Ranking all the albums of the Beatles from worst to best

As a child of the ’60s, I vividly remember the Beatles’ evolution from the mop-topped pop sensation to the pioneering architects of rock and roll. The year 1965 was indeed a pivotal moment, as Bob Dylan and John Lennon seemed to be in a musical arms race, each trying to outdo the other. And oh boy, did they succeed!


The canon. The official Beatles canon. If mankind had spent a fraction of the time debating what is and is not part of the official Beatles canon on other pursuits, we would have solved climate change and cured cancer by now. Had we not focused so much of our collective brain power analyzing the details of multiple international labels on about a dozen different albums, we’d have flying scooters and talking gerbils. Long story short, we care about the canon.

It’s beneficial to do so, as it enables both old and new fans to navigate a confusing landscape of recordings and adaptations that significantly shaped the boundaries of rock & roll music during its crucial developmental phase. The Beatles, in their surprisingly short-lived career (from 1964 to 1970), put out a total of twelve original albums in the UK

In addition to numerous singles, they produced several compilation albums as well. These albums collected their singles onto LPs. Over time, these albums were adjusted, renamed, and even remixed for distribution worldwide. Many of these compilations came out before their breakup in 1970, and the practice has continued since then. Today, more than half a century later, they’re still repackaging their work

Ranking all the Beatles albums from worst to the best

To put it simply, let’s discuss how we might rank the Beatles’ albums. What factors determine the ranking? Generally, we’ll focus on the established works. This usually refers to the original 12 UK releases, plus an extra one that, though not a full album in the traditional sense, was almost as comprehensive. This brings our total count to thirteen

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We have 14 albums packed with unique Beatles music to explore. I won’t delve into post-split compilations, even though they are quite impressive. For those new to the Beatles who might want a comprehensive introduction, the “Red” and “Blue” albums released in 1973 are truly remarkable. If you’re someone who wants everything, like the viewer who watched every season of How I Met Your Mother, then the 1988 “Past Masters” is for you

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We’ll start with the least favorite and work our way up to the top picks, considering both the original albums and a few extras, within this body of work

14. Yellow Submarine (1969)

The cartoon film “Yellow Submarine” marked the fourth and last collaboration of the Beatles on a fictional production prior to their split. Regarding the movie itself, it’s generally well-received, frequently hailed as a pioneering work in animated features. However, when it comes to the album, it’s not particularly memorable

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In simpler terms, those three songs – “Hey Bulldog”, “All You Need is Love”, and the title track – are the most noteworthy ones among the remaining few. The song “Yellow Submarine” was previously released in the album Revolver back in 1966

Best tracks: “Yellow Submarine,” “Hey Bulldog,” “All You Need is Love”

13. With the Beatles (1963)

The second album, which followed the debut by only eight months, starts off energetically with “It Won’t Be Long.” It also includes original tracks like “All My Loving” and the entertaining performance of Ringo Starr in “I Wanna Be Your Man.” However, due to the immense demand for fresh content, they needed to incorporate a good number of cover songs as well

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In simpler terms, some of the original songs aren’t up to their best potential. For instance, “Not a Second Time” by Paul sounds like it was just added in, while the Lennon/McCartney collaboration “Little Child” also seems insignificant. However, George’s “Don’t Bother Me” shows early promise of his songwriting skills that would grow significantly over time

Best Tracks: “It Won’t Be Long,”  “All My Loving,” “Roll Over Beethoven” (Chuck Berry cover)

12. Please Please Me (1964)

As a significant piece of cultural history, the album “Please Please Me” marked a groundbreaking milestone. It ignited a musical revolution and served as the debut album for The Beatles. The opener, “I Saw Her Standing There,” is an ecstatic homage to infatuation, while the closing track is a lively rendition of “Twist and Shout.” In between, it features many excellent original tracks. However, it also contains some less impressive originals such as “Misery” and “There’s a Place.”

These songs aren’t necessarily poor quality, they’re just average. A competent band could have produced them. However, the title track and “Love Me Do” showcase the exceptional pop brilliance of Lennon & McCartney. The album With the Beatles, their debut, includes a mix of covers that are similarly uneven. “Anna (Go With Him)” falls flat, while “Baby It’s You” is strangely sluggish, an unusual instance where the Beatles’ harmonies slow down the song instead of enhancing it. On the positive side, Ringo gets to show off with “Boys.” Overall, there are some standout moments, but the album remains a bit inconsistent

Best Tracks: “I Saw Her Standing There,” “Please Please Me,” “Twist and Shout”

11. Help! (1965)

The Beatles’ second movie and fifth UK studio album was titled “Help!”. At this stage, they had significantly reduced their cover songs (with only two remaining), and were exploring deeper themes beyond the initial love-struck tunes. The opening track, simply titled “Help!”, directly addresses the challenges of achieving success

The band was experiencing significant growth in terms of lyrics and music. Songs like “The Night Before” and “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” are top-notch when it comes to expressing heartache. The former showcases Paul’s skillful pop melodies, while the latter captures John’s unique take on pop disillusionment

The remaining tracks on the album are evenly divided between upbeat rock tunes (“Ticket to Ride,” “I’ve Just Seen a Face”) and more emotional pieces, culminating in Paul’s powerful “Yesterday,” where he performs solo with a string quartet as backup. Although The Beatles weren’t the first rock band to experiment with classical arrangements, they were the ones who demonstrated that such an approach could lead to a massive pop success

Best Tracks: “Help!,” “Ticket to Ride,” “Yesterday”

10. Hey Jude (1970, US release; 1979, UK release)

Let me just take a brief pause to let those purists vent their frustration, then hopefully they’ll calm down a bit. To be clear, Hey Jude isn’t typically celebrated as a masterpiece within the Beatles’ extensive catalog. As an album that flows together cohesively, it leaves much to be desired; in fact, it’s more of a collection than a unified piece of work. I should clarify that I was focusing on albums, not compilations, but Hey Jude is something of an exception to that rule. It’s a unique kind of compilation album

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Although some may view it as primarily for profit, the album features well-executed stereo remixes of many tracks. It’s a bit hodgepodge, and I haven’t met a Beatles scholar who doesn’t wish “The Inner Light” had been included instead of “I Should Have Known Better.” Nevertheless, it remains an impressive collection of songs

Best Tracks: “Rain,” Revolution,” “Hey Jude”

9. Beatles for Sale (1964)

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The power of the album is clear from the get-go, as “No Reply” and “I’m a Loser,” John’s poignant duets, set the tone. Then comes Paul’s knack for catchy melodies in “Baby’s in Black.” Throughout, the album maintains a delicate equilibrium between John’s somber themes (“I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party”) and Paul’s optimism (“Eight Days a Week”), never wavering

Translation: “I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party” and “Eight Days a Week” are two contrasting songs from The Beatles. “I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party” has a pleasant melody but carries a sad undertone, while “Eight Days a Week” has a grand, urgent feel despite its straightforward message of love. Starting with “Beatles for Sale”, we see a musical pendulum swinging that will peak with “Help!” before eventually settling on something different, which is yet to be determined

Best Tracks: “No Reply,” “I’ll Follow the Sun,” “Eight Days a Week”

8. Let it Be (1970)

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The rest of the album kind of pingpairs around with a variety of songs that feel somewhat casual at times, but never fails to satisfy. George’s “I Me Mine,” and simple slide on “For You Blue” and “One After 909” is almost primitive and “Let It Be” is a song about the climax for you blue concert tour of course

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Best Tracks: “Two of Us,” “Let It Be,” “Get Back”

7. Magical Mystery Tour (1967, US release)

The movie “Magical Mystery Tour” was not particularly impressive, but the album produced from it includes some of the Beatles’ best solo tracks. The challenge in evaluating it lies in its unique position as both an original album and a collection of songs

In this conversation, we’re focusing on the version of the music that was released in America. Apart from “Hey Jude,” which has been previously mentioned, I will only be comparing an American release here. There was indeed a UK release for “Magical Mystery Tour,” but it was a double extended play (EP) containing six songs and lasting about 20 minutes in total

Among the six tunes, one stands out as the unmemorable instrumental titled “Flying.” Another is the repetitive yet endearing track named “Your Mother Should Know.” A third is George’s often underestimated “Blue Jay Way,” which I personally find more impressive than its general reputation suggests. However, these three songs are not particularly renowned in Beatles history

Apart from the title song and the pair of standouts – “I Am the Walrus” by John and “Fool on the Hill” by Paul, which are truly spectacular – the EP is somewhat inconsistent but still manages to impress. When you flip over the U.S. double LP, you’ll find five more tracks. These range from decent tunes like “Baby, You’re a Rich Man” and “Hello, Goodbye,” where John and Paul once again reflect each other in their song titles, all the way up to masterpieces such as “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane.”

Numerous song rankings regard those two songs, initially released together as a double-sided single, as John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s greatest hits of all time. Similar to the song “Hey Jude,” the American edition of the album “Magical Mystery Tour” has its share of issues, with some audio enthusiasts criticizing sloppy mixing. However, its high points continue to be remarkable

Best Tracks: “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Penny Lane,” “I Am the Walrus”

6. Abbey Road (1969)

Although “Let It Be” wasn’t their very last album before they disbanded, it served as their creative farewell. Most of the songs for “Let It Be” were actually penned and recorded before “Abbey Road.” Throughout the years leading up to their breakup, the Beatles underwent significant transformation and development, and in their final records, they opted for a more straightforward approach in production

The “Come Together” slinky tune that initiates Abbey Road, demonstrates a band expertly managing its sound. It doesn’t require flashy effects or excessive showmanship; instead, it relies on a superb sequence of songs. This sequence is further enhanced by two of George’s most beautiful compositions, “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun,” as well as Ringo’s charmingly innocent “Octopus’s Garden.” (A tune that Ringo himself has requested be played at his funeral.)

After the “Because” segue on side two, one of the Beatles’ most daring endeavors unfolds – the eight-song Abbey Road Medley. This medley seamlessly blends various musical fragments and ideas, creating an impressively coherent whole. It starts with “You Never Give Me Your Money” and concludes with “The End.” To top it all off, Paul sings the delightfully sweet 25-second tune, “Her Majesty,” as a final touch

Best Tracks: “Come Together,” Octopus’s Garden,” “Abbey Road Medley”

5. A Hard Day’s Night (1964)

By the time their third album’9been released yet, including the powerful impact of negative publicity surrounding the band, have led to a delay in its release. Yet, as I listened to the opening chord of the title track, it became clear that the initial euphoria of the screaming fans was far from halting these musical pioneers. They were not just maintaining momentum; they were forging ahead, creating music that would reshape the rules of the game

“I Should Have Known Better,” “If I Fell,” and “I’m Happy Just to Dance With You” were loud, fresh, vibrant, upbeat-sounding pop songs that album, energetic, sensational pop songs. They just kept coming one after another, with no covers included in this collection. Even a few tracks toward the end weren’t of the highest quality as The Beatles’, but they were decent enough to hold their own against the abundance of excellent tracks preceding them.”

If standout tracks such as “I’ll Cry Instead” and “When I Get Home,” which showcase strong rockabilly and rocking blues styles respectively, are the least impressive songs on your album, it suggests that the quality is quite high. The Beatles’ songs like “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “And I Love Her,” and the foreboding “Things We Said Today” cover a wide range of love themes. The only complaint one might have about the album is its limited exploration of new instrumental styles or its consistent focus on themes related to being in or out of love, as it primarily sticks to early rock instrumentation and lyrical themes

Inside those boundaries, “A Hard Day’s Night” represents some of the finest rock and roll until 1965. Indeed, it was quite a remarkable movie that complemented the album. Being their first film, it also stands as one of the cinematic milestones from the ’60s

Best Tracks: “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Things We Said Today”

4. Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

I am completely open to the idea that The Beatles’ most renowned album might be ranked fourth for some backlash. Yet, the extensive acclaim it has earned is not undeserved. Everything related to it, from its iconic cover design to its incredible diversity of musical influences,impulses, makes it a a a genuine cultural impulse-touching cultural artifact-mark. It’9s a true cultural touchstone

Regardless of my personal preference for songs from other albums, the significance and greatness of this particular album, “A Hard Day’s Night,” should not be underestimated. To me, it stands as one of the finest rock albums ever produced, and I have it listed at number five in my ranking. The Beatles had that kind of talent to create such a masterpiece

While I may not fully agree that Sgt Pepper was the first significant “concept” album, it’s undeniable that its music has a consistent texture that accommodates a wide range of styles without appearing disordered or chaotic. Tracks like “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite,” and “Within You Without You” effortlessly blend with the album’s sweeter pop tracks, such as “Getting Better” and “When I’m Sixty-Four.” The seamless transition from the title track to Ringo’s “With a Little Help From My Friends” at the beginning is simply brilliant

And the cherry on top, which comes after the apparent coda reprise of the title track, is the epic “A Day in the Life,” finishing with the most famous chord in rock history, played on multiple pianos and one harmonium.

Top Picks: “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” “Mr. Kite’s Favor” (Alternative Title), “One Day in Life”

3. The Beatles (1968)

At times, I might dismiss the seemingly nonsensical tracks on The Beatles’ self-titled album, often referred to as The White Album, and rank it below albums like A Hard Day’s Night and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. However, upon reflection of its incredible music that occasionally intertwines with the unusual parts, I usually change my mind

The White Album showcases an impressive variety of music, spanning from energetic tracks like “Back in the USSR” and “Helter Skelter”, to the calm and mysterious back-to-back songs “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Happiness is a Warm Gun.” It includes the charming tune “Martha My Dear,” written for Paul’s pet dog, as well as the heartwarming piece “Dear Prudence,” inspired by Mia Farrow’s sister

The band’s interactions with country music may seem childish, but they still provide plenty of enjoyment. Some of their most sincere compositions were dedicated to John’s mother “Julia” and the controversial Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who is now referred to as “Sexy Sadie.” There are also high-energy rock tracks such as one about consuming too much candy and decaying, and another that focuses on the wealthy upper class, featuring a prominent harpsichord. Additionally, there’s an inexplicable charm in “Cry Baby Cry,” which combines a nursery rhyme with a rock song

Despite enduring tedious tracks such as “Revolution 9,” John’s less-than-stellar “Yer Blues” or Paul’s quirky miniatures “Wild Honey Pie” and “Why Don’t We Do It in the Road,” there remains an abundance of lovable content. One standout track like “Blackbird” can compensate for many of Paul’s imperfections. Your perspective on this reveals your understanding of the difference between greatness and flawlessness. The White Album has its flaws, but it also contains a significant amount of excellence

Best Tracks: “Back in the USSR,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Blackbird”

2. Rubber Soul (1965)

Over time, Sgt Pepper’s album became widely recognized as a landmark in rock and roll history. However, the significance of Rubber Soul was often eclipsed by this recognition. Essentially, this can be seen as the balancing act or pendulum swing I referred to earlier

Following their peak success with the film “A Hard Day’s Night“, the Beatles started to evolve musically, transitioning from albums like “Beatles for Sale” and “Help!“. Within just a year (with “Beatles for Sale” released in December 1964 and “Rubber Soul” following in December 1965), the Beatles fundamentally reshaped pop music

965 stands out as a pivotal year in the maturation of rock and roll, as both Bob Dylan and John Lennon made significant transformations that year. Dylan chose to emulate the Beatles, leading him to release the electrified album “Bringing It All Back Home,” which disrupted folk music. Simultaneously, Lennon decided to adopt Dylan’s style, writing “Norwegian Wood” and altering the way rock and roll perceived itself. This period was akin to an adolescent cultural form blossoming into adulthood as 1965 transitioned into 1966

Even though the band initially impressed with their opening track “Drive My Car,” there was an added dimension to the album by this point. George Harrison had matured as a songwriter, and his two compositions, the thoughtful “Think For Yourself” and the orientally influenced “If I Needed Someone,” were strong additions, even when compared to other tracks on the album like “Nowhere Man” and “In My Life.” These songs beautifully convey emotion without being overly sentimental, while also showcasing Paul McCartney’s exceptional skill as a pop songwriter

Besides “Norwegian Wood,” John is known for composing premium songs as well. Initially, the final track “Run for Your Life” was generally accepted, but later, when its depiction of violence in a romantic context became more scrutinized due to its darker undertones, it started facing criticism. This was around the same time that Carole King and Gerry Goffin wrote the controversial song “He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss).” Although we’ve made some progress since then, there is still much room for improvement

Best Tracks: “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown),” “Nowhere Man,” “In My Life”

1. Revolver (1966)

“The song ‘Eleanor Rigby’, found on the album ‘Revolver‘, is not your typical rock and roll tune. It’s unique, with violins, violas, and cellos being its only instruments. Some consider it one of Paul McCartney’s best compositions. Interestingly, later in the album, there’s another standout track, ‘For No One’, often overlooked as a classic. This song uses a clavichord and French horn. It’s remarkable how these two seemingly disparate songs find their place on what is widely regarded as one of the best rock & roll albums ever made.”

As a die-hard fan, I’d say George starts off with a classic rock number, “Taxman,” that sets the tone. Later, he delves into the psychedelic realm with the sitar-infused “Love You To.” John unleashes his raw energy on “Doctor Robert,” a song about the upscale drug scene of Robert Freymann, and channels his inner Peter Fonda for “She Said She Said.” He also offers a more subdued side on “I’m Only Sleeping” and radiates as much sunshine as he ever could on “And Your Bird Can Sing.”

However, it’s Paul who significantly broadens the musical spectrum on Revolver. I may not be a die-hard fan of “Here, There and Everywhere,” “Good Day Sunshine,” and “Got to Get You Into My Life,” but I can still appreciate how exceptional each song was in pushing the boundaries for popular rock music. He even penned the wonderful “Yellow Submarine” for Ringo to perform

The final track on the album is “Tomorrow Never Knows” by John, a psychedelic number that matches the experimental spirit of progressive rock from that time, yet retains the Beatles’ unique pop charm. Despite not being fond of all of Paul’s songs on Revolver, I can confidently assert that there are no weak tracks on their masterpiece album

Best Tracks: “Eleanor Rigby,” “For No One,” “Tomorrow Never Knows”

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2024-09-05 13:03