Hegarty and Elliott Talk The Fab Four

1:07 PM GMT 29/05/2006

Antony: "I like All You Need is Love. Leigh Bowery used to use that as the soundtrack to his infamous birth piece which was filmed for the drag epic film Wigstock [Said piece involved Leigh expelling his assistant, Nicola, apparently from his bottom - Performance Art Ed]. When he was in hospital dying of AIDS in the autumn of 2004 I was asked to overdub his voice on the footage of his performance because the producers couldn't get clearance to use the track from Michael Jackson or whoever it was that owned the copyright. So there I was trying to fill those massive clogs of Leigh's as he lay in the hospital. I suggested that we change the lyrics to "love is soylent green" to throw off the copyright controllers, but the producers felt that was too risqué, although I am sure Leigh would have loved it, and the final dubious result was the repulsive Love Stands Tall And Free."

Ramblin' Jack Elliott: "I like Let It Be and Norwegian Wood and Yellow Submarine, I'm nuts about that song... I knew Ringo way back. But All You Need Is Love is my favourite Beatles song. It expresses a nice thought, doesn't it? There's a lot of people busying themselves with hating, we're on a suicide trip here, the world needs a lot more love, and I think in some way The Beatles gave it.

"I'm a purist and I was never very open to pop music like Frank Sinatra, I never appreciated him at all. I was more into the Carter Family, Roy Acuff and the blues, things of a Southern dialect, country music. When I first heard The Beatles, which was on TV in England earlier in the '60s, they came on with the funny haircuts and I thought they were amusing, but I still wasn't broad-minded at all about pop. However, I was visiting with a British singer friend of mine called Bob Davenport whose renditions of old sailing and fishing songs I admired and he loved them right from the start so...

"In fact, in 1967, when All You Need Is Love came out, The Beatles provided a musical background to a sad time in my life. I was going through a divorce [from first wife June, a not uncolourful character who'd been James Dean's girlfriend and later worked as an assistant to The Rolling Stones - Ed]. We both loved that music and even now it reminds me of when when I was separating from my wife and my first daughter, Maggie, who was only six months old then, and I get a melancholy feeling."

Ramblin' Jack Elliott's latest album, I Stand Alone, is released on June 20.

Posted by MOJO at 1:07 PM GMT 29/05/2006

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Click here for House Rules

My Faves... I'm Down, She's a Woman, Baby You're A Rich Man, of course Strawberry Fields, I Am The Walrus, In My Life, Tomorrow Never Knows...
Etc Etc Etc

Posted by Dave Balcombe at 9:22 AM GMT 30/05/2006 Report Abuse

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My life seemed to slide from juvenility, to adolescence and back again on the soundtrack of my early life, which was invariably a Beatles soundtrack. They appeared large shortly after my seventh birthday, and disappeared shortly before my fifteenth, and provided a great foil to that which was 'school'. Highlights for me? The visual stuff was always enthralling; I just liked to be able to see 'em doing what they did best. I can't differentiate between whether or not 'Please Please Me' or 'Sgt. Pepper' was the better album. To me the whole thing was just that; a whole thing. Although it was wonderful to see them in their 'working' environment at long last with the release of the 'Let It Be' movie, it was no more than a graffiti epithaph for a musical phenomina which was and still is ultimately and absolutely immeasurable.

Posted by Mark McKendrick at 1:18 PM GMT 30/05/2006 Report Abuse

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Of all the charts MOJO had to attempt to compile, this is definitely one of the ultra-impossible. Like any group, The Beatles have had some bad tracks, but the good ones were masterpieces. It's a difficult thing, trying to figure out how the band got from 'Please Please Me' to 'Rubber Soul'; as soon as 'Drive my Car' opens up we are introduced to an entirely different band alrogether. And then we get the colossal piece that is Revolver. For me, this album is the essence of music, it's the one thing that manages to define what it is and, in my opinion, it's The Beatles' greatest achievement.
I think the chart, however impossible it may have been, is quite reasonable. I can't say im surprised 'A Day in the Life' came in at No.1, but there are some fantastic songs missing here!

Where are 'This Boy', 'Tell me Why', 'I'll Follow the Sun', 'Eight Days a Week', 'The Word', 'Baby You're a Rich Man', 'She Came in Through the Bathroom Window', 'Two of Us', 'The End'...?
I suppose it's all a matter of opinion really, isn't it? Great article though!

Posted by Edie Hyde at 5:34 PM GMT 30/05/2006 Report Abuse

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My favourite Beatles song is Yesterday. I also love I Saw Her Standing There. Paul McCartney has always been my favourite Beatle. Being a musician myself and a regular performer at Liverpool's famous Cavern Club, I feel The Beatles music to be a great inspiration to me.

All the best, Tony Murtagh.

Posted by Tony Murtagh at 8:15 PM GMT 30/05/2006 Report Abuse

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My favourite Beatle song is... Hello Goodbye! I don't believe that many people would agree with me on that, but it's something that I can't really explain. The way this song is constructed (plus violin, for christ's sake!) makes it so timeless for me.

When it gets to ballads The Long And Winding Road is essential poetry and when it gets to rockers I Want You (She's So Heavy) would do the trick. I also have great admiration for the medley parts of Abbey Road (which is my fav album) especially Golden Slumbers/ Carry That Weight/ The End.

Posted by Kostas K at 11:32 AM GMT 31/05/2006 Report Abuse

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For 26 of my 35 years The Beatles have provided the musical framework of my life. For 26 years I've been asked what my favourite Beatles songs are...it doesn't get any easier! Let's see...this week it's You Never Give Me Your Money, Little Child, Baby You're A Rich Man, You Won't See Me, Don't Pass Me By, Ask Me Why, and on and on...their catalogue never fails to sound fresh.

Posted by Kevin Skory at 10:42 PM GMT 01/06/2006 Report Abuse

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The Beatles turned me onto rock music in 1963 when aged 11, I first heard their version of the Isleys' "Twist and Shout" . Their music along that of Dylan, The Stones, The Who etc was the soundtrack of my youth. The flame still burns.
Occassionally shed a tear when I see old footage of the band.
My fave Fab Four tracks are "Strawberry Fields Forever" "Rain" "Paperback Writer" "Day in the Life" and "Norwegian Wood", but frankly I love them all.

Posted by Noel Mallia at 11:22 AM GMT 02/06/2006 Report Abuse

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What a body of music! To pick just one song seems almost ludicrous. I'd rather mention these:
Oh Darlin
Rocky Raccoon
Blackbird
In My Life
Let It Be
Savoy Truffle

You know, like that.

Posted by Scott at 10:21 PM GMT 02/06/2006 Report Abuse

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I really like their Indian-inspired songs. It's amazing how my own phases are reflected in different Beatles styles, and I'm in the same place they seemed to be in when they wrote "Love to You."

Posted by Courtney at 12:18 AM GMT 03/06/2006 Report Abuse

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Well, it's taken me almost 45 minutes to decide...it has to be Hey Jude..my all time favourite from my dearest band

Posted by stellitsa at 3:35 AM GMT 03/06/2006 Report Abuse

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1-2-3-4 or whatever. "I Saw Her Standing There" was the first Beatle music I heard on the radio. That song takes me back to my youth, when life was so carefree. Its upbeat tempo exploded with joy and, as I would realize later, Beatle talent and versatility.

Posted by Art at 1:32 AM GMT 04/06/2006 Report Abuse

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To choose a favorite among the Beatles songs isn't a simple task. But, definetely, "Rubber Soul" is the album, while "In my life" is the song. Why? It's part of my life, something like my best recollections from a special period. Glad to live the best of my life in those days.

Posted by José Carlos da Costa at 2:37 AM GMT 04/06/2006 Report Abuse

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No way to pick favorites.., but how about these four from left field, that merely scratch the surface!

And Your Bird Can Sing-John
Things We Said Today-Paul
It's All Too Much-George
Oct. Garden-Ringo

Posted by Fred Lark at 6:10 AM GMT 04/06/2006 Report Abuse

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I was born in ´86, and I am now 19 years old. Already had the Beatles sadly separated, and John shockingly and devastatingly assasinated. I first heard their music with the ´´1´´ album in 2000, which has the band´s 27 songs that went to #1 on the charts. I am a songwriter now because of all those songs, and all of the rest, which I hear for the first time as time passes by. The only Beatles album that I own is ´´Abbey Road,´´ and I think it is the best, but how can I if I haven´t completely heard The White Album, or Sgt. Pepper´s, or Revolver, etc?

As impossible it may seem, my top ten songs:
10. Helter Skelter
9. All You Need Is Love
8. Eleanor Rigby
7. The Long And Winding Road
6. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End
5. Birthday (live version rocks more)
4. A Hard Day´s Night
3. I Want To Hold Your Hand
2. Yesterday
1. Hey Jude

Posted by Andres C. at 6:54 AM GMT 04/06/2006 Report Abuse

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While My Guitar Gently Weeps

beautiful yet simple.. what a couple of guitarists

Posted by R Collins at 9:12 AM GMT 04/06/2006 Report Abuse

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mine (chronological order):
1.there's a place
2.she loves you
3.i'll get you
4.do you want to know a secret
5.p.s. i love you
6.not a second time
7.it won't be long
8.don't bother me
9.all my loving
10.this boy
11.i'll be back
12.you can't do that
13.things we said today
14.and i love her
15.anytime at all
16.if i fell
17.i'm happy just to dance with you
18.i call your name
19.can't buy me love
20.i should have known better
21.no reply
22.i'm a loser
23.baby's in black
24.what you're doing
25.i'll follow the sun
26.i don't want to spoil the party
27.every little thing
28.i feel fine
29.i'm down
30.ticket to ride
31.another girl
32.yesterday
33.i've just seen a face
34.you're going to lose that girl
35.you've got to hide your love away
36.we can work it out
37.day tripper
38.drive my car
39.norweigan wood
40.you won't see me
41.girl
42.michelle
43.the word
44.in my life
45.i'm looking through you
46.paperback writer
47.rain
48.for no one
49.i'm only sleeping
50.here there and everywhere
51.she said she said
52.got to get you into my life
53.and your bird can sing
54.eleanor rigby
55.tomorrow never knows
56.i want to tell you
57.penny lane
58.strawberry field forever
59.with a little help from my friends
60.getting better
61.fixing a hole
62.she's leaving home
63.lucy in the sky with diamonds
64.a day in the life
65.the fool on the hill
66.hello goodbye
67.i am the walrus
68.hello goodbye
69.your mother should know
70.it's all too much
71.lady madonna
72.hey jude
73.i'm so tired
74.blackbird
75.martha my dear
76.happiness is a warm gun
77.while my guitar gently weeps
78.i will
79.sexy sadie
80.don't let me down
81. ...me and my monkey
82.mother nature's son
83.savoy truffle
84.helter skelter
85.the ballad of john and yoko
86.hey bulldog
87.two of us
88.i've got a feeling
89.the long and winding road
90.let it be
91.across the universe
92.get back
93.something
94.you never give me your money
95.golden slumbers/carry that weight/the end
96.oh! darling
97.i want you(she's so heavy)
98.mean mr. mustard/polythene pam/bathroom window
99.taxman
100.dear prudence
101.good day sunshine

Posted by ramon at 12:52 PM GMT 04/06/2006 Report Abuse

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Dont Let Me Down,I Want You(She's So Heavy), Julia, Happiness Is A Warm Gun-Because they are all written or inspired by/for me by John. Birthday, The Continuing Story of Bungallow Bill-Because I sang in these songs. and of course my favorite Beatle song: The Ballad of John and me. And remember, peace! Love, Yoko Ono Lennon

Posted by Yoko Ono at 10:12 PM GMT 04/06/2006 Report Abuse

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I love Let It Be -- a masterpiece of poetry, emotion, and spirituality. It never fails to lift my heart and touch my soul. The song is especially poignant because of its association with the group at the time of their break-up. Paul's heart was truly aching, and he found comfort in writing this song.

There are too many more "top songs" to mention! The Beatles' magic will never be replicated. Thank you John, Paul, George, and Ringo!

Posted by Kathy at 11:52 PM GMT 04/06/2006 Report Abuse

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Got to be Hey Bulldog! Makes me laugh everytime.

Posted by Tim Charleson at 5:52 AM GMT 05/06/2006 Report Abuse

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My own top Beatles 100...

1. Hey Bulldog
2. I’m a Loser
3. A Day In The Life
4. Tomorrow Never Knows
5. Happiness is a warm gun
6. While my guitar gently weeps
7. For You Blue
8. She’s leaving home
9. Blackbird
10. The Fool On the Hill
11. Two Of Us
12. For No One
13. You Won’t See Me
14. Here Comes The Sun
15. Got To Get You in to my life
16. It Won’t Be Long
17. Girl
18. You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away
19. Here, There and Everywhere
20. I’m Only Sleeping
21. Because
22. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
23. The Long and Winding Road
24. And I Love Her
25. Norwegian Wood
26. Something
27. In My Life
28. Strawberry Fields Forever
29. Revolution
30. The Ballad of John and Yoko
31. Lady Madonna
32. Run For You Life
33. Good Morning, Good Morning
34. Taxman
35. Come Together
36. I’m Looking Through You
37. Penny Lane
38. If I needed someone
39. Getting Better
40. Day Tripper
41. I Want To Tell You
42. Hello Goodbye
43. Love To You
44. I Feel Fine
45. Let It Be
46. Paperback Writer
47. Sexy Sadie
48. And Your Bird Can Sing
49. Baby You’re a Rich Man
50. I Should Have Known Better
51. Think For Yourself
52. Helter Skelter
53. Happiness is a Warm Gun
54. All Together Now
55. Money (That’s What I Want)
56. Yesterday
57. Till There Was You
58. When I’m Sixty-Four
59. I’m Only Sleeping
60. Eleanor Rigby
61. Fixing a Hole
62. Ticket To Ride
63. Across The Universe
64. Things We Said Today
65. Eight Days A Week
66. I Am The Walrus
67. Dear Prudence
68. You’re Going To Lose That Girl
69. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
70. Only A Northern Song
71. Michelle
72. Glass Onion
73. Lovely Rita
74. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
75. Help!
76. A Hard Day’s Night
77. Get Back
78. We Can Work It Out
79. Love Me Do
80. Another Girl
81. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey
82. She Said, She Said
83. Don’t Let Me Down
84. Flying
85. Can’t Buy Me Love
86. Hey Jude
87. Magical Mystery Tour
88. Back in the U.S.S.R
89. Old Brown Shoe
90. Please Please Me
91. Drive My Car
92. You've Really Got a Hold on Me
93. Wait
94. All You Need Is Love
95. Free As a Bird
96. Blue Jay Way
97. With a little help from my friends
98. Your Mother Should Know
99. I Me Mine
100. Words of Love

Posted by Nathan Lloyd at 11:09 PM GMT 05/06/2006 Report Abuse

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Rain, Tomorrow Never Knows, I Am The Walrus, Penny Lane and Paperback Writer are my favourite songs, forever !

Posted by francois at 11:39 AM GMT 06/06/2006 Report Abuse

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Here's mine. Better do with just the ten, makes a clearer picture of one's favourites.

1. You Can't Do That
2. Julia
3. I Should Have Known Better
4. Ticket To Ride
5. I Feel Fine
6. Come Together
7. And Your Bird Can Sing
8. A Hard Day's Night
9. She Said, She said
10. I Saw Her Standing There

Posted by DS_Helder at 1:56 PM GMT 06/06/2006 Report Abuse

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How about She's A Woman? Its a great b side (of I Feel Fine)and another example of high register vocals from Paul imitating his hero Little Richard. It would have been a worthy choice for the top 101.

Posted by Gordon Russell at 1:59 PM GMT 06/06/2006 Report Abuse

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Here`s my top twenty list:
1. Back In The USSR
2. Penny Lane
3. Strawberry Fields Forever
4. Here, There And Everywhere
5. Hey Jude
6. Across The Universe
7. If I Fell
8. All My Loving
9. Yesterday
10.Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
11.With A Little Help From My Friends
12.Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
13.We Can Work It Out
14.While My Guitar Gently Weeps
15.For No One
16.I Saw Her Standing There
17.A Hard Day`s Night
18.She Loves You
19.I Want To Hold Your Hand
20.Please Please Me

Posted by Paul at 2:07 PM GMT 06/06/2006 Report Abuse

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Judging the top Beatle songs depends on your criteria, doesn't it? Their greatest compositions you'll find mostly on their later recordings, but I think their greatest performances are often found on their earlier records, when they still played as a band. Here are a few favorite performances:

1. The Night Before
2. Please Please Me
3. I Call Your Name
4. This Boy
5. Long Tall Sally
6. Day Tripper
7. Twist and Shout
8. Bad Boy
9. She's A Woman
10. I'm A Loser
11. Money (especially the live version on Anthology 1)
12. You Can't Do That
13. Ticket to Ride
14. Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby
15. Slow Down

Of the later albums, a few performances give off the same vibe of a great, tight band, such as:

1. Don't Let Me Down
2. For You Blue
3. Lovely Rita
4. Because
5. Taxman
6. Lady Madonna
7. Two of Us
8. I Want You (She's So Heavy)
9. Back in the USSR
10. Revolution (single)

Posted by John Stodder at 7:04 PM GMT 06/06/2006 Report Abuse

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Can't tell you how long this has taken. Should have given up really but it's the Beatles and I so wanted to be involved!

So, top 10, in ascending order (for now):
10)Hello Goodbye
9) Hey Jude
8) In My Life
7) And Your Bird Can Sing
6) Don't Let Me Down
5) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
4) Let It Be
3) Norwiegan Wood
2) A Day in the Life
1) All You Need Is Love

Posted by Lana at 3:02 PM GMT 07/06/2006 Report Abuse

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My favorite song is I Saw Her Standing There.I still feel the same excitement as I did in 1964. Never will tire of hearing that song.Beatles still rule!!!

Posted by Joy at 3:02 AM GMT 08/06/2006 Report Abuse

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My personal faves (at least until tomorrow)

1. A Day In The Life
2. Ticket to Ride
3. Rain
4. Strawberry Fields Forever
5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
6. Helter Skelter
7. I Am The Walrus
8. Come Together
9. Golden Slumbers (Medley)
10. Sgt.Pepper/With A Little Help From My Friends
11. I Feel Fine
12. If I Needed Someone
13. Help!
14. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
15. Chains
16. That Means A Lot (Anthology)
17. Here Comes the Sun
18. Hey Jude
19. It's All Too Much
20. Free As A Bird

Posted by Tony at 3:37 PM GMT 08/06/2006 Report Abuse

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It's a nearly impossible task, to choose "the" best song. But for me it is "Let it be".
I must have heard it a million times, and still sometimes when it comes on, my eyes fill with tears.
Also, sometimes when I'm down, the song cheers me up.
It's simple poetry, a simple melody, and a voice that must be from heaven.
Since Paul doesn't come to Brazil oftenly, I fly on every tour to USA or Europe to attend to his concerts, and "Let it Be" is always a special moment.
Love
Silvio

Posted by Silvio Vartan at 6:00 PM GMT 02/08/2006 Report Abuse

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