Greatest Unheralded Beatles Song(s)

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Keeping in mind that the Beatles are perhaps the most canonized band of all time, of course.

I'll start the list with "It's All Too Much."

― mike a (mike a), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 15:30 (twenty-two years ago)

"you can't do that"

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Both great choices. I'll add "What You're Doing."

― s woods, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I actually have a soft spot for the _Yellow Submarine_ era - "Hey Bulldog," "Only A Northern Song," and "All Together Now" are all pretty great as well.

― mike a (mike a), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I like the outtakes, myself. Like the one where you can hear John in the background yelling at Paul,"I will kill you! I will physically kill you!" And then Ringo's all like, "Relax boys!" A rarity to be sure, but worth looking up.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm of the opinion that every Beatles song worth heralding has been heralded and then some. Harumph.

― amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

the gorgeous "and your bird can sing" I thiiink is unheralded. but amateurist may have a point.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

'that means a lot' - anthology 2.
peter buck's favourite beatles song,
(typically) great macca
scream right at the fade, instant
why-the-f*ck-isnt-this-on-help-
instead-of-crap-like-act-naturally
factor on first hearing, sat in the vaults for
30 years (!!), all good.

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

"Cry, Baby, Cry..." Is that the one Aerosmith covered? Whichever one Aerosmith did, that one.

― andy, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

"That Means a Lot": That song is baaaaaad. It sounds like a Beatles parody.

― amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

"Love to You." I love that sitar riff, which would sound great on a Strat--someone should cover it.

― skreddy57, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 16:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Is there really such a thing as an Unheralded Beatle song? I mean, christ....when piffle like "Free As a Bird" was dressed up and augmented, people lost their shit like it was the second coming. It seems every miniscule iota of their recorded output has been hyper-examined with a fine tooth comb by this point.

That said, I'm guessing you mean their comparitively less celebrated tracks, in which case I'd say "Run for Your Life," "Savoy Truffle" and "Long Long Long." I would have said "Hey Bulldog" and "You Know My Name, Look Up the Number" (easily in my top five faves of theirs), but they hardly seem 'obscure' by this point.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Word"

― Arthur (Arthur), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 16:58 (twenty-two years ago)

"That Means A Lot" sounds like a Remains reject to me, actually.

― mike a (mike a), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 16:58 (twenty-two years ago)

"For No One"

― dleone (dleone), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:01 (twenty-two years ago)

It seems like all the groovy people hate "Hello Goodbye" but I adore it: it's so swoonily silly.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Old Brown Shoe

― Jimmy Page, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:27 (twenty-two years ago)

How heralded is "Within You Without You" usually? It's easily one of my five favorite Beatles songs, and it's one that I often see maligned, if it's even mentioned at all. It's one of the few Beatles songs that honestly causes a PHYSICAL reaction in my body.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Long, Long, Long

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

i shall nominate I've Just Seen A Face since it hasnt been mentioned..but You Know My Name is the right answer.

― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I quite like "Lovely Rita" as well.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:44 (twenty-two years ago)

lovely rita... easily one of my favorite beatles songs.
m.

ps holy freakin coincidence there... i go to submit and there's alex with the same answer!

― msp, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"Run For Your Life" and "I'm So Tired", if they count as "unheralded". And I third "Lovely Rita", and also "She's Leaving Home".

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"it's all too much," "savoy truffle," "cry baby cry," and "lovely rita." though it's hard to think of any beatles song being "unheralded."

(i've also always liked "octopus' garden." it [and "here comes the sun"] are the only 2 songs on abbey road that i can stand.)

― Tad (llamasfur), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:48 (twenty-two years ago)

"I'm Only Sleeping"....another great one.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll second "What You're Doing" and add "You Won't See Me."
I prefer all their non-hits.

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm the only person on ILX that actually likes "Maxwell's Silver Hammer", from what I can tell.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes It Is (B-side to the Ticket To Ride single, et. al.) offers some of Lennon's trademark heart-wrenching balladry -- think This Boy, except with daggers. Here's a couple lines:

Please Don’t Wear Red Tonight
this is what I said tonight
for red is the color that will make me blue
in spite of you it’s true, yes it is, it’s true

― christoff (christoff), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

It's not that we don't like the song, Ally. It's that we're all against you.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I am both surprised and not surprised that no one's mentioned "Blue Jay Way" yet. It's probably not deathless songwriting art by any empirical definition, but there's something about it that narcotizes me into listening to it over and over again.

― Lee G (Lee G), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:29 (twenty-two years ago)

"I'll Follow the Sun". "I Need You". "Mr. Moonlight". All the originals on Beatles For Sale.

Yeah I love "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" too. There really isn't a Beatles song I dislike. I'm a total fanboy.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not surprised, Kenan.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 18:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes It Is (B-side to the Ticket To Ride single, et. al.) offers some of Lennon's trademark heart-wrenching balladry

..anyone heard the version by Robert Quine and Jody Harris? simply one of the most beautiful instramentals evaah.

― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:08 (twenty-two years ago)

most of the ones I'd say have been said (MUCH love for "Long, Long, Long"
add:
"Flying"
"Don't Bother Me" (not sure if this qualifies)
"The Night Before" (pretty sure this doesn't qualify)
"I'll Be Back"

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:11 (twenty-two years ago)

...the version by Robert Quine and Jody Harris...

Interesting -- where's it found?

― christoff (christoff), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:12 (twenty-two years ago)

"Blue Jay Way" always gave me the creeps,....as does "Only a Northern Song".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:14 (twenty-two years ago)

"Don't Bother Me" definitely qualifies. I played that song at HMV about four times the day Harrison died; the mood is so so great.

Another early one I really love (also Harrison): "I'm Happy Just to Dance With You."

I don't agree with people who say that no Beatles songs remain unheralded. I could probably list a dozen more here from the first two years (and not unreleased or rare stuff) that almost never get talked about.

― s woods, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Some of these are seconds or thirds (fourths?)
"The Night Before"
"I'll Cry Instead"
"Because"
"Julia"
"Think For Yourself"
"There's A Place"

― Charles McCain (Charles McCain), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:42 (twenty-two years ago)

She Said, She Said
Hey Bulldog, Only A Northern Song, It's All Too Much: Side A of yellow Submarine rools this thread
If I Needed Someone

― Alex K (Alex K), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:46 (twenty-two years ago)

...the version by Robert Quine and Jody Harris...
Interesting -- where's it found?

I think i nicked it from audiogalaxy when searching for all things quine...

― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 19:55 (twenty-two years ago)

The Inner Light
Honey Pie

― Paul R (paul R), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 20:07 (twenty-two years ago)

My vote goes to "Every Little Thing."

"That Means a Lot" is really wretched.

"The Inner Light" and "Honey Pie" is a joke, right?

― Burr (Burr), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 20:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Is Geir on vacation or something?

― buttch (Oops), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe he went to Ibiza.

― buttch (Oops), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 20:20 (twenty-two years ago)

what a vision

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 20:49 (twenty-two years ago)

martha my dear

― geeg, Wednesday, 30 April 2003 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I forgot "Julia" and "Flying".

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I was gonna say 'Julia' but, um, I, uh, didn't.

― buttch (Oops), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 21:52 (twenty-two years ago)

John: I Should Have Known Better
Paul: Your Mother Should Know
George: You Like Me Too Much
Ringo: Well.... Uhmmm... I'll pass this one.. :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 21:55 (twenty-two years ago)

How was Ibiza Geir?

― buttch (Oops), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 21:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Keeping in mind that the Beatles are perhaps the most canonized band of all time, of course.

Which is what makes this thread interesting anyway. I mean, few people would be able to follow a thread about unheralded Zappa tracks, would they? :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 22:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Ringo: "Boys"

Other than that, the Long Tall Sally EP, especially the title track.

― b.R.A.d. (Brad), Thursday, 1 May 2003 00:01 (twenty-two years ago)

"Yellow Submarine" = one of their best songs ever

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 1 May 2003 00:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Most people probably think "I Will" is cheesy McCartney fluff, but to me it's perfect. A beautiful melody, maybe one of Paul's best.
Also: "You're Going to Lose That Girl" and "Not a Second Time."

― ColinO, Thursday, 1 May 2003 00:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Tell Me Why
I'll Be Back
I Want To Tell You
Think For Yourself

― William R Henderson (Cabin Essence), Thursday, 1 May 2003 00:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Ringo: "Boys"

That isn't Ringo, that is an old standard

Ringo's only three compositions, "What Goes On", "Octopus' Garden" and "Don't Pass Me By" are not good enough by any means.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 1 May 2003 00:35 (twenty-two years ago)

"When I Get Home", "I'll Be Back Again", "I'll Be On My Way", and their covers of "Slow Down" and "Sure to Fall In Love with You"

― Joe (Joe), Thursday, 1 May 2003 00:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I am not even close to crazy enough to defend Ringo's compositions.

― b.R.A.d. (Brad), Thursday, 1 May 2003 00:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm the only person on ILX that actually likes "Maxwell's Silver Hammer", from what I can tell.

Dunno. Out of McCartney's more goofy numbers, I do consider that one possibly the best. :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 1 May 2003 00:48 (twenty-two years ago)

"What's the New Mary Jane?"

― Evan (Evan), Thursday, 1 May 2003 01:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I like "Don't Pass Me By". A lot.

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 1 May 2003 02:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I defended it on some 'worst beatles tune' thread, it's better than "your mother should know" that's for sure

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 1 May 2003 02:41 (twenty-two years ago)

"Don't Pass Me By" is amazing. Did Ringo actually write it?

I was gonna say at one point that Ringo is the greatest unheralded living drummer who used to be in the Beatles but perhaps I'm just biased because my brother begged my mother (apparently) to call me Ringo (born at the height of Beatlemania and all).

― s woods, Thursday, 1 May 2003 02:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Maxwell's Silver Hammer
Within You, Without You
Julia

― luna (luna.c), Thursday, 1 May 2003 03:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"Dig It" is pretty cool.

― s woods, Thursday, 1 May 2003 03:21 (twenty-two years ago)

"Don't Let Me Down."

― charley, Thursday, 1 May 2003 03:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I freaking love "Good Morning, Good Morning": killer guitar breaks, unheralded magisterial drum sound, love the off-center meter too.

Also "I'm Looking Through You"--the outtake version, with that rolling organ part at the end of the chorus.

― Douglas (Douglas), Thursday, 1 May 2003 04:07 (twenty-two years ago)

"i've got a feeling" off "let it be", i'm pretty into the whole of that album right now

― duane, Thursday, 1 May 2003 04:25 (twenty-two years ago)

It Won't Be Long

― M Carty (mj_c), Thursday, 1 May 2003 06:14 (twenty-two years ago)

2nd for Yes it is and Hey Bulldog. Hey bulldog expecially . . . you can't beat a massive piano riff bashed by someone who forgot how to play . . . fantastic!

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Thursday, 1 May 2003 07:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't Pass Me By is classic, actually.

― Alex K (Alex K), Thursday, 1 May 2003 07:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Only A Northern Song, Its All Too Much, I'm Only Sleeping, Yer Blues

― John Bullabaugh (John Bullabaugh), Thursday, 1 May 2003 12:55 (twenty-two years ago)

This Boy (Back in the day, this was not unknown, as it was included on Meet the Beatles. With the reversion to the original Parlophone catalog on CD, it's been relegated to Past Masters)
All I've Got to Do (gut-wrenching Lennon vocal)
I'll Be Back (John's best early ballad besides If I Fell, never played on the radio)
No Reply (could have been an a-side, instead buried on their worst pre-Let It Be album)
I'm a Loser (ditto)
I Don't Want to Spoil the Party (ditto)
Long, Long, Long
Cry Baby Cry
Julia (John's best late ballad, never played on the radio)
Junk (maybe this isn't technically a "Beatles" song, cause it appeared on McCartney's first solo lp, but it was demoed for the White Album, and sure would have been more welcome there than, say, Why Don't We Do It In the Road)
Old Brown Shoe (should have been on Abbey Road instead of Oh, Darling)

― John Hunter, Thursday, 1 May 2003 13:00 (twenty-two years ago)

heralded a few times here already, "long, long, long" was my pick by a mile.

― brian badword (badwords), Thursday, 1 May 2003 13:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Another vote here for "Good Morning Good Morning," which I find even funnier now that I know what "Meet the Wife" was.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Thursday, 1 May 2003 13:27 (twenty-two years ago)

hearty seconds to 'it won't be long', 'all i gotta do' and 'i've just seen a face'

and i'm removing 'old brown shoe' from abbey road and reinstating 'oh darling' easily the best song on abbey road

― adam b (adam b), Thursday, 1 May 2003 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

"I've Got a Feeling" I agree is terrific, though it sounds not fully realized on Let It Be...

― Joe (Joe), Thursday, 1 May 2003 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I like Bungalow Bill and Piggies and Maxwell's Silver Hammer!

― dog latin (dog latin), Thursday, 1 May 2003 17:39 (twenty-two years ago)

YES to "Good Morning, Good Morning" - I've always thought Quasi could do a good version of that.

― mike a (mike a), Thursday, 1 May 2003 18:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you folks really like "Old Brown Shoe?" I always thought that was the misfit of the 67-70 double album.

― mike a (mike a), Thursday, 1 May 2003 18:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I love the basa and cymbal flam on "good morning"...
"julia" and "i will
are perfect records that dont get enough props.
I actually quite like "her majesty" a lot because it is so concise. it is a perfect pop song.
my absolute favorite, though, is "golden slumbers".

i was unaware that "octopus' garden" was not well regarded. what is the complaint? its cute. especially the gargling.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 1 May 2003 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

The reason why "Old Brown Shoe" was on the 67-70 album is that George Harrison more or less chose the tracks for that one.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 1 May 2003 22:05 (twenty-two years ago)

five years pass...

come Back To LIFE!!!!

no love for two of us???!!!

― Drugs A. Money, Thursday, 8 May 2008 00:45 (seventeen years ago)

Sexy Sadie

― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 8 May 2008 02:30 (seventeen years ago)

For No One, easily.

― Daniel, Esq., Thursday, 8 May 2008 02:35 (seventeen years ago)

"'Til there Was You"
"I'll Follow the Sun" (kind of crazy that Paul wrote it at 16)
"If I Needed Someone" is one of my favorite Beatles songs, but I've never heard much about it.

― ablaeser, Thursday, 8 May 2008 03:12 (seventeen years ago)

Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey, fercrissakes! First one I thought of!

― Hideous Lump, Thursday, 8 May 2008 03:14 (seventeen years ago)

"Think For Yourself"
"Mean Mr. Mustard"
"Every Little Thing" (I still make the argument sometimes that Beatles VI was their best record.)

― Pleasant Plains, Thursday, 8 May 2008 04:06 (seventeen years ago)

"Plenty of Jam Jars"

"Please don't bring your banjo back"

"Get wanderlust for your trousers"

― Mark G, Thursday, 8 May 2008 07:25 (seventeen years ago)

My $.02 = Lovely Rita, I'm Only Sleeping, Flying, For No One, If I Needed Someone

― Pillbox, Thursday, 8 May 2008 08:04 (seventeen years ago)

Tell me what you see.

Not a second time.

Not guilty.

― Rob M v2, Thursday, 8 May 2008 08:28 (seventeen years ago)

I always say Baby You're A Rich Man.

Someone up thread mentions Long, Long, Long, which I think is about the first time I've seen it referenced. It's gorgeous.

― Scik Mouthy, Thursday, 8 May 2008 08:40 (seventeen years ago)

ablaeser named my 3 favourite Beatles songs, in order.

― nate woolls, Thursday, 8 May 2008 08:42 (seventeen years ago)

But I'd like to add I'm Down and She's A Woman to this thread. Paul was unbeatable round about that time.

― nate woolls, Thursday, 8 May 2008 08:46 (seventeen years ago)

Long long long is my favourite Beatles song, I think. As Nick says, gorgeous. And simple and affecting.

― Jamie T Smith, Thursday, 8 May 2008 09:18 (seventeen years ago)

I agree with "Lomg, Long, Long" - especially the deliciously creepy ending. Also:
The Inner Light
Rocky Racoon (the screw-up Anthology version "sminking of gin - sminking?"
The Night Before
I Need You

― sparkletuna, Thursday, 8 May 2008 12:57 (seventeen years ago)

I've Got a Feeling-i think that song's great

― Bill Magill, Thursday, 8 May 2008 13:52 (seventeen years ago)

thirteen years pass...

Hey jude

― Eschew things thirty two times before swallowing them (darraghmac), Thursday, 17 June 2021 23:27 (four years ago)

Had to double check this thread wasn't on ILX.

― Vin Jawn (PBKR), Friday, 18 June 2021 00:14 (four years ago)

Best otherwise unreleased song on the Anthologies: "Leave My Kitten Alone".

― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 18 June 2021 02:59 (four years ago)

FLYING

― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 18 June 2021 03:00 (four years ago)

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