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4.21am
19 January 2017
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Dark Overlord said
I am going to do this list but will add 3 rules that I feel must be said:1. All 4 Beatles must be heard on the song, if we’re using a song to represent the band the whole band should be there
2. The song must’ve been released as a single during the band’s lifetime, doesn’t have to be in the UK but it had to have a single release, the only exception is if there is no song on the album or EP that had a single release
3. No covers
I feel like these rules are pretty restricting in the context of choosing a defining song for each album for the following reasons:
1. I don’t think that all 4 of the Beatles had to play on the song for it to define the album. There’s no reason why tracks like Blackbird or Mother Nature’s Son couldn’t be seen to define the White Album despite only Paul playing on them for example. Based on this rule, your choice of Eleanor Rigby is also incorrect since Ringo doesn’t feature on the track.
2. In my mind singles and albums are very different beasts and one shouldn’t neccesarily define the other. Basing your choice on singles heavily restricts the number of songs you can select from each album.
3. Their’s nothing wrong with covers defining an album and this is the same for any artist. Even though it’s a cover, I still regard Twist And Shout as a defining song on Please Please Me because the Beatles made it their own and it pushed them into the limelight. In the case of other artists, this rule would make it impossible to pick defining songs for albums by the likes of Elvis Presley etc. His debut album is entirely made up of covers and is yet considered to be a classic in his catalogue.
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6.21am
1 November 2013
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New rules,
1. Only songs Sung by Ringo may define an album
2. If there is more than one Ringo song on an album, pick the longest one.
3. If there is no Ringo song on an album, take an extra Ringo song that didn’t define another album and apply it there.
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6.28am
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27 November 2016
Offline 4. And John cannot feature!
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6.38am
1 November 2013
Offline Pure lies.
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William Shears Campbell7.16am
14 June 2016
Offline Those rules are way too restricting, Starr Shine?. I say we use these rules.
1. At least one Beatle has to sing on the track(Flying counts).
2. The track can’t be a single that was released ever(This includes songs released as singles after the band’s lifetime, as well as other artist’s renditions of Beatles songs that they released as singles). This rule is in place so that picking the song doesn’t become some sort of popularity contest.
3. It has to be a cover. If the album doesn’t have a cover, it is not a real Beatles album and should be tossed in the trash immediately.
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1 May 2011
Offline William Shears Campbell said
Those rules are way too restricting, Starr Shine?. I say we use these rules.1. At least one Beatle has to sing on the track(Flying counts).
2. The track can’t be a single that was released ever(This includes songs released as singles after the band’s lifetime, as well as other artist’s renditions of Beatles songs that they released as singles). This rule is in place so that picking the song doesn’t become some sort of popularity contest.
3. It has to be a cover. If the album doesn’t have a cover, it is not a real Beatles album and should be tossed in the trash immediately.
Don’t all album come with covers? If vinyl the record would be more prone to damage. Tho some of those covers you do get are so difficult to get the damn plastic thing in you might as well just launch the LP 10ft in the air and let it drop violently onto the ground.
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24 March 2014
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10.16am
1 November 2013
Offline William Shears Campbell said
Those rules are way too restricting, Starr Shine?. I say we use these rules.
Disagree, my rules are quite liberal.
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William Shears Campbell11.51am
10 March 2017
Offline I will explain why I used the rules I did as well as give an edited list to fix 2 mistakes I made on my previous list.
I said that the song needs all 4 Beatles because I believe that if a song defines something, everyone must participate. If you were a schoolteacher, would you call a day where 5 kids refused to do any work and another 3 didn’t even bother to show up to class a perfect day when there have been multiple days where everyone is in class and working, I know I wouldn’t. Thanks for reminding me that I messed up with Eleanor Rigby Flyingbrains, I didn’t realize that.
If the song is going to represent it’s respective album then I think it should be the most popular track on the album that complies with the rules I laid down. As much as I think The Prophet’s Song is superior in almost every way to Bohemian Rhapsody, I would pick the latter if I were choosing a track to represent A Night At The Opera because it is far more popular and was released as a single, being very successful in both the US and UK, whereas The Prophet’s Song is just a great hard rock number that is very underrated and is only known to people who listened to the album in it’s entirety. I originally thought I messed up here because I used Birthday to represent The Beatles despite it not having a single release back in the day yet Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da having one but then I realized, thanks to Joe and The Beatles Bible, that Birthday did have a single release in Argentina back in 1969, so I’m safe there.
I think that a representing song should be original, I would make exceptions for albums such as John Lennon ‘s Rock And Roll or Metallica’s Garage Inc. but since The Beatles never made a cover album, I don’t need to.
Here’s an edited list, this time including 2 runner ups who don’t have to follow the rules stated above, although they must be at least somewhat popular:
Please Please Me (March 22nd, 1963)
Runner Ups:
With The Beatles (November 22nd, 1963)
Runner Ups:
Long Tall Sally (June 19th, 1964)
Runner Ups:
2. Matchbox
A Hard Day’s Night (July 10th, 1964)
Runner Ups:
2. Tell Me Why
Beatles For Sale (December 4th, 1964)
Runner Ups:
Help ! (August 6th, 1965)
Help !
Runner Ups:
1. Yesterday
Rubber Soul (December 3rd, 1965)
Runner Ups:
1. Drive My Car
2. In My Life
Revolver (August 5th, 1966)
Runner Ups:
2. Got To Get You Into My Life
A Collection Of Beatles Oldies (December 9th, 1966) (8 original tracks only)
Runner Ups:
1. Bad Boy
Sgt. Pepper ‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band (June 1st, 1967)
Runner Ups:
1. Sgt. Pepper ‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
Magical Mystery Tour (December 8th, 1967)
Runner Ups:
2. Flying
Yellow Submarine (July 13th, 1968) (5 original tracks only)
Runner Ups:
1. Hey Bulldog
The Beatles (November 22nd, 1968)
Runner Ups:
2. Revolution
Abbey Road (September 26th, 1969)
Runner Ups:
2. Something
Let It Be (May 8th, 1970)
Runner Ups:
1. Let It Be
Magical Mystery Tour (November 19th, 1976) (4 original tracks only)
Runner Ups:
2. Penny Lane
Past Masters (March 7th, 1988)
Runner Ups:
1. Day Tripper
Anthology (November 21st, 1995)
Runner Ups:
1. Real Love
2. Strawberry Fields Forever (Take 7 And Edit Piece)
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1.41pm
14 June 2016
Offline @meanmistermustard said
Don’t all album come with covers? If vinyl the record would be more prone to damage. Tho some of those covers you do get are so difficult to get the damn plastic thing in you might as well just launch the LP 10ft in the air and let it drop violently onto the ground.
I read this in the middle of government class and started tearing up from trying to hold in my laughter.
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5.44pm
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1 May 2011
Offline Dark Overlord said
I will explain why I used the rules I did as well as give an edited list to fix 2 mistakes I made on my previous list.I said that the song needs all 4 Beatles because I believe that if a song defines something, everyone must participate. If you were a schoolteacher, would you call a day where 5 kids refused to do any work and another 3 didn’t even bother to show up to class a perfect day when there have been multiple days where everyone is in class and working, I know I wouldn’t. Thanks for reminding me that I messed up with Eleanor Rigby Flyingbrains, I didn’t realize that.
What?!!! ‘Yesterday ‘, for example, was a conscious group decision for it to be Paul only. It’s nothing to do with the other three not choosing to have anything with it for whatever reason. Same can be said for a whole load of others onwards. Should George have pinged a triangle randomly just so he appeared to care about a song. You play the song as you feel it should be recorded, not so everyone can play an instrument or get a line to sing.
If the song is going to represent it’s respective album then I think it should be the most popular track on the album that complies with the rules I laid down. As much as I think The Prophet’s Song is superior in almost every way to Bohemian Rhapsody, I would pick the latter if I were choosing a track to represent A Night At The Opera because it is far more popular and was released as a single, being very successful in both the US and UK, whereas The Prophet’s Song is just a great hard rock number that is very underrated and is only known to people who listened to the album in it’s entirety. I originally thought I messed up here because I used Birthday to represent The Beatles despite it not having a single release back in the day yet Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da having one but then I realized, thanks to Joe and The Beatles Bible, that Birthday did have a single release in Argentina back in 1969, so I’m safe there.
So if you can hunt down a Beatles single release from anywhere in the world that makes it legible for the list? Dear God !!
I think that a representing song should be original, I would make exceptions for albums such as John Lennon ‘s Rock And Roll or Metallica’s Garage Inc. but since The Beatles never made a cover album, I don’t need to.
I get why this is in place, but saying ‘Twist And Shout ‘ is lesser than ‘Do You Want To Know A Secret ‘ shows it up. To disqualify one of the greatest covers of a song ever is ludicrous.
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6.35pm
10 March 2017
Offline meanmistermustard said
What?!!! ‘Yesterday ‘, for example, was a conscious group decision for it to be Paul only. It’s nothing to do with the other three not choosing to have anything with it for whatever reason. Same can be said for a whole load of others onwards. Should George have pinged a triangle randomly just so he appeared to care about a song. You play the song as you feel it should be recorded, not so everyone can play an instrument or get a line to sing.
I’m not saying that every Beatles song should’ve had all 4 Beatles on it. Yesterday was meant to be a simple vocal and guitar piece and that’s how I like it, the strings are a nice addition to and I will 100% agree with you that if they forced the other 3 to be on the song it would ruin the experience, as I would hate to hear a version of Yesterday with Ringo on drums, George playing a guitar solo on his Fender Strat, and John playing a Hammond Organ, in addition to what went on the album because it doesn’t fit. What I am saying is that a representative song should have all members on it.
meanmistermustard said
So if you can hunt down a Beatles single release from anywhere in the world that makes it legible for the list? Dear God !!
Pretty much, when I say defining song I mean most popular song but due to the fact that until around 1969 most singles weren’t on the album unless if it was a soundtrack album, a lot of The Beatles most well known songs were never released as a single in the UK such as All My Loving , Yesterday , Got To Get You Into My Life , A Day In The Life , Birthday , Here Comes The Sun , the list goes on, so I decided that singles from other countries could count as well.
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1 May 2011
Offline Dark Overlord said
meanmistermustard said
What?!!! ‘Yesterday ‘, for example, was a conscious group decision for it to be Paul only. It’s nothing to do with the other three not choosing to have anything with it for whatever reason. Same can be said for a whole load of others onwards. Should George have pinged a triangle randomly just so he appeared to care about a song. You play the song as you feel it should be recorded, not so everyone can play an instrument or get a line to sing.I’m not saying that every Beatles song should’ve had all 4 Beatles on it. Yesterday was meant to be a simple vocal and guitar piece and that’s how I like it, the strings are a nice addition to and I will 100% agree with you that if they forced the other 3 to be on the song it would ruin the experience, as I would hate to hear a version of Yesterday with Ringo on drums, George playing a guitar solo on his Fender Strat, and John playing a Hammond Organ, in addition to what went on the album because it doesn’t fit. What I am saying is that a representative song should have all members on it.
meanmistermustard said
So if you can hunt down a Beatles single release from anywhere in the world that makes it legible for the list? Dear God !!Pretty much, when I say defining song I mean most popular song but due to the fact that until around 1969 most singles weren’t on the album unless if it was a soundtrack album, a lot of The Beatles most well known songs were never released as a single in the UK such as All My Loving , Yesterday , Got To Get You Into My Life , A Day In The Life , Birthday , Here Comes The Sun , the list goes on, so I decided that singles from other countries could count as well.
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10.12am
4 September 2009
Offline Please Please Me – Please Please Me
With the Beatles – All My Loving
A Hard Day’s Night – A Hard Day’s Night
Beatles For Sale – Eight Days A Week
Help ! – Ticket To Ride
Revolver – Tomorrow Never Knows
Sgt. Pepper ‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band – A Day In The Life
Magical Mystery Tour – I Am The Walrus
Yellow Submarine – Hey Bulldog
The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
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10.52am
10 March 2017
Offline Why place Let It Be before Abbey Road .
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14 February 2016
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Dark Overlord said
Why place Let It Be before Abbey Road .
Abbey Road was their swan song, but the Let It Be sessions were dredged up and produced and issued. (I think it was because they had to fulfill their contract on releasing 3 films, therefore, they released the soundtrack.)
Many fans believe Abbey Road ‘s rightful place is after Let It Be , since Abbey Road was recorded after Let It Be .
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4.55pm
16 May 2017
Offline I’ll try my best with this so here we go:
Please Please Me : I Saw Her Standing There (Pure Rock & Roll. This is how they sound live; young, pure & raw!)
With The Beatles : All My Loving
A Hard Day’s Night : A Hard Day’s Night (Beatlemania at its finest)
Beatles For Sale : Eight Days A Week (The Beatles at this time were working literally Eight Days Week with all the touring, making their first movie and making this album. They just couldn’t get a break)
Rubber Soul : Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown): (They started to mature more, started to experiment more in the studio and stop to care a bit about live performances. This was the beginning point in a new period)
Revolver : Tomorrow Never Knows (This is what marked The Beatles as a rock band and not as a boy band. They wrote about much darker themes such as tax rates, loneliness, detachment, death, meditation, etc. )
Sgt. Pepper ‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band: A Day In The Life (The album that changed the face of music)
Magical Mystery Tour : I Am The Walrus
The Beatles [White Album ]: Revolution #9 (This may seem like a weird choice but let me explain. Since this album is so different and so diverse with many styles such as rock, pop, country, blues, experimental. So its hard to choose one song and what better way to do it with it’s most unusual, bizarre, craziest track on the album)
Yellow Submarine : Hey Bulldog
Abbey Road : The End (Although this was released before Let It Be , this should be The Beatles swan song. And what better way to do it than with The End , which features a solo from John, Paul, George & Ringo. They knew that this was their last)
5.26pm
10 March 2017
Offline Why does everyone think Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) is the defining song of Rubber Soul , it’s not that popular of a song and when I think defining, I think popular, so wouldn’t Drive My Car or Nowhere Man be the defining song.
Also, @Evangeline that’s only half true, I Me Mine was recorded in it’s entirety in 1970 and Across The Universe , Let It Be , The Long And Winding Road , and For You Blue were also not completed until after the release of Abbey Road .
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27 November 2016
Offline Au contraire, @Dark Overlord. Norwegian Wood is very popular!
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11 April 2016
Offline The Hole Got Fixed said
Au contraire, @Dark Overlord. Norwegian Wood is very popular!
And very very good!
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