So The Beatles remastered stereo/mono box set came out recently. Absolutely amazing, totally rekindled my love for the band, and made me reconsider my previously stubborn position of ‘The Rolling Stones > The Beatles.’ No, not just reconsidered. I will announce it here first, I stand corrected. The Beatles are a much better band, there is no doubt about it.

Another thing I have reconsidered is the quality of Magical Mystery Tour. I used to think of it Sgt. Pepper’s younger brother (or sister), and that kooky soundtrack with ‘I Am The Walrus’ on it. No way, this is a fucking brilliant album, and at times I would even go as far as to say it is better (yes, BETTER) than Sgt. Peppers. AndRevolver. And Rubber Soul. And Abbey Road. And The White Album. Four of the greatest pop songs of all time are in a row on this album (‘I Am The Walrus’, ‘Hello Goodbye’, ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, ‘Penny Lane’), and even though it wasn’t made as a conventional album, with the latter two being tacked on later, it is still a work of genius for achieving such a consistent level of brilliance throughout the album.

Because of this remastering, and because of an argument about this same issue in the FANTASTIC movie (500) Days of Summer (seriously, go watch it - now!), I have decided to rate the four Beatles in terms of awesomeness. Best to worst:

1. George Harrison
2. John Lennon
3. Ringo Starr
4. Paul McCartney

George Harrison comes first because he wrote three of my favourite Beatles songs: ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’, ‘Taxman’ and ‘Within You Without You’ (which, incidentally, was going to be the name of this tumbleblog). He had an enormous impact on the direction of the Beatles, but was quiet and thus never really flaunted it. He undeservingly was marginalised by The Beatles, demonstrated in the fact that he released a 3-disc album straight after The Beatles broke up. Also a good guitarist.

Then comes John Lennon. How could you not love Lennon? In the entire Lennon/McCartney partnership, he fo’ sho’ released the best material. Not only that, of the two, his post-Beatles stuff was the only ones worth listening to (Imagine and John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band are awesome). Much cooler in terms of lyricism and all. Much better voice too. I hate McCartney’s pompous voice. John Lennon is where it’s at. Much more unrefined. McCartney may have been great for the earlier, Buddy Holly inspired love-pop-trash music, but when it came to psychedelia etc., Lennon’s harsh, piercing voice just harmonised with the music. Also, he was killed.

Ringo Starr because he was both the greatest and worst drummer of all time. He had the kookiest songs, and believe it or not, ‘Octopus’s Garden’ is one of my favourite songs of all time. Also, he had the brilliant idea of calling an album that was to be released after Aftermath to be called After Geography. Sadly, it never came about.

Paul McCartney is a washed up hack.

<3 George Harrison

Love, Rafi Rafi