145: It’s Only Love

Album: Help!
Writer: Lennon
Singer: Lennon

Verdict: Album filler with weak lyrics, but John’s singing here gives it a little extra. Really awkward first verse, though, with one entire line of the song just being the word “butterflies.”

144: I Me Mine

Album: Let It Be
Writer: Harrison
Singer: Harrison

Verdict: The last song recorded by The Beatles, though Lennon had already left by then. The verses are fine, and Harrison challenges himself a bit to nice effect. But the chorus leaves me cold with everyone screaming the title.

143: Act Naturally

Album: Help!
Writer: Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison
Singer: Starr

Verdict: A silly country song that Buck Owens took to #1 in 1963. Ringo was the perfect choice for this as his voice has a similar carefree quality. That said, I’d rather listen to Buck sing it. I didn’t realize Buck and Ringo teamed up for a duet of this song in 1989 and it was a Top 40 hit on the country charts again. Crazy.

142: Don’t Pass Me By

Album: The Beatles
Writer: Starr
Singer: Starr

Verdict: A weird song, though not surprising given that this was all Starr. Lots of simple instruments like sleigh bells and maracas and a simple lyric to boot. I enjoy the ending where he counts up to eight.

141: I’ll Cry Instead

Album: A Hard Day’s Night
Writer: Lennon
Singer: Lennon

Verdict: I really like the melody here and it has the feel of a country ditty so totally my bag. It’s also a nice reflection of John’s frustration with being a worshiped pop star. I just wish the instrumentation was more interesting.