John and Paul

The Lennon and McCartney songwriting partnership (1958-1969) is the most famous in popular music history. Together they collaborated on nearly 200 songs recorded by the Beatles a blend of rock & roll, blues, folk, and experimental. Each was a very talented song writer (lyricist and composer), in their own right, but in contributing to each other's songs jointly they equally shared the creation of it, merging musical ideas, and making some of the most memorable, popular, and most covered songs to date.

The Beatles were the biggest band in the world. Their music brought excitement and joy to millions of people, and together as the Beatles (with George Harrison and Ringo Starr) they captured the affection and hearts of the youth and created a musical phenomenon that fascinates fans even today.

Most popular musical bands have a dynamic duo within them. Some have asked who is the best musical duo of all time? This can greatly depend on your own musical knowledge and taste. Some would say the Everyl Brothers, who's prominence of their melody and harmonizing songs influenced other musicians in the 1960's. Others might say Simon and Garfunkel, Hall and Oates, Sam and Dave, but the Lennon-McCartney song writing collaboration is still the best.

John and Paul very early in their musical careers agreed to share mutual credit on all their songs. They equally respected and were inspired by one another, mixed with a little healthy competition, but always valued each other's insight, input, and need to communicate a feeling, a message, an idea, a thought or emotion. In order to do this effectively they needed a total partnership. John Lennon had said that he only had two partners in life, one was Yoko his wife and the other, Paul.

McCartney provided a more optimistic part of a song, while Lennon was more a pessimistic nature, but both could switch gears easily in turn, composing loud, hard edge rock and roll songs to more delicate, loving ballads. Here is a very small list of their best songs together with the Beatles:

1. A Day In The Life

2. A Hard Day's Night

3. Let It Be

4. We Can Work It Out

Songs with a bit of an edge to them.

1. Helter Skelter

2. Help!

3. In My Life

4. Revolution

Songs about love, memories, and coming together.

1. Strawberry Fields Forever

2. Yesterday

3. Come Together

4. She Loves You

5. Something -sung and written by Harrison

6. Good Night - sung by Ringo, written by Lennon

The Fab Four were remarkable as individual musicians, but together as the Beatles they were phenomenal. It is not surprising that the Beatles played at Shea stadium which was the first time a rock concert was held in one, hosting to thousands of fans. Granted, there will never be another John, Paul, George, and Ringo again. When the Beatles split in 1970, all four went to pursue successful solo careers. The Lennon and McCartney duo ended and each created their own different body of work in music. Lennon was tragically killed in 1980 and Harrison died of cancer in 2001.

Music enthusiast should take note in acknowledging rock and roll's most influential and worldwide popular, song writing duo of the later half of the twentieth century. For a sample of Lennon and McCartney's most outstanding and timeless songs, check your local music store, online stores, Amazon.com, free music sites on the internet, and depending where you are in the world, the Beatles are playing somewhere on a radio station constantly. Many States in America have their own "Breakfast with the Beatles" marathon playing on certain days of the week. In L.A., California, on radio station 95.5 KLOS at 8 AM to 11AM on Sunday mornings, can hear the Beatles' complete albums and many other rarely heard tracks.

When John and Paul agreed that their positive message is going to be about love, friendship, and understanding, it is no wonder that they found themselves working together, forming a long lasting friendship, and creating beautiful music for all to hear.