The Beatles

Boroking · Dec 20, 2021

I never really bought into their solo stuff but every now and then something surprises me, like this bonus track from Paul McCartney's 'New' album from 2013. The sound of it caught me off guard

Bruins1 · Dec 20, 2021

Boroking said:
I never really bought into their solo stuff but every now and then something surprises me, like this bonus track from Paul McCartney's 'New' album from 2013. The sound of it caught me off guard

You're like me for every now and then you find a song from their solo stuff that you really like. Then there is stuff like GH's Crackerjack Palace and of course McCartney's "silly love songs"

Bruins1 · Dec 23, 2021

Interesting.

Forostar · Dec 30, 2021

43 All I've Got to Do / With the Beatles (1963)
Apparently, this one signals the first time in rock and roll or rock music in which the bass player plays chords as a vital part of the song. I really like the harmonic vocal work here. And fine melodies. Perhaps the song could have benefitted from a short instrumental section (solo!) but I still like it as it is.

44 Revolution / B-side Hey Jude / Revolution single (1968)

This is the fast, distorted version. I like how that fuzzy distorted sound was created: by injecting the guitar signal into the mixing console through two microphone preamplifiers, almost overheating the console. According to sound engineer Geoff Emerick this was severe abuse of the studio equipment.
Of course, this song feels like pure rock and roll, but the sound makes it different. It's as if the Beatles sound like a mix of Status Quo and ZZ Top long before these bands found their own typical sound.

45 There's a Place / Please Please Me (1963)

I'm not a huge lover of the harmonica but in this number it rings a very melancholic bell. Well done John Lennon. This is a wonderful little song with lyrics I like (the "And it's my mind and there's no time when I'm alone" bit). The "In my mind there's no sorrow" bridge I probably like the most because of the melody. It happens only once, but then again, it makes it the more special.

46 When I'm Sixty-Four / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

At first, this one felt as some sort of humpty dumpty children's song (melody and rhythm in verses). But when that chorus starts I'm struck by that truly beautiful, melancholic melody Paul is singing. I love that interplay with the backing vocals as well.

47 Something / Abbey Road (1969)

I love the production and Ringo's drum beat here. Such a simple, yet effective beat. You hear it very well but it does not sit in the way of anything else.
I had to get used to this song. It has grown on me and it managed to creep in my top 50. There is a very serene mood with memorable string orchestration. The lovely guitar solo and Ringo's untypical rhythm underneath bring nice variation. I get a bit impatient in the final 50 seconds. I am not very fond of having to hear that whole last verse again, except for Paul's superb basslines. I think he may be doing different things throughout the whole song.

48 Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) / Rubber Soul (1965)

For a long while this song was not in my top 50. But it jumped in. The best part, by far, is the harmony.
The lyrics are very dry and give a good look into the mind (and drastic actions!) of the visitor.

49 Twist and Shout / Please Please Me (1963)

This song is pretty repetitive but I like the intensity of it. Of course John gives it all (had nothing left afterwards; first take and that was it) but I also dig Ringo's drumrolls here. With headphones I can focus more on his playing, and it's good fun. The repetitiveness of the song, also of that riff and the sort of stoic backing vocals make an interesting contrast with the looser role for John and Ringo.

50 I Wanna Be Your Man / With the Beatles (1963)

Yes, yes I know... dumb, simplistic lyrics, hardly any variation in the song. But man, this grooves! I read it has a "heavy Bo Diddly beat".
I like the constant drive of the rhythm guitars, the roughness of the solo and there's a cool Ringo drumroll around 1:50.
I also like this (unofficial) instrumental version:

51 & 52: the two songs that just didn't make my top 50:

51 I Saw Her Standing There / Please Please Me (1963)
I like how this no nonsense approach sounds. Clear sounding, upclose electric guitars, neat, cool riffs (especially the fast one by Harrison?), fine solo.

52 You Never Give Me Your Money / Abbey Road (1969)
Really fine melancholic beginning with contrasting lyrics having a different emotion (rather angry instead).
The next jumpy section is sort of light and fun, not that much my cup of tea musically... then "Oh that magic feeling" is a fine part.
I also like the rocking section when Paul continues singing. Then that lovely guitar bit starting @ 2:48.
This one has good ideas, and I can see why people might have this higher. My son surely has this higher in his list which he is busy with at this moment. For me it is just not as grabbing as 51 other songs, and naturally this says a lot about the quality of the Beatles catalogue.
The One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, all good children go to Heaven lyric was taken by Bad Religion who were (especially Brett Gurewitz) big Beatles fans, and used in the chorus of their song Anesthesia (from the album Against the Grain, 1990).

53 and beyond: 53 plus 54-83 in chronological order.

"I've Got a Feeling" was the last of this bunch I doubted about, so that one can be considered as my number 53:

01 Please Mr. Postman / With The Beatles (1963)
02 Sie Liebt Dich / single (March 1964)
03 I Call Your Name / Long Tall Sally EP (June 1964)
04 Slow Down / Long Tall Sally EP (June 1964)
05 A Hard Day's Night / A Hard Day's Night (1964)
06 I Should Have Known Better / A Hard Day's Night (1964)
07 Honey Don't / Beatles for Sale (1964)
08 Bad Boy / Beatles VI (June 1965)
09 Help / Help! (1965)
10 I Need You / Help! (1965)
11 Yesterday / Help! (1965)
12 Think for Yourself / Rubber Soul (1965)
13 Michelle / Rubber Soul (1965)
14 I'm Looking Through You / Rubber Soul (1965)
15 In My Life / Rubber Soul (1965)
16 Rain / single (June 1966)
17 Love You To / Revolver (1966)
18 Yellow Submarine / Revolver (1966)
19 For No One / Revolver (1966)
20 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
21 With a Little Help of My Friends / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
22 Lucy Ia The Sky With Diamonds / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
23 Fixing A Hole / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
24 I Am the Walrus / Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
25 Back in the U.S.S.R. / White Album (1968)
26 The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill / White Album (1968)
27 Don't Pass Me By / White Album (1968)
28 Old Brown Shoe / single (May 1969)
29 Two of Us / Let It Be (1970)
30 Get Back / Let It Be (1970)
31 I've Got a Feeling / Let It Be Naked version (no. 53)

Mosh · Dec 30, 2021

All I’ve Got To Do is a cool song and one that feels fairly unique in the early catalog. The Latin flavored rhythm, the moody verses mixed with uplifting choruses. The lyrics flow really well with the tone of the song as well.

Bruins1 · Dec 30, 2021

Mosh said:
All I’ve Got To Do is a cool song and one that feels fairly unique in the early catalog. The Latin flavored rhythm, the moody verses mixed with uplifting choruses. The lyrics flow really well with the tone of the song as well.

Gotta admit, even though I am a long time Beatles' fan and have their first album, I don't think I ever listened to this song. Or if I did, it was probably once and I don't remember it. I bought it on vinyl in the '80s and focused on Don't Bother Me,It Won't Be Long and I Wanna Hold Your Hand. Good one.

Forostar · Dec 30, 2021

This song is on the 2nd album. You bought some American album, Meet the Beatles, which combined stuff.

Mosh · Dec 31, 2021

“Some American album” was most North Americans’ first exposure to The Beatles until the catalog was completely reissued in the late 80s. Not an insufficient period of time and was also seen as significant enough to reissue a few years ago. It’s an interesting historic piece along with the other Capital Beatles albums. Not something to turn your nose up at.

Forostar · Dec 31, 2021

Alright, but I felt that someone into the Beatles should first and foremost associate the songs with the first and foremost albums, in my view. Of course there are other interesting and not unimportant editions (sorry for the "some", you are right in stressing its importance) but these are not the ones I'd adress in international context. Or else it gets confusing.

In this case, this song is from With the Beatles.

THE first Beatles album is Please Please Me. And this song is not on it. That was my main point.

Diesel 11 · Dec 31, 2021

I much prefer the UK releases and I’m glad that we don’t do that split stuff anymore, but there are people who consider Meet the Beatles the superior album. Ultimately comes down to whether you prefer the original artists’ intents, or if taking the best songs from Please Please Me and With the Beatles and including big hit singles as well make the American package better for you.

And there’s plenty of loyalty towards the American records too. Some years ago they released a box set of all the official records that differ from the UK releases.

Forostar · Dec 31, 2021

Meet the Beatles omits There's a Place and Twist and Shout so I'd protest against seeing it as the best collection of the first two albums. :--)

Mosh · Dec 31, 2021

Forostar said:
Alright, but I felt that someone into the Beatles should first and foremost associate the songs with the first and foremost albums, in my view. Of course there are other interesting and not unimportant editions (sorry for the "some", you are right in stressing its importance) but these are not the ones I'd adress in international context. Or else it gets confusing.

In this case, this song is from With the Beatles.

THE first Beatles album is Please Please Me. And this song is not on it. That was my main point.

I generally agree with this, although I can empathize that it’s a tricky adjustment to make if you weren’t even aware of With the Beatles or Please Please Me for decades.

As far as the albums themselves, I think Meet the Beatles is decent. It’s mostly With the Beatles + a few of the singles. But yes, there’s a lot missing. I don’t think the debut album ever really got a fair shake in America, despite having some really good material.

Mosh · Dec 31, 2021

Btw there are some interesting oddities throughout the capitol albums. A Hard Day’s Night contains a lot of the instrumental rearrangements from the film, Beatles VI contains the song Bad Boy which didn’t see a wide release until the Past Masters CD, and of course the “canon” Magical Mystery Tour is the NA version.

Bruins1 · Dec 31, 2021

Forostar said:
This song is on the 2nd album. You bought some American album, Meet the Beatles, which combined stuff.

True! I forgot Please Please Me which I bought off ebay back in 2015

I'd forgotten about the differences what we here in the USA what people in the UK got both as far as track listings and album titles. For example, A Hard Days night. My vinyl version that I bought in the '80s is as follows:
Side One
A Hard Days Night(vocal), Tell Me Why, I'll Cry Instead, I Should've Known Better(instrumental), I'm Happy Just To Dance with You, And I love Her(instrumental).
Side Two
I Should've Known Better(vocal), If I Fell, And I Love her(vocal), Ringo's Theme(This Boy) (Instrumental), Can't Buy Me Love, A Hard Days Night(Instrumental).
The CD version and perhaps(?) the UK version:

A Hard Day's Night
I Should've Known Better
If I Fell
I'm Happy Just To Dance With you
And I Love Her
Tell Me Why
Can't Buy Me Love
Any Time At all
I'll Cry Instead
Things We Said Today
When I Get Home
You Can't Do That
I'll Be Back

I'll Be Back is on Beatles' 65 and You Can't do That is on The Beatles' "Second Album"( I have this also). Alright enough of this for I need a beer

Diesel 11 · Dec 31, 2021

Forostar said:
Meet the Beatles omits There's a Place and Twist and Shout so I'd protest against seeing it as the best collection of the first two albums. :--)

I agree to be clear, Meet the Beatles feels more like a compilation than a proper record to me since I grew up with the UK albums. Just pointing out that its historical value is arguably as important as its two UK counterparts.

Forostar · Jan 1, 2022

Two songs this time.

41 Long Tall Sally / Long Tall Sally EP (1964)
A nice little rock 'n' roller with Paul on vocals and a mad solo by George. Gotta love Ringo going all out here. Wild stuff.
Most notable is his cymbal playing, where he alternates between his left and right hand so that he can do snare drums in between.
For example, you can see him doing it here, while headbanging, starting @ 1:33

42 Yer Blues / White Album (1968)
That bass! So deep, up close and heavy. I really like the tempo changes. That pumping bass playing and all the guitars around it are really cool, especially in the faster part. John Lennon played this one live with Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Mitch Mitchell. Nice to watch that passionate John. It's sad that the Beatles didn't want to perform a bit more often in their heavier (and more experimental/psychedelic) period.

43 All I've Got to Do / With the Beatles (1963)

Apparently, this one signals the first time in rock and roll or rock music in which the bass player plays chords as a vital part of the song. I really like the harmonic vocal work here. And fine melodies. Perhaps the song could have benefitted from a short instrumental section (solo!) but I still like it as it is.

44 Revolution / B-side Hey Jude / Revolution single (1968)

This is the fast, distorted version. I like how that fuzzy distorted sound was created: by injecting the guitar signal into the mixing console through two microphone preamplifiers, almost overheating the console. According to sound engineer Geoff Emerick this was severe abuse of the studio equipment.
Of course, this song feels like pure rock and roll, but the sound makes it different. It's as if the Beatles sound like a mix of Status Quo and ZZ Top long before these bands found their own typical sound.

45 There's a Place / Please Please Me (1963)

I'm not a huge lover of the harmonica but in this number it rings a very melancholic bell. Well done John Lennon. This is a wonderful little song with lyrics I like (the "And it's my mind and there's no time when I'm alone" bit). The "In my mind there's no sorrow" bridge I probably like the most because of the melody. It happens only once, but then again, it makes it the more special.

46 When I'm Sixty-Four / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

At first, this one felt as some sort of humpty dumpty children's song (melody and rhythm in verses). But when that chorus starts I'm struck by that truly beautiful, melancholic melody Paul is singing. I love that interplay with the backing vocals as well.

47 Something / Abbey Road (1969)

I love the production and Ringo's drum beat here. Such a simple, yet effective beat. You hear it very well but it does not sit in the way of anything else.
I had to get used to this song. It has grown on me and it managed to creep in my top 50. There is a very serene mood with memorable string orchestration. The lovely guitar solo and Ringo's untypical rhythm underneath bring nice variation. I get a bit impatient in the final 50 seconds. I am not very fond of having to hear that whole last verse again, except for Paul's superb basslines. I think he may be doing different things throughout the whole song.

48 Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) / Rubber Soul (1965)

For a long while this song was not in my top 50. But it jumped in. The best part, by far, is the harmony.
The lyrics are very dry and give a good look into the mind (and drastic actions!) of the visitor.

49 Twist and Shout / Please Please Me (1963)

This song is pretty repetitive but I like the intensity of it. Of course John gives it all (had nothing left afterwards; first take and that was it) but I also dig Ringo's drumrolls here. With headphones I can focus more on his playing, and it's good fun. The repetitiveness of the song, also of that riff and the sort of stoic backing vocals make an interesting contrast with the looser role for John and Ringo.

50 I Wanna Be Your Man / With the Beatles (1963)

Yes, yes I know... dumb, simplistic lyrics, hardly any variation in the song. But man, this grooves! I read it has a "heavy Bo Diddly beat".
I like the constant drive of the rhythm guitars, the roughness of the solo and there's a cool Ringo drumroll around 1:50.
I also like this (unofficial) instrumental version:

51 & 52: the two songs that just didn't make my top 50:

51 I Saw Her Standing There / Please Please Me (1963)
I like how this no nonsense approach sounds. Clear sounding, upclose electric guitars, neat, cool riffs (especially the fast one by Harrison?), fine solo.

52 You Never Give Me Your Money / Abbey Road (1969)
Really fine melancholic beginning with contrasting lyrics having a different emotion (rather angry instead).
The next jumpy section is sort of light and fun, not that much my cup of tea musically... then "Oh that magic feeling" is a fine part.
I also like the rocking section when Paul continues singing. Then that lovely guitar bit starting @ 2:48.
This one has good ideas, and I can see why people might have this higher. My son surely has this higher in his list which he is busy with at this moment. For me it is just not as grabbing as 51 other songs, and naturally this says a lot about the quality of the Beatles catalogue.
The One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, all good children go to Heaven lyric was taken by Bad Religion who were (especially Brett Gurewitz) big Beatles fans, and used in the chorus of their song Anesthesia (from the album Against the Grain, 1990).

53 and beyond: 53 plus 54-83 in chronological order.

"I've Got a Feeling" was the last of this bunch I doubted about, so that one can be considered as my number 53:

01 Please Mr. Postman / With The Beatles (1963)
02 Sie Liebt Dich / single (March 1964)
03 I Call Your Name / Long Tall Sally EP (June 1964)
04 Slow Down / Long Tall Sally EP (June 1964)
05 A Hard Day's Night / A Hard Day's Night (1964)
06 I Should Have Known Better / A Hard Day's Night (1964)
07 Honey Don't / Beatles for Sale (1964)
08 Bad Boy / Beatles VI (June 1965)
09 Help / Help! (1965)
10 I Need You / Help! (1965)
11 Yesterday / Help! (1965)
12 Think for Yourself / Rubber Soul (1965)
13 Michelle / Rubber Soul (1965)
14 I'm Looking Through You / Rubber Soul (1965)
15 In My Life / Rubber Soul (1965)
16 Rain / single (June 1966)
17 Love You To / Revolver (1966)
18 Yellow Submarine / Revolver (1966)
19 For No One / Revolver (1966)
20 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
21 With a Little Help of My Friends / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
22 Lucy Ia The Sky With Diamonds / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
23 Fixing A Hole / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
24 I Am the Walrus / Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
25 Back in the U.S.S.R. / White Album (1968)
26 The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill / White Album (1968)
27 Don't Pass Me By / White Album (1968)
28 Old Brown Shoe / single (May 1969)
29 Two of Us / Let It Be (1970)
30 Get Back / Let It Be (1970)
31 I've Got a Feeling / Let It Be Naked version (no. 53)

____no5 · Jan 11, 2023

Table below shows the Beatles songs' distribution per songwriter to be used for future reference:

John Lennon wrote the most deep songs musically and lyrically such breakthrough masterpieces as
Tomorrow Never Knows, my absolute best Beatles song, an early and highly influential recording in the psychedelic and electronic music genres, particularly for its pioneering use of sampling, tape manipulation and other production techniques.
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, a psychedelic classic, with initialism "LSD" began circulating shortly after the release of the Sgt. Pepper's, plus a common reference for Lucifer.
Strawberry Fields Forever, on Lennon's words, his finest work with the Beatles, a song describing his chilhood (paired with McCarthy's Penny Lane, to describe his). First song ever to feature a "beat" progenitor of electronic music. Also with a pioneering music video. Walter Everett identifies the song's ending as an example of the Beatles' continued pioneering of the "fade-out–fade-in coda", further to their use of this device on the 1966 B-side "Rain".
I'm the Walrus, modelled after Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale", it features some shocking lyrics even for today's standards.
Ticket to Ride, breakthrough drumming, some consider it the first heavy metal song ever written.
Norwegian Wood, often identified as the first example of raga rock, intruduced sitar in Western Music. Also great lyric line.
I'm Only Sleeping, features the then-unique sound of a reversed guitar duet played by Harrison in a five-hour late-night recording session with producer George Martin. Harrison perfected the part with the tape running backwards so that, when reversed, it would fit the dreamlike mood.

McCarthy's lyrics were more swallow however he was the master of melodies (melodic masterpieces such as You Never Give me Your Money, For No One, I've just seen a Face) and wrote the most successful songs such as Hey Jude, Yesterday, Get Back, Let it Be.

He also had his breakthrough moments with the super heavy rocker Helter Skelter, the heaviest song by then & Penny Lane, anout his childhood as mentioned above, with Musicologist Dominic Pedler describing it as a profound and surprising innovation involving abandoning mid-cycle what initially appears to be a standard I–vi–ii–V doo-wop pop chord cycle.

St. Pepper's concept was mainly his, as well as the concept of the B Side of Abbey Road, dubbed the best single side of a record ever.

Harrison came late in the game of songwriting but he brough such songs in the table as While My Guitar Gently Weeps, with an A Class sole by Eric Clapton, the renaissance-like Piggies, the sitar, table & tambura immersing Within You Without You and of course the highly acclaimed Something & Here Comes The Sun.

Ringo Starr sang several songs but wrote only 2 and I like particularly Don't Pass Me By, his first one.

Please Please Me 1963

Song

Main composer

Singer

Love Me Do

McCartney

Lennon/McCartney

P.S. I Love You

McCartney

Please Please Me

Lennon

Lennon/McCartney

Ask Me Why

Lennon

There´s a Place

Lennon

I Saw Her Standing There

McCartney

Do You Want to Know a Secret

Lennon

Harrison

Misery

Lennon/McCartney

A Taste of Honey

Scott/Marlow

McCartney

Anna (Go to Him)

Alexander

Lennon

Boys

Dixon/Farrell

Starr

Chains

Goffin/King

Harrison

Baby It´s You

David/Williams/Bacharach

Lennon

Twist and Shout

Medley/Russel

Lennon

Total

Lennon: 4
McCartney: 3
L/M: 1

Lennon: 5
McCartney: 3
Harrison: 2
Starr: 1
L/M: 3

With The Beatles 1963

Song

Main composer

Singer

Hold Me Tight

McCartney

It Won´t Be Long

Lennon

All My Loving

McCartney

I Wanna Be Your Man

Lennon/McCartney

Starr

Little Child

Lennon/McCartney

All I´ve Got to Do

Lennon

Not a Second Time

Lennon

Don´t Bother Me

Harrison

Roll Over Beethoven

Berry

Harrison

You Really Got a Hold on Me

Robinson

Lennon/Harrison

Money (That´s What I Want)

Bradford/Gordy

Lennon

Devil in Her Heart

Drapkin

Harrison

Till There Was You

Wilson

McCartney

Please Mr Postman

Holland/Bateman/Garrett/
Dobbins/Gorman

Lennon

Total

Lennon: 3
McCartney: 2
Harrison: 1
L/M: 2

Lennon: 5
McCartney: 3
Harrison: 3
Starr: 1
L/M: 1
L/H: 1

Long Tall Sally 1964

Song

Main composer

Singer

Long Tall Sally

Johnson/Penniman/
Blackwell

McCartney

I Call Your Name

Lennon

Matchbox

Perkins

Starr

Slow Down

Williams

Lennon

Total

Lennon: 1

Lennon: 2
McCartney: 1
Starr: 1

A Hard Day's Night 1964

Song

Main composer

Singer

Can´t Buy Me Love

McCartney

You Can´t Do That

Lennon

And I Love Her

McCartney

I Should Have Known Better

Lennon

Tell Me Why

Lennon

If I fell

Lennon

Lennon/McCartney

I´m Happy Just to Dance With You

Lennon

Harrison

A Hard Day´s Night

Lennon

Lennon/McCartney

I´ll Cry Instead

Lennon

I´ll Be Back

Lennon

Any Time at All

Lennon

Things We Said Today

McCartney

When I Get Home

Lennon

Total

Lennon: 10
McCartney: 3

Lennon: 7
McCartney: 3
Harrison: 1
L/M: 2

Beatles For Sale 1964

Song

Main composer

Singer

Baby´s in Black

Lennon/McCartney

I´m a Loser

Lennon

Every Little Thing

McCartney

Lennon

I Don´t Want to Spoil the Party

Lennon

Lennon/Harrison

What You´re Doing

McCartney

No Reply

Lennon

Eight Days a Week

McCartney

Lennon/McCartney

I´ll Follow the Sun

McCartney

Mr Moonlight

Johnson

Lennon

Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey

Leiber/Stoller/Penniman

McCartney

Everybody´s Trying to Be My Baby

Perkins

Harrison

Rock and Roll Music

Berry

Lennon

Words of Love

Holly

Lennon/McCartney

Honey Don´t

Perkins

Starr

Total

Lennon: 3
McCartney: 3
L/M: 1

Lennon: 5
McCartney: 3
Harrison: 1
Starr: 1
L/M: 3
L/H: 1

Help! 1965

Song

Main composer

Singer

Ticket to Ride

Lennon

Another Girl

McCartney

I Need You

Harrison

The Night Before

McCartney

You Like Me Too Much

Harrison

You´ve Got to Hide Your Love Away

Lennon

Tell Me What You See

McCartney

You´re Going to Lose That Girl

Lennon

Help!

Lennon

I´ve Just Seen a Face

McCartney

Yesterday

McCartney

It´s Only Love

Lennon

Dizzy Miss Lizzy

Williams

Lennon

Act Naturally

Morrison/Russel

Starr

Total

Lennon: 5
McCartney: 5
Harrison: 2

Lennon: 6
McCartney: 5
Harrison: 2
Starr: 1

Rubber Soul 1965

Song

Main composer

Singer

Wait

Lennon/McCartney

Run for Your Life

Lennon

Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

Lennon

Drive My Car

McCartney

Lennon/McCartney

If I Need Someone

Harrison

In My Life

Lennon/McCartney

Lennon

Nowhere Man

Lennon

I´m Looking Through You

McCartney

Michelle

McCartney

What Goes On

Lennon/McCartney

Starr

Think for Yourself

Harrison

The Word

Lennon/McCartney

You Won´t See Me

McCartney

Girl

Lennon

Total

Lennon: 4
McCartney: 4
Harrison: 2
L/M: 4

Lennon: 5
McCartney: 3
Harrison: 2
Starr: 1
L/M:3

Revolver 1966

Song

Main composer

Singer

Tomorrow Never Knows

Lennon

Got to Get You Into My Life

McCartney

Love You to

Harrison

Doctor Robert

Lennon

And Your Bird Can Sing

Lennon

Taxman

Harrison

I´m Only Sleeping

Lennon

Eleanor Rigby

McCartney

For No One

McCartney

Yellow Submarine

McCartney

Starr

I Want to Tell You

Harrison

Good Day Sunshine

McCartney

Here, There and Everywhere

McCartney

She Said She Said

Lennon

Total

Lennon: 5
McCartney: 6
Harrison: 3

Lennon: 5
McCartney: 5
Harrison: 3
Starr: 1

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 1967

Song

Main composer

Singer

When I´m 64

McCartney

A Day in the Life

Lennon/McCartney

Sgt. Pepper´s Lonely Hearts Club Band

McCartney

Good Morning Good Morning

Lennon

Fixing a Hole

McCartney

Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite

Lennon

Lovely Rita

McCartney

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Lennon

Getting Better

McCartney

Within You Without You

Harrison

She´s Leaving Home

McCartney

With a Little Help From My Friends

McCartney

Starr

Sgt. Pepper´s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)

McCartney

Lennon/McCartney/
Harrison/Starr

Total

Lennon: 3
McCartney: 8
Harrison: 1
L/M: 1

Lennon: 3
McCartney: 6
Harrison: 1
Starr: 1
L/M: 1
L/M/H/S: 1

Magical Mystery Tour 1967

Song

Main composer

Singer

Magical Mystery Tour

McCartney

Your Mother Should Know

McCartney

Blue Jay Way

Harrison

Flying

Harrison/Lennon/
McCartney/Starkey

Harrison/Lennon/
McCartney/Starr

The Fool on the Hill

McCartney

I Am the Walrus

Lennon

Total

Lennon: 1
McCartney: 3
Harrison: 1
H/L/M/S: 1

The Beatles 1968

Song

Main composer

Singer

Revolution 1

Lennon

Don´t Pass Me By

Starkey

Starr

Revolution 9

Lennon

"Instrumental"

Blackbird

McCartney

Everybody´s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey

Lennon

Good Night

Lennon

Starr

Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da

McCartney

Cry Baby Cry

Lennon

Helter Skelter

McCartney

Sexy Sadie

Lennon

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Harrison

Mother Nature´s Son

McCartney

Yer Blues

Lennon

Rocky Raccoon

McCartney

Wild Honey Pie

McCartney

Back in the USSR

McCartney

Dear Prudence

Lennon

Glass Onion

Lennon

I Will

McCartney

Birthday

McCartney

Lennon/McCartney

Piggies

Harrison

Happiness is a Warm Gun

Lennon

Honey Pie

McCartney

Savoy Truffle

Harrison

Martha My Dear

McCartney

Long Long Long

Harrison

I´m So Tired

Lennon

The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill

Lennon

Why Don´t We Do It in the Road?

McCartney

Julia

Lennon

Total

Lennon: 13
McCartney:12
Harrison: 4
Starkey: 1

Lennon: 11
McCartney: 11
Harrison: 4
Starr: 2
L/M: 1

Yellow Submarine 1969

Song

Main composer

Singer

Yellow Submarine

McCartney

Starr

Only a Nothern Song

Harrison

All Together Now

McCartney

It´s All Too Much

Harrison

All You Need is Love

Lennon

Hey Bulldog

Lennon/McCartney

Lennon

Total

Lennon: 1
McCartney: 2
Harrison: 2
L/M: 1

Lennon: 2
McCartney: 1
Harrison: 2
Starr: 1

Abbey Road 1969

Song

Main composer

Singer

I Want You (She´s So Heavy)

Lennon

Something

Harrison

Oh! Darling

McCartney

Octopus´s Garden

Starkey

Starr

You Never Give Me Your Money

McCartney

Her Majesty

McCartney

Golden Slumbers

McCartney

Carry That Weight

McCartney

Here Comes the Sun

Harrison

Maxwell´s Silver Hammer

McCartney

Come Together

Lennon

The End

McCartney

Sun King

Lennon

Mean Mr Mustard

Lennon

Polythene Pam

Lennon

She Came in Through the Bathroom Window

McCartney

Because

Lennon

Lennon/McCartney/Harrison

Total

Lennon: 6
McCartney: 8
Harrison: 2
Starkey: 1

Lennon: 5
McCartney: 8
Harrison: 2
Starr: 1
L/M/H: 1

Let It Be 1970

Song

Main composer

Singer

Across the Universe

Lennon

Dig a Ponny

Lennon

I´ve Got a Feeling

Lennon/McCartney

Get Back

McCartney

Two of Us

McCartney

Lennon/McCartney

Maggie Mae

Trad. arr.

Lennon/McCartney

Dig It

Lennon

For You Blue

Harrison

Let It Be

McCartney

The Long and Winding Road

McCartney

One After 909

Lennon

Lennon/McCartney

I Me Mine

Harrison

Total

Lennon: 4
McCartney: 4
Harrison: 2
L/M: 1

Lennon: 3
McCartney: 3
Harrison: 2
L/M: 4

Songs not released on LP

Song

Main composer

Singer

From Me to You, 1963

Lennon/McCartney

Thank You Girl, 1963

Lennon/McCartney

Lennon

She Loves You, 1963

Lennon/McCartney

I´ll Get You, 1963

Lennon/McCartney

I Want to Hold Your Hand, 1963

Lennon/McCartney

This Boy, 1963

Lennon

Lennon/McCartney/Harrison

She´s a Woman, 1964

McCartney

I Feel Fine, 1964

Lennon

Yes it is, 1965

Lennon

I´m Down, 1965

McCartney

Day Tripper, 1965

Lennon

Lennon/McCartney

We Can Work It Out, 1965

Lennon/McCartney

McCartney

Paperback Writer, 1966

McCartney

Rain, 1966

Lennon

Strawberry Fields Forever, 1967

Lennon

Penny Lane, 1967

McCartney

Baby, You´re a Rich Man, 1967

Lennon/McCartney

Hello, Goodbye, 1967

McCartney

The Inner Light, 1968

Harrison

Lady Madonna, 1968

McCartney

Hey Jude, 1968

McCartney

Don´t Let Me Down, 1969

Lennon

The Ballad of John and Yoko, 1969

Lennon

Old Brown Shoe, 1969

Harrison

You Know My Name (Look up the Number), 1970

Lennon

Lennon/McCartney/Starr

Total

Lennon: 9
McCartney: 7
Harrison: 2
L/M: 7

Lennon: 7
McCartney: 8
Harrison: 2
L/M: 6
L/M/H: 1
L/M/S: 1

Main composer

Singer

All songs, total

Lennon: 72
McCartney: 70
Harrison: 22
Starkey: 2
L/M: 18

Lennon: 72
McCartney: 66
Harrison: 28
Starr: 11
L/M: 24

One song recorded by The Beatles isn't in this list. It is Bad Boy, written by Williams, from the LP A Collection of Beatles Oldies. It was sung by Lennon and is included in the total satistics above. Yellow Submarine is only counted once, even if it appears on two albums. Free as a Bird from 1995 and Real Love from 1996 are both Lennon compositions. They are not included in the statistics. The order of the songs in the list is the same as they were recorded in.

Who was the main composer of each Beatles song?

stvn1974 · Jan 12, 2023

I could have sworn that Lennon wrote "Yellow Submarine" and then McCartney added to it changing the song completely. I also thought Lennon wrote "With A Little Help From My Friends" for Ringo to sing.

____no5 · Jan 12, 2023

Yeap, same for me.
Except those two, I would think All You Need is Love, Because, She Said She Said, Come Together are McCartney's while Helter Skelter & The Fool on the Hill are Lennon's.
Also thought Norwegian Wood was Harrison's (it's Lennon's). And I always believed Ringo wrote just only one song (Octopus' Garden) while he wrote Don't Pass Me By as well.

Sth2112 · Mar 22, 2023

On this day 60 years ago, Please please me was released for the first time in UK!

Probably not a favorite among fellow Maiden fans, but I know many people still like it (myself as well). Do you have a favorite track or two? Mine are Anna (Go with him) (very fine songwriting on this one), Twist and shout (raw rock’n roll!) and Taste of honey (Paul shows off his vocal feeling early on)

The Beatles

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