During their relatively short tenure as one of the most popular bands of all time, the Beatles released countless chart-topping tracks that ranged from pop to doo-wop to psychedelic to good, ol’ fashioned rock ‘n’ roll. But some of these songs fell by the wayside, either because the public wasn’t quite ready for something that weird or, more often, a different song’s popularity eclipsed the others. Indeed, it’s hard to beat the ubiquity of songs like “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” or “Come Together” or “Hard Day’s Night.”
However, the Fab Four was far more than their hits. We revisit some of the best underrated Beatles tracks that are worth a revisit (or two).
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“She’s Leaving Home”
While we often associate Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band with trippy, jangly psychedelia, the album also has one of the most tender, bittersweet ballads Paul McCartney ever wrote tucked away toward the end of the album’s A-side. “She’s Leaving Home” is a heartstring-tugging song about a girl moving out of her parents’ home in the early hours of the morning. McCartney pairs her perspective with that of the parents with devastating lines like, Daddy, our baby’s gone. Why would she treat us so thoughtlessly? A masterclass in McCartney’s songwriting prowess, the song can be liberating and heartbreaking, depending on which character you relate to.
“I’m Only Sleeping”
An underrated Beatles track that tends to be more popular among guitarists than the average Fab Four fan, “I’m Only Sleeping” was a highly influential track from Revolver that featured the band’s first time reversing guitar parts to create something that feels a bit askew and unsettled. The tongue-in-cheek ode to bed rotting also implements a modulation from the verse’s Eb minor feel to its relative major, Gb major, in the chorus. It’s not the most pop-sensible song they ever wrote, but it’s a fun insight into their future psychedelic dabbling.
“I Call Your Name”
“I Call Your Name” is such an early Beatles throwback that other covers, like the Mamas and the Papas’ classic 1966 version, can sometimes overshadow the original. John Lennon and Paul McCartney (mostly Lennon) wrote the song before the Beatles were an established group in their own right. So, Lennon ended up giving the song to Billy J. Kramer for the Dakotas to perform. But as the old adage goes, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. Unhappy with the Dakotas’ version, the Beatles released their own on their 1964 U.S. album The Beatles’ Second Album.
“Back in the U.S.S.R.”
The Beatles’ eponymous 1968 “White Album” is chock full of hits. From “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” to “Blackbird” to “Helter Skelter” to “Revolution,” all four sides have songs that came to define the band’s decade together. But we’d argue that the A-side opener, “Back in the U.S.S.R.,” is an oft-underrated Beatles track—perhaps because it seems like such an obvious choice. However, we dare you to revisit the track McCartney wrote as a pseudo-parody of the Beach Boys. It’s not just a music history relic. It’s a bop.
“Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight”
Rounding out our list of underrated Beatles tracks is a two-parter: “Golden Slumbers” into “Carry That Weight” from their iconic album Abbey Road. Songs like “Come Together” and “Oh! Darling” can sometimes overshadow the record’s other fantastic offerings, and this back-to-back song pairing is no exception. From the lullaby offerings of “Golden Slumbers” to the more raucous “Carry That Weight,” these songs usher in the end of their 1969 album. (“The End” and “Her Majesty” probably deserve to be on the list, too.)
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