Johnny Hiland Band

The Beatles created 12 official UK LPs from 1963 to 1970 and just about all of them were fantastic so picking just three of their albums as the best three is hard.

Why 12? You’ve probably heard the number 13. That 13th “album” was actually Magical Mystery Tour which was originally released just as an EP in the UK. An “album” version of it was cobbled together in America by adding some earlier singles to it.

Many Beatles purists don’t think of it as one of their albums, although it has been added to official UK discography since the ’70s (when it was released in the UK because so many fans were importing the US Magical Mystery Tour LP.)

#1 The White Album

This double album includes many of The Beatles greatest moments. It also includes some of the songs that a lot of people think of as their worst. But I actually think those experimental songs (such as “Wild Honey Pie” and “Revolution #9″) add to the magic of the album. This is an “anything goes” album and it’s great because of it

#2 Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

A lot of people claim that Sgt. Pepper is overrated and I can understand that opinion from the standpoint that The Beatles other albums get overlooked in comparison. For example a lot of less informed people say that Sgt. Pepper was The Beatles first attempt at “art music” but obviously Rubber Soul & Revolver beat it to the punch. But, I still think Sgt. Pepper is an amazing album that works as the band’s most “cohesive statement” and I think while it may be underrated by those who are slightly ignorant of The Beatles entire catalog, I think it’s actually now underrated by those known as “hipsters.”

#3 Revolver

Revolver lacks the cohesiveness of Abbey Road or Sgt. Pepper. It has less “hits” than Rubber Soul. But it does have 14 great songs. It’s arguably the most consistently great LP The Beatles recorded.