Which music period was the Beatles’ best?

All eras.

 

65/66

 

Tell me, how on Earth are you supposed to objectively measure something that is purely subjective?

 

What you do is say whatever it is you're going to say, and then say "I'm being objective" when you've said it.

 

I went with HELP, RS, and REVOLVER, but really I"d choose RUBBER SOUL, REVOLVER, and SGT PEPPER.

 

I voted 1967, but for me the 64-65 period is likely my favorite but the writing and production are not nearly as strong. There is something about the 64-65 period for me that really invokes a place and time. I mean it is so ‘of the period’ that it really captures what it must had been like in the UK at the time. Almost a time capsule feel.

 

Well you can’t hence my definition of the period as my favourite

 

There's very few one two punches better than the original UK Rubber Soul and UK Revolver.
For the states you'd have to go Rubber Soul, Yesterday and Today, Revolver.

 

My favourite period is Help to MMT, so I can't vote in the poll.

 

63-64: the exuberance is unmatched

 

As has already been noted, their music was continuously changing. So any artificial border lines are contrived. However, the 1965 - 66 era is the cream of the cream, where they produced their most inventive and timeless material, without a doubt. I love the whole of the 1962 - 67 period though, with particular emphasis on the earlier part of it. There is innovation right from the start but there is also a freshness and exuberance that is joyous to listen to.

The period after Magical Mystery Tour is of less interest to me (the move away from experimentation towards a "back to basics" approach was always a bit of a retrogression however you look at it as well). But there is a weariness at times in the later music and a move towards more generic blues-rock meant that they started to sound like everybody else (rather than lead the way as previously). This despite the fact that there was still a whole load of good material (albeit more orientated towards individual members, rather than a group gestalt). Later on the music has less of the "magic" or immediacy of the earlier years though, which is why I'll always put on any of the pre-Pepper LPs in preference. They make you feel like you're alive!

 

I hear it in Rubber Soul. It feels them responding to Dylan.

 

Me too, but that was '65.

 

there really is no "not best' period. the whole run is superb.

 

'65 yes.

 

Can't argue...but 65-66 ain't no slouch either.

 

63-70

 

'67 had some awesome phycadelic songs. I voted '67, even though '68 white album is my fab fav.

 

Help! is the most underrated Beatles album of all time (followed closely by Magical Mystery Tour). It stands in the shadow of Rubber Soul but it is equally as good.

George Harrison began to slowly shine as a songwriter and Lennon and McCartney wrote a bunch of catchy and classic tunes (You're Going to Lose that Girl, Ticket To Ride, Another Girl, The Night Before, Yesterday etc.)

 

1965-1968.

Started getting uninspired and spotty after that. Possibly no guidance from Epstein; not certain.

 

I rank them
65-66
Really close is:
63-64
A wider gap before:
68-70
And the largest gap before
67

I would put their collective solo output from 70-71, 72, 73 or 74 ahead of 67 as well.

 

Hairy hippy period.

 

First option.

 

...ahhhh...or so they wanted you to *think*...!

 

PPM-MMT

Everything after is a little meh for myself.