Beatles Albums In Order (By Year)

Beatles Albums In Chronological Order include 1. Please Please Me 2. With the Beatles 3. A Hard Day's Night and More. The Fab Four released 12 albums.
Consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, the popular band only existed as an outfit from 1960 to 1970. Despite their relatively short existence, the group's discography showcases one of the best examples of growth and experimentation among Pop and Rock groups.
In fact, many people credit the group for influencing the idea of the album as a cohesive product. Prior to the Beatles, an album was simply a collection of songs with no structure.
This can be seen in the Beatles' discography too as they technically have 21 albums released in the US compared to their official discography. However, many accept the 12 albums from the UK releases as the official ones.
Beatles Albums In Chronological Order
Album Name: | Release Date: |
Please Please Me | March 22, 1963 |
With the Beatles | November 22, 1963 |
A Hard Day's Night | July 10, 1964 |
Beatles for Sale | December 4, 1964 |
Help! | August 6, 1965 |
Rubber Soul | December 3, 1965 |
Revolver | August 5, 1966 |
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | May 26, 1967 |
The Beatles (The White Album) | November 22, 1968 |
Yellow Submarine | January 13, 1969 |
Abbey Road | September 26, 1969 |
Let It Be | May 8, 1970 |
1. Please Please Me
Please Please Me is first on the list of Beatles albums in order. Released via Parlophone it shot up to #1 on the UK Charts.
Supported by two singles, Love Me Do/P.S I Love You and Please Please Me/Ask Me Why, this is the album that began the group's seven-year reign atop the UK charts. This 14-track record contains a healthy mix of cover songs and the beginnings of the famous Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership.
An instant success, it remained on the Top 10 of the UK charts for over a year, which was a record that withstood for over half a century. Despite their later work eventually overshadowing much of the group's early catalog, this record retains its critical acclaim.
In fact, as recently as 2012, Rolling Stone listed the record as #39 on their list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time."
2. With the Beatles
With the Beatles is the second Beatles Albums In Order Of Release. It continued the group's reign atop the UK charts.
In fact, it was the group's first record to peak another country's charts as it managed to top the German album charts as well. It has been certified Gold in the UK, Canada, Australia, America, and even Germany.
Released eighteen months after the band's debut, it not only featured more Lennon-McCartney original compositions but also featured one by George Harrison too. This record also began the trend of the US versions being different as it was split into two different releases there: Meet the Beatles! and The Beatles' Second Album.
Though not as well-recorded as the first album, it still holds a soft spot for many for showcasing the band's push towards exploring their songwriting skills.
3. A Hard Day's Night
A Hard Day's Night is third on The Beatles Albums List. The record peaked in the UK, Australian, and German charts.
Released alongside a film of the same name, also featuring the group, the A side of the album contains songs that soundtrack the movie. Though not as well-regarded as many of their other albums, this is the first record to contain all songs penned by Lennon and McCartney, solidifying their famous songwriting partnership.
The album also featured musical innovation as many of the tracks had George Harrison play a Rickenbacker 12-string electric guitar in the vein of The Byrds. This gave the songs a jangly quality which distinguished them from many of the previous albums and aligned the group with the then-prominent folk rock movement.
The record has its defenders as it is the highest-rated pre-1965 Beatles album on the popular music database, Rate Your Music.
4. Beatles for Sale
Beatles for Sale continued their topping streak in UK, Australia, and Germany. It is also their second album since its debut to be platinum in the US.
Unlike their previous three records, this one is more morose and less upbeat, owing to the band's exhaustion. Given that the band had released three albums in a year and a half, they were tired as all heck when album number 4 rolled around.
It also marks a more extravagant departure for the UK and US releases as the album was not available in the States until 1987. Instead, 8 of the 14 songs that make up this record were sold as Beatles '65 in North America.
Despite their tiredness, this record also showcased growing studio experimentation from the group as they started employing techniques like fade-in and guitar feedback.
5. Help!
Help! is 8th on the Beatles Albums In Order Of Us Release. However, it is 5th in the official discography.
It is also the album that many regard as the first great Beatles release. Though many consider the next one the start of the classic album run the band has been immortalized for, it is the first release of the group to be bolded on Rate Your Music, signifying fervent support.
Like A Hard Day's Night, this album is also a soundtrack to a film of the same name featuring the group. The record contains the band's immortal song, Yesterday, which is known to be the most-covered song of all time.
Here, the Beatles continued their studio experimentation and explored multi-tracking capacities, and introduced their Baroque sensibilities by adding flute to the song You've Got to Hide Your Love Away. The US verison of the album also contained instrumentals from the movie.
6. Rubber Soul
Of All The Beatles Albums Rubber Soul might be the most important one. It is the record that is officially seen as the start of the group's latter period.
This period would be filled with studio experimentation, surreal lyrics, and a general pushing of the envelope that turned them from a popular Pop Rock group to one of if not the most important bands of our time.
Though it continued the trend of the band receiving a lot of commercial success, it is also the first record to see an undeniably positive critical response, that too on both sides of the pond. The title of the album refers to "plastic soul" by which the group acknowledged their lack of authenticity compared to the African American artists they were inspired by.
It also marks the second time since A Hard Day's Night not to contain any covers, and is entirely made up of original songs.
7. Revolver
Revolver continues the run of The Beatles critically acclaimed album releases. It was also the start of the group releasing a record a year.
Prior to this, the band was releasing two records a year, but given that they were spending more time on their albums now, they changed their format. This dedication shows as Revolver is many people's best album by the group.
The album is also seen as the start of the band's psychedelic period which can be seen in tracks like Yellow Submarine which is more surreal than any song they released previously. However, the crown jewel of the album is the A side of the single, Eleanor Rigby.
The song is completely devoid of guitars and drums and instead features four violins, two violas, and two cellos. It was this track that turned the Beatles from a pop act to an expriemental piece.
8. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ranks near the top among The Best Albums Of All Time. It is the crown jewel of the Beatles catalog.
Here is where the studio experimentation and psychedelic writings of the previous two albums fully showed fruit. A completely realized concept album, it sees the group turn themselves into the titular band and make music both completely unlike the Beatles but also completely them.
Regarded by both critics, musicologists, and serious music fans as not only a great but also an important record for all of popular music, it saw the results of the group fully eschewing touring and spending all their time within the studio. The result is a dazzling and tight 13-track record which solidified the band as the best Rock band of all time.
9. The Beatles (White Album)
The Beatles released their self-titled album deep into their recording career. Due to its completely white cover, it is now known as The White Album.
Through the previous album holds import among many as the band's greatest release, The White Album is a serious contender for the best album they ever recorded. The group's only double album, this release has a lot of faults, is very uneven, and sees the group at perhaps their most unhinged.
However, it is due to all of these faults, precisely due to them, that the music within is powerfully human and woefully hypnotizing. If Sgt. Peppers was the group at the height of their creative decision making, the White Album saw them let go of all their preconception and simply make music to great result.
10. Yellow Submarine
Yellow Submarine might be the only derided release in the Beatles catalog. It is their only album not to top the UK albums chart.
Another soundtrack album, this time the record was soundtracking an animated movie of the same name. One of the reasons why the album was not well-regarded then and now was because it is the only one the band did not want to make.
The record was seen by the group itself as more of a contractual obligation than a creative endeavor. The Beatles wrote four songs for the movie, which they had to, and the rest were chosen from previously recorded songs.
In fact, as stated above, the title track itself was already released, that too as a single, for Revolver. As such, this album is not seen as a significant release not only by the fans but even the people involved.
11. Abbey Road
Abbey Road is the penultimate record released by The Beatles. However, many see this as their true last record.
The main reason why is that the last album saw a lot of recording trouble. In fact, Abbey Road is the last album the band completed prior to their breakup.
Plus, despite the praises heaped onto both Sgt. Peppers and The White Album, this record is seen by many as THE definite Beatles record, which is also why it is their highest release on Rate Your Music.
Despite its current critical reception, the album was seen as a mixed bag by many upon release. The reason why was because the frays in the seam which would quickly dismantle the group was already being seen.
Both McCartney and Lennon had begun seeing seperate ways. However, for one last record, their beautiful partnership shined brighter than the sun.
12. Let It Be
Let It Be is the final studio album released by the Beatles. It is also the first album of theirs to be released post-break-up.
Released a month after their very public break-up, the record was a critical failure during the time. However, it topped many charts and received Platinum status in the UK, Australia, Canada, and America, with the latter two heaping multi-platinum statuses to the record.
Perhaps the most controversial Rock album in the history of the genre, many don't even count it among the Beatles' official catalog due to the events surrounding it. However, those are simply opinions, and the album's legacy as the last official Beatles record is secure.
Though released in May, the album is perhaps most tied to January 30, 1969, when the group held an impromptu public concert at the roof of their Apple Studio, which would be the last time the group would ever perform together.
Some FAQs
Are Any Of The Beatles Still Alive?
Two of the Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, are still alive.
Did Yoko Break Up The Beatles?
No, Yoko didn't break up the Beatles, but she was blamed for their disbanding by the media.
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