DAILY DIRT: ‘Yesterday, when all my troubles seemed so far away … ‘

Yep, every year on my birthday is a stark reminder about the loss of a great talent. More about that in a minute … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 437 of The Daily Dirt.

1. This month marks the 60th release of the Beatles’ first single, and if you are a baby boomer the following statement might be a little disheartening.

“Americans’ familiarity with the Beatles differs by age, with people 45 and older being roughly twice as likely as younger adults to have a strong familiarity with their music,” writes Taylor Orth for yougov.com.

OK, now some good news for the oldtimers. 

Yougov.com recently coordinated a poll, seeking the Beatles’ favorite songs from a group of adults most familiar with the group’s music. (Translation: Yougov.com worked with a lot of my fellow oldtimers for the following results.)

The top 10 Beatles songs from those most familiar with the work of the Fab Four:

• 1. “Yesterday.” (Excellent, probably my No. 1, too. Fun fact: “Yesterday” was only 2 minutes, 5 seconds long.)
• 2. “Here Comes The Sun.” (Perfect song for a teenager’s Friday night date night. Not that I remember anything about something that … )
• 3. “Hey Jude.” (This song has annoyed me my most of life. It’s just so-o-o-o long.
• 4. “Let It Be.” (From the group’s 12th and final studio album.)
• 5. “Come Together.” (Great lyrics … “He got joo joo eyeball, he one holy roller.”)
• 6. “With A Little Help From My Friends.” (From the movie “Yellow Submarine.”)
• 7. “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” (This and the ensuing two songs are from the band’s early years when we all thought the Beatles were young and innocent.)
• 8. “Help.” (Well … at least young.)
• 9. “A Hard Day’s Night.” (OK, we never believed they were either.) 
• 10. “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.” (Never cared much for this effort. From 1967 at the height of the “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” era.) 

(PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The omission of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Eleanor Rigby” from this list is an outrage. JRG)

2. In another poll, members of the same control group selected their favorite band member.

No real surprises here, except maybe Ringo beating out George for which band member they “loved the most”:

• 1. Paul, 43 percent (9 percent “not a fan at all”).
• 2. John, 34 percent (14 percent “not a fan at all”).
• 3. Ringo, 32 percent (7 percent “not a fan at all”).
• 4. George, 31 percent (9 percent “not a fan at all”).

3. Wrapping up our day devoted to the Beatles, here are my own picks for their best songs:

Gold medal: “Yesterday” (1965).

Silver medal: “Twist and Shout” (1963).

Bronze medal: “Hello, Goodbye” (1967).

Steve Thought O’ The Day — I always remember the day John Lennon was shot and killed. It was on my birthday (Dec. 8) in 1980. It was a Monday night, and a news bulletin interrupted “Monday Night Football.”

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He is our Pete Best.