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Today's list is the third installment in a series that will run every Friday for the next few weeks, in which I'll highlight my favorite lesser-known Beatles tracks.
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr wrote and recorded such consistently amazing songs that, even if you ignore all their #1 hits and everything on their famous Red and Blue best-of compilations (which I'll be doing for these more obscure Beatles lists), there are still dozens and dozens of amazing songs, some of which you might've missed along the way—even if The Beatles are the biggest, most influential band in rock history.
As you get familiar with (or rediscover) these songs, I think some of them might even surpass your old, more-overplayed favorites.
Recorded New Year’s Day 1962 as part of The Beatles' Decca Records audition, this Lieber & Stoller-penned Coasters cover features George Harrison on lead vocals and Pre-Ringo drummer Pete Best on the kit. You can hear the band goofing off at the end of this seedy beatnik shuffle, which it honed during its early dancehall and rock-club gigs.
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You forgot Norwegian Wood again... amazing song and tends to be left out of most people's Beatles repertoire.
The best song on the White Album is HELTER SKELTER!!!!! That is the most kick-ass song ever! I luv Paul...he was the one with the best voice (and the best looks) of The Beatles.
But, anyway, getting back on topic, I couldn't say that I particularly love Happiness is a Warm Gun. It's a strange song...
Thank you! Finally someone appreciates "Happiness is a Warm Gun" as much as I do. I sing it in my head all the time, the vocals, the melody... it's just an amazing song.
To Commenter Bryan: "Norwegian Wood" is on the "Red Album" so it doesn't fit the criteria. I don't think it's overlooked really compared to the songs included in this series. (Although yes, it's a truly great song, I'll agree with you there.)
To The Author: I agree with all of these choices except for "3 Cool Cats" which while it is kind of enjoyable in a weird way is definitely not among The Beatles better songs. "It's All Too Much" is an inspired choice though. I've long been trying to turn people on to this song. It's brilliant.
I'm pretty sure that the second guitar on the British "Revolver"'s "And Your Bird Can Sing" is played by Paul. The Anthology version may have John on it, but (according to Mark Lewisohn and others) Paul played with George on the released version. That makes sense because I have not heard another time when John would play so strikingly and quickly.
An early idea was that the guitars were recorded by George separately, with an overdub applied. This leads to the famous story about Joe Walsh's figuring out how to create that riff by himself and being surprised to find out it was double-tracked. It's one of those urban myths that seems true.
One other theory pushed by some guitar recording afficienados is that the original guitars are played by John and George, but Paul later overdubbed on top of that. Whatever actually happened, I agree that this is one of the best "non-popular" Beatles recordings.
Note: Geoff Emmerick, the great technician who is responsible for the majority of the creative sounds the Beatles played, is not that enamored with Harrison's playing. He says (in his book) that George often frustrated the band by having to record solos many times before he got it right. Paul's role as the "third guitarist" evolved from this frustration, and a lot of the louder, sharper guitar music that emanated from the latter recordings was due to his playing or influence. Meanwhile, George had to hire Clapton to play that dynamic, classic part on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Harrison was clearly one of the great rhythm guitarists and was wonderful playing 50's-style licks on the early records. I think his slide work--great stuff--was developed as a balance to his inability to play 'progressive.'
This is a great song! I love Paul's voice (well, I love everything about him!!)!!!!
to Jeff C. Emerick didn't like George or Lennon because they were'nt friendly with him the way Paul was. Both McCartney and Lennon have stated over the years that George was the better guitar player of the three, but that they both liked to play lead guitar sometimes. George could play any progressive lead that was needed, you can see him doing it live on youtube in Germany '66 during I'm Down. Or before that at NME '64. There's no upside to denigrating George's talents as an innovative rock guitarist, it doesn't change the fact that he was the lead guitarist for the Beatles and a co-author of their classic sound. There are conflicts over who played the 2nd dual guitar, to me it sounds like John's style, with Paul following the same line with the bass.