9. Beatles for Sale (1964)
The fourth album is the last one on which covers would have an outsized role. As on some earlier releases, six of the 14 tracks are covers. This is the strongest collection of covers they did, with two rockabilly numbers from Carl Perkins and another from Chuck Berry. There’s “Words of Love” from Buddy Holly and some pretty decent takes on blues songs “Kansas City” and “Mr. Moonlight.”
But the strength of the album is evident from the very start with John’s anguished duo “No Reply” and “I’m a Loser.” They follow that up with Paul’s infallible melodic sense on “Baby’s in Black.” The album continues balancing John’s darkness (“I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party”) and Paul’s sunniness (“Eight Days a Week”) without ever losing their balance.
In other words, “I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party” boasts a sweet, lovely melody as a backdrop to its depressing attitude, while “Eight Days a Week” has a desperate grandeur that belies its simple message of love. You can see a seesaw beginning with Beatles for Sale that will continue its tip with Help! before finally landing on the other side with … well, that’s coming.
Best Tracks: “No Reply,” “I’ll Follow the Sun,” “Eight Days a Week”
8. Let it Be (1970)
The Beatles labored over their final release for a long time. Most of it was recorded before the penultimate album, but the release was delayed and delayed. They knew it was the last music they would ever put out as the Beatles, and they didn’t seem quite sure about how to handle it. What we eventually get begins with one of the most poignant songs John and Paul ever recorded. Despite John’s snarky intro “in which Doris gets her oats,” “Two of Us” is simply a gorgeous little duet.
The rest of the album kind of ping-pongs around with songs that feel a bit too casual at times, but never fails to satisfy. George’s overwrought “I Me Mine,” and simple slide on “For You Blue,” are not as good as he could do, but they still have their own magic. “One After 909” is almost primitive, and “I've Got a Feeling” is literally a graft of two different songs. And yet, they are great fun. Those were recorded as part of the famous rooftop concert that served as the climax of the Beatles’ final movie – the documentary Let It Be.
Everyone, including Paul, believes that his grandiose “The Long and Winding Road” was overcooked, and trivialities like “Maggie Mae” and “Dig It” add nothing. But John’s gorgeous “The Long and Winding Road,” Paul’s titanic title track, and the final cut from a Beatles album, Paul’s “Get Back,” complete with some chatter from John and Billy Preston’s electric piano, are surefire winners.
Best Tracks: “Two of Us,” “Let It Be,” “Get Back”