FIRST Listen to The BEATLES aka The White Album Pt. 1

[@bulletmccarthur]

Fun fact: Richard Starkey, the writer of Don't Pass Me By also goes by the stage name Ringo Starr. He was actually in a really popular band from the 60s.

[@Marina-pe1gx]

Οh yeah in the early 60s he was one of Rory Storm's hurricanes, right?

[@amr180671]

He was in a very popular Liverpool band called Rory Storm and the Hurricanes when John and Paul asked him to join The Beatles after they sacked Pete Best. Incidentally, I knew Pete Best very well, a lovely man and no bitterness at all.

[@dragonoftheeast7572]

Are you guys talking about Richard Starkey?? The drummer from Rory and the Hurricanes...??

[@andrewpayne6295]

Who is this Ringo Starr of whom you speak?

[@leestrawberryfields...]

@@amr180671 Pete Best made quite a few quid after the release of Anthology 1 (I think he featured on 10 songs). I'm very pleased for him

[@brianocallaghan910]

That's the genius of Paul McCartney....He writes melodies that you've never heard before, but sound like something you've heard all your life.

[@shitpostbotmin]

granted she might know that one from offspring's why dont you get a job. she probably grew up around that song

[@pandanurse]

He did it so well with yesterday that even he thought he already knew it from somewhere

[@Kingkodiakbear]

@@pandanurseeven he did

[@farfelllee]

YES

[@ripped181]

That’s how predictable and un-inventive they are lmao

[@brumleytwitch6265]

No one will ever figure out how these 4 guys found so many unique melodies in so short a time. It's baffling.

[@amr180671]

Only Buddy Holly came close with a catalogue of classics in such a short space of time

[@MrMookRecords]

I'll see your Buddy Holly and raise you Guided By Voices ( especially the incredibly prolific 91 - 96 perood). He's also still releasing at least 2 new GBV albums a year. But the quality in the early 90s was off the dial

[@celt67]

@@amr180671 PLEASE. Even Holly himself rejoiced in how simple his songs were to listen to and play. 4 chords at most.

[@ontheruntonowhere]

I would put Eagles up there. They recorded their classic catalog in only 7 years. They didn't change the course of music like the Beatles did, but they were pop craftsmen of the same ilk.

[@dj71162]

I think they had the benefit of being around at a time of great artistic inspiration all around them. That and the fact that less ideas had been taken then, as opposed to if you tried to write an original song today, its impossible because everythings been taken already.

[@kepler22b74]

The bass part in “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, is one of the best and innovated bass parts ever written

[@j.kevvideoproductions.6463]

Best song on the whole album.

[@garymccoy6564]

It took me years--decades really--to realize that Julia is one of Lennon's (and the Beatles') masterpieces. It is a staggeringly good song.

[@amr180671]

How he stripped it down was amazing

[@jacksonmorganfroghin4815]

I concur

[@CallMeCaroline]

It's hauntingly beautiful

[@angelseari4]

Julia was written for John's mother. She died while was a teen. I know that Paul met her. Paul's mother died of breast cancer, as did Paul's wife just short of 30 years together. Paul's lucky that he had a loving and strong dad who got the family through their loss. Lennon didn't have that kind of support. Julia is hauntingly beautiful. The story is that she hit while crossing a street. He lost her very suddenly and never found closure.

[@s.h.741]

@@angelseari4 Alcoholic? I think I read most of the books about the Beatles but I never saw anywhere mentioned that she was an alcoholic. Sounds like slander to me because she was such an unconventional woman. Any sources?

[@kanishkmathur6422]

I'm watching these reactions after completing the 'get back' series, at this point I'm just living in the Beatles' world... It's a great feeling

[@Turtledove2009]

It's a great year to be a Beatles fan!

[@crumblefest]

are you saying "I've Got a Feeling"?

[@PeterBuwen]

@@crumblefest A feeling he can't hide, oh yeah!

[@raghuvansh1293]

@@PeterBuwen everybody had a wet dream

[@PeterBuwen]

@@raghuvansh1293 Everybody pulls the socks off.

[@phila3884]

Caroline, when you said McCartney's (Beatles) melodies sound like you've known them your whole life, well you hit the nail on the head- that was the magic of their music.

[@StuartQuinn]

It was written as a children's song, so there's a chance she has heard a version of that song as a child and has forgotten.

[@DKassel]

That was true of the Beatles, as well. When Paul came up with the melody for "Yesterday" in his sleep, it was so familiar he thought someone else had already written it.

[@atroyz]

If you’ve lived on this earth you’ve heard Ob-la-di in your life (unless you don’t own a radio and have never been in a supermarket or watched TV). Beatles’ songs are like Christmas songs in December. There’s no way to have not heard them (Unless maybe you’re in a religious sect the bans music?) I believe she may not have “consciously” heard it, but she’s heard it. That’s the main reason it’s familiar.

[@falchoon]

@@atroyz either that or she's heard the Offspring's "why don't you get a job"

[@marshallhood9220]

@@falchoon That's so funny. "why don't you get a job" came out when I was in the 6th grade -I was all about Beatles since the 1st grade but that had faded by then - When I heard "why don't you get a job" it sent me through a couple of years of loving Offspring. Years later I realized the only reason I ever liked Offspring back then was purely because of that one song, which was really a Beatle song with "parental guidance" lyrics. How did they avoid a lawsuit on that one?

[@Nebuchadnezzar-Wildebeest]

Caroline's point about how far ahead of its time The White Album was is well made. It sounded like "The Future" in 1968. It still, in many ways, sounded like The Future well into the 1990s. Firstly, with the possible exception of rap, it predicted just about every major rock musical development in the next twenty years - from reggae to metal to punk to sampling. Secondly, and more importantly, this is *The Beatles*, the biggest pop band in the world, releasing a double - thirty song - LP the majority of which sounded nothing like anything they'd done before, mixing styles and genres, getting miles more experimental than even Revolver and Pepper had been. It IS, indeed, difficult to imagine Adele or Ed Sheeran or One Direction or whoever doing anything even remotely similar in the Twenty First Century, much less including a nine minute sound collage of performance art on their latest CD because they could. The word 'revolution' was much in vogue at the time (by The Beatles and lots of others) but if anyone can point to a record more 'revolutionary' (in all senses) than The White Album in 1968, I'd be fascinated to hear it.

[@carolwood53]

number 9 number 9 number 9

[@solidsimon3501]

I bet Honey Pie didn't sound like the future in '68.

[@rjpg]

agree, especially Helter Skelter...I still think that's the first Heavy Metal song ever.

[@rodlytton765]

Like a lot of the Beatles music it sounds like then and now. I listen to the Beatles all the time and never get tired of it. And if you listen sometimes you are in the room with them.

[@gribwitch]

I'm a "Baby Boomer" ( born in the 1950's ). Given that perspective, who is Adele or Ed Sheeran or One Direction ? And how could and why should they be compared to The Beatles ? There is no comparison. There's the Beatles - a light year gap of distance - and then the rest, struggling to be relevant. I haven't noticed ANY of the artists of the contemporary music era come close to the quality the Beatles had over FIFTY YEARS ago !

[@janetsampson1779]

By the way Caroline Martha was Paul's sheepdog and Julia was John's deceased mother,it shows anything can be a somgwriters inspiration. Bob.

[@mikeevans4585]

This album is so representative of what this band truly was, their core essence, it's no wonder they named it "The Beatles".

[@ironhornet5252]

The look on your face when Wild Honey Pie starts. Welcome to the White Album. A journey of beautiful, bizarre, and banging. A classic by the legendary Beatles.

[@CallMeCaroline]

It definitely got my attention! haha

[@frederickbuchanan9438]

I think Ringo or George said the White Album should have been shrunk down to one disk. Whichever one said it, he made a good point. I respect The Beatles but there’s a fair amount of crappy material on the White Album.

[@krautgazer]

I particularly like how random and chaotic it is. That's what makes this album unique. I wouldn't change much of anything, except switching "Revolution 1" for the hard rock single version, and adding 2 more songs which were recorded in the sessions and were cut from it: McCartney's "Junk" and Harrison's "Not Guilty" - they are bangers.

[@fidellmo]

@@frederickbuchanan9438 "It was great, it sold, it's bloody the beatles white album, shut up". Paul Mccartney

[@letsgomets002]

​@@frederickbuchanan9438 yes agreec

[@rome8180]

A few song facts: "Back in the USSR" is a parody of Chuck Berry's "Back in the USA" as well the Beach Boys' "California Girls." It subverts the patriotic message of the Chuck Berry song. It's one of the Beatles' wittier compositions. "Dear Prudence" was written while the Beatles were in India. It was written about/for Prudence Farrow, the sister of famous actress Mia Farrow, who was spending a lot of time alone in her cabin. "Glass Onion" is John poking fun at people who go too deep into dissecting the meaning of Beatles songs. The idea of a "glass onion" is something that seems to have a lot of layers but is actually transparent. "Piggies" is about anti-establishment song. It references George Orwell's Animal Farm, where the pigs were the ruling class. It also plays off the slang of calling cops "pigs." "Julia" is about John Lennon's mother, who was hit and killed by a car when he just a teenager. It adds a lot of depth to the song once you know that. Yes, it is a "love" song. But not in the traditional way.

[@sphericalharmony1603]

I've seen a few people in the comments saying that Piggies is intended to refer to the slang term for police but I don't know of any evidence for this. It is denied in the Wikipedia article on the song.

[@rome8180]

@@sphericalharmony1603 no, it says that Harrison denied it. The article itself doesn't deny it. Either way, that seems like an odd quibble. The song is very anti-authority. And the Beatles definitely didn't like the police. And there's no way George wasn't aware of the connotation, seeing as this is right when it became popular slang.

[@bluepeng8895]

While My Guitar Gently Weeps features Eric Clapton on lead guitar

[@scyz2807]

I've always seen Piggies as being about how the rich over consume. But then there are the "little" piggies who aren't so lucky.

[@Leafsdude_]

Lennon was probably going for shock value when he said it, but he was quoted more than once suggesting that "Julia" _was_ a traditional love song...

[@buddyneher9359]

"The art of simplicity is not easily done" - well said, Caroline! Glad you're loving this album so much 🤗

[@ree_boksock]

So glad you liked Rocky Raccoon! One of my favorites too, but I know a lot of people who really just despise it and toss it aside. Lovin the reactions, and can’t wait to see what you say about the rest of it 👍🏼

[@bespectacledheroine7292]

They're tripping 100%. It's a top 5 song of this album. I can see people thinking the beginning is too silly but it melts into the loveliest tune and redemption story. Forget 'em!

[@petercouz]

Love Rocky!

[@vicvega3614]

Who the hell doesnt like rocky? Morons

[@AnthonyMinsky]

Are you going to watch the ‘Get Back’ documentary with us? I hope so 😁

[@philippalang7012]

Two minor points, in case no-one's mentioned them yet: the regular 'click' beat in Blackbird is McCartney's shoe tapping on the floor -there's video footage KZbin somewhere; and in I Will he sings - not plays - the bass part. Fantastic reaction video - whatever can be said about the White Album it can't be called predictable. Thanks very much and I hope you enjoy sides 3-4.

[@nbkarki]

Side 4 😬

[@samsowden]

@@nbkarki side nine?

[@Artic69]

I thought it was a metronome?

[@ChrisMaxfieldActs]

@@Artic69 That's what I have heard also, but I've seen the film, and it does seem to be his foot tapping. It certainly always sounded like a foot tapping, to me.

[@Artic69]

@@ChrisMaxfieldActs in my opinion it sounds very accurate to the tempo so I personally think it’s a metronome but it’s also equally as likely to be his foot tapping.

[@michaelt6218]

The back-to-back combination of I Will and Julia is still one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.

[@darshin95]

FAXXXXXXXXXXXX

[@cdog9559]

in strange way the "back to back" of #9 & "Good Night" is awesome.

[@Cromeyellow66]

Ditto

[@farrellmcnulty909]

@@cdog9559 The chaos of #9 is the perfect segue into Good Night. John knew exactly what he was doing when he sequenced them.

[@michaelgentiluomo5385]

Love Piggies as it applies to children of today. "In there lives there's something lacking, what they need a damn good wacking!"

[@peytonwilliams3107]

This is maybe the one I’ve been most excited to see the reaction to. It’s such a layered and eclectic album, with a huge range of different musical styles. Abbey Road may edge it out for my favorite, but this is just such a wild listen that it’s hard to know what to make of it the first time through, interested to hear what you think

[@imkluu]

I was first waiting for Rubber Soul, and then Revolver, but I really want to hear her take on Abbey Road.

[@peytonwilliams3107]

@@imkluu really all of their masterpiece albums tbh

[@bluepeng8895]

I wonder what she’ll think of Yellow Submarine

[@joecummings9662]

The Beatles white album is my favorite

[@phila3884]

Like you, Abbey Road may be my sentimental favorite, but this album is the Beatles at their most creative.

[@jasonremy1627]

This album has my favorite John songs of any Beatles albums. Dear Prudence and Julia are both so heartachingly good.

[@Turtledove2009]

I'm particularly fond of John's songs and I agree.

[@ripped181]

John's songs on Revolver are the best too.

[@_ludba]

I think John was at his best during the White Album days!

[@richardctaylor79]

The bass on Dear Prudence is beautifully simple... just perfect...

[@cleonmagabeefy8473]

I was really sick all week and then I watched this... I've never felt better!!! She's performing miracles here😀😀😀

[@CallMeCaroline]

Oh Cleon I'm so glad the video made you feel better!

[@malvanlondon8683]

Just think how far we've come in five years - from Please Please Me to The White Album. Incredible, unmatched growth and development that changed pop music forever!

[@analogblues]

I'm still waiting for her to say how shocking their growth is over a short period of time. I don't think she appreciates that fact.

[@stanbrekston]

it's almost like going from discovering fire to landing on the moon.

[@analogblues]

@@stanbrekston Good analogy. I agree!

[@GldnrR31t3r]

@@analogblues And when you take a listen to what everyone else was doing at the same time each of these was released. They were really just blowing music wide open in every possible way.

[@margaritakmp]

@@analogblues she's still so young and I think that might be one of those things you grow to understand - once you have the perspective to really appreciate just how quickly time passes. it didn't properly sink in for me until i hit 30

[@Flynn-dy5zv]

By doing this Caroline, you're making true one of our beatles fans dream : to live again the discovery of hearing their albums for the first time... I would so much being like you and hear Revolver, Sergent Pepper, MMT, The White album for the first time, and it reminds me how they "hit" me... I see you're listening the stereo version which is nowadays with CD the "classic one", in fact the White Album is the last one to have a proper mono mix... which was like for the other previous albums THE mix in which the Beatles get involved, often the stereo was made after in few hours just by sounds engineers without them... All the Singles until Get Back included were released in mono. I rediscovered the Beatles by listening all the mono mix who are sometimes much differents (like for the White Album, Sergent Pepper, MMT or Revolver) so when you're finished and you want to discover them again, try the original mono mixes... Like Lennon said it : "You haven't heard Sergeant Pepper if you haven't heard it in mono"...

[@steveandrews5716]

Completely agree. In mono, Pepper is other worldly.

[@gribwitch]

@@steveandrews5716 Mono ??? Ugh ! How could one audio channel be better or more expansive than stereo ? Technically it can't be. That's why the switch was made.

[@Flynn-dy5zv]

​​ @Graham Taylor It depend how you make the mixs... You have to remember that in the 60s, having a stereo music equipment was a kind of luxury, more for audiophiles listening at classical music and ready to speng enough money to have it... But the audience of the Beatles or other pop/rock bands was a huge part popular or young peoples who often didn't even had the money for a lp equipment, they listened music through radios who only played in mono, 45 rpm through juke-boxes or small 45rpm equipment that they could buy but that played only in mono, or the lp equipment of parents or friends who was not always stereo equipment... So even if they had an interest in stereo, the Beatles knew that the most widespread version of their music was the mono version, that's why it was the only mix that really interested them... Singles were only released in mono with stereo created after often for EP or LP compilations. For the LP's and singles, the Beatley participated only in the creation of mono mixes : in the case of Sergent Pepper, the mono mix is days of creation with the Beatles involved, and the stereo mix was just created after in few hours just by sounds engineers and the Beatles didn't quite care about it... They switched to stereo only in 1969 with Abbey Road, when stereo equipment began to be more widely used, but in fact even if the LP and its singles were mixed and released only in stereo, lot of listeners could only listen to the stereo mix in mono through radio or a non stereo equipment...

[@Chiroman527]

@@steveandrews5716 Hey Steve, So, you can obtain SP and MMT in Mono? Where can I get those LPs? To affirm, Mono LPs can be played on Stereo equipment and Stereo Speakers or do I need Studio Monitor Speakers? I have a couple of Mono Albums in my Stash (The Kinks Greatest Hits from the 60s as an example [I'm 70 yo}. I do have the Remastered CDs for Abbey Road, The White Album, and now Let It Be - they sound Fantastic !!

[@gribwitch]

@@Flynn-dy5zv Thankyou for that detailed explanation Flynn ! Interesting.

[@barrytrotterisweird]

Another great review! IMPORTANT INFO!: When you listen to Abbey Road, it’s essential to not stop or have ads between Because and The End. Trust me! I’ve seen a lot of reviewers make this mistake and it takes them out of the album

[@scottcullen35]

As has been mentioned Back in the USSR was more about paying homage to the beach boys more than to Elvis. The Beach Boys were rivals, especially to Paul as they had creative melodies and harmonies that rivaled the Beatles. i.e Back in the USSR - Beatles Well, The Ukraine girls really knock me out (... Wooh, ooh, ooh) They leave the West behind (Da, da, da) And Moscow girls make me sing and shout (... Wooh, ooh, ooh) That Georgia's always on My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my mind i.e.California Girls - Beach Boys Well, East coast girls are hip I really dig those styles they wear And the Southern girls with the way they talk They knock me out when I'm down there The Midwest farmer's daughters really make you feel alright And the Northern girls with the way they kiss They keep their boyfriends warm at night I wish they all could be California (girls)

[@CallMeCaroline]

Thanks for sharing, the lead vocals sounded Elvis inspired to me but isee what you mean about the arrangement and general 'sound' of the song :)

[@scottcullen35]

@@CallMeCaroline oh my, I am thrilled to have your reply as I really think you stand out among many who comment of artists and songs as your ability to offer a professional and personal analysis that is at times disarming i.e. "while my guitar gently weeps" or enchanted i.e. "Blackbird", "ask me why" is so refreshing to watch. Hopefully you'll continue with the program onto other artist with whom you are unfamiliar. Beatles main rivals the Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Dave Clark Five or even Bob Dylan could be interesting - there are others but not with as large a catalog other than the Stones and Dylan. If not familiar with David Bowie or Crosby Still Nash and Young songs that might worth pivoting to. Although not as revolutionary as the Beatles, David Bowie was really the next artist to be as novel and unique as the Beatles. Start with "Hunky Dory" then "Ziggy Stardust". Still hope you you'll give "This Boy" another listen for the vocal complexity - but really everyone has their favorites!

[@VeryUsMumblings]

Back in the U..S.S.R. is a take-off of Chuck Berry's song Back in the U.S.A. There's a part of the song where Paul surreptitiously actually stops and sings 'Back in the U.S., Back in the U.S., Back in the U..S.S. R!' The Beach Boys famously 'stole' Surfin' USA from Chuck Berry's Sweet Little Sixteen, so there's another U.S.A. connection there. :)

[@scottcullen35]

@@VeryUsMumblings absolutely and Paul and John were not shy about acknowledging that they'd "sampling" or "steal" > lots of Everly Brothers as well on other songs - a touch of Elvis in Paul's attitude but obviously all beach boys in chorus > Mike Love was with the Beatles in India while much of the white album was inspired _ Think Paul viewed Brian Wilson as a creative peer due to melodies and harmony arrangements with John a little more looking at Dylan as a force to be reckoned with.

[@timfisher5925]

@@CallMeCaroline The Beatles had gone to India and Mike Love of the Beach Boys was there and they talked about a re-write of Back in the USA (chuck berry) and California Girls by the Beach Boys some say its a homage some say its a mickey take (high background vocals etc) either way I love it and it's a great opener to the Album

[@TheBlackQueen]

The Beatles experimented a lot with Time Signatures but not the way most people do. Most like to experiment with recurring time signatures with riffs to evenly fit them. The Beatles moved between time signatures based on the vocals, melody, and lyrics. They'll throw in an almost out-of-place time signature change for one or two measures, but it fits so well with the vocal lines that it doesn't feel out of place at all. It gives character and uniqueness to the rhythm of the song to make it flow.

[@d.harrison1570]

You mean like the 5/4 in "Don't Let Me Down"?

[@TheBlackQueen]

@@d.harrison1570 That's a good example, though they have plenty of more experimental ones, such as the 11/8+4/4+7/8 or simply 26/8 section in Here Comes The Sun.

[@alrivers8458]

You have made an excellent, great point. It is so enjoyable the way they played with time signatures. I believe I read a comment from John Lennon where he said Happiness is a Warm Gun was his most complex song because of the many changes in the time signature. By the way, with that same comment, he recognized and thank Ringo for his job in this song, keeping with all those changes.

[@joeygalateo5246]

I think the most notable moment of this for me was in we can work it out, that song really opened my eyes about the beatles

[@TheBlackQueen]

@@joeygalateo5246 It does change to 3/4 from 4/4 briefly during the Bridge but that's about it. Not really much of an meter experiment.

[@Danjoker.]

The White Album showcases everything that made the Beatles so great. It's their most musically diversed album that truly shows they could play just about anything and make it accessible for the masses. At the same time it shows how they were branching out into different areas, not only musically, but lyric wise as well. This is my favorite album by the Beatles hands down.

[@nicolopassaro4987]

I would like that after reviewing all the Beatles' records you could give us your "first reaction" to their solo records; of course not all of them because it is humanly impossible, I am referring to "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band", "McCartney" and "All Things Must Pass". It would be interesting to get your perspective on how the fab four started their solo careers and what melodic and harmonic differences you notice from the Beatles days :)

[@tatjbere]

Don't forget Ringo's first solo album Sentimental Journey, so jazzy

[@sportshighlightsproduction900]

We need this

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

... i always liked "ram" better than "mccartney." and i like "imagine" better than "plastic ono band." "julia" and "oh my love," i believe, are two of the best ballads ever written. to my ear they're very similar.

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

oh, and i always liked "apple jam." the "free" third album from "all things must pass." after all - its johnny's birthday!

[@nicolopassaro4987]

@@cjmacq-vg8um I was referring to their very first solo albums cause at that time they were a great success among critics, audience and music papers, with positive feedback for all of them. The other album ones, mmm, more difficult to say the same, sometimes there was a good audience response only or a good critics response only and in other cases so and so. With their very first solo albums I was quite sure to go for a safe road in listening to them.

[@peterblood50]

"Wild Honey Pie" and "Why don't we do it in the road" are basically just them F'n around. You see a lot of it on the "Get Back" series. Playing with the sound of the songs and playing with their vocals. I'm happy that they showed me a bit of how serious songs can develop from play. This is my opinion only, you don't have to agree with it. 😉 ✌

[@alanbeaumont4848]

Or put another way, if they weren't by John Lennon on a Beatles album they would never have been pressed. He was mostly phoning it in at this point, with the added drag factor of Ono feeding his ego rather than giving constructive criticism as the other Beatles did.

[@peterblood50]

@@alanbeaumont4848 She was so irritating in the Get Back series. She was in every working session and was just a parasite on the set. Didn't she have some shopping or screaming to do somewhere else?

[@thesilvershining]

@@peterblood50 I can’t really put all the blame on her. John enabled her by letting her be there. He didn’t seem to give a damn about anything at that point, the world revolved around him and Yoko.

[@peterblood50]

@@thesilvershining I agree with your assessment. It's kind of sad to see those two connected at the wrist and ankles like a couple of teenagers.

[@rocketpost1]

Excellent Caroline, you should be bottled and sold to the depressed. You always cheer me up with your endless enthusiasm and it's interesting to hear the Beatles' music afresh through different ears. So much variation on The White Album. I can't listen to Julia without tearing up, it's instantaneous. I can't wait to hear what you think about Revolution No 9...No9...No 9. Thanks for making these films. All the best.

[@neilsun2521]

I agree. She has a lot of positive energy! Certainly cheers me up when I watch.

[@CallMeCaroline]

I'm so glad these videos cheer you up! :) Thanks for watching and commenting

[@LJT1724]

I'm sure I'm not the only one looking forward to seeing the reaction to Revolution 9 😂

[@manofconstantsorrow]

The antithesis of Sgt. Pepper. My fav record of all time. Also the best selling Beatles album. Which is crazy considering that it's a double disc, hence the more expensive one.

[@gavinreid2741]

Double albums count in the all time sale chart as two albums , so in reality albums such as the White Album and Pink Floyd's The Wall have only done half as well as they appear to have.

[@cae2525]

Isn't their best selling Sgt Pepper's?

[@gavinreid2741]

@@cae2525 in the UK their best selling album is Sgt Peppers, in America it is The White Album. In the USA the compilation 1967-70 has also sold more than Sgt Peppers.

[@justintroyka8855]

I love the idea that the White Album is the anti Sgt. Pepper. While Sgt. Pepper has a unifying concept and hasall the songs fitting together musically, the White Album is one of the most eclectic, varied albums you could imagine. Even the album covers are opposite: Sgt. Pepper has a bright colorful cover packed with people and details, but the White Album's cover is almost completely white. For various reasons, I think of Sgt. Pepper as happy and the White Album as angry (though in both cases there are different songs with different moods).

[@DonnaLang42rockglobally]

"Dear Prudence" was one of the songs John wrote when the Beatles went to India on a meditation retreat; it was written for Mia Farrow's sister Prudence, who was going through some dark times. (Incidentally both Farrow sisters were along on that retreat.) John wrote this to try to lift her spirits. "Martha My Dear" is Paul's tribute to his English Sheepdog, Martha, who was probably only a year or two old by this point. The beautiful and haunting "Julia" was John's memorial to his mother, Julia, who he lost to an auto accident when he was a teenager. He also threw in a nod to Yoko with the phrase "Ocean Child", which is the English translation of her name.

[@stuartcarden1371]

I was searing for this reply so I didn't repeat anything.

[@Zholobov1]

In fact, "Martha My Dear" was not about Paul's dog, but rather about his ex-girlfriend Jane Asher. Look at the lyrics more closely. Paul is hurt by her leaving him and says she will be sorry. But as usual with Paul's lyrics from this point on he uses the double meaning here and there.

[@FlamingoKicker]

I just read an interview with Prudence and she denies there was anything wrong with her. She laughed about how everyone (especially John, who probably just had the hots for her and wanted to spend more time with her and less with his wife Cynthia) was freaking out about her spending all her time meditating but her point was they went to India to learn to meditate so she was just using her time to accomplish what she was there to do. Other people would rather go entertain themselves, play guitars, smoke and have a drink.

[@esays3249]

Dear Prudence is my fav Beatles song... in fact, its on my top 10 songs of all time!

[@rh45sth62]

Donavon taught John how to Travis pick while in India, and from this you get the picking in Dear Prudence and Julia. The other thing that adds to the sound (atmosphere) in Dear Prudence is the drop d tuning. It's the first time I'd heard drop d tuning in a song, and thanks to this song I learnt how to Travis pick and use drop d tuning ! It's a great song lyrically too of course.

[@markfoster2066]

This album has everything from Music Hall to Heavy Metal. Really looking forward to Caroline’s reaction ..reminder set!

[@gavinreid2741]

Heavy metal..define.

[@ishanpareek2188]

@@gavinreid2741 IVE GOT BLISTERS ON MA FINGHERS!!!

[@markfoster2066]

@@gavinreid2741 I would think “Helter Skelter” would fall within the definition

[@SM-dt1pr]

Thing is, music hall and heavy metal aren't even the two extremes on this album.

[@carolwood53]

@@SM-dt1pr Yes - need to add country and avant-garde as well.

[@ohctascooby2]

Just a tip, don’t show your passcode for your phone in your video. You did it right after Rocky Raccoon. I would suggest changing it.

[@frugalseverin2282]

'Dear Prudence' is my #1 favorite song of all time. The production is impeccable, the varied instrumentation is never cluttered. The song fades in at the beginning and fades out at the end as if a cloud of music briefly settled to earth and took off again. Ringo had briefly left the band so Paul played that excellent drum break. That tinkling sound at the climax you seemed to think was a flute is a piano, the sound is made by rolling a glass back and forth over the keys. Keith Emerson would do that later on 'Karn Evil 9'. You may have noticed that the bass line is different for each verse. The harmonies as you noted are a beautiful drone. The lyrics are super positive comparing Prudence (Mia Farrow's sister who was in India studying meditation along with them, Donovan, Mike Love, etc.) to a blue sky. John was trying to coax her out of her hut where she meditated day and night. Donovan taught John how to pick strings while they were there, he used it here and on 'Julia'. When the song climaxes that's when the electric guitars, piano, drums and background vocals really kick in before it calms again going into the fade out. Magnificent. Paul may write lovely melodies effortlessly but it's John's song that are the most creative I think, they stick with me.

[@mikeames1427]

Totally agree...it is a masterpiece of compositon!

[@ewest14]

Who’s responsible for making John’s songs so creative though. It was more Paul as he experimented a lot on John’s songs and John even said Paul ruined his songs like Strawberry Fields Forever with his experimentation. Paul did the tape loops for Tomorrow Never Knows and helped with the innovative drumming, the mellotron and other arrangement ideas in Strawberry Fields, the organ and vocal ideas for Lucy in the Sky, turned Come Together into a swamp groove from the 50s rock and roll style song John brought in, did many of the experimental things on A Day in the Life, etc.

[@Daniel-Strain]

"This sounds like the future" is a perfect description for the Beatles.

[@craigd5519]

Truth

[@mgonzales56]

I remember when I bought this album. I couldn't stop listening to it. So many new songs to listen to. Some beautiful touching songs, and some really hard rockers. There is something in this album for everyone. Can't wait to watch your reaction.

[@DaveMcIroy]

Should have kept the vinyl sealed. ^^

[@mst3ktemple421]

I remember my older brother bringing this album home when it was first released. First off we wondered if the cover was some kind of mistake and we had a special promo or error. Then we sat and listened to it all the way through and the variety of songs completely floored me. I was seven years old and already a huge Beatles fan, but this album almost overwhelmed me. I couldn't imagine that so many different types of songs could be on one release.

[@TTM9691]

That is a FANTASTIC remembrance. I got chills reading it.

[@lcommander631]

You're 60?

[@mst3ktemple421]

@@lcommander631 I am. I turned 60 in March. My brother is 5 years older and sister is 3 years older so they were buying records by the time I turned 5. The first "new" album I remember my brother bringing home was Sgt Pepper and next was the White Album.

[@lcommander631]

@@mst3ktemple421 that must have been such an experience.. sgt peppers was super different I unfortunately discovered the Beatles between 2020 and 2021. I always knew about them but never listened them. And then curiosity set in and i was obsessed. I thought they were overrated before, but now i think they are underrated lol

[@mst3ktemple421]

@@lcommander631 Its fortunate whenever someone gets to experience the Beatles. At any age in any year. I consider myself extremely fortunate that I got to enjoy them in real time. Having an older brother and sister helped because they were allowed to buy the records and share them with me. The first album I ever bought for myself was Let it Be.

[@wpollock1]

The Piggies song lost its innocence when the Manson family scrawled that in the victims blood on the walls of the house they invaded in 1969. Charles Manson thought that the Beatles were communicating to him through the White Album. BTW, Martha is Paul's sheepdog.

[@hadinasrallah8928]

He what?….

[@sergiocaplan1168]

Have to be blunt, time to stop trying to interpret the lyrics. You're playing right into Lennon's "stop trying to find the meaning of my lyrics" stage.

[@amr180671]

I agree, sometimes john just wrote lyrics that sounded good. Like nonsense poetry. Then again he did write poignant stuff to be honest

[@sergiocaplan1168]

@@amr180671 He did write some of the most amazing lyrics. But there was that point where he was done with all the 'people trying to interpret' phase. "‘Walrus’ is just saying a dream - the words don’t mean a lot. People draw so many conclusions and it’s ridiculous… What does it really mean, ‘I am the eggman’? It could have been the pudding basin for all I care. It’s not that serious." - Lennon

[@spiritof6663]

I hope you found out that "Julia" is John's song to his dear departed mother (that was her name), who was tragically killed in a car accident when he was 17. It changes the character of the song when you know what it's about--suddenly the sweet love song becomes an absolutely haunting, heartbreaking piece. One of his very best compositions, ever.

[@michaelselfe5320]

The kanji translation of Yōko (洋子) means "ocean child". - Wiki

[@spiritof6663]

@@michaelselfe5320 Yes, that is a brief reference to Yoko. I think he was establishing a connection from his natural mother to the new woman in his life (who he actually nicknamed "mother").

[@joe6096]

The specifics of how she died are even more horrific. It wasn't just a car accident - she was run over in the street. She was walking across the street from her house and John was home and he heard the screeching tires. Very traumatic for him at such a young age.

[@AW-xj3so]

@@joe6096 by a drunk off-duty police officer 😞

[@amr180671]

I live 2 minutes from the bus stop Julia was killed at. Flowers are regularly left in her memory

[@analogblues]

If she was disturbed by A Day in the Life, I can only imagine how freaked out she must have been listening to Revolution 9.😅

[@imkluu]

It is too bad Paul has yet to release the experimental, avant-garde "Carnival of Light" that he made with them about a year before the White Album sessions. It was near 14 minutes long, and supposedly pretty crazy. It isn't found on bootlegs, and Paul tried to get it on the Anthology 2 album, but the other Beatles outvoted him, and so it has never been released. As of at least 2008, Paul has said he owned a tape of it, and has considering releasing it. He is proud of it because it shows his interest in the avant-garde before John's getting into it.

[@bluepeng8895]

Or Wild Honey Pie

[@PeterBuwen]

Don't laugh! I like Revolution 9 today after having overlooked it for years. On anthology 3 you can see why it is called 'Revolution' like the other track. It was iriginally the ending of the song.

[@BladderProductions]

Revolution #9 is the greatest dance song in my lifetime! Wild Honey Pie is the greatest love song ballad in my lifetime. Also, can I interest you in some swamp land I have for sale? Great price!

[@PeterBuwen]

@@BladderProductions Depends on the price

[@michaellewis9167]

Caroline, here's an idea. When it comes time to listen to the Revolution/Hey Jude single (which was contemporary with 'The Beatles') you could view the live performance videos that are on KZbin, which, presumably, will allow you to post, and react to, the entire songs.

[@carolwood53]

Agree - I really want her to incorporate the visuals - think she's a Paul girl now? Just wait. :) Signed, one who is still in love with him 100%

[@Vince_Steele]

The filmed music clip of Revolution that was officially released by the Beatles is a unique hybrid of the slower album version and the faster single release, as it incorporates the faster speed and heavy metal flavour of the single, but also keeps the shooby-doo-whops from the album. I'd recommend the film clip more as an afterthought after listening to the official tracks.

[@ringmike]

@@Vince_Steele imho that is what makes it the BEST version of the song

[@davidjordan2336]

@@Vince_Steele The Revolution clip isn't really a mashup of the two versions of the song. It's an actual live performance, although they use some pre-recorded backing tracks, kind of like they did with All You Need Is Love. Likewise with the Hey Jude clip. They enjoyed this semi-return to live performance, which planted the seed for the rooftop concert.

[@Turtledove2009]

@@Vince_Steele I actually really like the White Album version of Revolution. I seem to be in the minority.

[@michaelfrazia4569]

paul plays some tasty bass on this album....and yes his melodies are timeless...he is an absolute master of melody. the best in pop history

[@SJHFoto]

Back in the USSR: You didn't say anything about it, but the lyrics were EXTREMELY sarcastic. I guess if you lived during the cold war, it would make more sense. I don't really know the best way to explain it

[@biddleeewho4181]

Finally another Rocky Raccoon lover!!! That song was my most listened to song of 2021 on spotify.

[@thesilvershining]

It’s such an awesome song!!!

[@terminallyonline5296]

0:00 Introduction ----- Side 1 ----- 0:44 Back In the U.S.S.R. 2:51 Dear Prudence 6:05 Glass Onion 7:45 Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da 10:26 Wild Honey Pie 11:08 The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill 13:07 While My Guitar Gently Weeps 16:34 Happiness Is a Warm Gun ----- Side 2 ----- 18:40 Martha My Dear 20:45 I'm So Tired 22:14 Blackbird 23:24 Piggies 24:44 Rocky Raccoon 27:27 Don't Pass Me By 29:21 Why Don't We Do It In the Road? 30:29 I Will 31:42 Julia

[@sunilmdxl7226]

🙏

[@RobertoPoncebk]

Glass Onion, Wild Honey Pie and Don't Pass me By were not among the best to me, I Will was a sort of cuban bolero and Julia so sad

[@russsnow1544]

Yes Julia is sad cause it was a song written to/for John's Mom...Julia, who was killed by a drunk off duty policeman when Lennon was only 17.

[@floreamihai3852]

This album is like a candy store for me. A little of everything. The first beatles album i ever got. My favourite is still revolver tied with abbey road but this will always hold a special place in my heart.

[@Me-fr7yj]

Gently Weeps leading into Warm Gun is a one-two punch that other albums could only dream of having

[@GordonWilkinson-t8b]

followed by martha my dear, I'm so tired and blackbird the best 5 song segue in their career - IMO

[@morbidvoy]

"The art of simplicity is not easily done." Beautiful words!

[@willswalkingwest7267]

I'm sure this one had you going, "Whaaaaaat?" a few times. This gem is a piece of history. It stands on it's own, it is it's own genre. It's The Beatles. I remember buying this and bringing it home and playing it on my record player, not a stereo, but a small record player with one little speaker in the side. I wore it out. Literally. It came with a big poster with a bunch of snapshots plus 8x10 glossies of each of the Beatles. They hung on my bedroom wall for years. The "White Album" is both fascinating and a bit terrifying at times. Those were magical days, before the internet, when you'd go to the record store and buy albums when they came out and bring them home and be taken away. Magic.

[@carolwood53]

Those posters! They moved with me many times.

[@darkjanggo]

@@J2HATMgoo Beatlesque is kind of a genre

[@bluepeng8895]

@Robert The Beatles and the Rolling Stones sounded kind of the same. They both sang the same songs (I Wanna Be Your Man, Money) and their album covers were very similar (Sgt Pepper, Satanic Majesties), (White Album, Beggar's Banquet), (Rubber Souk, Between the Buttons)

[@ChrisMaxfieldActs]

@@bluepeng8895 Not really. The only real comparison is PEPPER and SATANIC MAJESTIES, but the former led directly to the latter, and psychedelic rock was a short phase for popular music, in general.

[@ZackfromNoHo]

@Robert Both Badfinger and the Rutles sound like the Beatles. Of course the Rutles were trying to sound like them and Badfinger was on Apple Records and had various Beatles playing on, producing or writing songs on their records.

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

i've never set a "reminder" in my life. so caroline, you lucky lady you, you're the first. i've seen all your beatle reviews and look forward to watching this one. the WHITE ALBUM is the best r&r album ever produced. its a vertiable history of 20th century music with many unique and innovative beatle touches thrown in the mix. its a musical ride like no other!

[@dogstar7]

Connecting "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" to early Prog Rock influencers is a brilliant leap, Caroline. I concur directly. The little set piece stories of "Bungalow Bill" and "Rocky Racoon" would evolve into the cinematic world of bands like Genesis

[@KebabMusicLtd]

She didn't compare it to Prog Rock influencers, she compared it to the music of the 80s.

[@juanpablonavarrete8977]

Rocky Raccoon: "Her name was Magill and she called herself Lil, but everyone knew her as Nancy". McCartney playing around with some US people.

[@mikos9999]

One of the most exciting things about "the white album" was the inserts; the poster and the 4 pictures of "the lads" who we hadn't seen for a some time looking much different than they had. Also it was one of the first double albums which were unusual for the time but starting to become more popular, in part because of the advent of FM radio and the long form show formats that FM became known for. One last thing many of the songs were written variously while they were on their retreat in India with the maharishi ("sexy sadie" when you get to it). Love that you love it. P.S. "Martha" was Paul's dog

[@jjmoto6078]

Loads of great songs on this album, but my fav has to be While My Guitar Gently Weeps! It’s a great song by George that is definitely in my personal top ten Beatles songs.

[@imkluu]

This is also considered to be one of the top ten best Beatles songs by most critics.

[@PeterBuwen]

It is so difficult to vote one song of this album at the best one. I like so many of them.

[@michaelbailey6980]

@@PeterBuwen My two favorites are Rocky Racoon and Long, Long, Long. But every song on this double album is good, except for Revolution #9.

[@jjmoto6078]

@@michaelbailey6980 Yeah, I would say that it could do without Rev 9 as well as Honey Pie.

[@PeterBuwen]

@@michaelbailey6980 if you would legally oblige me today to call one song the best on this album I would name 'Blackbird'. But I can't guarantee that I name a different song tomorrow.

[@anje10]

Of all the Beatles albums The Beatles aka The White Album was the first of its kind. This album has everything is all music genres. This is the album that said even though we’re the Beatles, this is basically each of them being solo artist. Ringo wrote his first song on this album. Paul was doing more of his own. George said I’m a great song writer, and John was going his own way. Not to give away too much about the get back documentary, about someone leaving. It was during this album Ringo wanted to quit. He actually left For a couple weeks. The first ever double album. First album with no art on the cover, no photos. Pepper is the great album ever made, the white album Is the Beatles greatest album they made.

[@imkluu]

It wasn't the first double pop album. Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde was released in 1966, and a week later the Mothers of Invention's album Freak Out! was released. There were a couple of double Jazz albums released before this in the late 40's and in the 50's.

[@stevea6307]

@@imkluu True. Even in 1968, Cream's Wheels Of Fire and Hendrix's Electric Ladyland preceeded The White Album. All three double albums went to #1 on the charts, I believe.

[@B.R.0101]

Probably this is 'the' album to listen to till its end without a break.

[@a.m.son222]

I’ve heard The White Album described as the first post-modern album of the rock era.

[@Zholobov1]

@@imkluu and there was a Brezhnev's party speech double album as well

[@philippeterson7503]

#9, #9, #9...

[@darost]

Paul writes "instant standards"

[@siamesevodka]

Right around now, Paul was becoming one of the all-time great rock bassists.

[@Okaolaaj]

I have the feeling that Paul felt the urgence for standing out on John's and George's songs (suddenly George had become the third genius in the band), giving place to those iconic bass lines.

[@MrFirstdance2000]

The Magic of hearing "Dear Prudence", the first time many moons ago, continues to stay with me forming goosebumps no matter the setting or decade that I listen to it!

[@jaredbond7908]

cool. yeah, an often overlooked one. :)

[@amr180671]

Souxie and the Banshees did a great cover

[@rainydaydreamawy]

Great work. Julia still chokes me up too. I'm sure someone by now has explained it's John singing to his deceased Mom Julia. And Pauls' Martha is his sheepdog, btw.

[@randyranson84]

George Martin had a major roll in the sound of the Beatles, he was one of the greatest producers to have ever lived. RIP George Martin

[@jarichards99utube]

Hey Caroline - GREAT Channel...! HAPPY New Year To You...!!! : )

[@doughorton3635]

I always find it so ironic (and sad) that Lennon sings "happiness is a warm gun"... only be killed by one twelve years later.

[@joe6096]

The thing about the White Album for me is that the first time I heard it I kinda didn't know what to make of it, other than those instant classics like Guitar Gently Weeps and USSR..... then as I listened to this album more and more, I became completely infatuated to the point I now considered their greatest achievement. Greater than Sgt. Peppers. The variance in the musical journey of this album is beyond anything anyone else has ever done. So varied, so random, so many different musical genres explored. It's a magnificent piece of work.

[@kend1964]

I head into a sonic dream when I listen to this album. My favourite Beatles album….

[@thatsmrfuckwit]

Fair enough. But, IMO, you still need to take out Rev. #9, Wild Honey Pie and Don't Pass Me By. There's 13 minutes right there, roughly a single side. And you could prob. throw in Ob La Di etc., which would def. mean you're down to 3 sides only. So what to do? Look for more contenders to cut in order to make a long but fantastic single LP, or reinstate all the above to make it what is was, a great but deeply flawed album??? Just saying.....

[@docmoondog]

@@thatsmrfuckwit The Beatles' (and G. Martin's) sequencing was impeccable from Sgt. Pepper right through to Abbey Road. I see the white album as the pinnacle of all that. It diminishes the experience to take individual tracks out of context Moreso here than any of the other albums, really. Sides 2+4 tend to come off as B-side material by design.

[@robertrouse4503]

Paul wrote Blackbird in response to the racial strife in the South of the US, particularly the schoolgirls in Little Rock who attempted to attend a White school.

[@Cedrou21]

Happiness is a warm gun is so good. The more you listen the better it gets. Them backvocals are heavenly

[@allenswanson2423]

Only the old-timers understand the first line of the album: "Flew in from Miami Beach, B. O. A. C. ..." BOAC was the now-defunct British Overseas Airways Corporation. I flew BOAC from London to Luxembourg in 1983. It was a 1-hour flight, more or less, but they served full supper, including (coach class, mind you): An aperitif; a glass of wine; and a liqueur or port or something for afters. I was buzzed by the time I got through Lux customs.

[@allenswanson2423]

Sadly, I note that Caroline didn't find a box of scrunchies in her stocking.

[@JStarStar00]

BOAC is now British Airways.

[@smautomat]

FYI, Martha was Paul’s English Sheep Dog. Knowing this gives one a deeper understanding and appreciation of the track.

[@patrickm1268]

I think that the Beatles were the last music hall artists. As teenagers in Germany they had to play not only rock&roll but folk songs, German waltzes, drinking songs etc. and this eclectic mix is reflected in the white album. There is a grain of truth in the accusation that they were not a rock band at all.

[@richarddefortuna2252]

You're forgetting The Kinks, who carried a much deeper and stronger English Music Hall tradition well into the '80s.

[@DKassel]

Paul's father played trumpet, cornet, and piano. He was also the leader of a swing band, so Paul was also exposed to a large library of standards and show tunes growing up.

[@brianparker663]

There's a lovely little comic aside about their eclecticism in the Howard Goodall documentary. Talking about Eleanor Rigby he says "this type of cadence is very common...in the 14th century!" (or words to that effect).

[@patrickm1268]

@@brianparker663 All I can say is "Amen" to that.

[@jacksonmorganfroghin4815]

More than rock they be promoted love. Sounds cheesy but who doesn't love cheese? Love isn't silly, love isn't silly at all. Happy New Year people. I love all of you right now. Tomorrow? Who knows?

[@P.Galore]

I can't wait to see Caroline's take on The White Album and Abbey Road....this is going to be great!

[@harrylazard805]

I'm guessing because she likes the orchestration she won't like the White Album as well as the last two. It will be interesting to see what she thinks of Phil Spector's treatment of Let it Be and if she compares it to the Stripped Down remake....

[@bluepeng8895]

I wonder what she'll think of Yellow Submarine

[@PeterBuwen]

Looking at their abilities the Beatles became better and better with every album. 'Abbey Road', their last, was technically their best. The rest depends only on the personal taste of the public listeners. I wonder where they would have gone if they have not broken up. What for example would have the Beatles put aside 'The dark side of the moon'. I mean their voyage would have gone further.

[@DaveMcIroy]

That here is literally her "take on The White Album".

[@aquamarine99911]

@@harrylazard805 Listening to this reminds me that there was still a lot of orchestration on the White Album. But that's not what Caroline is reacting to. At the end of this vid she seems clearly overcome at the sheer quantity of quality music. White Album really was their best.

[@biddleeewho4181]

Piggies is a metaphor for class. The "bigger piggies" are the first class people who always have "starched white shirts." The last line of the song, "Clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon" is obviously a dog eat dog metaphor.

[@danwall6662]

Piggies are The Pigs, ie: Cops

[@TAJMofficial]

@@danwall6662 that wouldn't make any sense. Pigs represent people with the "bigger piggies" being first class and the "little biggies" being lower/working class. Cops have nothing to do with it

[@michaelselfe5320]

@@danwall6662 Have you seen the bigger piggies In their starched white shirts? You will find the bigger piggies Stirring up the dirt, I agree with you

[@danwall6662]

@@TAJMofficial yes there is the Orwellian pigs who became the new overlords, replacing humans ( after the revolution in Orwells Animal Farm). Also, remember the Beatles were having awful trouble with a particular corrupt pig/police officer Sgt Pilcher, who was planting drugs on George, John and Yoko , Mick Jagger Brian Jones etc etc. That piggy Pilcher ended up in jail.

[@andrewwright6445]

Couple of random odds & ends that I love about what is my "Desert Island" album: 1. "Why Don't We Do It in the Road" is followed immediately by "I Will". Same composer. Same vocalist. I don't think any unitiated listener would surmise this! 2. (Related) George Martin's sequencing deserves a lot of credit for the "feel" of this album - and it does indeed have a vibe all its own that none of the Beatles' other albums can compare to. The grouping of the "animal" songs: the way the three lower notes that end "Martha My Dear" immediately reverses into the three single up-notes that begin "I'm So Tired"; the way some songs blend, some songs are separated by just a qiuck break, and some have quite a bit more space in between - - it's not "music" per se, but to me it's always been just as an integral part of the album as the music itself. (SPOILER ALERT: On Side 4, the spooky "Cry Baby Cry" followed by the haunting "Can You Take Me Back" out take, followed by a snippet of barely audible dialogue, followed by "Revolution 9" is the most unsettling stretch of Beatles music you'll hear. And I love it.)

[@krautgazer]

I particularly like how "Helter Skelter", the noisiest and loudest of all Beatles songs, is immediately followed by "Long, Long, Long", the quietest and most delicate of all Beatles songs in their whole discography. I also like how "Revolution 9", the most experimental of all of their tracks, is followed by "Good Night", which is possibly the most old fashioned and traditional of all of their songs, almost a Disney or a Bing Crosby song.

[@scottandrewbrass]

George Martin didn't sequence the album. It was John and Paul in one continuous 24 hour session.

[@juanpablonavarrete8977]

I think that Caroline passed too quick through Happiness is a Warm Gun. For me is technically the first progressive rock song of history. Even though is not a 15-minutes song (like Pink Floyd and then Rush did a few years later), the song never comes back (only “progresses”). Putting that personal comment aside, Mojo ranked it N° 8 among all Beatles songs. And Tori Amos said about this song something like that: “The Beatles had the ability to make you think about the world, not just your own little world. They could put the microcosm and macrocosm in the same song. In this track they sang of drugs, sex, guns and religion without telling me what to feel about it (without preaching). That's genius."

[@yes_head]

There were long, multi-part songs before "Happiness". The Who's "A Quick One While He's Away" (1966), for example. By 1968 it was an idea that was being experimented with a lot of musicians.

[@juanpablonavarrete8977]

@@yes_head Hi. I insist that the length is not the key issue here. Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands of 1966 is a 12-minutes song and is not progressive rock at all. Neither that the song has multiple parts if within the parts the song comes back (otherwise it could resemble with a medley). Of course, the fact the song only progresses (which is the case of Happiness) is not the single factor in progressive rock. Probably the other ones can be found in another Lennon’s song in the following year (1969): I Want You (She's So Heavy). Of course, this song and Happiness are not progressive rock themselves but are unique as predecessor and ahead of time. As when Josh Hart said that I Want You (She's So Heavy) might also have “inadvertently” started the doom metal.

[@joeh1239]

Are you going to listen to the solo albums released by the Beatles? Ram by Paul and all things must pass by George are a must!

[@kenttheaker7904]

The George is awaiting on you all to awaken and see!

[@dolfin9879]

And of course imagine by John Lennon and everything else he did later on

[@edwardwilson7858]

Caroline, when are you going to do the two singles: Lady Madonna/The Inner Light, and Hey Jude/Revolution? They were both released months before the White Album so your review of them should come first.

[@rareosts5752]

On Blackbird: "It's so simple, it's just a guitar and him......and a click." hahahahaha that was the best. Great stuff again, Caroline. Btw there's footage of him recording that song, you can see him tapping his foot (wearing dress shoes).

[@CallMeCaroline]

You know what's weird? The first time I heard blackbird was years ago and I never noticed the click( tapping shoes, I didn't know!) ! haha which is why I pointed it out lol It's funny what we hear and what we miss sometimes.

[@Corporations8MyBaby]

Tears streaming down my face as I watch Caroline get the vibes of "White My Guitar Gently Weeps." The Beatles were not taking George's song seriously and so he called his pal Eric Clapton (then known as "God" of guitar)to intertwine those haunting riffs and then take that heartbreakingly aching solo. Then the Beatles took it seriously and Paul and John turned in some staggering harmonies...But this song is epic. Caroline's face just reflects the whole thing. (( unrelated: Growing up, all the older sisters and neighbor girls who made me swoon and had no use for me at all... preferred George.. and so that made me look at George as ... maybe the coolest one))

[@thomaspappalardo7589]

John contributed no harmonies, it’s just George and Paul. John only contributed organ, and maybe an electric 12-string that doubles the bass part during the bridges.

[@Stinger2222]

Eric didn't want to do it, another guitar player on a Beatles song BLASPHOMY, but George talked him into it. He said he tried to make it sound like a Beatles guitar solo. I was into him at the time from his Mayhall days and into Cream and his solo stuff and picked him out on first listen.

[@randalovcen9811]

As usual, loved watching your reactions. BTW if you didn't already know the ballad-like song "Martha My Dear" is about Paul's sheepdog named ... wait for it... Martha!

[@vortexpilot5096]

White Album is a pastiche as the Beatles spread their individual wings. George Martin wasn't sure it wouldn't have been better as a single record, but I can't squeeze their best here into a 13 or 14 song canon. Certainly the material ranges from rock solid classic to mundane and experimental. An uneven collection but I accepted that when it first came out, thought hey, they've earned the right to loosen it up. A lot of my favorites here.

[@NoExitLoveNow]

I believe that they had a contract to deliver x number of songs and they wanted to get out of it.

[@eggman5106]

It would be an absolute tragedy if all the songs weren't realised IMO. Though, I do agree this album could've cut down half of the listing.

[@bluepeng8895]

@@gribwitch What’s wrong with why Don’t we do it in the Road?

[@gribwitch]

@@bluepeng8895 It's not really a song, but more of a repetitive statement with backing music. They must have meant it as a fun cheeky "throwaway" piece, not to be taken all that seriously. Hence the short duration and the sudden strained ending.

[@gribwitch]

@@morningsky8045 It's just the lads being in a fun, ribald mood.

[@davebronsveld4913]

Though I loved the Beatles from the very beginning, this is by far my favorite. Have been waiting to see your reaction, and from what I've heard from you, I'm pretty sure you will be as blown away as we were back in the day. Dave

[@PeterBuwen]

'This is the bloody white album of the Beatles' as Paul McCartney once said.

[@revelation3679]

when you know that Julia is about Johns mum it gives the song an extra dimension, a poignancy

[@anEyePhil]

Im glad you picked up on Harrison's innovative development evident in this album. He started writing late and was there with the Lennon-McCartney machine for comparison. In post - Beatles years his creativity exploded, peaking in my opinion with the Travelling Wilburys. He was not the quiet Beatle, he was the cool funny Beatle. He saved Monty Python's movie "Life of Brian", by mortgaging his house to fund Handmade Films. About being a Beatle, he later said "You can find someone else to be your performing monkey". Rest In Peace George Parasol.

[@robertmoraga1501]

Julia was John's ode to his mother. She was a free spirit who entrusted his care to her sister, John's Aunt Mimi. However, although Mimi raised John, he did not feel abandoned by Julia as she visited often. She shared stories of her adventures and turned John onto music. Just one important influence in the life of a very, complex man and the music that drove him. On another note, I Will is just as beautiful a song as WDWDIITR is trashy; the closest thing you'll find to filler on a Beatles album. But it was great following along as always, Caroline! Just brace yourself, disc two gets heady! Here comes H/S and #9...

[@JDC8459]

Thank you Caroline for bringing me ‘back’ to the Beatles. I’ve been a fan since I heard the newly released ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ (the US UA Soundtrack) as a child. But over the years, familiarity didn’t breed contempt but a sort of malaise in listening to their music. Despite a Beatles song always being in my playlists, I stopped really listening. Your journey of discovery has helped reawaken the joy of their catalog for me. It’s great to be back! I hope you enjoy(ed) the wild ride that is “The Beatles”!

[@izzonj]

I've always loved how it moves from the crude, raucous sexuality of "do it in the road," to the tenderness of "I Will". Just showing tons of range and confidence by McCartney!

[@johnb2422]

It's important to know that (most of*) the 30 songs on this album (and some songs on future albums) were all written when the Beatles, the 4 Beatles (from Liverpool) were staying in Rishikesh, India, learning transcendental meditation under the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. They were there for months with only guitars and their minds so, lots of guitar written songs, less orchestral this time around. Songs became much more personal; Prudence, Bungalow Bill, Julia, "Sexy Sadie", all real people...Martha (my dear) was Paul's dog.

[@JordiPujadesGirona]

Not all of these songs were written in Rishikesh but most of them.

[@johnb2422]

@@JordiPujadesGirona true

[@jamiewilson3599]

The two most obvious were Sexy Sadie, originally called 'Maharishi,' and 'Why Don't We Do It In the Road,' which is about two monkeys he saw having sex at the ashram.

[@johnb2422]

@@jamiewilson3599 & Bungalow Bill was this American dude who was also staying there with his mom and would go out shooting tigers. Dear Prudence was about Prudence Farrow hiding in her tent meditating all day... I'm So Tired clearly personal reflection of Lennon's stay in India...

[@richardsmith2370]

@@jamiewilson3599 I just saw your comment about monkeys. I’ve commented on this above. So it is true.

[@TerryT304]

Listen to the acoustic version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps, it so melancholy.

[@cody95]

I Will is one of my personal favorites by the Beatles. A perfect example of simplicity executed flawlessly. Same with Julia immediately afterwards

[@craigsmith8669]

Sounds amazing, didn’t realise the base was vocal for a long time and I must’ve heard it 100s of times before I realised.

[@timothyjones3410]

Somebody wrote once that I Will is a melodic remake of I'll Follow The Sun.

[@SkankyYank]

One of the night-night songs that I sang to my daughters at bedtime when they were growing up.

[@KurtSauers-mi5ev]

I Will has been my wife’s and my song for 35 years. The White Album is my go to album. The Esther tapes are awesome

[@KurtSauers-mi5ev]

Esher Tapes. Damn autocorrect

[@jayburdification]

“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is where George begins to almost outclass his mates. It should’ve been a single. I love almost everything on the White Album, but this song far outshines. And Clapton’s not too shabby either.

[@davidrauh8118]

While My Guitar Gently Weeps was the B-side to Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da in many parts of the world. But not England or the U.S.

[@brianjeffries1961]

Harrison had a hard time convincing the others to not only record his song, but to take it seriously. It took him bringing in Clapton for the guitar solos for them to really invest energy into the song, making it the timeless classic it is... The "demo" version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps is also stunning. Just George on acoustic guitar, vocals, and minimal organ, plus an extra set of lyrics not found on the album release.

[@reinpost]

To me, it's the bassline that makes the song. All the other parts are great, too.

[@kurniadi9829]

@@reinpost not to forget Paul's piano. Paul was always great in piano like he did in I Want To Tell You and Sexy Sadie (and also his mellotrone in Strawberry Fields Forever and lowrey organ in Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds)

[@thesilvershining]

@@kurniadi9829 You’re right, I can’t imagine any of those songs without the pianos/organ.

[@athx8836]

WHITE ALBUM - MY INTERROGATIVE PRONOSTIC Her favourites = * .*Back in the U.S.S.R. » she will say it reminds her the BeachBoys .Glass Onion » We will discover the level of her Beatle fanaticism .Wild Honey Pie » How Caroline will receive Yoko? .Bungalow Bill » She'll oppose it's incomprehensible? .*While My Guitar » She'll refer to Cirque du Soleil clip? .Happiness Is a Warm Gun » Will she underline the "message"? .Martha My Dear » Besides her analyse, a dog will cross a bowling alley - unnoticed. .*I'm So Tired » She'll love it .*Blackbird » Another Paul song in her heart now: she'll sing it along.

[@benson7498]

And she actually compared it to the Beach Boys as well!

[@joebloggs396]

I'd hope she'd like Mother Nature's Son. Better than Blackbird I feel.

[@alansmith1989]

Mike Love (Of the Beach Boys) was at the Maharishi's retreat with the Beatles and did give a bit of help to Paul when Paul started formulating the song.

[@partypoppers1988]

@@benson7498 Elvis comparisons stood out even more for Caroline 🙂

[@blood9903]

@@J2HATMgoo regardless, anyone who hates on yoko ono needs to get over themselves. that woman is 88 years old, and has been a lightning rod for distress over the beatles breaking up (as bands inevitably do).

[@XFLexiconMatt]

Oh, The White Album, this one will surprise you indeed. Looking forward to your reaction.

[@brachiator1]

Back in the USSR is a jokey homage to early 60s Beach Boys songs about California girls or surfer girls. The Beatles also make fun of people and politicians of the era who were obsessed with the Communist menace. So imagine the singer of the song as a Soviet spy returning home and thinking about Russian women.

[@amr180671]

.. And to write a civil rights song, Blackbird. Incidentally they were the first ever musicians to insist on not playing to a segregated audience. Elvis (God bless him) never even dared to insist on that. Even Ray Charles chose to cancel his concert in Georgia...

[@ChrisCrossClash]

Caroline, you really need to finish with "Abby Road" and do "Let it Be" before that album.

[@floramay7007]

Yes..."Let it Be" was recorded BEFORE "Abbey Road" ... the only reason "Let it Be" was released last was because the film director took a year to finish the movie.

[@snoopywinniemheepooh5496]

+++

[@JStarStar00]

"Don't Pass Me By" was Ringo's first fully written song. He'd been working on it since 1965.

[@JStarStar00]

In fact there was an interview with John & Paul in early 65 and they comment on the fact George is starting to write songs. The interviewer Asks off hand if they think Ringo will write any songs. They jokingly say, "oh yeah, he's been working on one for years." "Isn't that right, Richie?" they yell across the room to Ringo who apparently wasn't paying attention. "Oh yeah," Ringo says. "Don't pass me by, don't make me cry," and they all laugh and say, "it needs more work."

[@spiritof6663]

Actually, it went back even further than that!! Starr mentions it in a 1964 interview (when asked if he'd written any songs) and biographer Mark Lewisohn says that Ringo first premiered it for the group right after he joined them, in August 1962!

[@petterv6604]

Imagine working on a song that mid for 3 years

[@gpwnedable]

@@petterv6604 Yeah! Lol

[@AW-xj3so]

And as Family Guy put it ' That's very nice Ringo. We'll put it up here on the fridge where everyone can see it'

[@charlesmagliocco8932]

I remember as a child my Aunt's playing "Love Me Do" 45 record over and over but, when I was 14 is when my Dad handed me a cassette of the "White Album" and I became a big fan.

[@easysoul48able]

As an older man, I heard all the Beatles songs and albums when they came out the first time. I truly enjoy watching your reactions to them. They are fresh, sometimes funny, insightful musically, and entertaining. You may not catch the "drug" references we understand from our days, but you obviously still enjoy the genius of the music as much as we did/do. "Julia", was written in honor of John Lennon's Mother. Thought you should know that. Beautiful song revealing his softer side and the anguish he still felt within. On "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", which George Harrison wrote, Eric Clapton overdubbed the lead guitar part, although he is not formally credited for the contribution. One of the greatest live performances of the song was done in honor of George at the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions. It includes Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Harrison's son, Dhani, others, and Prince absolutely shreds it when he finally steps up for his turn. You would do well to react to it. Simply search for it and you will find it. 😀

[@Turtledove2009]

Prince's performance was amazing!

[@tspicks4360]

Back in the USSR - I can hear the Elvis influence, a bit in the main vocal ... but on the chorus, it's the BEACH BOYS. :) Of whom the Beatles were very aware. Just sayin' :)