Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Let's turn things around here. What's the best Beatle song? My vote is for "Day Tripper" because of the greatest guitar riff of all time.Anyone?

When it comes to rockin groove, Birthday gets my vote. I also like Day Tripper, and Drive My Car, Hey Bulldog, I'll Cry Instead, I'm a Looser, and most of Abbey Road. Gosh, there are so many . . . .

Tough one...I Saw Her Standing There, You Can't Do That, I Am The Walrus

I agree that Day Tripper is the greatest guitar riff... just look at how many times it has been copied, quoted or imitated. But my favorite Beatles tune has always been "A Day in a Life", there's just something about it that almost haunts me. Side two of Abbey Road would be a close second, then so many more.....

yep side 2 of AR

I Feel Fine.

Nowhere Man. Hands down. Too bad it's not a Rick playing the solo; then life would be perfect and the circle unbroken.

There are some who maintain that the Day Tripper riff was borrowed from "What'd I Say" by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Paul W., my band now plays Nowhere Man. The bassline is really interesting, especially the part behind "The world is at your command." I pride myself in playing the entire tune without moving the thumb on my left (fretting) hand. My boys really got the harmony down, too.

A Day in the Life or Hey Bulldog.

As I recall, recognizable structural elements of the so called Day Tripper riff were being played live by various blues/jazz/r&b musicians in Southern England for quite a few years prior to The Beatles presenting it to the mainstream in 1965. As far as I know, no body of recorded work contains that precise riff prior to 1965.

Whether or not The Bluesbreakers were responsible for the particular manner in which those notes appeared on the Beatles record remains to be seen IMO.

It was and still is quite common to "borrow" riffs or elements of riffs to enhance or perhaps to make a song somewhat recognizable. Perhaps John unconsciously did that as well? After all the song is essentially in a 12 bar blues format.

Strawberry Fields Forever.

My vote for best song not written by, but performed by the Beatles is Anna.

My vote for best song written and performed by the Beatles is Nowhere Man. These songs are my all time favorites.

David,

I can't make New West on Friday but sometime in May I should be able to meet up with you and we can play both Anna and Nowhere Man to our hearts content I'll probably bring my 360v64 along with me.

Paul, I agree about that bassline. It shows an amazing vision on Macca's part. Talk about creativity!