If I Needed Someone. Really gets into my very being. Like some songs can.

Quoted from GreenApple

If I Needed Someone gets into my can.

  

Go with that choice. A big leap for our George. That was his Byrds influence I take it.

Yes, and based on the D Chord. George said that, that line, or variations on it are found in many songs and that he was amazed that people still find permutations of the same notes. ( From: A Hard Day's Write)

I did notice straight off this time.  

And another thing about it, it sounds more advanced than the other songs on an album that was a new advance for them. IMO.

I never thought of that but you're probably right (have to listen to make sure). Seems to definately point the way ahead. Well spotted.

I do enjoy Don't Bother Me (it's as good as most of the other stuff from John and Paul included on the album) ...

... and I Need You (an underrated song ... and better than some of the others of the album too)

Quoted from raxo

I do enjoy Don't Bother Me (it's as good as most of the other stuff from John and Paul included on the album) ...

... and I Need You (an underrated song ... and better than some of the others of the album too)

I agree with you for both. But If I Needed Someone was the first, IMO, to display excellence.

Quoted from GreenApple

If I Needed Someone. Really gets into my very being. Like some songs can.

Can't argue with that.

Every time I hear it, emotionally I feel that it's the greatest Beatles song ever. When I think about the Beatles though, I often think that if one is the best it must be A Day In The Life. So, it's a kind of emotional-intellectual conflict. Right now I'm saying If I Needed Someone is the best. I'm not hearing it now. But, I feel like saying that. It's from my all-round favourite Beatle too. I might be changing over to George's song as the best permanently. WMGGW is another George song that reaches parts most songs can't.

I can not fault any of George`s beatle songs from RUBBERSOUL onwards but one of his songs i feel is a masterpiece is ALL THINGS MUST PASS a song i never tire of listening to GEORGE was a remarkable musican.
But to answer the question i would say  TAXMAN a bit obvious i know sorry  

I much prefer the demo version of ATMP. It's got so much feeling to it.

Absolutley, the song in any form is a masterpiece .
Another song that stands out for me DEAR ONE another song with such emotion

Absolutley, the song in any form is a masterpiece .
Another song that stands out for me DEAR ONE another song with such emotion

Absolutley, the song in any form is a masterpiece .
Another song that stands out for me DEAR ONE another song with such emotion

Absolutley, the song in any form is a masterpiece .
Another song that stands out for me DEAR ONE another song with such emotion

Absolutley, the song in any form is a masterpiece .
Another song that stands out for me DEAR ONE another song with such emotion

Absolutley, the song in any form is a masterpiece .
Another song that stands out for me DEAR ONE another song with such emotion

Absolutley, the song in any form is a masterpiece .
Another song that stands out for me DEAR ONE another song with such emotion

"Cry for a Shadow" ain't bad.  And I like "Don't Bother Me."  "If I Needed Someone" is great and so is "Taxman."  "I Want to Tell You" and "Love to You" not quite as good.  

But I'd have to say his most cosmic, first great song is "Within You or Without You"--easily on the level lyrically of anything John wrote (and John liked this song).  And just as great as "Tomorrow Never Knows."  

And I don't think there are any other Beatles on it.

The instrumental track on Anthology is great by itself.  

And I still don't know why those knuckleheads didn't immediately record and release "All Things Must Pass" when crap like "Dig It" and "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" were deemed important.

Quoted from raxo

I do enjoy Don't Bother Me (it's as good as most of the other stuff from John and Paul included on the album) ...

... and I Need You (an underrated song ... and better than some of the others of the album too)

I'll second this.

I've always felt the first song he recorded, Don't Bother Me, was great.  It's fun to listen to his early takes to see how this song evolved.  In my opinion, his songs just kept getting better all the time culminating with masterpieces like While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Here Comes The Sun.  I've always admired his quiet and persistent mastery of both the guitar and his songwriting ability.

is it just me or did mr. kite repeat the same response like 6 times?

I love You Know What To Do ... a really hidden treasure!

Quoted from adamzero

And I still don't know why those knuckleheads didn't immediately record and release "All Things Must Pass" when crap like "Dig It" and "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" were deemed important.

This is a mystery, adamzero. I wondered at several of their choices at that time, considering some of the songs that were released vs. others that were held over for the solo careers (although they didn't plan it that way at the time). I think it robbed the Beatles legacy of some truly fine work, which is regrettable, because I think the solo careers are followed by only a fraction of the Beatles following. So frustrating!

But choosing the songs to bump, that would be hard. I have my list, but then I see the songs I would bump appear as someone else's favorite tracks. I suppose it was that way with the Beatles as well. Or as George once said, you didn't necessarily bring in your best song, but the one you thought would be easiest for the group to understand and work with. So there might have been some of that pressure as well.

Great first song: Am I the only one addicted to "Think For Yourself?" I love it as well as "If I Needed Someone". Rubber Soul was George's breakout album, IMHO.

Rubber Soul is an incredible album.  I think the Revolver-mania makes it and Sgt. Pepper get shoved to the side.  Unfairly.  John's work on Rubber Soul is as good or better than Revolver.  

I think George comes out slightly better on Revolver than Rubber Soul just because he gets an extra song and the album opener.  Still, If I Needed Someone is a classic.  

I really like Think for Yourself, but that damned fuzz-bass is too hot in the mix.  And I think there's a second bass (unfuzzed) under it too.  I'd love to hear a mix of it without the fuzz.  

George was kicking a** by the mid-60s as a songwriter.  Gotta love his chord changes.  

Quoted from adamzero

I think George comes out slightly better on Revolver than Rubber Soul just because he gets an extra song and the album opener.  Still, If I Needed Someone is a classic.  

Heartily agree with both statements! Yes, 3 George songs are better than 2. Especially when they're all so good!  

Quoted Text

George was kicking a** by the mid-60s as a songwriter.  Gotta love his chord changes.

I love this quote of Bob Dylan's, "Their chords were outrageous, just outrageous, and their harmonies made it all valid..." Well, George was the source of those outrageous chords (or "naughty" chords, as he would have preferred to call them). I love the story of George and Bob sitting down together and George saying, "Give me some words!" and Bob saying "What about those chords?"  

I just bought Rubber Soul. *skips and jumps* I own hardly any Beatles music, but I found a deal on this and snapped it up. So now I own 4 Beatles albums. Thank goodness for the library and YouTube!

My friend, Harihead, you have A LOT of Beatles to discover!

Quoted from 197

My friend, Harihead, you have A LOT of Beatles to discover!

An awful lot!!

Happy hunting

I am so looking forward to it! Getting to possess and revel in these treasures will be like reading Lord of the Rings for the first time. Not to be missed!

BlueMeanie, here's a present for you. Cheers!

Quoted from harihead

[...]

BlueMeanie, here's a present for you. Cheers!

His next avatar?  

Quoted from raxo

His next avatar?  

Somehow   ... or the idea for ...

I Need You. His best with Beatles to me is Long Long Long.

Quoted from wingsman

I Need You. His best with Beatles to me is Long Long Long.

What?   Long Long Long is in my top 10!!! How underated it is!!! I think it's one of the hidden treasures of their whole catalogue! I like your taste, wingsman   ...

Quoted from raxo

Somehow   ... or the idea for ...

Talking to yourself, raxo?

Don't Bother Me i think was quite impressive for a first song, so i'd choose that!

Quoted from Andy Smith

Don't Bother Me i think was quite impressive for a first song, so i'd choose that!

The one I'd chosen ... he begun with a great song ... and it was his first song so   ...

I like Don't Bother Me... but I like I Need You more, and Think For Yourself even more...
So I dunno whether I should go with Don't Bother Me or I Need You

I agree with Hello Goodbye when he said:

Quoted from Hello Goodbye

In my opinion, his songs just kept getting better all the time

And I definitely agree with this too:

Quoted from Hello Goodbye

I've always admired his quiet and persistent mastery of both the guitar and his songwriting ability.

I've always admired how hard he worked and how focused he was as far as mastering the guitar (and developing songwriting abilities) were concerned... from what I read, it "didn't come easy" (do excuse the pun  )

I agree with you and Hello Goodbye ... some others may agree too about George's abilities ... some others don't  ... but I love this sentence: "his quiet and persistent mastery of both the guitar and his songwriting ability" ... I think it says it all!