1 by The Beatles

Everytime I crank up the volume on this CD, a compilation of number 1 hits by the Beatles, I feel emotionally lifted. Not nostalgic or sentimental since I?m not old enough to have gone crazy over the four-man group, but perhaps more of a lightness of heart that helps me breathe more deeply from my gut. The beat is rhythmic, easy to sing along to, fun rock and pleasantly melodic with guitar strumming and either the harmonies of Paul McCartney and John Lennon, either of them soloing, George Harrison and Ringo Starr in the background.

Twenty-seven songs recorded in London had their uneventful beginning in 1962 with ?Love Me Do,? which only became a number 1 hit two years later for a week in late May 1964 when the boys landed in the U.S. I love the raspy harmonica in this song that pleads for love and acceptance. It?s the only one that has a selfish attitude about it, though, as you will notice, but that is understandable for a band just starting out.

?From Me To You,? recorded in 1963 on Abbey Road again finally made the England crowd sit up and smile benevolently on the Beatles, those good-looking boys with the strange band name. The song stayed at number 1 there for seven weeks, the longest of all but one song on the CD. Go figure! Guess they liked the Da, da, daaa, da, da, dum, dum, dum! better than the poor man?s instrument, the harmonica.

I can hardly go through each of the remaining twenty-five songs organized by the order of their recording, except to give you the titles with the reminder that these songs have the common theme of making a person feel connected to others, of needing others, of love in all its simple beauty. Compare the feeling you get from the George Harrison song ?Something,? which says there?s ?something in the way she moves that attracts me like no other lover? to Boyz II Men?s hit song, written by Babyface, ?I?ll Make Love To You,?. The Beatles? song describes why they love; the Boys II Men song just says that they will prove it.

?She Loves You,? ?I Want To Hold Your Hand,? ?Can?t Buy Me Love (they?re singing my song!),? ?A Hard Day?s Night,? ?I Feel Fine (okay, that?s joy coming out),? ?Eight Days A Week,? ?Ticket To Ride,? ?Help! (I need somebody!),? ?Yesterday,? ?Day Tripper,? ?We Can Work It Out,? ?Paperback Writer (perhaps written in jest?).?

?Yellow Submarine,? ?Eleanor Rigby (all the lonely people, where do they all belong?,? ?Penny Lane,? ?All You Need Is Love,? ?Hello, Goodbye (also at #1 in England for seven weeks, go figure!).

?Lady Madonna,? ?Hey Jude (nine weeks at #1 in the U.S!),? ?Get Back,? ?The Ballad of John and Yoko,? ?Something,? ?Come Together,? ?Let It Be (my all-time favorite song, introduced me to the Beatles),? and ?The Long and Winding Road,? recorded in 1969 in London, Paul telling us how his heart waits for his love to return to him.

Final Commentary

I know the radio plays the Beatles quite a lot. My classic rock station in Lincoln, Nebraska (the Eagle) plays ?Let It Be? pretty often and just a half hour ago rocked with ?Come Together,? but I propose that listening to one or two Beatles songs willy nilly from the radio or even from an old album will not give you the same sense of aliveness and compassion that their digitally remastered CD "1" of twenty-seven songs will. You have to realize that the mid to late sixties were a turbulent time, a nervous time in the States, and when they came out with consistently top-notch efforts that celebrated life and the promise of love, this allowed our world to stop and smile...and even boisterously sing along.

The CD, with the music and pictures of Beatles' album covers around the world in the insert, marks a slice of history that still fortunately lingers with us today. The Beatles gave the world more than compelling rock tunes led by electric guitars, but a longing for solidarity, love and the wisdom to make the world a better place. Though some were only rated number one in the U.K., I think it?s a CD for a person of any age or background to appreciate and one that I never tire of hearing. The lyrics, mostly by Lennon and McCartney, grow progressively more interesting, sometimes soulful, sometimes witty, always original.

Let me wrap this up with an example of what I?m talking about. I probably love the song so much because the intro and beginning verse has a strong electric piano melody that goes right to my soul, as if it?s just Paul singing and playing to me.

Let It Be, words by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, 1969

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me,
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken-hearted people living in the world of grief,
There will be an answer, let it be.
But though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see,
There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. Yeah there will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

(Guitar, more let it be?s)

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light that shines on me,
Shine on ?til tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me,
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be-ee!