July 12, 2011

5 Least Favorite Beatle Songs

I just recently purchased a new copy of Nicholas Schaffner's excellent, out-of-print, The Beatles Forever. Back in 1981 when I first came across it, the book was (for all practical purposes) my introduction to The Beatles. I read every word and studied every one of the hundreds of photos included, several times. Looking at it today brings back a lot of memories. And because it came out in 1978, the book ends on a positive note.


Included within the index are several great lists, such as "The Beatles' Grammy Awards" (eleven; including four for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band), "The Beatles' Number Ones," and "The Beatles' Top Sellers." Under the section "The Fans' Choice," Schaffner wrote:

"In 1971, Howard Smith of WPLJ and The Village Voice asked people to name their least favorite Beatle song"

I actually like a couple of the songs on the list quite a bit ("Mr. Moonlight" and "Helter Skelter"). I also wonder what the people surveyed in '71 would have thought of things such as "If You've Got Trouble" or "What's the New Mary Jane," songs which were released with The Beatles Anthology DVDs back in 1995. Anyway, the list:

5. "Do You Want to Know a Secret"


4. "Helter Skelter"


3. "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)"


2. "Mr. Moonlight"


1. "Revolution 9"


Interesting list, especially when you consider it was compiled just within a mere year or so after The Beatles broke up.

4 comments:

Retro Hound said...

Very interesting. I like Helter Skelter and Mr. Moonlight. The song I really, really hate is Magical Mystery Tour. That has to be (other then Revolution #9) the most annoying song ever put on tape. On Retrospace they just had a discussion of overplayed classic rock songs and several people said "Hey Jude" was horrible.

Chris said...

I agree about "Hey Jude." I LOVE Paul's singing at the end and fade-out ("Ju-dy Ju-dy Ju-dy Ju-dy Ju-dy Ju-dy, wowww!!"), but it is one of those songs like "Stairway to Heaven" or "Freebird" where you know you're in for a long haul.

Cracked must have "stolen" his post idea! (lol):

http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-rock-radio-classics-that-actually-suck/

Gunnar and Sherry said...

I've always wondered what the Beatles were doing covering "Til There Was You". Really? From "The Music Man"?

Chris said...

George has a great solo though in that, Gunnar and Sherry! It must have been part of their Germany repertoire. The legend goes that they spent hours and hours on stage and even played background to accompany strippers at German strip clubs. So they played a lot of cover tunes, stuff like the theme from The Third Man, "Shiek of Araby," and "Besame Mucho," and yes, "Till There Was You."