Favorite Beatles Songs

This weeks Fab Fourum podcast (Link) discusses each of their Top 5 favorite Beatles songs. Now, I'm sure this topic has been covered here several different times but it is always worth revisiting. I'm pleased that on the podcast the crew decided to keep it to five total. That's a real succinct summation of one's personal favorites. It doesn't mean you don't love the entire catalog, it's just that these are the favorites.

So, I would like to get this topic going here on the board. Please stick with five songs total and give a reason why (if you so choose).

My list:

1. The Medley (Abbey Road): Two summers ago, at the age of 33, I finally pushed through and listened to the end of Abbey Road. For whatever reason I had always neglected it like something in the back of the closet. To say it was revelatory for me personally would be a monumental understatement.
   
   
2. Across The Universe: I don't recall ever being fond of this song until the promo cd for Anthology 2 was sent to record stores in the spring of '96. Ever since, I have found the simplicity of the lyric and performance to the essence of everything I love about Lennon and the Beatles. These days my personal favorite is the Glyn Johns mix from Get Back.
   
   
3. Blackbird: Again, the Anthology series played a roll in this one becoming a personal favorite. Anthology 3 features Take 4, I believe. That take caused me to pause and listen intently each time I played the White Album. Such a beautiful song that have always been led to believe has much to do with the civil rights struggle in the states, especially during that '68 era and with MLK being slain that spring.
   
   
4. Dear Prudence: This may be one of the earliest songs I loved as a young Beatles fan. I have always eagerly awaited Back In The U.S.S.R. dying down so I can hear the coolness of the intro to this beautiful song. The Rockband Re-Mix with the cold opening left me gobsmacked.
   
   
5. Come Together: I guess this has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. Yes it is one of their most popular songs, still in 2011 (check iTunes downloads if you don't believe it). But, as George Martin has been quoted as saying, it is his favorite because it's just the four of them, playing. Two summers ago, a BBC special featured multi-tracks of this song (and a couple of others) and it's the closest thing you'll get to Beatle Porn.

Now, I realize all of my selections come from from '68 -->. But this is about personal favorites and it just so happens all of my favorites fall into that category.

 

1) In My Life
2) Yellow Submarine
3) All You Need is Love
4) Got to Get You Into My Life
5) No Reply

Not really sure about In My Life, I loved it from the first time I heard it (around 2001 or so) and it's always stuck with me.
#2 and #3 were the first Beatle songs I heard (around 1997), my Dad used to put the Yellow Sub. CD on program so that only those 2 would play, so for a couple of years, I thought the Beatles had just 2 songs. I was shocked when I found out they had 4 more on the CD.
#4 was another one I used to listen to over and over. I remember hating revolver at such a young age but I loved the horns in that song.
#5 i really just started to appreciate over the past year or so, but it's one of those songs I find myself humming all the time and it's almost always stuck in my head.

They aren't the band's most popular or well-written songs, but they sure are catch, but arent all Beatles songs?

Ask me tomorrow and the list will be different

 

You Never Give Me Your Money - I love how dynamic this song is. The sections meld seamlessly and before you know it the journey is over leaving you pause as how we got from point a to point b. The soft and inviting intro contrasted with the surreal outro and everything in between. Just a tasty piece of work.


I Want You (She's So Heavy) - The outro just devastates me. DEVASTATES. Puts me into a trance too. Love those little bass adds by Paul (woo woo) and the White Noise just adds to the trippyness.

I Want To Tell You - Overlooked for some reason. I think it is the best song on Revolver. It's catchy as hell - basically interconnected hooks - the rattlesnake tambourine - that harsh repeated piano line - the twisted lyrics - what an intoxicating mix

Sexy Sadie - I love the 'vibe' of this song. One of the better constructed songs I think - everything meshes so well - possibly my favourite vocals from John. The outro is out of this world

A Day in the Life - possibly the only song that causes me to become short of breath. A total experience.

 

No lie, these were my five (with a possible replacement of Only A Northern Song for I Want To Tell You). You pretty much nailed the reasons why as well.

The riffs at the end of Sexy Sadie are probably my favorite moments of recorded music.

 

In no particular order....

1. Dear Prudence - I love the slow start and build to a powerful ending. The lyrics mean something and the musicianship is top shelf. I always want to close my eyes when I listen to it and let it take me away.

2. You Never Give Me Your Money - One of those tunes that when you listen to it, you aren't sure what it means, but you think, "wow, that was cool". Fantastic ending. This song makes me believe that The Beatles were still thought of as being cool in 1969.

3. Sgt. Pepper's Reprise (yes, I said reprise) - A perfect sound. Drums/Guitars/Vocals all mixed perfectly - especially for 1967. Not a great song mind you, but a perfect, almost ahead of its time sound. I always imagined someone from 15 years in the future went back in time picked that one Beatle song to mix.

4. Eleanor Rigby - Perfect lyrics that were written before Paul forgot (or didn't care) how to match lyrics that told a story with his world-class melodies.

5. Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever medley - Their best. The lyrics and music written when they were still a true band but so many years removed from 1964 (it was only 3 years!!!!) and before they started to fragment (which seemed to start moments later with the Sgt. Pepper album). Their peak as a band.

What? Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields isn't a medley? Funny, I always thought it was. Could never break up those two when I listen to them. Guess I cheated with an extra song. Sue me. But being forced to select only 5 Beatle songs is just asking for trouble, now isn't it?

 

Here Comes The Sun --It's also the favorite song of my 2 year old daughter.

Happiness Is a Warm Gun

 

"Oh that magic feeling... nowhere to go".

 

1. And Your Bird Can Sing
2. Things We Said Today
3. You Never Give Me Your Money
4. Old Brown Shoe
5. Girl

 

1. Come Together
2. A Day In the Life
3. Dear Prudence
4. I Want You (She's So Heavy)
5. Yer Blues

Obviously its very difficult to only be able to pick 5 songs. I prefer McCartney's solo work to John's, but Lennon was on fire between '67 and '70. Must have been the Yoko influence

 

I always have trouble with this one....

1. Babys In Black - I love the blend of John & Paul's voices.

2. Sexy Sadie - Same reasons as Matthew5 really.

3. She's Leaving Home - best cut on Pepper and the one that makes me reach for it as often as I do.

4. Your Mother Should Know - And I hope she does, cause I don't. I just like the song's tempo and pleasant nature. Maybe in my mind I see white-suited Beatles walking down a staircase too.

5. Mother Nature's Son - Always a favorite of mine. Just connects with me in that certain way I guess.

 

In no particular order (and yes, I know I've included six)...

Tomorrow Never Knows -- Trippy as hell, with essentially static harmony!! I may have heard this as a teen, but don't really remember it much -- and the first version that I really remember was actually a hard-driving, modal jazz version (from this album). When I went back to the original (only like 6 years ago), it really opened my eyes.

It's All Too Much (8-minute mono mix) -- George is my favorite Beatle, and this is another tune I scarcely remember hearing as a teen - though I'm sure I did, as George was my favorite even back then (mid 80's). Wish to hell the extended 8-minute version was available legit, it's also a trip!

Hey Bulldog -- OK, I definitely don't remember ever hearing this as a teen, and think the first time I stumbled on it was on-line some 4-5 years ago (maybe audio on Youtube). What an outrageously cool tune!!

Not Guilty (the Harrison "White Album" reject) -- ALWAYS a favorite of mine, that I first discovered back in high-school, when I bought the complete "Unsurpassed Masters" series on CD. (Yeah, I had the rare stuff, but not all the real releases - what can I say?)

Eleanor Rigby -- Love the strings, love the counter melody, even love the 'Love' version. There's not anything not to love about "Eleanor Rigby". Hell, I even love The Zoot version!

Honorable Mention: Glass Onion -- Really like the strings here. Probably half a dozen White Album tunes I could have mentioned instead (including all of George's tunes), but after 20 years completely away from the Beatles (circa 1987-2007), the strings hooked me in big-time.

PS: My big "Beatles phase" was in junior-high and early high-school, in the mid 80's (I was born in '69).

 

What a helluva song. The version included as a b-side on the Real Love cd single (from the Hollywood Bowl) is superb.

 

Or the needle...

 

And Your Bird Can Sing
I Will
Eight Days A Week
I Need You
Please Please Me

 

And Your Bird Can Sing
Things We Said Today
All I've Got To Do
A Day In The Life
Dear Prudence

 

Helter Skelter
Old Brown Shoe
Long Long Long
I've Got A Feeling
Don't Let Me Down

 

Off the top of my head and with the understanding that I could do at least another 5 or more Top 5 lists...

Hey Jude
Two Of Us
Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End
If I Fell
For No One

 

I can't imagine this thread going anywhere ...

Nowhere Man
Please Please Me
Across the Universe
I'm Only Sleeping
I Should Have Known Better

(offhand)

 

In chronological order...

1. I Should Have Known Better - I'm grabbed right in the instant the harmonica intro starts, and Lennon's vocals are electric. Incredible song.

2. I Feel Fine - another hit with a memorable intro, this time with guitar feedback. Great harmonies on the chorus, too.

3. Eight Days a Week - a smash hit that immediately takes me right back to the spring of '65. The little unexpected pauses and riffs in the song really jumped out and grabbed me, even on AM radio.

4. We Can Work It Out - probably my favorite Beatles song (though it's very hard to narrow down). I love everything about it: the lyrics, Paul's singing, the weird harmonium keyboards, and the harmonies with John on the chorus.

5. Penny Lane - the closest the Beatles ever came to sunshine pop for me. Love the orchestral arrangement, the unusual flute and trumpet moments. Stunning song.

But this is like a "Sophie's Choice" to me. I could easily add two dozen more. With over 250 commercially-released songs, you figure at least 10% of the work of the biggest-selling group of all time would be exceptionally good.

 

I'm more of an early Beatle's fan.

1. I'll Follow the Sun
2. All My Loving

 

A Day in the Life
Here, There, and Everywhere
In My Life
Strawberry Fields
Nowhere Man

 

Impossible task, but Today:


(1) Strawberry Fields Forever



(2-5, er, 7 -- in no particular order):


I Am the Walrus

Old Brown Shoe

Tomorrow Never Knows (though I prefer most of me Beatles in Mono, the Stereo mix is the way to go with this one, IMHO)

Here, There and Everywhere

All I've Got to Do

If I Fell



Tomorrow:

2-7 could change... but not #1!
.

 

Rain
Long, Long, Long
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
A Day in the Life

 

Easy, there's only two:

Paperback Writer
Rain

That single is all the Fab I need.

 

My choices change frequently, right now they are.

Here Comes The Sun
Helter Skelter
The End
If I Needed Someone
Hey Jude