The Beatles, a legendary band in the music world, often revisited unreleased tracks from their time together while working on their initial solo albums. Given their immense musical talent, it’s not surprising that some fantastic songs didn’t make the final cut during their collaborative days, leaving a treasure trove of material behind.
The songs that took the longest to complete feature four selections from Paul McCartney‘s debut LP after their breakup in 1970. Additionally, there are three tracks from George Harrison and one from John Lennon that also highlight this extended creative process.
The Beatles had a longstanding practice of reviving unreleased material, with Lennon and McCartney incorporating songs they had begun in their teenage years into their band recordings. They frequently turned to their past creations when facing creative blockages, first due to exhaustion and later because of escalating interpersonal tensions.
READ MORE: 20 Beatles Songs That John Lennon Hated
After the breakup, the three principal songwriters of the group continued to explore the vaults of their past. George Harrison, in particular, was incredibly resolute in his quest to complete older, unissued tracks, even releasing songs he had begun during his time with the Beatles into the 1980s.
This countdown of the 25 Beatles songs that required the most time to finalize is curated with a focus on their initial iterations during band sessions. It’s important to note that memories can be quite hazy regarding when the writing of many tracks actually occurred.
The final list spans every phase of their illustrious careers, from their iconic mop-top days and psychedelic phase to the dissolution of the group and their acclaimed solo catalogs:
No. 25. “Hold Me Tight”
From: The Beatles, With The Beatles (1963)
Origin Story: McCartney began crafting this song in 1961, with Lennon contributing to its completion in September 1962.
Finally Released: November 1963
Time Elapsed: 14 months (over two years)
No. 24. “Every Night”
From: Paul McCartney, McCartney (1970)
Origin Story: This track was one of several songs premiered during the sessions for Let It Be, starting on January 21, 1969.
Finally Released: April 1970
Time Elapsed: 15 months (over a year)
No. 23. “Hot as Sun/Glasses”
From: Paul McCartney, McCartney (1970)
Origin Story: McCartney first sketched an early version of “Hot as Sun” in the late 1950s and then showcased it during Beatles sessions starting January 24, 1969.
Finally Released: April 1970
Time Elapsed: 15 months (over a year)
No. 22. “Suicide”
From: Paul McCartney, McCartney (1970)
Origin Story: This song began as a teenager’s dream of being covered by a crooner, referenced on January 26, 1969, while working on Let It Be, and later incorporated into “Hot as Sun/Glasses.”
Finally Released: April 1970
Time Elapsed: 15 months (over a year)
No. 21. “All Things Must Pass”
From: George Harrison, All Things Must Pass (1970)
Origin Story: Harrison demoed this poignant song on his 26th birthday in February 1969, the same day he recorded early versions of “Old Brown Shoe” and “Something.”
Finally Released: November 1970
Time Elapsed: 21 months (not quite two years)
No. 20. "Let It Down"
From: George Harrison, All Things Must Pass (1970)
Origin Story: This song was among several that Harrison auditioned during January 1969 sessions with the Beatles for his first proper solo album, with “Let It Down” first appearing on January 2, 1969.
Finally Released: November 1970
Time Elapsed: 22 months (almost two years)
No. 19. “Isn’t a Pity”
From: George Harrison, All Things Must Pass (1970)
Origin Story: This deeply meaningful song’s roots can be traced back to 1966, with Harrison introducing “Isn’t It a Pity” during Beatles sessions on January 25, 1969.
Finally Released: November 1970
Time Elapsed: 22 months (almost two years)
No. 18. “Junk”
From: Paul McCartney, McCartney (1970)
Origin Story: McCartney performed an early version at the demo stage during the recording of the White Album in May 1968.
Finally Released: April 1970
Time Elapsed: 23 months (almost two years)
No. 17. “Another Day”
From: Paul McCartney‘s debut solo single (1971)
Origin Story: This song was first performed during Beatles sessions for Let It Be in January 1969.
Finally Released: February 1971
Time Elapsed: 25 months (approximately two years)
No. 16. “Across the Universe”
From: The Beatles, Let It Be (1970)
Origin Story: This track was recorded in February 1968 and initially went unnoticed after being included in a forgotten charity album.
Finally Released: May 1970
Time Elapsed: 27 months (over two years)
No. 15. “Try Some, Buy Some”
From: George Harrison, Living in the Material World (1973)
Origin Story: Recorded in February 1971 for a forgotten project co-produced by Harrison featuring Ronnie Spector, with Harrison‘s vocals added years later.
Finally Released: May 1973
Time Elapsed: 27 months (over two years)
No. 14. “Back Seat of My Car”
From: Paul McCartney, Ram (1971)
Origin Story: McCartney shared a rough sketch of this song with the group during January 1969 sessions for Let It Be.
Finally Released: May 1971
Time Elapsed: 28 months (more than two years)
No. 13. “Gimme Some Truth”
From: John Lennon, Imagine (1971)
Origin Story: The initial run-through of this track occurred in January 1969, based on an early idea from the Beatles’ February 1968 trip to India.
Finally Released: September 1971
Time Elapsed: 32 months (over two and a half years)
No. 12. “You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)”
From: B-side of the single “Let It Be” (1970)
Origin Story: Four sessions dedicated to completing this song began in May 1967.
Finally Released: March 1970
Time Elapsed: 34 months (almost three years)
No. 11. “Look at Me”
From: John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band (1970)
Origin Story: This song was written during the Beatles’ spiritual journey to India in February 1968.
Finally Released: December 1970
Time Elapsed: 34 months (almost three years)
No. 10. “Jealous Guy”
From: John Lennon, Imagine (1971)
Origin Story: Initially demoed in May 1968 as “Child of Nature,” this song began its writing journey during the Beatles’ February 1968 trip to India.
Finally Released: September 1971
Time Elapsed: 40 months (over three years)
No. 9. “When I’m 64”
From: The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Origin Story: McCartney penned early lyrics in the late 1950s, later playing the song during the Beatles’ Cavern Club era in August 1963.
Finally Released: May 1967
Time Elapsed: 45 months (more than three and a half years)
No. 8. “You”
From: George Harrison, Extra Texture [Read All About It] (1975)
Origin Story: Harrison later added his own vocals to this track, which was recorded in February 1971 for Ronnie Spector but ultimately remained unreleased.
Finally Released: September 1975
Time Elapsed: 55 months (more than four and a half years)
No. 7. “I’ll Follow the Sun”
From: The Beatles, Beatles For Sale (1964)
Origin Story: McCartney had been developing this song as early as 1958, with bootleg recordings from the Quarrymen, Lennon’s pre-Beatles group, dating back to April 1960.
Finally Released: December 1964
Time Elapsed: 56 months (over four and a half years)
No. 6. “I Call Your Name”
From: The Beatles, Past Masters (2009)
Origin Story: McCartney recalled assisting Lennon in finishing this song shortly after he joined the Quarrymen in October 1957.
Finally Released: June 1964
Time Elapsed: 80 months (over six and a half years)
No. 5. “Woman Don’t You Cry For Me”
From: George Harrison, Thirty-Three and a Third (1976)
Origin Story: This song was written in December 1969 while touring with Delaney and Bonnie before the Beatles’ split.
Finally Released: November 1976
Time Elapsed: 83 months (almost seven years)
No. 4. “One After 909”
From: The Beatles, Let It Be (1970)
Origin Story: This track was initially shelved, with recording dates tracing back to March 1963 sessions for “From Me to You.”
Finally Released: May 1970
Time Elapsed: 86 months (over seven years)
No. 3. “See Yourself”
From: George Harrison, Thirty Three and a Third (1976)
Origin Story: Harrison penned this song around July 1967, following the backlash when McCartney admitted to experimenting with LSD.
Finally Released: November 1976
Time Elapsed: 112 months (more than nine years)
No. 2. “Not Guilty”
From: George Harrison, George Harrison (1979)
Origin Story: This song was demoed in May 1968 at Harrison‘s home in Esher, Surrey, with a long-unreleased grungy Beatles take following in August 1968.
Finally Released: February 1979
Time Elapsed: 129 months (almost 11 years)
No. 1. “Circles”
From: George Harrison, Gone Troppo (1982)
Origin Story: This track is yet another unused demo from the May 1968 sessions before the White Album, showcasing Harrison‘s enduring creativity.
Finally Released: November 1982
Time Elapsed: 174 months (14 and a half years)
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