Listen to the Beatles’ ‘Black Album’ Playlist From the Movie ‘Boyhood’

Director Richard Linklater's 'Boyhood' is one of the best-reviewed movies of the year, and although much of the press surrounding the film has focused on the fact that Linklater assembled it over a period of 12 years using the same cast, that wouldn't matter much if it didn't hang together as a story -- right down to seemingly small details like a key mix CD handed down from the character Mason (played by Ethan Hawke) to his son (Ellar Coltrane).

The triple-disc collection of the best solo work recorded by the members of the Beatles after their breakup, called 'The Black Album' by Hawke's character in the movie, is given as a gift from father to son on the kid's 15th birthday. As Buzzfeed notes, the compilation has its roots in a real-life mix Hawke made for his own daughter after a family trauma mirroring his 'Boyhood' character's -- and the note that accompanies 'The Black Album' in the movie also closely resembles the one Hawke wrote for his own child.

It's a long letter, full of hard-won wisdom and no shortage of poignant moments for anyone who's ever loved and lost (or anyone who's ever wished the Beatles never broke up). You can read the whole thing at Buzzfeed if you're in the mood; we'll just leave you with a small bit here, as well as the track listing and a YouTube playlist featuring all 51 tracks (which you can listen to above).

The only work I’ve ever been a part of that I feel any sense of pride for involves something born in a spirit of collaboration — not my idea or his or her idea, but some unforeseeable magic that happens in creativity when energies collide.
This is the best of John, Paul, George and Ringo’s solo work, post-BEATLES. Basically I’ve put the band back together for you. There’s this thing that happens when you listen to too much of the solo stuff separately — too much Lennon: suddenly there’s a little too much self-involvement in the room; too much Paul and it can become sentimental — let’s face it, borderline goofy; too much George: I mean, we all have our spiritual side but it’s only interesting for about six minutes, ya know? Ringo: He’s funny, irreverent and cool, but he can’t sing — he had a bunch of hits in the ’70s (even more than Lennon) but you aren’t gonna go home and crank up a Ringo Starr album start to finish, you’re just not gonna do that. When you mix up their work, though, when you put them side by side and let them flow — they elevate each other, and you start to hear it: T H E B E A T L E S.
Just listen to the whole CD, OK?

The Beatles, 'The Black Album'

Disc 1:
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)'
16. George Harrison, 'Not Guilty (2004 Digital Remaster)'
17. Paul McCartney & Linda McCartney, 'Heart of the Country'
18. John Lennon, 'Oh Yoko!'
19. Wings, 'Mull of Kintyre'
20. 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)'