Not Yesterday
The Beatles might be the closest thing music has to a universal language—one part nostalgia, one part singalong, and one part “how do you know every word to this.” Their greatest hits alone could score a lifetime: “Yesterday,” “Hey Jude,” “Come Together,” “Let It Be,” “Penny Lane”—and yes, we’d still be here tomorrow if we kept going. But the real reason they’re etched into music history isn’t just the chart-smashers. It’s the deep cuts hiding behind the headlines—the brilliant, weird, underrated gems that didn’t always top the charts but absolutely deserve their flowers. Like these.
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I’m Looking Through You
Only Paul McCartney could write such a peppy track about a relationship falling to pieces. Written when he and Jane Asher were heading towards a breakup, "I’m Looking Through You" is one of Rubber Soul's forgotten gems.
The Word
Sticking with Rubber Soul—"The Word" is a pretty simple track musically speaking, but the funky beat makes it a forgotten toe-tapper from an album that, like this song, doesn't always get enough love.
Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons
She’s Leaving Home
Given how much has been said and written about the Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, "She's Leaving Home" is generally an afterthought amongst all the iconic tracks.
Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite
Sticking with the Sgt Pepper album, this John Lennon-penned track was inspired by an actual carnival poster he saw around the city.
Roy Kerwood, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
Fixing A Hole
Again, given that Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is often discussed as one of the greatest albums of all time, there are more forgotten songs on the album than most people may realize. "Fixing A Hole" is but another one.
Mirrorpix, Getty ImagesDig A Pony
We don't know what it means, but we love it.
ingen uppgift, Wikimedia Commons
Don’t Bother Me
George Harrison spent years quietly stockpiling some of the Beatles’ best material while the spotlight kept swiveling back to Lennon and McCartney. And if you want the ultimate “wait, he wrote that?” moment, look no further than his very first Beatles composition: “Don’t Bother Me.” It’s the kind of early gem that somehow slipped through the cracks for decades—one of the most overlooked songs he ever put his name on.
David Hume Kennerly, Wikimedia Commons
Dear Prudence
Yes, this is a fairly well-known Beatles song. However, given how it is one of the band's best tracks, it doesn't get brought up enough in those kinds of conversations. So, we've added it here to this one.
I'm Only Sleeping
Time Out London called "I'm Only Sleeping" the 12th best Beatles song of all time. So, at least they’re also talking about this awesome track.
The Fool On The Hill
1967's Magical Mystery Tour album isn't one that gets talked about much in general when the Beatles' oeuvre is discussed. And while the quality of the album as a whole is a conversation for another day, "The Fool On The Hill," from said album, is worth mentioning right here, right now.
Hey Bulldog
Engineer Geoff Emerick called McCartney's bassline on Hey Bulldog, "probably the most inventive of any he’d done since Sgt Pepper".
I've Got A Feeling
This one was a combo of two unfinished songs: Paul McCartney's "I've Got a Feeling" and John Lennon's "Everybody Had a Hard Year". The raw energy of this one is palpable.
I’ve Just Seen A Face
“I was quite pleased with it," said McCartney about this underrated track off of the 1965 Help! album.
Taxman
"There's one for you, nineteen for me/'Cause I'm the taxman"—Raise your hand if you mumble this to yourself every year around tax season.
Getty Images
Don’t Let Me Down
Beatles fans will know the most iconic version of this song as the one performed on the roof at Apple Records—but you might be surprised to know that it was never an official album track. Released as the B-side to Get Back, it didn't show up in an album until the 2003 remixed Let It Be release.
Evening Standard, Getty Images
Honey Pie
Considering The White Album crams in 30 tracks, it’s basically inevitable that a few get elbowed aside in the chaos. One that tends to slip through the cracks is “Honey Pie,” a delightfully cheeky throwback with a 1920s wink—like the Beatles briefly time-traveling to a smoky music hall just to have a little fun.
I'm So Tired
While "Honey Pie" is a bit of a novelty track (albeit a very enjoyable one), "I'm So Tired" is just a plain ol' great song written by John Lennon during a bout with insomnia at a Transcendental Meditation camp in India.
For No One
Another beautiful, catchy song inspired by McCartney's failing relationship with Jane Asher.
All I’ve Got To Do
A soulful Motown vibe emanates from this track off of the With the Beatles album.
Iberia Airlines, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mother Nature’s Son
Yup, we're going back to The White Album for this song that McCartney wrote and recorded on his own (Lennon contributed a few lyrics)—playing the guitar and singing at the same time. He did 25 takes (take 24 was thought to be the best). He then overdubbed the timpani, another guitar, fingers slapping on a book, and drums.
I’ll Follow The Sun
Everyone loves "Here Comes The Sun" (and rightly so)—but don't sleep on "I’ll Follow The Sun" from the 1964 Beatles For Sale album.
Girl
The way Lennon sings "Oh Girrrrl" then does that inward sigh is unforgettable (assuming you know the song, of course).
Savoy Truffle
George Harrison reportedly wrote this one after noticing his friend Eric Clapton’s very serious love affair with chocolate. Lost among the White Album’s many moving parts, the song often gets skipped—but its playful charm makes it well worth a second spin.
Things We Said Today
Everyone is familiar with "A Hard Day's Night"—but how many have "Things We Said Today" (the B-side to "A Hard Day's Night") in their Beatles playlist?
United Press International, Wikimedia Commons
She's A Woman
A fun 60s rock n' roll track from McCartney—with some great off-beat guitar hits by Lennon.
Henry Grossman, Wikimedia Commons
The Night Before
A catchy pop-rock ditty off of the Help! movie soundtrack.
I Me Mine
This under-appreciated George Harrison composition was the last new track the band recorded before April 1970 (when they broke up).
Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons
You Never Give Me Your Money
This musical bouillabaisse brings together a whole bunch of song segments and was the first thing recorded as part of that iconic Abbey Road side two medley.
Getting Better
This song is "getting better all the time"—the more we hear it.
Free As A Bird
In 1995, 25 years after the band broke-up, Beatles fans were given the amazing video and music Anthology collection. And as a truly special treat, there was also a new song released. "Free as a Bird" was a John Lennon demo track that Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr added to in-studio and produced as a single.
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