The White Album

chopper wrote: Some interesting facts about the White Album, in case anyone really wanted to know. 5) "Yer blues" fearures one of the worst edits on a Beatles track (and the microphone died in the last verse).

did you know that it was recorded in a tiny store room? they were practically back to back all in the same room (drums included), and the song was recorded live. Once you know that, you realize that the edit is INCREDIBLE!!!! In a book I read that the engineers and George Martin were amazed at the separation between the instruments after listening to the single track tapes...some god was looking from above...

 

I ADORE The Beatles. I look at their discpgraphy as a continuous ascending climax, from Rubber Soul on their music gets better and better. So logically for me their apex is Abbey Road. But The White Album comes second. I also happen to like Let it be a lot (the classic version)

By the way, shouldn't The Beatles be included in our "Roots of prog" category?

Some interesting facts about the White Album, in case anyone really wanted to know.

1) McCartney played drums on some tracks (e.g. Dear Prudence) after Starr walked out.

2) Most of the tracks were written in India.

3) "Glass Onion" was deliberately written to confuse people who look for hidden meanings in Beatle songs.

4) The bass guitar on "I will" is actually McCartney going "dum dum".

5) "Yer blues" fearures one of the worst edits on a Beatles track (and the microphone died in the last verse).

6) Is there anyone who doesn't know who "Sexy Sadie" is?

Finally a question - who says "I've got blisters on my fingers"? Is it Lennon or Starr (I've never seen a definitive answer to this).

The Withe album is great ofcourse so is most of the beatles albums as we all know, but abow em all is the mighty Sgt pepper! its my favorite no doubt.

Hapiness is a warm gun, it sounds so...yes...how do I call it...Giantish...

Is Long, long, long really a 3/8???

Disc 1 could stand alone as one of their best albums (give or take a couple of lesser songs) while disc 2 is an interesting assortment of ideas ranging from the inspired (Revolution #9 smuggled avant garde art into a million living rooms in the guise of pop music) to barrel scraping (Honey Pie - great as a bonus track or a b side, but totally out of place on a mainstream album). A flawed gem, but a gem nonetheless.

Beatles is indeed overrated, but it is the best "pop" band in history IMHO! as for white album, I used to love it, but as I got involved more in prog, my keenness on it gradually diminished... I don't even feel like listening to beatles most of the time... But I still like (though I don't listen at all!) Sgt. Pepper and MAgical Mystery Tour albums.. Oh, Rubber Soul and Revolver are the two grounbreaking albums which indeed paved the way fro prog! No one can deny the experimentation level in these four albums. Sadly, they went straight rock'n'roll / blues afterwards, with a brief refreshment of "progression" in Yellow Submarine, which owes more to George Martin then Beatles themselves...

I think the White Album is daring... but it has way to much filler for me. It would have made (like most double discs) a fantastic single disc.
Back In The U.S.S.R., Blackbird, I'm So Tired, Dear Prudence, Julia, Happiness..., Mother Nature's Son, Guiter Gently Weeps are among the best they've ever done.
Good Night, Piggies, Yer Blues, Birthday, Bungalow Bill, Do It In The Road, Honey Pie(s) are among the worst. They would have been better off to have someone to say no every once in a while (George Martin certainly didn't).
I find I seldom listen to this as I have to jump around so much (hmm... maybe I'll make a single disc of it tomorrow).
For me it's Abbey Road and Rubber Soul.

progmog wrote: The Beatles are the most overrated band in history. I've never liked the Beatles - there, I've said it . I never bought the myth - all that thumbs aloft, lovely boys, world peace stuff which we now know is a load of because they were in fact plotting to inflict the Frog Chorus on the unsuspecting world. In fact, why in the name of the Devil's arse are they mentioned on this site? Their albums are easy listening, housewives' choice. And as for 'Sgt. Pepper', their much-trumpeted "psychedelic" album - it's as mindbending as a loaf of bread. Flame on!

wow dude. its ok that you dont like the beatles but damn. so much hatred. maybe the beatles arent as close to youre heart because maybe you didnt grow up with them like alot of people did. ive seriously have heard every beatles album over and over since i was probably about 2. i  may not love every song they ever made any more but i still know every word!