[to be updated as new versions become available or are discovered]
My goal is simple: make a master list of all Beatles songs in the best sound currently available: which incorporates remasters (same tracks in the recording but updated sound), remixes (where the tracks or channels are improved and rearranged: usually “from scratch”). I’m both a Beatles fanatic (favorite band since 1964) and an audiophile of sorts, and I love to share what I’ve discovered: including many mixes currently available to the public on YouTube.
Of course this is my subjective taste. In a nutshell, I like centered vocals (except harmony vocals) and centered (punchy, prominent) drums, guitars separated (where there is rhythm guitar), and a more prominent bass: which is, blessedly, what most of the remixes coming out also usually feature. When older recordings have a wide stereo separation (that sounds antiquated and “weird” to most modern ears), and especially when the drums are buried on one side, I will prefer mono versions: especially for the rockers. The drums have to be in the forefront of those!
There is also the matter of the American / Capitol versions, which would often add reverb, to create a more “lively” and “exciting” sound. For their recordings from 1962-1964, I prefer the US versions 26 times out of the first 49 songs (as of 11-26-22). Again, you’ll have to see if you agree, by listening to those, when it’s possible without a purchase. This is my list, based on my own opinions of what a “good” Beatles recording ought to sound like. Others obviously may differ. But with this sort of listing, significant subjectivism is unavoidable. I will link to several of my articles that explain my choices. But I even revise them, myself, fairly often, as time goes on and new remixes come out.
I include on my list the date of recording, blue color font (for the identifying number on the left) for mono recordings, links to YouTube files (in the title) if and when they are available, “US” in brackets after the name, if it is a distinctive Capitol recording, date of remaster or remix (+ creator of same, if not “official”), and what album(s) each song is from. Enjoy!
[note: The U.S. Albums box set from 2014 actually used the British (EMI) masters, not the Capitol US master tracks]
*****
1) 62-9-11 Love Me Do (’15) [Please Please Me / 1 album, remix version]
2) 62-9-11 P.S. I Love You [US] (’06) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 2]
3) 62-11-26 Please Please Me [US] (’06) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 2]
4) 62-11-26 Ask Me Why (’09) [Please Please Me / The Beatles in Mono]
5) 63-2-11 I Saw Her Standing There [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
6) 63-2-11 Anna [US] (’06) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 2]
7) 63-2-11 Chains (’09) [Please Please Me / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
8) 63-2-11 Boys [US] (’06) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 2]
9) 63-2-11 Do You Want to Know a Secret [US] (’06) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 2]
10) 63-2-11 A Taste of Honey [US] (’06) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 2]
11) 63-2-11 There’s a Place (’09) [Please Please Me / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
12) 63-2-11 Twist and Shout [US] (’06) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 2]
13) 63-2-20 Misery (’09) [Please Please Me / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
14) 63-2-20 Baby It’s You [US] (’06) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 2]
15) 63-3-5 From Me to You (’20) (Stereo Classics Remix)
16) 63-3-5 Thank You Girl [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
17) 63-7-1 She Loves You (’15) [1 album, remix version]
18) 63-7-1 I’ll Get You [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
19) 63-7-18 You Really Got a Hold On Me (’09) [With the Beatles / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
20) 63-7-18 Devil In Her Heart (’09) [With the Beatles / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
21) 63-7-18 Money (’14) [The U.S. Albums]
22) 63-7-30 It Won’t Be Long [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
23) 63-7-30 All My Loving (’09) [With the Beatles / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
24) 63-7-30 Till There Was You (’09) [With the Beatles / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
25) 63-7-30 Please Mr. Postman [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
26) 63-7-30 Roll Over Beethoven [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
27) 63-9-11 All I’ve Got to Do (’09) [With the Beatles / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
28) 63-9-11 Not a Second Time (’09) [With the Beatles / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
29) 63-9-12 Don’t Bother Me (’09) [With the Beatles / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
30) 63-9-12 Hold Me Tight (’09) [With the Beatles / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
31) 63-10-3 Little Child [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
32) 63-10-17 I Wanna Hold Your Hand [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
33) 63-10-17 This Boy (’22) (Three Dot Records Remix)
34) 63-10-23 I Wanna Be Your Man (’14) [The U.S. Albums]
35) 64-2-25 Can’t Buy Me Love (’15) [1 album, remix version]
36) 64-2-25 You Can’t Do That [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
37) 64-2-26 I Should Have Known Better (’21) (Stereo Classics Remix)
38) 64-2-27 If I Fell (’14) [The U.S. Albums]
39) 64-2-27 And I Love Her (’14) [The U.S. Albums]
40) 64-2-27 Tell Me Why [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
41) 64-3-1 I’m Happy Just to Dance With You [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
42) 64-3-1 I Call Your Name [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
43) 64-3-1 Long Tall Sally [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
44) 64-4-16 A Hard Day’s Night (’15) [1 album, remix version]
45) 64-6-1 I’ll Cry Instead [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
46) 64-6-1 I’ll Be Back [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
47) 64-6-1 Matchbox [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
48) 64-6-2 Any Time At All [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
49) 64-6-2 When I Get Home [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
50) 64-6-3 Things We Said Today [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
51) 64-6-4 Slow Down (’14) [The U.S. Albums]
52) 64-8-11 Baby’s In Black (’09) [Beatles for Sale / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
53) 64-8-14 I’m A Loser (’09) [Beatles for Sale / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
54) 64-8-14 Mr. Moonlight (’09) [Beatles for Sale / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
55) 64-9-29 I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party (’09) [Beatles for Sale / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
56) 64-9-30 No Reply (’09) [Beatles for Sale / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
57) 64-9-30 Every Little Thing (’09) [Beatles for Sale / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
58) 64-10-8 She’s a Woman (new US-like mix, ’14) [The U.S. Albums]
59) 64-10-18 I Feel Fine (’15) [Beatles for Sale / 1 album, remix version]
60) 64-10-18 Rock and Roll Music (’09) [Beatles for Sale / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
61) 64-10-18 I’ll Follow the Sun (’09) [Beatles for Sale / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
62) 64-10-18 Kansas City, Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey (’09) [Beatles for Sale / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
63) 64-10-18 Words of Love (’09) [Beatles for Sale / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
64) 64-10-18 Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby (’09) [Beatles for Sale / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
65) 64-10-18 Eight Days a Week (’15) [Beatles for Sale / 1 album, remix version]
66) 64-10-26 Honey Don’t [US] (’04) [The Capitol Albums, Volume 1]
67) 64-10-26 What You’re Doing (’09) [Beatles for Sale / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
68) 65-2-15 Ticket to Ride (’15) [Help! / 1 album, remix version]
69) 65-2-16 I Need You (’09) [Help! / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
70) 65-2-16 Another Girl (’09) [Help! / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
71) 65-2-16 Yes It Is (’09) [Past Masters]
72) 65-2-17 The Night Before (’09) [Help! / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
73) 65-2-17 You Like Me Too Much (’09) [Help! / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
74) 65-2-18 You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away (’09) [Help! / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
75) 65-2-18 Tell Me What You See (’09) [Help! / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
76) 65-2-19 You’re Going to Lose That Girl (’09) [Help! / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
77) 65-4-13 Help (’15) [Help! / 1 album, remix version]
78) 65-5-10 Dizzy Miss Lizzy (’14) [The U.S. Albums]
79) 65-5-10 Bad Boy (’14) [The U.S. Albums]
80) 65-6-14 I’m Down (’09) [The Beatles in Mono]
81) 65-6-14 I’ve Just Seen a Face (’09) [Help! / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
82) 65-6-14 Yesterday (’15) [Help! / 1 album, remix version]
83) 65-6-15 It’s Only Love (’09) [Help! / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
84) 65-6-17 Act Naturally (’09) [Help! / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
85) 65-6-17 Wait (’21) (Stereo Classics Remix) [Rubber Soul]
86) 65-10-12 Run for Your Life (’17) (Miguethor remix) [Rubber Soul]
87) 65-10-13 Drive My Car (’22) (m3rcmusic Remix) [Rubber Soul]
88) 65-10-16 If I Needed Someone (’17) (Miguethor remix) [Rubber Soul]
89) 65-10-16 Day Tripper (’15) [1 album, remix version]
90) 65-10-18 In My Life (’17) (Miguethor remix) [Rubber Soul]
91) 65-10-20 We Can Work it Out (’15) [1 album, remix version]
92) 65-10-21 Norwegian Wood (’22) (Rongo Remix) [Rubber Soul]
93) 65-10-22 Nowhere Man (’99) [Rubber Soul / Yellow Submarine Songtrack]
94) 65-11-3 Michelle (’21) (Stereo Classics Remix) [Rubber Soul]
95) 65-11-4 What Goes On (’22) (Rongo Remix) [Rubber Soul]
96) 65-11-8 Think for Yourself (’99) [Rubber Soul / Yellow Submarine Songtrack]
97) 65-11-10 The Word (’20) (J K Remix) [Rubber Soul]
98) 65-11-11 You Won’t See Me (’19) (TheOneBeatleManiac Remix) [Rubber Soul]
99) 65-11-11 Girl (’11) [Rubber Soul / Love]
100) 65-11-11 I’m Looking Through You (’17) (Miguethor remix) [Rubber Soul]
101) 66-4-13 Love You To (’22) [Revolver Remix]
102) 66-4-14 Paperback Writer (’22) [Revolver Remix]
103) 66-4-16 Rain (’22) [Revolver Remix]
104) 66-4-19 Doctor Robert (’22) [Revolver Remix]
105) 66-4-21 Taxman (’22) [Revolver Remix]
106) 66-4-22 Tomorrow Never Knows (’22) [Revolver Remix]
107) 66-4-26 And Your Bird Can Sing (’22) [Revolver Remix]
108) 66-5-6 I’m Only Sleeping (’22) [Revolver Remix]
109) 66-5-19 For No One (’22) [Revolver Remix]
110) 66-6-1 Yellow Submarine (’99) [Revolver / Yellow Submarine Songtrack]
111) 66-6-3 I Want to Tell You (’22) [Revolver Remix]
112) 66-6-6 Eleanor Rigby (’22) [Revolver Remix]
113) 66-6-9 Good Day Sunshine (’22) [Revolver Remix]
114) 66-6-14 Here, There and Everywhere (’22) [Revolver Remix]
115) 66-6-17 Got to Get You Into My Life (’22) [Revolver Remix]
116) 66-6-21 She Said She Said (’22) [Revolver Remix]
117) 66-12-20 When I’m Sixty-Four (’17) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Remix]
118) 66-12-22 Strawberry Fields Forever (’15) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Remix]
119) 67-1-17 Penny Lane (’17) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Remix]
120) 67-2-9 Fixing a Hole (’09) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / The Beatles in Mono]
121) 67-2-13 Only a Northern Song (’99) [Yellow Submarine Songtrack]
122) 67-2-22 A Day in the Life (’06) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / Love]
123) 67-3-2 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (’99) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / Yellow Submarine Songtrack]
124) 67-3-7 Lovely Rita (’17) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Remix]
125) 67-3-20 She’s Leaving Home (’17) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Remix]
126) 67-3-23 Getting Better (’17) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Remix]
127) 67-3-28 Good Morning Good Morning (’17) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Remix]
128) 67-3-30 With A Little Help From My Friends (’17) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Remix]
129) 67-3-31 Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite! (’17) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Remix]
130) 67-4-1 Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (’17) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Remix]
131) 67-4-1 Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (’17) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Remix]
132) 67-4-3 Within You Without You (’17) [Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Remix]
133) 67-4-27 Magical Mystery Tour (’09) [Magical Mystery Tour / The Beatles in Mono]
134) 67-5-11 Baby, You’re Rich Man (’99) [Magical Mystery Tour / Yellow Submarine Songtrack]
135) 67-5-12 All Together Now (’99) [Yellow Submarine Songtrack]
136) 67-5-25 It’s All Too Much (’99) [Yellow Submarine Songtrack]
137) 67-6-26 All You Need is Love (’99) [Magical Mystery Tour / Yellow Submarine Songtrack]
138) 67-9-7 Blue Jay Way (’21) (naturalkatsup-hailey Remix) [Magical Mystery Tour]
139) 67-9-27 The Fool on the Hill (’11) [Magical Mystery Tour / Love]
140) 67-9-28 Flying (’09) [Magical Mystery Tour / The Beatles in Mono]
141) 67-9-29 Your Mother Should Know (’09) [Magical Mystery Tour / The Beatles in Mono]
142) 67-9-29 I Am the Walrus (’18) (John Drake Remix) [Magical Mystery Tour]
143) 67-11-2 Hello, Goodbye (’15) [Magical Mystery Tour / 1 album, remix version]
144) 68-2-4 Across the Universe (’03) [Let it Be . . . Naked]
145) 68-2-6 Lady Madonna (’15) [1 album, remix version]
146) 68-2-8 The Inner Light (’09) [Past Masters]
147) 68-2-11 Hey Bulldog (’99) [Yellow Submarine Songtrack]
148) 68-6-11 Blackbird (’18) [The White Album Remix]
149) 68-6-21 Revolution 1 (’18) [The White Album Remix]
150) 68-6-21 Revolution 9 (’18) [The White Album Remix]
151) 68-7-1 Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey (’18) [The White Album Remix]
152) 68-7-13 Revolution (’09) [The Beatles in Mono]
153) 68-7-15 Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (’18) [The White Album Remix]
154) 68-7-18 Cry Baby Cry (’18) [The White Album Remix]
155) 68-7-22 Don’t Pass Me By (’18) [The White Album Remix]
156) 68-7-22 Good Night (’18) [The White Album Remix]
157) 68-8-1 Hey Jude (’15) [1 album, remix version]
158) 68-8-13 Yer Blues (’18) [The White Album Remix]
159) 68-8-15 Rocky Raccoon (’18) [The White Album Remix]
160) 68-8-20 Wild Honey Pie (’18) [The White Album Remix]
161) 68-8-20 Mother Nature’s Son (’18) [The White Album Remix]
162) 68-8-21 Sexy Sadie (’09) [The White Album / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
163) 68-8-23 Back In The USSR (’18) [The White Album Remix]
164) 68-8-30 Dear Prudence (’18) [The White Album Remix]
165) 68-9-6 While My Guitar Gently Weeps (’18) [The White Album Remix]
166) 68-9-10 Helter Skelter (’18) [The White Album Remix]
167) 68-9-11 Glass Onion (’18) [The White Album Remix]
168) 68-9-16 I Will (’09) [The White Album / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
169) 68-9-18 Birthday (’18) [The White Album Remix]
170) 68-9-20 Piggies (’18) [The White Album Remix]
171) 68-9-26 Happiness Is A Warm Gun (’18) [The White Album Remix]
172) 68-10-1 Honey Pie (’18) [The White Album Remix]
173) 68-10-4 Martha My Dear (’18) [The White Album Remix]
174) 68-10-8 I’m So Tired (’18) [The White Album Remix]
175) 68-10-8 The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill (’18) [The White Album Remix]
176) 68-10-8 Long, Long, Long (’18) [The White Album Remix]
177) 68-10-10 Why Don’t We Do It in the Road (’18) [The White Album Remix]
178) 68-10-13 Julia (’18) [The White Album Remix]
179) 68-10-14 Savoy Truffle (’18) [The White Album Remix]
180) 69-1-24 Maggie Mae (’09) [Let it Be / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
181) 69-1-26 Dig It (’09) [Let it Be / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
182) 69-1-28 Get Back (’15) [Let it Be / 1 album, remix version]
183) 69-1-30 Dig a Pony (’03) [Let it Be . . . Naked]
184) 69-1-30 I’ve Got a Feeling (’21) [Let it Be Remix]
185) 69-1-30 One After 909 (’03) [Let it Be . . . Naked]
186) 69-1-30 Don’t Let Me Down (’03) [Let it Be . . . Naked]
187) 69-1-31 Two of Us (’03) [Let it Be . . . Naked]
188) 69-1-31 The Long and Winding Road (’03) [Let it Be . . . Naked]
189) 69-4-14 The Ballad of John & Yoko (’15) [1 album, remix version]
190) 69-4-18 Old Brown Shoe (’09) [Past Masters]
191) 69-4-30 You Know My Name (from stereo set, ’09) [Past Masters]
192) 69-7-2 Her Majesty (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
193) 69-7-18 Octopus’s Garden (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
194) 69-7-25 Sun King (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
195) 69-7-29 Mean Mr. Mustard (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
196) 69-7-30 Polythene Pam (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
197) 69-7-30 She Came in Through the Bathroom Window (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
198) 69-7-30 Come Together (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
199) 69-8-5 Because (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
200) 69-8-5 You Never Give Me Your Money (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
201) 69-8-6 Maxwell’s Silver Hammer (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
202) 69-8-11 Oh Darling (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
203) 69-8-11 I Want You (She’s So Heavy) (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
204) 69-8-15 Something (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
205) 69-8-15 Golden Slumbers (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
206) 69-8-15 Carry That Weight (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
207) 69-8-19 Here Comes the Sun (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
208) 69-8-20 The End (’19) [Abbey Road Remix]
209) 70-1-8 For You Blue (’03) [Let it Be . . . Naked]
210) 70-3-26 Let It Be (’09 album version) [Let it Be / The Beatles: Original Studio Recordings]
211) 70-4-1 I Me Mine (’21) [Let it Be Remix]
***
UPDATES
You Won’t See Me (12-17-22) #98
Run for Your Life (12-21-22) #86
If I Needed Someone (12-21-22) #88
In My Life (12-21-22) #90
I’m Looking Through You (12-21-22) #100
***
Related Reading
Review of US Version Beatles Albums: 1964 (lots of interesting comparisons of US and UK tracks) [12-1-04]
Beatles and Schubert: Musicological Comparisons [12-22-04; expanded on 3-1-18]
Beatles Update (The Capitol Albums, Vol. 2) [5-23-06; at Internet Archive]
Beatles Recordings: Chronological Master List (Including Alternate Mixes) (All Beatles recordings, in order of recording date, noting different mixes and versions, stereo, “fake stereo,” mono, what album songs appear on, dates of UK and US release, singles information, etc.) [3-16-07; at Internet Archive]
Amazon Review of the 2009 Beatles Stereo and Mono Box Sets [9-13-09]
“Beatles Heaven” Again (New “1” Album) (see Amazon review) [11-9-15]
Amazon Review of Sgt. Pepper (50th Anniversary Edition) (See also my own posting at Patheos) [5-26-17]
Review of The White Album (Beatles): 50th Anniversary Remix (see the review on Amazon) [11-14-18]
Review of 2021 Remix of The Beatles’ Let it Be (see also the review posted on the Amazon page) [10-15-21]
Beatles’ Revolver ’22 Remix: Wondrous Ear Candy [10-28-22]
Beatles’ Rubber Soul: Best Remixes (As We Await the Official Remix) [12-21-22]
***
Photo credit: The Beatles Sergeant Peppers Classic Rock Music Legends Icons Postcard Poster Print 11×14 (Trends International) [Amazon]
Summary: Best versions of 211 Beatles songs. List includes recording dates, links to YouTube files, “US” versions, date of remaster or remix, and album(s) each song is from.
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