Giorgio, Paolo, Ringo, Giovanni.
In total, the Lennon-McCartney duo composed around 190 official songs. They were the most successful authoring team in history, with over 600 million records sold.
Together, between October 1962 and May 1970, John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote songs for the Beatles, for other artists (from the Rolling Stones to Cilia Black) and there is also unreleased material.
Paul McCartney’s 80th birthday in 80 photos
Unlike most songwriter duets who split their work into music and lyrics, John and Paul shared both parts of the songs. It is true that they have done many songs together and one could talk about almost 50% of each, but in many other compositions there is a clear majority of one. However, they have always shared authorship.
The Beatles and their Medal of Honor awarded by the Queen in 1965.
Of all that material, fans have already figured out which is primarily Paul’s work and which is primarily John’s. Today, with Paul McCartney turning 80, we celebrate his creativity with the Beatles in this playlist that is by definition whimsical and arbitrary. Enjoy and toast.
1.Yesterday
One of his greatest ballads, the most popular and the one with the most versions of other artists. Paul composed it in his girlfriend Jane Asher’s apartment and for several days he was sure to hum one theme from another until he was convinced it was original.
The recording was done with just his voice and a guitar, with none of the other Beatles playing anything. Producer George Martin then added a string quartet. And because it was essentially a recording of Paul and not the group, it didn’t come out as a single in England. However, in the United States, yes.
The cockroaches.
It was first released in August 1965 as part of the album Help!
2. Hey Jude
The longest Beatles song (without considering the “sound collage” of Revolution 9), which despite its 7:11 minutes was the most successful song of 1968 in England and the United States.
It was originally a song composed by Paul for Julian, John’s son, after his parents’ divorce. That’s why he said “Hey, Jules”.
It first came out as the single’s Side B Revolutionin August 1968.
3. Let it be
The main theme of the album of the same name. It was the last single before Paul’s announcement of the group’s separation.
The text came from a dream in which he saw his mother, who died of cancer when Paul was 14. “It was great to see him again,” he said, “and I felt so lucky to have that dream, so I made the song”.
In the first recording, Paul plays the piano and John the bass. George plays the guitar solo and Billy Preston the organ.
It came out in March 1970.
4. All my love
This hit belongs to the second Beatles album, with the Beatlesbut unusually it was not released as a single.
The cockroaches.
According to Paul, it was the first time he had written a song lyrics first. He wrote it into the microphone during the tour and set it to music during the sound check in a theater that had a piano. The original idea was to make country and western music.
It was published in November 1963.
5. I saw her standing there
The first song from the first album. In Argentina it was known by the title translated as I saw her Standing There.
The cockroaches.
Paul conceived the song on his way home. Then he put together the chord structure and searched for the lyrics, not surprisingly thinking of his girlfriend Celia Mortimer, who was 17, just like the title of the song.
It came out in March 1963.
6. Eleanor Rigby
A great example of the Beatles’ more experimental and psychedelic stage, when they weren’t touring and only recorded in the studio.
Paul invented the piano melody. He then played it for the group at John’s house, each of which contributed a verse. In the final recording, no Beatles plays an instrument and there are only two string quartets arranged by George Martin.
The first edition was in the single yellow submarinein August 1966.
7. Penny Lane
The famous theme dedicated to the streets of Liverpool which today is a must for the entire Beatles Tour.
The original idea was to include the theme on the Sgt. Pepper album, but the record company requested a single in advance, so it came out independently of the album.
The cockroaches.
For the recording, Paul looked for a sound in the style of sounds of pets by the Beach Boys. There were a lot of overdubs and the distinctive sound is a piccolo flute that Paul invented after seeing David Mason play it at a Bach concert that aired on the BBC.
It came out on the single strawberry fields foreverin February 1967.
8. Here, there and everywhere
Paul once said it’s one of his favorite subjects. He composed it shortly after listening to it only God knows by the Beach Boys, when they competed creatively from both sides of the Atlantic.
The cockroaches.
The recording was done in just three sessions at Abbey Road, with a lot of work done on vocal arrangements.
It was released in August 1966, on the album Shake.
9. Merlo
Another solo song by Paul within the Beatles, recorded entirely on his own on his guitar.
The inspiration was a bird song in India, although he also admitted that it could be a metaphor for racial problems in the United States in the 1960s.
It belongs to the double disk the cockroaches (better known as “The White Album”), November 1968.
10.The long and winding road
The original version was very bare, but then producer Phil Spector added orchestrations and backing vocals, something Paul never liked, to the point that in 2003 he released the album. Let me be … nakedwithout the Spector aggregates.
It was released as a single in May 1970, a month after the band disbanded.
11. Oh honey
The fourth track of the album road to the abbey It wasn’t a single, but it’s definitely a hit. Paul wanted to record it in a hoarse, rock voice, so he went to the studio very early, right out of bed, to get the sound he had in mind.
John once said that it was undoubtedly a great song, but that maybe he could have sung it better because it was more his style.
It came out in September 1969 and is one of the themes of road to the abbey that no Beatle has ever played live.
12. I will follow the sun
A ballad composed by Paul when he was 16.
The cockroaches.
It was released on the album Beatles for salein December 1964.
13. For anyone
A mix of baroque pop and chamber music, it was composed by Paul during a vacation in Switzerland with his girlfriend Jane Asher, “probably after a fight”.
In the recording, Paul played the harpsichord, piano and bass. John and George did not attend the session. The French horn solo was made by Alan Civil.
It came out in August 1966, in Shake.
14. Go back
The song that originally gave the title to the album which later came out as let it be, and also the title of the series Peter Jackson. Every step in creating the theme has been documented.
The recording was done live on the Abbey Road terrace.
The single was released in April 1969 and reached number one in many countries. As performers were “The Beatles with Billy Preston”.
15.One day in the life
In this case, most of the verses are by John Lennon, but the entire middle section (Woke up, get out of bed … “) is by Paul McCartney.
The cockroaches.
The recording included all kinds of additions and experimentations, from echoed vocals to a huge orchestra.
It was launched in May 1967. It is the latest theme of Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
MFB
Source: Clarin
