THE BEATLES' ESSENTIAL 200 SONGS. This update: #35-31. More tomorrow.

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.

3 5	THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD Paul was understandably upset when he heard all the overdubbing producer Phil Spector had added behind his back on "The Long And Winding Road". The track features the Beatle on vocals and piano. John is on bass. Paul intended it to be kept simple so that the emotion and lyrics would be the focus. It was a piano ballad until Spector added an orchestra. His composition became part of the 'Let It Be' album. The original version - as envisaged by Paul- wound up on 'Anthology 3'. It's said that the changes made by Spector to this recording was the event that made him aware it was time to quit the group. It was a fitting swansong for the band, reaching #1 in the USA during 1970.
	LET 'EM IN Paul McCartney & Wings 'Wings At the Speed Of Sound' opens with "Let 'Em In", a fun if borderline cheesy track. The 1976 single peaked at #2 in Britain and reached #3 in America. McCartney wrote and produced the song.
3 4	TAXMAN "Taxman" finds a more confident songwriter in George. The stinging lyrics seem almost out of character. George plays lead guitar and handles lead vocal duties. Paul swaps roles on guitar and his playing adds much to the track. John helped George complete the writing of the track. "Taxman" was included on 1966's 'Revolver'. George would continue evolving as a songwriter and his greater contributions to the Beatles songbook were still to come.
	LAST NIGHT Travelling Wilburys "Last Night" is just the sort of song one would expect from a bunch of legendary rockers such as The Traveling Wilburys. The combined experience and musicianship of all of the group's members is at its best on this track. The song was one of the strongest on the band's 1989 debut album.
3 3	ACROSS THE UNIVERSE John's composition "Across The Universe" was offered to a 1969 World Wildlife Fund charity album which featured tracks by the likes of Cliff Richard, Lulu, Cilla Black and The Bee Gees. It's worth noting that the LP includes a song entitled "Wings" by The Hollies. A new version of The Beatles' song was used a year later for the group's 'Let It Be' album.
	ANOTHER DAY Paul McCartney With "Another Day", Paul launched his solo career. He added wife Linda as a co-writer only for legal reasons. This is all his own work. Linda does, however, contribute some of her finest harmony vocals. The 1971 single reached #1 in Australia, #2 in the UK, 4 in Canada and 5 in the USA. It was a Top 10 hit in many parts of Europe too.
3 2	SHE'S A WOMAN Paul wrote almost all of "She's A Woman", with a little help from John. It was cut in between albums in 1964 and used as the flip side for "I Feel Fine". In its own right, the track peaked at #4 in America. Paul is on lead vocals.
	NOBODY TOLD ME John Lennon The 'Double Fantasy' sessions produced enough material that a second album was planned to follow. Lennon's assassination prevented him completing the remaining tracks to his satisfaction. Yoko Ono released the songs the couple had intended for the sequel album under the title 'Milk And Honey' in 1984. "Nobody Told Me" served as its lead single. Lennon penned the track and co-produced it with his wife. The single peaked at #6 and 5 in the UK and US respectively.
3 1	GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE With "Got To Get You Into My Life", The Beatles revealed another dimension of the group's musical and songwriting skills. Paul was inspired by Motown when writing it. He handled lead vocals. George Martin performed organ on the track which also featured John on tambourine. This 1966 song marked a change in that brass was first used by The Beatles. The upbeat track found on 'Revolver' sounds like it came blasting out of the legendary Stax studios and presaged the advent of groups such as Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago.
	ALL THOSE YEARS AGO George Harrison Ringo Starr was to be the recipient of the original concept, but Harrison reworked the track that would become "All Those Years Ago" following the death of John Lennon as a tribute to the his slain bandmate. Keeping the song for himself proved a wise move: the single peaked at #2 on the American chart. It features Starr on drums. Paul and Linda McCartney contribute backing vocals. The song was included on the 1981 album 'Somewhere In England'.