White Album: As Is? Or Should It Have Been Shorter?

If another band had released this album, people wouldn't spend as much time and effort to learn to "appreciate" it, nor would they praise it for having "warts."

 

I made my own compilation of the "White Album" which turned out to be about 50 minutes long. There's so much there that, had it truly been the collaborative effort that their earlier albums seemed to be, wouldn't have even been released.

At least it gave a good foretaste of what the solo albums were to be.

 

I wouldn't change the audio content any, but I do wish they hadn't chickened out on the cover. including the photographs, lyrics and poster was a real shame. that would have been so much more impressive if it was just the white embossed cover on the outside, and the four black and white photos mirrored by the song titles on the inside.

also, the labels should have been black and white (a la the POB albums) and the inner sleeves should have been white.

the first time I got this and opened it up I was so disapointed that it wasn't as minimalist as I had hoped.

 

I would have rather it been just on solid LP at the ttime. Then a follow up version six months later! Just my own opinion, but it's a done deal. So I guess we leave it as is now for sure!

 

Its impossible to fit the White Album on a single cd without making cuts. I would go in the other direction and make this a 3 cd boxed set: 1) Stereo tracks less a few songs 2) Mono tracks less a few songs but including the songs that were cut from the Stereo cd and 3) include singles of the period, anthology tracks and other unreleased tracks, and outfakes. In other words, I would rather be more complete than less.

 

Out of curiosity, what are your other contenders for most overrated?

 

I wouldn't change it. Sure, a one-record version would probably be the Beatles' greatest album, but so what? That's only good for Internet geek arguments and bragging rights. If I don't like parts of it, I can skip them...

 

I think that's the point of Revolution 9: to give you the creeps. In that case, it works perfectly!

 

It's great. It sold. It's the bloody Beatles WHITE ALBUM. Shut Up!-Paul McCartney

 

Off the top of my head, Abbey Road, The Bends, Moondance, The Joshua Tree, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway...

Understanding that 'over-rated' does not necessarily mean 'bad', just 'receives more acclaim than is merited'. Listing good to very good records, like those listed above, among the all-time greats is to overrate them. IMO, The Beatles is a sprawling mess of mostly unlistenable songs, and to find it regularly ranked at or near the top of 'Best Record Ever' surveys strikes me as a severe act of over-rating.

I recognize that this is a minority opinion.

B___

 

The impact this album had at the time was extraordinary. The stark white cover, the back-to-balls-out rock approach which focused more on performances than overdubs, and the intimacy of some of the performances (Julia, Blackbird) worked in brilliant contrast to the previous 18 months' product (Pepper, Revolver, MMT SFF/PL, etc). It was a perfect album at the time, and remains so today. Think of it as a photo album, some shots are professionally posed and others are amateurish and candid, but they're all in there for a reason: you love the feelings they create.

The fact that the Beatles were nodding to the Beach Boys (on the opening song, no less) was *huge*. Revolution 9 blew more minds than all of Pepper, MMT and Revolver put together. And what was it with these "nasty Beatles"??? The near nude pic on the poster, Doing It in the road and all... Sexy who?? "I Need A Fix"" and Mother Superior quoted in the same song?

The White Album is the one I would take to that distant deserted island, always has been, always will be.

 

Mostly unlistenable songs? You really cannot listen to more than half of the songs on the White Album? Do help me understand this statement, do you not care for their voices?

 

Had this one been released as a single disc LP, we would all be foaming at the mouth for any and all cuts that were made during the sessions but not released.

Should it have been one disc? Should that western have been 'The Magnificent Six'? And why isn't it 'The 38 Steps'? There is little point to such discussion, actually.

 

Was Wondering when Wonderwall would write.
"It's great. It sold. It's the bloody Beatles WHITE ALBUM...", should have been a choice on this poll!

 

I have to agree with Paul McCartney, as quoted in the signature up there. Anyway, the songs I'd have left off hearing it years ago I couldn't do without now, so I'll take the whole thing as is. Can't even imagine it being different at this point!

 

Here's the REAL White Album:

Wild Honey Pie
Rocky Raccoon
The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
Martha My Dear
Long Long Long
Birthday
Honey Pie
Don't Pass Me By
Mother Nature's Son
Savoy Truffle
Revolution 9
Goodnight

That's all they needed.

Peace Love and you know I'm kidding, yes?
Marky

 

I'll give it a shot. I'm unclear about the politicking that may have influenced track selection and positioning, so this lineup may have been unfeasible:

A SIDE
1. Helter Skelter
2. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
3. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
4. Martha My Dear
5. Don't Pass Me By
6. Back in the U.S.S.R.

B SIDE
1. Yer Blues
2. Dear Prudence
3. Why don't we do it in the road?
4. Julia
5. Blackbird
6. I'm So Tired

 

Understood. I've always felt that way about "Sgt. Pepper's". Good album? Sure. Innovative and influential? Definitely. Best album ever? Nope - not even in the BEATLES' top five IMO.

"Tommy" would be up there as overrated as well, and as much as I love Bowie, I'd lump "Hunky Dory" and "Ziggy" in there. I also don't get the "Pet Sounds" cult...

 

...a triple LP would've been nice! a bit more George and Ringo shinning moments!

 

I think it should have been two separate albums. The White and the Whiter albums.

WHITE:

1)Birthday
2)Dear Prudence
3)Mother Nature's Son
4)Don't Pass Me By
5)Blackbird
6)Piggies
7)Rocky Racoon
8)Happiness Is A Warm Gun
9)Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
10)Cry Baby Cry
11)Wild Honey Pie
12)Honey Pie
13)Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me and My Monkey
14)I Will
15)Julia

WHITER:

1)Back In The U.S.S.R.
2)Yer Blues
3)Glass Onion
4)Savoy Truffle
5)Revolution 1
6)The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
7)While My Guitar Gently Weeps
8)Helter Skelter
9)Long Long Long
10)Martha My Dear
11)I'm So Tired
12)Why Do We Do It In The Road?
13)Sexy Sadie
14)What's The New Mary Jane
15)Good Night

 

I dig "Revolution #9."

 

As it is.

 

well, it probably would have sounded better. six fifteen minute sides instead of four twenty-two minute sides? that woulda been tasty.

more George and Ringo? nah, they already have more than enough on there. the only thing the White Album needs is more Yoko!

come to think of it, 'Yellow Submarine' coulda done with a whole lot more Yoko as well.

 

There 'ya go!

Exactly.

I say leave it the way it is. Much of the material works so well in conjunction with the other songs, that by pruning it, it just wouldn't be the "White Album."

 

The only change I might have made would have been to replace "Revolution 9" with "What's the New Mary Jane". It was more of a "song" while probably still being spacey enough to have satisfied John (and Yoko).