THE BEATLES ( AKA THE WHITE ALBUM )

1968 THE BEATLES ( AKA THE WHITE ALBUM )

THE BEATLES ( AKA THE WHITE ALBUM ) : The Beatles first and only double album during their time and yet another masterpiece. With this effort, The Beatles decided to go back to their root but instead it took them everywhere. Never before or since, in the history of rock music, have there been so many varieties of music cramped into an album. There are soul, reggae, blues, good old fashioned rock 'n' roll, 50's style rag time and everything else except the toilet bowl that you can name. Most of the songs were written in India. The album also show the different directions the bands were going and the disharmony within the group. Although it is The Beatles in all their brilliance, it is actually more a recording of four individuals with the others acting as backing band. George Martin reportedly tried to get the lads to trimmed it down to a single album but at this point, The Beatles were beyond negotiable  Nevertheless, a great album.

Disc 1

BackIn The USSR ( Lennon / McCartney ) : This great rock 'n' roll number by Paul opens the album. Influenced by their boyhood idol Chuck Berry and said to be a send up to The Beach Boys, this one was an instant classic. If this doesn't rock you, nothing will.

Dear Prudence ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Written about Mia Farrow's sister, Prudence, this one shows a rare softer side of John Lennon that's more in the style of Paul McCartney. I found this quite slow at first but gradually like most Beatles' songs, it grew on me.

Glass Onion ( Lennon / McCartney ) : One of those nonsensical songs that John was so good at. Written to confuse fans about the secret messages supposingly in their songs. This song gives fans a field days 'cos it contain several references to their earlier hits. A solid rocker no less.

Obladi, Oblada  ( Lennon / McCartney ) :  A firm favorite during my school days and it's not hard to see why. When my brothers have this album on tape, due to the stereo effect, only this song have vocals on it while the rest of the songs doesn't. Even my mother was taping her foot to this infectious song. The Marmalade took advantage of The Beatles not releasing this song and took it to the top of the chart themselves.

Wild Honey Pie ( Lennon / McCartney ) : A throwaway track which Paul McCartney probably made up in the studio.

The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill ( Lennon / McCartney ) :  This next one from John was not a favorite with me. Probably another one that John made up just to fill up the album's space. Nevertheless, one man's meat could well be another man's poison. There are others who like this.This was also the first time that Yoko made her vocal contribution on a Beatles song.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps ( Harrison ) : The first great one from the quiet one. Incredibly I don't like this when I first heard it. Finding it too long and right after this, the great John Lennon's song 'Happiness Is A Warm Gun' doesn't help either. Now, this song is indispensable to me. I could press the repeat button and listen to it again and again.

Happiness Is A Warm Gun ( Lennon / McCartney ): This one has been a favorite to me ever since the first time I heard it. Consisting of four different sings somehow mingled together wondrously as only the late great John Lennon can. This is more in Paul McCartney's territory but then John can always do a Paul and Paul can always do a John if they want to. Till today, this song can still stop me in my track. Ironically in the end, it was a gun that cut short his happiness.

Martha My Dear ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Paul's song supposedly about his sheepdog but in actuality about his then relationship with Jane Asher, in that famous music hall sounding horn arrangement that he was so good in. This will have you shaking your hips and smiling through the song's duration. Very distinctively Paul McCartney. Love it.

I'm So Tired ( Lennon / McCartney ) : One of John's lazy song which he did so perfectly well in 'I'm Only Sleeping' on "Revolver". I sing this song whenever I am feeling weary or tired. A good one to sing to your other half when she is asking you to do things and you are feeling so darn tired.

Black Bird ( Lennon / McCartney ) : A sweet little ditty written and sung by Paul McCartney with just his acoustic guitar. This is just one of those songs that The Beatles could write in their sleep and still have it sound great.. Such is the power of The Beatles.

Piggies ( Harrison ) : Another favorite of mine. This ones from George. Clearly George is showing his grown as a songwriter within the class of Lennon / McCartney thought he still doesn't have as many songs as them.

Rocky Raccoon ( Lennon / McCartney ) : A country 'n' western song which was a straight favoite of mine as well as my mum. Can you beat that. The Beatles' music can even reach my mother, a typical Chinese lady who doesn't know English from Spanish. This is one of the Beatles' song that I like to sing at karaoke. I don't usually do Beatles' songs 'cos they are all sacred songs to me but I do this one and I do it good even if I may say so myself. Ahem ! Ahem !.

Don't Pass Me By ( Starkey ) : Even Ringo got in the act with this country 'n' western number. Not a particular favorite but tolerable. I much prefer his improvised live version of this song in one of his later live albums.

Why Don't We Do It In The Road ( Lennon / McCartney ) :  A close to 4 minutes song with only two sentences. Incredible. I never used to like this song but as the years pass....The piano thumbing lends a sense of urgency that stops you from pressing the skip button. Initially I though it was Ringo singing this but of course it was Paul doing his 'Lady Madonna' kind of vocal. Always amazed me at how Paul can change his voice for any kind of songs that he choose to.

I Will ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Trust The Beatles to follow up with one of their hardest song on the album with one of the gentlest and most beautiful one. When Paul turned on his charms, even the birds will stop and listen such as this one. Another nice one to sing to your love ones.

Julie ( Lennon / McCartney ) : As mentioned before, sometimes John can write a Paul McCartney song as well as Paul McCartney himself as he so ably demonstrated on this gentle track about his mother and Yoko, as and when he wants to.

 Disc 2 

Birthday ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Again, another tracks that I don't like initially. It was so heavy. Too heavy for my tender ears. I was only 9 years old then for crying out loud. Now I love it enough even to sing it to my Beatles loving friends' birthdays. It bought to mind an episode of 'Moonlighting' when Bruce Willis sang this song at a birthday party.

Yer Blues ( Lennon / McCartney ) : I like this tracks even when I haven't a clue what John was singing about. This was just   one of the three Beatles' songs that he performed when The Beatles disbanded. The other two were 'I Saw Her Standing There' and ' Come Together'. A solid blues number about suicide. Is there anything that The Beatles can't write and sing about and sings it so brilliantly too, I like to hear about it.

Mother Nature's Son ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Another Paul McCartney's gem that he seems to write so effortlessly. A beautiful country ballad but due to it's inclusion so late in the album somehow lesser it's impact. A beautiful song by any standard. John Denver covered this and tried to claim it as his own but nope, Paul's version is the best as most Beatles' songs are. The Beatles rules..

Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey ( Lennon / McCartney ) : What a mouthful. This is one of those rare Beatles' songs that I can do without.. Written in protest of a cartoon that showed Yoko as a monkey that was riding on his back, draining him of his talents.  Maybe there's some truth in that cartoon, albeit temporary.

Sexy Sadie ( Lennon / McCartney ) : You just can't keep a good man down for long. John bounced back splendidly with this wonderful ballad about his disillusion with the Maharishi who was said to have made a pass at one of his followers. True or not, we are all grateful for the inspiration that gave birth to this great classic.

Helter Skelter ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Earlier it was John Lennon writing a Paul McCartney tune, now it's Paul's turn to write a John Lennon's type of rocker. I really didn't like this at all when I first heard it during my tender years. I'm not sure I like it still. The distorting guitar and obnoxious scream. This is arguably the first heavy metal record although John said the first was 'Ticket To Ride'. I much prefer the more slimmer down version that Paul did in the 2000's at the Grammy show. This was also one of the song that got the crazed murderous Charles Manson on a killing spree. The other was George's 'Piggies'

Long, Long, Long ( Harrison ) : Again after you have lower the volume down for 'Helter Skelter, came this super soft offering from George. So soft you'll have to turn up the volume again. This is a beautiful song but a tab too soft for my liking. I was hoping that George would do a re make of this track and make it more accessible to the ears, but.......

Revolution 1 ( Lennon / McCartney ): I like this one. The false starting and all.  John having his say at politic and he do it best in music. It's much softer in tune than the other version with the distorting guitar and much more louder. Impact wise the other one, I have to admit was bigger.

Honey Pie ( Lennon / McCartney ): Another ragtime kind of music from Paul McCartney or is it Granny type of music. I love this one. So fun filled and lively. Surprisingly, this was one of his least successful ragtime kind of song. Fortunately, it does not hinder him from writing more of these songs.

Savoy Truffle ( Harrison ) : George's final track and it's written based on a chocolate that Eric Clapton have eaten that have given him a toothache. When we have toothache, we go and see a dentist but when The Beatles or anyone they know got a toothache, they go and write a song about it. Regarded by some as the best rock 'n' roll song from this album, this is great stuff.

Cry Baby Cry ( Lennon / McCartney ) : John Lennon writing a fairy tale in musical language. A charming song although a bit long. Still the charms cannot be denied.

Revolution 9 ( Lennon / McCartney ) : The most hated track on the album or the most hated Beatles' track of all. A recorded voice calling out No.9, No 9, No 9, repeatedly...till you want to scream and then followed by snippets of interviews that goes on forever. Yoko have her hand all over this. George Martin and the rest of The Beatles tried desperately to keep this out of the record, but John wouldn't bulged. All these years, due to my debt to The Beatles, I've heard the whole track through only once and that was it. Never again.

Goodnight ( Lennon / McCartney ) : John made his amendment after the above atrocious track. A beautiful lullaby written for his son, Julian but was given to Ringo to sing. I use to sing this to my children to sleep too. A nice end to an awesome album.

DOP : 17th January 1993.