After the release of
The Beatles Anthologies (1, 2 and 3), as well as the Anthology
miniseries in 1995/96, it seemed like the Beatles had completely exhausted their supply of
material for release. Not so. With the release of
1 in 2000, The Beatles topped the
charts again, with an album made up of all their previous number one singles. Spanning
eight years, between
1962 and
1970, this album shows the Beatles at their popular best.
From the tight pop sound of Love Me Do and Can't Buy Me Love, to the experimental sound of
Eleanor Rigby and Penny Lane, to the straight forward rock and roll of Get Back, this is a
chronicle of the most famous band in the world in each stage of its life.
Because of the global fan base, it was released simultaneously in North America and
Europe in November 2000 and became the #1 Album in 35 different countries (as recorded in
the Guiness Book of World Records).
I went and bought this album a few days after it came out. Already a fan of the Beatles,
the endurance of these songs impressed me the most; they're all still really, really good.
The production of George Martin and talent of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison has never
been more evident than with all these songs stacked back to back. Even the "Spectorized"
Long and Winding Road fits here as the finale, completing the album with a great cascade of
sound.
Below is the track list, with the duration of each single's stay on the chart. (This is from
the booklet that came with the album).
Track list:
Love Me Do
US: 1 week
From Me to You
UK: 7 weeks
She Loves You
UK: 7 weeks (total) US: 2 weeks
I Want To Hold Your Hand
UK: 7 weeks US: 5 weeks
Can't Buy Me Love
UK: 3 weeks US: 5 weeks
A Hard Day's Night
UK: 3 Weeks US: 2 weeks
I Feel Fine
UK: 5 weeks US: 1 Week
Eight Days A Week
US: 2 weeks
Ticket To Ride
UK: 3 weeks US: 1 week
Help!
UK: 3 weeks US: 3 weeks
Yesterday
US: 4 weeks
Day Tripper
UK: 5 weeks
We Can Work It Out
UK: 5 weeks US: 3 weeks
Paperback Writer
UK: 2 weeks US: 2 weeks
Yellow Submarine
UK: 4 weeks
Eleanor Rigby
UK: 4 weeks
Penny Lane
US: 1 week
All You Need Is Love
UK: 3 weeks US: 1 week
Hello, Goodbye
UK: 7 weeks US: 3 weeks
Lady Madonna
UK: 2 weeks
Hey Jude
UK: 2 weeks US: 9 weeks
Get Back
UK: 6 weeks US: 5 weeks
The Ballad of John and Yoko
UK: 3 weeks
Something
UK: 1 week
Come Together
US: 1 week
Let It Be
US: 2 weeks
The Long and Winding Road
US: 2 weeks
Originally posted Nov. 15 2000, buffed up Jan. 30 2007