16. Can't Buy Me Love (1964) / A Hard Day's Night

5/22 votes

 

'Can't Buy Me Love' misses a place in the top 15 following a competitive round. 22 of you voted which was the most participation since round 1. 'Can't Buy Me Love' was released alongside B-side 'You Can't Do That' in 1964, both here and across the pond. These two songs are taken from the 'A Hard Day's Night' album. 'Can't Buy Me Love' was written by Paul, who was under pressure to deliver once again following the success of 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' - which had just topped the chart in the United States. The song was ready to go and The Beatles began recording it in Paris, a rare occasion where they weren't recording material in the United Kingdom. Paul delivered and then some when it came to the success of this song! It of course topped the charts both here and in the United States. It was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the famous week when the group occupied all spots in the top 5, still the only time this feat has been achieved. They also earned another record - as 'Can't Buy Me Love' was the third song in a row for them to hit #1 ('I Want To Hold Your Hand' got there first, then it was replaced by 'She Loves You', which was then replaced by 'Can't Buy Me Love') - this is the only instance of an artist replacing themselves twice at #1. 'Can't Buy Me Love' rose from #27 to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, which was a record at the time for biggest jump to #1. Back in the UK, it stayed at #1 for three weeks and was the EOY #1 best-selling song for 1964, shifting over 1 million copies. Phew, lots of cool stats there! 'Can't Buy Me Love' takes the now cliché (well, maybe it was already cliché at the time?) sentiment of material possessions not being as important as love. Paul took the reins on vocals, but this was the first Beatles single released without any background harmonies, after it was decided that they didn't really work on this song.

 

With 'Can't Buy Me Love' out, it's just the title track left now to represent the 'A Hard Day's Night' album.

 

16. Can't Buy Me Love | 5/22 votes

17. Come Together | 4/19 votes

18. Something | 4/19 votes

19. Love Me Do | 4/18 votes

20. Yellow Submarine | 5/20 votes

 

21. Eight Days A Week | 5/17 votes

22. From Me To You | 4/21 votes (original vote) / 10/16 votes (tie-break round)

23. Get Back | 5/17 votes

24. The Long And Winding Road | 4/20 votes

25. She Loves You | 6/21 votes

26. Lady Madonna | 6/21 votes

27. The Ballad Of John And Yoko | 7/25 votes

 

Please vote for your least favourite single from the 15 above!

'Can't Buy Me Love' is solid but I actually prefer its b-side 'You Can't Do That' - an infectious early John moment.

 

'We Can Work It Out' again!

With that one gone,I'm switching to I Feel Fine. It's a good song but the weakest one left.

Would have been gunning for Can't Buy Me Love within the next few so no qualms there.

 

Still, would rather that have stayed than said title track!

We Can Work It Out AGAIN!

A Hard Day’s Night for me.

 

This prompted me to get the red and blue albums. So much better than the 1 collection!

All You Need is Love ... again!

A Hard Day’s Night for me.

 

This prompted me to get the red and blue albums. So much better than the 1 collection!

 

Yes they're excellent albums. The blue especially is fantastic. When they first came out on CD in 1993 they were expensive, nearly 30 quid each. The red one only runs just over an hour too.

A Hard Day’s Night for me.

 

This prompted me to get the red and blue albums. So much better than the 1 collection!

 

The vinyl was so expensive when they came out in 1973 I had to wait until xmas 75 for the Blue Album as my big xmas prezzie, and xmas 76 for the red album. Totally worth every penny, and yes better than 1's.

 

A Hard day's Night for me too..

I used to have the blue vinyl when I was a teenager, or rather I stole it from my father and I loved it. I only really knew the older songs before then and was amazed that they had made such a huge progression afterwards.

 

The CDs of the red and blue albums are only about a tenner now, not bad value really as I think they were over £20 when re-released.