Favourite underrated or low-profile Beatles Song.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

Not that there are any really low-profile ones, but there you go.
For me, in terms of underrated, it's probably 'Hello Goodbye', which, although it was a single and hit #1 like all of the others tends to get buried beneath the usual suspects.
'Hello Goodbye' is the perfect pop single. It says absolutely nothing and says it profoundly. There are several facets to the song that would make a lesser song. George's guitar is perfect, Paul's bass is fantastic as ever, John's harmonies and counter-vocals act as a brilliant counterpoint. George Martin's string arrangements are less classical, more gypsy or folkish, which add great texture to the song.
'Hello Goodbye' is, in the truest sense of the word, timeless. It does not belong to 1967, it transcends the present and exists in it's own space, not rooted to any era.
As for other underrated and low-profile songs, I particularly love Glass Onion, Happiness Is A Warm Gun, And Your Bird Can Sing, Not Guilty, Hey Bulldog, It's All Too Much, Only A Northern Song and Two Of Us.

[Archae]

1. Hey Bulldog

That guitar riff is sublime.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

2. Absolutely. I'm going to have to add that to my list.

[Richardo]

6. The bass work is stunning too.

McCartney could rock...

[Screaming Lord Byron]

9. One of the true bass greats. A real innovator.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

3. Tomorrow Never Knows - my favorite psychedelic song

It captures the mood perfectly!

[Screaming Lord Byron]

8. If you ever want to hear that great song murdered.....

Phil Collins covered it.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

19. You're shitting me!

What does he know about the Doors of Perception?

[Screaming Lord Byron]

21. He locked them. He locked them up good and tight.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

25. Its so fitting he followed Peter Gabriel into Genesis. Man Gabriel was

a psychedelic nutcase (though, I'm told he never did drugs) then Genesis went from the height of the Prog Rock pinnacle to "Invisible Touch"

[Screaming Lord Byron]

26. Yeah. It's a thin line between psychedelic abandon and yuppie rock.

Just ask Grace Slick.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

34. Well said. n/t

[Richardo]

4. You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)

The B Side of "Let it Be" is a wonderfully silly exercise.

I second your nomination of "Hello, Goodbye" BTW.

Also somewhat obscure are a lot of the titles in Yellow Submarine:
Hey Bulldog, Only a Northern Song, It's All Too Much. Those three are among my favorites in the entire Beatles catalog.

Also, "Everybody's Got Something to Hide ('Cept for Me and My Monkey)" from the white album.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

7. Definitely '....Monkey'. That's a fantastic song.

Great period, that post Sgt. Pepper - White Album period.
That's Brian Jones of The Stones playing Sax on 'You Know My Name...'

[H2O Man]

35. You Know My Name....

is actually a tribute song to an old style of music that John's Aunt Mimmie liked. George and he did it in large part as a pay-back for Paul's odd songs like "Your Mother Should Know." The creative tensions between the Beatles had surprising results, sometimes really good, and sometimes not quite so good.

[skooooo]

5. No Reply / I'm a Loser

[Screaming Lord Byron]

10. Good call. Particularly 'I'm a Loser'

[FarmerOak]

11. 'Til There Was You

But that's just because I'm nuts for "The Music Man."

But I'm not gay. I'm just saying.

[Burma Jones]

12. And Your Bird Can Sing

That would be my favorite less heard Beatle song.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

14. George's finest lead guitar moment, I'd say.

[AntiCoup2K4]

45. Especially the Anthology 2 version

Where the boys are completely baked and can barely get through the lyrics :evilgrin:

[quispquake]

13. My two favorite "low-profile" songs...

One my favorite George number "It's Only a Northern Song" and Lennon's "Baby You're a Rich Man" (I love lots of weird sounds going on in the background!!!)

pp23

[Screaming Lord Byron]

16. Yeah, I'm quite partial to 'Baby...'

I'm glad Lennon changed the original lyric, which he wrote in honour of Beatle manager Brian Epstein 'Baby you're a rich fag jew'. Others may not have gotten Lennon's 'unorthodox' sense of humour. Epstein did, though.

[yolatengo]

15. Rain

Rain/I'm Down is a GREAT A/B side single.

Also:

She Said, She Said

Bigby

[Screaming Lord Byron]

17. Yeah. Rain is probably the best Beatles B side.

[Dedalus]

81. "Long Long Long"/"I Don't Want to Spoil the Party"!

"Rain" was the B of "Paperback Writer" (another candidate for most underrated #1), not paired w/ "I'm Down"... I think that one was on the "Matchbox" EP...

Best low-profile Beatles for me: "For No One," "Long Long Long," "Hey Bulldog," "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party"...

There certainly are lots of Paul #1s where the John B-Side is the better song, aren't there? "Paperback Writer"/"Rain"... "Hello Goodbye"/"I Am The Walrus"... "Penny Lane"/"Strawberry Fields"... "We Can Work it Out"/"Day Tripper"... you could argue "Hey Jude"/"Revolution," but it's close...

[Dogmudgeon]

18. Yes It Is

Also:

She Said
This Boy (Ringo's song from HDN)
I Love You More
Ballad of J & Y

--bkl

[H2O Man]

20. I think HelloGoodbye

is one of Paul's more serious songs. He is expressing a bit of concern, however flippant, with his relationship with Beatle John. A few years later, he did "Let Me Roll It," an intense tribute to the Plastic Ono Band. The version on his Live Over America album was one of Paul's best efforts.
It's an interesting question you have posed here. Perhaps when a person favors one or two Beatles, they could overlook the other's contributions. And, with time, people may not listen to some of their albums as much. So May should be International Beatle Review Month. Put on "This Boy" and "Two of Us," and my favorite song, "Don't Let Me Down." Unreal talents.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

22. That's a good interpretation of the song. I like that.

[LWolf]

23. Hello Goodbye and a few more

I don't know if they are underrated or low profile, but here they are:

Here comes the sun

You've got to hide your love away

Norwegian Wood

When I'm 64

Blackbird

Don't pass me by

Why don't we do it in the road

Mother Nature's son

[johnnie]

24. I have always liked

"When I get home". I know it was probably just filler at the time, but it really has a cool blues/pop sound to it. Surprisingly not a very well-known tune, but a good one none the less.

[MrBenchley]

27. And your bird can sing...

definitely...

There are quite a few on the White Album....Hey, Bungalow Bill, Everybody's Got Something to Hide...and Good Night.

The Two of Us and Across the Universe...from Let it Be...

[mac56]

28. Some that are (relatively) obscure

"Misery"
"Thank You Girl"
"Not A Second Time"
"I'll Cry Instead"
"I Call Your Name"
"Leave My Kitten Alone"
"I'm A Loser"
"You're Gonna Lose That Girl"
"If I Needed Someone"
"And Your Bird Can Sing"
"Hey Bulldog"
"Old Brown Shoe"

[Screaming Lord Byron]

29. "If I Needed Someone" is a classic.

Bands have based entire careers on that song.

[H2O Man]

30. Instant Karma

and Cold Turkey ..... I know that they are "post-Beatle" by definition, though penned in the grey area. But they are great songs.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

32. Yeah, I guess you could include those. Both are great.

[Loonman]

31. Baby, you're a rich man

Too.

[elperromagico]

33. Hmm - "Because."

Brilliant song, beautiful vocal arrangement.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

36. And it's (sorta) Moonlight Sonata backwards.

[H2O Man]

38. "Because"

was George and Paul's "favorite" off Abbey Road. John said that he started it as a variation of The Moonlight Sonata that Yoko played for him. A small part of it is heard, I believe, on side 2 of the Wedding Album; more important is the GREAT version on the 3rd anthology collection. And, yes, if the notes are played backwards ....

[lpbk2713]

37. "I'll Follow the Sun" and "Taxman"

The Beatles were the greatest innovators of any genre that music has ever seen.

[bmbmd]

39. My all-time favorite

is "I Will". My life, however, is a remake of "Oblah Dee".

[elperromagico]

40. The bass line on "I Will" is sung by Paul.

I was surprised to find he could sing that low...

[elperromagico]

41. I've also always enjoyed "Dear Prudence,"

which was written about Mia Farrow's sister, who got so completely into meditation at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's retreat that she entered a catatonic state. It's one of the first songs to showcase the folk picking style John learned from Donovan in India. Also features a nice bassline from Paul and some nice guitar from George. I believe it was one of two songs (along with "Back in the USSR") recorded without Ringo during the White Album sessions. I think it's Paul playing the drums.

[elperromagico]

43. Also "Happiness is a Warm Gun,"

one of John's pastiche songs. Another song that features John's folk style picking. Great lead vocal by John as well (I paricularly like his singing on the line "Happiness is a warm, yes it is... GUUUUUUUN").

Paul had the more versatile voice, but John had the more expressive voice.

Something to note for the more musically inclined here: During the spoken section, while the rest of the band is playing in 3/8 time, Ringo is playing in 4/4 time. Listen for it. ;)

[Screaming Lord Byron]

44. Yeah, it's a great song. Covered well by The Banshees, too.

[no_hypocrisy]

42. Long, Long, Long

You've Got to Hide Your Love Away

[phatkatt]

46. "I'm Only Sleeping"

The "other" psychedelic song on Revolver.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

49. Good call.

[kmla]

47. Kinda fond of "Savoy Truffle" and "Glass Onion".

But that's just me. I enjoy their music more during their late 60's psychedelia fest more than their early, pop-sensation days.

But that's just me.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

51. Two of my faves. I love the looseness of the White Album stuff.

[elperromagico]

53. I agree with you.

That stretch from '65 (Rubber Soul) to '69 (Abbey Road) yielded some great music. I like the early, pop stuff, but they matured rapidly as musicians and songwriters in those last four years.

[Donkeyboy75]

48. "Martha, My Dear," "Fixing a Hole" and "Dear Prudence"

round out my list. I've got to say that echoing your original post, most Beatles songs aren't rooted in an era; they do remind me of being a kid, though. My dad was always playing the Beatles around the house when I was growing up.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

54. I love those three. I'd add 'Getting Better'

[Donkeyboy75]

62. I'll see your "Getting Better" and raise you "Fool on the Hill"

[Screaming Lord Byron]

64. I'll see your 'Fool in the Hill' with 'Fool on the Pill',

'I Am The Waitress', 'Your Mother Should Go' and...oh, hang on.

[XNASA]

50. "If I Needed Someone"

And of course, "And Your Bird Can Sing".

[Screaming Lord Byron]

56. Yeah, both feature fantastic Bach-like guitar work from the boy George.

As opposed to Boy George, which would be scary.

[ProfessorGAC]

80. That Would Be Mine, Too

My second would be Think For Yourself. We do both, but the latter lends it self to rocking it hard.
The Professor

[XNASA]

82. That settles it.

Next time we get together, we have to be sure that there are two acoustic guitars in the same room.

Comprende?

[ProfessorGAC]

84. OK By Me!

Strumming and two part harmonies. Very fun!
The Professor

[XNASA]

87. Maybe we should busk in Daley Plaza.

:crazy:

[ProfessorGAC]

90. Been There! Done That!

The Professor

[AntiCoup2K4]

52. Cry for a Shadow

Actually, there's no such thing as a bad Beatles song, I just had to throw out something that nobody else would have mentioned. This was a guitar instrumental recorded in Hamburg in 1961 and the only Beatles song credited to Harrison/Lennon. It was first released in the US on the Tony Sheridan & the Beat Brothers album (which has been issued under at least a half dozen names over the last 40 years) and eventually included in the Anthology 1 compilation in 1995

[Screaming Lord Byron]

57. A bad Beatles song? Maybe Don't Pass Me By

or What's The New Mary Jane, which wasn't released and you can certainly tell why.

[elperromagico]

63. Ringo seemed so excited to be getting his first song recorded,

that he forgot how to drum... The drumming on that track is God-awful.

[Nevernose]

68. Both of those songs are better with alcohol and/or drugs

"Don't Pass Me By" is a pretty good C&W song, vastly improved by Jim Beam. "Mary Jane" isn't up to par, granted - although given enough hallucinogens, it's a pretty entertaining song.

And for the record:
Drugs and/or alcohol don't improve all music. For instance, no amount of Jim Beam has ever made Trace Adkins or Toby Keith tolerable for me, and I never enjoyed the Smiths, even on hallucinogens. Also, "Fool on the Hill" annoys me, regardless of my mental state.

[Dedalus]

85. So, You Think Your Skills Can Match Mine...

AntiCoup2k, I see that you have much Kung-Fu... I also see that you have enough posts to open a Beatles Trivia room in the Lounge... (Everyone will be on their honor not to look shit up in books! Only type answers if you actually know, or you go to Rock and Roll Hell..)

[Newsman Matt Drudge]

55. I can't get no

*dah dah dah* sat-is-fac-tion *dah dah dah*

Man, I love that Beetles song. The lead singer, Roger Daltrey, really belts that out!

Best Wishes,
Matt

[Screaming Lord Byron]

59. Thanks Matt, you are as insightful about rock music as you are on politics

I salute your indefatigability, sir.

[elperromagico]

60. You've managed to meet the high standards of your namesake.

I bow unto you, sir.

[Beware the Beast Man]

58. "Helter Skelter"

Followed closely by the side 2 medley on Abbey Road.

[elperromagico]

61. I play that song for people who say that the Beatles only did pop.

The reaction is usually a shocked "That's the Beatles?"

[Beware the Beast Man]

66. That was my reaction exactly

It was my introductory song

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

65. "Don't Let Me Down"...

...it was nice to have it take its rightful place on the "Let It Be" album via "Let It Be...Naked." But banished to the B-side of a single, or included on "Past Masters?" I never understood that one.

Second choice is "Tomorrow Never Knows" from "Revolver" but I don't know if it would be classified as underrated or low-profile. I usually don't like cover versions but the movie "The Craft" made nice use of a version of this by Our Lady Peace.

[Zolok]

67. "Misery" most definitely

it is almost as if they decided to indulge self-parody prior to becoming a dominant rock-n-roll paradigm.
:)

But then, the Beatles were heavily into irony long before anyone else.
:)

www.chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com

[SEAburb]

69. I'll Follow the Sun - I'm a Loser

<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>

[jpgray]

70. I really never liked "Glass Onion" or "Hello Goodbye"

"And Your Bird Can Sing" is awesome, and "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" is neat, but it never seemed to me these were underrated.

I think "Fixing A Hole", "You Won't See Me" and "I'm Only Sleeping" would be my picks, but I can't really tell if they're underrated or not.

That's the problem with doing underrated Beatles songs--most of those I know are objectively underrated ("Maxwell's Silver Hammer", "Bungalow Bill") I don't really like that much anyway. :D It seems most of the rest get general praise everywhere. Maybe some of the stuff off Beatles for Sale...

[jpgray]

72. Oh and "The Fool On The Hill" deserves a mention just because. (nt)

[Screaming Lord Byron]

77. I'm A Loser works, there's a few from Beatles for Sale.

[rucky]

71. Baby You're a Rich Man & Across The Universe

[Maccagirl]

73. I've Just Seen a Face or Yes It Is

Really too many to name.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

74. Act Naturally

Okay, it's really a Buck Owens song sung by Ringo; but it was the B side of Yesterday, the first 45 I ever bought, and I played the living crap out of that disk.

Seriously though, it would be You're Gonna Lose That Girl. I love that song.

[SarahB]

75. "Til There Was You"

It's the last one on CD 1 of Live at the BBC. I love that song. Very sappy and poetic, kind of sugary sweet, but I love it.

[Dogmudgeon]

76. From "Music Man"

Meredith Wilson wrote the song. I think it's when Professor Hill is courting Marian the Librarian. (Played by Robert Preston and Shirley Jones in the movie version.)

Another interesting side note -- Anita Bryant also covered the song, a few years before the Beatles did. Then, too, Bryant covered "My Little Corner of the World" in 1960, and Yo La Tengo did a version a few years ago.

Bryant sure had better taste in music than in ideology.

--bkl

[mac56]

79. I always liked George's guitar solo on that one.

nm

[MrBenchley]

78. From the Let It Be movie....You really got a hold on me

I love that version...

Both Paul and John had great solo albums of oldies from the fifties and early sixties...

[Ronnie]

83. Good Day...

...Sunshine

[GCP]

86. "Blackbird" and too many more to list

but here's a few:

"No Reply" - the best middle 8 on any pop record EVER

"Things we said Today" - double A side with "Hard Day's Night"

"Bulldog"

"It's all too Much"

"Across the Universe" - absolutely beautiful John song.

And many many more.

[sundog]

88. Norwegian Wood & In My Life

Both on "Rubber Soul"

B-)

[denverbill]

89. Her Majesty.

Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl,
but she doesn't have a lot to say
Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl
but she changes from day to day

I want to tell her that I love her a lot
But I gotta get a bellyful of wine
Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl
Someday I'm going to make her mine, oh yeh,
someday I'm going to make her mine.

[SOteric]

91. One after 909 and Across the Universe