THE BEATLES' ESSENTIAL 200 SONGS: #80-76. This countdown continues next week.

The 200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS of

The Beatles

Together & Apart

Two simultaneous countdowns related to the Fab Four. The group’s 100 most essential songs as well as the 100 best recordings from the members’ solo careers. Priority was given to original compositions, but some cover versions demanded inclusion. Songs are ranked in terms of sales, musical impact, influence and sustained quality.

8 0	P.S. I LOVE YOU "P.S. I Love You" was written in Hamburg in 1962. Paul was the main songwriter here. The song was initially an A-side but was later used as the flip side to "Love Me Do". Andy White replaced Ringo on drums. The latter performs maracas on the track.
	EVERY NIGHT Paul McCartney McCartney released his debut solo album in 1970. 'McCartney' was recorded in his home studio. Among the few highlights was the sweet ballad "Every Night". It was later covered brilliantly by Phoebe Snow.
7 9	IF I FELL John composed "If I Fell". It was the precursor to his later ballad  "In My Life". "If I Fell" was included on the band's 'A Hard Day's Night' album.
	SOMEPLACE ELSE George Harrison While Harrison's solo output may often lack McCartney's pop sensibility or Lennon's introspection, there is something inexplicably irresistible about his vocal and guitar style. "Someplace Else" is another gentle and soothing song from his catalogue. The track was featured on 1987's 'Cloud Nine' album.
7 8	GIRL "Girl" is a stunning ballad from 'Rubber Soul'. John wrote the song and its lyrics reveal reflection and maturity. The engineer used John's breathing to add effect.
	NEVER WITHOUT YOU Ringo Starr featuring Eric Clapton "Never Without You" was a track on Starr's 2003 album 'Ringorama'. Critics looked upon the album favourably. "Never Without You" was a tribute to Starr's former bandmate George Harrison who had  passed away in 2001.
7 7	YOU CAN'T DO THAT John's song saw him deliver an energetic lead vocal on "You Can't Do That", from 'A Hard Day's Night'. The recording marks George's first performance playing a 12-string guitar on a Beatles track. The song was the B-side for "Can't Buy Me Love".
	DARK HORSE George Harrison "Dark Horse" is the title track from Harrison's 1974 album. Billy Preston contributed electric piano on the cut. The song reached #15 in the U.S. When Harrison set up his own label, it was named after this song.
7 6	OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA It took hours in the studio for Paul to finally be content with the recording cut by the band of his song "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da". A friend of Paul's frequently used the expression and said it meant "life goes on". While recording the lead vocal, Paul mistakenly sang that "Desmond stays at home and draws a pretty face". It was decided to keep the error in as it was in keeping with the feel of the song. The track often attracts derision and the other 3 Beatles dismissed it as trite; but it is one of the group's catchiest upbeat songs. In 1968, the cut was issued as a single lifted off 'The Beatles' (/ 'The White Album').
	CRIPPLED INSIDE John Lennon  featuring Plastic Ono Band with The Flux Fiddlers Lennon goes country rock on the rollicking "Crippled Inside", a song he wrote and co-produced from his 1971 album 'Imagine'. George Harrison joins in on dobro. Yoko Ono and Phil Spector are also credited as co-producers. The recording is attributed To Lennon as well as The Plastic Ono Band (a group of guest musicians on his and Ono's albums) and The Flux Fiddlers.