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The Beatles would never be considered “underrated” under any circumstances. They were the biggest band of the 20th century, and their legacy is still felt today. In fact, their releases in the 1960s continue to make fans out of young listeners. That being said, the band has released a few songs that are underrated when compared to their major chart-toppers. Just as well, some of their songs could be described as overrated, too. And both those things can be true when talking about the band’s psychedelic era in the mid-to-late 1960s. Let’s look at two underrated psychedelic gems and one somewhat overrated tune from the Fab Four, shall we?

3 New Wave Hits From 1981 That Every 80s Kid Can’t Stop Singing

Underrated: “Baby, You’re A Rich Man”

This jam was the B-side of “All You Need Is Love” in 1967. Apparently, the song was originally supposed to be part of the Yellow Submarine film but was instead released as a single. Everybody knows “All You Need Is Love”, but I feel like few know “Baby, You’re A Rich Man” quite as well. That’s a shame, because this is a genuinely fun psychedelic pop tune, born out of a true col details

Sir Paul McCartney says The Beatles "liked" seeing men in the crowd studying their musicianship.

The 83-year-old Hey Jude hitmaker has recalled the Fab Four's first trip to America, and the difference between the demographics in the audiences they were playing to.

Over the weekend, Sir Paul played a couple of intimate shows at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, and he took the time to reflect on his early experiences in the US.

As reported by PEOPLE magazine, he told the fans: “We hadn’t really seen much, and we certainly hadn’t seen America, so it was pretty amazing.

“What we used to notice was that all the guys in the audience were looking at the chords you were playing, and they’d study it… and we kind of liked that. And all the girls weren’t.”

The fans started screaming at the reference to Beatlemania, and Sir Paul was happy to encourage it.

He quipped: "Yeah, the girls were screaming. Give us a Beatles scream!”

During the show, Sir Paul explained why fans weren't going to hear new single Days We Left Behind or other tracks from his new record The Boys of Dungeon Lane at the small gigs.

He explained that he details

On a weekend when millions of Americans took to the streets to say no to “kings,” an intimate, star-studded crowd in Hollywood showed up in support of a “Sir.”

Stevie Nicks, Taylor Swift, Margot Robbie, Billie Eilish and Ringo Starr were among those who gathered to hear Paul McCartney play the second of two shows at the historic Fonda Theatre on Saturday night.

Playing a set heavy with Beatles and Wings classics, McCartney largely avoided politics aside from poking fun at President Donald Trump’s dance moves — a moment that earned the mention of the president’s name boos from the crowd, who had surrendered their phones before the show.

For those who scored highly coveted tickets to the show at the cozy 1,200-person capacity theater, the music was a much-needed escape and salve.

“I just feel like art and community and any sort of gathering around something that’s going to uplift us or bring us closer to each other in our city, that’s the antidote to troubled times,” Derek Heath, a 39-year-old graphic designer, told CNN before the show. “I think that inherently this experience fits within the world of fighting back against tyra details

Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood has said playing photographer Pattie Boyd in a Beatles biopic feels “quite intimidating”.

The actress, also known for playing Chelsea in the third series of The White Lotus, will portray George Harrison’s former wife in the upcoming films from Sir Sam Mendes, about the lives and careers of the Fab Four.

Filming has already begun with Wood yet to have her anticipated first “proper day” on set.

Speaking about taking on the role, Wood told The Standard: “With this one, everyone knows these people so it’s very different, and it’s quite intimidating.

“I’ve gone and done my fittings with my blonde hair and my blue eyes. I’m really stepping into a different person.

“We look like them… so it’s kind of trippy.” The 32-year old admitted the preparation for the role will be different from how she usually takes on characters and will require a level of “discipline”.

She added: “I can sometimes be like, ‘let’s just see how it goes, and throw paint at the wall and see’, which is great for certain things, but I actually can’t details

The Beatles left an impact on pop culture at large that long outlasted their actual time playing together. And it wasn’t just the fans who felt it. Other musicians couldn’t help but go back to the Fab Four for inspiration. In some cases, these artists even slyly referenced the group in their songs without technically mentioning them. Here are three songs where The Beatles low-key pop up within the lyrics.

The Monkees had to deal with Beatles comparisons more than any other artist. After all, they were molded by their creators in the image of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Hence, their nickname of the “Prefab Four.” You might think that would have bred some resentment in them towards the Liverpudlians. In actuality, they got along just fine with The Beatles by all accounts. In fact, Mickey Dolenz recounted a meeting with the group on the song “Randy Scouse Git”, the closing track on the Monkees’ 1967 album Headquarters. The song actually feels like what you would expect from a Beatles’ album cut, a little bit silly and somewhat experimental. In the lyrics, Dolenz mentions that “The four kings of EMI are sitting stately on the floor.” He apparently had attended a details

Paul McCartney is back with his first new album since the end of 2020, and a new single that honors late former bandmate John Lennon.

The Beatles icon and former Wings frontman, 84, announced Thursday that on May 29 he’ll release “The Boys of Dungeon Lane,” which a press release dubs his “most introspective album to date.”

“The album title, comes from a lyric in the track ‘Days We Left Behind,’” he said of the single and an excerpt of its music video, released along with the news. “I was thinking just that, about the days I left behind and I do often wonder if I’m just writing about the past but then I think how can you write about anything else?”

“The Boys of Dungeon Lane” offers “rare and revealing glimpses into memories never-before shared along with some newly inspired love songs,” according to the press release.

The 19-time Grammy winner and 83-time nominee described the track as being “very much a memory song for me,” weaving in “a lot of memories of Liverpool,” including a “bit in the middle about John and … the street I used to live in.”

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Lou Gramm is proud of his songwriting as a solo performer. His 1987 solo hit "Midnight Blue" was a major success; it hit No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. And this year, he offers fans more great songwriting, with a solo album aptly titled Released. But it’s hard to top his work in Foreigner. Being the primary lyricist for Foreigner, his songwriter collaborations with guitarist Mick Jones produced classic rock staples like "Cold as Ice," "Hot Blooded," "Juke Box Hero" and "Urgent."

And as a lyricist, Lou Gramm cites The Beatles as the guiding light to writing catchy yet meaningful lyrics. In fact, there was one Beatles album that set him on his path as a songwriter. “I like Rubber Soul a lot for the melodies,” Gramm says simply, “and the way the lyrics fit the rhythm of the song.”

And it was a particular moment that ignited the flame in him. "It hit me seeing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show," says the singer, "when I was 10 or 11 years old. Hearing those awesome songs just slightly over the screaming crowd and thinking about, I wonder how that would be? Although the screaming made it very exciting, the songs themselves were the part that I loved."

One of Gramm's favorite m details

Has there ever been a rock record more lush than The Beatles’ 1967 LP Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band? Putting the work on your vinyl record player feels as much like walking into a jungle of sound as it does listening to a recorded bit of music.

Combing through an album like that can be one of the most fun things to do, but whittling it down to its top three songs—now that’s a difficult task. But it’s one we here at American Songwriter took on! These are the three best songs from The Beatles’ 1967 LP Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

“With A Little Help From My Friends” (Track 2, 2:42)

Just about every album from The Beatles includes a song where drummer Ringo Starr sings. It provides an almost cartoonish respite as you meander through the modern art museum that is the rest of the album. But to pigeon hole Starr as some silly performer is way too shallow. He is your avatar in the band. To think you might have John Lennon’s, Paul McCartney’s, or George Harrison’s talent is absurd. But Ringo? He is you. So, be kind.

“Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” (Track 3, 3:28)

Only The Beatles can follow details

Sometimes a single side-by-side comparison can say more than a full timeline. That’s exactly what happened when two photos of John Lennon taken just one year apart started circulating online.

In a post on Reddit, fans pointed out how dramatically his appearance changed between 1966 and 1967—sparking a wider conversation about how quickly things were evolving during that era.  A Visual Shift That Feels Bigger Than One Year

At first glance, the difference between the two photos is striking. In one, Lennon appears polished and aligned with the clean-cut image associated with early Beatlemania. In the other, the look is noticeably more relaxed and experimental.

While it’s technically just a one-year gap, the contrast feels much larger. It captures a moment when not just his style, but the entire direction of the band, was beginning to shift.That’s what makes the comparison feel so significant.

Source: aol.com/Vinyl & Velvet

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Love triangles go along with Rock 'N' Roll. There have been many tangled romances throughout music history, and they often fuel emotions that create classic songs. But one famous love triangle was named the "messiest musician love triangle that rocked the music world."

According to Ranker, the #1 spot belongs to the love triangle among music legends Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and Pattie Boyd. "George Harrison, like the other members of the Beatles, was no stranger to romantic drama, much of which centered on his wife, Pattie Boyd, and his good friend and collaborator, Eric Clapton," Ranker wrote. The good news is that the twisted love story produced at least three iconic songs.

But what exactly went down?  Pattie Boyd Met George Harrison on a Film Shoot & He Proposed to Her Immediately.

People described Boyd as "the iconic fashion model whose style and beauty helped define an era." According to the magazine, she was married to both Harrison and Clapton; Harrison wrote "Something" with her in mind, and Clapton wrote both Layla and Wonderful Tonight about Boyd.

She told her side in a book of photos. According to People, she met Beatle Harrison on a film set, and he proposed to her details

The Beatles released a lot of music over the course of their career, and there’s no doubt some songs are better than others. So, which Beatles songs are the best?

Of course, the answer to that is subjective, but Collider has some thoughts, and it just came out with its choices for the 10 most “perfect” Beatles tunes, noting songs were chosen based on “songwriting, musical construction, overall influence, and the song's impact on the band's musical evolution.”

Topping the list is the 1968 classic "Hey Jude," which Paul McCartney wrote for Julian Lennon after John Lennon left his first wife, Cynthia Lennon.

"Whether it's tears of triumph or pain, 'Hey Jude" is a song meant to make you feel something," the mag writes. "It's what music is all about, after all."

Coming in at #2 is 1969’s "Come Together," followed by 1970’s "Let It Be" at #3, 1968’s "Blackbird" at #4 and 1964’s "A Hard Day’s Night" at #5.

Rounding out the top 10 are: "In My Life," "All You Need Is Love," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Yesterday" and "I Want To Hold Your Hand."

Source: yahoo.com/Jill Lances

The Beatles’ songwriting partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney worked in several different ways. In the early days, they did indeed write some songs together in a room, line by line. Later, one would often bring a song more or less complete. The other then suggested changes.

On a few occasions, the two men were working on separate songs. And they combined these separate creations into a magnificent whole. Here are three hybrids delivered by Lennon and McCartney for The Beatles.  “A Day In The Life”

Many people consider “A Day In The Life” to be the pinnacle of the Lennon/McCartney songwriting partnership and the finest Beatles song ever. That such an achievement came from two unique songs sort of crammed together is a marvel in itself. John Lennon created the ethereal main part, based in part on his struggles to find much meaning in anything that daily life could offer him. Needing something to connect the sections of Lennon’s song, Paul McCartney suggested a number with a jumpy rhythm that he was concocting. McCartney’s lyrics touched on the hassles of the typical morning routine. Give credit to George Martin for helping the two songs not only seamless details

The Beatles legend, Sir Paul McCartney has shared that he mended his friendship with John Lennon, and their shared love of baking served as the catalyst to their friendship.

The pair's relationship became frosty around the time of The Beatles split in 1970 but Paul has now opened up about how the childhood friends grew close again in the years after the break-up, reports ‘Female First UK’.

Speaking in Audible's new Words + Music series The Man on the Run, Paul explained the pair started talking about fatherhood after John welcomed son Sean in 1975 and they went on to bond over bread.

He said, "Eventually we were actually able to talk to each other instead of (arguing). It was more chatting about what we were doing. John had Sean so he was now the father of a young baby so we would talk about kids and domestic things. I had started making bread and was getting pretty good you know and I started talking to him and he was like, 'Oh yeah I'm making bread'”.

“So the things we had in common were just the ordinary little domestic things. Somehow that was peaceful. It was nice that we had that in common. And we weren’t fighting anymore. So I would go and visit him and we had details

There was always a sense of friendly competition between Paul McCartney and John Lennon. The former songwriting partners always compared their writing, and their individual solo careers only exacerbated that. Once the pair parted ways, they penned songs about one another—some of which were pretty nasty. But, underneath any jealousy-induced squabbles was a deep-seated respect. That respect eventually allowed them to become friends again shortly before Lennon was murdered in New York.

That respect also reared its head after Lennon heard one particular McCartney solo effort. It was so good that, apparently, Lennon decided he needed to get into the studio after hearing it. Find out which McCartney song made his former partner want to start writing again below.

McCartney got a little weird on his 1980 solo track, “Coming Up.” This song saw the former Beatle use pitched-up vocals and an era-defining musicality. It marked a departure from the sound many expected from McCartney and went on to impress even the toughest of crowds: Lennon.

Source: americansongwriter.com/Alex Hopper

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Paul McCartney’s new album will be called The Boys Of Dungeon Lane, according to his brother Mike McCartney.

In a grammatically loose post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) Mike said “Josh saw this teaser for r kids new album ‘The Boys of Dungeon Lane’ in Liverpool yestas. It was familiar to him as he had designed the Dungeon Lane(Speke) artwork for his Uncle”

Josh is Mike’s son, Paul’s nephew and “r kid” is an abbreviation of ‘Our Kid’ which is of course an affectionate term for a sibling, particularly a brother, in Liverpool. Dungeon Lane is a road in Speke, a suburb of Liverpool near what is now Liverpool John Lennon Airport, about a 15 minute drive from Paul’s old house in Forthlin Road. The postcode area is L24

A website has also been set up, with the URL theboysofdungeonlane.com which currently displays the artwork.

The title suggests Paul’s new album, at least in part, will have a nostalgic element to it, perhaps with references to The Beatles in their early days (‘Early Days’ was actually a song on 2013’s New). With Paul turning 84 on his next birthday (in June) it is hardly surprising details

Even as his early creative peak, George Harrison would typically be given two slots to fill on Beatles albums. That tends to happen when your bandmates are named John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

The Beatles split in 1970 and Harrison quite understandably began his solo career with a backlog of great songs. He came roaring onto the charts: Every single Harrison issued over the first five years of his solo career reached the Billboard Top 40 – and two of them hit No. 1.

He'd add four more Top 40 hits, including another No. 1 hit, before taking a break from music in the early-'80s. Then, as before, Harrison returned with a clutch of great songs in the early '00s. How George Harrison Staged a Remarkable Comeback.

Harrison would score the most recent solo Beatles U.S. No. 1 song during a period of late-'80s rebirth. He almost cracked the Top 20 twice with two other singles in this same era – and then was halted just outside the U.K. Top 40 with 1990's "Nobody's Child" with the Traveling Wilburys.

There were some strange anomalies, too. Harrison scored a hit in his native U.K. with the Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care," but the single only reached No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100. T details

The Beatles' Legendary Hit Song Held the No. 1 Spot on the Billboard Charts for 9 Straight Weeks.

In a conversation about the biggest Beatles' song of all time, a lot of timeless tracks may come to mind. The legendary band boasts a rich discography, many of which weren't just critically praised but were also commercially successful. That includes songs like "Let It Be," "Can't Buy Me Love," "She Loves You," "Hello Goodbye," "Yesterday," "Twist and Shout," and many more. But history has kept its record. And the one song that became one of the biggest hits of their career is none other than "Hey Jude" — a non-album single released in 1968.

Written by Paul McCartney and credited under the Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership, "Hey Jude" became the longest-running number-one single by a rock act of the 1960s on the US Billboard Hot 100 — an impressive achievement for any artist in the decade. It was also the band's longest-running number-one single ever, having spent a total of nine weeks on the chart. It surpassed the record made by "I Want To Hold Your Hand" (another successful track from the band), which spent seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Hey Jude" was also a number-one details

As arguably the most important rock and pop band in music history, The Beatles (and their individual members) have understandably been the subject of several documentaries over the decades, from contemporary accounts at the height of their fame in the late 60s, to recent biographies and retrospectives by some of the movie world’s most acclaimed filmmakers. Some have taken deeper dives than others into the lives, history, and music of the Fab Four, with varying results overall—both critically and commercially, and among reviewers, musicians, filmmakers, and fans alike. Ten of the band’s most interesting and worthwhile documentary features are listed here, ranked by critical and commercial performance, and their place in both the band’s canon and cinema history.

All Together Now (2008)
Meeting the Beatles in India (2020)
Imagine: John Lennon (1988)
The Beatles Revolution (2000)
Let It Be (1970)
The Compleat Beatles (1982)
The Beatles: Get Back (2021)
The Beatles Anthology (1995)
Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years (2016)
Beatles ’64 (2013)

All Together Now (2008)

In the early 2000s, George Harrison and his friend Guy Lalib details

Right up until near the end, when things got a little dicey, The Beatles mostly projected an air of harmony to the public. Only after the breakup did we find out that there were occasionally severe arguments. But they kept these mostly hidden from the public.

One of those dustups concerned the first song they released after the death of manager Brian Epstein in 1967. And it came down to which of the Lennon/McCartney songwriting pair was going to get the A-side.
Goodbye, Brian

For most of 1967, The Beatles rode an incredible wave that carried them to heights that few artists have ever experienced. Before the summer was over, they had delivered a spellbinding two-sided single (“Strawberry Fields Forever”/”Penny Lane”), a masterpiece album (Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band), and an acclaimed worldwide performance of a song (“All You Need Is Love”) perfectly timed for the occasion.

But then fate intervened to put the brakes on the nonstop good vibes. Brian Epstein, the manager who brought the band from obscurity to the pinnacle of stardom, was found dead in his London home on August 27, 1967.

Source: americansongwriter.com

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Neil Aspinall’s name is not one commonly heard when talking about the purported “fifth” Beatles that were close to the Fab Four. Many consider the band’s manager, Brian Epstein, to be a fifth Beatle. Others consider producer George Martin and collaborator Billy Preston to be fifth Beatles.

However, Aspinall played an important role in The Beatles’ rise to fame and subsequent management of their legacy after they disbanded in 1970. And Aspinall passed away on this day, March 24, 2008, at the age of 66. Let’s look back at the legacy of one of the movers and shakers who helped make The Beatles the biggest band of the 20th century. Remembering Neil Aspinall’s Work in the Wake of The Beatles’ Breakup.

Neil Aspinall was born on October 13, 1941, in Prestatyn, Wales. Shortly after the early iteration of The Beatles formed, Aspinall formed a friendship with original Beatle Pete Best. Once the band started to get more successful, traveling by bus to gigs was no longer doable.

So, they contracted the help of Aspinall and hired him as a part-time road manager. He would drive a grey Commer van and take the band around town from gig to gig.

Aspinall was the details

Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy were in a world of their own as they enjoyed a romantic beach day in St. Barts on Sunday.

The musician, 83, and his wife, 66, who are regular visitors to the Caribbean island, enjoyed a passionate kiss during a dip in the ocean.

Nancy couldn't keep her hands off her Beatles legend husband, pulling him in for hugs as they cooled down with a swim. The American businesswoman was well protected from the sun in a brown, long-sleeve swimsuit teamed with a wide-brimmed sun hat and shades.

Sir Paul donned a navy swim top and patterned shorts, beaming as he enjoyed the beach day with his wife of 15 years. Paul and Nancy got married in 2011 after meeting in 2007 and both have children from previous relationships.

Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy were in a world of their own as they enjoyed a romantic beach day in St. Barts on Sunday. The musician, 83, and his wife, 66, who are regular visitors to the Caribbean island, enjoyed a passionate kiss during a dip in the ocean.

Source: dailymail.co.uk/Joanna Crawley

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Paul McCartney has once again reflected on the breakup of The Beatles, one of the most analyzed episodes in music history. In an interview with Vanity Fair, the British artist acknowledged that John Lennon's decision to leave the group was "a great shock, very traumatic, a drama", marking a point of no return for the band.

Although Yoko Ono has been blamed for the breakup over the years, McCartney now qualifies his view. "When John met Yoko, that was the end of the Beatles," he admits, but adds that over time he has come to understand that relationship better: "In time it's easier to accept that they fitted in very well." According to him, the connection between the two went beyond the personal and responded to an artistic affinity: "She fitted completely with that experimental thing."
Paul McCartney on The Beatles' breakup: "I have absolutely nothing against it". The musician recalls how the meeting between Lennon and Ono took place at the Indica Gallery in creative 1960s London: "That's how John met Yoko... He went to see her. They met." Nevertheless, he acknowledges that her presence altered the internal dynamics of the group. "It was disturbing because it would separate the Beatles," he says, recalling mom details

While the Beatles were certainly no strangers to alcohol, it appears that their backstage beverage of choice may not have had any booze in it. In a 1965 story for Playboy, journalist Jean Shepherd joined the Beatles for a stretch of shows in the UK, and often spent time with them in the dressing room. Every stop felt the same, he wrote, with the dressing rooms themselves having the same food items at every stop, including trays of French fries, steak, and pots of tea.

The lads were often seen enjoying a cuppa, so much so that there's even a zine, The Teatles, dedicated to compiling photos of them with tea. Comedian and Beatles historian Martin Lewis also found that tea just so happened to be the drink the Beatles mentioned the most in their lyrics. In fact, according to Lewis's study, the band wrote a total of five songs referencing tea in a span of just three months.

It makes a lot of sense that the Beatles would drink so much of it — they were as British as you could get, and tea is an integral part of their culture. While it isn't clear what specific tea they kept in their dressing rooms, odds are it was a type of black tea, since 71% of Brits prefer it over herbal or green teas (via World Tea News). Dr details

While Anna Sawai has been busy conquering TV and film, the Emmy-winning “Shōgun” star first got her start in show business as a member of the J-pop band FAKY. Now, Sawai is going back to her musical roots in the role of Yoko Ono in Sam Mendes’ forthcoming “Beatles” biopics.

“It was my dream to tell her story and I didn’t think it would come this quick,” Sawai told Variety at the Los Angeles premiere of Apple TV’s “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” Season 2 on Thursday night. “There’s a version of her I feel people still don’t understand. And in this film, I think we’re going to be able to tell that side of the story.”

To prepare, Sawai has been busy reading everything she can about the artist and musician. “So much reading, oh my gosh,” she said. “So many books, so many videos, so many articles…She has so much artwork that also shows her personality.”

While on set in London, Sawai teases it’s been fun to hear the cast — Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr — play the iconic ba details

The Irish actor opened up about the effect of the harsh comments.  Barry Keoghan has said he ‘doesn’t want to go outside’ after remarks about his looks. The Irish actor, who will play Ringo Starr in the upcoming Beatles' biopic, has been faced with harsh comments about his looks over the past couple of years.

Keoghan has opened up about the harmful effects such comments has had on him personally, admitting it has made him 'shy away'. Keoghan firstly acknowledged the 'good side' of fame, highlighting his 'incredible fanbase', however he added that 'there is also a nasty side of it'.  He said he has received 'a lot of abuse' over his looks and tried to remove himself from online.

"I think I removed myself from online, but I'm still a curious human being that wants to go on and, if I attend an event or if I go somewhere, you want to see how it was received. And it's not nice," he said. The Saltburn star continued: "There's a lot of hate online. It's a lot of abuse of how I look.

"It's made me really go inside myself, not want to attend places, not want to go outside. "And I say this being absolute pure and honest to you. It's becoming a problem."In 2 details