Beatles Album Tier List 

Anybody else hear how he credited George Harrison with Blackbird?

I think the fact that an album with Let it Be, The Long And Winding Road, Get Back and Across the Universe ends up in C tier shows just how insanely impressive The Beatles’ discography is.

White album has lots of filler, but it also has 15 of their best songs ever. That’s why it’s my favorite

Gotta give it to them man, they invented progressive rock while one of their wives invented Black Metal

Mike, the B-side of Abbey Road is a Medley, a collection of short songs patched together in a big composition. It doesn't matter if they were unfinished pieces (probably were) or it was meant to be that way from the beginning. It's meant to be listened to as a whole, and some people (including me) consider this to be one song on its own. One of the finest compositions of all time.

MMT is actually one of my absolute favorites, might be personal taste. I actually like to listen to this one just as much as their best (Revolver, Sgt Peppers, Abbey Road)

Nice to see a Beatles fan who actually agrees with me on the White Album. Also it would have been interesting to see you include the Hey Jude album. It had a lot of the singles on it that never had an album like Hey Jude, Lady Madonna, Ballad of John & Yoko, etc. Since most of those aren’t on their own albums I consider it a full Beatles album.

I actually love the 2nd half of Abbey Road because it's a medley that takes the said half-baked ideas and turns them into an epic that might have been the first prog epic. It's essentially one giant song.

Man..Hey Bulldog is definately as S-tier Beatles song in my opinion. I just found it so unique and catchy (and that bass line is frickin killer)

She's leaving home really is an underrated song, message goes right to your heart not only because of personal experience

Brian Wilson is hands down the most underrated composer of the last century. Because he's associated with The Beach Boys, people discount his talent and accomplishments and push the narrative that he was just a sing along surf singer who got overwhelmed by The Beatles and their infinite talent and innovation. The truth is, Brian was by himself. He was producer, writer, and performing. He was the sole creative lead of The Beach Boys in the 60's. And he still managed to create Pet Sounds, an album that completely swept up The Beatles under their feet and pushed them to build off of what Brian created. Despite this, The Beatles are often credited with things that Brian did. The fact that Brian by himself was a rival to The Beatles as an entire band plus their producer George Martin speaks volumes.

Hey Mike, just to correct you a little mate, Blackbird is a Paul McCartney song and is not written by George Harrison. That said, I do agree on all your points on White Album (I think it could have been more coherent despite having a lot of masterpieces) and can understand why Abbey Road is not your favorite although I personally enjoy that album a lot.

Love your take on their albums, I don’t agree with all your placements but so happy you also think Rubber Soul is slightly overlooked by Beatles fans as it’s my favourite and perfect for me

Not acknowledging hey bulldog on yellow submarine is a crime, that song has such a phenomenal bass line

As a fellow Beatles Head, I have to respectfully disagree regarding the second half of Abbey Road (the medley). That medley is the single reason that puts Abbey Road at #1 for me over Rubber Soul (#2). I just think the creativity of combining those unfinished songs and the way they did it (credit George Martin mostly) is pure genius. I think the whole thing flows perfectly. Anyway, great vid as always brother

I now want to see a brutal death metal cover of Yesterday.

Couldn’t be more wrong about abbey road side two. Look up George Martin on side two. Yes they were leftover unfinished songs but they flow together so well. Martin was trying to get them to do a mini rock opera. And BECAUSE is an underrated melodic gem from Lennon almost on par with across the universe. S tier.

The Beatles were the very first band I heavily obsessed over back when I first got into music at age 10 and 13 years later they're still one of my all-time favourite bands, and George Harrison is still one of my biggest guitar influences

16:24 "Act Naturally" is actually a cover song. The original is by American country legend Buck Owens who popularized the Bakersfield sound and had 19 number one hits on the U.S. country chart. He also recorded a killer, live rendition of "Twist and Shout" after the Beatles released their version of "Act Naturally."

The medley being why Abbey Road doesn't make S tier really is the hottest of takes

You Never Give Me Your Money, Fool on the Hill, Happiness is a Warm Gun, Because, If I Needed Someone, and For No One all deserve a mention imo. Those are some great songs man.

I listened to "Let It Be... Naked" and for me it's how Let It Be should've always sounded, especially The Long and Winding Road

Blackbird wasn't a George Harrison song..it was Paul McCartney

In before Mike realises that Blackbird was Paul, not George and that Ticket To Ride is about sex.

S: Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, White Album, Abbey Road A: A Hard Days Night, Help!, Magical Mystery Tour B: With The Beatles, Beatles For Sale, Let It Be, Please Please Me C: Yellow Submarine

Don’t worry, this isn’t rage talking 😁 I hold “The White Album” in high regard because it’s the one album where everything about The Beatles is there in one album. In fact, I’m probably one of the few people who would say “Revolution 9” is the best thing The Beatles ever did, if for nothing else it brought the avant-garde to an even wider audience (much like how Switched-on Bach brought the synthesizer to a wide audience … same year). But keep in mind this is coming from someone who respects The Beatles more than loves them. Wait until you see my Pink Floyd tier 😁

The Beatles were the first band I ever became obsessed with back when I was only around 9 or 10 years old. In some ways, it was like the perfect introduction to popular music for me. I remember listening to Abbey Road for the first time all the way through and being completely wowed the whole time. My mind was especially blown by the medley during the second half because at the time I had no idea an artist could make different songs flow into each other so seamlessly.

my ranking would be 1 Revolver 2.Sgt. pepper 3.Abbey road 4.Rubber soul 5.The beatles (White album) 6.Magical Mystery tours 7.Let it be (Naked) 8. Help 9.Hard day 's night 10.Please please me 11.With the beatles 12. Beatles for sale

I've always felt The White Album should have been a single album. "Wild Honey Pie" and "Revolution 9" in particular are totally unnecessary. I actually think the best track on Yellow Submarine is "Hey Bulldog", not the previously released songs. Sgt. Pepper is S tier, no doubt about it! For me Abbey Road is on the same level, and the medley is actually my favorite part, though "Here Comes the Sun" is my favorite individual song.

Abbey road had 9 great songs in a row. Because shows the brilliance of the Beatles harmonies. But far the best harmonic performance

Let it be has really grew on me, I also disliked the album for a long time. Highlights for me are Two of Us, Dig a Pony, Across the Universe, I've Got Feeling and Get Back

Glad to see Revolver so high up. It's probably one of my favorite albums and Tomorrow Never Knows one of my favorite songs. Also, surprised you didn't mention things like Revolution 9 in White Album. Great video!

Abbey road is S tier in my opinion but that’s just me

I absolutely adore the second half of Abbey Road. I agree that they are unfinished songs but I feel like they are more woven than "slapped" together. You never give me your money is great stand alone, then the amount of amazing melodies that McCartney used from She Came in through the Bathroom Window and onwards is incredible. With the stitched together nature of those second half songs, I'd call side B of Abbey Road the greatest piece of progressive pop ever written.

Think about it. If we didn’t have the Beatles then we wouldn’t have such great modern day bands as One Direction, Green Day, and Greta Van Fleet

Although for me, Rubber Soul and Revolver are sister albums and I rate them both at the highest of Beatles' albums, I must say you really nailed it here. Thank you, Mike!

Bad Abbey Road take. The Medley is a stunning and bold conclusion to an incomparable career, a final celebratory climax and synthesis of John, Paul, George and Ringo’s creative alchemy. And, a symbolically fitting end to their catalogue; One final innovation, one last chance to subvert expectation and try something that’s never been done, as they’d been doing for the past 10 years. A suite. A pocket symphony. To call it ‘slapped together’ is a dire indictment on your taste and judgement.

your abbey road take is ridiculous

Abbey Road medley is what makes that album amazing. For me Rubber Soul and Abbey Road are S-Tier material.

It took a LONG ASS time to warm up to the white album, and I still can't do the whole thing through. When it comes to 90-minute white-covered albums I'll take The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway any day.

In defense of Mr. Kite: I get that it’s an odd song, but I think it fits the whole album in most ways. It’s one of those songs that just gives you a uniquely weird feeling throughout that I’ve not heard from pretty much any other song. Like a creepy uneasiness that fits within the narrative/idea that they’re playing as “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” not the Beatles. In that context, i say it’s fits quite nicely on that album. If you haven’t, you MUST go and listen to that song and just focus on the bass. You said this album was Paul’s best bass stuff ever, and Mr. Kite has some absolutely fucking incredible bass playing for sure. Maybe the best on the whole album IMO. If you don’t like the song as a whole, just listen to the bass and I think you’ll have a renewed interest in it. Once you hear the isolated bass in that song, that’s all you’ll be able to hear and it’ll give you a whole new perspective on the song. If you like Paul’s bass playing (and who doesn’t, amiright?!) there’s no way you won’t love his work on Mr. Kite. It truly doesn’t get much better than that. I also disagree about the back half of abbey road. I fuckin love Sun King, and the whole medley is pretty damn awesome.

Paul’s bassline on the first chorus of Getting Better is his most tastefully written line on that album. Ps- yes I never understood the obsession on the white album. Always sounded like half the album was just a bunch of random jingles

Its all too much from Yellow Submarine was a good one. Not many agree that but for me one of their most underrated song.!

Dude just called the 2nd side of Abbey Road an “absolute mess”? The Abbey Road medley is the best part! It doesn’t matter if it’s a group of unfinished songs mashed together; the pure joy and pop brilliance of the entire thing make it an amazing grand finale for the band

I think Let It Be...Naked deserves to be ranked separately than Let It Be. It's what the get back sessions was supposed to be all about and it's a smarter package. I would rank it in B tier at least.

Fun fact: I sang Drive my Car in the school talent show when I was six and that was what made me fall in love with performing music.

Surprised you made it all the way through this without mentioning how Beatles pretty much “own” major 7th chords. You’ll find them all throughout their discography. I definitely agree with you S tier, but I’d rearrange some of the rest. Revolver is my personal favorite. IMO, it was the record that literally changed music and how music is recorded. Automatic Double Tracking was introduced, John’s vocals ran thru a Leslie on Tomorrow Never Knows. I agree about Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, although the story behind it is cool. One track from Sgt Pepper’s I’ve always loved and gets overlooked a lot is Fixing a Hole; such a hauntingly beautiful song and that descending vocal harmony over Paul’s last verse lyrics gives me chills every time

One of my favourite periods for the band was 1960-1962, they were doing some proto punk in addition to their ballads, really great stuff.

Its just amazing how everyone has a different tier list, amazing

Oh, also I think in terms of composition and lyricism, A Hard Day's Night is up there with Rubber Soul and aome of the other best albums but doesn't get brought up because it's considered ''early Beatles'' and therefore people dismiss it. 'If I Fell', 'And I Love Her', 'Can't Buy Me Love', 'Things We Said Today' and 'I'll Be Back' are all incredible tracks.

I never thought i would love a metalhead ranting about how beautiful "she's leaving home" is, but here i am, liking every second of it.

To me "Help!" is my favorite Beatles album, and right under it is St. Pepper. And it took awhile for me to discover more and more of Beatles albums and songs. The thing that really helped that, was my friend from HS who had EVERY Beatles album, and Rock Band The Beatles. Man when my friend played the entire St. Peppers album, I was blown away, and that last song A Day In The Life. Holy shit first time I heard that song, I nearly shed a tear.

You should do an album ranking for Judas Priest

Octopus’s Garden is absolute, warm gold and if you hate it I never wanna meet you

I actually really like Yellow Submarine, movie score and all. Never heard another soundtrack score quite like "Sea of Holes" or "March of the Meanies".

Thanks for this! I've always enjoyed the Beatles. They're my dad's favorite band and I listened to them growing up...but now after watching this, I should actually listen to them more in-depth.

It makes me so happy to see someone recognizing Rubber Soul for the great album it is, it's actually my favorite, it just has this strange but cool vibe to it.

My tier list doesn't compare the Beatles albums to themselves, rather they're ranked on their own merits: S-Tier: A Hard Day's Night, Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt Pepper, White Album, Abbey Road. A Tier: Please Please Me, Let It Be, With the Beatles, Meet the Beatles, Past Masters, Magical Mystery Tour. B: Yellow Submarine.

I'm a huge Beatles fan and I actually find Sgt Pepper's a bit overrated. It's not even a concept album, that's a common misconception. They gave up and just did whatever they wanted. I would rank it probably 5 or so on my list

Man, totally respect your ranking but saying that "a lot of people want to talk themselves into believing" some album is better than another is just you valuing your opinion more than others'. I am a musician and, personally, I find it hard to enjoy listening to epic albums such as Dark Side Of The Moon for example. I acknowledge the fact that it's an amazing album and I'm sad that I can't enjoy it the way I enjoy other Pink Floyd's albums. What I'm trying to say is this: Just cause you create your own criteria of what makes a great album great, by using your ears, it doesn't mean that they are factually correct. After all there are no criteria. Just humans who vote what they like and what they don't. Criteria in music is basically us explaining why we like or dislike something. Other people's explanations contradicting yours have an equal value though. Most people who love the White Album will say that they enjoy the "raw" feeling it has, the crazy-weird snippets of songs and how it covers a wide range of music styles. They are not wrong, they are not trying to talk themselves into anything. They just appreciate something that you find hard to. And it's okay, I've found that the hard way cause I'm very picky at music and I really wish I weren't. Cheers mate.

Paul McCartney actually played his D-28 acoustic on blackbird it’s amazing, also on help, “I need you” is one of there best and most underrated songs in my opinion

1. The White Album (my number one rock/metal albums of all time) 2. Revolver (top 5 rock/metal album of all time) 3. A Hard Day's Night (first album I ever bought with my own money and my favorite early Beatles record) 4. Abbey Road (iconic, but Sun King is why it's 4th and not 3rd) 5. With the Beatles (better than the debut and the cover songs were definitely better and the original songs were better as well) 6. Let It Be (Solid final album, and I will still defend it) 7. Past Masters (All the songs that never appeared on any Beatles album, and they are fantastic, both early and later singles) 8. Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club (I love this album, but I personally think that it's overrated) 9. Please Please Me (Debut album is really fantastic) 10. Magical Mystery Tour (EP, but I'll still call it an album and the B side is fantastic 11. Rubber Soul (Great album, but Wait and Run For Your Life are my least favorite songs) 12. Help (A Hard Day's Night part 2, but B side was mostly filler songs except for Yesterday) 13. Beatles For Sale (Released only to make money over the holiday Season) 14. Yellow Submarine I do understand your opinion about the White Album. Yes there are there some crappy songs, but the good songs totally outway the bad.

Legit love you dawg, don’t stop doing the things you do

I would make some different choices of course, but I cosign pretty much all of your critical assessments here.

100% agree with your top 3. Rubber soul is so underrated. Drive my car & In my life will always be 2 of my favorite Beatles songs

Your a controversial Beatles fan with some HOT takes. Let’s go over em! 1. Side 2 of Abbey Road is a Disaster?!?! 2. You don’t like Helter Skelter?!?! 3. Maxwell Silver Hammer is a part of a flawless 7 track run but the Medley isn’t?! (Besides Mean Mr. Mustard and including Because, it’s flawless dude) 4. Eight Days A Week And No Reply COMPLETELY redeem Beatles For Sale (Along with I’ll Follow The Sun) There’s prob more but those are ones that I was like “woah” But hey! Opinions are like bungholes, lol

But that's what i like about the white album, it's weird in a spooky way. And mixes different genres

Great video and take on your tier list of Beatles albums! It seems you have put alot of thought and time into making this video and it shows! IMO...and I know you don't care ;) S - Abbey Road (I like the "Medley"), Sgt Pepper, Rubber Soul and Revolver A - Please, Please Me, The White Album B - Help, Hard Day's Night, Let It Be (Naked) C - Beatles for Sale, With the Beatles, Magical Mystery Tour D - Yellow Submarine Rubber Soul and Revolver were both albums loaded with "bangers" and minimal filler. And the energy of the albums felt like the band was still playing and writing songs on the road. And that's the reason why I prefer both albums to Sgt Pepper despite its sophisticated production and it's artistic ambition as a concept album. It just felt like Paul was taking control in the studio on Sgt Pepper (and the management of the band with death of Brian Epstein) and the rest of the other Beatles started to rebel and drift away on subsequent albums (White Album and Let It Be) before getting back together with George Martin for the proper sendoff in Abbey Road. I agree that the White Album is a great, unfinished album. The Beatles could have taken the 15 best tracks (including the singles) and made a masterpiece. Filler B-Sides like Rocky Raccoon, Piggies, Wild Honey Pie, Revolution 9, The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill, and Why Don't We Do It In The Road and a redundant track like Revolution 1 (the single is a better version of the song) can be dropped and the album would lose nothing.

Just listened to The Beatles' discography again after a LONG ASS TIME and my personal favorite album of theirs is Abbey Road. While I respectfully disagree with your opinion on the second half of Abbey Road, I'm just glad someone recognized the sheer brilliance of songs like Come Together and Something. Definitely worth A tier if not S tier.

you are so right about she's leaving home. my favorite beatles track ever, and probably one of the best ballads ever written.

Pretty much agree with your ranking except I would switch Revolver and Rubber Soul with both being in the S tiers. And while I agree/understand Sgt Pepper is a masterpiece it’s Revolver and Rubber Soul I keep getting back to.

Revolver and Sgt. Peppers are definitely my top 2 and Abbey Roads medley is AWESOME, it deserves to be S tier same with Rubber Soul

Idk i just love the white album, i felt attacked by the meme

I've Just Seen a Face ❤ Had the pleasure of seeing Paul do this live the other week!

How did you manage to talk about MMT WITHOUT talking about Strawberry fields forever? 😓

I actually think the beatles got better and beter with every album, and that let it be is their mastercrafted creation, to which every other record has led.

"A C-tier Beatles album is still better than most albums that anyone will ever release ever." right on

You should do one on Rush. I’m curious to see your opinions on albums like Hemispheres, Signals, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, etc. Signals especially since it’s a bit divisive. My friend for example, thinks that “Subdivisions” is the “Last great Rush song”.

I enjoy these style of videos Mike. Although I didn’t necessarily agree with all your rankings, I like hearing different takes and your explanation of why you ranked the albums where you did. BTW, nice Hendrix record in the background.

The Beatles would probably have the top 3-5 albums of all time if they'd condenscened them. Best of Sgt Pepper + Magical would make one incredible album. Same for other writing sessions that got split up.

You fumbled every step of the way but still put the correct album on top so all sins are forgiven

The 2nd half of Abbey Road is the single one reason that's my fav album 🥺

The first time you listened to the White Album'? The day before this video was recorded I think!

while i agree mostly with this review i have to disagree with your opinion on the B side of abbey road, i personally think the ‘long one’ is one of the best musical compositions since beethoven i think the emotional rollercoaster it takes you on perfectly captures the career of the beatles also the guitar battle between john paul and george on the end is astonishing, however great video👍

I'm Only Sleeping is one of my favourite Beatles' songs and quite overlooked.

been waiting so long for this video. made my day thanks mike!!

How can you take this guy seriously when he mistakes George Harrison for writing blackbird…. Yikes

16:30 Act Naturally is a cover by Buck Owens, but I agree with how you described it

Im genuinely happy to see help in A tier above the white album. The white albums underrated.

Truly, the best and fairest Beatles album rundown I've ever come across. (Except: Revolver is #1 don't ya know?)

Really love the list, Revolver is personally my favorite but I can't argue it over Sgt. Peppers. Rubber Soul is absolutely underrated, I really love the song The Word off of that album.

Their first album is so underrated

Honestly the b-side on abbey road is the best part

I actually really rate Please, Please Me. It’s probably the one I’ve listened to most often along with Hard Day’s Night. I love how accessible they are without being cringe. If you wanna consider it pop (though I’d probably argue rock ’n roll/early rock) then it is easily some of the best pop ever being written/produced.

Sgt. Peppers is and will always be my favorite Beatles album, but we all know their best album is “greatest hits”

I would have included the singles as Past Masters Vol. I & Vol. II for ranking purposes.

Never forget that Twist and Shout was recorded while Lennon had a cold, and this was recorded AFTER recording the other songs the same day. Few things more rock and roll than that. Don't try it at home though.

One of the symptoms of taking to much acid is becoming delusional and thinking the white album is the best album ever made.

the run from Paperback writer/Rain to the Magical Mystery Tour songs (their psychedelic/acid rock phase) had the best quality/quantity ratio.

Man i gotta respectfully disagree with you about the second half of abbey road. The way the tracks transition from one to the next is just superb and it flows so well. For me Abbey Road is an easy S tier