Seven Great Paul McCartney Written Piano Based Songs With The Beatles

Perhaps it’s because Paul McCartney loved Little Richard that he started playing in quite a few of The Beatles songs but unlike Little Richard, The Beatles usually used piano for ballads (although there is “Lady Madonna” which is certainly not a ballad.) This article is an overview of seven Beatles songs which feature a piano as the main instrumentation.

“Hey Jude” is definitely a classic. It was a huge hit single all around the world in 1968 and now in 2009 it remains one of The Beatles best known and loved songs. It’s length (over 7 minutes) was groundbreaking at the time and for many years it was the longest #1 single of all time in both the UK & US.

“Let It Be” is many people’s favorite Beatles song and it may be considered the most obvious example of a Beatles piano song so of course it’s included here. Even 40 years after it was recorded, “Let It Be” still resonates. And I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s still being listened to regularly in 2049.

“The Long & Winding Road” is a pretty ballad that was overblown by Phil Spector’s over the top production on the version released in 1970. The more stripped back version heard on Let It Be… Naked allows you to hear McCartney’s true intention for this song (and lets you hear the piano that’s pretty much drowned out in the Spector version.) I really like the little organ solo on the stripped down version.

“For No One” featured not only McCartney on piano but also a french horn and a harpsichord. This beautifully sad song is one of my favorites on Revolver, and considering what an amazing album that is, that’s saying quite a lot.

“The Fool on the Hill” is an awesome song on an awesome album (Magical Mystery Tour.) I think this is an underrated song from an underrated album. It’s so cool because it’s hard to really place it in any particular category. But it is trippy, and I love trippy.

“Lady Madonna” this an upbeat song whose melody so catchy that it became a hit again in the 1990s when Sublime used it for their song “What I Got.” Along with that catchy melody and the piano, the song also features a saxophone and a suitably awesome bass line by Paul McCartney. And here’s a tip: If you haven’t, start paying attention to The Beatles bass lines. They’re awesome.

“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” is a great song from my favorite Beatles album, 1968′s self titled double album that is best known as The White Album. I think it’s great example of how Paul McCartney’s bass guitar so often defined the band’s songs. Oh yeah and it featured piano of course.