Obviously, 2 of the 4 r still running, but what about when all 4 were still with us.

In terms of commercial and/or critical success, which Beatle kicked ass?

Ringo...well, he was a drummer with a cartoonish singing voice. He only sang lead what once, twice, but he did have that hit movie "Caveman", remember?

George...He did some good work after the Beatles split. He had that thing going with "The Traveling Wilburys". He had several solo hit singles and critically acclaimed albums...

Paul... I don't know. I loved what he did with the Beatles. He wrote "Helter Skelter" 4 pete's sake, but I get the feeling he thinks more of himself than he should. He had some great solo work and with "The Wings". Lately, though... he may sell-out concert stadiums - but his albums have been luke warm.

John...my fave. I loved his lyrics. I loved his persona. His efforts 2 bring peace throughout America, (the land he adopted) in song, was extremely unselfish and admirable. But, we're talking music, eh? "Give Peace A Chance", "Instant Karma", "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night", "Happy Xmas (War Is Over), "Imagine", "Jealous Guy", (Just Like) Starting Over", "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" (One of my absolute favorites!), "Watching The Wheels"...what can I say!

What do u say?

In my opinion. John, Give Peace a chance, Imagine, No 9 Dream, Yoko, Mind Games, Woman, Whatever Get's You through the Night, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Lennon was by Far the Beatle who had the Best songs outside of the Beatles. When he was Viciously Killed we lost a wonderful voice and visionary.

June7 said:

Really? I never got that feeling at all from him. He always struck me as one of the most humble guys in the business, considering all he has achieved over the years.


Well, what is Paul now, about 60? After all the material he's created over the years, and being in the business longer than half of his life it's really not surprising. People's creative streaks slow down for different reasons. Every idea isn't going to be a great one. Every performance isn't going to be inspired. It's part of being human.


I'm more familiar with McCartney's post Beatle music overall (and not just the singles), but the few I can think of by Lennon that I liked are "How Do You Sleep?" "Whatever Gets You Through The Night" and "Instant Karma." I never connected with Double Fantasy.

Remember when he co-hosted the Mike Douglas show in the early 70s?

Oh, don't get me wrong... I loved a lot of what Paul has done, "Live And Let Die", "Listen To What The Man Said", "Band On The Run", "Silly Love Songs", "Eleanor Rigby", "Jett"...2 many 2 list, really.

No, I like him, just not as much as John, I guess.

The thing that bothers me, though... Is that he's, like, a billionaire, and what bugs him is that Lennon's name appears b4 his in all the song credits. He recently called Yoko and asked that "Let It Be" be re-organized "credit-wise" with his name 1st...stating he just wanted 2 go 1st on one of the songs they wrote 2gether, and that he primarily wrote that one, mostly alone. Of course, Yoko declined his request... but, really, what a thing 2 get ur panties all up in a bunch over... He's one of the most successful songwriters, EVER... and that (the name placement) bothers him!

Anyway... yeah, I get ur point...and respect ur views

June7 said:

I heard that interview. To me he didn't come across as angry about it (it could have been a different interview though), because he explained that that's just how all Beatle credits were listed - even though some songs weren't a collaborative effort. Some were written solely by Paul, and some were written solely by Lennon. But that's the choice they made at the time for how Beatle credits were listed (except for the few written by Harrison, of course). Since Ono is the owner of Lennon's estate, he has to go through her to change that.


Aww, shucks. Thanks.

i think either john or george had to have the best post-beatle run... lots of classic albums with classic songs...

ringo had some pretty decent albums and he's guest drummed on a lot of people's records as well...

paul... definitely the worst... i've never been able to figure out how he could be so good with the beatles, and then suck so much ass solo... don't get it...


so, my vote - john or george...

I never really got into the solo works of John,George or Ringo.But I was a huge fan of Paul McCartney and Wings in the 70s.I love songs like "Jet","Silly Love Songs","Let Em In","Live And Let Die","Band On The Run","My Love","With A Little Luck" and the Disco-flavored "Goodnight Tonight".

Last year,they released a KICKASS 2-CD career retropsective called 'Wingspan' that is STILL in my CD player after all this time.Eventually,I'm gonna go back and get all the individual albums by McCartney and Wings.

DavidEye said:

I Agree Paul Mccartney for me Hands down.dug some of John Lennon's stuff Solo.Geroge Harrison had a moment or two.Ringo was Aight in a Sonny Bono kind of way solo.but Mccartney for me easily overall.

John's post Beatles stuff makes a decent one CD greatest hits album. If he had been with us longer, he might've cranked out another CD's worth.

But Paul's work solo and with Wings is at least 3 CDs worth of great tunes. He's my fave.

George had some good solo songs, but I couldn't name a single album of his.

Ringo is a no-go.

John is the man. Paul is great too, but his music has been rather boring over the past 10 years. The music John made before his murder was amazing.

DavidEye said:

I have the greatest hits packages of John Lennon and Paul McCartney... but not the "Wingspan" retro. How much was it? I liked a lot of Paul's stuff post-Beatles, but I loved John's work. Just my opinion.

I would love 2 find a George Harrison greatest hits set.

Did anyone see the "Imagine" movie/tribute 2 John? Very moving film with the narration by JOHN! It's one of the best and gives a shitload of info on all of 4, plus John's pre-Beatles story, Beatles work and his post-Beatles solo work.

John Lennon, without a doubt - truly enduring songs. I would list George Harrison next. IMO, the majority of Paul McCartney's solo work is disappointing.

George had the best solo period, for one reason alone..."All Thing's Must Pass" is by far, the BEST solo record of all the Beatles! I have had this album since I was about 10 years old and I never have gotten sick of it. I still listen to it all the time. Every song except for the jams at the end are top. However, I also love George's stuff with Travelin Wilburys as well as his late 80's solo stuff (Cloud 9). He had such a beautiful outlook on life & spirituality and it came through in his music.

Close 2nd would definitely be John...Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, Mind Games, and Double Fantasy are all classics. Also never get sick of 'em.

3rd is Paul. Like his solo stuff but don't LOVE it like George's or John's. A little too commercial and his 80's stuff sucked ass BIG time. "Ebony & Ivory" has to be the cheesiest song ever written.

4th is Ringo...not much to say about 'ol Ringo. Stuff is ok...

Paul is and will always do the best.. hes a great pr man, he is excellent at everything he does.

John Lennon-My outspoken beatle, we wish u were here

George Harrison-well, he has a new album coming out.. but eye dont think much will compare to All Things Must Pass.. thats a winner

Ringo- ok, hes a drummer.. period

Ringo's RINGO album which included the only album that all of the BEATLES showed up on (Photograph, I'm the Greatest, Your 16, etc.) may have been the best post Beatle album of all of them. I know this is out of left field, but it even has the 4 of them on the cover wearing coveralls (working together... get it!).

Lennon's music was pretty amazing, but as a person... what a jerk. Look at how he treated his son Julian. Preach one thing and do something else. Hypocrite.

Pagey said:

Haven't heard "The Girl Is Mine"?

June7 said:

I'm actually listening to it right now...lol...the song "Jet" is GREAT,I just never get tired of hearing that song,although I don't know what the lyrics are about

I bought it for around $16 last year,and it's worth every penny.It contains 40 songs spread across two CDs,and the booklet contains a bunch of rare photos,and a nice essay.Here is the tracklist...


DISC 1---
"Listen To What The Man Said"
"Band On The Run"
"Another Day"
"Live And Let Die"
"Jet"
"My Love"
"Silly Love Songs"
"Pipes Of Peace"
"C Moon"
"Hi Hi Hi"
"Let Em' In"
"Goodnight Tonight"
"Junior's Farm"
"Mull Of Kintyre"
"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey"
"With A Little Luck"
"Coming Up"
"No More Lonely Nights"


DISC 2---
"Let Me Roll It"
"The Lovely Linda"
"Daytime Nightime Suffering"
"Maybe I'm Amazed"
"Helen Wheels"
"Bluebird"
"Heart Of The Country"
"Every Night"
"Take It Away"
"Junk"
"Man We Was Lonely"
"Venus And Mars/Rockshow"
"The Back Seat Of My Car"
"Rockestra Theme"
"Girlfriend"
"Waterfalls"
"Tomorrow"
"Too Many People"
"Call Me Back Again"
"Tug Of War"
"Bip Bop/Hey Diddle"
"No More Lonely Nights (playout version)"


The 1978 song "Girlfriend" was covered by Michael Jackson on his 'Off The Wall' album.Speaking of MJ,this set does not contain the 1983 hit "Say,Say,Say",nor does it contain Paul's 1982 duet with Stevie Wonder "Ebony And Ivory".But it's still a definitive collection that mainly focuses on the 70s anyway.

Paul McCartney (and Wings)

paul in terms of pure magical output

john in terms of give me some truth with my vermouth gotcha

John all the way. The message behind alot of the songs touch me. Paul definitely had more cheezy songs. 'My Sweet Lord' had a great spiritual message. No comment on Ringo, unfortunately.

In Commercial terms Paul was miles ahead of John. I think Paul set up Wings to be a recreation of The Beatles with him being the leader, as John was clearly the leader of the Beatles. Wings were hugely successful compared to John's 70's stuff. I also think critics over the years have been unkind to Paul's output. Sure, most of it is cheesy pop. But isn't that what pop is supposed to be? Not many performers have been able to write consistently melodic, catchy tunes for as long a period as Paul McCartney. In death John Lennon has aquired a mystique/cult of being this social reformer or mouthpiece of the working classes based on a handful of songs. Death can be the best career move and I think if some nutter had shot Paul and we would have had to endure the 80s and 90s with the work of some old Beatle called John Lennon then history would perhaps see Paul as being at least on a par with John.
I think George didn't care less about fame and commercial standing and his album All things must pass is deffinatley the best album released by the solo performers.
Paul for me, without doubt.

dewmass said:

I agree with you dewmass.
And since the nineties Paul seems too care less about commercial success and has broadened his output. He has composed a few classical pieces, has made two ambient albums (as The Fireman), published a book with poems and exhibited his paintings.

Paul is still amazing!!

Wings is a GREAT band and amazing music!!

Paul gets my vote

locoarts said:

Geez what a bunch of suck-ass music.
Though the bass lines are pretty good!

I favoured RINGO STARR, but JOHN LENNON always got the most recognition because of his brilliant song writing. even b4 paul.

I have to say John and Paul most deffinately

For me, it´s a close run between Mc Cartneys Album "Tug Of War" and Harrisons "All Things Must Pass"