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The two Beatles songs John Lennon wanted to give away
John Lennon thought Paul McCartney’s “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” and “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” were too lightweight for The Beatles and suggested McCartney give them to other performers. The disagreement reflects the pair’s differing musical instincts and raises questions about what belonged on a Beatles record.
Lennon made the suggestion because he felt the band did not connect with those songs, mentioning Mary Hopkins as someone who might use them. “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” appeared on the White Album, while “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” was released on Abbey Road; despite Lennon’s reservations, the band’s approach was not a dictatorship, and its members pursued varied musical ideas.
In short
- Lennon wanted two McCartney songs given to other performers.
- He thought they did not fit The Beatles’ tastes.
- Both songs were ultimately released by the band.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A Beatles record could reasonably be expected to reflect the band’s distinctive identity and artistic ambitions, so Lennon may have felt that songs he considered lightweight would be better suited to another performer. Giving them away could also have made room for material more in keeping with the direction he thought the group should take.
The case against
The Beatles’ appeal rested partly on their range, and McCartney’s playful songs could broaden the band’s sound rather than weaken it. Keeping them on the albums respected McCartney’s creative contribution and the group’s shared, non-dictatorial approach, while allowing listeners to decide whether the songs belonged.