No idea if I’ve done this before (far too not interested to look back) so here we go.

1. Girl – A smidgen ahead of ‘IML’ and it feels right. All the vocals (such a massive feature thru-out this album is how good the singing is on every damn song) are perfect (John’s resigned sighs), the ‘tit tit’ joke works so well as it’s funny but very easy to overlook so never becomes an issue, and my god, how sad is John thru this (really evident in verse 2) yet also comes in with some bite (verse 3). The middle 8 is outstanding and the instrumental section is so much fun yet unique in that I haven’t heard anything like it. No song should be this sad yet leave you so happy. That the girl was Yoko becomes a whole mindfuck.

2. In My Life – Really close in this being higher but just falls short. Very little to say about this. It’s a masterpiece and more. Play it and not be swept down old memories and start reminiscing of those in your life that have come and gone. There is a damn good reason why Paul is so determined to get some credit for this. 

3. Michelle – Better than ‘Yesterday ‘. Took me a long time to appreciate this but my god, it’s good. The longing and desire in Paul’s vocal, deliberately basic French to impress the girl, and so sensual backing vocals make this so damn gorgeous

4. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) – It’s beautiful and the basic sitar is a massive plus when it was a little overwhelming in the earlier takes. John burning down the house at the end is such a great ending for a song (sorry but to all those who think John sat down by a nicely lit small campfire to have a quiet think, you are mad – see ‘RFYL’).

5. Run For Your Life – Widely hated for the lyrics and John nicking a lyric from elsewhere but please… John showing his really dark unhinged side is brilliant as is George’s solo and the Beatles stole from others from all over the place; no one harps on about that when commenting on how great ‘Come Together ‘ is or Paul shoving the bass line of ‘I’m Talking About You’ into ‘I Saw Her Standing There ‘ makes it somehow worse. When Paul and whoever rabbit on about how the Beatles were all about peace and love, play them this. No holds barred all-out-threat, way beyond what was suggested in tracks like ‘You Can’t Do That ‘ and ‘No Reply ‘. Send this to your girl after an argument or two and you’ve got a restraining order and an upcoming court appearance.

6. If I Needed Someone – Like ‘I’ve Just Seen A Face ‘, this is one I often forget about and only remember when it comes on or is pointed out to me, which is sad and it is a highlight in George’s songwriting. Guitars are wonderful as are the harmonies and I love the lyrics. I adore how George sang it live in Japan in 1966, he really enjoyed himself not being bothered.

7. Wait – The time changes and Ringo’s drumming are so damn good and that pushes it up. A reject from ‘Help !’ should not be this good but the Beatles could make hack work into fine tunes. Really enjoyable.

8. What Goes On – I really love this but there is simply far better on the album. I find everything on this works so well (the chicken guitar plucking, the solo, Ringo’s incredibly sad vocal and the backing vocals) and i love so much “I used to think of no one else but you were just the same. You didn’t even think of me as someone with a name”. It sounds a little weak but when thought about it is such a bitchy scathing sad putdown.

9. You Won’t See Me – Once upon a time this was in my favourites but it’s fallen over the years. Still, Paul sounds so sad yet pissed off especially when repeating the third verse and the backing vocals are brilliant in the “time after time” section. 

10. The Word – It’s a great track when listening to with some powerful lyrics but for some reason I don’t go to it much.

11. Think For Yourself – A pissed off George and it really works for that reason but there is better on here 

12. I’m Looking Through You – I think I prefer the anger in take 1 whereas here it is more subdued. It’s a good track but there is better and so it is.

13. Drive My Car – The “beep beep”‘s are great, the final verse is good (love how Paul sings “I said “listen babe, I got something to say”” differently to John) but it is where it is.

14. Nowhere Man – I’ve never cared for this, it just drags and the Beatles did the harmonies elsewhere in far more interesting more enjoyable numbers.

Interesting that my top four are the four tracks that appear on ‘Love Songs’, my favourite ever Beatles album. Yip, it’s a compilation but a lot of my childhood is ingrained around that album. Was my father’s favourite and possibly why I became a Beatles fan. A running family joke is that every time he played it or heard ‘Julia ‘ he would wonder aloud why that track was excluded.