She Loves You – 3 of Cups (Lennon/McCartney) Released as a single, 1963 Available on Past Masters “She Loves You” perfectly encapsulates the infectious spirit of the Beatles’ early music. It is absolutely essential and one of their greatest songs. “She Loves You” was a true collaboration of John and Paul, which they wrote nearly…
Sun King – King of Wands (Lennon/McCartney) Abbey Road, 1969 This is the second song of the infamous Side 2 Abbey Road medley. It’s easy to imagine listening to this tune while peacefully meditating under the sun on a beautiful day. Its soothing instrumentation and harmonies put you into a relaxed state of mind, as…
In My Life – 6 of Cups (Lennon/McCartney) Rubber Soul, 1965 The Beatles took a giant creative leap forward with Rubber Soul. They’d shown steady growth since their very beginning, but here we witness their first album that could be described as serious, refined, and self-consciously artistic. John was beginning to turn inward, using introspection…
Within You Without You – The Hermit (Harrison) Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967 Take a deep breath in and out. For maximum impact, allow the opening notes of this song to slowly wash over you. Sgt. Pepper has a reputation as the most cosmic and philosophical of Beatles albums, and George Harrison’s “Within…
I Want You (She’s So Heavy) – 10 of Wands (Lennon/McCartney) Abbey Road, 1969 The first side of Abbey Road ends with a sudden cut, from overwhelming noise to silence. At nearly eight minutes in length and only 13 words for lyrics, John’s “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” is one of the Beatles’ most…
I Am the Walrus – The Moon (Lennon/McCartney) Magical Mystery Tour, 1967 Magical Mystery Tour was the peak of the Beatles’ psychedelic period, and John’s song “I Am the Walrus” in particular is the culmination of this groundbreaking era. It’s a hallucinatory masterpiece. The esoteric lyrics are a cross between Lewis Carroll and Bob Dylan.…