The Beatles, particularly John Lennon and Paul McCartney, were avid students of the Texas-born singer-songwriter Buddy Holly.

What is the link between a 1957 hit and the Beatles’ 1964 track “No Reply”? The answer lends insight into the group’s changing sound and growing lyrical sophistication.

“I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party” reveals the Beatles’ country and rockabilly roots, even as it foreshadows – like much of ‘Beatles for Sale’ – the musical changes to come.

Tellingly, Paul McCartney still occasionally performs the Beatles’ “I’ll Follow the Sun” in concert. It’s an important stepping stone in his artistic development.

Paul McCartney’s underrated “What You’re Doing” foreshadows how the Beatles would test the limits of rock later in the 1960s.

“Baby’s in Black” signaled the Beatles’ rapidly growing interest in musical experimentation, even as it showcased the Lennon-McCartney bond.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I stand before you to defend the reputation of the Beatles’ 1964 cover of “Mr. Moonlight.”

The year was 1985; the scene, Mr. Tantillo’s eighth-grade chorus class. On Fridays, students were allowed to bring in their own music so we could “experience” diverse tastes. You May Also Like: The Beatles, “Words of Love” from Beatles for Sale (1964): Deep Beatles