The Best Non-Mainstream Beatles-songs

The Beatles is one of the most famous and legendary bands in the world. Almost everybody knows at least some of their songs, like Yesterday or Hey Jude. So I was thinking it would be interesting to highlight some of their less mainstream songs. With less mainstream I do not mean they are  not famous, as the fans are aware of these songs. I mean songs that are released as album tracks or B-sides that are not as much known by the general public as their biggest hits.

Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
This song from the Abbey Road album is a typical McCartney song: sung in a happy melody. It also tells a dark story, about a medical student named Maxwell who murders multiple people with his silver hammer. Although Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr hated this song, I love it as I find the contrast between the jolly, catchy almost childlike melody and style of the song and the dark story very interesting.

I’ve Just Seen a Face
This song from the album Help! Written by Paul McCartney strongly describes the feeling of new love, in a good speed and fitting lyrics. The country feeling of it is also nice.

You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away
This John Lennon song appears on the album and the film Help!. It is strongly inspired by Bob Dylan’s style. I also enjoy the acoustic guitar work and the “Hey” at the start of the refrain. There are also stories that the song was written about the closeted homosexuality of their manager Brian Epstein. Although Lennon never confirmed this, it gives the song extra meaning.

You Know My Name (Look up the Number)
This is the B-side of the Let It Be-single. I like the british comedy style of this song, which is a bit like the style of Monty Python or Spike Milligan.

Baby’s in Black
This is a cute, little song about a girl who is more thinking about her deceased former lover than her current one. A notable performance of this song was in The Beatles’ legendary Shea Stadium concert.

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