Getting Better

…added to McCartney’s positive-thinking “Getting Better” in 1967. Culturally too, Lennon assumed the role of the candid provocateur. All four Beatles were witty, all four irreverent. But only Lennon would have observed “We’re more popular than Jesus now” or boiled the story of youth culture down to “America had…

…as the upbeat song “Getting Better,” which couples optimistic sentiments sung by McCartney with cutting interjections by Lennon. The album also illustrates lead guitarist George Harrison’s affinity for spiritual and Indian-inspired music. His dreamy piece “Within You, Without You,” which was inspired by a trip he had taken to…