If The White Album Were One Record
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2022 11:44 am
The Beatles, aka The White Album, fka A Doll's House was released unto the world on November 22, 1968 in the UK and November 25, 1968 in the US. While not the first double album to ever be released, it was the only double album released by The Beatles as a group. George Martin believed that it would have been a stronger album if several of the weaker songs had been left off. Maybe issue them as B-sides.
Playing devil's advocate, let's suppose that's exactly what happened.
What songs would you drop?
What would be the strongest version of The Beatles as a single record? I would hope the strongest iteration would include tracks that sounded like the band were jamming together for the most part. So would that mean that Back In The USSR and Dear Prudence don't belong? Hmmmm....
I'd remove:
Good Night - too slow and sappy. Orchestral, yes. But it's no Yesterday. Sure it's a Ringo vocal. But better served on a Ringo solo album.
Cry Baby Cry - an obvious throwaway tune.
Revolution #9 - Better suited for Two Virgins 1 or 2. Far too experimental and strange.
Wild Honey Pie - self explanatory
Martha My Dear - a sentimental ditty about a sheepdog?
Long Long Long - not one of George's best. Not as compared to, say, WMGGW.
....to be continued.....
What I'd Keep: (evolving and still in progress...)
Side One and Three are the strong sides. Two and Four are the weak sides.
Back In The USSR
Ob-La-Di
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
I'm So Tired
Mother Nature's Son
Julia
Helter Skelter
Savoy Truffle
Revolution #1
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey
Birthday
Don't Pass Me By
Playing devil's advocate, let's suppose that's exactly what happened.
What songs would you drop?
What would be the strongest version of The Beatles as a single record? I would hope the strongest iteration would include tracks that sounded like the band were jamming together for the most part. So would that mean that Back In The USSR and Dear Prudence don't belong? Hmmmm....
I'd remove:
Good Night - too slow and sappy. Orchestral, yes. But it's no Yesterday. Sure it's a Ringo vocal. But better served on a Ringo solo album.
Cry Baby Cry - an obvious throwaway tune.
Revolution #9 - Better suited for Two Virgins 1 or 2. Far too experimental and strange.
Wild Honey Pie - self explanatory
Martha My Dear - a sentimental ditty about a sheepdog?
Long Long Long - not one of George's best. Not as compared to, say, WMGGW.
....to be continued.....
What I'd Keep: (evolving and still in progress...)
Side One and Three are the strong sides. Two and Four are the weak sides.
Back In The USSR
Ob-La-Di
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
I'm So Tired
Mother Nature's Son
Julia
Helter Skelter
Savoy Truffle
Revolution #1
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey
Birthday
Don't Pass Me By