Continuing and inspired by the discussion from Not Feminism 101:
Favorite Album: Rubber Soul
Favorite Song: If I Fell
Favorite Solo Work(s):
All Things Must Pass - George Harrison
Double Fantasy - John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Well, okey dokey. I’m not a huge Beatles fan (I respect them more than I enjoy them), but I guess I do have opinions.
I don’t have all their albums; the only ones I’ve heard all the way through are the ones I’ve owned: Sgt Pepper and The White Album and their first compilation record A Collection Of Beatles Oldies (But Goldies!). Even though that last one was a naked cash grab by EMI so they could sell something for Christmas '66 while the band worked on Sgt Pepper, it was my first introduction to the band, and I still kinda love every song on it. The tracklist, played in that order, reminds me of Saturday afternoons in my sister’s room, playing the Life board game while listening to that record.
Favorite song? Hell, I dunno. Might be “Paperback Writer,” might be “Yellow Submarine,” might be the reprise of “Sgt Pepper,” might be “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.” Honestly can’t choose one.
Favorite solo work: might be the music George did for the Time Bandits soundtrack. Nah, probably “Imagine.”
Bonus! Least favorite post-Beatles work: Paul McF*ckingCartney, “Wonderful Christmastime.” The absolute worst song ever.
Bombardier
Goliath
Stag
Ladybird
You, Sir, have clearly not listened to We All Stand Together!
Album: Letter B
Song: Sgt. Pepper outgroove
Solo Work: Self Portrait (Lennon)
The Beatles were really the first electronically generated band. Not to ignite any flame wars…
Oh, alright. I’ll play.
Album: Grey Album
Song: While My Guitar Gently Weeps
So there.
George
John
Ringo
Paul
Honorable mention: Harry Nilsson
Favorite Album: Sgt. Pepper’s
Favorite Song: It’s All Too Much
Favorite Solo Work(s):
Too Many People (Ram) - Paul and Linda McCartney
Everybody surely knows frogs go “brek-eck-eck-ex ko-ax ko-ax”?
I still have a fondness for their early work.
But seriously, if I were to rank the Beatles, it would be like this:
1-John, George, Ringo
4-Paul
I don’t think Paul made any compelling contributions to the group after 1965. He seems to have been a dominant, bossy type who didn’t always have the best ideas.
So much of their music from round then was extraordinarily influential.
Besides music…
George - Producer of “Life of Brian” and "The Ruttles"
Ringo - Conductor for "Thomas the Tank Engine"
John - Gripweed, soldier in "How I Won the War"
Paul - Husband to Vegan Frozen Food magnate, Linda McCartney
Favorite album: Abbey Road
Favorite song: Either Let It Be or the B-side to Abbey Road, start to finish
Best solo work: All Things Must Pass
My dad was a huuuuge Beatles fan and I thought John was the coolest Beatle with his snarky attitude and humor. But as I’ve listened to all of the solo stuff I quickly realized how crazy talented Goerge was. And while his songs are often silly vaudeville pop stuff in later years, Paul’s just a natural songwriter. If you listen to stuff like their Christmas fan-club albums, he can toss off catchy excellent songs like he’s breathing.
These are my second through fifth favorite Beatles, in order.
My first favorite is:
What? Not the insects? The musicians?
oh…my bad
Oh HELL yes.
I hold fast to my theory that we wouldn’t have any of the creativity of late Beatles stuff without them being inspired by Harry.
John
George
Paul
Ringo (only because someone has to be last)
album: toss-up between Revolver & Rubber Soul
song: Here Comes The Sun, but really all of side 2 of Abbey Road is just stellar
solo work: lennon’s “Double Fantasy” (but i also deeply love george’s early stuff, and lots of paul’s work during Wings.
Album- Abbey Road
Single- I need you
Favourite solo work by an ex-Beatle- Imagine - John (yeah, it’s cliche, I know)
Favourite post-Beatles work by an ex-Beatle- Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 (for the sheer air of joyful fun the pervaded the entire thing. Also applies to most of George’s work in the 80s).