, sir. 1. Strawberry Fields Forever 2. In My Life. 3. Hide Your Love Away 4. Norwegian Wood 5. A Day In The Life 6. I, Me, Mine 7. Something 8. I Saw Her Standing There 9. I Am the Walrus 10. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds 11. Dear Prudence 12. Across the Universe 13. Daytripper 14. While my ...Guitar Gently Weeps 15. Can't Buy Me Love & Love Me Do are a tie. 16. Rocky Raccoon 17. Revolution no.9 18. Here Comes the Sun 19. I'm Looking Through You 20. Two of Us 21. I'll Follow the Sun 22. We Can Work it Out 23. Come Together 24. Yesterday 25. Ticket to Ride (this is probably 7th, lol, I can't believe I forgot it till just now!!). The Beatles are my all time favorite band. The undisputed kings and progenitors of rock n roll.
ReplyDeleteHere you go, Bret. Random order: 1 Revolution. 2 Taxman 3. Strawberry Fields Forever. Love You Too. 4. I Saw Her Standing There. 5. A Hard Day's Night. 6. The Night Before. 7. I've Just Seen a Face. 8. I Want to Tell You. 9. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. 10. Back in the USSR, 11. Long, Long, Long. 12 Hey Jude. 13. I Should Have Known Better. 14. Here Comes the Sun. 15. I've Got a Feeling. 16. The End. 17. Come Together. 18. And Your Bird Can Sing. 18. If I Needed Someone. 19. If I Fell. 20. Help! 21. Don't Pass Me By. 22. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away. 23. Run for Your Life. 24. Let It Be. 25. Savoy Truffle.
ReplyDeleteWe have a number of similarities!
Bruce