Marvin J Markus asked:


My favorite album of all time, The Beatles self titled double album turns 40 this year. It was released on November 22nd of 1968 and while it is officially titled simply The Beatles, it is best known as “The White Album.”

While it’s not as flawless as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Revolver, or Abbey Road (which I rank #2, #3, & #4 respectively) I think it’s spectacular variety makes it the most interesting listen over the long term. I’ve been listening to The White Album frequently since I first discovered it twelve years ago. And even now, 12 years later, I still discover new things about it. Songs that I used to think were dragging the album down a bit are now among my favorits. It’s an album that has just continued to grow on me over the years.

Many have argued that The White Album should have been cut down to a single album. That some of the album’s less perfect songs such as “Bungalow Bill” & “Don’t Pass Me By” could (and should) have been axed along with the experimental avant-garde “Revolution #9.” In fact the Beatles producer (George Martin) himself has made that argument.

I strongly disagree with that point of view. A great part of what gives the album it’s endearing charm are these songs that would have been chopped to make it into a single album. While I don’t listen to “Revolution #9″ every time I play the album, I do enjoy listening to it when I’m in the mood. It’s an experience like none other.

While “Don’t Pass Me By” is definitely among The Beatles worst songs, it still has some charm. In a way it’s charming almost because it’s not such a great song. It’s neat to hear the other Beatles try to give life to Ringo’s less than stellar tune.

And how about songs like Paul McCartney’s great “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?” & “Piggies.” These are songs that would be unlikely to make such a single album version and yet I find them to be extraordinarily interesting. Some people would call songs like these “filler” just because they are not hit singles. I would say to people like that: “Open your ears & your mind.” Put away your Beatles 1 CD and put in The White Album. It may be a more difficult listen at first but it’s also a far more rewarding one in the long term.

Not that The White Album doesn’t have some “hits” as well. Songs like “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Birthday,” “Back in the USSR,” & “Obladi-Oblada” are all among The Beatles most well known and most well loved songs. “Blackbird” & “I Will” are certainly among The Beatles most beautiful songs.

The White Album is my favorite album of all time. Not despite of any imperfections and not because of them either, but because of the album as a whole. It’s an incredible journey through many different types of music. So many different styles but the one common thread is The Beatles amazing songwriting talent. Whether it is “Helter Skelter” or “Julia.” “Happiness is a Warm Gun” or “Martha My Dear.” This is brilliant music that has definitely stood the test of time.

Happy Birthday to The White Album! Not all music sounds so good when it hits the big four-o.



Shannon

Andri Irawan asked:


 

When you talk about classic rock, surely you will be associated with the Beatles. The Beatles is one of the best and biggest pop rock bands that the world produced. John Lennon, James Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Richard Starkey (also known as Ringo Starr) were born during the 1940s in Liverpool, England. During the post war period, Liverpool was a dirty depressed town and money was rarely to meet. Two decades later, these four men would shock the world with their musical breakthrough. Their music contribution is beyond question. Beatlemania, the fanatic fan of beatles, are spread in entire world, even until today.

One their best masterpieces, yesterday, is considered as one of the best classic rock song ever produced. It was McCartney’s masterpiece that he recorded on June 14, 1965.

This is probably Paul’s most successful song, as Yesterday has been recorded more than 2500 times by other artists over the years, being the most recorded song in music history! The tune for Yesterday came to him during the night. As he awoke, he went straight to the piano and played the complete tune. So easy this was, Paul feared that the tune must be from another song or belonged to another. No one had heard it before and consequently, yesterday was born.

When Yesterday was initially released, it received some critics and controversies from the press, when they learned that it was a purely McCartney recording, without the other three Beatles’, yet released under the name of The Beatles. People feared at the time that this was McCartney’s break into a solo career, but this was not true, not at least for another five years. Yesterday was still be part of the Beatles’s history instead of merely McCartney’s masterpiece.

Simple And General Blog



Dora

Marvin J Markus asked:


l, George, & Ringo were the greatest rock band of all time and they played every kind of music a rock band can play during their time together.

I’m the type of Beatles fan that appreciates all of their music but I do have do have a special appreciation for their more psychedelic songs. And that’s what this article is all about, the best five psychedelic songs of The Beatles in no particular order.

1. “I Am The Walrus”

Without a doubt one of the all time great psychedelic masterpieces. Everything about this song from the bizarre lyrics to the imaginative chord changes to the amazing production makes it one of the greatest psychedelic songs not only by The Beatles but by any band, ever.

This is one of those songs that can be heard countless times without ever growing tired of it. I’m sure I’ve heard this song close to 1,000 times yet I still find it fresh. There’s so many layers, so many little twists & turns that I still hear new things in the song even when I listen to it now.

2. “Strawberry Fields Forever”

I often look at “I Am The Walrus” & “Strawberry Fields Forever” as brothers of sorts. They both have so many amazing ideas and incredible production. While “Strawberry Fields Forever” is more of an introspective “acid” song, “I Am The Walrus” is a bit of a “freak out.”

“Strawberry Fields Forever” is a song that would have been great even if it were played simply on an acoustic guitar but it was taken to an incredible level by the remarkable production and the imaginative arrangement.

3. “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”

I almost didn’t include this track because it’s almost become a cliche in some ways. But in the end, the song is still great. The vocal effects on John Lennon’s voice are great. Paul McCartney’s bass is fantastic. And as usual the song’s production is incredible.

4. “A Day In The Life”

The final track on Sgt Pepper’s is usually thought of as a “psychedelic” song at least not like the first three songs I Listed are, but it very much is. The orchestral build up is absolutely insane for one thing. Bit’s definitely so much more than just that. I personally feel this is the greatest song of all time, psychedelic or not. It’s lyrically amazing and musically deep. The arrangement is one of The Beatles many great musical achievements.

5. “Sun King”

This song reminds me a lot of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon (which of course came out about 4 years after this track did on Abbey Road.) I sometimes wonder if David Gilmour, the guitarist of Pink Floyd, was influenced by this song. They surely heard it.

Mostly I am referring to the very liquid sound of the guitars.

The “ahh ahh” bits are very Beatles and are also very psychedelic.



George