Michael Gerber
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Filmed over the course of 12 years, Richard Linklater’s movie “Boyhood” is getting raves. Beatlefans will take particular note of the scene where a father (Ethan Hawke) gives his son (Ellar Coltrane) a mix of solo Beatles tracks, which he dubs “The Black Album.” (Please note: this is not the stupendously lo-fi Let It Be-era bootleg, which managed to bring me down within seconds of loading the video.) The fictional collection’s fictional liner notes begin, “I wanted to give you something for your birthday that money couldn’t buy, something that only a father could give a son, like a family heirloom. This is the best I could do. Apologies in advance. I present to you: THE BEATLES’ BLACK ALBUM.”

This collection is actually a version of a gift Hawke gave to his own daughter. You can read more about that, and the liner notes in toto (which immediately veer into the Mental Floss version of The Beatles, but wtf, it’s a movie), here on Buzzfeed.

Boyhood Black Album

That’s a pear, but it’s a triple.

We’ve toyed with this concept before, but it’s a perennial, and I await your opinions with baited breath. It’s an exercise in sequencing, which the Beatles were wonderful at; and two of the main brains behind that particular magic are still alive and kicking: Paul McCartney and George Martin. I wonder if they might be coaxed to compile a list — say for charity?

Right off the bat: I’m blowing the whistle on “God” right before “Listen to What the Man Said”. I get the theme, but man, sonic whiplash. Also, no “Coming Up”? Nothing from George’s “Living in the Material World”? No “I’m the Greatest” or “Back Off Boogaloo”? Let’s use this as a running start at a real mix that works, eh, Dullblogisti?

1. Paul McCartney & Wings, “Band on the Run
2. George Harrison, “My Sweet Lord
3. John Lennon feat. The Flux Fiddlers & the Plastic Ono Band, “Jealous Guy
4. Ringo Starr, “Photograph
5. John Lennon, “How?
6. Paul McCartney, “Every Night
7. George Harrison, “Blow Away
8. Paul McCartney, “Maybe I’m Amazed
9. John Lennon, “Woman
10.Paul McCartney & Wings, “Jet
11. John Lennon, “Stand by Me
12. Ringo Starr, “No No Song
13. Paul McCartney, “Junk
14. John Lennon, “Love
15. Paul McCartney & Linda McCartney, “The Back Seat of My Car
16. John Lennon, “Watching the Wheels
17. John Lennon, “Mind Games
18. Paul McCartney & Wings, “Bluebird
19. John Lennon, “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
20. George Harrison, “What Is Life

Disc 2:
1. John Lennon, “God
2. Wings, “Listen to What the Man Said
3. John Lennon, “Crippled Inside
4. Ringo Starr, “You’re Sixteen You’re Beautiful (And You’re Mine)
5. Paul McCartney & Wings, “Let Me Roll It
6. John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band, “Power to the People
7. Paul McCartney, “Another Day
8. George Harrison, “If Not For You (2001 Digital Remaster)
9. John Lennon, “(Just Like) Starting Over
10. Wings, “Let ‘Em In
11. John Lennon, “Mother
12. Paul McCartney & Wings, “Helen Wheels
13. John Lennon, “I Found Out
14. Paul McCartney & Linda McCartney, “Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey
15. John Lennon, Yoko Ono & The Plastic Ono Band, “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)
15. George Harrison, “Not Guilty (2004 Digital Remaster)
16. Paul McCartney & Linda McCartney, “Heart of the Country
17. John Lennon, “Oh Yoko!
18. Wings, “Mull of Kintyre
19. Ringo Starr, “It Don’t Come Easy

Disc 3:
1. John Lennon, “Grow Old With Me (2010 Remaster)
2. Wings, “Silly Love Songs
3. The Beatles, “Real Love
4. Paul McCartney & Wings, “My Love
5. John Lennon, “Oh My Love
6. George Harrison, “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)
7. Paul McCartney, “Pipes of Peace
8. John Lennon, “Imagine
9. Paul McCartney, “Here Today
10. George Harrison, “All Things Must Pass
11. Paul McCartney, “And I Love Her (Live on MTV Unplugged)