I've already done a few individual posts on this, but since doing so, something in my head had been telling me to make some upgrades to my Beatles albums for Strawberry Peppers: The Second Coming, mostly the 70s albums. I guess I should've seen that coming, but here we are, and here is (hopefully) the definitive version of the Beatles' album discography for The Second Coming!
Like what I've done with the original posts, I'm going off of the idea that the Beatles put out all original songs from the get-go, as a suggestion made by Brian Epstein.
Side A (15:27)
1. I Saw Her Standing There - 2:55
2. Misery - 1:49
3. Hello Little Girl - 1:40 (Anthology 1)
4. Thank You Girl - 2:04 (Past Masters)
5. Like Dreamers Do - 2:36 (Anthology 1)
6. Ask Me Why - 2:24
7. Please Please Me - 1:59
Side B (14:22)
8. Love Me Do - 2:24 (Past Masters)
9. P.S. I Love You - 2:04
10. Do You Want to Know a Secret - 1:56
11. Cry for a Shadow - 2:22 (Anthology 1)
12. Love of the Loved - 1:47 (I Saw Her Standing There)
13. There's a Place - 1:51
14. From Me to You - 1:58 (Past Masters)
Unable to afford more studio time, the Beatles resorted to including their upcoming single, "From Me to You", on their debut album, resulting in it being delayed by three weeks. As that wasn't enough, they turned to their audition tape for Decca to include three more original songs - "Hello Little Girl", "Like Dreamers Do" and "Love of the Loved" - and even included the one original song from the Tony Sheridan sessions, the instrumental "Cry for a Shadow" credited to George and John. Although Please Please Me was rather disjointed in terms of quality, especially with the presence of three different drummers, it sold well commercially and critics praised the songwriting of Lennon and McCartney. Clearly, they were destined for greater things...
Side A (14:40)
1. It Won't Be Long - 2:13
2. All I've Got to Do - 2:02
3. All My Loving - 2:07
4. Don't Bother Me - 2:28
5. Little Child - 1:46
6. I'll Be on My Way - 1:58 (Live at the BBC)
7. I'll Get You - 2:06 (Past Masters)
Side B (15:51)
8. She Loves You - 2:21 (Past Masters)
9. Hold Me Tight - 2:32
10. This Boy - 2:16 (Past Masters)
11. I Call Your Name - 2:09 (Past Masters)
12. I Wanna Be Your Man - 1:59
13. Not a Second Time - 2:07
14. I Want to Hold Your Hand - 2:27 (Past Masters)
The Beatles were kept busy between July and October, recording for their sophomore album and doing shows in between. And yet With the Beatles was an album that exceeded Please Please Me in terms of songwriting quality, especially the two singles "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand", both managing to make it big in the United States. Suddenly, Beatlemania was in full swing.
The Beatles were kept busy between July and October, recording for their sophomore album and doing shows in between. And yet With the Beatles was an album that exceeded Please Please Me in terms of songwriting quality, especially the two singles "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand", both managing to make it big in the United States. Suddenly, Beatlemania was in full swing.
Side A (16:23)
1. A Hard Day's Night - 2:34
2. I Should Have Known Better - 2:43
3. If I Fell - 2:19
4. I'm Happy Just to Dance with You - 1:56
5. And I Love Her - 2:30
6. Tell Me Why - 2:09
7. Can't Buy Me Love - 2:12
Side B (15:58)
8. Any Time at All - 2:11
9. One and One is Two - 2:11 (fan remix)
10. I'll Cry Instead - 1:45
11. Things We Said Today - 2:35
12. When I Get Home - 2:17
13. You Can't Do That - 2:35
14. I'll Be Back - 2:24
The world simply couldn't get enough of the Beatles. So much so, in fact, that a film starring the Fab Four was inevitable. With director Richard Lester at the helm, A Hard Day's Night focused on a fictionalized account of the Beatles' daily lives in which they prepare for a show while also dealing with Paul's troublemaking grandfather played by Wilfrid Brambell. A soundtrack album was recorded to go along with the film, and like With the Beatles, it improved upon the previous album in terms of quality.
The world simply couldn't get enough of the Beatles. So much so, in fact, that a film starring the Fab Four was inevitable. With director Richard Lester at the helm, A Hard Day's Night focused on a fictionalized account of the Beatles' daily lives in which they prepare for a show while also dealing with Paul's troublemaking grandfather played by Wilfrid Brambell. A soundtrack album was recorded to go along with the film, and like With the Beatles, it improved upon the previous album in terms of quality.
Side A (16:36)
1. No Reply - 2:15
2. I'm a Loser - 2:30
3. Baby's in Black - 2:04
4. One After 909 - 2:56 (Anthology 1)
5. I'll Follow the Sun - 1:49
6. You Know What to Do - 1:59 (Anthology 1)
7. She's a Woman - 3:03 (Past Masters)
Side B (17:37)
8. Eight Days a Week - 2:43
9. Michelle - 2:40 (Rubber Soul)
10. What Goes On - 2:47 (Rubber Soul)
11. Every Little Thing - 2:04
12. I Don't Want to Spoil the Party - 2:33
13. What You're Doing - 2:30
14. I Feel Fine - 2:20 (Past Masters)
As the end of 1964 drew to a close, the Beatles were feeling burnout from having to tour alongside recording three albums and a slew of #1 hits. When it came to recording Beatles for Sale, they once again dipped into their archives by bringing in older songs like "One After 909" and "What Goes On", as well as helping George complete his second song for the group, "You Know What to Do". There was a pretty heavy Bob Dylan influence on the album, which pointed towards a maturing direction in their songwriting.
As the end of 1964 drew to a close, the Beatles were feeling burnout from having to tour alongside recording three albums and a slew of #1 hits. When it came to recording Beatles for Sale, they once again dipped into their archives by bringing in older songs like "One After 909" and "What Goes On", as well as helping George complete his second song for the group, "You Know What to Do". There was a pretty heavy Bob Dylan influence on the album, which pointed towards a maturing direction in their songwriting.
Side A (17:01)
1. Help! - 2:18
2. The Night Before - 2:34
3. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away - 2:09
4. I Need You - 2:28
5. Another Girl - 2:05
6. You're Going to Lose That Girl - 2:18
7. Ticket to Ride - 3:09
Side B (16:46)
8. I've Just Seen a Face - 2:05
9. It's Only Love - 1:56
10. You Like Me Too Much - 2:36
11. Wait - 2:12 (Rubber Soul)
12. If You've Got Trouble - 2:48 (Anthology 2)
13. Yesterday - 2:05
14. I'm Down - 2:32 (Past Masters)
Side A (17:37)
1. Drive My Car - 2:25
2. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) - 2:01
3. You Won't See Me - 3:18
4. Nowhere Man - 2:40
5. Think for Yourself - 2:16
6. The Word - 2:41
7. We Can Work It Out - 2:16 (Past Masters)
Side B (17:22)
8. Day Tripper - 2:50 (Past Masters)
9. Girl - 2:30
10. I'm Looking Through You - 2:23
11. In My Life - 2:24
12. That Means a Lot - 2:26 (Anthology 2)
13. If I Needed Someone - 2:20
14. Run for Your Life - 2:18
Despite being recorded within a month for the Christmas market, Rubber Soul was once again a new peak for the Beatles in terms of songwriting. Musically speaking, it was their first album in which they would get more experimental, including instrumentation from the sitar, harmonium and fuzz bass. Pop music was now starting to change from a passing fad to an art form, and many music artists down the road would have the Beatles to thank for that.
Despite being recorded within a month for the Christmas market, Rubber Soul was once again a new peak for the Beatles in terms of songwriting. Musically speaking, it was their first album in which they would get more experimental, including instrumentation from the sitar, harmonium and fuzz bass. Pop music was now starting to change from a passing fad to an art form, and many music artists down the road would have the Beatles to thank for that.
Side A (18:33)
1. Taxman - 2:36
2. Eleanor Rigby - 2:11
3. I'm Only Sleeping - 2:58
4. Love You To - 3:00
5. Here, There and Everywhere - 2:29
6. Yellow Submarine - 2:40
7. She Said She Said - 2:39
Side B (18:43)
8. Good Day Sunshine - 2:08
9. And Your Bird Can Sing - 2:02
10. For No One - 2:03
11. Doctor Robert - 2:14
12. Isn't It a Pity - 4:45 (All Things Must Pass) [Version 2]
13. Got to Get You Into My Life - 2:31
14. Tomorrow Never Knows - 3:00
1966 would be a memorable year for the Beatles, both for better and for worse; in the case of the latter, it would be because of an interview with John Lennon in which he supposedly said that the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus", sparking backlash in America. It was also one of the contributing factors that led to the band to stop touring, along with not being able to hear themselves performing on the stage, wanting to focus on their work in the studio. It wasn't all bad news, however: Prior to their final tour in America, they recorded Revolver, which focused more on studio experimentation, and for the first time, George Harrison would have more than two songs on a record, and he would slowly gain recognition as a songwriter alongside John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
1966 would be a memorable year for the Beatles, both for better and for worse; in the case of the latter, it would be because of an interview with John Lennon in which he supposedly said that the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus", sparking backlash in America. It was also one of the contributing factors that led to the band to stop touring, along with not being able to hear themselves performing on the stage, wanting to focus on their work in the studio. It wasn't all bad news, however: Prior to their final tour in America, they recorded Revolver, which focused more on studio experimentation, and for the first time, George Harrison would have more than two songs on a record, and he would slowly gain recognition as a songwriter alongside John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
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| Album cover art by Auran on Discord. |
Merseyside (May 26, 1967)
Side A (21:46)
1. A Beginning/Strawberry Fields Forever - 4:55 (Anthology 3/Magical Mystery Tour)
2. Getting Better - 2:48 (Sgt. Pepper's)
3. Piggies - 2:04 (The White Album)
4. Fixing a Hole - 2:36 (Sgt. Pepper's)
5. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - 3:28 (Sgt. Pepper's)
6. I Want to Tell You - 2:30 (Revolver)
7. She’s Leaving Home - 3:25 (Sgt. Pepper's)
Side B (22:13)
8. Penny Lane - 3:00 (Magical Mystery Tour)
9. Good Morning Good Morning - 2:42 (Sgt. Pepper's)
10. Only a Northern Song - 3:23 (Yellow Submarine)
11. Lovely Rita - 2:42 (Sgt. Pepper's)
12. When I'm Sixty-Four - 2:37 (Sgt. Pepper's)
13. With a Little Help from My Friends - 2:42 (Sgt. Pepper's)
14. A Day in the Life - 5:07 (Sgt. Pepper's)
Now that the Beatles were no longer committed to playing live before screaming crowds, they were free to experiment more in the studio. Their first release for 1967 was the double A-side "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever", inspired by their childhoods, which became the basis for what would become Merseyside. When released towards the end of May, it, along with the Beach Boys' Smile, was the album for the Summer of Love, reaching #1 in many countries (both bands were even said to have appreciated the other group's work). And yet the Beatles were not quite done yet...
Side A (23:58)
1. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - 2:00 (Sgt. Pepper's)
2. Magical Mystery Tour - 2:48 (Magical Mystery Tour)
3. Within You Without You - 5:05 (Sgt. Pepper's)
4. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite - 2:37 (Sgt. Pepper's)
5. The Fool on the Hill - 2:59 (Magical Mystery Tour)
6. Blue Jay Way - 3:54 (Magical Mystery Tour)
7. I Am the Walrus - 4:35 (Magical Mystery Tour)
Side B (22:54)
8. Hello, Goodbye - 3:24 (Magical Mystery Tour)
9. Baby You’re a Rich Man - 3:07 (Magical Mystery Tour)
10. Your Mother Should Know - 2:33 (Magical Mystery Tour)
11. All Together Now - 2:08 (Yellow Submarine)
12. It’s All Too Much - 6:27 (Yellow Submarine)
13. Sgt. Pepper’s Reprise - 1:18 (Sgt. Pepper's)
14. All You Need is Love - 3:57 (Magical Mystery Tour)
Tragedy almost befell the Beatles when Brian Epstein overdosed on drugs; thankfully, their manager had been found by his assistant Peter Brown in time, and he was rushed to the hospital where he made a complete recovery, even swearing off drugs of any kind all together. None of the Beatles were more shaken up than Paul, who had decided to stop using recreational drugs and cleaned up (eventually, the others would follow suit). While recording for Magical Mystery Tour was going on, the Beatles had begun work on their own corporation - Apple Corps - which would eventually become one of the biggest success stories of the 20th century. Magical Mystery Tour was seen a successful follow-up to Merseyside, ending 1967 on a high note for the Beatles.
Side A (21:28)
1. Dear Prudence - 400 (1967-1970) [2023 reissue]
2. Mother Nature's Son - 2:48 (The White Album)
3. The Inner Light - 2:37 (Past Masters)
4. The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill - 2:39 (The White Album) [Take 2]
5. Blackbird - 2:38 (The White Album/Past Masters)
6. Across the Universe - 3:38 (Let It Be… Naked)
7. Long, Long, Long - 3:08 (The White Album)
Side B (21:41)
8. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da - 2:48 (The White Album) [Take 3]
9. Julia - 2:55 (The White Album)
10. Rocky Raccoon - 3:33 (The White Album)
11. Dehradun - 3:39 (All Things Must Pass: 50th Anniversary)
12. Junk - 1:54 (McCartney)
13. Cry Baby Cry - 2:35 (The White Album)
14. I Will - 1:46 (The White Album)
15. Good Night - 2:31 (The White Album) [Take 10]
For a couple of months, the Beatles and their entourage took a trip to India to learn about transcendental meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; although the course wasn't finished, they did write up a huge quantity of songs for their next album... or two. Yes, there was so much material written up that the Beatles had decided to release two back-to-back albums. It wasn't all smooth sailing, however, as John Lennon would begin divorce proceedings with his wife Cynthia Powell, due to his affair with American actress Mia Farrow, whom John had met in India. (Paul would end up marrying his girlfriend Jane Asher that same year.) This divorce would inspire Paul to write "Hey Jude" to comfort John's son Julian, although it did not end up on their of the two albums. The Beatles I, often nicknamed The White Album due to its cover, was mainly stripped-down and acoustic, which was quite a shock to the public following the psychedelic Merseyside and Magical Mystery Tour. Among the album's biggest fans was Neil Young, who in 1999 praised the album for its simplicity.
Side A (23:39)
1. Back in the U.S.S.R. - 2:46 (1967-1970)
2. Glass Onion - 2:18 (The White Album)
3. Not Guilty - 4:20 (The White Album) [Take 102]
4. Sexy Sadie - 3:15 (The White Album)
5. Honey Pie - 2:41 (The White Album)
6. Don't Pass Me By - 3:51 (The White Album)
7. Why Don't We Do It in the Road? - 1:41 (The White Album)
8. Happiness is a Warm Gun - 2:47 (The White Album)
Side B (24:04)
9. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - 4:45 (The White Album)
10. Hey Bulldog - 3:09 (Yellow Submarine)
11. Birthday - 2:42 (The White Album)
12. Yer Blues - 4:01 (The White Album)
13. Savoy Truffle - 2:54 (The White Album)
14. I'm So Tired - 2:03 (The White Album)
15. Helter Skelter - 4:30 (The White Album)
Released alongside its twin sister album, The Beatles II, otherwise known as The Black Album, featured more of a hard rock sound, as could be heard with the likes of "Back in the U.S.S.R.", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Happiness is a Warm Gun" and "Helter Skelter". As the band's heaviest album up to this point, it initially sold more than The White Album, but soon fans would end up buying both in order to even out sales. However, for the next fifty years or so, fans would go on to debate which songs should've been kept from both of them to make an even stronger album; imagine that!
Side A (23:10)
1. Get Back - 3:15 (Past Masters)
2. Dig a Pony - 3:38 (Let It Be… Naked)
3. Old Brown Shoe - 3:18 (Past Masters)
4. I’ve Got a Feeling - 3:30 (Let It Be… Naked)
5. Oh! Darling - 3:27 (Abbey Road)
6. For You Blue - 2:27 (Let It Be… Naked)
7. Don’t Let Me Down - 3:35 (Past Masters)
Side B (21:35)
8. Every Night - 2:31 (McCartney)
9. Octopus’s Garden - 2:51 (Abbey Road)
10. Mean Mr. Mustard - 1:13 (Abbey Road) [Take 20]
11. Polythene Pam - 1:15 (Abbey Road) [Take 27]
12. She Came in Through the Bathroom Window - 1:59 (Abbey Road) [Take 27]
13. Let It Down - 4:11 (All Things Must Pass) [Take 1]
14. Get Back (reprise) - 3:16 (Anthology 3/Let It Be)
15. You Know My Name (Look Up the Number) - 4:19 (Past Masters)
The psychedelic experiments had worn off by the start of 1969, and so for the Beatles' next album, they decided to go back to basics and record their songs without any overdubs; newly signed Apple Records artist Billy Preston was brought in for keyboards. Alongside this, a documentary film would be made to show the world how a Beatles album was made, which was Paul McCartney's idea. Like the two self-titled albums, many songs were written up for Get Back, but up to fourteen would be chosen, with some being held back for future albums. The documentary concluded with the Beatles' famous rooftop concert on top of the Savile Row building, which took place on January 30, 1969. After the Get Back album was released, John Lennon would marry Mia Farrow.
Side A (23:48)
1. Introduction: Teddy Boy - 1:34 (McCartney; edit)
2. Ted: I’d Have You Anytime - 2:54 (Early Takes: Volume 1)
3. Ted: Martha My Dear - 2:29 (The White Album) [without brass and strings]
4. Guru: Come Together - 4:19 (Abbey Road)
5. Guru: Cosmically Conscious - 1:50 (Off the Ground)
6. Narrator: Another Day - 3:41 (Ram)
7. Martha/Guru: I Want You (She’s So Heavy) - 5:27 (Abbey Road) [Trident recording]
8. Ted/Guru: I Me Mine - 1:34 (Let It Be) [Glyn Johns mixes]
Side B (24:17)
9. Ted: Jealous Guy - 4:14 (Imagine)
10. Martha/Ted: Behind That Locked Door - 3:29 (Early Takes: Volume 1)
11. Ted: Look at Me - 2:51 (John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band)
12. Ted/Martha: The Back Seat of My Car - 4:26 (Ram)
13. Narrator: All Things Must Pass - 3:30 (Early Takes: Volume 1)
14. Ted/Martha: Two of Us - 2:47 (Let It Be; edit)
15. Ending: (You Know) It Ain't Easy - 3:00 (Past Masters)
That May saw the release of the Who's groundbreaking rock opera Tommy; John Lennon was said to have bought a copy and loved it. Along with the Pretty Things' S.F. Sorrow, he felt that the next Beatles album should be a rock opera about a couple and a spiritual quest between the two. Again, most of the songs were stripped down, although songs like "Jealous Guy" and "The Back Seat of My Car" had a bigger sound to them, with the producer's credit being shared between the Beatles and George Martin. Although the story was divisive, the music for Two of Us was praised, and alongside the release of the Kinks' Arthur, 1969 would go down as the year of the rock opera. Alongside their live performances at Woodstock and the Isle of Wight, the Beatles would end the decade on a high note. It would remain to be seen how they would survive the 1970s...
Side A (21:10)
Movement I - Sonata of Romance
1. Because - 2:45 (Abbey Road)
2. What is Life - 4:22 (All Things Must Pass)
3. Oh My Love - 2:44 (Imagine)
Movement II - Adagio for the Cosmic Empire
4. Golden Slumbers - 1:31 (Abbey Road)
5. Carry That Weight - 1:36 (Abbey Road)
6. Hear Me Lord - 5:46 (All Things Must Pass)
7. Sun King - 2:26 (Abbey Road)
Side B (22:20)
Movement III - Triumph of Light
8. Here Comes the Sun - 3:05 (Abbey Road)
9. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) - 3:18 (Power to the People: The Hits)
10. Beware of Darkness - 3:48 (All Things Must Pass)
11. Let It Be - 4:03 (Let It Be)
Movement IV - The Love You Take
12. Awaiting on You All - 2:45 (All Things Must Pass)
13. Gimme Some Truth - 3:16 (Imagine)
14. The End - 2:05 (Abbey Road)
Ever since Revolver, it would be safe to say that George Harrison's confidence as a songwriter had grown, usually getting up to three songs on an album, although in the case of Merseyside and Two of Us, he had four each. On Everest, George would have five songs included; Paul's idea for that album was that it would be a rock symphony, but it ended up being George who stole the show, which caused friction between the two and eventually led to Paul temporarily quitting the group and retreating to his farm in Scotland. During Paul's retreat, he got a phone call from George, having recently lost his mother Louise Harrison to cancer and the two made up for their falling out and Paul returned to the group to finish the album. Everest is regarded today as the Beatles' magnum opus, with Rolling Stone magazine ranking it as the fifth greatest album of all time in 2020.
Side A (21:30)
1. Momma Miss America - 4:04 (McCartney)
2. Out of the Blue - 11:14 (All Things Must Pass)
3. What’s the New Mary Jane? - 6:12 (Anthology 3)
Side B (20:34)
4. It’s Johnny’s Birthday - 0:49 (All Things Must Pass)
5. Plug Me In - 3:18 (All Things Must Pass)
6. Valentine Day - 1:39 (McCartney)
7. Revolution 19 - 10:33 (The White Album; remix)
8. Kreen-Akrore - 4:15 (McCartney)
Back in Your Safely Beds is a curious oddity in the Beatles canon, as the album was not credited to the group upon release; instead, the credit went to Winston O'Boogie and the Wild Prairies, and the album was released under Zapple Records. The album was comprised of jam sessions by George Harrison and Cream during the Everest sessions, a few solo instrumentals by Paul McCartney, and two outtakes from The White and Black Albums in 1968, most notably "Revolution 19". Although fans debate whether or not Back in Your Safely Beds was a true Beatles album, it's still regarded as an interesting footnote in their history.
Imagine (September 9, 1971)
Side A (22:42)
1. Imagine - 3:01 (Imagine)
2. Get on the Right Thing - 4:17 (Red Rose Speedway)
3. Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) - 3:48 (All Things Must Pass)
4. Eat at Home - 3:18 (Ram)
5. Hot as Sun - 1:29 (McCartney)
6. Working Class Hero - 3:48 (John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band)
7. It Don't Come Easy - 3:01 (Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr)
Side B (22:20)
8. Woman Don’t You Cry for Me - 3:18 (Thirty-Three & ⅓)
9. Remember - 4:33 (John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band)
10. Tomorrow - 3:28 (Wild Life)
11. Deep Blue - 3:47 (Living in the Material World)
12. Love - 3:21 (John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band)
13. Maybe I’m Amazed - 3:53 (McCartney)
Within the span of only a few years, the Beatles had changed the music landscape, and every album that they'd put out explored new sonic territory for them. The inevitable question for them was, where do they go next? Well, Imagine didn't have the storytelling aspect of Two of Us nor the grand atmosphere of Everest, but it stood up to fans and critics as a fine collection of songs, most notably the title track, "Maybe I'm Amazed" and especially "It Don't Come Easy", Ringo Starr's very first self-penned A-side for the Beatles. Imagine was also the first album in which John Lennon and Paul McCartney were credited separately for their respective songs; this change was made as John believed the Lennon/McCartney credit to have been a lie since at least the Revolver period.
1971 also saw the release of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory under Apple Films, in which Ringo starred as the titular chocolatier, as well as the Concert for Bangladesh, spearheaded by George Harrison, which took place on August 1 at Madison Square Garden with additional performers like Ravi Shankar, Badfinger, David Bowie, Joan Baez, Elton John, the Beach Boys, James Taylor, Eric Clapton and his supergroup Derek and the Dominos, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Leon Russell, Neil Young, Billy Preston, and of course, Bob Dylan. A film featuring the highlights of the concert was later released the following year.
Side A (21:27)
1. Back Off Boogaloo - 3:19 (Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr)
2. Too Many People - 4:10 (Ram)
3. Crippled Inside - 3:47 (Imagine)
4. Miss O'Dell - 2:33 (Living in the Material World)
5. Sunday Bloody Sunday - 5:00 (Some Time in New York City)
6. That Would Be Something - 2:38 (McCartney)
Side B (22:09)
7. Apple Scruffs - 3:04 (All Things Must Pass)
8. Power to the People - 3:22 (Imagine) [Take 7]
9. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - 4:49 (Ram)
10. Art of Dying - 3:37 (All Things Must Pass)
11. Give Ireland Back to the Irish - 3:44 (Wild Life)
12. Happy Xmas (War is Over) - 3:33 (Gimme Some Truth: The Ultimate Mixes)
With such a strong start to the new decade, it almost felt as though nothing could stop the Beatles, especially with the tenth anniversary of their debut single "Love Me Do". Unfortunately, even the best of us are far from infallible. When Bloody Sunday took place in Ireland on January 30, 1972, John Lennon and Paul McCartney quickly recorded what would be known as "the Irish single", and it was a commercial disappointment by the Beatles' standards both in America and the United Kingdom. By that point, the pair were recording their own individual solo projects - Paul's Wild Life and John's Dirty Plastic Band - which each received mixed reviews upon release, but have since gone on to be the forerunners for indie pop and punk rock, respectively. George would also put out a solo record in 1972, Through Many Years, featuring the hit single "You", as did Ringo with Beaucoups of Blues, having released Sentimental Journey the previous year.
In between all of the solo stuff, the Beatles' seventeenth album Ram was released, and was considered to be a disappointment both critically and commercially due to having a disjointed feel as an album, what with the politically-themed songs being mixed in with the likes of "Back Off Boogaloo", "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey", "Crippled Inside" and "Miss O'Dell". Although Ram's critical reception would improve over time, it, along with the inconsistent quality of the solo albums, showed that the Beatles were human beings just like everyone else. The only question now was, was this the end of their dominance in the pop charts?
Mind Games (September 28, 1973)
Side A (23:54)
1. I'm the Greatest - 3:21 (Ringo)
2. Big Barn Bed - 3:48 (Red Rose Speedway)
3. Don't Let Me Wait Too Long - 2:57 (Living in the Material World)
4. Rock and Roll People - 4:21 (Menlove Ave.)
5. Photograph - 3:56 (Ringo)
6. Living in the Material World - 5:31 (Living in the Material World)
Side B (23:40)
7. Mind Games - 4:13 (Mind Games)
8. C Moon - 4:32 (Red Rose Speedway)
9. Devil Woman - 3:50 (Ringo)
10. Be Here Now - 4:09 (Living in the Material World)
11. I Know (I Know) - 3:49 (Mind Games)
12. Hi, Hi, Hi - 3:07 (Red Rose Speedway)
The Beatles' personal lives were beginning to fall apart by 1973; John had gotten drunk at a party on election night and had sex with another woman in the presence of Mia Farrow, which marked the beginning of the end in their marriage, eventually leading to a divorce two years later. George's wife Pattie Boyd had begun having an affair with Eric Clapton, and George would end up sleeping with Ringo's wife Maureen Cox, which sent shockwaves throughout the music scene. Only Paul and Jane's marriage seemed to be rock solid, what with the birth of their son James Alexander McCartney that year (their daughter Kate was born in 1970), and Paul releasing his second solo album Red Rose Speedway in April.
With Brian Wilson brought in as co-producer, recording for Mind Games took place entirely in America; the first Beatles album to be recorded outside of the United Kingdom. Now feeling confident in his abilities as a singer, Ringo now wanted to have more vocal spots on Beatles albums, meaning that each Beatle got to sing three songs on the album, a first for them. Although reviews were mixed, Mind Games took up the top spot in America and the United Kingdom, thanks to the lead single "Photograph", a co-write between George and Ringo. Following the album's release, the Beatles would embark on a tour across the United States that would seemingly last all the way up to 1975, with breaks in between. George went along with the tour as he didn't want to return to an empty house, but it was during this rough patch in his personal life that he would meet his new girlfriend, Olivia Arias.
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| From left to right: George Harrison, Peter Boyle, Paul McCartney, Gene Wilder, John Lennon, Madeline Kahn, Mel Brooks, Marty Feldman, and Ringo Starr. |
Band on the Run (October 25, 1974)
Side A (18:58)
1. Band on the Run - 5:12 (Band on the Run)
2. Jet - 4:09 (Band on the Run)
3. Intuition - 3:08 (Mind Games)
4. Dark Horse - 3:54 (Dark Horse)
5. (It’s All Down to) Goodnight Vienna - 2:35 (Goodnight Vienna)
Side B (16:42)
6. Whatever Gets You Thru the Night - 3:28 (Walls and Bridges)7. Let Me Roll It - 4:51 (Band on the Run)
8. Only People - 3:23 (Mind Games)
9. So Sad - 5:00 (Dark Horse)
Side C (19:11)
10. Snookeroo - 3:24 (Goodnight Vienna)
11. Mrs. Vandebilt - 4:40 (Band on the Run)
12. Simply Shady - 4:38 (Dark Horse)
13. Helen Wheels - 3:44 (Band on the Run)
14. Meat City - 2:45 (Mind Games)
Side D (18:14)
15. Junior's Farm - 4:23 (Venus and Mars)
16. Step Lightly - 3:15 (Ringo)
17. Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out) - 3:09 (Mind Games)
18. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five - 5:28 (Band on the Run)
During the Mind Games sessions, John had landed himself a cameo spot on Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles, set to be released under Apple Films the following year, and while on set, he met with rising film starlet Madeline Kahn, who was playing the role of Lili Von Shtüpp. One year later, John had been cast as the leading role in Young Frankenstein, with Madeline portraying his fiancé Elizabeth. Clearly, their relationship was growing closer than either of them had realized, although in between filming John would get into drunken antics with Harry Nilsson in Los Angeles, which nearly derailed the filming schedule. At the same time, John would get reacquainted with his estranged son Julian, and their relationship would certainly grow stronger over the years.
After filming for Young Frankenstein had completed, John got back with the other Beatles to record their follow-up to Mind Games, titled Band on the Run. The photoshoot for the cover saw John being reunited with Madeline, as well as Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle and Marty Feldman, making for one of the most iconic album covers of all time. George had finished up his next solo album, Give Me Love, which was released that June, although his songwriting had taken a bit of a dip, as had John's, leaving Paul to carry the weight of the album on his shoulders, with surprisingly successful results. Band on the Run was hailed by critics as a return to form for the Beatles, with many even calling it their greatest album since Everest; the presence of Elton John on "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" and "Snookeroo" was also welcomed, and that November, the Beatles would play three shows at Madison Square Garden with Elton John and Queen as their opening acts. Backstage, following the first show, John would profess his love to Madeline Kahn.
Rock Show (July 15, 1975)
Side A (22:19)
1. Venus and Mars/Rock Show - 3:46 (Wingspan: Hits and History)
2. Going Down on Love - 3:54 (Walls and Bridges)
3. Tired of Midnight Blue - 4:51 (Extra Texture (Read All About It))
4. Easy for Me - 2:20 (Goodnight Vienna)
5. Letting Go - 4:33 (Venus and Mars)
6. Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox) - 2:55 (Walls and Bridges)
Side B (23:17)
7. Oh My My - 4:16 (Ringo)
8. What You Got - 3:09 (Walls and Bridges)
9. Sally G - 3:40 (Venus and Mars)
10. Old Dirt Road - 4:11 (Walls and Bridges)
11. You Gave Me the Answer - 2:15 (Venus and Mars)
12. His Name is Legs (Ladies and Gentlemen) - 5:46 (Extra Texture (Read All About It))
Following up on Band on the Run would be no easy task, and so the Beatles decided upon another change of scenery - this time, in New Orleans. John's songwriting was back on form, and Rock Show would showcase some of his most funky-sounding in the Beatles' discography. During the sessions, he recorded a single with David Bowie, "Fame", which hit #1 for him that same year. Harry Nilsson was also present during the sessions, even giving a song for Ringo to sing, as George had only brought in two songs during the sessions, given that most of the songs he'd brought in were rather depressing sounding. Still, Rock Show managed to reach #1 to a warm reception, although it would be the first Beatles album in which neither of its singles - "Oh My My" and "Venus and Mars/Rock Show" - would reach #1. That summer saw the end of the Beatles' Never Ending Tour in America, having lasted well over a year.
Roots: The Beatles Sing the Great Rock & Roll Hits (January 30, 1976)
Side A (24:19)
1. Be-Bop-a-Lula - 2:39 (Rock 'n' Roll)
2. Twenty Flight Rock - 3:03 (Choba B CCCP)
3. You're Sixteen - 2:48 (Ringo)
4. You Can't Catch Me - 4:51 (Rock 'n' Roll)
5. Lucille - 3:13 (Choba B CCCP)
6. Tight A$ - 3:37 (Mind Games)
7. Bye Bye, Love - 4:08 (Dark Horse)
Side B (24:04)
8. Stand By Me - 3:26 (Rock 'n' Roll)
9. Brown Eyed Handsome Man - 2:27 (Run Devil Run)
10. Pure Smokey - 3:56 (Thirty-Three & ⅓)
11. Only You (and You Alone) - 3:26 (Goodnight Vienna)
12. Call Me Back Again - 4:58 (Venus and Mars)
13. Ya Ya - 2:17 (Rock 'n' Roll)
14. Just Because - 3:34 (Choba B CCCP)
In 1973, John Lennon had been hit with a lawsuit by Morris Levy claiming that the Beatles' "Come Together" had stolen a line from Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me" - "Here come ol' flat top." Although an attempt had been made to settle the lawsuit out of court, Levy stated that the Beatles would have to record three songs by Big Seven Music on an album. For an entire week in October, the Beatles recorded twelve cover songs for Roots at EMI's recording studio in London, as well as three originals with a 50s vibe - "Tight A$", "Pure Smokey" and "Call Me Back Again". Nostalgia for the 1950s was a big deal in America, particularly with American Graffiti and Happy Days, so who would the Beatles be to ignore that?
January 1976 marked the end of the Beatles' contract with EMI, and so it was decided that Roots would come out around that time; as John put it, "[they]'d be killing two birds with one stone." The surprise release of Roots initially shocked listeners, but once it had worn off, people recognized that these songs were a part of the Beatles' childhood - "Be-Bop-a-Lula" and "Twenty Flight Rock" both recalled the time John and Paul had first met after a Quarrymen show on July 6, 1956, the day the Beatles' story truly began. "Ain't That a Shame", a duet by the pair, was relegated to the B-side for "You're Sixteen", the Beatles' final single released under EMI before they switched over to Warner Brothers as a distributor.
Side A (16:27)
1. Let 'Em In - 4:00 (Wings at the Speed of Sound)
2. Crackerbox Palace - 3:57 (Thirty-Three & ⅓)
3. Out the Blue - 3:23 (Mind Games)
4. It's What You Value - 5:07 (Thirty-Three & ⅓)
Side B (18:18)
5. Silly Love Songs - 3:37 (Wings at the Speed of Sound)
6. Cookin' (In the Kitchen of Love) - 3:41 (Ringo's Rotogravure)
7. Beautiful Girl - 3:39 (Thirty-Three & ⅓)
8. You Are Here - 4:08 (Mind Games)
9. Warm and Beautiful - 3:13 (Wings at the Speed of Sound)
Side C (18:38)
That April, the Beatles made a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live, performing "She Loves You", "Get Back" and "In My Life". After the performance of the latter, John Lennon had asked Madeline Kahn to marry him, to which she said yes. It was also after this bombshell that she revealed she was pregnant. Shortly after their appearance on SNL, the Beatles decided that their next album would be their last one as a recording group, with John about to become a father again and the others wanting to pursue their own individual careers. The resulting album was Beatles at the Speed of Sight; the working title was Between the Lines, but after a quip by Ringo, it was changed. John, Paul and George each contributed five songs to the album, with the former two each providing a track for Ringo to sing - John's "Cookin' (in the Kitchen of Love)" and Paul's "Six O'Clock". Everyone was on top form to make sure that their send-off was a good one.
Rock 'n' Roll Music (March 6, 1978)
Past Masters (November 16, 1979)
10. Bless You - 4:38 (Walls and Bridges)
11. Dear One - 2:40 (Thirty-Three & ⅓)
12. Beware My Love - 6:28 (Wings at the Speed of Sound)
13. Six O’Clock - 4:52 (Goodnight Vienna)
Side D (18:02)
14. #9 Dream - 4:47 (Walls and Bridges)
15. Learning How to Love You - 4:13 (Thirty-Three & ⅓)
16. Mull of Kintyre - 4:42 (London Town)
17. Oh Madeline! - 4:20 (Imagine)
That April, the Beatles made a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live, performing "She Loves You", "Get Back" and "In My Life". After the performance of the latter, John Lennon had asked Madeline Kahn to marry him, to which she said yes. It was also after this bombshell that she revealed she was pregnant. Shortly after their appearance on SNL, the Beatles decided that their next album would be their last one as a recording group, with John about to become a father again and the others wanting to pursue their own individual careers. The resulting album was Beatles at the Speed of Sight; the working title was Between the Lines, but after a quip by Ringo, it was changed. John, Paul and George each contributed five songs to the album, with the former two each providing a track for Ringo to sing - John's "Cookin' (in the Kitchen of Love)" and Paul's "Six O'Clock". Everyone was on top form to make sure that their send-off was a good one.
Beatles at the Speed of Sight quickly reached #1 on the charts, especially as it was to be their final ever album, after fourteen years of recording. "Silly Love Songs" had reached #1, as did the follow-up singles "Crackerbox Palace" and "#9 Dream". A fourth single, "Mull of Kintyre", reached #1 in the United Kingdom in 1977 and broke the Beatles' previous record for the highest-selling non-charity single there, having done so with "She Loves You" back in 1963, and has kept that record since, having sold over two million copies worldwide. The song was written by John and Paul in the latter's farm in Scotland, following their respective fathers' deaths in 1976, and the liner notes included a dedication to Alfred Lennon and Jim McCartney.
John and Madeline were married that summer, and took a honeymoon in Greece before moving into the former's estate in Durness, Scotland, which he'd managed to purchase a couple of years back thanks to Brian Epstein, where he used to take summer holidays in his childhood. John and Madeline's first child, Frederick Jerome Lennon, was born on December 15. Paul had began work on a duet album with Brian Wilson titled West 119th and Forthlin, for which both would use as the measuring stick for future projects. George remained involved with Apple Films, but would still put out the occasional album, as did Ringo. 1976 also saw the deaths of Keith Moon (from a drug induced heart attack) and Keith Richards (from a car crash while under the influence of cocaine an LSD), which respectively led to the Who bringing in John Bonham as their replacement drummer and the Rolling Stones breaking up, to which some critics believed was "the death of the 60s." John Lennon, however, would dismiss that, especially with Apple Records bringing in punk artists like Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, the Damned and the Clash, claiming that they were "keeping the spirit of the 60s alive through their music, just in a different way."
Side A (17:36)
1. Rock and Roll Music - 2:31 (Beatles for Sale)
2. Searchin' - 3:00 (Anthology 1)
3. Three Cool Cats - 2:25 (Anthology 1)
4. Words of Love - 2:04 (Beatles for Sale)
5. Please Mr. Postman - 2:34 (With the Beatles)
6. Honey Don't - 2:57 (Beatles for Sale)
7. Long Tall Sally - 2:05 (Past Masters)
Side B (18:26)
8. Roll Over Beethoven - 2:45 (With the Beatles)
9. Slow Down - 2:56 (Past Masters)
10. Baby It's You - 2:40 (Please Please Me)
11. Till There Was You - 2:14 (With the Beatles)
12. Leave My Kitten Alone - 2:57 (Anthology 1)
13. Anna (Go to Him) - 2:55 (Please Please Me)
14. Matchbox - 1:59 (Past Masters)
Side C (18:11)
15. Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey - 2:38 (Beatles for Sale)
16. Dizzy Miss Lizzy - 2:54 (Help!)
17. Chains - 2:23 (Please Please Me)
18. Boys - 2:24 (Please Please Me)
19. Besame Mucho - 2:37 (Anthology 1)
20. Money (That's What I Want) - 2:49 (With the Beatles)
21. Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby - 2:26 (Beatles for Sale)
Side D (17:31)
22. Act Naturally - 2:30 (Help!)
23. You Really Got a Hold on Me - 3:01 (With the Beatles)
24. Bad Boy - 2:21 (Past Masters)
25. Devil in Her Heart - 2:26 (With the Beatles)
26. Mr. Moonlight - 2:38 (Beatles for Sale)
27. A Taste of Honey - 2:03 (Please Please Me)
28. Twist and Shout - 2:32 (Please Please Me)
The end of 1976 saw the release of the first Beatles compilation album under Apple Records, The Best of the Beatles: 1962-1966, otherwise known as The Red Album due to its border. This was followed up in March and June by 1967-1970 and 1971-1976, also respectively known as The Blue and Green Albums. The three albums compiled all of the Beatles' hit singles in the United States and the United Kingdom throughout 1962 to 1976, with a few B-sides and some album tracks sprinkled in between. EMI, who owned the Beatles' master recordings up until January 1976, wanted to hop on the trend by releasing some themed compilation albums of their own, but Apple caught wind of this and put those plans to an end.
Instead, an album compiling all of the cover songs that the Beatles recorded during 1963 to 1965 for extended plays and B-sides would be released, titled Rock 'n' Roll Music. A few outtakes were also included on the compilation to fill up four sides, such as "Searchin'" and "Three Cool Cats" from the ill-fated Decca audition, and "Besame Mucho" from their first session at Abbey Road Studios on June 6, 1962. Now fans could have the opportunity to own all of the early Beatles covers in one place, and some would begin to wonder what the early albums would've been like had covers actually been included.
Side A (21:52)
1. My Bonnie - 2:08 (Anthology 1)
2. Ain't She Sweet - 2:13 (Anthology 1)
3. Love Me Do (Original Recording) - 2:32 (Anthology 1)
4. How Do You Do It? - 1:57 (Anthology 1)
5. Komm, gib mir deine Hand - 2:27 (Past Masters)
6. Sie liebt dich - 2:20 (Past Masters)
7. Yes It Is - 2:43 (Past Masters)
8. Tell Me What You See - 2:37 (Help!)
9. 12-Bar Original - 2:55 (Anthology 2)
Side B (21:22)
10. Tomorrow Never Knows (Take 1) - 3:32 (Revolver: Special Edition)
11. Paperback Writer - 2:19 (Past Masters)
12. Rain - 3:02 (Past Masters)
13. And Your Bird Can Sing (Take 2) - 2:14 (Revolver: Special Edition)
14. Strawberry Fields Forever (Take 1) - 2:39 (Sgt. Pepper: 50th Anniversary Edition)
15. Christmas Time is Here Again - 3:02 (Free as a Bird single)
16. Flying - 2:16 (Magical Mystery Tour)
17. Lady Madonna - 2:18 (Past Masters)
Side C (24:33)
18. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Acoustic) - 3:22 (Love)
19. Hey Jude - 7:08 (Past Masters)
20. Revolution - 3:25 (Past Masters)
21. Something - 3:02 (Abbey Road)
22. Give Peace a Chance - 4:54 (Gimme Some Truth: The Ultimate Mixes)
23. Come and Get It (Demo) - 2:42 (Abbey Road: 50th Anniversary Edition)
Side D (25:39)
24. The Long and Winding Road - 3:34 (Let It Be… Naked)
25. Cold Turkey - 5:01 (Gimme Some Truth: The Ultimate Mixes)
26. Bangla Desh - 3:57 (Living in the Material World)
27. Live and Let Die - 3:12 (Red Rose Speedway)
28. One More Kiss - 2:28 (Red Rose Speedway)
29. Ding Dong, Ding Dong - 3:40 (Dark Horse)
30. Wonderful Christmastime - 3:47 (McCartney II)
One of Apple's biggest priorities when it came to re-issuing the Beatles' output was making sure that their discography was streamlined, especially in America; in the early to mid-1960s, Capitol Records would re-arrange the albums from their original order and even include covers in some cases. Most infamously, three tracks were taken out of Revolver and included instead on Yesterday and Today, and so from Merseyside onward, the albums would share the same track listings on both sides of the Atlantic. In 1979, the Beatles' first seven albums were all re-released simultaneously in the United States with their original track listings intact, and alongside them, a compilation album titled Past Masters was released, including all of their non-album tracks, as well as several outtakes, from 1961 to 1974, plus a new single for the Christmas market, "Wonderful Christmastime".
With the inclusion of the Rock 'n' Roll Music compilation, the Beatles had recorded and released over 350 songs spread out across 24 albums between 1963 and 1979, a period of sixteen years. Yet despite this large quantity in songs (and that's not even counting those that had been released as solo artists), there were fans who wanted to hear more from the Fab Four, curious to know if there were any songs that they'd never released before.
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| Album cover art by Auran on Discord. |
Real Love (May 2, 1997)
1. The Song We Were Singing - 3:55 (Flaming Pie)
2. Free as a Bird - 4:26 (Anthology 1)
3. Any Road - 3:52 (Brainwashed)
4. The World Tonight - 4:06 (Flaming Pie)
5. King of Broken Hearts - 4:44 (Vertical Man)
6. Somedays - 4:15 (Flaming Pie)
7. Real Love - 3:54 (Anthology 2)
8. Stuck Inside a Cloud - 4:04 (Brainwashed)
9. Young Boy - 3:54 (Flaming Pie)
10. Help Me to Help Myself - 2:17 (Double Fantasy)
11. Never Get Over You - 3:26 (Brainwashed)
12. Little Willow - 2:58 (Flaming Pie)
13. Now and Then - 3:02 (fan remix)
14. Really Love You - 5:18 (Flaming Pie)
15. I’ll Be Fine Anywhere - 3:39 (Vertical Man)
16. Rising Sun - 5:27 (Brainwashed)
17. Flaming Pie - 2:30 (Flaming Pie)
18. Grow Old with Me - 3:21 (Gimme Some Truth: The Ultimate Mixes)
Total length: 69:08
Although the Beatles have had reunions throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s such as Live Aid and MTV Unplugged, never was there any talk of the group recording another album of new material as they all had their own individual projects to focus on. However, eighteen years since the last recording sessions for Beatles at the Speed of Sight, the Beatles were once more in the studio with Electric Light Orchestra frontman Jeff Lynne in the producer's chair. All of that happened because John Lennon had brought in a few demos that he'd recorded in the late 1970s, saying that he had "saved them for a special occasion." That "special occasion" was the Anthology documentary series with interviews being conducted by Jools Holland, and to go along with the project, a new Beatles album would be recorded.
In a time where music was dominated by the likes of Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Oasis, the Spice Girls, Radiohead and the Backstreet Boys, the Beatles' Real Love managed to reach #1 in several countries, as did the first two singles "Young Boy" and the title track, with "Any Road" and "King of Broken Hearts" also becoming Top 10 hits. All four singles were released before the album proper in conjunction with the four Anthology albums, covering alternate versions of their tracks from their twenty-four studio albums as well as outtakes from the 1960s and 1970s. In short, the Beatles were once again a huge deal despite all four members being in their fifties, and there were talks of a tour to go along with the album, but that was dropped as George had been diagnosed with lung cancer and needed treatment for it. This also left John to take care of his wife Madeline, who had recently undergone surgery to remove her ovaries.
2000 onwards
The Beatles would kick off the new millennium with a two-disc compilation album titled 1, featuring all forty of their number one hits in both the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as a mashup of "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You", produced by Phil Ramone and recorded in 1987. This would be the final Beatles album released in manager Brian Epstein's lifetime, having died following a stroke on December 27, 2000; Peter Brown had been picked as his successor.
In 2006, a remix album titled Love was released as the soundtrack for the Cirque du Soleil show of the same name, with George Martin producing alongside his son Giles; it was also the last Beatles album George Martin would be involved with prior to his death in 2016. The Beatles and their families attended the premiere of Love in Las Vegas, as did George and Giles Martin.
Although there have been no talks of another album following Real Love, the Beatles would continue to make appearances together, whether they be for interviews, reunion tours or celebrations such as birthdays and Christmas gatherings. Among the most noteworthy reunions were John's birthday bash at Madison Square Garden in 2010, and the Beatles History Tour from 2013 to 2014, marking fifty years since Beatlemania first kicked off. This would turn out to be the Beatles' final ever tour as John Lennon would be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease some time after the final show. He died on August 21, 2019 following a stroke at the age of 78.
Paul, George and Ringo would release a joint statement following their bandmate's death, announcing that the Beatles as a partnership would be no more after being together for nearly sixty years. However, they did play together as a group at The Concert for John on October 9, 2020, marking what could have been John's eightieth birthday, with their short setlist including "In Spite of All the Danger". The show would conclude with a rousing rendition of "Imagine", featuring everyone who partook in it, including John's daughter Alice Lennon, guitarist and frontwoman for the Spyders.
With the three surviving Beatles all into their eighties, the road ahead looks shorter than before, but their legacy will outlive them, and they are still, to quote a song of theirs from 1973, the greatest. And you'd better believe it, baby!
