I did a Beatles journey here before and I would agree that Please Please Me is my favorite of the early stuff, provided that Help! Is categorized as the transition.

As far as a favorite overall, I tend to lean toward Abbey Road, but often think about Revolver, Rubber Soul, and The White Album really close by.

As far as the album that has piqued my interest more and more over time, that would be Let It Be.

Help might be my #2 pick, after Please Please Me.

Abbey Road is the record I deviate most from common perceptions on. It just sounds to me like a retread of old ideas…the most conservative Beatles record. The one that most plays it safe.

I understand that it benefits from the equipment upgrades at Abbey Road. It can pay out on some of the sonic aspirations those older ideas had, in ways that Peppers or Revolver could not. But I prefer the straining ambition and mad scientist daring of those records to the comfortable successes and behaved mannerisms of Abbey Road.

I do appreciate that at least they were doing some creative interbreeding again. Paul’s additions to come together are what make the song, for example. But pound for pound, the failure to achieve what they were after on Let it Be makes for a much more interesting record, to my ears. At that point in their career, failure is a more interesting coat for the Beatles to wear than good behavior is.

I have similar feelings about Abbey Road. It's never been my favorite, largely for the reasons you mentioned.

The White Album stands alone, to me, still. But after that it's Help, Rubber Soul (which maybe doesn't count in this context?) and Beatles For Sale.

In recent years, Revolver has overtaken the White Album as my favourite.

Wrong. They are terrible mixes and it's "cool" to accept and love them without question or reservation.

If I’m reading you right McP, I actually pick Let It Be for the same reasons. The warts and oddities are what make it so thrilling. It’s the only album that feels loose and tossed off from start to finish.

Hehehe... "tossed off".

Happy Beatlemania in the USA Day, Anders

Thank you,, and the same to you. Incredible part of history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_on_The_Ed_Sullivan_Show

"The Beatles made several appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, including three in February 1964 that were among their first appearances in front of an American audience. Their first appearance, on February 9, was seen by over 73 million viewers and came to be regarded as a cultural watershed that launched American Beatlemania—as well as the wider British Invasion of American pop music."

Rising from the ashes of Pete Best.