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In this thread I rank my favorite Beatles songs: 204-1. (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter krista4
- Start date
DocHolliday
Footballguy
Not everyone says Day in the Life is their masterpiece. Some of us had the medley as the number 1 Beatles song so I’m glad that you finally found your way. That transition from Pam to Bathroom Window still gives me goosebumps. Absolutely amazing. I probably like to listen to a few bands more than the Beatles but I listen to a Beatles song or mix almost daily. They are the greatest band ever. It’s an easy call to me. There is no other band that is so difficult to list a top 20 or 50 songs.Second, although everyone says Day In The Life is their masterpiece, I think this actually is instead. I'd challenge anyone to listen to this medley and find a better piece of rock-n-roll in history. Specifically, I want to ask noted Beatle-hater @KarmaPolice to load the medley into his fancy new headphones and give it a whirl from start to finish. Since you are a noted Beatle-hater, I'll let you know what I'm saying: start with "You Never Give Me Your Money" on Abbey Road and listen through "The End." Then if you are still a noted (or unnoticed) Beatle-hater, I'll give up on you. But listen to this first, fully and in order, and fully and in order again.*
*Sun King is a little struggle for me, but the Polythene Pam into She Came In Through The Bathroom Window bit is the best of the best. OH LOOK OUT!
Even though most of us don’t read much of your writing, I have read some and it’s brilliant. I’m not a big fan of much of the solo work but I’m going to follow your thread. I’m sure I will learn something, find some new tunes and be entertained.
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Zegras11
Footballguy
Three listed it #1. Five listed Day in the Life #1. They each had 13 Top 4 votes. Day in a Life was on 28 (of 35) lists. Medley on 20 lists.
Binky The Doormat
Footballguy
krista4
Footballguy
krista4
Footballguy
There’s no finding my way; I had it ranked three slots higher than A Day In The Life in my favorites, and if I did 2020 rankings it would stay in the same spot. I mostly wanted to talk Beatles again for a minute.
Agree on that transition - it still excites me every time I hear it!
Also, thank you so much for your last paragraph, @DocHoliday.
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krista4
Footballguy
Yeah, getting through 20 Ringo albums might be more dedication than I have. Or, I should say, getting through all the songs on those albums. I'll give each album a whirl, but unlike with the Paul records where I listened through to the end of every song no matter what I thought of it, I'm going to have an easier "skip" trigger on Ringo songs.
Also, I think I mentioned before but not sure: I'm not going to rank every one of these songs. I'm only going to discuss and rank the ones that I at least moderately like.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
Honestly this is the only Ringo album worth listening to: https://open.spotify.com/album/6zjenDV68SpvM3oEhorTDm?si=9m6Pj9kvTc2gq00z1Va4_g
Encyclopedia Brown
Footballguy
UltimateClassicRock ranks all the Beatle solo records. Ringo anchors the bottom half with authority.
Zegras11
Footballguy
krista4
Footballguy
krista4
Footballguy
I DID IT!
I made it through a close listening and initial grouping of all of the Paul McCartney-related albums from which I'm going to be pulling songs. These are the albums:
You'll see that, while I'm including collaborations (as The Fireman, etc.) and other random stuff, I am not including his five classical albums, as I just don't feel those could be reasonably compared to the rest. I'm also only including songs from his many live albums if they were separately released as single. If you don't like this approach, please talk to the manager.
In addition to the 31 albums above, I've completed a close listening and initial ranking of 79 McCartney-related non-album singles or drib-and-drabs from various spots, some of which will also appear on my eventual countdown. I'm not listing those here because not just no but hell no.
I made it through a close listening and initial grouping of all of the Paul McCartney-related albums from which I'm going to be pulling songs. These are the albums:
- McCartney (1970)
- Ram (1971)
- Wild Life (1971)
- Red Rose Speedway (1973)
- Band On The Run (1973)
- Venus and Mars (1975)
- Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
- Thrillington (1977)
- London Town (1978)
- Back to the Egg (1979)
- McCartney II (1980)
- Tug of War (1982)
- Pipes of Peace (1983)
- Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984)
- Press To Play (1986)
- CHOBA B CCCP (1988)
- Flowers in the Dirt (1989)
- Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest (1993)
- Off The Ground (1993)
- Flaming Pie (1997)
- Rushes (The Fireman) (1998)
- Run Devil Run (1999)
- Liverpool Sound Collage (2000)
- Driving Rain (2001)
- Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (2005)
- Twin Freaks (2005)
- Memory Almost Full (2007)
- Electric Arguments (2008)
- Kisses on the Bottom (2012)
- New (2013)
- Egypt Station (2018)
You'll see that, while I'm including collaborations (as The Fireman, etc.) and other random stuff, I am not including his five classical albums, as I just don't feel those could be reasonably compared to the rest. I'm also only including songs from his many live albums if they were separately released as single. If you don't like this approach, please talk to the manager.
In addition to the 31 albums above, I've completed a close listening and initial ranking of 79 McCartney-related non-album singles or drib-and-drabs from various spots, some of which will also appear on my eventual countdown. I'm not listing those here because not just no but hell no.
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rockaction
Footballguy
Your duress is only matched by our gratitude for the winnowing. I'm not sure I could do eight hundred solo Beatles songs.Well, I completed my initial narrowing of Paul songs for the countdown...to 205.
One more than I did for the whole Beatles thing. I will need to make more cuts. And I still have George, John, and sorta Ringo to go.
LOL. The 204 was so Herculean, love seeing this happen.
krista4
Footballguy
Don't worry; there will probably be only two Ringo songs. And John and George have many fewer to choose from, sadly.
Man of Constant Sorrow
Footballguy
IN 
K, whatever ya do; you'll do it well.
K, whatever ya do; you'll do it well.
Mr. Mojo
Footballguy
I tried an experiment with 4 other friends.
All 5 of us listed our 5 favorite Beatles songs.
Would you believe that only 2 songs were picked twice - the others were all picked just once.
The two songs picked by two people were A Day In The Life and I Want To Hold Your Hand.
It certainly shows how varied their songs were!
All 5 of us listed our 5 favorite Beatles songs.
Would you believe that only 2 songs were picked twice - the others were all picked just once.
The two songs picked by two people were A Day In The Life and I Want To Hold Your Hand.
It certainly shows how varied their songs were!
krista4
Footballguy
Zegras11
Footballguy
Mr. Mojo
Footballguy
krista4
Footballguy
You'll be happy to know that I've winnowed the Paul songs to 154 now. Might lose a few more, but damn, he has so many great songs. And, you know, over 40 post-Beatles albums plus a billion singles.Your duress is only matched by our gratitude for the winnowing. I'm not sure I could do eight hundred solo Beatles songs.Well, I completed my initial narrowing of Paul songs for the countdown...to 205.
One more than I did for the whole Beatles thing. I will need to make more cuts. And I still have George, John, and sorta Ringo to go.
LOL. The 204 was so Herculean, love seeing this happen.
I've also started my initial rankings of those 154. I always seem to do the top ones first, then the bottom ones, and then the poor neglected middle. Is that normal? Unlike the Beatles rankings, I don't have a firm top 10 or 12 or even a definite #1 song here. When I did my initial pass-through, I was surprised to find six of my top 10 Paul songs are ones I've never heard on the Beatles channel. So expect a non-canonical ranking again.
In parallel I'm doing my initial passes on George's works. All of the regular songs (i.e., not side 5 and 6) on "All Things Must Pass" made it through the initial cut.
rockaction
Footballguy
A "non-canonical" Paul McCartney solo list? Well, I'm signed up. I can't claim to know much of Paul's solo stuff outside of Wings contributions, and even then, my knowledge is at a bare minimum. Pipes of Peace is quite the cool concept video, though. I remember seeing it in high school when an endearing teacher brought in a VCR and played it to us yobs. How nice they play soccer before they resume the war.You'll be happy to know that I've winnowed the Paul songs to 154 now. Might lose a few more, but damn, he has so many great songs. And, you know, over 40 post-Beatles albums plus a billion singles.
I've also started my initial rankings of those 154. I always seem to do the top ones first, then the bottom ones, and then the poor neglected middle. Is that normal? Unlike the Beatles rankings, I don't have a firm top 10 or 12 or even a definite #1 song here. When I did my initial pass-through, I was surprised to find six of my top 10 Paul songs are ones I've never heard on the Beatles channel. So expect a non-canonical ranking again.
In parallel I'm doing my initial passes on George's works. All of the regular songs (i.e., not side 5 and 6) on "All Things Must Pass" made it through the initial cut.
It made me think about nation-states and complicit actors in a totally different way, though I'm not sure the teacher had that as her point. Then again, maybe she did, after all. Anyway, I digress. Your use of "non-canonical" made me laugh with you in spirit.
krista4
Footballguy
Yes, it was my way of saying "expect the Penny Lane treatment here, guys." A few people have mentioned not being so familiar with the post-Beatles output, though, so I'm excited for the possibility of folks discovering something new they might love.I haven't seen the Pipes of Peace video and am scared to find it. That song is...well, it will be discussed in one way or another.
rockaction
Footballguy
I haven't heard it since tenth grade, so you go as gently into that dark night as you wish.
I haven't seen the Pipes of Peace video and am scared to find it. That song is...well, it will be discussed in one way or another.
krista4
Footballguy
Happy birthday, Richard! Great lineup - hope it will still be...Ringo is 80 today!
A RINGO SHOWCASE!
Alex P Keaton
Footballguy
Is it wrong that I’m on pins and needles? This is the most exciting thing to happen since.....ignoring my family for hours on end during a family trip so I could update them during your original 204-song list.
Seriously, I’m looking forward to this. Even though a lot of the solo work is crap.
simey
Footballguy
"Come Together" is not one of my favorite Beatles songs, but that rendition led by Sheila E was my favorite part of the birthday bash. Ringo definitely doesn't look 80. I know he dyes his hair, but even if he didn't, he'd look much younger than 80.
heckmanm
Footballguy
Missed it live, but looks like a good way to accompany the next hour of work.
Ringo> Happy birthday, but yer not foolin' anybody with the black hair.
heckmanm
Footballguy
krista4
Footballguy
Is it wrong that I’m on pins and needles? This is the most exciting thing to happen since.....ignoring my family for hours on end during a family trip so I could update them during your original 204-song list.
Seriously, I’m looking forward to this. Even though a lot of the solo work is crap.
I'm really excited for this one, maybe even more than the Beatles countdown, because so many people have expressed that they don't know the post-Beatles stuff that well. And there's this impression that a lot of it is crap...well, ok, a lot of it is crap, but there is sooooo much good music here to share. I mean, my initial list of the Paul songs I was considering - which is loosely "songs I like to listen to" - was over 200 tracks!
It's also been fun for me because I thought I knew which songs I liked, but now I've discovered I hadn't listened closely enough. At the moment I'm completely obsessed with 12-15 Paul-related songs that initially wouldn't have made a "back of the napkin" top 50 for me (it's a big napkin), including two that I had never heard before.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
This'll be fun. Thanks for doing it!
I'm really excited for this one, maybe even more than the Beatles countdown, because so many people have expressed that they don't know the post-Beatles stuff that well. And there's this impression that a lot of it is crap...well, ok, a lot of it is crap, but there is sooooo much good music here to share. I mean, my initial list of the Paul songs I was considering - which is loosely "songs I like to listen to" - was over 200 tracks!
It's also been fun for me because I thought I knew which songs I liked, but now I've discovered I hadn't listened closely enough. At the moment I'm completely obsessed with 12-15 Paul-related songs that initially wouldn't have made a "back of the napkin" top 50 for me (it's a big napkin), including two that I had never heard before.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Ditto. Paul solo had a ton of good stuff spread out over an impressive amount of years. Culling the gold amongst that large of a mother lode is a solid thread in the making.Uruk-Hai said:
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
Krista, continuing our discussion from the jukebox draft thread, I'm up to 142 on your list. A few thoughts:
As mentioned there, Savoy Truffle is one of my faves. I'd probably put it in the top 30. It has a great driving beat and is so much fun. I'm not a musician but I've always thought the horn charts for this were similar to It Don't Come Easy (one of my favorite solo Beatles songs).
Your bottom two are also my bottom two, though in reverse order. Intolerable long song is worse than intolerable short song.
A Taste of Honey is indeed dreadful. I was one of the editors of my college newspaper and the adult in charge of production had similar musical tastes to me. I would often bring in one of my CDs for him to listen to while working. The night I brought in Please Please Me, he heard the first few seconds of "A Taste of Honey," said "Nope!" and hit the skip button. That's as good a way to deal with it as any.
I see your point on Roll Over Beethoven, but I still love it and it would probably be in my top 120 or so.
In college I had an elaborate theory on what You Know My Name, Look Up the Number was really about. I've forgotten it.
Don't Bother Me is one of my favorite early Beatles songs and, as others mentioned, is notable for being very dark for its time. Probably in my top 100.
I like Your Mother Should Know, All Together Now and The Fool on the Hill much better than a guy who's into hard rock and "alternative rock" has any right to. Paul is REALLY good with the frothy stuff (but My Love is a bridge too far). There's a frothy-ish one I haven't gotten to yet that's REALLY high on my list. If you haven't already, check out the title track of Paul Weller's Wild Wood album -- it's basically a rewrite of Fool on the Hill and it's spectacular.
As much as I love George, I can't really get into the sitar stuff. I just want it to end after 90 seconds or so. And Piggies is atrocious -- he had so many songs in the can by that point and he used that one?
I love Sgt Pepper as a concept but am less enamored of it as a set of songs. It's mostly missing a driving beat, which is a big deal for me. Only two songs from it made my 90-minute college tape -- With a Little Help from My Friends and A Day in the Life. I take Rubber Soul, Revolver, White Album, Abbey Road and Let It Be over it. Revolver and Abbey Road are my favorite of their albums.
The breadth of knowledge you bring to your writeups is stunning. In May I ranked my top 100 Neil Young songs and have been posting one each day on Facebook (and on another board where I once did a Neil song draft). I am fanatical about Neil, but my writeups have only a fraction of the depth that yours do. Part of that is because I'm not a musician and can't speak to the technical/music theory aspects, and part of that is because I'm writing for a general audience, but much of it is that I haven't put in anywhere near the time that you did. Your effort is astounding and I can't believe you're going to do it all over again with the solo material.
As mentioned there, Savoy Truffle is one of my faves. I'd probably put it in the top 30. It has a great driving beat and is so much fun. I'm not a musician but I've always thought the horn charts for this were similar to It Don't Come Easy (one of my favorite solo Beatles songs).
Your bottom two are also my bottom two, though in reverse order. Intolerable long song is worse than intolerable short song.
A Taste of Honey is indeed dreadful. I was one of the editors of my college newspaper and the adult in charge of production had similar musical tastes to me. I would often bring in one of my CDs for him to listen to while working. The night I brought in Please Please Me, he heard the first few seconds of "A Taste of Honey," said "Nope!" and hit the skip button. That's as good a way to deal with it as any.
I see your point on Roll Over Beethoven, but I still love it and it would probably be in my top 120 or so.
In college I had an elaborate theory on what You Know My Name, Look Up the Number was really about. I've forgotten it.
Don't Bother Me is one of my favorite early Beatles songs and, as others mentioned, is notable for being very dark for its time. Probably in my top 100.
I like Your Mother Should Know, All Together Now and The Fool on the Hill much better than a guy who's into hard rock and "alternative rock" has any right to. Paul is REALLY good with the frothy stuff (but My Love is a bridge too far). There's a frothy-ish one I haven't gotten to yet that's REALLY high on my list. If you haven't already, check out the title track of Paul Weller's Wild Wood album -- it's basically a rewrite of Fool on the Hill and it's spectacular.
As much as I love George, I can't really get into the sitar stuff. I just want it to end after 90 seconds or so. And Piggies is atrocious -- he had so many songs in the can by that point and he used that one?
I love Sgt Pepper as a concept but am less enamored of it as a set of songs. It's mostly missing a driving beat, which is a big deal for me. Only two songs from it made my 90-minute college tape -- With a Little Help from My Friends and A Day in the Life. I take Rubber Soul, Revolver, White Album, Abbey Road and Let It Be over it. Revolver and Abbey Road are my favorite of their albums.
The breadth of knowledge you bring to your writeups is stunning. In May I ranked my top 100 Neil Young songs and have been posting one each day on Facebook (and on another board where I once did a Neil song draft). I am fanatical about Neil, but my writeups have only a fraction of the depth that yours do. Part of that is because I'm not a musician and can't speak to the technical/music theory aspects, and part of that is because I'm writing for a general audience, but much of it is that I haven't put in anywhere near the time that you did. Your effort is astounding and I can't believe you're going to do it all over again with the solo material.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
Oh -- and Pecorino is spot on about Phish. The easiest place to start with their own material is Billy Breathes, their most song-oriented album.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
I just got to Martha My Dear and The Word, both of which are in my top 30 and made my 90-minute tape.
Martha is the frothy song that I mentioned that I love irrationally. As Binky said, it’s all about the melody and the vocal. The way Paul sings “Hold your head up, you silly girl, look what you’ve DONNNNNNE” gets me every time.
The Word is just groovy, man. I dig it, you know?
Martha is the frothy song that I mentioned that I love irrationally. As Binky said, it’s all about the melody and the vocal. The way Paul sings “Hold your head up, you silly girl, look what you’ve DONNNNNNE” gets me every time.
The Word is just groovy, man. I dig it, you know?
krista4
Footballguy
This is such a lovely and kind post. Thank you for it! I doubt my post-Beatles countdown will go into quite as much depth, at least for some of the lower choices. But who knows, maybe it will. I'm listening to Cloud Nine as I type this and probably should be paying more attention instead. Of course, each song gets at least a dozen close listens before the list is published, and this is just my initial run-through to determine which songs get to Round 2.
A Taste of Honey gets worse every time I listen to it.
It's especially awful when compared to the original. One thing I did in the countdown that I'd probably change is that I gave a lot of weight on the covers to whether they were better or worse than the originals. I probably should have ranked them stand-alone instead.I don't know that Paul Weller song and will listen, certain I'll love it.
I'm fairly similar to you in terms of Sgt. Pepper's except I also have a huge soft spot for Lovely Rita. As you go through the thread, you'll see that the 1965-66 releases were my sweet spot - Help, Rubber Soul, and Revolver. Abbey Road is probably next.
You should do your Neil Young countdown here! I'd love to read it as would many others.
krista4
Footballguy
pecorino was a great part of this thread. Haven't seen him around in a while; hope he'll be back.
I love the verses on The Word, but the chorus kind of grates. I think you and I like that song more than most people do. Martha My Dear is terrific, too. There's a Paul solo (or Wings) song that reminds me of it, but I'm so overloaded I'm forgetting right now which one it is. Where you are in the countdown, there's nothing bad at all.
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Morton Muffley
Footballguy
Krista
As others have stated, am very much looking forward to your McCartney ranking and in preparation am re-acquainting myself with his catalog. I have been a huge Beatles fan for years and also a big McCartney fan. Indeed, I think I may favor him over Lennon after listening to their solo work. It's easy to disparage McCartney, but his catalog is so damned good and versatile. Indeed, I think his last 25 years are worthy of hall of fame status - just amazing what he has produced from Flaming Pie to today. I have built my own top 100 and am having an equally difficult time: non-canonical is the right phrase indeed. Anyway, as a non-musician I am looking forward to reading what you are hearing/liking that I am missing. And fwiw, if you include no songs from Press to Play I won't argue with you (Stranglehold maybe, if you catch me on a day when I'm feeling generous). Anyway, looking forward to it and really hoping others who are less familiar will stop and listen to stuff you post - as I really do think he's done some amazing work hidden: on recent albums (chaos; new; memory) on non-album b-sides (oh woman; daytime nighttime, kicked around no more), under pseudonym (sing the changes), etc.
Anyway, all of the above is simply my excitement and anticipation seeping through. Thanks in advance.
As others have stated, am very much looking forward to your McCartney ranking and in preparation am re-acquainting myself with his catalog. I have been a huge Beatles fan for years and also a big McCartney fan. Indeed, I think I may favor him over Lennon after listening to their solo work. It's easy to disparage McCartney, but his catalog is so damned good and versatile. Indeed, I think his last 25 years are worthy of hall of fame status - just amazing what he has produced from Flaming Pie to today. I have built my own top 100 and am having an equally difficult time: non-canonical is the right phrase indeed. Anyway, as a non-musician I am looking forward to reading what you are hearing/liking that I am missing. And fwiw, if you include no songs from Press to Play I won't argue with you (Stranglehold maybe, if you catch me on a day when I'm feeling generous). Anyway, looking forward to it and really hoping others who are less familiar will stop and listen to stuff you post - as I really do think he's done some amazing work hidden: on recent albums (chaos; new; memory) on non-album b-sides (oh woman; daytime nighttime, kicked around no more), under pseudonym (sing the changes), etc.
Anyway, all of the above is simply my excitement and anticipation seeping through. Thanks in advance.
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Man of Constant Sorrow
Footballguy
Update from...?... long ago...
Abbey Road on the River was postponed to October 8 - 11.
IF conditions are not too bad, I will hold to my plan of getting some coverage.
Still too early to know outcome fer sure.
I will wear a funny hat regardless.
Abbey Road on the River was postponed to October 8 - 11.
IF conditions are not too bad, I will hold to my plan of getting some coverage.
Still too early to know outcome fer sure.
I will wear a funny hat regardless.
krista4
Footballguy
Uh oh, now I'm worried since you have your own top 100! That increases the pressure on me. But interestingly (to me at least), I think we might be seeing things very similarly. Two aspects of your post make me think that. First is your mention that it's hard to find anything to love on Press to Play. It is definitely the "traditional" album of his I enjoy the least, and it's not particularly close. Second, you mentioned some lesser known songs each of which will be on my list, but in particular you nailed one that I'm absolutely obsessed with and had never listened to before this project. I don't want to say more and spoil the fun.
krista4
Footballguy
Oh man, would be so fun to come for that. I was supposed to visit Louisville in late May, but that had to change. Haven't rescheduled since I'm going with my mom and stepfather and don't want to put people in their 70s on planes yet.
Man of Constant Sorrow
Footballguy
Totally wise, K.
However, if ya can make it, pm me.
I got a funny hat that is purrfuct fer ya!
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
Cool. Maybe I'll pick a time to start at which posting a few per day here will catch up to my posting one per day at Facebook and the other site so that everything will end around the same time. And it's now a top 101 because a few weeks after I made the list, Neil put out an archival release with a song I hadn't heard before that would have been in the top 100 if I'd known about it at the time.
As evidence of how much less time I put into this sort of thing that you did, I went back to the Neil song draft I did in 2011 and used that as a rough guide -- what did I pick and when, how did I value other people's picks, what I would have taken had the draft kept going (at the time the draft finished, I posted the songs that hadn't been taken but were still on my board). I'd already heard all those songs a bajillion times, even the rare ones, so I didn't do a massive re-listen. I didn't factor in his post-2011 stuff much because frankly most of it hasn't been very good. I excluded covers but included songs he co-wrote with others.
Teaser: Tomorrow is #50 and what I have ranked there is going to shock people as much as you shocked us with Savoy Truffle.
Back to the Beatles, I'm up to 122. I'm Down makes me so HAPPY every time I hear it. Like I want to pogo or something. It's so strong that even Yes didn't screw it up. (I like Yes but R&B-influenced rock is not their strong point.)
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