I am sitting this one out, without voting. There are only four real Beatle songs on it that we haven’t already considered (I have not forgotten the ultimate purpose of this is eventually to vote for the best Beatles song of all), and frankly, I have no real memory of any of them, except, vaguely “All Together Now” (as it appeared in the movie), which is not all that great. I did own the album (in fact, back in the '80s I had a complete Beatles collection on vinyl). But I think I hardly ever played it. The songs (apart from YS and AYNIL, from elsewhere) just did not stick in my mind the way that most other Beatle songs did.
I’m dating myself but as a little kid this came on afternoon TV and “All You Need Is Love” was broadcast live from England with the 4 lads, their girlfriends and flower children and Mick Jagger and I think Keith in the audience all sitting around among flowers and balloons, singing this ditty was just so amazing. I had two older brothers who always argued about who was better Beatles or Stones, and seeing them together I was gobsmacked. For that remembrance in my minds’ eye, it’s my number 1.
Though I remain philosophically opposed to the premise of these threads (i.e., picking a “best” from among several worthy candidates), in this case it’s such a slam dunk I had to vote for “Hey Bulldog.”
I like “Only a Northern Song” and “It’s All Too Much” more than many, but they seem very tied to their spot on this soundtrack (even though they weren’t recorded for it). But “Hey Bulldog” is simply a great song that would have been great anywhere. Tremendous fun, and it demonstrates so many strengths of The Beatles as a band (guitars, harmonies…and most of all, spirited humor).
ANd FWIW, I find “All You Need Is Love” to be one of The Beatles’ most overrated songs. Not that it’s terrible, but despite its good intentions, there’s really nothing to it musically. And it’s the poster child for the worst overindulgences of the psychedelic era.
That sure sounds more like Clapton than Harrison. In checking up on it, I see that it wasn’t him, but various sources credit the lead guitar to either Paul or John, with George playing only the Hammond. To further muddy the waters, Wikipedia says George and John played both lead and rhythm guitars and credits Beatles Bible for the information–which lists only John on guitar! At that point, I gave up.
But of the three guitar-playing Beatles, I would guess it would be George.
It doesn’t sound like Clapton to me. I agree that the credits are confused, but I think it’s just George playing lead. Wikipedia actually says George played lead and only credits John with playing guitar (i.e. rhythm).
First of all, forget the George Martin compositions; they don’t count. I voted for “It’s All Too Much,” with “Hey Bulldog” a close second. “It’s All Too Much” probably got the edge because I really liked Steve Hillage’s cover of it on L, and its lyrics are more intelligible. But “Hey Bulldog”'s proto-metal riff is outstanding too.
At that point, I gave up.