Formed: 1960
How I became a fan
I must say it took me ages to get into them as I felt no compulsion to become a fan of such a mainstream act. It wasn't until I Want To Hold Your Hand and Twist And Shout blew me away in 2002/2003 that I went to the effort of taping '1' off my Dad and listening to it on repeat.
Comments
A predictable choice definitely, but an act do not become the universally-acknowledged greatest band ever without having some qualities to admire! Also now I've purchased all their albums and witnessed Macca's wonder show at Liverpool 08 my opinion of them continues to rise.
Bad points
Few and far between. I suppose they were only as inventive as they were because, if you live in a time when nothing had been done, there's a lot more potential for being original! I also get the feeling they were turning crap at the end but fortunately they split up before jumping the shark. And the post-Beatles stuff is patchy, if that's a relevant criticism, even though the best moments of Wings reached some insane heights.
Ten songs you really should know before you judge this band
Back In The U.S.S.R. (1968)
Assessment
Tunes: 9/10
Final judgement: 9.0/10
The bottom line
Apart from a few misguided souls, everyone loves The Beatles, and so further justification for their inclusion in my top ten is quite unnecessary!
Disbanded: 1970
Drive My Car (1966)
Eleanor Rigby (1966)
Hello, Goodbye (1967)
Hey Jude (1968)
I Want to Hold Your Hand (1963)
Octopus's Garden (1969)
Twist And Shout (1963)
We Can Work It Out (1965)
Yesterday (1965)
Accessibility: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
Diversity: 9/10
Rockability: 9/10
Balladability: 9/10
Consistency (of b-sides): 9/10
Consistency (over career): 9/10
Live show: 6/10 (due to short and weak setlists)
Influence: 10/10
Vocals: 9/10
Interestingness: 9/10
Lyrics: 8/10
Work ethic: 9/10
Image: 9/10
