What Are YOUR Top 10 Favorite Beatles Songs?
Recently a former college roommate of my husband’s requested that once again I write about classic rock music; so Bob Z. from Pittsburgh, PA this column is for you!
Like many of my past classic rock pieces this one is meant to foster group discussion at social gatherings or stimulate some “deep” personal thinking after imbibing an adult beverage or two.
And nothing stimulates deep personal thinking more than the question: What are your top 10 favorite Beatles songs?
Before I reveal my list, I can almost hear my Father saying, “The Beatles are just a passing fad.” That was his response in 1964 after watching them perform on the Ed Sullivan Show, reflecting an opinion commonly held by many parents at the time.
Except that “passing fad” dramatically affected culture, helped impact world events and changed music forever, along with the hearts, minds and souls of every baby boomer born in the first wave from 1946 to 1955.
So with all that in mind, here are my top 10 favorite Beatles songs.
1. While My Guitar Gently Weeps – George Harrison, 1968 The Beatles “White Album”
This song is so hauntingly beautiful that 45 years later, it sounds as fresh and vibrant as it did when it first appeared on the “White Album.”
Below is George Harrison singing a post-Beatles acoustic version.
2. In My Life – Lennon/McCartney, 1965 - Rubber Soul
A perfect song for remembering or honoring someone you love, and often heard at funerals or “life celebrations.”
In my opinion, In My Life does not receive the accolades it deserves as one of the Beatles most melodic and meaningful songs.
3. Come Together - John Lennon, 1969 - Abbey Road
Today, Come Together sounds as bizarre and beautiful as it did when I first heard it at age 14.
4. Back in the U.S.S.R. - Paul McCartney, 1968 – The Beatles “White Album”
How can anyone sit still while listening to this song?
But most important the song reminds us of the Beatles’ role in hastening the demise of Soviet communism.
5. I Want You (She’s So Heavy) - John Lennon, 1969 - Abbey Road
This was another Beatles breakthrough song that sounded like no other in 1969 and I chronicled the experience of hearing it for the first time in this Classic Rock series.
6. Here Comes the Sun - George Harrison, 1969 – Abbey Road
Such a happy song of hope! It is nearly impossible not to be uplifted after hearing it.
7. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) - Lennon/McCartney, 1965 – Rubber Soul
Another groundbreaking song known for the first time a sitar was used by a rock band.
8. Day Tripper - Lennon/McCartney, 1966 - Yesterday and Today
I always loved the main guitar riff along with the catchy tune.
9. Paperback Writer - Lennon/McCartney, 1966 - (Released only as a single but later appeared on several Beatles compilation albums.)
Such an engaging song with an unforgettable guitar riff that hooked the 11-year-old me onto music that eventually evolved into “heavy metal,” explaining my love for Led Zeppelin.
10. You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away - John Lennon, 1965 - Help!
An overlooked Beatles masterpiece that never got the attention it deserved because many of their greatest songs were released around this same time.
So what’s on your list?
Every aging baby boomer has many favorite Beatles songs, but now it’s time to commit to naming your top 10.
Making this task easier, I have provided a list of all the Beatles songs ever recorded. Then, if you were in the “3rd reading group” and need even further assistance, here is Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest Beatles songs.
Go get started now so we can have some fun reading each others’ lists, while at the same time stimulate your brain with some “deep personal thinking.”
It is amazing how 48 years later this “passing fad” still continues to entertain and has stood the test of time.
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Related on Rock ‘n’ Roll at PJ Lifestyle:
Very difficult to do…but
1.) A Day in the Life
2.) Dear Prudence
3.) All you need is love
4.) Sexy Sadie
5.) For No One
6.) While My guitar Gently Weeps
7.) Something
8.) In My Life
9.) Roccy Racoon
10.) Yer Blues
Wow, I swear I didn’t look at your list before I posted mine, Sam.
Its interesting to see someone else put “Sexy Sadie” and “For No One” in their top 10.
In no particular order:
A Hard Day’s Night; Tomorrow Never Knows; A Day in the Life; Back in the USSR; Norwegian Wood; You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away; You’re Going to Lose That Girl; Drive My Car; Within You Without You; She Came in Through the Bathroom Window.
“I Feel Fine”
“Sexy Sadie”
“Rain”
“I’m Only Sleeping”
“I’m a Loser”
“For No One”
“”Tomorrow Never Knows”
“A Day in the Life”
“Strawberry Fields Forever”
“Revolution”
If you’re familiar with the above songs, its obvious that John is my favorite Beatle. Not only was he good with words, but I also enjoy much of his music. All the Beatles had great contributions, though. Ringo was an excellent drummer, and often doesn’t get his due credit.
My favorite Beatles songs are every song by The Who.
Seriously, I could live the rest of my life without hearing another Beatles song. Enough already!
There can never be too much Beatles!
‘The Who’ are unbelievably mediocre.
I could go the rest of my life without ever actually noticing when a Who song is playing.
I like The Who, too…but your comment is borderline obnoxious.
The Beatles were great, but this isn’t an either/or proposition. If you don’t like the Beatles, you could stay out of the thread and let people enjoy themselves unhindered.
Thank you DRayRaven. I was trying to think of a response to Kathy Shaidle, but I wasn’t able to come up with one as decent as yours.
Long ago, every PJMedia reader realized that Kathy doesn’t like the Beatles, children or Italians, that she had an unhappy childhood, that she used to be a punk rocker, that she’s Israel’s Number One Fan, that she likes kick-ass women, and that she has crushes on Adam Carolla and Anthony Perkins.
Maybe if she had more appreciation for the Beatles she’d be able to find some other topics to write about.
I agee. Remember how obnoxious we thought folks were who thought all music ended with Glen Miller or Frank Sinatra? How we laughed at them and thought it was time they joined modern times? We are now those people, only the crotchety old goats in the media now agree with us. The Beatles were great. The Beatles were 45 years ago. Isn’t it time to, how shall I put this, move on?
We will move on from the Beatles as we have moved on from Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, Verdi, Puccini etc.
SERIOUSLY now, if your goal was to slam the Beatles than why did you bother reading this post and waste your time commenting?
My sympathies with Kathy. My favourite Beatle songs are any of the ones covered by Laibach:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWsfJ1l7SGk
I agreed with your Nos. 1 and 2 — Guitar/weeps and In My Life.
I’d add:
Let It Be, album version
I Saw Her Standing There, and
Side 2 of Abbey Road starting with “Because”.
My three cents.
Never been a huge Beatles fan. I didn’t even no exactly who the Beatles were until my senior year in High School (1980). So in no particular order:
Hard Days Night
Do you want to know a secret
Back in the USSR
Revolution
I want to hold your hand
Ballad of John and Yoko
Taxman
Money (cover)
And that’s about it. Ask me about the Clash next time.
In My Life is especially poignant in the late-in-life cover by Johnny Cash. My choice for number one.
No one picked I Saw Her Standing There?
And Revolution was a song that really really mattered at just the right time.
10. Rocky Raccoon
9. Sun King
8. Revolution (hard rock version)
7. I Got A Feeling
6. I’m Only Sleeping
5. I Should Have Known Better
4. Don’t Let Me Down
3. Across The Universe
2. Something
1. Strawberry Fields Forever
Wow, it’s hard to pick 10, and which make it in depends on the day of the week, too…but here goes:
1) Here Comes the Sun
2) You Never Give Me Your Money
3) If I Needed Someone
4) Paperback Writer
5) Dear Prudence
6) Day Tripper
7) Got to Get You Into My Life
8) Piggies
9) I Am the Walrus
10) Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
Since this column was done at my request I’d better add my two cents. I wasn,t a Beatles fan until the late 60′s …so here goes in no specific order.
Long and Winding Road
Let It Be
Rocky Raccoon
Come Together
Penny Lane
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Revolution
In My Life
Here Comes the Sun
I’ll Follow the Sun
Thank you Myra
Thanks, Myra. Love the post. It will be hard to name only 10, but I had to add my 2 cents worth.
Here Comes the Sun.
Mother Nature’s Son
You and Me
Lovely Rita
Blackbird
Get Back
With a Little Help from my Friends
Back in the USSR (My current ringtone, btw)
Julia
Let it Be
1. While my Guitar Gently Weeps
2. A Day in the Life
3. In My Life
4. Real Love
5. Don’t Let Me Down
6. Dear Prudence
7. Let it Be
8. All You Need is Love
9. I want you (shes so heavy)
10. For no one
We Beatlemaniacs can always tell the hippies and Johnny-Come-Latelies; their favorites are mostly after “Hard Day’s Night” or “Help!”
In chronological (by 1st track recorded date) order:
Please Please Me
Thank You Girl
She Loves You
I’ll Get You
Devil In Her Heart
Please Mr. Postman
All My Loving
I Want To Hold Your Hand
You Can’t Do That
I Should Have Known Better
And there we are at 25th February, 1964. Were there great songs that I loved that came out later? Sure! But these tracks were on the first records I actually went out and bought myself. These tracks were the reason I got headphones. These tracks were why I took up the guitar and played along with their first albums until I could play them note by note.