I’ll nominate I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party. I’ve never really heard it mentioned in Beatles’ songbook conversations. I think John’s voice is perfect in that song.
I’ll give love to This Boy. Again John’s voice just gets you in the gut. He did angst better than anyone else before, or since.
I’ve Just Seen a Face is a wonderful bluegrass song.
Ditto. I first heard it through Phil Collins’ remake, which I really, really enjoy still, but it was a long long time before I knew it was a Beatles remake.
Glass Onion. “Here’s another clue for you all… the walrus was Paul.” I love hearing the Beatles reference themselves. The song covers Strawberry Fields, Fool on the Hill, Lady Madonna, Fixing a Hole and I am the Walrus. Glorious string section too.
An “other” vote for “She Said She Said”, only because it hasn’t been mentioned here…
Wouldn’t know where to begin a discussion on what constitutes overrated/underrated. Once you get past the universality of certain songs (“Love Me Do”, “I Want To Hold Your Hand”, “Revolution”, “Sgt. Pepper’s…”, “Lucy In The Sky…”) , who can say which songs in the discography are generally under-appreciated? Are the avant-garde (“Revolution # 9”, “Savoy Truffle”, “Blue Jay Way”, etc.) better argued as underrated if they’re someone’s all-time fave?
Just look at the spread in the poll so far…I could argue that the two or three front runners are well-known enough not to be considered underrated; all the other songs listed have basically the same number of votes.
This poll is fun just for shits & giggles, but I would say this would be better applied to other bands - not the Beatles. They just have too many incredible songs.
I was just listening to A Hard Day’s Night and was joyfully reminded of “You Can’t Do That,” which despite being such a kickassishly awesome song, I do think it qualifies as underrated. It didn’t even make this poll!
I love the hard-edged quality in John’s voice, the lyrics and the music itself (our narrator is pissed off and righteously indignant). And the others back John up with vocals that demand to be sung along with. This is one of the songs that practically forces me to get up and dance.
And speaking of dance, how about I’m Happy Just to Dance with You? Another charming confection and I dig the bass line too. OOH and what about Follow the Sun? Or I’ll Be Back? Or…
I could go on, but why? The Beatles are an embarrassment of riches. Even the songs they treat as throwaways would be the highlights on the albums of most other bands.