2. #1. âNorwegian Wood (This Bird Has
Flown)â
ď¨ Released 3 December 1965 on Rubber Soul.
ď¨ Credited to Lennon-McCartney; written chiefly by John
Lennon, with middle eight and lyrical contributions by Paul
McCartney.
ď¨ First example of rock band playing sitar in one of their songs;
it was played by George Harrison.
ď¨ Lennon began writing the song on his acoustic guitar in
January 1965, while vacationing with then-wife Cynthia, in
Swiss Alps.
ď¨ Lennon later expounded that he wrote the song about an
affair he was having: âI was very careful and paranoid
because I didn't want my wife, Cyn, to know that there really
was something going on outside of the household. I'd always
had some kind of affairs going on, so I was trying to be
sophisticated in writing about an affair. But in such a smoke-
screen way that you couldn't tell. But I can't remember any
specific woman it had to do withâ.
3. #2. âLet It Beâ
ď¨ Released 6 March 1970 as single (and in alternative mix) as title track
for 12th and final studio album of same name, Let It Be, released 8 May
1970.
ď¨ Written by Paul McCartney, despite being credited to Lennon-
McCartney.
ď¨ Last single before McCartney declared his leave from the group
(Lennon preceded him in leaving).
ď¨ Both Let It Be and U.S. single âThe Long and Winding Roadâ were
released after McCartneyâs declared leave from and following break-up
of the band.
ď¨ Retains number-one spot on âThe Fansâ Top 10â poll comprised in The
100 Best Beatles Songs: An Informed Fanâs Guide by Stephen J.
Spignesi and Michael Lewis.
ď¨ Number three in 100 Best Beatles Songs list, behind only âStrawberry
Fields Foreverâ and âA Day in the Lifeâ.
ď¨ In 1987, the song was recorded by charity supergroup Ferry Aid
(including McCartney).
ď¨ Gained No. 1 on U.K. Singles Chart for three weeks , reaching top ten
in many other European nations.
4. #3. âHere Comes the Sunâ
ď¨ Released 26 September 1969 on Abbey Road.
ď¨ Composed and sung by George Harrison.
ď¨ One of Harrisonâs best-known contributions, together with
âSomethingâ and âWhile My Guitar Gently Weepsâ.
ď¨ Year 1969 was a tough one for Harrison; he was arrested for
marijuana possession, had tonsils taken out, and left the band for a
limited time.
ď¨ In his autobiography, Harrison mentioned: "Here Comes the Sun"
was written at the time when Apple was getting like school, where
we had to go and be businessmen: 'Sign this' and 'sign that'.
Anyway, it seems as if winter in England goes on forever, by the
time spring comes you really deserve it. So one day I decided I was
going to sag off Apple and I went over to Eric Clapton's house. The
relief of not having to go see all those dopey accountants was
wonderful, and I walked around the garden with one of Eric's
acoustic guitars and wrote "Here Comes the Sun".
ď¨ There is a missing picture from Anthology 3 of Harrison composing
the song, with capo on seventh fret.
5. #4. âRevolutionâ
ď¨ Written by John Lennon, but credited to Lennon-McCartney.
ď¨ Two separate arrangements of the song were released in
1968: hard-rock version as B-side of single âHey Judeâ and
slower version titled âRevolution 1â on eponymous album The
Beatles (popularly referred to as the âWhite Albumâ).
ď¨ Even though âRevolutionâ was released before âRevolution
1,â the former was recorded several weeks after the latter as
re-make explicitly created to be released as single.
ď¨ Third connected piece written by Lennon is experimental
âRevolution 9â, which unfolded from unused portion of
âRevolution 1â, also appearing on White Album.
ď¨ Was influenced by political protests early in 1968, much like
rival band the Rolling Stonesâ âStreet Fighting Manâ.
6. #5. âYesterdayâ
ď¨ Released 6 August 1965 on Help!
ď¨ Sad acoustic guitar ballad detailing a break-up.
ď¨ First official recording by the Beatles relying on performance by single
member of the group, Paul McCartney, who was attended by string
quartet.
ď¨ Continues to be popular today with well over 1,600 cover versions,
making it one of the most covered songs in history of composed music.
ď¨ At its debut, it was released by the Beatlesâ record company as single
in the U.S. but not in the U.K.; as a result, while it made American chart
in 1965, the song did not reach British Top 10 until ten months after
release of Help! in a cover version by Matt Monro.
ď¨ Voted best song of 20th century in 1999 BBC Radio 2 poll of music
experts and listeners; was also voted #1 Pop song of all time by MTV
and Rolling Stone magazine subsequent year.
ď¨ Admitted into Grammy Hall of Fame in 1997.
ď¨ Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) affirms that it was played more
than seven million times in 20th century alone.
7. #6. âBack in the U.S.S.R.â
ď¨ Released 22 November 1968; opening track on double-disc album
The Beatles, popularly called The White Album.
ď¨ Credited to songwriting partnership Lennon-McCartney, but only
work of Paul McCartney.
ď¨ Moves without interruption into subsequent song on The White
Album, âDear Prudenceâ; this comes about likewise on the Rolling
Stonesâ 1972 album Exile on Main St. when âVentilator Bluesâ
segues into âI Just Want to See His Faceâ.
ď¨ Opens and closes with sounds of jet aircraft flying overhead,
referencing âdreadfulâ flight back to the U.S.S.R. from Miami Beach
in the U.S., on board B.O.A.C. aeroplane.
ď¨ Pushed throughout by McCartneyâs uptempo playing of piano and
lead guitar riffs.
ď¨ Lyrics explore singerâs immense happiness on his return home,
where âthe Ukraine girls really knock me outâ and âthe Moscow girls
make me sing and shoutâ (being invited to âCome and keep your
comrade warmâ).
8. #7. âCome Togetherâ
ď¨ Written by John Lennon; credited to Lennon-McCartney.
ď¨ Opening track on Abbey Road.
ď¨ Released in October 1969 as double A-sided single with
âSomethingâ, twenty-first single in United Kingdom and
twenty-sixth in United States.
ď¨ Reached top of charts in U.S., peaking at number four in
U.K.
ď¨ Its history started when Lennon was influenced by
Timothy Learyâs campaign for Governor of California
with title âCome together, join the partyâ in opposition to
then California Governor Ronald Reagan, quickly ending
when Leary was imprisoned for marijuana possession.
9. #8. âDear Prudenceâ
ď¨ Written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon-McCartney.
ď¨ Released as second track on 1968 double-disc album The Beatles (or The White Album).
ď¨ Subject of the song is actress Mia Farrowâs sister, Prudence Farrow, who was present when the Beatles visited
India to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
ď¨ Farrow was so earnest about her meditation that she âturned into a near recluseâ and ârarely came outâ of the
cottage in which she was living.
ď¨ John Lennon was asked to âcontact her and make sure she came out more often to socializeâ; accordingly,
Lennon composed âDear Prudenceâ and in the song, he asks Farrow to âopen up your eyesâ and âsee the sunny
skiesâ, reminding her that she is âpart of everythingâ.
ď¨ Was mentioned to be âa simple plea to a friend to âsnap out of itââ.
ď¨ Lennon subsequently pointed out that âSheâd been locked in for three weeks and was trying to reach God quicker
than anyone elseâ.
ď¨ According to Farrow: âI would always rush straight back to my room after lectures and meals so I could meditate.
John, George and Paul would all want to sit around jamming and having a good time and Iâd be flying into my
room. They were all serious about what they were doing, but they just werenât as fanatical as meâ.
ď¨ Lennon did have the chance to play the song for Farrow while together in India.
ď¨ According to Farrow, âI was flattered. It was a beautiful thing to have doneâ.
ď¨ The songâs lyrics are plain and harmless and glorify the beauty of nature in the lines: âThe sun is up. The sky is
blue. Itâs beautiful, and so are youâ.
10. #9. âHey Judeâ
ď¨ Written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon-McCartney.
ď¨ The ballad unfolded from âHey Julesâ, a song accepted widely as being of comfort to
John Lennonâs son, Julian, during his parentsâ split.
ď¨ This report, however, is universally not accepted, with McCartney providing conflicting
interpretations.
ď¨ Opens with verse-bridge structure based around McCartneyâs vocal performance and
piano accompaniment; additional instrumentation is added as the song advances to
differentiate segments.
ď¨ Released on 26 August 1968 as the first single from the Beatlesâ record label Apple
Records.
ď¨ Over seven minutes in duration, âHey Judeâ was, at that time, the lengthiest single ever
to top UK charts.
ď¨ Also spent nine weeks as number one in the U.S. â the longest run at top of American
charts for a Beatles single; tied record for lengthiest stay at number one (until the record
was surpassed by âYou Light Up My Lifeâ).
ď¨ Has sold almost eight million copies; commonly included on professional lists of the all-
time greatest songs.
11. #10. âGet Backâ
ď¨ First released as single on 11 April 1969.
ď¨ Credited to âThe Beatles with Billy Prestonâ.
ď¨ Different mix of song subsequently became closing track of
Let It Be.
ď¨ Single version was subsequently released on CD on second
disc of Past Masters compilation.
ď¨ Gained number one in United Kingdom, United States,
Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France, West Germany,
and Mexico.
ď¨ Only single from the Beatles to credit another artist on
request.
ď¨ First Beatles single release in true studio in U.S.; in U.K., the
Beatlesâ singles were left monaural until subsequent release
âThe Ballad of John and Yokoâ.