Which Beatle was the first to score the first hit as a solo artist?

With all the turbulence that shook the Beatles in the late 60's, it's a small miracle that the band lasted until 1970. By that time, the Fab Four had stopped spinning since a while another in the recording studio.

If you read about the recording session of "Come Together," John Lennon's biggest hit with The Beatles, you'll be able to feel the sadness of Paul McCartney when he describes the date. (Paul wanted to sing choruses but felt stupid to ask John.)

In this type of situation, the best that the four great musicians could do was to start and make a career. As all music fans know, that's exactly what they did. And, being who they were, everyone won a # 1 single on the Billboard charts within four years.

As people, it almost meant that there was a competition to be first at the top of the charts. "The quiet Beatle" ended up being the first to get there.

George beat everyone with "My Sweet Lord" from the 1970s.

Sure Abbey Road, The last Beatles studio album, George Harrison has done one of his best works so far. His "Something" and "Here Comes the Sun" tunes seemed to capture the timeless sound of the band, but it was Harrison's songs.

When he releases the triple album All things must pass In November 1970, McCartney's first album was on the market for seven months. Lennon and Ringo Starr also had records. But none had yet dominated the charts with a hit single.

Harrison became the first when "My Sweet Lord" reached No. 1 in December. It did not really sound like a Beatles song.

Unfortunately for George, that made sounds a bit too like 1963's "He's So Fine" by The Chiffons. Later, he ended up paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to the publisher of the song as a result of a copyright infringement case.

McCartney would be the next to hit the number 1 with a solo track, when he did it with "Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey" in September 1971. Ringo Starr, who had not sung or composed much at the time of the Beatles, followed Paul with "Photograph" reaching the number 1 in November 1973.

John would be the last at the top of the charts with his 1974 title with Elton John.

In 1974, only Lennon had not been ranked # 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was not for lack of good songs. Under normal circumstances, the "instant Karma" of the 1970s and the "Imagine" of 1971 would have both succeeded. (They both peaked at No. 3, although the album Imagine reaches No. 1.)

That took until November 1974, when Lennon's Plastic Ono Nuclear band dominated the charts with "What Lets You Cross the Night," with Elton John. (By listening to it now, this seems to be the theme of Saturday Night Live.)

Lennon would not see another single No. 1 in his lifetime. His second and last hit at the top of the charts passed a few weeks after his murder. McCartney has meanwhile scored several other No. 1 hits in the 1970s. (Harrison and Starr have also repeated the feat.)

Of course, the Beatles broke up in 1970, but nothing prevented these four musicians from making good music by themselves. Ringo and Paul, the two surviving members, are still there.

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