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Can we all agree … or not?
2 February 2014
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Into the Sky with Diamonds
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Everyone here is a Beatle aficionado, but there seem to be strong Forum disagreements on the merits of this or that song.

Remarkable how the same songs appear on the ‘Unbelievably Underrated’ and ‘Worst Beatle’ song threads.

Are there any songs that we could all agree represent the Beatles at their best? Or at least be fine examples of their work.

How would we go about determining that?

Could a list of all Beatle songs be posted somewhere, and somehow we could give each song a score?

Could we give a thumbs up, a thumbs down, or no thumb at all?

Could a thread be set up here that everyone could edit a la Wikipedia? We could then simply add our names next to the songs we like.

All suggestions welcome.

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"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)

2 February 2014
2.00am
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IveJustSeenAFaceo
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Well, there needs to be more of range for scoring than 1-3. A nice 1-10 is what you need. Sounds cool if we could get it started

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2 February 2014
2.16am
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TheOneBeatle
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Into the Sky with Diamonds said

Everyone here is a Beatle aficionado, but there seem to be strong Forum disagreements on the merits of this or that song.

Remarkable how the same songs appear on the ‘Unbelievably Underrated’ and ‘Worst Beatle’ song threads.

Are there any songs that we could all agree represent the Beatles at their best? Or at least be fine examples of their work.

How would we go about determining that?

Could a list of all Beatle songs be posted somewhere, and somehow we could give each song a score?

Could we give a thumbs up, a thumbs down, or no thumb at all?

Could a thread be set up here that everyone could edit a la Wikipedia? We could then simply add our names next to the songs we like.

All suggestions welcome.

The truth is, any song would be the favorite/least favorite/overrated/underrated for someone.

Let me take you down 'cause I'm going to...Strawberry Fields.

2 February 2014
3.45am
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parlance
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Into the Sky with Diamonds said

Could a list of all Beatle songs be posted somewhere, and somehow we could give each song a score?

Wasn’t that Beatles in the Blood’s project? I hope he’s doing okay.

parlance

Beware of sadness. It can hit you. It can hurt you. Make you sore and what is more, that is not what you are here for. - George

Check out my fan video for Paul's song "Appreciate" at Vimeo or YouTube.

2 February 2014
4.26am
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4or5Magicians
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I’m sure there would be no surprises with the top songs, but I’m interested to see what this forum would come up with. As to how it could be done, there are plenty of options. The thumbs up/down idea is good. We could have people make a top ten (or five, or twenty, etc) favorite songs list, then tally the number of votes for each song. We could have people rank the songs on each album from best to worst (or least-best for some of us), and figure out a scoring system in a similar fashion. All sorts of possibilities.

 

2 February 2014
4.58am
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Ron Nasty
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This was, or something similar, as parlance says, attempted by Beatles in the Blood (hope you’re okay out there if you’re looking in!), which I offered to help with.

Unfortunately too many people threw their arms up in horror at the idea of coming up with a Top 10, or a Top 20, ranked in order. They got very much into the mindset of — it would be like choosing my favourite child!

I could see a way this idea could be explored if people wanted to however. And if people want to then I am happy to do it.

Looking for an idea of what is generally thought to be the best and worst? Mmmm? PM me a list of (in no particular order) your 20 favourite and your 20 least favourite. I would give each a single point, and post a copy of the current result every ten PMs — or monthly if there was change, depending on which came sooner. Only core collection songs – and only by title not version, so no Get Back single or album, ‘twould just be Get Back (expect in case of Revolution & Revolution 1 as they are so drastically different approaches to the same song) would count (the 12 UK albums, Capitol’s Magical Mystery Tour , and Past Masters ). If a song that appeared in the favourite list got a vote in the least favourite least, or vice versa, then I would +/- a point respectively.

I’m sure this idea will go down like the lead balloon previous suggestions like this have done, but I’m happy to do it should anyone want to.

I’m sure, if people did want to explore this idea (which I doubt), then I can come up with a proper set of rules.

Over to you all!

"I only said we were bigger than Rod... and now there's all this!" Ron Nasty

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The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966

2 February 2014
6.45am
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Necko
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Isn’t that kind of why we have the Hurt/Heal threads?

I'm Necko.  I'm like Ringo except I wear necklaces.

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2 February 2014
6.57am
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Ron Nasty
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This would be more expansive, as there would be no list – other than their career releases. The heal/hurt lists are where someone specify between ten and twenty items based on a theme, they all start with a score of ten, and are whittled down to a single item by items being knocked off the list. In this instance, everything would start with a score of 0, and nothing would ever be disqualified from being voted for, it just might disappear/reappear depending on people’s votes. The idea here is not to come to a definitive top and bottom one, but to have a rolling view of what forumites consider their favourite and least favourite works released by them during their life as a group.

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The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966

2 February 2014
8.49am
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fabfouremily
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It’s a good idea, but I have to say I was one of the ones who felt a bit exasperated the first time around, and that hasn’t changed. It would be so hard for me to do ( it would be like choosing my favourite child!  quite), and is it worth it? Like someone said upthread, people are always going to have taste differences, that’s what makes us human.

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2 February 2014
11.25am
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robert
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It’s been 40 years since the Beatles broke up and the debates over best/worst songs has not ebbed on bit. It cannot be done except to the satisfaction of the one person who makes the first list. If there could be an agreeable list of the Beatles best/worst it would have been done already. Key word is agreeable.

If you notice in this thread, we can’t agree on whether such a list can even be compiled.

 

"She looks more like him than I do."

2 February 2014
12.59pm
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When/where do you put the limit in on how many songs you can put in in your list? 10? No chance (i did post my favourite 10 but if i went back to that it would chance). 20? I’d be struggling. Their catalogue is so damn vast and strong that to pick 20 songs and say these are their very best is too damn hard. And by best is it what each individual thinks is best (ie their favourites) or what is actually their best? It could lead to endless arguments over why the hell Hey Jude is excluded yet Wild Honey Pie (to think of the most daftest example) is on the list.

As for different versions of songs i’d argue that with Across The Universe the mixes on Past Masters and Let It Be are so different they should be treated as two different, distinct tracks despite them coming from the same basic recording.

So basically i’d say we all can’t agree due to strength of feeling towards the catalogue.

"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)

2 February 2014
2.56pm
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IveJustSeenAFaceo
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I’m willing to try any of these suggestions, but I do agree there’s no conclusive top 10 Beatles songs. Could be fun though

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2 February 2014
3.35pm
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Into the Sky with Diamonds
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For any of us to pick a Top 10 or Top 20 is torture.

However, if everyone on the Forum voted on each song, a Top 10, 20 or 30 could emerge.

Spignesi and Lewis in their “Here, There,and Everywhere” book simply picked the Top 100. We could come up with our own list and provide our own commentary.

We could give a song a Thumbs Up if we thought it belonged in the Top 100, and for each song we could tally the number of ‘Thumbs ups’

It’s time consuming though to write down all their songs – even without getting into the variations of Across The Universe .

So someone would have to type it out somewhere and we’d have to be able to access that list. That’s where one of us here would have to have the know-how.

"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)

2 February 2014
4.10pm
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This is everything from Please Please Me to Past Masters , including the different mixes and George Martins orchestral work on Yellow Submarine . Take it FAAB and RL are not part of it (i’ll argue that they shouldn’t be) as well as all the bbc, anthology, Let It Be Naked , love etc tracks. If you want the album each track is on next to or in alphabetical order or whatever let me know, it will take about 20 seconds to do it.

I Saw Her Standing There

Misery

Anna (Go To Him)

Chains

Boys

Ask Me Why

Please Please Me

Love Me Do (Andy White on drums)

P.S. I Love You

Baby It’s You

Do You Want To Know A Secret

A Taste Of Honey

There’s A Place

Twist And Shout

It Won’t Be Long

All I’ve Got To Do

All My Loving

Don’t Bother Me

Little Child

Till There Was You

Please Mister Postman

Roll Over Beethoven

Hold Me Tight

You Really Got A Hold On Me

I Wanna Be Your Man

Devil In Her Heart

Not A Second Time

Money (That’s What I Want)

A Hard Day’s Night

I Should Have Known Better

If I Fell

I’m Happy Just To Dance With You

And I Love Her

Tell Me Why

Can’t Buy Me Love

Any Time At All

I’ll Cry Instead

Things We Said Today

When I Get Home

You Can’t Do That

I’ll Be Back

No Reply

I’m A Loser

Baby’s In Black

Rock And Roll Music

I’ll Follow The Sun

Mr. Moonlight

Medley: Kansas City /Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

Eight Days A Week

Words Of Love

Honey Don’t

Every Little Thing

I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party

What You’re Doing

Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby

Help !

The Night Before

You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away

I Need You

Another Girl

You’re Going To Lose That Girl

Ticket To Ride

Act Naturally

It’s Only Love

You Like Me Too Much

Tell Me What You See

I’ve Just Seen A Face

Yesterday

Dizzy Miss Lizzy

Drive My Car

Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

You Won’t See Me

Nowhere Man

Think For Yourself

The Word

Michelle

What Goes On

Girl

I’m Looking Through You

In My Life

Wait

If I Needed Someone

Run For Your Life

Taxman

Eleanor Rigby

I’m Only Sleeping

Love You To

Here, There And Everywhere

Yellow Submarine

She Said She Said

Good Day Sunshine

And Your Bird Can Sing

For No One

Doctor Robert

I Want To Tell You

Got To Get You Into My Life

Tomorrow Never Knows

Sgt. Pepper ‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band

With A Little Help From My Friends

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Getting Better

Fixing A Hole

She’s Leaving Home

Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!

Within You, Without You

When I’m Sixty-Four

Lovely Rita

Good Morning, Good Morning

Sgt. Pepper ‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)

A Day In The Life

Magical Mystery Tour

The Fool On The Hill

Flying

Blue Jay Way

Your Mother Should Know

I Am The Walrus

Hello, Goodbye

Strawberry Fields Forever

Penny Lane

Baby, You’re A Rich Man

All You Need Is Love

Back In The U.S.S.R.

Dear Prudence

Glass Onion

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Wild Honey Pie

The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Happiness Is A Warm Gun

Martha My Dear

I’m So Tired

Blackbird

Piggies

Rocky Raccoon

Don’t Pass Me By

Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?

I Will

Julia

Birthday

Yer Blues

Mother Nature’s Son

Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey

Sexy Sadie

Helter Skelter

Long, Long, Long

Revolution 1

Honey Pie

Savoy Truffle

Cry Baby Cry

Can You Take Me Back (Hidden Untitled Track)

Revolution 9

Good Night

Yellow Submarine

Only A Northern Song

All Together Now

Hey Bulldog

It’s All Too Much

All You Need Is Love

Pepperland

Sea Of Time

Sea Of Holes

Sea Of Monsters

March Of The Meanies

Pepperland Laid Waste

Yellow Submarine In Pepperland

Come Together

Something

Maxwell’s Silver Hammer

Oh! Darling

Octopus’s Garden

I Want You (She’s So Heavy)

Here Comes The Sun

Because

You Never Give Me Your Money

Sun King

Mean Mr. Mustard

Polythene Pam

She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

Golden Slumbers

Carry That Weight

The End

Her Majesty

Two Of Us

Dig A Pony

Across The Universe (Let It Be ‘Spector’ Mix)

I Me Mine

Dig It

Let It Be (Let It Be ‘Spector’ Mix)

Maggie Mae

I’ve Got A Feeling

One After 909

The Long And Winding Road

For You Blue

Get Back (Let It Be ‘Spector’ Mix)

Movie Medley

Love Me Do (Single Version – Ringo on drums)

From Me To You

Thank You Girl

She Loves You  

I’ll Get You

I Want To Hold Your Hand

This Boy

Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand

Sie Liebt Dich

Long Tall Sally

I Call Your Name

Slow Down

Matchbox

I Feel Fine

She’s A Woman

Bad Boy

Yes It Is

I’m Down

Day Tripper

We Can Work It Out

Paperback Writer

Rain

Lady Madonna

The Inner Light

Hey Jude

Revolution

Get Back (Single Mix)

Don’t Let Me Down

The Ballad Of John And Yoko

Old Brown Shoe

Across The Universe (Past Masters ‘Wildlife’ Mix)

Let It Be (Single Mix)

You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) 

"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)

2 February 2014
4.55pm
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IveJustSeenAFaceo
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I think Free As A Bird and Real Love should count. They feature all four Beatles, (even if one was from the grave) and they were released under the official Beatles name. I’d put the 12 UK albums, the US Magical Mystery Tour  LP, Past Masters and FAAB/RL as what counts as canon Beatles.

And I think alphabetical order is the way to go for a list, to have people measuring each song against every other Beatles song, not just with the rest of their album. It’s a weird psychological thing. But the separation causes them to counted against the entire canon, not just what they were making around then

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2 February 2014
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IveJustSeenAFaceo said
I think Free As A Bird and Real Love should count. They feature all four Beatles, (even if one was from the grave) and they were released under the official Beatles name. I’d put the 12 UK albums, the US Magical Mystery Tour  LP, Past Masters and FAAB/RL as what counts as canon Beatles.

And I think alphabetical order is the way to go for a list, to have people measuring each song against every other Beatles song, not just with the rest of their album. It’s a weird psychological thing. But the separation causes them to counted against the entire canon, not just what they were making around then

So was all the BBC material.

John Lennon had absolutely no say in Free As A Bird or Real Love so in my opinion they go under the Anthology banner. 

"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)

2 February 2014
5.22pm
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Ron Nasty
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There is no way Free As A Bird or Real Love can be considered a part of the canon. Every other Beatles recording released, including the BBC stuff, the Star Club recordings, the Tony Sheridan recordings, the Decca audition, and the archive Anthology material would come above those.

There is one simple reason, whatever anybody’s personal feelings about them may be – negative or positive, they do not feature, and could not feature, the active participation of John. If this is to be done, it should be solely restricted to the core canon as settled in 1987 with the initial CD releases.

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2 February 2014
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IveJustSeenAFaceo
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mja6758 said
There is no way Free As A Bird or Real Love can be considered a part of the canon. Every other Beatles recording released, including the BBC stuff, the Star Club recordings, the Tony Sheridan recordings, the Decca audition, and the archive Anthology material would come above those.

There is one simple reason, whatever anybody’s personal feelings about them may be – negative or positive, they do not feature, and could not feature, the active participation of John. If this is to be done, it should be solely restricted to the core canon as settled in 1987 with the initial CD releases.

Above? I’d put them at least equal with them.

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2 February 2014
5.34pm
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IveJustSeenAFaceo said

mja6758 said
There is no way Free As A Bird or Real Love can be considered a part of the canon. Every other Beatles recording released, including the BBC stuff, the Star Club recordings, the Tony Sheridan recordings, the Decca audition, and the archive Anthology material would come above those.

There is one simple reason, whatever anybody’s personal feelings about them may be – negative or positive, they do not feature, and could not feature, the active participation of John. If this is to be done, it should be solely restricted to the core canon as settled in 1987 with the initial CD releases.

Above? I’d put them at least equal with them.

Above, below, 3 doors down from. 

All that matters within this thread is whether or not they are part of the core. They are not so lets move on with the other parts and not be dragged down a side alley (we might meet Uncle John and Long Tall Sally ).

"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)

2 February 2014
5.41pm
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Ron Nasty
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IveJustSeenAFaceo said

mja6758 said
There is no way Free As A Bird or Real Love can be considered a part of the canon. Every other Beatles recording released, including the BBC stuff, the Star Club recordings, the Tony Sheridan recordings, the Decca audition, and the archive Anthology material would come above those.

There is one simple reason, whatever anybody’s personal feelings about them may be – negative or positive, they do not feature, and could not feature, the active participation of John. If this is to be done, it should be solely restricted to the core canon as settled in 1987 with the initial CD releases.

Above? I’d put them at least equal with them.

Above. John was not present, had no input, and no say on Free as a Bird or Real Love . I’m the Greatest or All Those Years Ago have more claim to being considered part of the canon. I’m sorry, the canon is what the group released while they were an ACTIVE band. Paul, George and Ringo overdubbing John demos was not The Beatles, whatever name you put it out under.

 

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The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966

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