As the anniversary of John Lennon’s vicious murder looms on December 8, 2012, we didn’t return to his best-known hits — after all, there’ll be plenty of “Imagine,” “Watching the Wheels,” “#9 Dream” and Beatles favorites to go around.

Recently I’ve received requests to examine “Rain,” the groundbreaking B-side to “Paperback Writer.” Indeed, “Rain” has transformed into one of the Beatles’ best-loved B-sides, a masterpiece both musically and lyrically.

On this particular island, there will be sun and sand — but nary an original artist. Join us, as we query our intrepid panel on its must-have cover songs for their fateful journey.

Many fascinating stories have emerged from the landmark 1963 recording of the Please Please Me album. The all-day marathon session signaled the beginning of The Beatles’ rock and pop reign and produced an impressive array of singles: “Love Me Do,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” “Twist and Shout,” and the title track

Yoko Ono, avant-garde artist, peace activist and wife of the Beatles’ John Lennon, remains one of the most misunderstood figures in rock.

The stereotype stands to this day: John Lennon wrote the rockers, Paul McCartney the love songs. But the Abbey Road track “Oh! Darling” challenged this notion by having McCartney write and sing the blues.

1967 marked a crucial transitional period for the Beatles; they recorded the groundbreaking Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band; performed “All You Need Is Love” on the Our World broadcast

After years of wondering when a book containing John Lennon’s personal correspondence would be published, that moment has arrived and here it is — just in time for today’s 72nd anniversary of the former Beatle’s birth.

Pity the poor Brits, who only received the first side of this album as an EP.

“That was Paul and me trying to write a song … and it didn’t work out,” John Lennon said in a 1980 interview. Despite Lennon’s opinion, 1963′s “I’ll Get You” exemplifies the Beatles’ growing ability to absorb pop and rhythm and blues