Here's how your poll-taker voted and why:
Favorites:
1. Strawberry Fields Forever - when I was growing up and first became interested in rock music, I would listen to a Top 40 radio station (back when Top 40 actually had some rock songs) that occasionally played an oldie. I knew vaguely about the Beatles and some of their songs and once in a while the radio station would play a song totally unlike anything I had ever heard before; I would drop everything and just listen to the song until it was done. For months the radio station never announced the artist and when I finally found out it was Strawberry Fields Forever and was by the Beatles, I knew I had to learn a lot more about this group. I've been hooked ever since!
2. I Feel Fine - the quintessential single from their early period. It's got it all - a riff that stays in your head all day, feel-good lyrics and great harmonies.
3. Across The Universe - the best poetry of any Beatle song; the words flow together so naturally.
4. A Day In The Life - words escape me.
5. Here Comes The Sun - beautifully captures the feeling of that first day of spring. Perfectly placed on Abbey Road after the harsh, winter-like ending of I Want You.
6. Norwegian Wood - great descending melody line and acoustic arrangement with the use of that strange sitar for the first time. The lyrics tell so much yet you still feel wanting. And it's easy for guitar, too!
7. And I Love Her - very simple but lovely acoustic song. That four-note riff just hooks you in. And I can play George's triplets on the guitar all day long without getting tired of them.
8. I'll Be Back - another good four-note riff, great harmonies, and a very punchy sound. I promised myself to put one song that I thought was underrated in my list, and this is it.
9. Please Please Me - the song that woke up the musical establishment and signaled the start of the new era. Punk music for 1963.
10. Yesterday - what can I say? So simple and spare and sad. The string quartet is one of George Martin's finest ideas for a Beatle song.
Worst
1. I Want To Tell You - I know the dissonance is intentional, but I can't overcome it.
2. Wild Honey Pie - a throwaway put together at the spur of the moment by Paul.
3. There's A Place - ugly harmonies.
4. Dig A Pony - John's throwaway during the Beatles feel-bad period. The nonsense lyrics finally overstay their welcome.
5. Blue Jay Way - if I wanted to hear a phrase in a song 29 times, I wouldn't pick "Please don't be long".
Favorite Album
A Hard Day's Night - captures the essence of the Beatles at their most popular. In addition to 2 favorites in my top ten it has If I Fell, Things We Said Today, and You Can't Do That - three more classic songs, if a bit underrated. Not to mention Can't Buy Me Love, the title song and I Should Have Known Better.