All Together Now: Ranking All The Beatles Songs: So far #204″ “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”, #203:” Mr. Moonlight”, 202:”Wild Honey Pie”, 201: “Chains”, 200:”Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? 199: “Honey Don’t.” 198: “A Taste Of Honey”, #197: “Matchbox”- #196: “Devil In Her Heart” # 195: “Little Child”, #194: “Anna”, #193: “Dig It.” and today #192: Maggie Mae” #191: “Do You Want To Know A Secret.”.”#190:”Flying” 189: ‘Her Majesty.” #188: “Run For Your Life” #187: “Till There Was You.”
#188: “Run For Your Life”- from Rubber Soul. Rubber Soul was a ground breaking album not only for The Beatles but a ground breaking album in making the album format a work of art and not a couple hit singles surrounded by filler. The worst song on “Run For Your Life” is the final song on side two- John Lennon’s “Run For Your Life”- a song which back in 1965 didn’t create a back lash but if it came out in 2021 certainly would- with lyrics like – well the entire song- written by John Lennon. He would later disown the song -he would call it his ‘least favorite Beatles song.” and a song he regretted writing. The line “I’d rather see you dead little girl, than to be with another man” was actually lifted from an old Elvis Sun Sessions song “Baby Let’s Play House.” This wasn’t the case of The Beatles needing another song to complete an album on deadline- this was the first song recorded for the album. George Harrison would say it was one of his favorites from the album.
#187: ‘Till There Was You”- from With The Beatles. Written in 1950- best known from the musical The Music Man- “Till There Was You’ was a much covered song and had been a part of The Beatles concert repertoire for over a year before they recorded it in late 1963 for their second album With The Beatles. This was a song they did to show their versatility – and surprisingly it was one of the five songs they performed on February 9, 1964 on their famous first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. I can take or leave this song- I have always thought it was an example of Paul McCartney’s sugary sweetness.. a little too much sugary.
They didn’t miss much with covers but Till There Was You…while not in the Mr. Moonlight league…was never a favorite of mine.
George’s guitar solo in “Til There Was You” is just beautiful. That might be the song’s only saving grace.
Interesting that you post about “Till There Was You” today, as “The Music Man” aired on TCM last night. It’s my all-time favorite movie musical, thus have always had a soft spot for the Beatles’ cover of the song.
I love George on guitar on the first one. Till There Was You sounds like something from the 50s. I agree with John on the guitar solo.
I had this album on 8-track tape. I haven’t heard these songs in a long time, and I even forgot about “Run for Your Life.” Thanks for posting this blog.