195: Ask Me Why

Album: Please Please Me
Writer: Lennon/McCartney
Singer: Lennon

Verdict: This is a interesting song from a musical standpoint. The structure changes a few times and John does some interesting things with his voice. I dig the line, “That I, I, I, I should never, never be blue.” But Paul’s backing vocals are needless and distracting and ultimately, the lyrics themselves are underwhelming. If this were an a cappella solo I’d probably like it more.

194: There’s A Place

Album: Please Please Me
Writer: Lennon/McCartney
Singer: Lennon/McCartney

Verdict: The only decent part of this song is “Don’t you know that it’s so?” Not a big fan of the harmonica. A rare depressing song on their first album, but the musical stylings are just too upbeat to really hit home.

193: I’m Happy Just To Dance With You

Album: A Hard Day’s Night
Writer: Lennon/McCartney
Singer: Harrison

Verdict: Trash written for Harrison so he could sing something for their first movie. Harrison does really give it his best effort and the backing vocals help, but this is like the 947th best song about dancing.

192: I’ll Get You

Album: Past Masters, Volume 1
Writer: Lennon/McCartney
Singer: Lennon/McCartney

Verdict: Released as the B-side to “She Loves You.” Paul and John sing together and harmonize well, but as usual in their early days, the lyrics are simplistic and the music is just kind of there. I do enjoy the repetition of “Oh yeah!” throughout the song and the absence of a lead guitar. At least it stands out a bit.

191: Yellow Submarine

Album: Revolver AND Yellow Submarine
Writer: McCartney
Singer: Starr

Verdict: You notice how in the picture the font is way bigger than for Eleanor Rigby? Yeah. I liked this song when I was a kid, which makes sense, because it’s musically at the level of an eight year-old. It has some neat sound effects. But it’s still a children’s song, and my toddler loves about 30 songs that I enjoy more than this one. It fits on Revolver like I fit into skinny jeans–only for a few minutes and with a risk of making all of me look gross. If this were released on Please Please Me I have a feeling it would have been a novelty. But it was released in 1966 so people thought it was a brilliant testament to the band’s fame and isolation. It’s a fucking submarine.