Now that The Beatles are finally available on iTunes, you have to wonder who would be buying those songs there? I’ve had the CDs since the 1980s (and vinyl before that). I ripped my CDs into iTunes before it was even iTunes (SoundJam) and still listen to those MP3 files today.
So if you are buying Beatles tracks at iTunes then chances are you may be somewhat unfamiliar with the group’s works. You are new to The Beatles. You are about to become a fan. So, assuming that you don’t want to pay $150 for the box set, here is on Beatles’ fans look at what songs a new Beatles fan should start with. (Complete with affiliate links!)
The Beatles released 13 albums from March 1963 to May 1970. They had 20 number one hits (27 if you count the U.S. and U.K. together). That’s an incredible output of music. And some of the songs best known today aren’t even part of those 27.
Starting chronologically, with their first album, Please Please Me, I would start the tour with:
1. I Saw Her Standing There
This early hit holds up the best in today’s world of modern music. Sure there are the two classics She Loves You and I Want to Hold Your Hand, but I Saw Her Standing There has more kick to it.
The first three albums are filled with hits, and in fact the Beatles often has consecutive number one hits, which just doesn’t happen today. But I would next jump to A Hard Day’s Night for the title track and one other:
2. A Hard Day’s Night
3. I Should Have Known Better
I Should Have Known Better is one of my favorite Beatles songs. I think it was at this point in Beatles history that there was no doubt that Lennon and McCartney weren’t just good song writers, they were the best there had even been.
Another great one from that same album is:
4. Can’t Buy Me Love
Then from the next album came this classic:
5. Eight Days a Week
The soundtrack from the movie Help! brought another great title track, and a song that transcended rock-and-roll to appeal to every music fan:
6. Help!
7. Yesterday
My favorite Beatles album is Rubber Soul. And my favorite Beatles song is found on it:
8. Drive My Car
Listen to the bass track, it is what drives this song. I can’t think of any other song where it is the bass track that sticks in my head, not the main melody.
On Revolver is another track that goes beyond rock, and even entered the world of poetry with its lyrics:
9. Eleanor Rigby
Now we get to the album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band . Just get this whole album. But if I had to pick one track, it would be:
10. With a Little Help From My Friends
And get the lead track, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which technically is paired with With a Little Help From My Friends as a single song.
Oh, sure, a music critic would have picked A Day In the Life. And that is a great song. But With a Little Help From My Friends has a wider appeal and more meaning.
Next up we have a song that was released before Sgt. Pepper, but didn’t make it on an album until Magical Mystery Tour. It is one of the most complex and interesting Beatles songs:
11. Strawberry Fields Forever
Next to Rubber Soul, The Beatles (White Album) is my favorite because of its variety and strangeness. Even after having listened to it all my life, I can still find new things. But the one I would suggest for the new fan is the humorous parody of The Beach Boys sound:
12. Back In the U.S.S.R.
Abbey Road is usually the fan favorite, and there is a lot to like. There are two on there by George Harrison that show his growth as a songwriter and guitarist. One is Here Comes the Sun and this other is:
13. Something
Also add to that While My Guitar Gently Weeps from the White Album for a set of great songs by George.
That takes us to Let It Be, the final album released. From here, you must have the title track and one more:
14. Let It Be
15. Get Back
I’ll add one more to the collection for the new Beatles fan. It is the single:
16. Revolution
So there are the 16 songs I would recommend to the new Beatles fan on iTunes. And it doesn’t even include the Beatles’ biggest hit: Hey Jude! In fact, there isn’t room for a lot of great songs. As a matter of fact, maybe just forget this list and go for the box set. You won’t find better music on iTunes now that the Beatles are there.
Here’s a bonus. The Beatles used a lot of whimsy in their songs, both in lyrics and melody. This makes it easy to build a “fun” collection of music. You probably know all of these songs already. They are great if you have kids too, as kids love these:
Yellow Submarine, Nowhere Man, Good Day Sunshine, Lovely Rita, When I’m Sixty-Four, Hello, Goodbye, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Rocky Raccoon, All Together Now, Paperback Writer, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, Octopus’s Garden and end that collection with Her Majesty.
So, for those of you that are Beatles fans, how did my 16 measure up with what you would suggest to the new fan? What would your 16 be?
My picks (when the CD's came out) were Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road, followed by Past Masters Vol 1 & 2. I think that contains a pretty good core of what their work was about. Past Masters contains a lot of their singles (including 2 released in German!) and the other 2 albums represent their late period the best of any of their other work, I think.
I have been a fan of the Beatles for several decades. I am interested in getting a few of the songs because all of my records burned in a car fire a few years ago. So this is great news for me.
A very bold move Gary. It is such a difficult thing to pin down the best Beatles songs. But this is indeed a great 'Beginners Guide'. I agree with many of your choices. Personally I would add; 'Here Comes The Sun' (George Harrison was often overlooked as a brilliant songwriter), 'Norwegian Wood' (Great story song full of 'whimsy') & 'The Night Before', from HELP. I think that many people would alter your list in some way, but this is in no way a reflection of your choices.....more a testament to the rich and diverse back catalogue the Beatles have. If you ask any genuine, long term fan for a Beatles song 101, you can bet there will be several minutes/hours of pondering and mind changing before any list is delivered.
What I enjoy the most about the Beatles is that each time I put on one of their albums, I re-discover a song that I had forgotten is 'Superb'. Many of the lesser known album tracks that aren't featured on the 'Best of's (Red & Blue Albums) are beautifully crafted and hidden away on the albums like DVD easter eggs.
I love it when a friend comes to me and says they have discovered songs like 'If I Needed Someone' (Rubber Soul album), 'Good Day Sunshine' (Revolver), 'Two Of Us' (Let It Be) or 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' (I totally agree, a wonderful, whimsical song) This is why it is almost impossible to answer when people ask me "What is your favourite Beatles song?" as my choices change on a regular basis.
I believe if someone says they don't like the Beatles......They haven't listened to enough Beatles.........there is a Beatles song for everyone, you just have to find it....and discover other great songs along the way. I think now that iTunes has the Beatles, more people will discover just how good they were and how influential they continue to be.
These are all the Beatles albums, but i have yet to see the EP as it was called in those days Twist And Shout. These EP`s had four songs on them. I think i will check if The Beatles did any more than one. My favourite is The Long And Winding Road. To me this one stands out just above the rest,as Ian says up above its hard to pick out the best ones. I will put it another way. There is not one Beatles record that i don`t like. Even Ringo singing Yellow Submarine.
I see nobody has mentioned the Beatles EPs yet?
I would imagine you could just purchase those songs individually if you want the ones on a particular EP. Originally there were different US and UK versions of the pre-1967 Beatles albums too. But the remastered CD versions in the 1980s standardized with the UK releases moving forward.