I’m an unabashed Beatles fan as are, I’m sure, many of you out there. But even I have to agree that there have been what I consider to be a few “misses” as well. Here are a few of my picks and pans: I’d be interested to know what yours are.
Picks:
In my life
Here, there and everywhere
Eleanor Rigby
A day in the life
Strawberry fields
Something
Because (the a capella version on Anthology)
Let it be
Pans
Eight days a week
Why don’t we do it in the road?
You know my name (Look up the number)
Several of the songs on the Let It Be album
God, how could I have forgotten Revolution #9?? It would definitely have topped the list! OTOH, I like Helter Skelter, but so did Manson (a little TOO much).
I’m not a big fan of the Beatles, but my husband is and owns most of their CD’s, so I’ve heard my share of their songs.
My picks would be:
Let It Be
Hey Jude
Back in the USSR
Rocky Raccoon
Maxwell’s Silver Hammer (somebody listed this as a song they hate, but I love this song)
Songs I hate:
Why Don’t We Do It In The Road (same verse, sung over and over, UGH!)
Revolution 9 (Number nine, number nine, how boring)
Little Piggies
There are many others, which I cannot think of their names at the moment.
As a long time Beatles fan (since the early 60’s) my picks: Soldier Of Love (BBC '63), Things We Said Today, In My Life, Strawberry Fields Forever, While My Guitar Gently Weeps (accoustic version on Anthology 3), A Day In The Life and It’s All Too Much. My Pans: You Know My Name, Revolution #9 and Mr. Moonlight…“Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans”-John Lennon 1980
Favorites (in NP order):
Revolution
Hey Bulldog
Abbey Road Medley (starting "You Never Give Me Your Money and ending with “Her Majesty”)
Back in the USSR
Taxman
I Am The Walrus
When I’m 64
Least favorite:
Revolution #9 (though for what it was intended to be – something to fill out the side of an album – it’s OK).
Favorites:
And Your Bird Can Sing
She Said She Said
For No One
Here, There, and Everywhere
(Revolver is absolute favorite)
It’s All Too Much
I Am The Walrus
Across the Universe
The Long and Winding Road
Non-Favorites:
She’s Leaving Home
Love To You
Yellow Submarine (did they let Ringo sing on purpose?)
Within You Without You
Jeremy…
I can think of no more stirring symbol of man’s humanity to man than a fire engine - Kurt Vonnegut
I never cared for “Girl”, withe the air sucking thru teeth and all.
I like to make tapes. Under plan is a tape to include the less orchestral parts of Sgt Pepper (1st song, A Little Help, getting Better, fixing a hole, Lovely Rita, Good Morning, pepper reprise), the original 4-5 songs from Yellow Submarine, Ballad of John and Yoko(John on guitar),Abbey Road side B material.
The idea is to highlight the fact that George, Paul and John (less often)could play a nice tight electric guitar lead, if they wanted.
I’ve gotten tired of most of the lyrics, well at least less interested, so I look for other “stuff” in these recordings. I like all the Billy Preston material on Let It Be. Great band sound.Such as Don’t let me Down.
As a Beatles fan since age 13 (so 17 years’ worth), I can’t think of any songs I genuinely dislike. As a contrarian, I actually like both “Revolution #9” and “Mr. Moonlight”; the former because I find it interesting and relaxing, the latter because I think it treads a fine line between complete parody and complete seriousness. And I like the Beatles for Sale album, too, better than I like the Magical Mystery Tour EP.
Absolute faves:
Hey Bulldog
Sexy Sadie (That chromatic descending chorus progression, then the ascending verse progression-so simple yet so clever.)
No Reply
Good Morning Good Morning
I’ve Got A Feeling
I’ll Get You
Slow Down (OK, it’s a cover, but still. FYI, the Beatles covered Larry Williams on record more than any other artist.)
Old Brown Shoe
Least Faves:
The Inner Light (Way too long, otherwise OK.)
Run For Your Life (Boring!)
Wild Honey Pie (Save it for the outtakes, Paul.)
I way overdosed on Beatles albums as a mid-1970s teenager, when I should have been listening to the Ramones and the Sex Pistols instead…to the extent that I can pretty much play anything from their oeuvre in my head whenever I want.
That said, I still consider “Norwegian Wood,” “Julia,” and “Strawberry Fields” to be top examples of popular music craftsmanship; haven’t gotten tired of them yet, and hope I never will. Yes, I’m Lennon-centric.
I’m also fond of a number of what are generally considered their lesser efforts: “Eight Days a Week,” “And Your Bird Can Sing,” “Hello Goodbye,” for example.
I’ve also noticed that I’m leaning heavily toward mid-period Beatles as my era of choice, 1965-early '68. The white album NEVER gets played any more, and I didn’t even bother to get ABBEY ROAD or LET IT BE on CD.