Surprise! It’s yet another article about the Beatles, a topic that has seemingly been beaten to a pulp by every music and pop culture publication to exist. However, news of the upcoming Beatles films has revived my seemingly endless interest in the lives, careers, and music of the Fab Four. I cannot deny that each new press release, interview, or leaked set photo of the Beatles movies to appear on my Instagram feed instills in me both immeasurable pause and morbid fascination. Paul Mescal as…Paul McCartney? Joseph Quinn as George Harrison? These are hard pills to swallow. However, the only thing more difficult to process than the prospect of four Beatles movies is the fact that we cannot render our judgements on them until 2028, when all the films are set to be released at once. I’m all for the whole “patience is a virtue” mindset, but if Paul Mescal is really going to be the actor chosen to play Paul McCartney, I want to see it now. Alas, this is simply not to be. Thus, while I wait in concerned anticipation for the Fab Four to grace the silver screen, I take comfort in listening to their solo work. Here are some of my favorite lesser-known songs by each artist that are guaranteed to fill the Beatles-sized hole in your life.

This song is one of my all-timers. While “Some People Never Know” is by no means as polished as the rest of the Wings’ music, its winding structure and instrumental riffing hold a certain scruffy appeal. It’s also truly touching, a love song where McCartney stubbornly declares his devotion to his wife amid the turmoil of the Beatles’ breakup. The authenticity of their love is magnified by the fact that both Paul and Linda McCartney sing on the song together, their musical harmony mirroring the harmony of their relationship.

“Too Many People” – Ram, Paul and Linda McCartney, 1971

Although many critics and fans are finally ready to accept Ram as the experimental masterpiece it truly is, the album has remained rather shortchanged within McCartney’s extensive musical oeuvre. This song is Ram’s spirited opener, an extremely catchy dig at John Lennon which is disguised as a piece of social commentary. This whole façade, of course, basically disintegrates when McCartney pithily declares: You took your lucky break/And broke it in two/Now what can be done for you? Give this song a listen for the catty lyricism and stay for the captivating guitar solo.

“Isolation” – Plastic Ono Band, John Lennon, 1970

I am always surprised and fascinated by the openness and emotional sensitivity of Lennon’s solo work. This song is a sad, deeply personal, and rather dark declaration of, well, isolation: Lennon sings that he is rich and famous, but constantly afraid. He and Yoko Ono are Just a boy and a little girl/Trying to change the whole wide world, yet he feels that nobody understands them. It is both a snapshot into his deepest thoughts immediately following the Beatles’ breakup, and a subtler example of him lashing out at the public controversy surrounding his relationship with Ono.

“Jealous Guy” – Imagine, John Lennon, 1971

So…this is by no means a lesser-known Lennon song. However, it is a really good one that has prompted several spectacular covers, which is why it is included on this list. Give it a good listen for old times’ sake before hopping down to the next song.

“Jealous Guy” – Someday We’ll All Be Free, Donny Hathaway, 2010

I came across this cover by accident – it was part of a random “Chill Mix” that Spotify had concocted for me one rainy day – and it blew me away. Hathaway’s version of “Jealous Guy” is so catchy, I had no choice but to nod my head to the beat in the otherwise staid fourth floor library. What never fails to impress me in this song is Hathaway’s voice: he possesses a strength, beauty, and control that melds perfectly with Lennon’s raw, vulnerable lyrics. Add a bluesy rhythm, and this song packs an emotionally powerful punch which only reinforces the strength and soulfulness of its predecessor. In other words, Hathaway’s “Jealous Guy” is, for all intents and purposes, a perfect cover.

“Behind That Locked Door” – All Things Must Pass, George Harrison, 1970

Before we proceed any further, I must admit that I think All Things Must Pass is a flat-out masterpiece and the best complete solo album of any former Beatle to date. Phew! Glad I got that out of the way. This is a simple, beautiful song encouraging a friend (or lover – open to interpretation) to open their heart to not just Harrison, but to the world and everything in it. In the final verse, Harrison switches his request and asks his subject to return the favor in case his heart should ever be trapped behind that locked door. It is an ingenious lyrical device which works to cement his desire for permanent love, acceptance, and connection in a few simple words.

“Run of the Mill” – All Things Must Pass, George Harrison, 1970

I know, I know, I’m pulling from the same album twice. The songs are just too good! This one in particular is filled with several not-so-subtle references to the interpersonal drama which ultimately led to the Beatles’ breakup. Tomorrow when you rise/Another day for you to realize me/Or send me down again? Yikes. The whole song is lamenting the strain and tension in Harrison’s relationships with the other Beatles and grappling with his growing desire to pursue a musical career without them. It’s a light, contemplative melody which, combined with the pointed lyrics, makes for a thought-provoking listen.

“Photograph” – Ringo, Ringo Starr, 1973

In the spirit of full transparency, this is probably Ringo’s most famous solo record. However, as I have yet to meet someone my age who knows this song, I’m making the executive decision that it is “lesser known”. Anyways, is this song a tad overlong? Yes. Is it (very) cheesy? Also, yes. But it’s a lovely tune, even if its main lyrics are about the pain that accompanies the end of a relationship. The song is also a collaboration between Starr and Harrison, who co-wrote the music and played guitar on the final track. For the complete “Photograph” experience, I would recommend watching Starr’s standout live performance of this song at the Concert for George, which is full of warmth and energy.