The Beatles‘ early years are often not considered as consequential as their latter ones. As the band matured, their music became more experimental. Their songs started to have something say and their instrumentals became complex enough to consider the band more than teenage fantasy fuel. Nevertheless, the Beatles‘ early years are rife with stellar songs. Revisit the best song on every Beatles album from their early years, below.
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“I Saw Her Standing There” – Please Please Me
The Beatles’ first album, Please Please Me, saw the band deliver their fair share of blithe rock tunes. Each song on this record was easily digestible–as was much of mainstream rock at the time. The band hadn’t yet discovered their experimental streak, but these straight-forward tracks did do wonders in putting the Fab Four on the map.
If we had to pick one song to top them all from Please Please Me, it would be “I Saw Her Standing There.” This up-tempo track is indicative of all that was great about early ’60s rock: jaunty rhythms, an insatiable chorus, and a feel good sentiment.
Honorable Mentions: “Love Me Do,” “Ask Me Why,” and “Twist and Shout”
“Til There Was You” – With The Beatles
Despite “Til There Was You” being a cover, this Paul McCartney-led track has oodles of charm. McCartney flexed his musical theatre knowledge by revisiting this ballad from The Music Man. Many artists have covered this song over the years, but McCartney’s tender vocals turned this character-piece into a beloved rock track.
Other honorable mentions on this Beatles album include “All My Loving,” “I Wanna Be Your Man,” and “You Really Got a Hold on Me.” The latter is a cover of a song originally released by the Miracles. Like “Til There Was You,” the foursome managed to make this song their own.
Honorable Mentions: “All My Loving,” “I Wanna Be Your Man,” and “You Really Got a Hold on Me”
“Can’t Buy Me Love” – A Hard Day’s Night
There are many strong contenders on A Hard Day’s Night, but “Can’t Buy Me Love” is a clear standout. On top of it proving to be one of the Beatles’ calling cards, it’s an era-defining rock anthem to boot. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t know “Can’t Buy Me Love” by heart–even those that don’t tout themselves Beatles fans.
This Beatles album is rife with powerful rock tracks. The group started to make a turn towards becoming the generational talents they are considered today. More so than ever before, the group started injecting their worldview. While the songs still had a charming simplicity to them, they helped the group stand out from their peers who were pushing the same style.
Honorable Mentions: “Tell Me Why,” “I Should Have Known Better,” and “A Hard Day’s Night”
“Yesterday” – ‘Help!’
Help! saw McCartney step into his own as a unique songwriting voice. While he and John Lennon had long been penning their own songs, none had reached the heights of “Yesterday” prior to this album. This track is not only one of the Beatles’ best, but one of the greatest rock ballads of all time.
Elsewhere on this Beatles album is the hypnotizing “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away”, the simply but effective “The Night Before,” and the oft-covered “Ticket to Ride.” Clearly, this album was a turning point for the group. They were beginning to carve out their singular spot in rock.
Honorable Mentions: “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away,” “The Night Before,” and “Ticket to Ride”
“Rock and Roll Music” – Beatles for Sale
The Beatles shined on a cover track in their early years. They weren’t afraid to pay homage to their inspirations. Take their cover of “Rock and Roll Music” for example. Though Chuck Berry’s version will always be the definitive, the Beatles’ rendition is raucous enough to put them in league with their predecessor in rock.
Another top contender on this Beatles album is “I’ll Follow the Sun.” This sun-soaked track is like honey to the ears. This song requires very little of the listener, making it a staple on many fans’ playlists.
Honorable Mentions: “I’ll Follow the Sun,” “Eight Days a Week,” and “Honey Don’t”
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