Paul McCartney's highwater mark as a composer. John counters with some inspired guitar based numbers and George gives us three solid numbers. (Note: Time has been very kind to this album. When you compare it to other albums of similar vintage you get the feeling it could have been recorded yesterday.)

America was cheated in the 60's. This is the true Rubber Soul. Important also as Brian Wilson's reason for creating Pet Sounds. (Note: After the release of the Capitol boxsets my opinion has changed about the American version slightly. The additions and the subtractions give it a conceptual nuance that makes it quite addictive.)

A little weak in the song department compared to Rubber Soul and Revolver. However Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane were removed because the record company needed a single. (Note: The mono version of Sgt Pepper is a huge improvement. It made me reconsider switching positions positions with the White Album.)

Doesn't hold up to the blitzkrieg created by the first three songs. (Note: and doesn't suffer from it's stereo version being ponied up which is why Please Please Me dropped like a rock)

The acoustic numbers are the best. For all of Paul's whining Phil Spector's greatest harm was done to Across The Universe not The Long And Winding Road. (Note: Let It Be ...Naked be damned. This is still a great album.)

I've always preferred Meet The Beatles. (Note: and I still do. Like Please Please Me they should have used the mono version as the main version. The one saving grace is the stereo mix of Money.)

Note: I included only the Beatles original release albums. Magical Mystery Tour does not qualify. It was an album created by the Beatles American record company (Another note: What I didn't say is that I feel that Magical Mystery Tour is a wonderful listening experience. If somebody twisted my arm I'd probably put it between Sgt Pepper and Help.)