Notes on

Releases

The official canon, release by release, after Ger Tillekens. Songs that appeared earlier on another record are listed in grey. “MD” numbers refer to Ian MacDonald’s Revolution in the Head.

  1. Single Love Me Do

    Released: 05.10.1962 [UK] on Parlophone 45-R 4949

    1. 001 Love Me Do(with Ringo on drums)MD 001
    2. 002 P.S. I Love YouMD 002

  2. Single Please Please Me

    Released: 11.01.1963 [UK] on Parlophone 45-R 4983

    1. 003 Please Please MeMD 003
    2. 004 Ask Me WhyMD 004
  3. Cover of Please Please Me

    LP Please Please Me

    Released: 22.03.1963 [UK] on Parlophone PMC 1202 [mono]; Parlophone PCS 3042 [stereo]

    1. 005 I Saw Her Standing ThereMD 006
    2. 006 MiseryMD 008
    3. C01 Anna (Go To Him)coverMD 009b
    4. C02 ChainscoverMD 009d
    5. C03 BoyscoverMD 009c
    6. 004 Ask Me WhyMD 004
    7. 003 Please Please MeMD 003
    8. 007 Love Me Dovariant(drums played by Andy White)MD 001
    9. 002 P.S. I Love YouMD 002
    10. C04 Baby It’s YoucoverMD 009e
    11. 008 Do You Want To Know A SecretMD 007
    12. C05 A Taste of HoneycoverMD 006b
    13. 009 There’s A PlaceMD 005
    14. C06 Twist and ShoutcoverMD 009f

  4. Single From Me To You

    Released: 11.04.1963 [UK] on Parlophone R 5015

    1. 010 From Me To YouMD 010
    2. 011 Thank You GirlMD 011

  5. Single She Loves You

    Released: 23.08.1963 [UK] on Parlophone R 5055

    1. 012 She Loves YouMD 012
    2. 013 I’ll Get YouMD 013
  6. Cover of With The Beatles

    LP With The Beatles

    Released: 22.11.1963 [UK] on Parlophone PMC 1206 [mono]; Parlophone PCS 3045 [stereo]

    1. 014 It Won’t Be LongMD 014
    2. 015 All I’ve Got To DoMD 018
    3. 016 All My LovingMD 015
    4. 017 Don’t Bother MeMD 020
    5. 018 Little ChildMD 017
    6. C07 Till There Was YoucoverMD 013e
    7. C08 Please Mister PostmancoverMD 013f
    8. C09 Roll Over BeethovencoverMD 014b
    9. 019 Hold Me TightMD 009
    10. C10 You Really Got A Hold On MecoverMD 013b
    11. 020 I Wanna Be Your ManMD 016
    12. C11 Devil In Her HeartcoverMD 013d
    13. 021 Not A Second TimeMD 019
    14. C12 Money (That’s What I Want)coverMD 013c

  7. Single I Want To Hold Your Hand

    Released: 29.11.1963 [UK] on Parlophone R 5084

    1. 022 I Want To Hold Your HandMD 021
    2. 023 This BoyMD 022

  8. Single Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand

    Released: March 1964 [BRD]

    1. 024 Komm, Gib Mir Deine Handvariant
    2. 025 Sie Liebt Dichvariant

  9. Single Can’t Buy Me Love

    Released: 20.03.1964 [UK] on Parlophone R 5114

    1. 026 Can’t Buy Me LoveMD 023
    2. 027 You Can’t Do ThatMD 024

  10. EP Long Tall Sally

    Released: 19.06.1964 [UK] on Parlophone GEP 8913

    1. C13 Long Tall SallycoverMD 029b
    2. 028 I Call Your NameMD 030
    3. C14 Slow DowncoverMD 032b
    4. C15 MatchboxcoverMD 031b

  11. Single A Hard Day’s Night

    Released: 10.07.1964 [UK] on Parlophone R 5160

    1. 029 A Hard Day’s NightMD 031
    2. 030 Things We Said TodayMD 035
  12. Cover of A Hard Day's Night

    LP A Hard Day’s Night

    Released: 26.06.1964 [US]; 10.07.1964 [UK] on Parlophone PMC 1230 [mono]; Parlophone PCS 3058 [stereo]

    1. 029 A Hard Day’s NightMD 031
    2. 031 I Should Have Known BetterMD 026
    3. 032 If I FellMD 028
    4. 033 I’m Happy Just To Dance With YouMD 029
    5. 034 And I Love HerMD 025
    6. 035 Tell Me WhyMD 027
    7. 026 Can’t Buy Me LoveMD 023
    8. 036 Any Time At AllMD 034
    9. 037 I’ll Cry InsteadMD 032
    10. 030 Things We Said TodayMD 035
    11. 038 When I Get HomeMD 036
    12. 027 You Can’t Do ThatMD 024
    13. 039 I’ll Be BackMD 033

  13. Single I Feel Fine

    Released: 23.11.1964 [US]; 27.11.1964 [UK] on Parlophone R 5200

    1. 040 I Feel FineMD 045
    2. 041 She’s A WomanMD 044
  14. Cover of Beatles For Sale

    LP Beatles For Sale

    Released: 04.12.1964 [UK] on Parlophone PMC 1240 [mono]; Parlophone PCS 3062 [stereo]

    1. 042 No ReplyMD 042
    2. 043 I’m A LoserMD 038
    3. 044 Baby’s In BlackMD 037
    4. C16 Rock And Roll MusiccoverMD 046c
    5. 045 I’ll Follow The SunMD 046
    6. C17 Mr. MoonlightcoverMD 038b
    7. C18 Kansas City - Hey, Hey, Hey, HeycoverMD 044b
    8. 046 Eight Days A WeekMD 043
    9. C19 Words Of LovecoverMD 046d
    10. C20 Honey Don’tcoverMD 046e
    11. 047 Every Little ThingMD 039
    12. 048 I Don’t Want To Spoil The PartyMD 040
    13. 049 What You’re DoingMD 041
    14. C21 Everybody’s Trying To Be My BabycoverMD 046b

  15. Single Ticket To Ride

    Released: 09.04.1965 [UK] on Parlophone R 5265

    1. 050 Ticket To RideMD 047
    2. 051 Yes It IsMD 050

  16. LP Beatles VI

    Released: 14.06.1965 [US] on Capitol T 2358 [stereo]

    1. C18 Kansas City - Hey, Hey, Hey, HeycoverMD 044b
    2. 046 Eight Days A WeekMD 043
    3. 052 You Like Me Too MuchMD 052
    4. C22 Bad BoycoverMD 056c
    5. 048 I Don’t Want To Spoil The PartyMD 040
    6. C19 Words Of LovecoverMD 046d
    7. 049 What You’re DoingMD 041
    8. 051 Yes It IsMD 050
    9. C23 Dizzy Miss LizzycoverMD 056b
    10. 053 Tell Me What You SeeMD 054
    11. 047 Every Little ThingMD 039

  17. Single Help!

    Released: 19.07.1965 [US]; 23.07.1965 [UK] on Parlophone R 5305

    1. 054 Help!MD 056
    2. 055 I’m DownMD 058
  18. Cover of Help!

    LP Help!

    Released: 06.08.1965 [UK] on Parlophone PMC 1255 [mono]; Parlophone PCS 3071 [stereo]

    1. 054 Help!MD 056
    2. 056 The Night BeforeMD 051
    3. 057 You’ve Got To Hide Your Love AwayMD 053
    4. 058 I Need YouMD 049
    5. 059 Another GirlMD 048
    6. 060 You’re Going To Lose That GirlMD 055
    7. 050 Ticket To RideMD 047
    8. C24 Act NaturallycoverMD 060b
    9. 061 It’s Only LoveMD 060
    10. 052 You Like Me Too MuchMD 052
    11. 053 Tell Me What You SeeMD 054
    12. 062 I’ve Just Seen A FaceMD 057
    13. 063 YesterdayMD 059
    14. C23 Dizzy Miss LizzycoverMD 056b

  19. Single We Can Work It Out

    Released: 03.12.1965 [UK] on Parlophone R 5389 as double A-side single

    1. 064 We Can Work It OutMD 068
    2. 065 Day TripperMD 065
  20. Cover of Rubber Soul

    LP Rubber Soul

    Released: 03.12.1965 [UK] on Parlophone PMC 1267 [mono]; Parlophone PCS 3075 [stereo]

    1. 066 Drive My CarMD 064
    2. 067 Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)MD 063
    3. 068 You Won’t See MeMD 075
    4. 069 Nowhere ManMD 069
    5. 070 Think For YourselfMD 073
    6. 071 The WordMD 074
    7. 072 MichelleMD 071
    8. 073 What Goes OnMD 072
    9. 074 GirlMD 076
    10. 075 I’m Looking Through YouMD 070
    11. 076 In My LifeMD 067
    12. 077 WaitMD 061
    13. 078 If I Needed SomeoneMD 066
    14. 079 Run For Your LifeMD 062

  21. Single Paperback Writer

    Released: 30.05.1966 [US]; 10.06.1966 [UK] on Parlophone R 5452 as double A-side single

    1. 080 Paperback WriterMD 080
    2. 081 RainMD 081

  22. Single Eleanor Rigby

    Released: 05.08.1966 [UK] on Parlophone R 5493 as double A-side single

    1. 082 Eleanor RigbyMD 086
    2. 083 Yellow SubmarineMD 088
  23. Cover of Revolver

    LP Revolver

    Released: 05.08.1966 [UK] on Parlophone PMC 7009 [mono]; Parlophone PCS 7009 [stereo]

    1. 084 TaxmanMD 084
    2. 082 Eleanor RigbyMD 086
    3. 085 I’m Only SleepingMD 085
    4. 086 Love You ToMD 079
    5. 087 Here, There, And EverywhereMD 091
    6. 083 Yellow SubmarineMD 088
    7. 088 She Said She SaidMD 092
    8. 089 Good Day SunshineMD 090
    9. 090 And Your Bird Can SingMD 083
    10. 091 For No OneMD 087
    11. 092 Doctor RobertMD 082
    12. 093 I Want To Tell YouMD 089
    13. 094 Got To Get You Into My LifeMD 078
    14. 095 Tomorrow Never KnowsMD 077

  24. Single Strawberry Fields Forever

    Released: 13.02.1967 [US]; 17.02.1967 [UK] on Parlophone R 5570 as double A-side single

    1. 096 Strawberry Fields ForeverMD 093
    2. 097 Penny LaneMD 095
  25. Cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

    LP Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

    Released: 01.06.1967 [UK] on Parlophone PMC 7027 [mono]; Parlophone PCS 7027 [stereo]

    1. 098 Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club BandMD 097
    2. 099 With A Little Help From My FriendsMD 107
    3. 100 Lucy In The Sky With DiamondsMD 103
    4. 101 Getting BetterMD 104
    5. 102 Fixing A HoleMD 099
    6. 103 She’s Leaving HomeMD 106
    7. 104 Being For The Benefit Of Mr. KiteMD 101
    8. 105 Within You Without YouMD 105
    9. 106 When I’m Sixty-FourMD 094
    10. 107 Lovely RitaMD 102
    11. 108 Good Morning, Good MorningMD 098
    12. 109 Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)MD 108
    13. 110 A Day In The LifeMD 096

  26. Single All You Need Is Love

    Released: 07.07.1967 [UK] on Parlophone R 5620; the title song was aired on the Eurovision program “Our World” on 25.06.1967

    1. 111 All You Need Is LoveMD 114
    2. 112 Baby You’re A Rich ManMD 110

  27. Single Hello Goodbye

    Released: 24.11.1967 [UK] on Parlophone R 5655

    1. 113 Hello GoodbyeMD 120
    2. 114 I Am The WalrusMD 116
  28. Cover of Magical Mystery Tour

    LP Magical Mystery Tour

    Released: 27.11.1967 [US]

    1. 115 Magical Mystery TourMD 109
    2. 116 The Fool On The HillMD 119
    3. 117 FlyingMD 118
    4. 118 Blue Jay WayMD 117
    5. 119 Your Mother Should KnowMD 115
    6. 114 I Am The WalrusMD 116
    7. 113 Hello GoodbyeMD 120
    8. 096 Strawberry Fields ForeverMD 093
    9. 097 Penny LaneMD 095
    10. 112 Baby You’re A Rich ManMD 110
    11. 120 All You Need Is Love (Refrain only)variantMD 114

  29. EP Magical Mystery Tour

    Released: 08.12.1967 [UK] on Parlophone MMT-1 [mono] and SMMT-1 [stereo]

    1. 115 Magical Mystery TourMD 109
    2. 119 Your Mother Should KnowMD 115
    3. 114 I Am The WalrusMD 116
    4. 116 The Fool On The HillMD 119
    5. 117 FlyingMD 118
    6. 118 Blue Jay WayMD 117

  30. Single Lady Madonna

    Released: 15.03.1968 [UK] on Parlophone R 5675

    1. 121 Lady MadonnaMD 122
    2. 122 The Inner LightMD 121

  31. Single Hey Jude

    Released: 26.08.1968 [US]; 30.08.1968 [UK] on Apple/Parlophone R 5722

    1. 123 Hey JudeMD 137
    2. 124 RevolutionMD 132
  32. Cover of The Beatles [White Album]

    LP The Beatles [White Album]

    Released: 22.11.1968 [UK] on Parlophone PMC 7067-7068 [mono]; Parlophone PCS 7067-7068 [stereo]

    1. 125 Back In The USSRMD 142
    2. 126 Dear PrudenceMD 143
    3. 127 Glass OnionMD 144
    4. 128 Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-DaMD 131
    5. 129 Wild Honey PieMD 141
    6. 130 The Continuing Story Of Bungalow BillMD 154
    7. 131 While My Guitar Gently WeepsMD 136
    8. 132 Happiness Is A Warm GunMD 148
    9. 133 Martha My DearMD 151
    10. 134 I’m So TiredMD 153
    11. 135 BlackbirdMD 128
    12. 136 PiggiesMD 147
    13. 137 Rocky RaccoonMD 140
    14. 138 Don’t Pass Me ByMD 126
    15. 139 Why Don’t We Do It In the RoadMD 155
    16. 140 I WillMD 145
    17. 141 JuliaMD 156
    18. 142 BirthdayMD 146
    19. 143 Yer BluesMD 139
    20. 144 Mother Nature’s SonMD 138
    21. 145 Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My MonkeyMD 129
    22. 146 Sexy SadieMD 135
    23. 147 Helter SkelterMD 134
    24. 148 Long, Long, LongMD 152
    25. 149 Revolution (1)MD 125
    26. 150 Honey PieMD 149
    27. 151 Savoy TruffleMD 150
    28. 152 Cry Baby CryMD 133
    29. 153 Can You Take Me Back(untitled song fragment)
    30. 154 Revolution #9MD 127
    31. 155 Good NightMD 130
  33. Cover of Yellow Submarine

    LP Yellow Submarine

    Released: 13.01.1969 [US]; 17.01.1969 [UK] on Parlophone PMC 7070 [mono]; Parlophone PCS 7070 [stereo]

    1. 083 Yellow SubmarineMD 088
    2. 156 Only A Northern SongMD 100
    3. 157 All Together NowMD 111
    4. 158 Hey BulldogMD 124
    5. 159 It’s All Too MuchMD 113
    6. 111 All You Need Is LoveMD 114

  34. Single Get Back

    Released: 11.04.1969 [UK] on Apple/Parlophone R 5777

    1. 160 Get Back(with Billy Preston on piano)MD 160
    2. 161 Don’t Let Me Down(with Billy Preston on piano)MD 159

  35. Single The Ballad Of John And Yoko

    Released: 30.05.1969 [UK] on Apple/Parlophone R 5786

    1. 162 The Ballad Of John And YokoMD 168
    2. 163 Old Brown ShoeMD 169
  36. Cover of Abbey Road

    LP Abbey Road

    Released: 26.09.1969 on [UK] Parlophone PCS 7088 [stereo]

    1. 164 Come TogetherMD 179
    2. 165 SomethingMD 170
    3. 166 Maxwell’s Silver HammerMD 178
    4. 167 Oh! DarlingMD 171
    5. 168 Octopus’s GardenMD 172
    6. 169 I Want You (She’s So Heavy)MD 167
    7. 170 Here Comes The SunMD 177
    8. 171 BecauseMD 185
    9. 172 You Never Give Me Your MoneyMD 173
    10. 173 Sun KingMD 181
    11. 174 Mean Mr MustardMD 182
    12. 175 Polythene PamMD 183
    13. 176 She Came In Through The Bathroom WindowMD 184
    14. 177 Golden SlumbersMD 175
    15. 178 Carry That WeightMD 176
    16. 179 The EndMD 180
    17. 180 Her MajestyMD 174

  37. Single Let It Be

    Released: 06.03.1969 [UK] on Apple/Parlophone R 5833

    1. 181 Let It Be(with Billy Preston on piano)MD 164
    2. 182 You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)MD 112

  38. LP No One’s Gonna Change Our World

    World Wildlife Fund Charity LP, released: 12.12.1969 [UK] on Regal Starline SRS 5013

    1. 183 Across The Universe(with wildlife sound effects)MD 123
  39. Cover of Let it Be

    LP Let it Be

    Released: 08.05.1970 [UK] on Apple/Parlophone PCS 7096 [stereo]

    1. 184 Two Of UsMD 161
    2. 185 Dig A PonyMD 157
    3. 186 Across The Universevariant(remixed)MD 123
    4. 187 I Me MineMD 186
    5. 188 Dig ItMD 162
    6. 189 Let It Bevariant(with Billy Preston on piano; produced by Phil Spector)MD 164
    7. T01 Maggie MaeMD 161b
    8. 190 I’ve Got A FeelingMD 158
    9. 191 One After 909MD 166
    10. 192 The Long And Winding RoadMD 165
    11. 193 For You BlueMD 163
    12. 194 Get Backvariant(with Billy Preston on piano; produced by Phil Spector)MD 160

  40. Single Free As A Bird

    Released: 04.12.1995 on Apple/EMI CDR 6422, CD-single

    1. 195 Free As A BirdMD 187

  41. Single Real Love

    Released: 04.03.1996 on Apple/EMI CDR 6425, CD-single

    1. 196 Real LoveMD 188
    2. 007 Love Me Do , double of 001, but with Andy White sitting behind the drums;variant
    3. 024 Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand , German version of 022: I Want To Hold Your Hand (same basic track with added vocals and handclaps);variant
    4. 025 Sie Liebt Dich , German version of 012: She Loves You (commonly taken as a complete rerecording of the original, but maybe just like 024 the same basic track with new vocals);variant
    5. 120 refrain of 111: All You Need Is Love ;variant
    6. 186 Across The Universe , remix by Phil Spector of 183: Across The Universe without wildlife sounds;variant
    7. 189 Let It Be , remix by Phil Spector of the single version 181: Let It Be (same take, but slightly longer and with a different solo guitar track);variant
    8. 194 Get Back , mixed by Phil Spector from a take that was recorded a day before (27.01.69) that of the single 160: Get Back ;variant
    9. 153 Can You Take Me Back (untitled song fragment by McCartney on the White Album).
    10. 109 the Reprise of 098: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band on the album with the same name;
    11. 149 Revolution 1 , a variant of 124: Revolution with slight but significant differences in the lyrics.

What counts as the canon

The official Beatles’ canon covers all songs the Beatles recorded and authorized for publication in their years as a performing group. In those years between 1962 and 1970 the Beatles released 219 songs or song variants, which are listed below in order of appearance. In this list there are 24 covers (C), and 1 traditional (T), leaving us with up to 194 released recordings of original Beatles’ songs. Among those 194 we find 9 song variations and 1 song fragment. Of those 10 performances most authors of Beatles’ books and commentaries discard 7 tracks as just variants or invalid members of the Beatles’ songbook, leaving us with exactly 187 canonical Beatles’ originals, 24 covers and 1 traditional: a total of 212 songs. The links on this page all point towards Alan W. Pollack’s Notes on ... Series . MD-numbers refer to the standard “MacDonald Verzeichnis” of the Beatles’ songs.

Those seven discarded songs are all doubles:

The one song fragment can be found on the White Album midbetween “Cry Baby Cry” and “Revolution #9”:

This “ditty” was written and sung by Paul McCartney at the recording sessions of “I Will” on 16th September 1968 as take 19 of this song. The full song lasts 2’21 minutes and is not copyrighted. Most Beatles’ commentaries exclude it from their lists. Having listened to the take several times, I’m inclined to do the opposite.

The other two songs, that are usually counted as legal canonical songs are:

Notes by Ger Tillekens. Pollack’s own discussion of the fragment is Notes on “Can You Take Me Back”.

    Type a song title, or try “V-of-V”, “Mixolydian” or “cross relation”.