Rolling Stone writer Rob Sheffield has compiled a list of the “100 Best Beatles Solo Songs.”
He says, “Keep in mind: this is NOT a list of their greatest hits. These songs aren’t here because of commercial success, radio airplay, sales or popularity. The only thing that matters is the level of Beatle magic. That means some incredibly famous hits didn’t make the cut…
“The whole point of is list like this is mixing them up as equally as possible, or at least as far as the music demands. So, they’re all fighting for space on this list, just as they always were on Beatles albums. But, all 100 of these songs live up to that Beatles spirit. The dream will never be over.”
Here’s the Top 10 followed by the Top 10 of each member.
- “Maybe I’m Amazed” – Paul
- “God” – John
- “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” – George
- “It Don’t Come Easy” – Ringo
- “Mind Games” – John
- “Band on the Run” – Paul & Wings
- “Isn’t it a Pity” – George
- “Too Many People” – Paul
- “Imagine” – John
- “Pure Smokey” – George
John Lennon’s Top 10 followed by the number of where they appear on the chart:
- “God” - 2
- “Mind Games” – 5
- “Imagine” - 9
- “Oh Yoko” – 11
- “Instant Karma” – 14
- “Jealous Guy” – 17
- “Oh My Love” – 20
- “Working Class Hero” – 22
- “Give Peace a Chance” w/Plastic Ono Band – 26
- “Mother” - 29
Paul McCartney’s Top 10:
- “Maybe I’m Amazed” – 1
- “Band on the Run” – 6
- “Too Many People” – 8
- “Jet” w/Wings - 12
- “Let Me Roll It” w/Wings - 16
- “Here Today” – 19
- “Jenny Wren” – 24
- “Live and Let Die” w/Wings – 28
- “Dominoes” – 31
- “Another Day” – 34
George Harrison’s Top 10:
- “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” – 3
- “Isn’t it a Pity” – 7
- “Pure Smokey” – 10
- “My Sweet Lord” – 13
- “Apple Scruffs” – 18
- “Be Here Now” – 21
- “What Is Life” – 23
- “Blow Away” – 27
- “Handle With Care" w/Traveling Wilburys – 30
- “Wah Wah” (Concert for Bangla Desh version) - 32
Ringo Starr’s Top 10:
- “It Don’t Come Easy” – 4
- “Photograph” – 15
- “Early 1970” – 25
- “You’re Sixteen” - 37
- “Rory and the Hurricanes” – 43
- “I’m the Greatest” – 50
- “Loser’s Lounge” - 60
- “Back Off Boogaloo” – 68
- “Harry’s Song” – 76
- “Lipstick Traces (On a Cigarette)” – 82
Bottom 10:
- 91 – “Awaiting on You All” – George
- 92 – “Listen To What the Man Said” – Paul & Wings
- 93 - “Old Dirt Road” – John
- 94 - “The Day the World Gets ‘Round” – George
- 95 – “(Just Like) Starting Over”
- 96 – “Cut Me Some Slack” - Paul and Nirvana
- 97 – “No No Song”
- 98 – “I’d Have You Anytime” – George
- 99 – “With a Little Luck” – Paul & Wings
- 100 – “How?” - John