The Beatles: Ten WORST Songs
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- Опубліковано 9 гру 2022
- Maxwell's Silver Hammer? Yellow Submarine? What are the worst Beatles songs. Here is my list of ten, including a few dishonourable mentios at the end.
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I'm always shocked when I see how many people really dislike Within You Without You. Dumbfounded almost. I LOVE the expert Indian percussion in the weird time signatures, the variety of stringed instruments with their variety of tonalities, the hypnotic vocal melody, etc. I was around 8 when Sgt. Pepper came out and I have ALWAYS been perfectly enchanted by this mystical sounding work of beauty. One of George's best!!
Anyone who criticizes within you without you doesn’t understand the song
My favorite Beatles song by far
Agreed.
Within You Without You is the only good song on Sgt. Pepper.
Agreed
There are a few duffers, I will admit but I certainly wouldn't count Sun King among them. I don't mind Act Naturally, either.
There's a great version of Ringo and Buck Owen's singing it together...but it's only available on a bootleg I believe. It sounds great frankly.
Me neither, but "Birthday" is a dud in my opinion.
Sun King is honestly one of my favorite songs they ever did, it’s like the musical equivalent of taking a deep breath outside on a perfect day and just feeling content. I love it for the same reasons I do Albatross by Fleetwood Mac and Hold On by John Lennon. Also, Blue Jay Way is another one of my favorite Beatles tunes. At the time that song dropped, it honestly may have been one of the most psychedelic songs ever made, such progressive production on that tune
That is nice - "musical equivalent of taking a deep breath".
Completely agree on Sun King. If y'all have not seen it, watch Yellow Matter Custard's live performance of the entire Abbey Road B side, including Sun King. The harmonies alone are worth it. Bonus: Paul Gilbert plays lead guitar!
@@texanfournow And yet when Transatlantic covered side two of Abbey Road, they skipped Sun King!
'Do you wanna know a secret' is really let down by George's very weak single track vocal..the song itself is actually pretty damn good..along with 'Bad to me'..its a very tuneful early Lennon piece and definitely demonstrate the young Lennon was talented. Billy J Kramer's versions are far superior. Dont bother me is an interesting one..the verses are very good..actualy tough and good rock n roll..but the 'if I dont get her back again' bits are truely awfull and sound like a real drone of somebody trying to turn around back to verse. If only George had spent more time sorting those week bits he might have had a good track. George was a real beneficiary of double tracking as his voice was week, but he latterly learned how to turn that to his advantage.
It’s truly beautiful 👍
Slow Down was my first Beatles 45 that I got when it was released. Loved that song. The riff was something new at the time. Hardly a bad song.
Correction, its awful - along with it's bookend, Bad Boy
@@superannuatedsuperman4261 To each, their own.
Love both of those!
Well, it's a lot better than "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" which also isn't a bad song. It's just that the Beatles ruined it with that irritating guitar lick...
You’ve really got a hold of me? You kidding? This is one of Johns best vocals.
Right on!!👊😛
There's no way you enjoy Wild Honey Pie more than these songs. Sure, it's less than a minute. But it feels like an eternity!
I'm gonna have to come back with my list. I felt a need to mention this.
Agree with your premise
@@laurala101 Why don't we do it in the road is just as bad
Wild Honey Pie is my least favorite. It's not even close.
agreed. It's an abomination.
I like it. The descending chords are cool.
I know lists like this are about as subjective as it gets but I can't believe you didn't have "Mr Moonlight" somewhere in here
I like Revolution 9 because I don't think of it as a song, rather as a sound collage. As for Sun King-I like its druggyness. On the other hand, if it weren't for the rescue job done by the production, I couldn't sit through Maxwell Gardens Silver Octopus.
I think you are correct about that. The track can't be described as a song, more appropriately as an avant-garde experiment.
@@jamesdrynan Funny story: I always skipped it when I had the CD version but when I got vinyl I had to listen to it because I won't lift the tone arm over tracks.
Revolution 9 is s fine example of musique concrete. If you've delved into the works of Pierre Henri and Schaefer and you'll appreciate it more.
@@MARK-co1ge - Could you please listen on headphones and tell me if >>'By the children'
Even as a sound collage is Rubbish by this point they could spit on the record and they call them creative because of that
I’ve never understood what was so good about All You Need is Love. Not bad as such, just never understood what people like about it.
I’ve always felt that Sgt Pepper has a couple of substandard tracks on an album that doesn’t deserve them, namely Getting Better and Lovely Rita.
Flying and Blu Jay Way are decent filler on a brilliant album. Nothing wrong with them.
I kind of like Act Naturally. I find it enjoyably tongue in cheek.
If there are substandard songs on their very earliest albums, I can accept that. They were just getting started.
Totally agree about all you need is love, I've never liked it.
Even the intro is moving. The Beatles immediately countered the bloodthirsty French national anthem with "Love, Love, Love". The track is equally solemn and full of happiness in the outro. Since decades, our local radio station in Germany has started every January 1st after midnight with "All you need is love".
Its a brave challenge to put a list like this together. Revolution #9 is an obvious #1 or number last as it were. I've taken heat from others when I've expressed this. I'll often get the "its a daring experimental avant-garde master piece" drivel. If one separates from reality and tries to see it in that vein, its still a piece of shit by comparison. The real crime, as you mention, is realized when you consider what was left off the album to make room for it. Hey Jude could have been part of the White Album. Think about it. What a spectacular penultimate ending it would have made, only to be followed up by Good Night in the running order. That would would have been a spectacular one-two punch to end the album. Alas, sigh!
I actually like revolution #9 but it doesn't belong on a beatles album.
I agree. Had it not been released as a single, would have been a perfect fit and made side 4 of the album just as good as the rest, and probably would have made Good Night a little more tolibral. (wich is in my top 10 of worst songs after #9) I think I may have listened to Revolution 9 all the way threw maybe two or three times and maybe more backswords.
@@kendow9370 I often get asked if I skip Revolution 9 when listening to the White Album. I actually don't. I just leave the room.
@@fittobetiedyed5315 Same. But lucky for me my headphones come with me, so I can enjoy that awesome song as a move around the house.
George 's classic line about the avant-garde is that it's called that because they "avant garde a clue!""
Surprise that you find Lennon’s vocals on “You Really Got a Hold on Me” ‘uninspired’.
I feel like he’s singing his heart out on that one. And when John does that… it’s magic.
What do you think is his best vocal performance?
@@classicalbum Hard to choose just one. “Twist and Shout” is legendary, of course. But I think these are right up there, too: “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”, “Help!”, “Money”, “A Hard Day’s Night”, “Yer Blues”, “I am the Walrus”, and “Tomorrow Never Knows” in the “singing his heart out” category.
His standout vocal for his gentler side would be “A Day in the Life”, followed by “Strawberry Fields Forever”, “In My Life”, “Dear Prudence”,
@@Malacandra Soldier of Love on the BBC sessions is also a contender imho.
@@classicalbum My favorites (two different moods): "Don't Let Me Down" and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy."
@@classicalbum I like his Across the Universe singing.
Beatle songs are like orgasms and pizza: even when bad, it's pretty good.
Pizzas make you fat, Jim. Sex makes you slim.
@@SpaceCattttt True dat...
You should have stuck with just orgasm, I love pizza, but people put pineapple on them....
That's like Ed Sheeran covering a The Beatles classic.
Until one goes blind or suffers from botulism....
@@randymillhouse791 Blindness is a myth, but not on the other hand, carpal tunnel is very likely.
I agree with most of this list except for "Act Naturally." I'm not a Country/Western fan, but I always thought it was a fun tune.
I didn't see "You Know My Name, Look Up The Number" mentioned (although it's a bit of fun). I was a kid when "Do You Want To know A Secret" was released, so I don't mind it as I still see this song through a child's perspective.
And our trivia host used to always say "Number 9, number 9, number 9" when that number came up in a question or raffle ticket. Some of us got the joke. 😄
George's lead on "Do You Want" is fun, and not just through a child's perspective, but as a pre-teen in those growing-up years! Example: person has a secret crush on a member of the opposite sex, when it wasn't that popular at their age when mostly hanging with members of their own gender, example ages: 10-12.
"Don't bother me" is a harsh choice for my money it's probably the best track on With the Beatles. In a list of the worst Beatles tracks I would certainly include "Why don't we do it in the road", and "You know my name" which are both utter tripe. "Run for your life" would certainly warrant an honoury mention for its sh*tty lyrics
I'm glad you did NOT mention Mr. Moonlight, which seems so be everyone's favorite Beatles stinker. I used to think so too when I was a kid but it's actually a very sweet song. It grows on you.
I love the old fashioned organ in that song. It's mezmerizing.
It may be a sweet natured song, but it still stinks musically and lyrically, and does not fit The Fab Four, at all! Doesn't and never grew on me. If it isn't the #1 worst, it's among the Top 20!
Another excellent episode, thank you. 10 worst Beatles songs?
The Beatles were the soundtrack to my youth and I love em to bits but there have been dodgy moments.
So…. Out on it’s own at Number 1 has to be the execrable Boys from the PPM album.. it’s supposed to be sung by a girl and even then it’s simply dreadful.
The rest in no particular order are:
- Mr Moonlight from BfS… what were they thinking?
- Run For Your Life from RS… Just clumsy writing and playing. A bum note to end a great album on.
- Honey Don’t from BfS… sorry Ringo, it’s just merde.
- Dizzy Miss Lizzy from Help… just a filler and nowhere near Beatles standard.
- Within You Without You from Sgt Pepper… its simply dull.
- Let it Be… dreary and mawkish, see also Yesterday and The Long and Winding Road.
- Across the Universe… just dull.
- Matchbox from the LTS EP… I know they like to let Ringo sing but this bit of filler does him no favours.
- A Taste of Honey from PPM… I know they were just starting, I know it was part of the early live set, I know Paul sings it well. I just don’t like it.
Love flying and sunking🤓 number 9 is my skip song. Take dizzy miss lizzy and act naturally off the help album and it would make a better classic album for me.
Very entertaining as usual Mr CAR, no less for the fact that, although I am no fan of your other eight choices, two of your choices - Blue Jay Way and Flying- appear in my list of my TOP ten Beatles songs (attached to my comment on your video covering that subject).
Yet again your views echo my own Barry! Valid comments on the merit, or not, of including 'Revolution9 'on 'The White Album'. I remember when playing my original vynil copy feeling compelled to lift the stylus just prior to it ,with the added bonus of also avoiding 'Goodnight' in the process. My only additional 'dishonourable mentions' being 'Savoy Truffle' and ' I me Mine'.
I always enjoy your show. Most interesting. Please make a special on Stan Webbs Chicken Shack. Just bought “Simply Live” what a great concert. He I a master on the guitar and deserves a special.
Thanks for your great works and also let me wish you a Merry Christmas. Ooh, by the way….a little recommendation, SBB, Follow my Dream. Great recording from Eastern Europe.
Coming up next: Leonardo Da Vinci’s worst paintings.
Also coming soon...
Astaire and Rogers worst dance routines.
Mozart's worst musical compositions.
🙄
.
@@hathawayrose2183---ya just got on to grab something that somebody else already put out there ---and run in front of everyone else and show it off, don't you?
And dont forget,, Einstein’s worst theories,and also Babe Ruth’s worst homeruns,
I was never fond of Mr Moonlight although i do like Lennons vocals on it, even a bad Beatles song or cover version is still probably better than most let's be honest, I really struggled to pick 5 let alone ten. Interesting list though Barry and I enjoyed your reasons for picking them
Mr Moonlight
For you Blue
Long and winding road
Your Mother should know
Dizzy miss Lizzy
None of those are bad, just my least favourites
I totally agree with you. They should have replaced Mr. Moonlight with Leave My Kitten Alone.
Mr. Moonlight was a dopey song but Lennon's vocal on it was one of the most passionate deliveries I felt of that period. For that reason I liked it. Long And Winding Road was a great song but yeah, got very tired of it and one of those I don't care if I ever hear again.
@@pilesovinyl For obvious reasons, "I'll Follow The Sun" had a sad problem 16 years later after its 1964 release with its lyrics, "One day you'll look, to see a gun..." ["Beatles for Sale" UK, or "Beatles '65" US albums]
I'm a fan of Obla Di Obla Da although I'm more familiar with the Marmalade version. I've never been particularly struck with All Together now or Octopus's Garden.
I always thought Octopus' Garden was charming because of the way Ringo's scouse comes through. Mind you, this doesn't prove anything, but it's immensely popular and a staple of Ringo's never-ending All-Starr Band tour.
Veto on at least three tracks: "Boys" is a nice, funny rocking track, which was always quite effective, especially live. "You really got a hold on me" is an excellent cover, that hardly needs to hide from the original. Lennon sings this quite dynamically and respectfully, the arrangement of the song is absolutely attractive. "Revolution 9" has an interesting aesthetic, the collage was put together in a quite exciting way and sounds like a soundtrack of the rebellious year 1968. However, one shouldn't rate it as a "song", but as what it is: a collage. The Harrison tracks "Blue Jay Way" and "Everybody's trying to be my baby" also have their flaws (Harrison's vocals and "Blue Jay Way" get into an annoying monotony, after an interesting start, over the course of the track), as well as theirs charms. Like "Boys", the Perkins cover was also a live Beatles number worth listening to, with nice guitar work from Harrison. "Sun king" is lyrically... well, but contains a treat for the ears of harmony vocals.
Totally agree with you about Revolution 9-it's horrible and to make it worse I think it's also the longest Beatles track ever. I actually quite like Flying -it's quite slight melodically I guess but I personally don't think it brings down Magical Mystery Tour which is my favourite Beatles album after Sergent Peppers
I'm a huge Beatles fan like the rest of us, but even I admit there were a few stinkers. I agree that their more child-friendly compositions shouldn't be on this list because they still have their fans and they were a stepping stone to some of The Beatle's better work.
One of the amazing things about the Beatles is those 'child-freindly' songs - literally child-friendly, as in they are often adapted for Primary School Concerts - have heard Hello Goodbye, Yellow Submarine, Here Comes the Sun and Octopuses Garden sung by 10 year olds - and THEY seem to enjoy them ! You never hear songs by the Rolling Stones in Junior Schools funnily enough ! The Beatles were all things to all people !!
I think "Don't bother me" is a great song, I agree it could do without the kindergarten percussion, but still.
"Blue Jay Way" gets my vote for the most underrated Beatles song ever. I also really like "Do You Want to Know a Secret"; it's one of my favorite early (pre-1965) Beatles songs.
I don't know if it's their worst, but for me, the most overrated Beatles song has to be "Hey Jude" -- it really doesn't have much going for it aside from its length. "Run For Your Life" would also be in my bottom ten...it's creepy as hell.
I think Hey Jude is one of those songs that is better sung live by you, the listener, rather than just listening to the Beatles' version - which does go on a minute too long.
Interesting Mr Bond 🤔.... err Sun King is outstanding imho .. perfect harmonisation .. and instrumentally sublime . Blu Jay way influenced Zeppelin and countless others into open tunings its marvellous. and flying is a hippies dream .. chill out tune .. you can smell the cloth and feel the heat in an old bus travelling to Blackpool.. the others I'll give you.
Can't argue with anything on your list. Thank you for coming up with a legit list and not including something that doesn't belong or leaving something off that does belong just to generate comments, like many people do with top or bottom 10 lists.
No Mr Moonlight?
No Mr. Moonlight.
Okay, my list. 1. Revolution #9 for the reasons you stated. 2. Why Don't We Do It In The Road. why didn't they leave it off the White Album? 3. Run For Your Life. The music is fine, but the lyrics are terrible. 4. Yellow Submarine. I simply cannot listen to it. 5. Wild Honey Pie. sounds like a filler for the album. 6. Boys 7. Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da. I didn't like it when I first heard it and time has not made it sound any better. 8. Honey Pie. Sometimes Paul's show tunes sounds doesn't work. This is one. 9.Elenor Rigby. I always get flack when I say I don't like it, but's the music irritates me. 10. Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite. John trying his hand at show tunes? I love the Beatles, but not everything they did.
Some great choices. Disagree on "Sun King" though. The bass line and harmonies are too rich. Also, "Blue Jay Way' has a dark, moody vibe to it that I've always loved.
The Beatles in their later phases would put out oddities or album tracks. Never meant to be played on the radio. The White Album is a perfect example. This album is intentionally eclectic. Beautiful, haunting, catchy, abrasive, experimental. And they pull if off. Playing that entire album late night is mandatory experience for any serious rock music fan.
Btw, I always hate "Mr. Moonlight"
Mr. Moonlight is a cheesy song sung with enormous passion by John. He elevates it to greatness.
my top 10 worst :
10- Maxwell's Silver Hammer ... 9- Not a second time ... 8- Tell me what you see ... 7- I'm just happy to dance with you ... 6- I Call Your Name ... 5- Every little Thing ... 4- Savoy Truffle ... 3- You know my name ... 2- Wild Honey pie ... 1- Revolution 9
especially when they could've put songs like "Come and get it", "Not Guilty", the original "One After 909", "Child of Nature", "All things must pass", "Teddy Boy", etc
Not a second time
Tell me what You see
I'm happy just to dance with You
Every little thing
Is some of the Best music ever
Not a second time?? seriously?
I call your name?? seriously? no, seriously?
You have a lot of covers on there. I typically don't include covers on any best or worst list but I like their version of You Really Got A Hold On Me better than the Miracles. It's got that old stroll feel to it. And Act Naturally is a fun number. Ringo liked country music and George got to channel his inner Carl-Perkins. I get that if you're not a country fan this one might not do much for you, but the opening riff is cool, as is the segue into the guitar solo in the middle. Now if you want a complete cover stinker that would be Mr. Moonlight. That cheesy roller-rink organ is a classic example of George Martin overstepping his bounds. And that scream at the beginning? I've heard cat's screwing in a more pleasing manner.
As for songs the band composed, I will agree 1,000% with putting that abomination Revolution 9 at the topper-most-of-the-popper-most. That was John giving his mates and George Martin, who he had a lot of differences at the time with, the bird. He let his woman whose-name-shall-not-be-uttered-here play Beatle for an afternoon and well, you got what you would expect from that no-talent-hack-soulless-grifting-bag-wearing-screaming-piece-of- okay, I'll stop there. Yeah, I have issues with that woman. I have no problem with some of the others, especially that Blue Jay Way tune. Add in Only a Northern Song and everything George wrote that uses a sitar and you could almost make a top-10 list off his stuff alone. Run For Your Life and Not A Second Time are standards on my least favorite Beatle tunes list. Don't Bother Me has actually grown on me over the years. I was never big fan but now I've warmed up a bit to it. It's not great but it's unique in an odd dark kind of way. Another Girl is a McCartney tune I could without and Goodnight is so syrupy it's nauseating. I turn the White Album off right after McCartney sings about "Can you take me back" so I don't think I've heard that one in close to 50 years.
Those are some mine anyway. And thank you for not including Baby's in Black. I have seen that and It's Only Love pop up on a several of these worst-of lists. It's Only Love got there because John made an off-hand comment about not liking it but as Paul pointed out John said a lot of sh*t. Baby's in Black takes me back to my old Beatles 65 days. Love that waltz time. Nobody writes 3/4 time anymore, but I always enjoyed playing songs like Time in a Bottle and Morning Has Broken because they are written in 3/4 time. Maybe you can do a list of favorite songs written in 3/4 time. Bach can always use a nod from the public.
"When I get Home" from the album "Help" is a putrid, noxious, toxic, not-well-sung, snot loogy. The middle eight lyric (as well as the shuffle beat change) of "When I get home tonight I'm gonna treat you right, I'm gonna love you til the cows come home" is a line I would expect from my neighbor's garage band of 8th graders (who I would praise by the way, but not The Beatles).
The mentioned song is on A Hard Day‘s Night, not Help.
Is not Even in help album your opinion is pointless
Oh Sun King is fantastic! And Blue Jay Way might be a throw way song, I think George should have gone full Indian on it!
I'd have put Run For Your Life on here -- it feels icky in a way that I don't usually associate with the Beatles -- but this is a pretty good list imho!
The best thing about the review is your great deadpan delivery, lol. But I can mostly agree. Except Anna is much worse than Do You Want To Know s Secret? And Wild Honey Pie is definitely the worst thing ever emitted from the lads. It should be #1 instead of #9 as #1.😊
Revolution #9 isn't even a song, but maybe the father of industrial? It belongs because it's historic, sold a lot of albums, and generated a lot of new interest in The Beatles.😊
Great list. I would have to add:
Mr. Moonlight
Baby's in Black
Why Don't We Do It In The Road
Get Back and the entire Let It Be album
Thanks.
Great list! Honest. Passionate. Spot on.
How can you not like Sun King? I just threw my burrito! And Blue Jay Way has its place… when they wrote Flying, they were indeed flying 😂
I always enjoy your work a lot but want to say a few things. For me worst song means composition, recording quality, originality, emotion .... But I always thought "Don't pass me by" is the worst beatles song , at least from White album. A few years ago I saw The Analogues which is the most interesting and maybe best Beatles Cover Band. The are from Netherlands. They played every note from White Album with original instruments on that night and more songs like Penny Lane. When they played "Dont pass me by" I started crying like a little child and realizid that it is a good song. I think nothiing from white Album and Abbey Road could be top ten worst. For me the worst Beatles Song is "What goes on" from rubber Soul. So sloppy and not well recorded. The difference between that and "In My Life", "Nowhere Man" or "Norwegian wood" couldn't be bigger. Revolution 9 I always liked even when I was 11 :)) Its more a piece, not a song at all. Thanks for your rankings. Love them a lot. Greets from munich ...
Great take on those,I agree with 90%,you can also add as my least favorites,Dizzy Miss Lizzie,You Know My Name Look Up The Number,Don't Pass Me By,And I'm not too big on "All You Need Is Love"'It's okay but I usually skip it,other than that Beatles are the Greatest.
very informative ! Nice to hear someone who acknowledges that Revolution 9 belongs on the two virgins album at best; I personally imagine 'all too much' fitting that space nicely
Interesting list with some rather unique viewpoints. As a life-long Beatles fan and a musician, I never looked at any of the their songs as being "good, better or best" as these evaluations often changed depending on what particular mood I'm in. I have heard all of these songs for so long they're now all like relatives and old friends of mine. However, from a composition, inspiration and production perspective, there certainly are some weaker tracks. And my perennial winner in this category is "Every Little Thing.". The only thing that saves this song from total disaster is some fine vocal harmonies. But the lyrics and the chord progression is so incredibly and embarrassingly trite, I still wonder to this day why anyone in or associated with the band would even consider this song to be included on any Beatles record.
Mr. Moonlight
Rocky Raccoon
Bungalow Bill
Rev 9
Boys
Mr Postman
Maxwell's Silver Hammer
Why don't we do it in the road
Ok Really enjoyed your list: Here's mine: 1 Revolution 9. 2. Mary Jane (can't remember the full title) I believe B-Side of Hey Jude 3. Blue Jay Way 4. Flying 5. Mr. Moonlight 6. Honey Pie 7. Good Night 8. Why Don't We Do It In The Road 9. A Taste of Honey 10. Baby's In Black DHM Track Wild Honey Pie..
So glad you mentioned baby's in black, I can't stand that song. B side to hey jude was revolution.
Right ,What's the new Mary Jane? was a B-Side to another song I have to check on that.
Mary Jane was officially unreleased until the Anthology project in 1996
Not many that most everyone could agree with. A great body of work they left, even most of these.
Not a bad list, of the "bad", I must say. As one who've had the pleasure of the Beatles experience since 1964, only 3 of your selections I'd take exception. Which is pretty good, eh ? You've Really Got a Hold on Me, Don't Bother Me, and Sun King. My list would replace them with Wild Honey Pie, Honey Don't, Mr. Moonlight. To me, these 3 atrocities would add to your other seven for the "worst" !!
Agree with the majority of your list, especially the covers. Would disagree on Sun King and Don’t Bother me. Never cared for Rocky Raccoon or Why Don’t We Do It in the Road or Honey Pie. I’d much rather listen to Revolution 9 than these. Cheers!
I always loved Slow Down! John's vocal is pure fab! There's nothing wrong with Boys, besides they needed one for Ringo. Sun King is fine as part of a medley. Act Naturally wasn't my favorite but Ringo liked country, plus it sort of tied in with the Help movie. Don't Bother Me is a great first song from a budding new songwriter. You've Really Got A Hold On Me is a perfectly Beatle-esque cover song. Blue Jay Way sounds like a bad LSD experiment gone even worse. Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby I don't particularly care for either. Flying is a crap throwaway, a zero, I don't know what else you can call it. Revolution 9 is an automatic skip for me. How did you overlook junk tracks like Why Don't We Do It In The Road or What Goes On or Mr. Moonlight or Till There Was You or Little Child?
Great stuff. Agree on nearly everything, except Sun King I’d say. Sounds beautiful and fits perfectly into the 2nd side of Abbey Road - their best piece of music.
Other stiffs for me: Bad boy, What goes on, Run for your life, and Mr Moonlight.
Some bold choices! I'm in the crowd that thinks cover versions shouldn't be included and I am mystified by anyone not liking something Smokey Robinson does, but it was of such pronounced interest that I wrestled with it while on my morning constitutional through the burned out ghetto in which I live.
I came up with a worst non-cover version 12, which does present an interesting theme and a pose a knotty question - that being why do songs like, for example, You Know My Name, It's Only Love, Don't Pass Me By, Love Me Do, Run For Your Life, Yes It Is, Yellow Submarine or She's a Woman (listen to how many times Lennon completely flubs his guitar part) not make this list? But here are 12 songs that I dont think the Beatles should not have touched with a 10 foot pole:
12/11/10 The ARVOS. The ARVOS is the Abbey Road vortex of suck, that depressing trifecta that follows the gripping Come Together, the less gripping but still eminently listenable Something and then suddenly plunges to O Darling/Maxwell's Silver Hammer and Octopuses Garden. Two giant ego strokes for Paul and then someone lets Ringo out to sing. Back behind yer Drukmit, ya Goblin!
9 Within You, Without You. Which proffers that the Summer of Love was as much about this as it was Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. For a guy who made such funny, lively movies, Harrison is the dullest. most sanctimonious and boring of songwriters.
8. Only A Northern Song. Is this really only 3:24 long? It seems to hang around with the similar persistence and malodour as a fart in a space station
7. Long, Long, Long. I cant understand a word he's saying. Sometimes I think that's for the best
6. I Me Mine. You're welcome to it, George.
5. I Need You. I can see a theme forming here. Given that they were reduced to releasing Act Naturally, I guess they simply couldn't bin third rate garbage like this, or give it to Freddy and the Dreamer or Chad and Jeremey, or some other non-entity du jour. Oh, and by the way, when it comes to Buck Owens, it isn't Buck, it's his superb guitar player Don Rich who is the money man.
4. Piggies. Music to butcher middle aged Angelinos by.
3. You Like Me Too Much. An uptempo I Need You with out the novelty of the guitar swell pedal it would be described as busywork if Lennon or McCartney had of written it, but given its provenance and author, its just run of the mill garbage
2. Savoy Truffle. There's some interesting things happening here, but it just sounds so bad you can't hear through the murk. And the lyrics? What are they A recitation of the 300 names of Vishnu, or a Hindu prayer for enlightenment or perhaps a listing of the naughtiest positions in the Karma Sutra? I'll let the uninitiated find out for themselves, but suffice to say, it just adds to the general uselessness of the song.
1. Wild Honey Pie. The mob has spoken and the mob is right. 45 odd seconds of McCartney plunking his guitar and screaming like a demented howler monkey. If they'd had played this for Dustin Hoffman in Marathon Man, after 30 seconds he would have asked could he have the unsafe dentistry back. And then he does "Why Don't We Do It In The Road"!
So - what have we learned. a) the Beatles were far from infallible b) George Martin could have taken a much more forceful hand in quality control c) Odium and opprobrium will be the fate of those who criticize Sun King and d) George Harrison was a bit shit, really.
Good presentation, keep 'em coming!
Hilarious!
You've said what the world has been too polite to say - George Harrison was, I am sure, a very nice man and a good dad and it's sad he's dead, but the often ignored truth is that he was a middling guitarist and an only occasionally worthy songwriter.
#4 is brutal
You comments are usually vey insightful and witty, but this one is way off the mark. Boo for you!☹
Thank you for this, it was excellent and entertaining. I hope you channel is doing well, and hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
Bold episode. Good for you. And if I my be as so bold, I would sight Get Back as one of my least favorite Beatles song. Please please, don`t play it again.
Amazing how tastes differ! Apart from Revolution 9 I can’t agree with any of the other “top” 10. Mine , in no particular order, are Revolution 9, When I’m 64, Dig It, A Taste of Honey, Yellow Submarine, Why Don’t We Do It In The Road, Wild Honey Pie, Honey Pie, The Long And Winding Road (Spector version: the naked version is great), and Savoy Truffle. Each to their own eh?
The Beatles don’t have ten bad songs. It would be difficult to find one bad song. Some are not as good as others of course but bad?
Que buzzer thanks for playing.
Ouch..!!! 2 from my favourite album "With"....i almost un-subbed !!! each to their own though.....i'll have to go away and have a think. Always a good listen though. Thanks.
Hi Barry: agree with all; especially your no 1; would also add:
Yellow Submarine
I Wanna be Your Man
Little Child
Any Time at All
Mr Moonlight - ridiculous organ solo
Honey Don’t
What Goes On
Totally agree agree on Sun King! I used to say my favorite song is Side 2 of Abbey Road except for Sun King! They’d already sung a far superior “Sun” song four songs earlier
MMT not a top notch Beatles album? Idk about that brotha. Worst song has to be the same on everyone's list..and you nailed that.
If he would've said "movie" instead of "album" I would've agreed with him.
@@davidl570 lol, no doubt
With the exception of Revolution No. 9, I never thought of any Beatles' song as being bad or 'worst'. I still enjoy if not love several of the songs you mention, but I was 11or so on first hearing and Capitol's The Beatles' Second Album still thrills as does Twist and Shout, which covers most of Please Please Me. Part of the songs' attraction is, admittedly, nostalgic. The years in which I first listened to the Beatles are imprinted in the music, just like watching A Hard Day's Night is a time capsule of an era we'll never see again.
By coincidence, I heard Beatles version of Act Naturally for first time this morning. I only knew Buck Owens version plus a version with Buck Owens and Ringo singing a duet. Found Ringo version disappointing. Ringo does another country song on White Album, Don't Pass Me By, which I quite like. At the age of 72 I'm finally getting into the Beatles. Agree totally about Revolution Number 9.
If you don't mind me (a 65-year-old) asking, what were you listening to instead of the Beatles up until the age of 72?
@@Williamottelucas When the Beatles were in existence I knew all their hits and better known songs. However, I hadn't heard any of their albums. I didn't have much interest in music until l early 1970s after the Beatles broke up. Since then I've listened to all sorts of music. - Singer songwriters, classic rock, folk, country etc but never listened to any Beatles albums until a few weeks ago. Now realise that I quite like them. Many of their well known songs are classics and I've discovered many of their songs which I didn't know and now like very much.
"Run For Your Life" (a nasty little song) and "Hello, Goodbye" (monotonous nonesense) are my bugbears.
Completely agree on HG. It’s like nails on a chalkboard to me. I’d rather listen to Revolution #9 nine times in a row. :-)
Agree with that. My mum used to say HG sounded like it was being made up on the spot. Not good.
Hello, Goodbye is easily one of McCartney's lamest and shallowest songs! The lyrics are just plain DUMB--and I'll never understand how it hit #1. (Lennon hated it too---no surprise there).
Only songs I would swap out would be flying with wild honey pie and you rly got a hold on me with little child. Also blue jay way with Devil in her heart
I really like "Blue Jay Way" because of the effects. For me the very worst of all is the vomit-inducing "Good Night", the final track on the white album. It would have been better had the album finished with "Revolution #9", which I quite like. "Good Night" is like the most sugary, over-the-top pile of drivel ever recorded. Having it sung by Ringo didn't make it any better. Perhaps most people forget it as they never listen to "Revolution #9".
Cool video. Can't really argue with your picks. Others I never cared for: When I Get Home; Honey Don't; Bungalow Bill; A Taste of Honey and Mister Moonlight.
You could not have summed up Revolution No9 any better for me. i think I've played it once, and that is the first and last time.
As you also note, many of the track featured are covers - quality counts.
"Revolution 9" has an interesting aesthetic, the collage was put together in a quite exciting way and sounds like a soundtrack of the rebellious year 1968. However, one shouldn't rate it as a "song", but as what it is: a collage.
I agree with four of the songs on your list (Act Naturally, Blue Jay Way, Flying and Revolution 9) and one of your DIShonorable mentions (Dig It) ...
To those five I'd add (in no particular order)...
Don't Pass Me By... No, by all means pass this one by...
Run for Your Life... The playing and singing are just fine on this, but the subject matter is so cringy that even John disowned it.
For the Benefit of Mr Kite... I've grown weary of Lennon's psychedelically, self perceived cleverness and this one... just is one stepp too far for me.
Yesterday is a lovely song and I certainly enjoy hearing McCartney play it live, but there's just something about the performance and recording of this song that I find listless and flat.
Goodnight drags along on the heels of Revolution 9 when what was needed was something to jar you to your senses... When I had a bookshop, I would play this on the tape deck at closing time. It worked wonders to clear out all the stragglers.
For my DIShonorable mentions I present everything on Please Please Me except the title track, I Saw Her Standing There, Boys, Chains and Twist and Shout. By the way, I too am fond of Macca's tunesmithery.
Cheers!
What about a Ten Worst Beatles Original Songs ie leaving out the covers. I’ve been rethinking the Beatles as a whole. Are they that’s”great” I prefer The Who anyway and the likes of The Doors , and the brilliant The Beach Boys are better , Incidentally And do you want to know a secret. Do You want To Know A Secret is one of my few favourite Beatles songs since I heard it as a child 😊
Not sure.........but I give you Credit for attempting this. Your take brings up 2 thoughts for me........ "The King has no clothes? That's why there is COKE AND PEPSI" I agree to disagree! but I guess there's got to be a bottom 10 with so many! I will of couse keep listening!
I love Maxwell's Silver Hammer!
Can’t argue with any of these choices except for Blue Jay Way which I like quite a bit.
Yo Barry-I assume you realized you'd feel some heat with this'n...I actually love the frantic to sublime transition o' Revolution 9 into Good Night...for me the perfect endin' to one o' their best albums. Some tracks I don't particularly like are: Don't Pass Me By (either mono or stereo which are completely different.)...Matchbox... 'n All Together Now. Slim pickins in a catalog as vast as the Beatles total output. They still rule O.K.!!!
Have to say I am not a fan of the earlier Beatles material as much. I like a lot of tunes from the earlier period but it seems they don't really hot their stride until Help or Rubber Soul. I was glad to see that "You Know My Name" did not make the list. I would also say there isn't a single song from Revolver that should be on the bottom of the list either.
I don't really care for their bread & butter work cover songs so I won't include them.
(FLYING? Seriously? I LOVE that one!)
1. Something - Soppy, drippy, overplayed
2. Michelle my Belle - ditto Something
3. Yer Blues - Everybody loves this overlong jam session, but it bores me
4. Maxwell's Silver Hammer - noisy - ugly, unfunny lyrics
5. All Together Now - not the worst, but I'll pass
6. Yellow Submarine - I even hated this one when I was a little kid
7. I Want You (She's so Heavy) - much like Yer Blues - ugh, just end already
8. Wild Honey Pie - Total earache, but thankfully short
9. Why don't we do it in the Road - Out of character for them, and just NO.
10. Run for Your Life - totally psycho lyrics not aided by a me-eh tune
Overplayed doesnt count. Something is top ten of their best songs.
I disagree with most of this list. I'll counter with my "worst" Beatles tracks.
1. A Taste Of Honey. I think the Herb Alpert take was pretty amazing, but not Beatles material.
2. Mr. Moonlight. Not John's best vocals, but that organ solo... yeeech!!!!
3. All Together Now. I guess it's okay for a children's ditty.
4. Baby's In Black. WTF is up with that sour sticky finger guitar solo George??? It must be intentional because he reproduced it accurately live!
4. 'Til There Was You. Did Brian make you guys include a show tune???
5. Wild Honey Pie. How freaking bored were you, Paul???
6. Run For Your Life. Not a bad song, but a very bad look for John.
7. Little Child. Another decent performance, but Jeffery Epstein much??? Cringe factor 10!!!!
8. Only A Northern Song. It's on this worst list, but I like it. George was just going through motions to fill a quota for EMI.
9. You Know My Name (Look Up The Number). It's all in good fun.
10. Revolution 9. We can agree at least on one song... or non song. For what it is, it's still cool!
Funny enough, revolution 9 is one of the most influential Beatles track as it helped pioneer loads of techniques used to this day through sampling and “sound collaging”.
I don't mind You Really Got A Hold On Me, but I really do like Sun King. It brings a much needed break in the medley of side 2 on Abbey Road. It's a really nice song I think. Each to their own though.
This was a fun video. Although I disagree with about half of your choices, it's really all subjective, right? My top 10 worst Beatles songs, in no particular order except #1 would be:
1.Revolution 9
2.Blue Jay Way
3.I Dig A Pony
4.Old Brown Shoe
5.I'm Down
6.I Feel Fine
7.Baby I'm A Rich Man
8.Long, Long, Long
9.Dr. Robert
10.You Know My Name, Look Up the Number
I knew "Flying" would be on here. But I dig it, anyway.
Sun King? Seriously?😂 Now “Yellow Submarine” that sucked.
Act Naturally is pretty good on the video with Ringo and Buck Owens .. Mr. Moonlight ,that was a weird one that I could not get and that creepy drastic organ solo was enough for a couple of cat life times . I could have a re listen and a different opinion about it now maybe. ..
I completely agree- one of my favorites too! 👍😃
I really like don't bother me.
Surprising that you didnțt mention Run For Your Life.
Those lyrics may have sounded fine back then, though I honestly canțt understand how or why, but they sure sound creepy today.
EDITȘ Actually I do see one way that the lyrics might be interpreted, as the words of a stalker.
Doesnțt make the song any better though.
lennon said he was never mad on run for your life it sounds a bit like the monkees
Definitely agree.
i'm such a Beatle fan, I knew I was going to love all these..haaa.....although I do agree with Rev #9, disturbed me as a child...ha. Fun study and learned a few factoids.
A fine list. Mind, it could have been the worst thirty, even more. It depends on the starting point of reference.
The challenge with the Beatles is that their material is diverse to the point where even the staunchest fan would have trouble stretching their tolerances to embrace everything. 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' and 'Ob-La-Di-Ob-La-Da' might appeal to the casual radio listener yet possibly not to the album-buying fan or musician who idolises the band, nor those seeking a degree of emotional depth or cultural connection. And yes there was self indulgence. 'Strawberry Fields' and even the 'Sgt. Pepper's' album, both done with little regard for the interest of the pop radio listener, which 'til that time was the Beatles' audience, were indulgent gambles that paid off. 'Revolution #'9, surely a #1 on the hate list of most fans, was similar though not a gamble - it was, really, a finger of contempt for the pop fans...like Lennon saying 'This is real art, man.' There were also his tedious takes (typically too long) of Dizzy Miss Lizzy', 'Slow Down', 'Run For You Life', and 'Rock and Roll Music'. As a producer, George Martin, whose role as producer included the mitigation of indulgence and tedium, wasn't always as up to par.
I always have fun with "Wild Honey Pie", it's just a short joke that doesn't deserve the hatted it usually gets. "Blue Jay Way" is eerie and unsettling, very unlike your usual Beatles material, and that's why I think it deserves at least some respect. Can't disagree with with "Revolution #9" and most of the mentioned covers (minus "You really got a hold on me").
One song I always tend to skip is "The long and winding road".
Don't Bother Me - I kind of like that
Sun King - I might agree it's my least favourite track on Abbey Road, but not on any "worst"list. I like it.
Blue Jay Way - I might not dig it, but strongly disagree
Flying - I fail to get why this gets so much bashing. I dig it.
Revolution 9 - it doesn't count. But I could do without it.
Stinkers for me obviously Maggie Mae, Dig It, Wild Honey Pie, but they sort of don't count. I could say the same for Why don't We do it in the Road as well.
- Baby You're a Rich Man
- Dig a Pony
- Mr. Moonlight
- Anna
- Honey Don't
- Act Naturally
- Misery
- Chains
- You Really Got a Hold on Me
- This Boy
Oh Darling from Abbey would be my turkey option.Grating and indulgent to the max.
How about doing a video of the songs beatles wrote for other artises but the Beatles never sang themselves. Eg. Step Inside Love by Cilla Black, No matter what by Badfinger and songs for Mary Hopkin
O U T spells "out"! Good review Sir. I can't stand Act naturally as well.
I do like What goes on though.
Maxwell is at the top of my list. Love the fact that MACCA tortured Ringo and Harrison for days and weeks to get it just the way he wanted it, and Lennon ditched the session entirely. And This Boy is hysterical, so god awful and overwrought, I love it, the lyric and the Lennon vocal. Always dug the hell out of Flying, and Revolution 9. The repeated 9 bit cracks me up, always. The entire track cracks me up. But, then, I dig batshit nuts collage stuff.
I enjoy Sun King! It was referenced by Elton John for Bernie's ridiculous 'Solar Prestige a Gammon' lyrics, and perhaps there should be a ban on tastelessly using word salads in any language in any pop lyrics. You really got a hold on me was improved upon by Eddie Money in 1977. Blue Jay Way is a nice tune, and Flying is nice groove, especially the extended version from the outtakes. My most loathed Beatles tune is probably Rocky Raccoon, with Why Don't We Do It On the Road as a close second!
I'm surprised their cover of "Mr Moonlight" didn't make the list - it's objectively awful and proof that even those absolute legends John, Paul, George and Ringo had their off-days. I also feel like they were kind of half-arsing it with "She's A Woman" (the B-side to "I Feel Fine"), but then again both of those tracks were recorded and released in 1964 when they were flat-out busy with the whole Beatlemania thing, so when they were otherwise churning out solid gold the odd dud was bound to go through to the keeper.
I can’t believe run for your life didn’t make this list! Personally I really enjoy both sun king & blue jay way, but other than that I can’t disagree with the rest of your choices
Maxwell's Silver Hammer, Oh Darling, Bungalow Bill, Rocky Raccoon, Revolution #1, Wild Honey Pie, Savoy Truffle, It's Only A Northern Song, Only A Northern Song, The Inner Light.
Dishonorable mentions: Your Mother Should Know, Dig It
All of the songs written for Ringo were silly songs to go along with his lets call it unique singing vocals, but i don't mind Act Naturally or Octopuses Garden, but Boys & Yellow Submarine aren't for me. Some songs suffer from self-indulgence, leading to long,dull & monotonous songs, which i assume they believed to be new & experimental. Unfortunately, some experiments fail to yield good results.
Agree with your No.1.
Also "Tomorrow Never Knows" and "Hey Jude." That one just goes on tooo long.
I can understand, if one can't find access to "Tomorrow Never Knows", but it is one of the most interesting works by the Beatles ever. "Hey Jude" with an explosive McCartney in the "Na na na" chorus, never seemed too long to me. Also live in McCartney concerts always a highlight, the fans still sing it in the tram after the concert...
Revolution 9" has an interesting aesthetic, the collage was put together in a quite exciting way and sounds like a soundtrack of the rebellious year 1968. However, one shouldn't rate it as a "song", but as what it is: a collage.
Fair enough, overall. While you don't suggest that "Revolution No. 9" is, strictly speaking, a song, you lump it in with a list of actual songs. Seems odd...To be fair, it is on a Beatles' record, so we will reluctantly give it a pass. But not to include "She's Leaving Home?" What maudlin dreck! It is the only Beatles' song that I will go to the trouble to skip (skipping a song when playing vinyl requires effort....) when playing Pepper. Yes, I detest "Maxwell..." like most (?) people, but I'll sit through it. Same with "Sun King." Same with any of the others on the list. Picking on the early years' song choices is a little harsh; they hadn't yet become prolific song-writers, so they pulled from outside sources. Combined with the time limitations they faced in the early years, snap decisions had to be made, I am guessing. You can't hit them all out of the park....