Overview
The Beatles don’t have quite the extensive catalog of albums as some of their contemporaries, but they also recorded in the 60s – when there were other headaches to deal with. Some of The Beatles’ most recognizable songs were never actually included on albums. Even if you eliminate the trivial debate of “should a single be considered an album?”, you also have to deal with United Kingdom vs. United State releases. What album do you rank?
Thankfully The Beatles have developed a dedicated fanbase over the years and the consensus came up with “The Beatles Core Catalog”. These albums include the original UK studio albums released from 1963-1970 – with Magical Mystery Tour being part of this collection.
Releases like Hey Jude and Let It Be…Naked are excluded from the rankings, but that doesn’t stop you from giving them a listen and judging for yourself.
Ranking the Best ARTIST Album
Officially, The Beatles released 21 studio albums. Although mash-up albums like Love (2006) and compilations like Past Masters (1988) are excellent listens, we only reference albums in the “core catalog” (13 albums).
| Avg. Score | Album | Todd | Eric | Critics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey Road | ||||
| Magical Mystery Tour | ||||
| Revolver | ||||
| Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band | ||||
| Let It Be | ||||
| Rubber Soul | ||||
| Help! | ||||
| The Beatles (White Album) | ||||
| Yellow Submarine | ||||
| A Hard Day's Night | ||||
| Beatles For Sale | ||||
| Please Please Me | ||||
| With The Beatles |
Eric's Choice
Todd's Choice
List of ARTIST Albums
The Beatles released albums from March 22, 1963 until May 8, 1970. Things get confusing with The Beatles catalog based on different album variations being renamed and repackaged for different regions. Although we would love to go through every iteration, let’s not waste your time and we will simply review and list the 13 studio albums in the core catalog.
Got to Be There (1972)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: 01/24/1972
- Length: 35:45
- Genre: Pop
- Label: Motown
- Producer: Hal Davis, The Corporation, Willie Hutch
Ben (1972)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: 08/04/1972
- Length: 31:31
- Genre: Pop
- Label: Motown
- Producer: Hal Davis, The Corporation, mal Larson, Jerry Marcellino, Boddy Taylor
Music & Me (1973)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: 32/09/1973
- Length: 32:09
- Genre: Pop
- Label: Motown
- Producer: Hal Davis
Forever Micheal (1975)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: 01/16/1975
- Length: 33:36
- Genre: Soul
- Label: Motown
- Producer: Sam Brown III, HAL DAVIS, BRIAN HOLLAND, FONCE MIZELL, FREDDDIE PERREN
Off the Wall (1979)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: 08/10/1970
- Length: 42:24
- Genre: Disco
- Label: Epic
- Producer: Quincy Jones, Micheal Jackson
Thriller (1982)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: 11/29/1982
- Length: 42:16
- Genre: Pop
- Label: Epic
- Producer: Quincy Jones, Micheal Jackson
Bad (1987)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: 08/31/1987
- Length: 59:43
- Genre: Pop
- Label: Epic
- Producer: Quiny Jones, Micheal Jackson
Dangerous (1991)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: 11/26/1991
- Length: 77:03
- Genre: R&B
- Label: Epic
- Producer: Micheal Jackson, Billl Bottrell, Bruce Swedien, Teddy Riley
HIStory: Past, Present and Future Book 1
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: 06/20/1995
- Length: 148:51
- Genre: Pop
- Label: Epic, SOny, MJJ
- Producer: Micheal Jackson, Quincy Jones, Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Janet Jackson, Dallas Austin, Bruce Swedian, Rene Moore, David Foster, Bill Bottrell, R. Kelly
Invincible (2001)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: 10/30/2001
- Length: 77:01
- Genre: Pop
- Label: Epic
- Producer: Micheal Jackson, ROdneyjerkins, Tedddy Riley, Dr. Freeze, Andre Harris, Kenneth Babyface Edmonds, R. kelly
Title (xxxx)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: xx/xx/xxxx
- Length: xx:xx
- Genre: x
- Label: x
- Producer: x
Title (xxxx)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: xx/xx/xxxx
- Length: xx:xx
- Genre: x
- Label: x
- Producer: x
Title (xxxx)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: xx/xx/xxxx
- Length: xx:xx
- Genre: x
- Label: x
- Producer: x
Title (xxxx)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: xx/xx/xxxx
- Length: xx:xx
- Genre: x
- Label: x
- Producer: x
Title (xxxx)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: xx/xx/xxxx
- Length: xx:xx
- Genre: x
- Label: x
- Producer: x
Title (xxxx)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: xx/xx/xxxx
- Length: xx:xx
- Genre: x
- Label: x
- Producer: x
Title (xxxx)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: xx/xx/xxxx
- Length: xx:xx
- Genre: x
- Label: x
- Producer: x
Title (xxxx)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: xx/xx/xxxx
- Length: xx:xx
- Genre: x
- Label: x
- Producer: x
Title (xxxx)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: xx/xx/xxxx
- Length: xx:xx
- Genre: x
- Label: x
- Producer: x
Title (xxxx)
Released in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1963, this George Martin produced album was our first real look at The Beatles.
Songs like “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” would helped this record hit the top of the UK charts – staying there for 30-weeks. Of course, this album was bumped by another Beatles album, With the Beatles.
Album Score
Album Metadata
- Released: xx/xx/xxxx
- Length: xx:xx
- Genre: x
- Label: x
- Producer: x
Other Albums
An iconic band like The Beatles have their fair share of Greatest Hits and compilation albums. Even albums like Let It Be…Naked exist – where the entire album is an alternative mix of the originals. It’s difficult to go wrong with a Beatles compilation, but there are a few that are most owns and must listens.
Album (xxxx)
How do you fix the “singles” and “region-specific” dilemma? You release a two-disc compilation album with every commercially released song that wasn’t available from the original Beatles catalog. Not quite a Greatest Hits album, but fairly close.
Album (xxxx)
Created as a soundtrack for The Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show, Love is an official remix of Beatle songs. You can experience variations in The Beatles discography by listening to this 80-minute album.
Album (xxxx)
Anthology 1, 2, and 3 take a close look at The Beatles throughout their career – releasing outtakes, alternate versions, and two new songs (based on Lennon demo tapes). It would be difficult to say you are Beatles diehard fan without owning these albums.
Album Movies & Documentaries
A few of The Beatles’ albums are actually soundtracks for Beatles movies. Although the movies and the albums are perfect stand-alone projects, you can gain some additional appreciation for the albums by watching the films.
Name
If you weren’t familiar with the film and put on Yellow Submarine, you would likely be alarmed and surprised by songs like “Sea of Time” or “March of the Meanies”. These instrumental songs make a lot more sense after watching the movie.
Name
A Hard Day’s Night, Help!, and Magical Mystery Tour all fit for this situation (movies that were equally soundtrack as films), but A Hard Day’s Night does the best job representing the most realistic version of the band at the time of filming.
Name
This Disney+ release does a great job documenting the final Beatles album – Let It Be. Watch The Beatles perform on the rooftop or eavesdrop on John and Paul in the kitchen. This documentary captures The Beatles brilliantly.
Album Concerts & Television Appearances
Name (xx/xx/xxxx)
Beatlemania started in the United States with this legendary appearance. The Beatles made several stops at The Ed Sullivan Show, but their first appearance was primarily promoting Meet the Beatles! (US equivalent of With the Beatles).
Name (xx/xx/xxxx)
The Beatles had their final paid concert in front of 25,000 fans at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park. Promoting Yesterday and Today/Revolver, the 1966 US promotional tour would be the groups last.
Name (xx/xx/xxxx)
A rare early Beatles television interview, John and Paul are guests on The Tonight Show with guest host Joe Garagiola. John and Paul discuss the formation of Apple and how their music has changed from album to album.
Album Podcasts
An artist is lucky if they have a single podcast dedicated to them. The Beatles were so popular and influential that they have entire shows dedicated to their history and discography. There were countless podcasts that cover individual albums, the creation, impact, and reviews.
Episode Name
The White Album is certainly an album that deserves a complete review – start to finish. The hosts of The Great Albums podcast bring in guest Mick Chorba to review The Beatles (1968).
Episode Name
It would be difficult to recommend a Beatles Album Podcast without at least suggesting one that highlights Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Robert and Richard discuss the album – good, bad, or overrated.
Episode Name
Hosts Dave and Ian go deep into the making of Abbey Road and what would end up being the last time all four members recorded together. If you are interested in the backstory and band drama, this podcast goes deep into the specifics.
Album Books
If you are an iconic band or artist, you might have a biography. When you are The Beatles, you have countless books and writings detailing every moment of your career – including books that cover albums.
Name
A team of experts write about each era of the band’s existence, examining what they were doing for each of their original 12 UK-release albums.
Name
It’s hard to imagine at any point the greatest rock band in the world was spiraling downward. In what would be their last year, the “Fab Four” recorded Abbey Road and the rest is history.
Name
A unique combination of musical analysis and cultural history, Tell Me Why stands alone among Beatles books with its single-minded focus on the most important aspect of the band: its music.
You Might Also Like these Related Albums
If you like The Beatles and their discography, you more than likely will have some fondness for some of their solo albums. To be honest, many of these songs were written while The Beatles were still a group.
Name
Some feel this is John Lennon’s best solo album, it was his debut release after splitting from the band.
Name
Surprisingly, George released several solo albums prior to All Things Must Pass. George’s first release after the breakup is often considered one of the greatest albums of all-time.
Name
Recorded in secrecy, Paul McCartney’s debut was released one month prior to Let It Be. Although criticized for being simple, it was the start of McCartney’s successful run as a solo performer.
₁ Eric Hersey is the creator of Music Ranked.
₂ Todd is the co-host of Music Ranked Podcast.
₃ Critic Scores are based on AllMusic.com
₄ Reader scores are based on AllMusic.com