The Beatles revolutionized music. Their career, which spanned a near decade had its peaks and downfalls. This band made creative and distinctive music. Yet frustration and deteriorating relationships led it to break up. Nevertheless; ‘The Beatles’ are still known as one of the best Rock groups ever formed. Not only did this band seal the successful songwriting partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, it also marked the beginning of a popular culture. Listed below are the greatest albums of this band. Note that these picks are based purely on opinion.
1. Revolver
The mid 1960’s marked a period of immense creativity for this band. They had stopped performing and were now spending more hours in the studio. As a result, the band made an innovative and diverse record that explored psychedelic themes. It featured a tremendous amount of mood shifts. With the despair theme of “Eleanor Rigby” to the haunting and complex “Tommorow Never Knows”, the Beatles proved that they were able to express various mood shifts. George Harrison wonderfully contributed by writing aggressive with “Taxman” and melodious with “I Want to Tell You”. “Love You To” was only the second sitar-driven song by Harrison, yet the instrument was played masterfully. Ringo Starr sang the poetic “Yellow Submarine” beautifully. All in all, this was a groundbreaking album that saw the Beatles at the highest peaks of their career.
2. Rubber Soul
Before “Revolver”, the Beatles made yet another perfect album that brought together the genres of folk-rock and soul music. Released in 1965, this album saw the dawning of a new band. The Beatles were no longer an average pop group, they had started to appreciate new sounds and payed more attention to lyrics. Paul McCartney expressed his feelings very clearly with “I’m Looking Through You” and “Michelle”. John Lennon sang “Girl” with a certain subtlety and let his emotions out with the classical “In My Life”. Harrison’s first sitar song was “Norwegian Wood” and Lennon sang it with an understanding of the instrument. Every song on this album is great. It goes on to prove that the Beatles accomplished much more after they stopped performing.
3. The Beatles (White Album)
Though it was written and recorded during a harsh period for the band, the “White Album” is still a triumph in terms of mixing different genres and themes of music. Most of the songs on this album were written when the Beatles visited the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India. The band was in a sorrow state because of the death of their manager Brian Epstein. Ringo Starr left the band for a brief time, leaving Paul McCartney to take over the drum kit. Yet this album is highly original and diverse. The most surprising thing about it is the different sound changes. From hard rock songs like “Helter Skelter” and “Yer Blues” to the soft and soothing “Julia” and “I Will”; this album features an astounding collection of 30 songs. However not all of them are perfect. Songs like “Revolution 9” and “Wild Honey Pie” are disastrous additions to this album. “The White Album” is by no means perfect, but its still worth listening to.
4. Abbey Road
After the disastrous recording sessions of “Let it Be”, Paul McCartney convinced the band to get together a final time to make an effective album. The result was Abbey Road, a wonderfully realized record that became a critical and commercial success. Every band member gets his moment to shine in this album. John Lennon goes groovy with “Come Together”, while expressing his love for Yoko with “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”. Paul McCartney sings the magnificent “Oh! Darling” and the heartbroken “You Never Give Me Your Money”. Ringo Starr’s “Octopus’s Garden” gets deep into consciousness. George Harrison proves that he his a great songwriter with the classical “Something” and the hopeful “Here Comes the Sun”. Abbey Road is this band’s last recorded album. It’s the perfect way to end the band’s career.
5. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Released in 1967, this concept album represents a great leap forward for the Beatles. It is a risky job to make a concept album, because one really doesn’t know whether fans would like it. The Beatles prove this wrong by presenting an outstanding collection of songs. From the loud and glorious opening of the title song all the way down to the haunting closing of “A Day in the Life”, this album defines rock music at its best. John Lennon sings the poetic “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” beautifully. Paul McCartney turns in the bass eccentric “Lovely Rita” and his Cavern Club song “When I’m Sixty-Four”. George Harrison displays complete mastery of the sitar with his tribute to classical Indian music: “Within You Without You”. Ringo Starr’s “With a Little Help From My Friends” is melodic and unforgettable. “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” is placed at number one on “Rolling Stone” magazine’s list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. It isn’t the best Beatles album, but it’s still one of the greatest.
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