6. "Run For Your Life" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUrOmy9RiGg). It's impossible to say enough about John Lennon's honesty, demonstrated here by the fact that he wasn't afraid to show his dark side. This one comes from my top Beatles album, by the way, Rubber Soul - the North American release. Sorry, but it's the one I grew up with. And my LP version was the one with the full stereo pan mix, which meant that you could listen to nearly all of the tracks a cappella - a real treat. 7. "Michelle" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OhV1Mq2HFU). McCartney's masterpiece from the same album. For one thing, it's harmonically brilliant: the melody starts on an F major chord, but the rest of the song, starting on the following chord (a Bb minor), is in F minor, with a brief detour into Db major. And it's all entirely convincing. Also, the form shortens as the song progresses, which creates a telescoping effect. The singing is good, too, you'll notice. 8. "A Day in the Life" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ2AoCUFsjY). The most adventurous song ever recorded by a rock group? There'd be an argument for it. And it's a beautiful song, wonderfully played and sung. 9. "Here Comes the Sun" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7h1IphPfeU). It's interesting to note the trajectory of the importance of Harrison's songs to Beatles albums. On earlier records, there would be one or two, treated almost as asides by most listeners (although they shouldn't be). But on later albums, they're centerpieces; imagine the White Album without "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" or "Savoy Truffle", or Abbey Road without "Something", or this one. 10. "Eleanor Rigby" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jZ5-Jyie6g). Allen Ginsberg called it the first time that he was convinced of the presence of high intelligence in popular music. I think I'll leave it at that.
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