The Beatles were the most innovative and successful music group of all time. They were at the cutting edge of the sixties musical revolution and, against convention at the time, wrote their own hits. Between 1962 and 1970 The Beatles released over 200 original tracks, clocking up an incredible 20 No.1 hit singles. Even their "average" songs were better than most contemporary output of the time, although this did not exempt them from releasing a (thankfully small) proportion of turgid stinkers!
This is a chronological look at The Beatles original British releases, each of the tracks have been grouped and rated according to my personal (and therefore infallible) judgment under the following headings:
"The
Classics" - The most memorable and iconic
"The Good 'uns" -
Not quite as above, but excellent tracks in their own right
"OK I guess" -
Hmmm, nothing really to write home about
"This sucks" -
Better they should have been one song short than to include this dross
"Hidden Gem" - Not so well known, but still a good 'un
"Single That Never Was"
- A surefire No.1 that was never released as a single
"Overall Rating"
- Breakdown no. of tracks in each of the first 4 categories
I started compiling this listing with "Beatles For Sale". Although B4Sale is several albums into the chronology, it seemed a good place to start as I had just finished listening to it! As time goes by I will be building sequentially backwards and forwards from this point until all has been covered
|
Please Please Me (1963) With The Beatles (1963) A Hard Days Night (1964) Beatles For Sale (1964) Help! (1965) Rubber Soul (1965) |
 |
Revolver (1966) Sgt Peppers (1967) The "White" Album (1968 Abbey Road (1969) Let it Be (1970) |
LOVE ME DO / PS I LOVE YOU No.17 Single (October 1962) 2 Tracks
(For track ratings, see Please Please Me [LP] Below). This version of Love Me Do differs slightly from the LP cut
PLEASE PLEASE ME / ASK ME WHY No.1 Single (January 1963) 2 Tracks
(For track ratings, see Please Please Me [LP] Below)
FROM ME TO YOU / THANK YOU GIRL No.1 Single (April 1963) 2 Tracks
| 1 Classic... | FROM ME TO YOU (J) |
| 1 OK I guess... | THANK YOU GIRL (J) |
PLEASE PLEASE ME LP (April 1963) 14 Tracks
| The Classics... | PLEASE PLEASE ME (J); DO YOU
WANT TO KNOW A SECRET (G); PS I LOVE YOU (P); TWIST & SHOUT (J) |
| The Good 'uns... | I SAW HER STANDING THERE (P);
MISERY (J); ASK ME WHY (J); LOVE ME DO (J/P); A TASTE OF HONEY (P); THERE'S A PLACE (J/P) |
| OK I guess... | BOYS (R); BABY ITS YOU (J) |
| These Suck... | ANNA (J); CHAINS (G) |
| Hidden Gem... | THERE'S A PLACE |
| Single that never was... | TWIST & SHOUT; PS I LOVE YOU |
| Overall Score... | 4 Classics; 7 Good 'uns; 2 OK-ish; and 2 that stink verily |
SHE LOVES YOU / I'LL GET YOU No.1 Single (August 1963) 2 Tracks
| 1 Classic... | SHE LOVES YOU (J/P) |
| 1 Good 'un... | I'LL GET YOU (J) |
I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND / THIS BOY No.1 Single (November 1963) 2 Tracks
| 1 Classic... | I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND (J/P) |
| 1 Good 'un... | THIS BOY (J) |
WITH THE BEATLES LP (November 1963) 14 Tracks
| The Classics... | ALL MY LOVING (P); PLEASE MR POSTMAN (J) |
| The Good 'uns... | IT WON'T BE LONG (J); TILL THERE WAS YOU (P); ALL I'VE GOT TO DO (J); MONEY (J) |
| OK I guess... | DON'T BOTHER ME (G); ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN (G); YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME (J); I WANNA BE YOUR MAN (R); NOT A SECOND TIME (J) |
| These Suck... | LITTLE CHILD (J); HOLD ME TIGHT (P); DEVIL IN HER HEART (G) |
| Hidden Gem... | ALL I'VE GOT TO DO |
| Single that never was... | ALL MY LOVING |
| Overall Score... | 2 Classics; 4 Good 'uns; 5 OK-ish; and 3 that stink verily |
CAN'T BUY ME LOVE / YOU CAN'T DO THAT No.1 Single (Mar 1964) 2 Tracks
(For track ratings, see A Hard Days Night [LP] Below)
LONG TALL SALLY EP (June 1964) 4 Tracks
| The Classics... | LONG TALL SALLY (P) |
| OK I guess... | I CALL YOUR NAME (J) |
| These Suck... | SLOW DOWN (J/P); MATCHBOX (R) |
| Single that never was... | LONG TALL SALLY |
| Overall Score... | 1 Classics; 0 Good 'uns; 1 OK-ish; and 2 that stink verily |
A HARD DAY'S NIGHT / THINGS WE SAID TODAY No.1 Single (July 1964) 2 Tracks
(For track ratings, see A Hard Days Night [LP] Below)
A HARD DAY'S NIGHT LP (July 1964) 13 Tracks
| The Classics... | A HARD DAY'S NIGHT (J/P); CAN'T BUY ME LOVE (P) |
| The Good 'uns... | I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER (J); IF I FELL (J); AND
I LOVE HER (P); TELL ME WHY (J); ANY TIME AT ALL (J); I'LL CRY INSTEAD (J); THINGS WE SAID TODAY (P); YOU CAN'T DO THAT (J); I'LL BE BACK (J) |
| OK I guess... | I'M HAPPY JUST TO DANCE WITH YOU (G); WHEN I GET HOME (J) |
| Hidden Gem... | I'LL CRY INSTEAD; THINGS WE SAID TODAY |
| Single that never was... | I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER |
| Overall Score... | 2 Classics; 9 Good 'uns; 2 OK-ish; Zero that stink verily |
I FEEL FINE / SHE'S A WOMAN No.1 Single (November 1964) 2 Tracks
| 1 Classic... | I FEEL FINE (J) |
| 1 Good 'un... | SHE'S A WOMAN (P) |
BEATLES FOR SALE LP (November 1964) 14 Tracks
| The Classics... | EIGHT DAYS A WEEK (J); ROCK N ROLL MUSIC (J) |
| The Good 'uns... | NO REPLY (J); I'M A LOSER (J);
BABY'S IN BLACK (J/P); WORDS OF LOVE (J/P); HONEY DON'T (R); EVERY LITTLE THING (J); I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL THE PARTY (J) |
| OK I guess... | I'LL FOLLOW THE SUN (P); WHAT YOU'RE DOING (P) |
| These Suck... | MR MOONLIGHT (J); EVERYBODY'S
TRYING TO BE MY BABY (G); KANSAS CITY (P) |
| Hidden Gem... | NO REPLY; HONEY DON'T |
| Single that never was... | EIGHT DAYS A WEEK |
| Overall Score... | 2 Classics; 7 Good 'uns; 2 OK-ish; and 3 that stink verily |
TICKET TO RIDE / YES IT IS No.1 Single (April 1965) 2 Tracks
| 1 Classic... | TICKET TO RIDE (J) |
| 1 Good 'un... | YES IT IS (J) |
HELP / I'M DOWN No.1 Single (July 1965) 2 Tracks
| 1 Classic... | HELP (J) |
| 1 OK I guess... | I'M DOWN (P) |
HELP! LP (August
1965) 14 Tracks
| The Classics... | HELP (J); TICKET TO RIDE (J); YESTERDAY (P) |
| The Good 'uns... | THE NIGHT BEFORE (P); HIDE YOUR
LOVE AWAY (J); ANOTHER GIRL (P); YOU'RE GONNA LOSE THAT GIRL (J); ACT NATURALLY (R); IT'S ONLY LOVE (J); TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE (J/P); I'VE JUST SEEN A FACE (P) |
| OK I guess... | I NEED YOU (G); YOU LIKE ME TOO MUCH (G); DIZZY MISS LIZZY (J) |
| Hidden Gem... | IT'S ONLY LOVE; I'VE JUST SEEN A FACE |
| Single that never was... | YESTERDAY |
| Overall Score... | 3 Classics; 8 Good 'uns; 2 OK-ish; and Zero that stink verily |
RUBBER SOUL LP (December 1965) 14 Tracks
| The Classics... | DRIVE MY CAR (J/P); NOWHERE MAN (J); MICHELLE (P) |
| The Good 'uns... | NORWEGIAN WOOD (J); YOU WON'T
SEE ME (P); THINK FOR YOURSELF (G);
THE WORD (J/P); GIRL (J); I'M LOOKING THRU YOU (P); IN MY
LIFE (J); WAIT (J/P); RUN FOR YOUR LIFE (J); IF I NEEDED SOMEONE (G) |
| OK I guess... | WHAT GOES ON (R) |
| Hidden Gem... | NORWEGIAN WOOD; THE WORD; IN MY LIFE |
| Single that never was... | DRIVE MY CAR; MICHELLE |
| Overall Score... | 3 Classics; 10 Good 'uns; 1 OK-ish; Zero that stink verily |
DAY TRIPPER / WE CAN WORK IT OUT No.1 Single (December 1965) 2 Tracks
| 2 Classics... | DAY TRIPPER (J/P); WE CAN WORK IT OUT (J/P) |
PAPERBACK WRITER / RAIN No.1 Single (June 1966) 2 Tracks
| 2 Good 'uns... | PAPERBACK WRITER (P); RAIN (J) |
REVOLVER LP (August 1966) 14 Tracks
| The Classics... | ELEANOR RIGBY (P); HERE THERE & EVERYWHERE (P); YELLOW SUBMARINE (R); GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE (P) |
| The Good 'uns... | TAXMAN (G); SHE SAID SHE SAID (J);
GOOD DAY SUNSHINE (P); AND YOUR BIRD CAN SING (J); FOR NO ONE (P); I'm Only Sleeping (J) |
| OK I guess... | LOVE TO
YOU (G); DOCTOR ROBERT (J); I WANT TO TELL YOU (G); TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS (J) |
| Hidden Gem... | TAXMAN; AND YOUR BIRD CAN SING |
| Single that never was... | TAX MAN; GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE |
| Overall Score... | 4 Classics; 6 Good 'uns; 4 OK-ish; Zero that verily stink |
ELEANOR RIGBY / YELLOW SUBMARINE No.1 Single (August 1966) 2 Tracks
(For track ratings, see Revolver [LP] above)
A COLLECTION OF OLDIES (BUT GOLDIES) LP (November 1966) 16 Tracks
(Compilation album with only one previously unreleased track):
| 1 OK I guess... | BAD BOY (J) |
PENNY LANE / STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER No.2 Single (February 1967)
| 2 Classics... | PENNY LANE (P); STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER (J) |
SGT PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND LP (June 1967) 13 Tracks
| The Classics... | WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY
FRIENDS (R); LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS (J); WHEN I'M SIXTY FOUR (P); A DAY IN THE LIFE (J/P) |
| The Good 'uns... | SGT PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS CLUB
BAND (J/P); GETTING BETTER (P); FIXING A HOLE (P); SHE'S LEAVING HOME (P); BEING FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR KITE (J); LOVELY RITA (J); GOOD MORNING GOOD MORNING (J); SGT PEPPER REPRISE (J/P) |
| OK I guess... | WITHIN YOU WITHOUT YOU (G) |
| Hidden Gem... | GETTING BETTER; GOOD MORNING |
| Single that never was... | WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS; LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS |
| Overall Score... | 4 Classics; 8 Good 'uns; and 1 OK-ish; Zero that verily stink |
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE / BABY YOU'RE A RICH MAN No.1 Single (July 1967)
| 1 Classic... | ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE (J) |
| 1 Good 'un... | BABY YOU'RE A RICH MAN (J) |
HELLO GOODBYE / I AM THE WALRUS No.1 Single (November 1967)
| 2 Classics... | HELLO GOODBYE (P); I AM THE WALRUS (J) |
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR DOUBLE-EP (December 1967) 6 Tracks
| The Classics... | MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR (P); I AM THE WALRUS (J) |
| The Good 'uns... | YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW (P); FOOL ON THE HILL (P); BLUE JAY WAY (G) |
| Novelty... | FLYING (instrumental) (R) |
| Hidden Gem... | FOOL ON THE HILL; YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW |
| Overall Score... | 2 Classics; 3 Good 'uns; 1 Novelty; Zero that verily stink |
LADY MADONNA / THE INNER LIGHT No.1 Single (March 1968)
| 1 Classic... | LADY MADONNA (P) |
| 1 OK I guess... | THE INNER LIGHT (G) |
HEY JUDE / REVOLUTION No.1 Single (August 1968)
| 2 Classics... | HEY JUDE (P); REVOLUTION (J) |
THE BEATLES (WHITE ALBUM) DOUBLE-LP (November 1968) 30 Tracks
| The Classics... | OB-LADI OB-LA-DA (P); WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS (G) |
| The Good 'uns... | BACK IN THE USSR (P); DEAR
PRUDENCE (J); GLASS ONION (J); THE CONTINUING STORY OF
BUNGALOW BILL (J);
HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN (J); MARTHA MY DEAR (P); I'M SO
TIRED (J); BLACKBIRD (P); PIGGIES (G); ROCKY RACCOON (P);
I WILL (P);
JULIA (J); YER BLUES (J); MOTHER NATURE'S SON (P); EVERYBODY'S GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE EXCEPT FOR ME AND MY MONKEY (J); SEXY SADIE (J); HELTER SKELTER (P); HONEY PIE (P); SAVOY TRUFFLE (G); CRY BABY CRY (J) |
| OK I guess... | DON'T PASS ME BY (R); BIRTHDAY (P);
LONG LONG LONG (G); REVOLUTION 1 (J); GOODNIGHT (R) |
| Novelty... | WILD HONEY PIE (P); WHY DON'T WE
DO IT IN THE ROAD (P); REVOLUTION 9 (J) |
| Hidden Gem... | GLASS ONION; BLACKBIRD; HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN; CRY BABY CRY |
| Single that never was... | BACK IN THE USSR; OB-LA-DI OB-LA-DA |
| Overall Score... | 2 Classic; 20 Good 'uns; 5 OK-ish; 3 Novelties; Zero that verily stink |
YELLOW SUBMARINE SOUNDTRACK LP (December 1968) 13 Tracks
(Soundtrack LP contained the following 4 new tracks [plus Yellow Submarine and All you need is Love] on side one. Side two contained tracks by the George Martin Orchestra):
| The Good 'uns | ONLY A NORTHERN SONG (G); HEY
BULLDOG (J); IT'S ALL TOO MUCH (G); ALL TOGETHER NOW (P) |
| Hidden Gem... | HEY BULDOG (J) |
GET BACK / DON'T LET ME DOWN No.1 Single (April 1969)
This version of Get Back differs slightly from the LP cut
| 1 Classic... | GET BACK (P) |
| 1 Good 'un... | DON'T LET ME DOWN (J) |
THE BALLAD OF JOHN AND YOKO / OLD BROWN SHOE No.1 Single (May 1969)
| 1 Classic... | THE BALLAD OF JOHN AND YOKO (J) |
| 1 That Sucks... | OLD BROWN SHOE (G) |
ABBEY ROAD LP (September 1969) 17 Tracks
| The Classics... | COME TOGETHER (J); SOMETHING (G);
OCTOPUS'S GARDEN (R); HERE COMES THE SUN (G) |
| The Good 'uns... | MAXWELL'S SILVER HAMMER (P); OH!
DARLING (P); YOU NEVER GIVE ME YOUR MONEY (P); MEAN MR MUSTARD (P); POLYTHENE PAM (J); SHE CAME IN THROUGH THE BATHROOM WINDOW (P); GOLDEN SLUMBERS (P); CARRY THAT WEIGHT (R); THE END (J/P/G/R) |
| OK I guess... | I WANT YOU (J); BECAUSE (J); SUN KING (J/P) |
| Novelty... | HER MAJESTY (P) |
| Hidden Gem... | MAXWELL'S SILVER HAMMER; POLYTHENE PAM |
| Single that never was... | SHE CAME IN THRU THE BATHROOM WINDOW; OCTOPUS'S GARDEN |
| Overall Score... | 4 Classics; 8 Good 'uns; 3 OK-ish; 1 Novelty; Zero that verily stink |
SOMETHING / COME TOGETHER No.1 Single (October 1969)
(For track ratings, see Abbey Road [LP] above)
LET IT BE / YOU KNOW MY NAME No.1 Single (March 1970)
| 1 Classic... | LET IT BE (P) |
| 1 Novelty... | YOU KNOW MY NAME (J/P/G/R) |
LET IT BE LP (May 1970) 12 Tracks
| The Classics... | ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (J); LET IT BE (P); THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD (P); GET BACK (P) |
| The Good 'uns... | TWO OF US (J/P); DIG A PONY (J); I ME MINE (G); I'VE GOT A FEELING (J/P); ONE AFTER 909 (J/P); FOR YOU BLUE (G) |
| Novelty... | DIG IT (J); MAGGIE MAE (J/P) |
| Hidden Gem... | TWO OF US; I ME MINE; I'VE GOT A FEELING |
| Single that never was... | ACROSS THE UNIVERSE; LONG AND WINDING ROAD |
| Overall Score... | 4 Classics; 6 Good 'uns; 2 Novelties; Zero that verily stink |
FOOTNOTES
Twenty Singles reached the UK No.1 slot on their original release, only two didn't make it (Love Me Do made it to 17, Penny Lane made No.2). 12 consecutive singles reached No.1 (Please Please Me to Eleanor Rigby). In April 1964 The Beatles completely dominated the charts with 12 tracks in the top 100, including all top 5 slots.
EP's (containing usually 4 previously released tracks) were issued periodically between 1963 and 1967. By exception, Long Tall Sally and of course the final EP Magical Mystery Tour contained only "first release" tracks.
All 14 original release LP's were No.1 chart toppers. 1966 saw the first compilation LP (Oldies But Goldies) which included one previously unreleased track recorded in 1965 (Bad Boy).
