85: Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Album: The Beatles
Writer: McCartney
Singer: McCartney

Verdict: John and George detested this song with a passion, and John only was able to get through the session high as a kite. In one on-line poll in 2004 it was voted the worst song of all time. I take polls like that with a grain of salt (I mean really, worse than “Detachable Penis?”), but yeah, most people hate it. I hated it at first, too, especially since my introduction to the song was the evening soap “Life Goes On.”  But I kind of like it now. I can’t defend it that much, but John plays a killer piano and I love it at the end when Paul screams the title. If it weren’t for the excessive hand clapping and the other random noises Paul’s hateful bandmates were shouting, I’d probably like it more. 

84: Fool On The Hill

Album: Magical Mystery Tour
Writer: McCartney
Singer: McCartney

Verdict: Unlike the last song, John really loved this one. I do love the lyrics. “But nobody wants to know him,” is a gorgeously sung line. The music itself though leaves me wanting. The penny whistle, the Jew’s harp, the flute, and the cymbals all get in the way for me, not to mention Paul chanting “round and round” at the end.

83: Good Day Sunshine

Album: Revolver
Writer: McCartney
Singer: McCartney

Verdict: A hopelessly optimistic song that I only enjoy for Paul’s ridiculous ability to sing that stupid title at such a pleasingly crazy pitch. The ending is insane, with Martin producing an infectious imitative canon.

82: All You Need Is Love

Album: Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine
Writer: Lennon
Singer: Lennon

Verdict:The lyrics do nothing for me here and I disagree with the premise of the song. But some nice music stylings for sure. The harpsichord and the violin play off each other well. And the ending is dynamite what with throwing in Greensleeves, Inevntion No. 8, In the Mood, Yesterday and She Loves You into the fade out.

81: Nowhere Man

Album: Rubber Soul
Writer: Lennon
Singer: Lennon

Verdict: Written out of self-loathing, a nice departure from the romantic songs he had done exclusively to that point. Pretty average all around and another great ending, with John going up an octave with “for nobody!”