The Beatles followed up the over the top psychedelic imagery of 1967's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour with 1968's White Album which featured a plain white cover (which is where the album gets it's name as it's real name is actually simply The Beatles.) In some ways the music on the album is more stripped back and less elaborate than that on those previous two albums but that certainly doesn't mean it was a step back. In fact it'd be pretty easy to make the argument that with "Revolution 9" the band was stepping so far forward that we still have yet to reach where it's at 40 years later. This article is about the four sides of that incredible double LP.
Side 1 is mighty impressive. In fact I think if I had to choose just one side as the best (and I don't have to) I'd probably have to go with it. The one-two punch of "Back in the USSR" to "Dear Prudence" is truly outstanding and then there's "Glass Onion" and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." Sure some would say that "Wild Honey Pie" isn't such a great song, and it's not really in the classic sense. It's a cool little experimental track that I think works for what it is. "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" isn't among my favorites although it has it's quirky charms. And then it finishes off in very strong fashion with one of George Harrison's greatest songs "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" followed by John Lennon's amazing "Happiness Is a Warm Gun." Holy cheeses. Side 1 of the White Album is truly extraordinary. My favorites right now are "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" and "Dear Prudence."
Side 2 is as beautiful as Side 1 is brilliant. "Blackbird" has to be one of the most ultimate acoustic guitar songs ever written. "I Will" is a stunning ballad. "Julia" is poignant and touching. "Martha My Dear" is a great tune with a unique vibe to it. Not that the entire side is dedicated to beauty. There's the raw "Why Don't We Do It In The Road?" and the somber "I"m So Tired" along with the silly (and very charming) "Rocky Raccoon." Really I don't think this side makes a single misstep with the possible exception of "Don't Pass Me By" which does limp through the finish line a bit!
Side 3 features the heaviest dirtiest rock of the album (and really of The Beatles entire career.) But of course The Beatles would never be so obvious as to make the entire side nothing but rockers, they've got the beautiful "Mother Nature's Son" and the hard to describe "Sexie Sadie" in there too along with George Harrison's somber little tune "Long Long Long" which finishes the side off. But it's "Yer Blues," "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey," and particularly "Helter Skelter" that really give the side it's identity.
Side 4 is arguably the least even side. It sort of seems to be where they put everything that didn't work on the other sides. And if I had to I would say it's the "worst" side of the four (but again, I don't have to!) That being said, to me it's just as essential as the other three sides. It's a part of The White Album. That is for sure. I'm not one of those people that talks about how much they don't like "Revolution 9" in fact I quite dig it. I think it's fantastic that The Beatles put something that absolutely bizarre and out there on their album and I do enjoy listening to it when I'm in that special place. "Cry Baby Cry" is among my favorite songs on the album too. - 20768
Side 1 is mighty impressive. In fact I think if I had to choose just one side as the best (and I don't have to) I'd probably have to go with it. The one-two punch of "Back in the USSR" to "Dear Prudence" is truly outstanding and then there's "Glass Onion" and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." Sure some would say that "Wild Honey Pie" isn't such a great song, and it's not really in the classic sense. It's a cool little experimental track that I think works for what it is. "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" isn't among my favorites although it has it's quirky charms. And then it finishes off in very strong fashion with one of George Harrison's greatest songs "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" followed by John Lennon's amazing "Happiness Is a Warm Gun." Holy cheeses. Side 1 of the White Album is truly extraordinary. My favorites right now are "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" and "Dear Prudence."
Side 2 is as beautiful as Side 1 is brilliant. "Blackbird" has to be one of the most ultimate acoustic guitar songs ever written. "I Will" is a stunning ballad. "Julia" is poignant and touching. "Martha My Dear" is a great tune with a unique vibe to it. Not that the entire side is dedicated to beauty. There's the raw "Why Don't We Do It In The Road?" and the somber "I"m So Tired" along with the silly (and very charming) "Rocky Raccoon." Really I don't think this side makes a single misstep with the possible exception of "Don't Pass Me By" which does limp through the finish line a bit!
Side 3 features the heaviest dirtiest rock of the album (and really of The Beatles entire career.) But of course The Beatles would never be so obvious as to make the entire side nothing but rockers, they've got the beautiful "Mother Nature's Son" and the hard to describe "Sexie Sadie" in there too along with George Harrison's somber little tune "Long Long Long" which finishes the side off. But it's "Yer Blues," "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey," and particularly "Helter Skelter" that really give the side it's identity.
Side 4 is arguably the least even side. It sort of seems to be where they put everything that didn't work on the other sides. And if I had to I would say it's the "worst" side of the four (but again, I don't have to!) That being said, to me it's just as essential as the other three sides. It's a part of The White Album. That is for sure. I'm not one of those people that talks about how much they don't like "Revolution 9" in fact I quite dig it. I think it's fantastic that The Beatles put something that absolutely bizarre and out there on their album and I do enjoy listening to it when I'm in that special place. "Cry Baby Cry" is among my favorite songs on the album too. - 20768
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