The White Album

[TooLiveBrew]

A discussion with my father over the holidays led me to wonder... 'if you edited the Beatles' White Album onto one record/disc/LP, would/could it be their greatest album?'

 

I know many already feel it is their greatest feat. I'm not one of them . I think Abbey Road may be their most skillfull performance, released after Let it Be... I just think it's their peak in so many ways. For those unfamiliar (or younger), they were not gelling well as they made Let it Be - some wanted to play a series of live shows & select recordings from those concerts to create a final album (excluding George), and they all fell onto feeling forced at some point(s). To me Abbey Road is them putting it all behind.

 

However, if you were to hand-pick roughly 15-20 tracks and create your own edition of the White Album, I think it could (even easily) be their best. It came before the tensions of their later years, and has some prime cuts. My picks are

 

1. Back in the USSR

2. Glass Onion

3. Ob-La-Di, Ob La Da

4. The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill (I love ballads)

5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

6. Blackbird

7. Piggies

8. Rocky Raccoon (see #4)

9. Why don't we do it in the road?

10. Birthday

11. Mother Nature's Son

12. Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey

13. Sexy Sadie

14. Revolution One (complete with McCartney saying "Take two" before they play - and that they nailed it in two takes.)

15. Cry Baby Cry

16. Good Night (because it's a corny yet good way to remind that an album should have structute)

 

 

"Birthday" could have probably fared incredibly well as a single (with a great B-side), even though it's the best birthday song created (take that Nitty Gritty's horrible rendition!).

[sbrylski]

For those unfamiliar (or younger), they were not gelling well as they made Let it Be - some wanted to play a series of live shows & select recordings from those concerts to create a final album (excluding George), and they all fell onto feeling forced at some point(s). To me Abbey Road is them putting it all behind.

 

But Abbey Road was recorded before Let It Be, then released afterwards. So they weren't really "putting it all behind," rather it hadn't quite built all the way up yet.

 

I like "Good Night" because they made Ringo sing it. He was good with kids.

 

Mother Nature's Son and Blackbird are my two favorite songs to play on the guitar.

 

The whole album is just flipping awesome. I've got it on vinyl, but its a little beat up. I've got all the Beatles Albums except Rubber Soul, I believe.

[TooLiveBrew]

But Abbey Road was recorded before[/i] Let It Be, then released afterwards. So they weren't really "putting it all behind," rather it hadn't quite built all the way up yet

 

D'oh! I think I'm older than you, too. Why, sweet irony, why? Thanks sbryl.

[sgtcluels]

I know this is off topic, but Rain, the Beatles cover band, is playing in February at the Riverside. They are supposed to put on a rad show.

[homer]

Do you have the Beatles' White Album? Never mind. Just get me a glass of hot fat. And bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia while you're out there.

[colbyjack]

The White Album is such an interesting album in that it is definitely more about it's collection of songs that any one individual tune.

 

I'm not going to bother coming up with my own list, but Dear Prudence would be #1 if I did.

[Teatoe993]

 

But Abbey Road was recorded before Let It Be, then released afterwards. So they weren't really "putting it all behind," rather it hadn't quite built all the way up yet.

 

 

Actually TLB was correct. Abbey Road was recorded after the Let It Be Sessions. Let It Be as an album was pieced together by Phil Spector and released after the Beatles break up. It's confusing.

[milwaukeesportsfan]

Do you have the Beatles' White Album? Never mind. Just get me a glass of hot fat. And bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia while you're out there.

 

"Can I borrow your towel for a sec? My car just hit a water buffalo."

 

"I'm afraid I'm gonna have to pull rank on you. I didn't want to have to do this. I'm with the Mattress Police. There are no tags on these mattresses."

[panthernick]

In my opinion Disc One of the White Album is one of my favorite records ever. Just a great disc from start to finish.

[brettac1]

Yeah, about the only thing wrong with the entire record to me is "Revolution 9". And the first disc is definitely perfection.

 

I'm with Sam on this, too, all the Beatles stuff is much better enjoyed on vinyl, or better yet, a vinyl rip to a CD. The best thing these ears have ever heard is the "Dr. Ebbetts Blue Box Remasters" of the entire Beatles catalog. He ripped the songs off unplayed hi-fi vinyl to CD and the sound just absolutely kills any of the official CD releases.

[1992casey]

"Revolution 9"

Turn me on Dead Man! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[sbrylski]

 

But Abbey Road was recorded before Let It Be, then released afterwards. So they weren't really "putting it all behind," rather it hadn't quite built all the way up yet.

 

Actually TLB was correct. Abbey Road was recorded after the Let It Be Sessions. Let It Be as an album was pieced together by Phil Spector and released after the Beatles break up. It's confusing.

Ah, but TLB incorrectly stated that Abbey Road was released after Let It Be - that messed me up...

So, this is correct, right?

 

Let It Be recorded ->Abbey Road recorded -> Abbey Road released -> Let It Be released

[TooLiveBrew]

I don't know for certain, but...

 

Actually TLB was correct. Abbey Road was recorded after the Let It Be Sessions. Let It Be as an album was pieced together by Phil Spector and released after the Beatles break up. It's confusing.

 

Ahhh... swett semi-vindication!

 

Sbryl, I think you have the order correct.... ah yes, thank you, Wikipedia:

 

"Most of Let It Be[/i] was recorded in January 1969, before the recording and release of the album Abbey Road[/i]. The Beatles were unhappy with the album and it was temporarily shelved. Let It Be[/i] was later 're-produced' by Phil Spector in 1970."

 

And here's what I was getting at in my OP...

"After the near-disastrous sessions for the proposed Get Back[/i] album (later retitled Let It Be[/i]), Paul McCartneysuggested to producer George Martin that the group get together and make an album 'just like the old days. .. just like we used to'^{[citation needed][/sup], free of the conflict that began with the sessions for The White Album[/i]. Martin agreed to this if the band would be 'the way they used to be'[citation needed][/sup]. In their interviews for the Beatles Anthologyseries, the surviving band members stated they knew at the time this would very likely be the final Beatles' product, and therefore they agreed to set aside their differences and 'go out on a high note.'"}

 

For those curious... for all the bad rap he later received, Paul was the one who clearly wanted the band to continue together the most. At least that seems/ed clear to me in my encounters with the 'behind the scenes' stuff.

[sbrylski]

For those curious... for all the bad rap he later received, Paul was the one who clearly wanted the band to continue together the most. At least that seems/ed clear to me in my encounters with the 'behind the scenes' stuff.

 

This I concur. I read Paul would even show up and John's apartment with his guitar and John wouldn't let him in...

[1992casey]

One other thing that may as well be noted is that news of Paul McCartney's death surfaced near the time Abbey Road and Let it Be were released.

[sbrylski]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d6/Batman222.jpg

[RobertR]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d6/Batman222.jpg

 

Interesting note to that story. The twist is the Paul equivalent lived and the rest of the band died in a plane crash.

 

Robert

[BrewCrewForever]

I think "The White Album" was there best. But its a tough choice, I mean they are The Beatles pehaps the biggest band ever.

[wisconsinfan47]

Paul McCartney's death: "That was a hoax...right?"

[BrewCrewForever]

Paul McCartney's death: "That was a hoax...right?

Great SNL skit.

[brewerjamie15]

I just put this album onto my Ipod Shuffle. I remember when the CD was first released.

Is anyone else's CD stamped with a number on it? Mine came in two separate jewel cases, is it one jewel case now? Mine is #304,303.