Ranking The Beatles

Is this it? The great Beatles missed opportunity? How can something THIS GOOD have been NOT GOOD ENOUGH to add to Beatles For Sale? Pulled out of the bag when they lads were looking for oldies but goodies to fill out their fourth album, it features arguably one of John's greatest rock vocal performances, and the band is $hIt hot. The common take is how this got shelved whereas "Mr. Moonlight" didn...

When the suits in America came asking the Beatles for some market exclusive songs, they reached back into the bag o' tricks, in particular their (John's) affection for Larry Williams, and knocked out a particularly racuous cover of "Bad Boy." It's one of those covers that smokes the original, and it's lead by John, doing his full-throated, rip-out-yer-larynx vocal. This is one of those tracks that...

While immersed in meditation with the Maharishi in India, John was not only substance-free for the first time in years, he was also coming to terms with the fact that he was falling in love with Yoko Ono. With an unclouded brain and an open consciousness, he found himself battling intense insomnia in Rishikesh, which he turned into "I'm So Tired," a song which lives firmly in the dar...

We're back on the creepy side of the White Album this episode, exploring John's definitely not drug-influenced "Happiness Is A Warm Gun." This song moves through 3 different movements so quickly and adeptly you'd think it was a Paul tune. It's got an ominous vibe to it, though features some absolutely brilliant playing from the lads, and some insane time shifts. It's...

Ok, ok, ok, I know y'all might disagree with me. But for my money, "Boys" is one of the most fun, and energetic moments on Please Please Me. It's all energy and youthful rock and roll leaning right into it's Shirelles-roots, straight out of the garage. It's Ringo's most ROCKING vocal (why did he never sing with this much bravado ever again?) and while it's not roc...

There's just something magical when the most powerful band in the world reaches back into their bag for a song that's such a part of their DNA, they only need one take at knocking out an absolutely barn burning cover of it, and that's exactly what The Beatles did with Chuck Berry's "Rock and Roll Music." Propelled by Ringo's swinging backbeat (he can't blues it ((...

"The rhythm's in the guitars" is how the Beatles used to excuse the fact that they had no drummer in the early days. And this rather obscure song features some really great syncopated, sophisticated rhythm guitars. It's moody groove which finds John in his blue-eyed soul mode, and more importantly, how can a song with no real chorus be SO DARN GOOD? This one's a real sleeper...

3 facts you should know about me: I love the Beatles I love Paul's jaunty granny music I love dogs So the jauntiest of januty tunes inspired Paul's dog, Martha? PUT IT IN MY VEINS. I adore this tune, driven by what was originally a piano exercise. It features a really gorgeous vocal performance as well, Paul's really approaching the apex of his powers at this point in time musically, v...

After 30 years, The Beatles Anthology is back! The documentary is available in a newly restored edit on Disney+ featuring a new 9th episode, and the music is out featuring new mixes and a new 4th volume! The holiday season seems to be Beatles season nowadays, and we're not complaining. Because what are holidays for if not for gathering with loved ones and friends? And that's exactly what w...

When The Beatles were still filling their sets with cover songs, they tended to avoid the obvious ones of their heroes, especially if other bands were playing them. While their competition was covering Arthur Alexander's "You Better Move On," The Beatles favored "Anna (Go To Him)." And even though Paul always says they were "a good little rock and roll band," they...

With the intention of returning to the Beatles' roots on the Get Back project, it's no surprise Paul chose to mine the New Orleans r&b/early rock and roll stylings that were an early influence. And while it didn't get it's final form until the Abbey Road sessions, there's crumbs of the creation of "Oh! Darling" scattered throughout Get Back and onward. It took months for the song to come toget...

It's weird how many songs the Beatles have that aren't "hits" but are still universally loved. It seems everyone knows and loves "I've Just Seen A Face," despite never being a single and never appearing on the big compilations. Maybe it's just one that's found a way to sink its' teeth into anyone who's ever known the rush of new love. Maybe it's...

McCartney's ability to craft the most capitvating, simple, and gorgeous melodies never fails to amaze. Conceived (we think/he tells us) as a song of encouragement and support for the civil rights movement, in full swing by 1968, "Blackbird" has become one of Paul's signature songs. It was the title of his poetry collection. It's one of the most tattoo'd Beatle lyrics and...

One of the best things about the White Album is seeing so many different sides of each Beatle. To close out the first disc, we get a rare glimpse of the really vulnerable and sensitive John, a side we really haven't seen laid bare prior to this. It's a gorgeous track, lead by an almost hypnotic finger picking pattern, with a single note, bare lead vocal practically forcing you to listen to what he...

Ever seen an artist create a global smash hit from the moment of inception through each and every moment of rehearsal and refinement to recording, live premier, and continued real time performances 60 years later? With "Get Back," now you have. Pulling this out of the ether during the 1969 Twickenham sessions, this seedling turns into a fantastic performance by the lads, brought to its&#...

Maybe it's just me, but I've got a real sweet spot for when, in the midst of all the chaos of exploding into the world's biggest band and becoming the greatest songwriters alive, the Beatles blow off steam by pulling out a song from their garage band days. "Slow Down," written by New Orleanian Larry Williams (protege to Little Richard and Lloyd Price) was recorded during the...

Did you guys know the Beatles did drugs? IT'S RIGHT THERE IN THE TITLE, MAN, LSDDDDDDDD! Inspired by a drawing done by his son Julian, John's "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is arguably the most psychedelic of Beatles psychedelic songs. But that trippiness overshadows brilliantly musical performances and inventive production. It's one of the high points of The Beatles and Geo...

**Disclaimer: First show of the new year, and yeah, I know, I blew it, but I own up to it! The integrity of the list remains!** The fabs sure loved writing songs about their relationships on vacation. As we discussed one of Paul's recently ("For No One"), now it's John's turn. John's ode to infidelity and arson turned into one of the most sublime sonic moments in their catalogue, as well as one of...

What do George Harrison and Big Worm from the movie Friday have in common? Messing with their money is like messing with their emotions. But Big Perm, I mean Big Worm, doesn't write banging rock tunes about it. George's "Taxman," the lead off track on Revolver, finds the guitarist squaring off against the greedy hand of the man for taking 98% (NINETY EIGHT) percent of the Beatles income, income th...

Everyone knows that couple...everytime you go on holiday, they seem to get into a fight about SOMETHING. Then everyone's walking on eggshells, trying not to be awkward, not picking sides, just wanting to enjoy their nice vacation, but instead having to deal with someone else's drama. That seems to be a continuing theme with Paul McCartney and Jane Asher on vacation, only when those fights happen,...

Note: PLS LISTEN BEFORE LIGHTING YOUR TORCHES AND GATHERING YOUR PITCHFORKS! Written as a way to show sympathy and encouragement to young Julian Lennon in the face of his parents' divorce, "Hey Jude" is obviously one of the high water marks of modern popular music. It's a brilliantly composed song with a powerhouse vocal from Paul, showcasing his ability to go from the sweetest, most emotive and s...

John came into the Get Back project only one fully formed new song, "All I Want Is You," later re-named as "Dig A Pony." After a possibly initial ambivalent reaction, the band tightened it up as the first song recorded in their own Apple Studios. It eventually found it's true home on the rooftop of Apple on a cold January day, where the band nailed it in one rock solid take. The song lumbers and m...

Thousands of words have been written about Bob Dylan's influence on the Beatles. Despite all those words, one need look no further than "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" from the Help! album. Taking the folk trademark of heavily strummed 6 and 12 string acoustic and nylon string guitars, minimal instrumentation, the song finds John delivering (up to this point) one of his most introspective lyri...

Upon rejoining the band following his departure in the Get Back sessions, George pulled his more serious material, most of which would end up on All Things Must Pass. Along with his blusey and lightweight "For You Blue," he also brought in a stomping little piano song he wrote during the sessions, "Old Brown Shoe." It wouldn't find a home for a few months until the band needed a b-side to "The Bal...

If you thought "One After 909" took a long time to gestate, it's nowhere NEAR the journey for "Now and Then." As we all know, it was one of the songs given to the Threetles by Yoko to complete, but it's sonic shortcomings couldn't be solved by the technology of the 90s. But then, seemingly out of nowhere during our ongoing tumultous time period, The Beatles did what The Beatles always do. They sho...