156 down, 50 to go. I’m rather obsessive about ranking my music on iTunes, mostly because it’s the only way I can keep track of all he new stuff I listen to. But also just because I like to rank and order things (obviously). It’s a happy coincidence that I have exactly 50 Beatles songs ranked at 5 stars. As a point of reference, I have around 400 total 5-star songs. Which means The Beatles alone comprise 1/8 of all my favorite music. That seems about right.
If you’ll pardon me a few moments to gush…
They had 20 number-one singles. They had 5 songs in the top 10 at one time. They released over a dozen albums, all of which have great music on them and most of which could fit comfortably on a top X albums of the rock and roll era list. And remember that this all took place over only 7 or 8 years.
Say what you will about their music (and I understand that not EVERYONE loves them as much as I do), you cannot deny the cultural significance of Beatlemania, of the first global satellite broadcast being 4 guys telling us that love is all we need, of that first Ed Sullivan show…
Langdon Winner said, and perhaps it is hyperbole, but perhaps it is not: “The closest Western Civilization has come to unity since the Congress of Vienna in 1815 was the week the Sgt. Pepper album was released.” And, while I get annoyed with Pitchfork at times (as we all do), one line from there that I truly enjoy is in this review: “Want a simple method for destroying any credibility you might hope to earn? Slam Sgt. Peppers and talk up Deathray. It’s that easy. Find something else with which to compare contemporary artists. The Music Machine, the Seeds, Badfinger, the Zombies, and even the Kinks are begging to be referenced. Let’s not compare a kid who wins a paper airplane contest to the Wright Brothers.”
The Beatles were the last (maybe the only) band that held the center of contemporary music together. They were staggeringly popular in a way that I’m not sure can ever be duplicated. Because in the 21st century, things fall apart, the center cannot hold. There are no bands with anything close to the broad-based appeal of the Beatles.
This is not to say that a band has to be popular to be great. But part of what makes the Beatles so amazing is that they were able to excel not at a limited number of things, but at virtually anything they tried. They could try their hand at all kinds of different things, but anyone can do that. Only the Beatles could do it and do it well. Incredibly well.
I guess the thing that seems most significant to me is that, in general terms, if you’re into any kind of music that could be even loosely defined as “rock” music, then you’ve probably got a list of at least 15 or 20 Beatles songs that you love. And even if you’re not into “rock” music at all (my Grandmother, for example, who would pay any amount of money not to have to listen to the Stones or the Who), you probably still have that list.
Should we get stuck on The Beatles? No, of course not. As great as they were, it was a long time ago, and there has been some truly fantastic music since then. I understand this completely, and, in fact, I started writing this blog so I could talk a bit about the new big things. But neither should we let our obsession with the new prevent us from recognizing and experiencing the old.
The Beatles are not simply an anachronism. They are not just the music our parents listened to. Their songs are as alive today as they ever were, and will continue to be alive hundreds of years from now. And that’s really all it’s about. When there’s great music, it deserves to be listened to and enjoyed. The Beatles aren’t the only ones capable of it. Lots of people make great music and people should listen to what they like. There are lots of styles, lots of genres, lots of ways to make great music.
But it’s telling that, for basically any band that you think is up there, finding their way of reaching for the stars, the Beatles are right there next to them. They’re the jack of all trades, master of all. They do a little bit of everything and do it all well. Rock, schmaltz, children’s songs, “world” music, pure pop, folk, folk-rock, ballads, songs about love, songs about taxes, sleeping, death, karma, drugs, etc. and so on.
And, to top it all off, they sang songs like “All You Need is Love” and they meant it. And millions listened, and they believed it. And that’s pretty awesome.
Tomorrow I’ll get started on the top 50, but for those who are wondering, here’s the breakdown by albums:
Revolver: 7
The White Album: 7
Magical Mystery Tour: 5
Help!: 5
Abbey Road: 4 (or 10, depending on how you count the medley)
Sgt. Pepper: 4
Past Masters, Volume Two: 4
Let It Be: 3
Rubber Soul: 3
Beatles For Sale: 2
Past Masters, Volume One: 2
A Hard Day’s Night: 1
Please Please Me: 1
With The Beatles: 1
Yellow Submarine: 1
And you’ll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.
And, if you’re still craving more Beatles fun, head over to Marathan Packs for a couple posts about favorite Beatles moments.
All entries:
Beatles from worst to first 11 (the top 10)
Beatles from worst to first 10 (30-11)
Beatles from worst to first 9 (50-31)
Beatles from worst to first: Interlude
Beatles from worst to first 8 (75-51)
Beatles from worst to first 7 (100-76)
Beatles from worst to first 6 (120-101)
Beatles from worst to first 5 (140-121)
Beatles from worst to first 4 (160-141)
Beatles from worst to first 3 (175-161)
Beatles from worst to first 2 (190-176)
Beatles from worst to first 1 (206-191)
Beatles from worst to first: Introduction
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This is my second time in a week reading through this list. I love what you’ve done and you’ve provided the right amount of commentary with each song.
I grew up listening to a lot of Beatles because my dad is a fan, but after ten years with only their very best known ones in my own house I’ve started getting into them again in a big way, listening systematically and reading about the band and the members and the songs. (That’s how I came across this list.)
Your enthusiasm is contagious and it captures a lot of what I’ve been feeling the last couple of months.