Album cover created using photo from the last ever Beatles photo shoot as a group on Aug 22, 1969.

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Went down a rabbit hole of determining if a 14th Beatles studio album was possible in 1970 that would include songs written mostly in late 1968 through 1970 by the various Beatles and recorded or rehearsed in Beatles studio sessions. Assuming they had come back in studio in mid 1970 this is a list of songs that at the time were done, partially done, some recorded, or at least rehearsed.

I did not include any Beatles songs that had already been released as A side singles so it was not just some packaged compilation money grab but did end up using two B-side singles that I love. Those were only ever on a compilation album called Hey Jude. I saw other similar fan lists that used A side singles that had not been on albums of new material anyway (Revolution single version, Hey Jude, Ballad of john and Yoko). But I did not want to use those.

Sometimes these were recorded alone and sometimes with other Beatles in studio - not dissimilar to some other Beatles songs in that 1969 period. But I wanted songs that were at least played by members of The Beatles (usually more than one) in rehearsals and recording sessions for The Beatles before they broke up. Basically unfinished songs or songs not selected for one reason or another on Let It Be or Abbey Road that were later finished (sometimes for their solo albums). I also saw other compilations that used solo songs that were not ever played by the Beatles or not originally written during those recording sessions.

In the case where a Beatles recording exists I tried to use that.

I honestly think it would have been a really good album. The A side would be phenomenal, the B side were perhaps mostly filler material from their solo albums later but are a decent collection to make an album. But Art of Dying and Remember stand out to me on that B side. And most of them really sound like Beatles songs more than later solo material did. I think overall it is not as cohesive as some other Beatles albums but unless they really returned to the studio that wasn't possible.

It fits within a typical 45-ish minute limit at just under 22:30 on each side. I also wanted to follow the typical Beatles album formula of one Ringo song at most, a couple of Harrison songs and close to 50/50 on Lennon/McCartney songs for the rest. John was contributing less and was absent more in this period so I ended up with:

Ringo - 1
George - 3
Paul - 6
John - 4

Here is the list with some background info on each and my estimate of howw much % of a Beatles song it is.

A side:

It Don't Come Easy (Ringo) 3:02 - #4 in the UK and US - easily one of Ringo's best it was actually a big hit as a solo release in April 1971. Intended as a Beatles song Starr had started writing it in 1968 and recorded it first February 18, 1970 at Abbey Road studios with George Harrison on guitar (and Klaus Voorman on bass, and Stephen Stills on piano, the piano part was later re-recorded with Gary Wright). Later vocals and overdubs were done in late 1970. George Martin produced.
50%

Maybe I'm Amazed (Paul) 3:53 - top 40 hit in US and UK - written in 1969, and most well known for the live version recorded by his band Wings, but McCartney initially recorded an unreleased studio version at Abbey Road on February 15, 1970 where he produced and played all of the instruments himself. Later released on the special edition of his first solo album McCartney.
90%

All Things Must Pass (George) 3:47 - the Beatles rehearsed this song repeatedly in early 1969 as it was originally intended for the Let it Be album. First recorded on February 25, 1969 (Harrisons birthday) at Abbey Road studios, 2 takes and a demo version. Ringo played drums on the released version along with contributors Billy Preston, Klaus Voorman and Eric Clapton. Preston would release his own version of it before Harrison.
75%

Gimme Some Truth (John) 3:15 - a Lennon protest song introduced in the Get Back sessions in early 1969 it would first be released on Lennon's Imagine album. Introduced in the Get Back sessions in early 1969 and it later appeared on the Let It Be: 50th Anniversary Edition reissue as audio from rehearsals. It also appeared on the The Beatles: Get Back documentary. It was not recorded at the time except for the filming crew.
90%

Come and Get It (Paul) 2:30 - McCartney wrote and recorded this on July 24, 1969 during a Beatles session. He was early and played all instruments when he recorded it. He laid down the vocals and piano on the first take, sang again and played maracas on the first overdub, then added drums, and finally put in the bass guitar track. It took less than an hour to finish. It would later appear on Anthology 3 and the re-release extended version of Abbey Road. It was a top 10 hit for the band Badfinger as well in early 1970.
100%

Don't Let Me Down (John) 3:36 - B side of #1 hit - recorded during the Let it Be sessions. I said I would try not to put any previously released singles but this song (incredibly) was left off the Let It Be album and only released as a B-side to Get Back in 1970. Quite literally one of my favorite Beatles songs and one of the few with any other artist (Billy Preston on keyboards) it was also part of the rooftop concert.
100%

The Inner Light (George) 2:36 - B side of a #1 hit Lady Madonna - the music was first recorded in India and overdubs in Abbey Road studios in Jan and Feb 1968 including background vocals with McCartney and Lennon. They loved the song and convinced George to sing the lead vocals even though they were in a higher range.
100%

22:29


B side:

The Back Seat of My Car (Paul) 4:31 - top 40 hit in US and UK - another song introduced in the Get Back studio sessions for the Beatles in 1969 at Twickenham. It was rehearsed then with just the melody and partial lyrics but not recored. It would show up as the last track on his Ram album in 1971. Despite being listed as Paul/Linda she does not appear on the song at all.
40%

Every Night (Paul) 2:35
First rehearsed in January 1969 Twickenham Studios sessions for the Beatles' Get Back' specifically on 21 and 24 January 1969 McCartney and his bandmates jammed around McCartney's initial musical idea, giving the song a brief run through with John Lennon on slide guitar. It was not recorded then. McCartney later finished it for his solo album.
50%

Look at Me (John) 2:54 - written during the last Beatles tour in India in 1968 and rehearsed, but not recorded until 1970 for his debut solo album.
25%

Art of Dying (George) 3:39 - banger of a song, written initially in 1966 with The Beatles but not recorded until April 1970 with Phil Spector producing. It included all four future primary members of Derek and the Dominoes as Eric Clapton (guitar), Bobby Whitlock (keyboards), Carl Radle (bass) and Jim Gordon (drums) played on the track and several other Harrison songs for his first solo album. They credit that experience with the formation of the band.
25%

Junk (Paul) 2:25 - originally written in 1968 in India and rehearsed during the White Album sessions it was left off that and Abbey Road. After the breakup McCartney recorded it for his solo album.
50%

Remember (John) 4:36 - Interesting reflective Lennon song, the piano riff was recorded during Abbey Road sessions, in fact it was initially intended as a kind of extended instrumental coda for "Something" that was edited out before its release. Lennon later wrote lyrics and recorded it in 1970 for his debut album.
50%

Teddy Boy (Paul) 2:25 - recorded by the Beatles in 1969 sessions for Get Back but never released. Appears on Anthology 3. Paul hated the recorded Beatles version as it included john's highly sarcastic lyrical exclamations during recording. Paul would re-record it later for his debut solo album without John's interjections.
75%

22:25



I personally feel like had the Beatles agreed to continue as a band but in a much more loose arrangement where they worked more independently but collated songs into an album this might have worked pretty well. They didn't tour any more anyway and did not need to make public appearances together.

Fantasy I know. But I can dream.

I don't feel this way about any of their later solo work. Those don't feel or sound like Beatles songs to me. But these songs do for the most part and I think that reflects when they were written and first recorded or rehearsed as The Beatles for most of them or during Beatles recording sessions. I really came up with only these songs. Everything else was less than 20% Beatles to me.