The Beatles Discography: Ranked

Powerstars · 01-06-2013, 11:01 AM

Oheydere. I'm a huge fan of The Beatles. I have the box set, and I'm always looking for new material from them, like solo material or the Anthology series. So, I decided to rank their official discography from weakest to strongest. In case you're not filled in on their official discography, here are the albums I'll be placing on the list:

Please Please Me (1963)
With The Beatles (1963)
A Hard Day's Night (1964)
Beatles For Sale (1964)
Help! (1965)
Rubber Soul (1965)
Revolver (1966)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
The White Album (1968)
Abbey Road (1969)
Let It Be (1970)
Past Masters (1988)

So, without further ado, we'll get started on this top 13!

Powerstars · 01-06-2013, 11:10 AM

13: Yellow Submarine

While this album has the classics, "Yellow Submarine," and "All You Need Is Love," and hidden gems like "Hey Bulldog," there is a huge, unforgivable flaw. Instead of including all the songs from the movie, half of this thing is filled with George Martin's orchestral score from the movie, which is good in it's own right, but should have been released separately. That said, "Hey Bulldog" has one of the most underrated riffs in Rock history and "It's All Too Much" is a psychedelic masterpiece. I feel this could have been a great Beatles album, but they had to tack the score onto the end of it.

12: The White Album

For every amazing track on this album, there are two filler tracks. For every "Back In The USSR," there's a "Wild Honey Pie" and "Revolution 9." That said, when the songs on this are good, they're really freaking good! There are the obvious choices like "Blackbird," but then there are more obscure gems like "Long, Long, Long" and "Don't Pass Me By." Even some of the filler tracks are enjoyable. For whatever reason, I feel myself drawn to stuff like "Honey Pie," because The Beatles don't do much stuff like it. I really like it when they go experimental.

Powerstars · 01-06-2013, 02:24 PM

11: Beatles For Sale

Some of the covers on this album that people hated are the reason I like it. It sounded pure. The best covers are "Rock And Roll Music" and "Words Of Love." Other highlights include "I'll Follow The Sun" and ""No Reply" It just feels so raw and pure, sort of like a live performance. Very off the cuff. That's why I like it so much. I do think it could use a bit of clean-up with the filler, though. Tracks that seemed like filler include "Honey Don't" and (Please don't hurt me, it's my opinion) "Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey."

10: With The Beatles

Another one overflowing with covers, but they're a lot better this time around. I find this album to be grossly underrated, along with all of the hidden gems on it! Everyone seems to hate the cover of "Devil In His Heart," which was one of my favorite tracks on the album. Other overlooked tunes include "All I've Got To Do," "Not A Second Time," and "You've Really Got A Hold On Me." Other then that, it has some more popular songs, like "All My Loving." The covers on this one were fantastic!

Powerstars · 01-07-2013, 05:13 PM

9: Past Masters

Very enjoyable collection of songs, but that's it's biggest issue; it's not an album, it's a collection. A good, interesting collection, mind you, but a collection. I really can't say much.

8: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Don't shoot me, please! This is my opinion, and I find this album highly overrated. This is because of various things. For one, it was short for a Beatles album. For two, "Within You Without You" was too long and boring, and it was George's only effort on the album. For three, the transitions between tracks on the CD version is awkward, especially songs that were meant to go together, like Sgt. Pepper/With A Little Help.

neardeathexperience · 01-30-2013, 08:46 AM

I think Sgt. Pepper is the Beatle's best album for many reasons. First it allowed the band some artistic freedom by taking on the persona of another band. There are few other Beatle albums that offer such diverse styles of music. All the songs are unique on to themselves! In the context of 1967 George's contribution is spot on. The blend of rich Indian cultural sounds to the point that you can smell the insense burning. The whole thing was a masterpiece from the album's cover to the suits that they chose to wear etc. In my opinion the album is the single greatest milestone in modern music.

Powerstars · 02-01-2013, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neardeathexperience

I think Sgt. Pepper is the Beatle's best album for many reasons. First it allowed the band some artistic freedom by taking on the persona of another band. There are few other Beatle albums that offer such diverse styles of music. All the songs are unique on to themselves! In the context of 1967 George's contribution is spot on. The blend of rich Indian cultural sounds to the point that you can smell the insense burning. The whole thing was a masterpiece from the album's cover to the suits that they chose to wear etc. In my opinion the album is the single greatest milestone in modern music.

Remember, this is my opinion. I'm not saying the album is bad in anyway. In fact, I really enjoy it's uniqueness. I just like some of their other stuff better. Negative as some of these words may be, I love all these albums!

7: Magical Mystery Tour

Another collection. This is made up of the songs from the film and some brilliant singles. Personally, I think this album's biggest problem is that it's WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too short. I really dig all the songs.

6: Please Please Me

Their first album that was mostly recorded in one exhausting 10 hour session. Everyone seems to praise the cover of "Twist And Shout," and while I agree that it's impressive that Lennon pulled that off with a sore throat, I find it to be rather out of key. The rest of the album is underrated with some great originals and fantastic covers.

neardeathexperience · 02-01-2013, 05:00 PM

Yes I realize that you liked Sgt. Pepper, but to be honest some points on why I believed it to be the Beatle's best album was just being thrown out there.

Powerstars · 02-01-2013, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neardeathexperience

Yes I realize that you liked Sgt. Pepper, but to be honest some points on why I believed it to be the Beatle's best album was just being thrown out there.

I understand completely.

Mooneh · 02-03-2013, 05:51 AM

Looking forward to the top 5. I must say a while ago I'd agree with you on Sgt. Pepper's but I've been listening it to death and the first side is almost perfect for me.

Powerstars · 02-05-2013, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooneh

Looking forward to the top 5. I must say a while ago I'd agree with you on Sgt. Pepper's but I've been listening it to death and the first side is almost perfect for me.

Hey, man, glad you enjoy it!

5: A Hard Day's Night

The boys' first album of all original stuff, this album blows the pants off of me every time. I can't really find many issues with it, other than the occasional odd lyrical choice. It's just that all the other albums up next blow the pants off of this one, an impressive feat. This has some of their best known songs, "A Hard Day's Night" and "Can't Buy Me Love," and some of my personal favorites, with "I'll Be Back" and "You Can't Do That" sticking out as highlights.
4: Rubber Soul

Every song on this album stands out. The prequel to Revolver, while it may lack some of the innovation, but there still is a bit and it has it's own unique charm. First use of the sitar on a Beatles album, for instance. Even the filler tracks are great, I can't get enough of "You Won't See Me."

01-06-2013, 11:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
Powerstars Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 450	The Beatles Discography: Ranked Oheydere. I'm a huge fan of The Beatles. I have the box set, and I'm always looking for new material from them, like solo material or the Anthology series. So, I decided to rank their official discography from weakest to strongest. In case you're not filled in on their official discography, here are the albums I'll be placing on the list: Please Please Me (1963) With The Beatles (1963) A Hard Day's Night (1964) Beatles For Sale (1964) Help! (1965) Rubber Soul (1965) Revolver (1966) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) Magical Mystery Tour (1967) The White Album (1968) Abbey Road (1969) Let It Be (1970) Past Masters (1988) So, without further ado, we'll get started on this top 13!

01-07-2013, 05:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
Powerstars Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 450	9: Past Masters Very enjoyable collection of songs, but that's it's biggest issue; it's not an album, it's a collection. A good, interesting collection, mind you, but a collection. I really can't say much. 8: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Don't shoot me, please! This is my opinion, and I find this album highly overrated. This is because of various things. For one, it was short for a Beatles album. For two, "Within You Without You" was too long and boring, and it was George's only effort on the album. For three, the transitions between tracks on the CD version is awkward, especially songs that were meant to go together, like Sgt. Pepper/With A Little Help. __________________ Last.Fm My New Journal Favorite Album Of The Moment: They Might Be Giants - Glean Last edited by Powerstars; 02-01-2013 at 04:04 PM.

01-30-2013, 08:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
neardeathexperience Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 531	I think Sgt. Pepper is the Beatle's best album for many reasons. First it allowed the band some artistic freedom by taking on the persona of another band. There are few other Beatle albums that offer such diverse styles of music. All the songs are unique on to themselves! In the context of 1967 George's contribution is spot on. The blend of rich Indian cultural sounds to the point that you can smell the insense burning. The whole thing was a masterpiece from the album's cover to the suits that they chose to wear etc. In my opinion the album is the single greatest milestone in modern music. Last edited by neardeathexperience; 01-30-2013 at 10:47 AM.

01-06-2013, 11:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
Powerstars Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 450	13: Yellow Submarine While this album has the classics, "Yellow Submarine," and "All You Need Is Love," and hidden gems like "Hey Bulldog," there is a huge, unforgivable flaw. Instead of including all the songs from the movie, half of this thing is filled with George Martin's orchestral score from the movie, which is good in it's own right, but should have been released separately. That said, "Hey Bulldog" has one of the most underrated riffs in Rock history and "It's All Too Much" is a psychedelic masterpiece. I feel this could have been a great Beatles album, but they had to tack the score onto the end of it. 12: The White Album For every amazing track on this album, there are two filler tracks. For every "Back In The USSR," there's a "Wild Honey Pie" and "Revolution 9." That said, when the songs on this are good, they're really freaking good! There are the obvious choices like "Blackbird," but then there are more obscure gems like "Long, Long, Long" and "Don't Pass Me By." Even some of the filler tracks are enjoyable. For whatever reason, I feel myself drawn to stuff like "Honey Pie," because The Beatles don't do much stuff like it. I really like it when they go experimental.

01-06-2013, 02:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Powerstars Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 450	11: Beatles For Sale Some of the covers on this album that people hated are the reason I like it. It sounded pure. The best covers are "Rock And Roll Music" and "Words Of Love." Other highlights include "I'll Follow The Sun" and ""No Reply" It just feels so raw and pure, sort of like a live performance. Very off the cuff. That's why I like it so much. I do think it could use a bit of clean-up with the filler, though. Tracks that seemed like filler include "Honey Don't" and (Please don't hurt me, it's my opinion) "Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey." 10: With The Beatles Another one overflowing with covers, but they're a lot better this time around. I find this album to be grossly underrated, along with all of the hidden gems on it! Everyone seems to hate the cover of "Devil In His Heart," which was one of my favorite tracks on the album. Other overlooked tunes include "All I've Got To Do," "Not A Second Time," and "You've Really Got A Hold On Me." Other then that, it has some more popular songs, like "All My Loving." The covers on this one were fantastic!

02-01-2013, 05:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
neardeathexperience Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 531	Yes I realize that you liked Sgt. Pepper, but to be honest some points on why I believed it to be the Beatle's best album was just being thrown out there.

02-03-2013, 05:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mooneh Groupie Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 42	Looking forward to the top 5. I must say a while ago I'd agree with you on Sgt. Pepper's but I've been listening it to death and the first side is almost perfect for me.