| The Beatles released 12 albums during their active | | | | sounded like at their most purposely "psychedelic" |
| career including Magical Mystery Tour (which was | | | | then they should get this album. |
| actually first released as an EP) but not including | | | | I also quite enjoy the wonderfully bizarre film by |
| Yellow Submarine (which only had 4 new songs) | | | | the same name. |
| or any of the mangled US versions of their | | | | Highlights: I Am The Walrus, Strawberry Fields |
| albums. | | | | Forever, Penny Lane |
| This is my ranking of those 12 albums from best | | | | 6. Rubber Soul |
| to worst. | | | | 1965's Rubber Soul was the album where The |
| 1. The Beatles (The White Album) | | | | Beatles really started expanding their sound and it |
| The White Album was released in 1968 following | | | | includes some of the greatest songs they ever |
| the release of Sgt. Pepper & Magical Mystery | | | | recorded. The album showcased The Beatles |
| Tour in 1967. The White Album was a big | | | | expanding musically such as with "Norwegian |
| departure from the sound of those albums. | | | | Wood" which was the first song most people |
| While the songs on Sgt. Pepper & Magical | | | | ever heard a sitar in, and lyrically such as in |
| Mystery Tour are bursting at the seems with | | | | "Nowhere Man" which was the first Beatles song |
| layers of musical ideas, many of the songs on | | | | to not have any lyrics pertaining to romantic love. |
| The White Album are stripped down in | | | | But the album did have a few clunkers too. "What |
| comparison. While the Sgt Pepper album seemed | | | | Goes On," "Wait," and the awful album closer "Run |
| to loosely tie the songs together into a theme, | | | | For Your Life" are all quite weak tracks by |
| the only theme on The White Album appears to | | | | Beatles standards. |
| be that there is no theme. | | | | Highlights: Norwegian Wood, Nowhere Man, |
| Many detractors of The White Album say it has | | | | Michelle, Girl, I'm Looking Through You, In My Life, |
| too many weak songs (by Beatles standards | | | | If I Needed Someone. |
| anyway) to be considered The Beatles greatest | | | | 7. Let It Be |
| work. While I agree there's certainly no song as | | | | Let It Be was the final Beatles album released but |
| weak as "Don't Pass Me By" on Sgt. Pepper, I still | | | | not the last one they recorded. It was actually |
| disagree with that conclusion. | | | | mostly recorded prior to Abbey Road in January |
| To my ears the drastic variation in style (and | | | | of '69 but released after it in 1970. |
| quality) of The White Album's songs are what | | | | The album is inconsistent and sloppy sounding and |
| keeps it so interesting. It's an album I've listened | | | | probably mostly because of that (more so than |
| to countless times over the years yet I still hear | | | | because of the songs) has received more poor |
| something new and enchanting in it with each new | | | | reviews than any other Beatles album. |
| listen. | | | | But there are many great songs on the album |
| And yes, I love that "Revolution #9" was included | | | | and I do feel it is somewhat underrated. The |
| on the album. While I often stop the album at | | | | album opener "Two Of Us" is one of my |
| "Cry Baby Cry," I like having the option of taking | | | | favorites. It also includes the classic piano ballads |
| that trip if I want to. I've listened to "Revolution | | | | "The Long And Winding Road" and "Let It Be" |
| #9" many times and it's always a different trip. | | | | along with the great rockers "Get Back" and "I"ve |
| Certainly it's not a track for everyone but that | | | | Got A Feeling." |
| makes it all the more special to those of us who | | | | "Across The Universe" feels very out of place in |
| appreciate it. | | | | the sequencing of the album and it should as it |
| Highlights: Dear Prudence, While My Guitar Gently | | | | was recorded in 1967. But it's still a great song. |
| Weeps, Happiness Is A Warm Gun, I'm So Tired, | | | | Which really goes to the heart of Let It Be's |
| Blackbird, I Will, Helter Skelter, Cry Baby Cry. | | | | problem. It's got a lot of great songs (and a few |
| 2. Sgt. Pepper | | | | clunkers, admittedly) but they just don't seem to |
| It's become hip to say that Sgt. Pepper is | | | | quite go together in sound or in style. |
| overrated. Of course what's hip is often BS and | | | | Highlights: Two Of Us, Across The Universe, Let |
| this is certainly such a case. Sgt. Pepper is a great | | | | It Be, I've Got A Feeling, The Long And Winding |
| album that deserves all of the accolades it has | | | | Road, For You Blue, Get Back |
| received over the years. | | | | 8. A Hard Day's Night |
| And while The White Album has long been my | | | | A Hard Day's Night was released in 1964 and it |
| favorite Beatles album, Pepper is actually getting | | | | was The Beatles 3rd album. It was their first |
| closer to overtaking that spot as the years pass | | | | album to feature all original songs and actually is |
| by. | | | | the only Beatles album to feature only Lennon |
| I feel it's close to being a perfect album. There's | | | | McCartney originals (as it was before Harrison |
| not a single weak track on it. The album is like a | | | | was a frequent songwriting contributer.) |
| carnival and every song is a different ride at that | | | | While I don't like the individual songs as much as |
| carnival. Even over 40 years later it's incredible | | | | those on Let It Be, it does flow much better as |
| that one band (a quite young band too, if you | | | | an album and for that reason is sometimes more |
| think about it) was able to write such incredibly | | | | enjoyable to listen to. |
| different songs all in one short period and record | | | | The album is the peak of their early pure pop |
| them for one album. | | | | days before they began to experiment with more |
| Plus, I feel it's impossible for any album that ends | | | | complex songs and recording techniques. |
| with "A Day In The Life" to be overrated. To this | | | | Highlights: A Hard Day's Night, If I Fell, And I Love |
| day it is the greatest album closer of all time. | | | | Her, Can't Buy Me Love, I'll Cry Instead, Things |
| Highlights: With A Little Help From My Friends, | | | | We Said Today |
| Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, Getting Better, | | | | 9. Help! |
| Fixing A Hole, Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite, | | | | I find the best songs on Help! to be better than |
| Within You Without You, A Day In The Life. | | | | the best songs on A Hard Day's Night but yet as |
| 3. Revolver | | | | a whole the album doesn't hold together quite as |
| Conversely, it's become quite hip to say that | | | | well. |
| Revolver is in fact The Beatles best album. That | | | | Unlike A Hard Day's Night, the album includes a |
| somehow everyone missed it at the time and it | | | | couple of covers ("Act Naturally" & "Dizzy |
| was the real ground breaker a whole year before | | | | Miss Lizzy") neither of which do I care for at all. |
| Sgt. Pepper came out. Hearing "Tomorrow Never | | | | The album would be better if they were |
| Knows" it's understandable how someone could | | | | removed as they are quite out of place and mess |
| take such a view. | | | | up the flow of the album. |
| But while the songs on Revolver are nearly as | | | | But the album does include some of their best |
| forward looking as Sgt. Pepper's (although I'd say | | | | pop songs including the classic "Yesterday." While |
| not quite with the obvious exception of | | | | "Ticket To Ride," "You've Got To Hide Your Love |
| "Tomorrow Never Knows"), there is no theme | | | | Away" & "Help!" show that John Lennon was |
| that holds the songs together. The album plays | | | | at an early songwriting peak. |
| like a collection of amazing songs, while in | | | | Highlights: Help!, You've Got To Hide Your Love |
| comparison Sgt. Pepper has a feeling of | | | | Away, I Need You, Ticket To Ride, I've Just Seen |
| cohesiveness. The loose theme of Sgt. Pepper is | | | | A Face, Yesterday |
| what made people take notice of the idea of an | | | | 10. Beatles For Sale |
| album as "art form" at the time. While looking | | | | Sandwiched between the superior A Hard Day's |
| back that may not make as much sense today, I | | | | Night and Help!, Beatles For Sale is often |
| do still think there's some merit to that idea when | | | | overlooked. And when you see that 6 of the 14 |
| comparing the two albums. | | | | songs were covers it's easy to see why. |
| My main reason for liking Sgt. Pepper more than | | | | But there were some Lennon/McCartney gems |
| Revolver is simple, "Yellow Submarine." I've grown | | | | on the album as well including "No Reply," "I'm A |
| quite tired of that song over the years and I | | | | Loser," "I'll follow the Sun" and "Every Little Thing." |
| think it really sticks out like a sore thumb in the | | | | The Beatles originals make the album worth |
| sequencing of the album. It would have worked | | | | getting. But I find myself quite disinterested in the |
| much better as a single. | | | | covers on this one and since that makes up a |
| Highlights: Eleanor Rigby, I'm Only Sleeping, Here | | | | large portion of the songs on the album, I don't |
| There & Everywhere, She Said She Said, | | | | listen to it often. |
| Good Day Sunshine, And Your Bird Can Sing, For | | | | Highlights: No Reply, I'm A Loser, I'll Follow The |
| No One, Tomorrow Never Knows | | | | sun, Every Little Thing, What You're Doing |
| 4. Abbey Road | | | | 11. Please Please Me |
| Abbey Road is the #1 ranked album of all time | | | | The Beatles first album is mostly interesting to |
| over at and while it's certainly an excellent album I | | | | me as an historical artifact at this point as I don't |
| do obviously disagree with that ranking. For me | | | | particularly enjoy listening to it. But the opening ("I |
| it's just a bit too slick sounding and not quite as | | | | Saw Her Standing There") & closing ("Twist |
| bursting at the seems with ideas as the three | | | | & Shout") tracks are great. |
| albums I've ranked above it. | | | | Strangely enough, as I don't like listening to most |
| That being said, the side 2 suite is incredible and I | | | | of their covers, I do enjoy some the covers on |
| think I rank Abbey Road's side 2 as my most | | | | this one ("Anna," "Baby It's You," and of course |
| enjoyable listen of any album side The Beatles | | | | "Twist & Shout.") |
| recorded. Does that mean I hate side 1? No. It's | | | | Highlights: I Saw Her Standing There, Please Please |
| got some of my favorite Beatles songs including | | | | Me, There's A Place, Twist And Shout. |
| "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" and "Oh! Darling" | | | | 12. With The Beatles |
| along with the classic hits "Come Together" | | | | Their second album is much like their first without |
| & "Something." But I could do without | | | | as much of the whole "historical significance" thing |
| "Octopus's Garden" which like "Yellow Submarine" | | | | which means I listen to it very rarely indeed. |
| I've grown quite tired of over the years and I | | | | Highlights: All My Loving, You've Really Got A Hold |
| now feel it mucks up the flow of the album. | | | | On Me |
| Highlights: Come Together, Oh! Darling, I Want | | | | I recommend obtaining at least the first 9 albums |
| You (She's So Heavy), All Of Side 2. | | | | on this list and supplementing that collection with |
| 5. Magical Mystery Tour | | | | the Past Masters 1 & Past Masters 2 |
| While Magical Mystery Tour was not technically an | | | | collections which include all of their singles that are |
| album release at the time (it was officially an EP), | | | | not on these albums (and that includes many of |
| I'm considering it as one for the purposes of this | | | | their greatest songs.) |
| list and since it included quite a few new songs | | | | You should then get the Yellow Submarine |
| (along with older singles like "Penny Lane" & | | | | Songtrack which isn't really an album but does |
| "Strawberry Fields Forever") I think it makes | | | | include some great songs you can't get elsewhere |
| sense to think of it as an album at this point. | | | | (particularly "It's All Too Much.") and interesting |
| It includes many of The Beatles greatest | | | | alternate mixes of some of their biggest hits. |
| psychedelic songs. "I Am The Walrus" & | | | | Then if you still need more Beatles (and if you're |
| "Strawberry Fields Forever" in particular. If one | | | | like me, you will) get the Anthology series, |
| really wants to get an idea of what The Beatles | | | | particularly Anthology 2 & Anthology 3. |