“The Beatles”, consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, are arguably the most influential band of all time. They have influenced the music of “Nirvana,” David Bowie, “The Rolling Stones,” Elton John and many more. In this article, I am going to dive into the catalog of “The Beatles,” deciphering the three most popular songs from each of their main albums.
“Please Please Me” is the debut album of “The Beatles,” and was released on March 22, 1963. The album was famously recorded in less than 13 hours and cost only 400 euros to make. The album also spent 30 weeks at the top of the U.K. charts. Ringo Starr was replaced by Andy White on this album because producer George Martin was not sure of Starr’s experience.
Top three songs:
No. 1: “Twist and Shout” was recorded in a single take. While recording this song, John Lennon was suffering from a cold. A second take was attempted, but Lennon’s voice was completely gone. The song became more popular after being featured in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Back to School.” – 7/10
No. 2: “Love Me Do” was the debut single of “The Beatles”, and features a harmonica sound inspired by American artists like Delbert McClinton and Bruce Channel. The song was recorded three different times with three different drummers. Pete Best, Andy White and Ringo Starr. – 8/10
No. 3: “Do You Want To Know A Secret” was inspired by a line from the 1937 movie “Snow White,” and was sung by George Harrison. The song was written by John Lennon to fit Harrison’s limited vocal range at the time. Similar to “Twist and Shout,” this song was recorded in a single take. – 8/10
“With The Beatles” is their second studio album, and was recorded in only seven non-consecutive days. It was a quick follow-up from their debut album, released eight months after “Please Please Me.” The album cover was photographed by Robert Freeman in a dimly lit hotel hallway, inspired by the photos of John Coltrane.
Top three songs:
No. 1: “All My Loving” was famously written by Paul McCartney while shaving on a tour bus. Though it did become a single in the U.K., it was released as a single in Canada, where it reached No. 1. According to TV producer Alan Weiss, this song was playing on the hospital speakers when John Lennon was pronounced dead. – 8/10
No. 2: “Till There Was You” is a cover of a song from the 1957 musical “The Musical Man.” It was written by Meredith Wilson, who made more money from “The Beatles” cover than she did from the original musical. It is one of the few songs by “The Beatles” that features just one Beatle singing (Paul McCartney). – 8/10
No. 3: “Please Mister Postman” is a cover of “The Marvelettes’” Motown hit, changed to be faster and heavier to suit the live performance style of “The Beatles” more. Despite playing the song live for over a year, it took nine takes to get the recording right. In the song, John Lennon double-tracked his vocals. – 8/10
“A Hard Day’s Night” is “The Beatles” third studio album, and is the only album where every song is written by the Lennon-McCartney duo. The album title was coined by Ringo Starr, and George Harrison’s Rickenbacker 12-string guitar defined the album and sound of 1964 pop. It serves as the soundtrack for their debut movie.
Top three songs:
No. 1: “A Hard Day’s Night” is the opening track and the title song of the album. This song was written in a single night by John Lennon, and is iconic for its jarring opening chord, which is a composition of sounds from George Harrison’s 12-string guitar, Paul McCartney’s bass and George Martin’s piano. – 8/10
No. 2: “Can’t Buy Me Love” was the first single released by “The Beatles” featuring only one vocalist (Paul McCartney). It was written in Paris to match the success of “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” It sold over two million copies in the U.S., and was the first track to start with the chorus. – 9/10
No. 3: “And I Love Her” is a ballad by Paul McCartney, and was largely written at the house of Jane Asher, a renowned English actress. The song is known for its acoustic, Latin-sounding guitar, and it features George Harrison’s iconic opening riff, which was added spontaneously in the mixing. The song also has Ringo Starr, who traditionally played drums, on the bongos. – 8/10
“Beatles for Sale” was the band’s fourth album in two years, and was recorded in just seven days during intense Beatlemania, which resulted in a tired sound that featured folk-rock and cover songs due to a lack of time to write new songs. This was the first Beatles album that did not feature a U.K. single.
Top three songs:
No. 1: “Eight Days A Week” is a landmark song known for being the first pop song to use a fade-in intro, which was inspired by a remark from a chauffeur. It was a U.S. No. 1 hit, but both Paul McCartney and John Lennon have famously disliked the song, calling it a lousy or weak effort. – 7/10
No. 2: “I’ll Follow The Sun” is a nostalgic Paul McCartney ballad that was famously written about his 16-year-old self after having the flu. It was considered too sentimental for their early rocker image, and was originally faster, having been written years before it was recorded and occasionally performed in Hamburg. – 7/10
No. 3: “I’m A Loser” marks a turning point in John Lennon’s songwriting, being heavily influenced by Bob Dylan and other country artists. Lennon considered this time of his songwriting his “Dylan period.” It was recorded in just one hour and was almost chosen as a single until “I Feel Fine” was written. – 8/10
“Help!” was the band’s fifth album and was recorded in just 12 days. Despite what many people think, the members on the cover do not actually spell out “Help!” According to photographer Robert Freedman, the letters H-E-L-P in semaphore did not look visually appealing, so he had the band spell out N-U-J-V (or N-V-U-J on U.S. copies).
Top three songs:
No. 1: “Yesterday” is one of the most covered songs in history, with over 3000 covers. This song was famously composed by Paul McCartney in a dream, who originally used the placeholder lyrics “scrambled eggs.” It was recorded in 1965 and was one of the first Beatles songs to feature only one vocalist (Paul McCartney) and a string quartet. – 7/10
No. 2: “Help!” is the opening track of the album and the title song. This song was a genuine cry for help from John Lennon, who felt overwhelmed by Beatlemania and his own insecurities, making “Help!” one of his most honest songs. This song was written for their second film and was recorded in just four hours. – 9/10
No. 3: “Ticket To Ride” was a groundbreaking single and was the first single of the Beatles that exceeded three minutes. It was a #1 hit in both the UK and the US, and described by John Lennon as “one of the first heavy metal records” due to its heavy, slow and driving sound compared to their previous songs. – 9/10
“Rubber Soul” was a pivotal turning point for the band, marking their evolution from a “boy band” to mature artists. The album was recorded in just over a month to meet the Christmas deadline, and is known for its folk-rock sound, the introduction of George Harrison’s sitar and being the first Beatles album free of film or concert commitments.
Top three songs:
No. 1: “In My Life” was described by John Lennon as his first “real major piece of work,” going from a bus tour of his childhood, listing places like Penny Lane and the Tram Sheds, to a nostalgic ballad. While Lennon wrote the lyrics, he argued with Paul McCartney about who wrote the melody. – 9/10
No. 2: “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” is famous for being the first Western pop song to feature a sitar, an 18 to 21-string instrument. It was primarily written by John Lennon about a clandestine affair. It features poetic lyrics and a somewhat vengeful ending where the narrator burns down the girl’s house. – 8/10
No. 3: “Nowhere Man” was a groundbreaking song written by John Lennon that was one of the first Beatles songs to have absolutely nothing to do with love or romance, instead focusing on existential philosophy and personal dissatisfaction. It was famously written by Lennon after five hours of struggling to write a new song. – 8/10
“Revolver” was the band’s sixth studio album and marked the change from pop to more psychedelic rock experimentation. It featured groundbreaking techniques like tape loops, backward recording and sitars. This album, which was almost named “Abracadabra” or “After Geography,” was recorded in over 300 hours.
Top three songs:
No. 1: “Eleanor Rigby” is a landmark Beatles song, which had no band instruments, only featuring a string octet. Paul McCartney wrote it about loneliness, featuring characters like Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie. The name “Rigby” came from a shop in Bristol, while “Eleanor” was inspired by actress Eleanor Bron. – 9/10
No. 2: “Here, There and Everywhere” is a celebrated Beatles song, primarily written by Paul McCartney, and is one of his personal favorites. The song was inspired by the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows.” McCartney wrote the melody while lounging by John Lennon’s pool, waiting for him to wake up. – 8/10
No. 3: “Good Day Sunshine” was primarily written by Paul McCartney at John Lennon’s estate in Kenwood. The song was heavily inspired by “The Lovin’ Spoonful’s” hit “Daydream.” The song was recorded in two days at Abbey Road, featuring a ragtime piano solo by George Martin. – 8/10
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” was the band’s seventh studio album and redefined pop music. The idea of the album is a fictional, alter-ego performance, which allowed creative freedom. Paul McCartney thought of the title after mishearing a flight attendant ask for “salt and pepper” packets.
Top three songs:
No. 1: “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” was inspired by a 1967 drawing made by John Lennon’s four-year-old son, Julian, which depicted Lucy O’Donnell, who was one of Julian’s classmates. Although widely believed to be a reference due to the title’s acronym, Lennon insists the inspiration was Julian’s drawing and “Alice in Wonderland.” – 9/10
No. 2: “With A Little Help From My Friends” is an iconic Beatles song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. It was specifically for Ringo Starr’s vocal range, and for him to sing the song as the character “Billy Shears.” The song was written in only a few hours and was originally titled “Badfinger Boogie.” – 9/10
No. 3: “A Day In The Life” was created by merging John Lennon’s moody verses, which were inspired by newspaper stories, and Paul McCartney’s upbeat middle section. The song famously features a massive 40-piece orchestral crescendo and ends on a piano chord played by three people. – 8/10
“Magical Mystery Tour” is the band’s eighth studio album, and originally began as a chaotic, self-produced TV show inspired by Ken Kasey’s “Merry Pranksters.” It featured the Beatles traveling by bus with actors. It was originally released as a double EP in the U.K. and an LP in the U.S., but later became a key part of their official canon.
Top three songs:
No. 1: “All You Need Is Love” was written by John Lennon and performed live on the first global live satellite television link on June 25, 1967. It was broadcast to 25 countries, and over 400 million people saw the performance. The backing vocals included Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Marianne Faithfull and more. – 9/10
No. 2: “Penny Lane” is a Beatles classic primarily written by Paul McCartney, who depicted a real Liverpool street, including a barbershop, inspired by Bioletti’s and a bank. It famously features a piccolo trumpet solo and was released as a double A-side along with “Strawberry Fields Forever.” – 8/10
No. 3: “Strawberry Fields Forever” was inspired by a Salvation Army children’s home near John Lennon’s childhood home in Liverpool. The song combines two completely different takes that were in different keys and tempos, which required their producer, George Martin, to speed up one take and slow down the other to make them match. – 9/10
“Magical Mystery Tour” is the band’s eighth studio album, and originally began as a chaotic, self-produced TV show inspired by Ken Kasey’s “Merry Pranksters.” It featured the Beatles traveling by bus with actors. It was originally released as a double EP in the U.K. and an LP in the U.S., but later became a key part of their official canon.
Top three songs:
No. 1: “All You Need Is Love” was written by John Lennon and performed live on the first global live satellite television link on June 25, 1967. It was broadcast to 25 countries, and over 400 million people saw the performance. The backing vocals included Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Marianne Faithfull and more. – 9/10
No. 2: “Penny Lane” is a Beatles classic primarily written by Paul McCartney, who depicted a real Liverpool street, including a barbershop, inspired by Bioletti’s and a bank. It famously features a piccolo trumpet solo and was released as a double A-side along with “Strawberry Fields Forever.” – 8/10
No. 3: “Strawberry Fields Forever” was inspired by a Salvation Army children’s home near John Lennon’s childhood home in Liverpool. The song combines two completely different takes that were in different keys and tempos, which required their producer, George Martin, to speed up one take and slow down the other to make them match. – 9/10
“The Beatles,” also known as “The White Album,” is famous for its fully white cover, creative tensions and 30-song tracklist. It was recorded during a time of rising discord and was widely conceived in Rishikesh, India. The album was almost titled “A Doll’s House” until the band changed it after another band released a similarly titled album.
Top three songs:
No. 1: “Blackbird” was written by Paul McCartney and was inspired by the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and the “Little Rock Nine” students. The song uses a metaphor of a Black woman, referred to as a bird, taking flight, and encouraging those facing oppression to do the same. It was written in Scotland, features real bird sounds and was recorded alone by McCartney. – 9/10
No. 2: “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” was written by Paul McCartney and was inspired by Nigerian musician Jimmy Scott’s expression for “life goes on.” It’s famous for its intense recording session, a lyric mistake that was kept on purpose and being despised by John Lennon, despite it becoming a global hit. – 9/10
No. 3: “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was written by George Harrison to encourage his bandmates to take his songwriting seriously during a tense time for the band. The song features Eric Clapton on lead guitar. Clapton was nervous about playing on a Beatles track, so his guitar was heavily processed to make it sound “less Clapton.” – 9/10
“Yellow Submarine” served as the soundtrack for the animated movie of the same name. The album only featured six Beatles songs, four of which were new, alongside George Martin’s orchestral score. It was deemed a “contractual obligation” project, and, to the Beatles, less significant.
Top three songs:
No. 1: “Yellow Submarine” was primarily written by Paul McCartney, with help from John Lennon, specifically as a children’s song for Ringo Starr to sing. It became a number one hit, inspiring a 1968 animated movie and becoming an anthem for psychedelic, fun-filled escapism. – 8/10
No. 2: “All Together Now” was an intentionally simple, music-hall-style song designed as a child-friendly sing-along. It was written primarily by Paul McCartney, recorded in just six hours during the “Magical Mystery Tour” recording sessions, but later released for the 1969 “Yellow Submarine” animated movie. – 7/10
No. 3: “Hey Bulldog” was recorded in 1968 for the “Yellow Submarine” movie, and is a high-energy Lennon-McCartney rock song, noted for its heavy, bluesy piano riff. The song was originally titled “Hey Bullfrog,” and was created in one 10-hour session, featuring ad-libbed barking from Lennon and McCartney. – 10/10
“Abbey Road” was the final album that the band recorded. It features the iconic zebra crossing cover shot that was taken in just 10 minutes. The album was originally titled “Everest” and showcases new technology like the Moog Synthesizer, and was also the first Beatles album to not be issued in mono.
Top three songs:
No. 1: “Here Comes The Sun” was written by George Harrison in Eric Clapton’s garden after skipping a stressful Beatles business meeting. John Lennon ended up not playing on the song due to being absent from the session while recovering from a car crash. The song symbolizes relief from band tensions and long English winters. – 8/10
No. 2: “Come Together” was originally written as a campaign song for Timothy Leary’s bid for California Governor, which was abandoned after his arrest. Many fans believe that each of the verses describes band members in the order of Ringo Starr, George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. – 9/10
No. 3: “Something” is the most covered Beatles song after “Yesterday,” with covers by Elvis Presley, James Brown and Frank Sinatra. It was the first song written by George Harrison to be featured as a Beatles A-side single. Harrison stated that his favorite cover was by James Brown, which he kept in his personal jukebox. – 9/10
“Let It Be” was the Beatles’ final album release, even though it was recorded before Abbey Road. The album features a “back-to-basics” live sound without heavy overdubs. The album was originally titled “Get Back,” featuring a famous rooftop concert. Keyboardist Billy Preston was brought in to ease tensions and is often considered the “fifth Beatle.”
Top three songs:
No. 1: “Let It Be” was written by Paul McCartney and inspired by a dream he had of his deceased mother during the intense recording sessions of “The Beatles (The White Album).” It was the last single released by The Beatles before their breakup, and even though it was a massive hit, it was mocked by John Lennon for having a “too Christian” tone. – 9/10
No. 2: “The Long And Winding Road” was the Beatles’ 20th and final US number-one hit, written by Paul McCartney at his Scottish farm, and was inspired by the B842 road and the band’s impending breakup. Producer Phil Spector added unauthorized orchestrations, which influenced McCartney’s decision to sue and dissolve the band. – 9/10
No. 3: “Get Back” was a hit by The Beatles that acted as a return to their “back-to-basics” roots. It’s famous for officially being credited to “The Beatles with Billy Preston,” making it the only Beatles song in history to feature another artist in the main artist credit. – 7/10
Sixth place (last)
Overall: 7.3/10
“Beatles For Sale”
Fifth place
Overall: 7.6/10
“Please Please Me”
Tied for fourth place
Overall: 8/10
“Let It Be” and “With The Beatles”
Tied for third place
Overall: 8.3/10
“Yellow Submarine,” “Revolver,” “Rubber Soul,” “Help!” and “A Hard Day’s Night”
Tied for second place…
Overall: 8.6/10
“Abbey Road,” “Magical Mystery Tour” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”
In first place!
Overall: 9/10
“The Beatles (The White Album)”
Thank you for sticking with me from “Please Please Me” all the way to “Let It Be.” It only took seven years, one month and 16 days!
