The Best Beatle Songs

The Beatles amassed an impressive song catalog during their career. There was also a variety of songs, some are memorable, some are forgettable, some are unique, and some are impressive. Out of all their songs, though, there was a handful of songs that were important not only for their fans but also for music.

At number five is "I Feel Fine". Released in 1964, the song was written by John Lennon during an earlier recording session. This song is a prime example of the Beatles experimenting with more expressive lyrics but also with studio sounds. This song is also one of the earliest songs to use guitar feedback. The song would also be a bridge connecting the Beatles earlier songs to the more sophisticated sound that would come.

Number four is another John Lennon original. "Strawberry Fields Forever". After finishing their last tour in 1966, the Beatles embarked on a career solely in the studio. What emerged would be a shock, not only to their devoted fans but to the world. "Strawberry Fields Forever" was released in 1967, along with "Penny Lane". Both songs were released as a single and showed a more grown-up Beatles. "Strawberry Fields Forever" would become a Lennon song that used studio magic. The song is actually two different versions of the song that have been mixed together to make one song. The use of studio magic, and more sophisticated poetical lyrics, along with a vast variety of instruments helped define the song as one of the Beatles masterpieces. The song also helped usher in a new music genre called psychedelic rock. It is also one of the earliest songs to have a promotional film released for a certain song. The video would eventually be recognized for its groundbreaking visual effects by New York's MOMA.

Number three is "Hey Jude". Paul McCartney wrote this song as a comfort to John Lennon's son, Julian. John and his first wife was going through a divorce and Paul thought Julian needed cheering up. "Hey Jude" was released in 1968, and became an instant classic. Although the song was over seven minutes long, "Hey Jude" would stay in the charts for nineteen weeks, becoming the Beatles biggest selling single. Almost everyone was against the song because at seven minutes, it was considered too long for radio. But the Beatles insisted the song be released as is, to radio. The song was actually considered a classic before it was released. The single, to that date was the biggest selling debut single.

Number two is "Yesterday", a performance by Paul McCartney only. With only an acoustic guitar, McCartney laid down a heartfelt vocal. After recording, producer George Martin would arrange a string accompaniment. "Yesterday" was a simple, poetic song but was important because it represented a change in Beatle songwriting and music. All songwriting credit had gone to the signature of Lennon/McCartney, both Lennon and McCartney would contribute or co-write songs, but after "Yesterday", both Lennon and McCartney would rely on themselves to write their own respective songs. Another intriguing aspect is that while "Yesterday" would become widely popular, and even eventually become the most recorded song in history, the other Beatles had a great dislike for the song. It was their dislike for the song that caused their refusal for the song to be released in the United Kingdom.

Finally, the number one greatest song the Beatles recorded would have to be "I Want to Hold Your Hand". Even though the Beatles had chart success in the United Kingdom, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" would be the breakthrough hit they were looking for, for American audiences. The single was released in 1963 to overwhelming demand. So much so that the single had one million advance orders. That was virtually unheard of. The Beatles were hugely popular in the United Kingdom but were unknowns in the American market. When a disc jockey in Washington D.C. got a hold of an advance copy of the single and played it, Beatlemania was launched. This would be the single to turn four simple lads from Liverpool, England, into future cultural icons.

Narrowing down five songs as being the most important Beatle songs is a great task. They had so many great songs but these were the few that truly left their mark. These are the few that can sum up the Beatles greatness.