About the 1962-1966 Album:
“Assembling a compilation of the Beatles is a difficult task, not only because they had an enormous number of hits, but also because singles didn’t tell the full story; many of their album tracks were as important as the singles, if not more so.” E-R Of course, there’s also the matter that all of the Beatles individual albums are essential enough that once you’ve gathered them up, is there any need for a compilation?
Well, yes. Compilations are targeted at the more casual fan. Of course, when the Beatles released not one, but two double-album compilations on the same day in 1973, it was hard to guess who it was for. A four-album greatest hits is a bit hefty for a casual fan. However, at that time, many of these songs had not been released on any Beatles’ albums, so the two sets were pretty near must haves.
“The double-album 1962-1966, commonly called The Red Album, does…surprisingly well [at] hitting most of the group’s major early hits and adding important album tracks like You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away, Drive My Car, Norwegian Wood, and In My Life. Naturally, there are many great songs missing from the 26-track 1962-1966, and perhaps it would have made more sense to include the Revolver cuts on its companion volume, 1967-1970, yet The Red Album captures the essence of the Beatles’ pre-Sgt. Pepper records.” E-R
- From Me to You (4/18/63, 41 US, 1 UK, 6 CN, 9 AU) 66, 1
- She Loves You (8/29/63, 1 US, 1 UK, 1 CN, 3 AU) 66, 1
- I Want to Hold Your Hand (11/29/63, 1 US, 1 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU, sales: 4 million) 66, 1
- I Feel Fine (12/3/64, 1 US, 1 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU, gold single) 66, 1
- We Can Work It Out (12/9/65, 1 US, 1 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU, gold single) 66, 1
- Day Tripper (12/9/65, 5 US, 1 UK, B-side of “We Can Work It Out”) 66, 1
- Paperback Writer (6/11/66, 1 US, 1 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU, gold single) 66, 1
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967):
Often called the best album of all time, Sgt. Pepper’s wasn’t supported by any singles at the time, although the title cut paired with With a Little Help from My Friends and A Day in the Life as a B-side, was released as a single more than a decade later.
- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band/ [2:02] (9/16/78, 78 US, 63 UK) 70
- /With a Little Help from My Friends [2:44] (9/16/78, 78 US, 63 UK) 70
- Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds [3:28] 70
- A Day in the Life [5:33] (9/16/78, B-side of “Sgt. Pepper’s…/With a Little Help…”) 70
Magical Mystery Tour (1967):
This wasn’t an official album release in the UK. In the U.S., however, the six songs comprising the Magical Mystery Tour EP in the UK were combined with a couple of singles and B-sides to make up an album. The set included three #1 hits in the U.S.: Penny Lane, All You Need Is Love, and Hello, Goodbye. In addition, Strawberry Fields Forever, the B-side of “Penny Lane,” is one of the most celebrated songs in the Beatles’ impressive catalog.
- Strawberry Fields Forever [4:10] (2/23/67, B-side of “Penny Lane,” 8 US, 1 CN, 2 UK) 70
- Penny Lane [3:03] (2/23/67, 1 US, 2 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU, gold single) 70, 1
- All You Need Is Love [3:48] (7/12/67, 1 US, 1 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU, gold single) 70, 1
- Hello, Goodbye [3:31] (11/29/67, 1 US, 1 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU, gold single) 70, 1
- I Am the Walrus [4:37] (11/29/67, B-side of “Hello, Goodbye,” 56 US, 2 UK - EP) 70
- Magical Mystery Tour [2:51] (12/13/67, 2 UK - EP) 70
- The Fool on the Hill [3:00] (12/13/67, 2 UK - EP) 70
The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968):
The Beatles’ self-titled double album wasn’t supported by any singles at the time, but did introduce some radio staples, well-known fare like “Birthday,” “Blackbird,” and “Rocky Raccoon” that are not included on any of the compilations on this page.
- Back in the U.S.S.R. [2:43] (7/10/76, 19 UK) 70
- Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (11/20/76, 49 US, 39 AC, 19 CN, 1 AU) 70
- While My Guitar Gently Weeps 70
Abbey Road (1969):
Come Together and Something was a double-sided single in which both songs hit #1 in different markets. While Here Comes the Sun wasn’t a single, its 3 million radio airplays lift it up amongst some of the Beatles’ best-known songs.
- Come Together [4:20] (10/18/69, 1 US, 4 UK, 25 AR. 2x platinum single) 70, 1
- Something (Harrison) [3:03] (10/18/69, B-side of “Come Together,” 3 US, 17 AC, 4 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU, 2x platinum single) 70, 1
- Here Comes the Sun (Harrison) [3:05] (airplay: 3 million) 70
- Octopus’s Garden (Starr) [2:51] 70
70, 1
Let It Be (1970):
It was the Beatles’ last official album, although it was recorded before Abbey Road. Get Back, Let It Be, and The Long and Winding Road were all #1 hits in the U.S., making for a pretty decent swan song for the most celebrated group in rock and roll history.
- Get Back [3:07] (4/23/69, 1 US, 1 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU, 2x platinum single) 70, 1
- Let It Be [4:03] (3/14/70, 1 US, 1 AC, 2 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU, 2x platinum single) 70, 1
- The Long and Winding Road [3:37] (5/23/70, 1 US, 2 AC, 1 CN, 7 AU, platinum single) 70, 1
- Across the Universe 70
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