Dear Prudence

~*~* My #1 Favorite Beatles Song *~*~
For this blog's final post, I have decided to share with you my absolute favorite Beatles song. If you don't get right away why I feel this song is so special, just listen to it again... and again. It is hard not to be enchanted by the quirky charm and ethereal beauty of Dear Prudence.

Album: The Beatles (aka The White Album)

Year: 1968

Written by: Lennon & McCartney

Wow. I don't even know where to begin to tell you about this song because I love it so much. Listen to it with headphones on to hear all the cool and kind of weird musical layers, as well as the power in John's gentle singing.

In early 1968, The Beatles traveled to Rishikesh, India to study Transcendental Meditation (TM) with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. They wrote many songs and met many new friends during their visit. One new friend was Prudence Farrow, who spent most days all alone in her room trying to master the art of TM. Everyone was worried about her, so the Maharishi appointed John and George to convince her to join the rest of the group, which is when John started singing, "Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play..."

When all four Beatles returned home from India, they got together at George's house and recorded demos of the new songs they had each written. John had worked on Dear Prudence and played it for his bandmates, who joined in and added layers of new sounds when they recorded the song in the studio three months later.

John sings an absolutely sublime double-tracked lead vocal and also plays the haunting finger-picking guitar that runs throughout the song. Both Paul's bass and George's electric guitar are standouts on this track, but, sadly, Ringo does not appear on it. The band members had a disagreement the day before recording Dear Prudence, and Ringo temporarily quit the group, leaving Paul to play the drums. The fan-made video above features photos of The Beatles' visit to the Maharishi's ashram in Rishikesh.

I'll Be Back

** A TOP TEN FAVORITE **

Album: A Hard Day's Night

Year: 1964

Written by: Lennon & McCartney

This gorgeous ballad is the last track on the boys' third studio album, A Hard Day's Night. Although the album includes mostly songs from their film of the same name, I'll Be Back was not included in the movie. Nevertheless, I am not alone in believing it is one of their under-appreciated early masterpieces.

John sings a perfect double-tracked lead vocal, with Paul providing his usual lovely harmony. The acoustic flamenco-style guitars, especially John's strong strumming, adds an exotic flair. With the beautiful guitars, gorgeous vocals, and sad but pretty theme of this ballad, I'll Be Back is one of my Top Ten Favorite Beatles songs.

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Album: The Beatles (aka The White Album)

Year: 1968

Written by: Lennon & McCartney

"Ob-la-di, ob-la-da" was a phrase that Paul learned from his Nigerian friend Jimmy Emuakpor (also known as Jimmy Scott). He said that it means"life goes on" in the Yoruba language. Paul thought it was a cool phrase, and it inspired him to write this fun and silly, ska-influenced song. 

Paul sings lead, with John and George doing the backing vocals. If you listen closely, you can hear John and George singing “Arm!” and “Leg!” after the line “Desmond lets the children lend a hand." George can also be heard saying “Foot!” in the final verse, after Paul sings “Molly lets the children lend a hand." The funny piano intro was written and played by John, and Jimmy Scott plays the conga drums on this track.

If I Fell

** A TOP TEN FAVORITE **

Album: A Hard Day's Night

Year: 1964

Written by: Lennon & McCartney

This beautiful ballad has the most heavenly harmonies in all of pop music. That's just my opinion, of course, but have a listen and then try to tell me I'm wrong. ;-)

John wrote If I Fell to be included in the Beatles' first film, A Hard Day's Night, which is where the video above comes from. John sings the lead vocal, and Paul joins him in perfect harmony. When they recorded this song in the studio, John and Paul shared one microphone, just like one of their musical influences, The Everly Brothers, who were famous for their gorgeous harmonies. Probably because they would sing so close together, when John and Paul used to performed this song in concert, they would often get an incurable case of the giggles.

Giggles or not, I just love the beautiful singing in this song... which is why it is a Top Ten Favorite.

Girl

** A TOP TEN FAVORITE **

Album: Rubber Soul

Year: 1965

Written by: Lennon & McCartney

In the autumn of 1965, The Beatles began recording their sixth studio album, Rubber Soul, which many fans consider to be among the band's best. When it was released, it represented a big change in the Beatles' sound. Most of the songs have a folky, acoustic feel, and several classics can be found on this album.

John wrote Girl in preparation for the Rubber Soul sessions. It was one of his personal favorite compositions, and I can understand why. The vocals in this song are some of the best in all of Beatledom. John sings a sumptuous and soulful lead; many people (including Paul!) feel it is one of his most memorable performances. When Paul and George join him in harmony, it just sounds so smooth and lovely. It's one of those sad songs that also sounds beautiful, which is why it is one of my Top Ten Favorites.