Taking into account different versions (live, different language, re-releases, etc), there is no definitive answer to the question – how many songs did the Beatles record? One thing that is undisputed, though, is that there was well over 200 different songs recorded by the Beatles which makes limiting this countdown list to 30 quite a challenge.

But I have done it – the list of my 30 favourite Beatles songs starts tomorrow.

Inevitiably there are a few that just miss out and so I’ve listed the five hard luck stories below … listed alphabetically so as not to imply positions 31 to 35:

=====================

All You Need Is Love
Album: Magical Mystery Tour & Yellow Submarine
Single B side:  Baby, You’re A Rich Man

Entered Charts:  19 July 1967
Entry Point: 2
Highest Position:  1
Weeks In: 12

=====================

Do You Want To Know A Secret
Album:  Please Please Me
Single B side:  Thank You Girl (US only)

Entered Charts:  -
Entry Point:  -
Highest Position: -
Weeks In:  -

=====================

For No One
Album:  Revolver
Single: Not released as a single

Entered Charts:  -
Entry Point:  -
Highest Position:  -
Weeks In:  -

=====================

From Me To You
Album:  No album release
Single B side: Thank You Girl

Entered Charts:  -
Entry Point:  -
Highest Position:  -
Weeks In:  -

=====================

Help
Album:  Help!
Single B side:  I’m Down
Entered Charts:  28 July 1965
Entry Point: 22
Highest Position: 1
Weeks In: 24

=====================

There you go … make sure you’re back tomorrow (Sunday 1 May) for number 30 in the countdown!

Hey everyone

If you want to follow the Radio Ga Ga Top 30 Beatles Countdown throughout May, you have some alternatives:

1. Go to www.radiogaga.org.au/blog
2. Go to our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/radiogaga3wbc
3. Follow me on Twitter – www.twitter.com/neilbutler3wbc (a hash tag of #rggfab4 will be used)

Every day, a new entry will be revealed … on the Facebook page, you’ll also have the opportunity to comment about my choice (I’m keeping the comments off the Radio Ga Ga blog page due to spammers).

Tell your friends – the more people reading it, the better the comments will be!

As was the case with previous Top 30 Countdowns, the source of all chart information is a very excellent book, put together by my mate Steve Scanes and his co-author, Jim Barnes (no not that one). The book chronicles every song that has ever made the Australia national charts since 1956.

The new edition which spans from 1956 to 2010 was released in April 2011 and like its predecessor contains lists by artist, by song title and by entry date into the charts.

If you want to secure your copy of this limited edition book, go to www.top40book.com.au

A great buy for any music fanatic!

Hi and welcome to this – my third Top 30 Countdown.

Based on the success and positive feedback for the other two countdowns, I’ve decided to turn my hand to something of a sacred cow – The Beatles.

When setting out on an adventure such as this, it is important to set out the criteria for inclusion. In this countdown, here are the rules:

• the song must have been a studio recording by the Beatles
• it must have been released on one of the Beatles UK studio albums (US studio albums were different) or as a single in its own right

So there are the rules. Every day between 1st and 30th of May, a new song will be revealed, along with my thoughts on the song and why I’ve included it in the list.

Tomorrow, I’ll provide details of how you can follow the countdown on Facebook, Twitter and, of course, on the Radio Ga Ga blog.

I look forward to your involvement in the countdown

Cheers