Celebrating The Beatles, Please Please Me Turns 50

[john]

It is the depth of their song writing that means there will never be a 'definitive' and correct ranking of their songs. Anyone who grew up as the Liverpool Lads evolved connected with different songs depending on when or what those songs happened in their lives.

I agree that there will never be a definitive list. Ranking the Beatles songs is difficult for a lot of reasons. I was struggling with the notion of how one might even do that. I suppose that one way is to select the songs you would want on a deserted island, or perhaps, in your playlist. But the context of the song, when it was written and released is also important. The context. The early songs reflect a time and place, and they were written by a couple of novice songwriters. But they matured quickly, as did the band.

1964
I Want To Hold Your Hand (#1 single on Billboard for the year)


1965
The #1 single that year was Wooly Bully by Sam the Sham and Pharaohs (wow). Meanwhile the Beatles focus less on pop and dig on folks like Bob Dylan. They release Rubber Soul, and introduce us to the Sitar.

Norwegian Wood


1966
#1 Billboard single: The Ballad of the Green Berets by SSG Barry Sadler
The Beatles release this...(We're a long ways from Love Me Do, Dorothy)


1967
#1 Billboard is To Sir with Love by Lulu
Beatles?



Trivia question: Which popular song by the Beatles does not feature them playing any of the instruments (zero)?