13. Yellow Submarine (1969)
This was a soundtrack album The Beatles were commissioned to do for the film of the same name. Of all the tracks on this record, only 4 were original unreleased tracks by The Beatles. The band elected to bring in two tracks from previous albums, "Yellow Submarine" from "Revolver," and "All You Need is Love," from "Magical Mystery Tour." That makes up side 1. Side 2 is just a collection of film scores created by their producer, George Martin. The band just feels it's least inspired on "Yellow Submarine," resulting in the only Beatles album that's just kinda meh.
12. Beatles for Sale (1964)
In the middle of the Beatlemania era, the band may have been a little rushed to get an album out quickly to sell to all their screaming fans. In order to speed up the process the band did less writing and included a few more covers on this album including "Rock and Roll Music" by Chuck Berry, and "Words of Love" by Buddy Holly. Although this record may be a bit of a weak point for the group, they still were able to construct a pretty fun rock album, with highlights such as Eight Days a Week.
11. Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
The Beatles looked to follow up their incredible "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" with another psychedelic album in "Magical Mystery Tour." Unfortunately they weren't able to match it. This was originally meant to be just an short EP, and side 1 was going to be the product. However, they decided to throw in 5 of their non-album singles at the time for a side 2 of this LP. This is worth buying just for the singles, which includes great songs such as "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Penny Lane", and "All You Need is Love." Side 1 of this record however feels a bit unnatural and forced, ultimately making this an inconsistent album.
10. Please Please Me (1963)
This is what started it all! The Beatles took only 9 hours to come out with their debut album. At the time, they had no idea what kind of career they were about to embark on. Although "Please Please Me" is not as big of a deal musically compared to some of their later issues, it stills deserves a couple listens. This is a quality Pop/Rock album that is easy to be enjoyed by everyone. You will find recognizable hits such as "Love Me Do", "Twist and Shout," and "I Saw Her Standing There."
9. Help! (1965)
"Help!" was designed as a soundtrack to a movie with the same name. "Help!" can be seen as a transition album, as it contained a lot of the similar pop material that was driving the Beatlemania craze, but also had signs of folk and different genres that would propel the later stages of their career. The same sing-a-long hits they were so good at producing are present, such as "Ticket to Ride." However, we also see a more serious and artistic side, such as in the emotional ballad "Yesterday" and the title track. All in-all Help! was an important step in pushing the Beatles to a new stage of their career.
8. Let it Be (1970)
When the Beatles first wrote the music for Let it Be, they were unsatisfied and decided to scrap the product and go back to the studio, and that is when they came out with "Abbey Road." However after Abbey Road came out and the band called it quits, they decided to release "Let it Be" to the public.
This album may be a bit of a disappointment following some of their other masterpieces, but is definitely no throwaway. It is a little unfocused and overproduced, and their are moments when the Beatles seem uninterested and out of it. However, there is a lot of greatness to be found here, just look at "Across the Universe," "Get Back," and of course the masterful title track, which is one of the band's most coveted creations.
7. With the Beatles (1963)
"With the Beatles" is the groups sophomore effort and an improvement over their debut "Please Please Me." This album is very similar in style as their debut, but much better. The songwriting is more developed and careful. In "Please Please Me" it often felt as they were throwing things together just for the sake of having an album. Highlights would include "I Wanna Be Your Man" and "All My Loving."
6. A Hard Day's Night (1964)
"A Hard Day's Night" was yet another soundtrack album by the Beatles and probably the most important of the early Beatlemania era albums. The young Beatles showed a more developed songwriting ability on their 3rd LP in comparison to previous albums, "Please Please Me" and "With the Beatles." The band let's their musical abilities shine with wonderful harmonies and some nice guitar chops by George Harrison, especially on the title track.
5. The Beatles ("White Album") (1968)
This probably goes down as the Beatles weirdest album. The band had just arrived from their stay in India and tension between the members were at a high. In fact, Ringo quit the band for a time when this was being recorded, only to rejoin later on. It seemed like each member had their own musical ideas they wanted to bring out and no consensus could be made. This resulted in a melting pot of individual solo works by all the members. Clocking in at over 90 minutes, this album has rock ("Back in the USSR"), folk ("Rocky Racoon"), pop ("Dear Prudence") and a really odd song about pigs ("Piggies") . "Helter Skelter" is even considered one of the earliest examples of heavy metal. Some of the oddest things the Beatles have ever recorded can be found here, such as "Revoluton 9" and "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill." This record would seem to lack centrality or cohesiveness, due to its, shall I say, randomness. However, the record somehow manages to find unity through division, resulting in an incredibly influential masterpiece, and a highlight in the Beatles catalogue.
4. Rubber Soul (1965)
Rubber Soul marked a new era for the Beatles. Inspired by their idol Bob Dylan, the Beatles put out a folk rock oriented album with more serious and thoughtful lyrics. This was nothing like the bubblegum pop band that put out "I Want to Hold Your Hand" just 2 years ago. The group was looking to make a more artistic statement and to get away from the more radio friendly material they had been developing, and they did just that. "Rubber Soul" is one of the earliest examples of an album being a work of art in itself, as compared to simply a collection of songs. Popular music history buffs know the influence this album had on The Beach Boys as it directly inspired them to create their masterpiece "Pet Sounds."
3. Abbey Road (1969)
Try listening to "Abbey Road" without smiling, I dare you. Although tensions were high with the band, they were able to "Come Together" and create one of the most warm and joyous albums of all time. Every song from the love ballad "Something" the opener "Come Together, the bluesy "I Want You (She's So Heavy) and the acoustic driven "Here Comes the Sun" is simply wonderful. The album's highlight is the Abbey Road medley, a 16 minute collection of short songs that play right into the next. It all crescendos into the big finale, "The End" in which the band leaves us with their famous line "And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make.""Abbey Road" was the Beatles last album they recorded, and although "Let it Be" would be released the next year, this was their true goodbye.
2. Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Sgt. Peppers was a journey through psychedelia and experimental studio techniques. This record is full of orchestral and music hall effects, creating a very innovating, and very "trippy" atmosphere. Sgt. Peppers was the Beatles response to "Pet Sounds" by the Beach Boys, attempting, and succeeding, to equal it's greatness. Sgt. Peppers opened the door to multi-track recording, which allowed the band to create very layered and built up sounds in multiple takes, instead of basically recording everything live in one take. The last track on the album, "A Day in the Life" is one of the Beatles most socially aware songs and it might be the greatest song the Beatles ever wrote. Sgt. Peppers is definitely one of the most important albums in the history of popular music.
1. Revolver (1966)
Do you want the best album ever made? You might not have to look any further. Revolver takes the more serious and in-depth lyrics of their previous LP "Rubber Soul" to another level. Instead of singing about teenage love like their earlier works, they deal with topics such as death and loneliness (Eleanor Rigby), attacks on Harold Wilson "Taxman," failed love "For No One" and LSD "She Said She Said." Revolver is a much darker album than anything else in The Beatles catalogue. However, though the darkness are moments of happiness and joy, such as on "Good Day Sunshine" and "Yellow Submarine" resulting on the perfect emotional roller coaster. "Revolver" is incredibly innovative and inventive. From backwards guitar solos, to Indian music influences, to overdubbed orchestra effects, "Revolver" is completely revolutionary and the Beatles magnum opus.
