Music · Harmony

50s variant

The doo-wop progression (I-vi-IV-V) and its '50s variants, the chord loop behind countless 1950s ballads.

songs

17 of the 22 Beatle-written songs carrying the '50s variant' harmony device are John Lennon's, more than any other Beatle (Paul McCartney has 8).

Analysis

Song count per year

% of each member's catalogue with this tag (by writing credit)

Early12 · 52%

Mid-period4 · 17%

Late7 · 30%

Year

Album

Writer

Lead vocal(s)

#	Title	Year	Album	Lead Vocal(s)	Notes
1	Please Please Me	1963	Please Please Me	John, Paul	–
2	I'll Get You	1963	Past Masters	John, Paul	–
3	She Loves You	1963	Past Masters	Paul, John	–
4	It Won't Be Long	1963	With The Beatles	John	–
5	I Want to Hold Your Hand	1963	Past Masters	John, Paul	as Em → C → D → G
6	Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand	1964	Past Masters	John, Paul	–
7	A Hard Day's Night	1964	A Hard Day's Night	John, Paul	as G → Em → C → D7
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8	I Should Have Known Better	1964	A Hard Day's Night	John	–
9	I'm Happy Just to Dance with You	1964	A Hard Day's Night	George	–
10	When I Get Home	1964	A Hard Day's Night	John	–
11	Any Time at All	1964	A Hard Day's Night	John	–
12	And I Love Her	1964	A Hard Day's Night	Paul	as C♯m → A → B7 → E6
13	Yesterday	1965	Help!	Paul	as Dm → B♭ → C7 → Fsus4
14	I've Just Seen a Face	1965	Help!	Paul	–
15	Yellow Submarine	1966	Revolver	Ringo	–
16	Strawberry Fields Forever	1967	Magical Mystery Tour	John	as Gm → E♭/B♭ → F7 → B♭
17	I'm So Tired	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	–
18	The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	–
19	Happiness Is a Warm Gun	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	as Am → F → G → C
20	Good Night	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	Ringo	–
21	Octopus's Garden	1969	Abbey Road	Ringo	–
22	The Long and Winding Road	1970	Let It Be	Paul	–
23	Real Love	1996	Reunion singles	John	–