How We Created The Perfect Single Disc Beatles White Album

[@joelcrowservo]

This was the wise way to play this debate. I’m seeing lots of pedantic complaints on FB from people who clearly haven’t even seen this video. Unfortunately it angers them to point that out, it seems! I can’t do a single-disc White Album, simply because it’s like tearing pages and chapters out of a novel. You might get the basic story but you’re missing so much of the grand detail. Obviously I have my “least favorites” that don’t go onto Beatles playlists, but even those have something interesting about them that keeps me listening through the whole album. But this was an interesting video as ever, although I do wonder: where did the first list originate?

[@Parlogram]

Hi David, I also find those pedantic debates rather sad. We all love The Beatles and this video was a bit of fun which attempted to do something Beatles fans have been doing for years. Those people should at least watch the video or at least one of our other 200 videos before taking to their keyboards. That said, I love the White Album just as it is and am happy to have more Beatles rather than less. Thank you for watching and posting!

[@cajunqueen5125]

@@phillipanderson7398 I've read an interview with JL while at the Amsterdam Hilton (honeymoon), saying he wished he hadn't forced Rev9 onto the album

[@cajunqueen5125]

I like/agree that analogy, re: 'pages torn from a novel'. That's how I think of it too

[@lucone2937]

@@cajunqueen5125 I would have replaced "Revolution #1" and "Revolution #9" with a single "Hey Jude" / "Revolution". I think the B-side version is the best and heaviest version of Revolution. "Hey Jude" (7 minutes and 11 seconds) would have fitted on a double album nicely instead of "Revolution #9" (8 minutes and 22 seconds). Afterwards it's often pity that the UK record industry in the 1960s and 1970s often prefered to release many standalone non-album singles even if there was a new album released about the same. The first 1968 A-single "Lady Madonna" could have been on the White Album as well.

[@adrianselbst6777]

The tearing pages out of a novel line was a dead on representation of how, without any malice or I’ll will whatsoever, the topic of this video simply does not interest me.

[@tonyfox7510]

The charm of the White Album is all the eclectic styles of music tackled by the Beatles. I wouldn't change a thing about it.

[@kirbygene]

Right! It's fun to hear different opinions on a single disc, but that's as far as I go. It's great exactly as it is

[@andyw8506]

Yes, it is a great album, not all the songs are though and I don't think you really get the point he's making. Andrew agrees with you but it's a fun exercise, it's not about who's the biggest beatles fan. Lol. Sorry, don't mind me, just a bit of fun.

[@andyw8506]

Been a massive fan since I got the beatles 20 greatest hits on cassette for Christmas 1982. Have the majority on vinyl now but due to convenience and neighbours I nearly always listen to digital with headphones and it is very easy and more enjoyable I believe to make my own playlist versions of my favourite albums these days. My version of the white album comes in at an hour though. Got it down to 7 a side at 42 minutes but it was hard, here goes. Back in.., Dear prudence, Glass onion,Mother nature's son, While my guitar ..,Happiness is a..,Julia. Everybody's got.., So tired, Blackbird,Sexy Sadie, Helter..,Long..,Cry baby.

[@andyw8506]

Who's voting for less beatles? I don't think it makes you less of a fan if you admit to disliking particular songs, don't pass me by (especially the mono version) is just not enjoyable to me and I don't think I'll ever feel the need to listen to revolution 9 again in my life. But if you need to hear the full album from start to finish every time you play it then good for you.

[@GandaMelgao]

What's the point of this video? The album was what it was. I don't really get it.

[@alexshort8055]

As fun as it is to imagine the White Album as one LP, what really makes it great in its intended form is that it’s just such a sprawling mess. Even with the odd duff track, it flows wonderfully. It’s far better then the sum of its parts!

[@simonhodgetts6530]

I agree - the reason why it’s my favourite Beatles album is because it’s such an eclectic and absorbing listen.

[@johnp515]

@@phillipanderson7398 These days you can play it any order you like I guess but it’s worth mentioning that The Beatles worked hard on the records as a product, a piece of art that you could hold in your hand so they spent a long time on the sequencing of songs on albums, and included a few segues between songs

[@TundieRice]

The White Album absolutely flows together better than any other Beatles album to me. Even though Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road may seem to most as being intentionally sequenced to make the songs fit together (and the second side of Abbey Road is 100% a great marvel in sequencing, especially for 1969.) That being said, the White Album is sequenced perfectly *in spite* of all the completely different styles of the songs. The cool thing about White is that when you factor in the interludes, it’s sometimes hard to tell where one song ends and the other begins. I first experienced this album on vinyl (although I was 100% raised in the CD era, I only had access to the full double album on my dad’s vinyl copy) and so precise track skipping wasn’t an option at all. So a lot of the interludes that I thought ended a track were actually the beginning of the next track, and vice versa. I think the White Album is a masterclass in somehow creating a cohesive album out of 30 disparate songs from a band that was in the midst of dissolving, and somehow making it sound like the band were as tight as ever in concept. And for that reason, it’s probably always going to be my number-one favorite Beatles album. I wouldn’t take away a damn second! *PS: It’s double the amount of Beatles in one album, how the hell are you going to argue about that? I don’t mind the silly songs at all, a double album is the perfect place for them to stretch out and enjoy creating stuff that doesn’t have to be 100% serious :)*

[@tonywillans7556]

While '9" is a challenging listen, it adds a certain modernity and scrabbles the ears so the rest ( I often play disc 2 first) sound all the sweeter.

[@laurencetyson7395]

"than"

[@markokino3716]

Paul is spot on. "It's great. It sold. It's the bloody Beatles White album. Shut up."

[@90sArchive]

Long Long Long is criminally underrated and certainly deserves a spot in my books

[@BugRib]

Yeah, "Long, Long, Long" is powerful and moving, particularly in its most recent mix by Giles Martin IMHO. I feel like the older mixes sound really awkward and sap a lot of the power from the song. To be honest, I didn't really "discover" LLL until I got the deluxe reissue of the White Album from a few years ago. I think it sounds amazing there!

[@paulw6057]

Yep, and I can't stand 'Yer Blues'.

[@samheard7849]

piggies is also criminally underrated here imo

[@tomrogerlilleby2890]

I totally agree. "Long.." is the one song that I kept hearing over and over before I was being satisfied.

[@JD0124]

Funny. I always felt it was the weakest of George's tracks. Was never a fan of "Piggies", either. "While My Guitar" and "Savoy Truffle" definitely belong.

[@markusweienhorn7023]

For me „Long long long“ is one of the most underrated songs on this album. On my personal „one disc“ compilation I also put „Good night“ (Anthology version). I think such a compilation needs a Ringo song and more than one song by George. ;-)

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

I'd definitely include LLL also. It's slightly ironic that the fans and streamers marginalised George on this album even more than John, Paul and George Martin 😁

[@paulg2733]

Agreed, LLL is just beautiful.. and the only white album track I learned to play!

[@ui9u9hh]

Wow! I think it's totally dispensable. Bought the album when it came out and never liked LLL. I think Not Guilty would have been a far superior George entry.

[@markearnestfromreno613]

I’m in this line. It’s one of the best of George’s Beatles songs.

[@KurtCokkain]

It wasn't until the CD age that I was able to truly hear LLL. Vinyl copies with any surface noise drowned out the tune, plus being placed at side's end with that much bass guaranteed it would sound muddy by comparison. CD/streaming has allowed the song to be cranked if need be without feedback and I could finally hear it with ease (who cues up the last track on a side if they don't have to?) This makes me think of other songs that were sorta orphaned due to their placement or non-placement on an LP. UK listeners likely under-listened to This Boy while US listeners like myself found I'll Be Back to be a rare treat, since it was on side 2 of Beatles' '65 growing up. That side was short and IBB was between the OK-but-not-essential Honey Don't and the way too-over-reverbed versions of I Feel Fine and She's A Woman (they sound SO much better in their UK mixes!) and then the side's crap finale, Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby. It wasn't until getting the CD of Hard Day Night UK that I finally heard the excellent tune in good company.

[@terrymann1341]

I love the White Album just as it is. I remember getting my vinyl copy very early on in my fandom for Christmas one year and was totally blown away by the diversity of styles, genre's and experimentation. But it is fun to do this as a kind of fantasy football league only with Beatles songs. Rather like the argument for putting strawberry fields and penny lane on pepper. I may create a single disc playlist on my I-pod for fun though...

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

I'm sorry, but how the hell does Andrew still only have 40k subs? This is one of the best channels on all of KZbin.

[@evertvdb000]

it is, isn't it

[@edwardrussell5989]

It is easily the best

[@ChristophBerdi]

Agree!

[@MIB_63]

Absolutely agree.

[@louiebee6745]

100% Agree!✌

[@cinetobi]

The White Album is THE perfect record, the best one EVER recorded by any artist. I wouldn't dare to change anything.

[@cinetobi]

@@cjay2 Revolver is my second favourite Beatles album (tied with Rubber Soul and Abbey Road). Derk Side Of The Moon is the most overrated album since Pet Sounds. I hate it. The Doors' album is brilliant but lightyears from the White Album.

[@cinetobi]

@@phillipanderson7398 I love it. Period.

[@kabiam]

The way (order) the songs were presented on the double album is the key to its greatness. They progress in a manner that is pleasing to the ear and soul.

[@merickbrother2122]

I did this experiment with my sister. We came up with two separate records, one called The Beatles and one called A Doll's House. It was a fun little game!

[@Algox]

That sounds cool! Would you mind sharing the tracklists to both?

[@archieleechjb]

Ha! Great minds think alike!

[@sugadelicsavagesoul8623]

​@@tobyjackman3212 100x I would hope so!!!

[@sugadelicsavagesoul8623]

​@@phillipanderson7398 YES!!! My thoughts exactly! 🙌🏽👍🏽

[@sugadelicsavagesoul8623]

@@tobyjackman3212 Yes. One of the best Beatles art not used on an official album. Should've been the official White Album cover imo.

[@bobby666666]

The debates are a bit of fun, for me the greatest strength of the White Album is the full list of songs. Some people struggle with that, but I love it all.

[@buddygreco2348]

Agreed. The double album aspect is perfect!!

[@tomfurgas2844]

I believe that the real strength of the album is that the offhand songs meant as filler (what George Martin called either "trite" songs or "scribble") are better than some of the best songs done by other groups of the era. Even "Wild Honey Pie"! In fact "Wild Honey Pie" is one of my favorite tracks on the album BECAUSE it's such a throwaway number. It's like Paul McCartney saying "See, I can do anything at all and it comes out great!" BTW, there are actually 31 songs on the album; "Can You Take Me Back" is an Easter Egg appended to "Cry Baby Cry". (That was before such "secret" track were called Easter Eggs.)

[@Y-two-K]

I've been called pretentious for this, but I stand by my opinion that the "large mixed bag" nature of The White Album works perfectly for it. They'd stripped away all the color of albums like Magical Mystery Tour and Pepper's, they named the album after themselves and the tracks largely felt more intimate and less grandiose than some of the big hitters off of those two albums. Just like a meditation session, things arise that may not necessarily be entirely pleasant or great, and some may even be quite heavy (rev 9, which I find fascinating and sonically interesting). And there's just so much there, how can you not love it? It's The Beatles!

[@bobby666666]

@@Y-two-K There's nothing pretentious about liking this album. The people who use this word are missing out.

[@bobbyx5373]

I think it’s a great album as it is. I can’t imagine what it must have been like in 1968 to have 30 new Beatles songs presented to you. As I say I can listen to it from start to finish and still discover something new.

[@lowenbad]

Cry baby cry is one of my favorite songs on this album. I’m surprised it’s not high on the list. That song rocks.

[@theadamblock]

It's also a great lead in to revolution 9 especially with the creepy Paul interlude

[@gerrycoogan6544]

@@theadamblock I love it too. But then, I could say that about just about every other song on the album (apart from "Don't Pass Me By" and "Revolution #9). Even then, I still enjoy them within the context of the whole album.

[@hisham_hm]

One of my favorites too! Also, I always felt that it was a John song that sounds like a Paul song.

[@therealfrananon]

Mine too. One of my favorite Beatle's songs ever.

[@johnbarry1965]

The expansiveness and sheer eclecticism is what makes this some people's favourite album of all time including moi!!

[@Bozakky]

I like the first choice but for me, I'm just delighted to be part of a conversation about my favorite band, THE BEATLES. You see, I was 7 years old when this album came out and I was 10 years old when I bought my first copy and, I never would've imagined that I'd be talking to anyone about this subject. Delighted! Thanks for another great video.

[@gregwallace552]

That's interesting. I was 10 when it came out and 12 or 13 when I bought my first copy. I'm sure I couldn't have imagined that I'd be talking about it over fifty years later either. Or that I would have the Super Deluxe THE BEATLES now as part of my collection.

[@rkmklz7562]

My All time favorite Album.... Beatles Are my number 1 ...my second favorite band is Creetance Clearwater...My favorite track is Dear Prudence...the other is Martha My Dear and Mother Nature s Son...Glass Orion...Life Goes On.... I have the White Album on LP and CD....i like the whole album... also the Esther Demos...that i had in the 1970s as A Dolls House!!!...on LP

[@brianhansen106]

I once tried to come up with a single album just for fun, but I couldn't do it. I was always leaving off great songs. IMHO, I think the album is fantastic the way it is. I remember getting it for Christmas back in 1971, and 50 plus years later I still love the album. I am always discovering new sounds that I missed. Songs that I wasn't "ready for" when I was 10, I get now. An amazing album by a magical band.

[@mwmeier7677]

Without sequencing...so, just my faves; Left-most column is tracks' original side: One "Back in the U.S.S.R." 2:43 One "Dear Prudence" 3:56 One "Glass Onion" 2:18 One "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" 4:45 One "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" 2:47 Two "I'm So Tired" 2:03 Two "Blackbird" 2:18 Total Side 1 "White Album 2023" 20:50 Three "Birthday" 2:42 Three "Yer Blues" 4:01 Three "Mother Nature's Son" 2:48 Three "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey" 2:24 Three "Sexy Sadie" 3:15 Three "Helter Skelter" 4:30 Four "Savoy Truffle" 2:54 Four "Cry Baby Cry" 3:02 Total Side 2 "White Album 2023" 25:36

[@paulkovacs5729]

A so called perfect single disc White Album to me does not and can not truly exist. What makes the album so special and my personal favorite by the Beatles is the kaleidoscopic breadth of styles and experimentation from start to finish, along with the fact that the listener can get the best picture of what each member brings individually to the table. As is, the album truly is perfectly imperfect.

[@ewest14]

Obladi being so low is ridiculous. Since this list was from 1st or 2nd generation fans, the choice for it being so low was obviously because of John’s comments about the song. Obladi is a great song and deserves a spot on the album

[@evertvdb000]

what john comments? he worked on the song with paul in India, and came up with the intro, and ska arangement

[@ricardo_miguel13]

yes, I mean it was a number one hit in several countries. Would be ridiculous to explude the most famous song

[@alancruzdominguez5074]

Ob-la-di Ob-la-da is the more popular song from the album by the time

[@marathon8954]

One of the great unanswered questions. You do it justice (as always). At the end of the day I think its great that we're still having this debate whilst knowing that the White album - its the ****in' White album - still sits there provoking debate.

[@67Pepper]

I remember going over to my neighbours house to listen to it when it came out. I was amazed at the wild turns it took but the transition from the opening track to "Dear Prudence" is one of the best transitional songs on any album.

[@samzarrelli8358]

Always a fun task... I'm more interested in making it a triple album though!

[@LaurentLaSalle]

I've pushed watching this video solely because I couldn't bear to hear another “perfect single White Album” take, but once again, Andrew did things wisely and differently. I wished you would have left a clue on the title or the thumbnail about your crowd sourced technique. Regarding using the most streamed songs on Spotify, let's not forget something crucial about this new way of music consumption : the algorithm. Sure, the new generation have different tastes, and a “perfect single White Album” would be different from what appeals to generation X or baby boomers, but a good chunk of these popular songs were not chosen based on anyone's personal preference, but by an algorithm based on multiple (and sometimes unrelated) factors.

[@elmatador4048]

I just made the single White Album tracklist - both sides have now an equal running time of 23 min and 1 sec! SIDE A (23:01) 1. Revolution (single version) 2. Glass Onion 3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps 4. Martha My Dear 5. Happiness Is a Warm Gun 6. Piggies 7. Blackbird 8. Julia SIDE B (23:01) 1. Birthday 2. Savoy Truffle 3. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide (Except for Me and My Monkey) 4. Sexy Sadie 5. Helter Skelter 6. Yer Blues 7. Good Night

[@jozefserf2024]

Great list. Revolution 1 is a great opener and Goodnight is the only way to close.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

I approve. My single-album version must have Piggies and Savoy Truffle.

[@riccoy7667]

Fascinating. You left Back in the USSR off your album. I didn't think that was possible.

[@stupidhipsterdoofus3278]

Side 1 (24:46) 2:43 Back in the U.S.S.R. 3:56 Dear Prudence 2:18 Glass Onion 3:15 Sexy Sadie 0:52 Wild Honey Pie 4:30 Helter Skelter 4:45 While My Guitar Gently Weeps 2:27 Happiness is a Warm Gun Side 2 (24:41) 2:28 Martha My Dear 2:03 I'm so tired 2:18 Blackbird 1:46 I Will 1:41 Why Don't We Do It In The Road? 2:24 Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey 2:54 Savoy Truffle 3:02 Cry Baby Cry 2:57 Julia 3:08 Long, Long, Long

[@magneto7930]

I've loved the album for a half a century so it would be hard for me to consolidate it. But if I did, I would definitely agree with your list. I think people have been "fascinated" with Revolution 9, more so than having just enjoyed it for their listening pleasure. They could have made a single album, and then in the future, they could have introduced the "Off White Album," featuring the additional tracks. This definitely brings me back to my mixtape days when I would compile songs from all Beatle albums into my own personal collection. Fun times. Great upload!

[@themoviedealers]

I compiled a mix called "The Off White Album," but it wasn't Beatles recordings, it was other artists covering all the songs. (Sample: Alex Chilton, Fats Domino, Jeff Healey, Lowell Fulsome, Theodore Bikel.). Believe me, it took years to find all of them (I did this largely pre internet) and a cover of Revolution 9 was particularly difficult!

[@magneto7930]

​@@themoviedealers Sounds like an awesome concept. Good ol' Fats Domino doing Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey, a real treat!

[@doodledangernoodle2517]

As an alternative to this video, I’d love to see you do a hypothetical double album that combines Sgt Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour, and the Yellow Submarine tracks minus Hey Bulldog (as that was written in 1968) The two albums were virtually recorded back-to-back and therefore all feel connected. It’d be interesting to see a tracklist that attempts to make the two albums feel seamless together.

[@louiebee6745]

Also Baby You're A Rich Man, recorded 11 May at Olympic the day before they recorded All Together Now at EMI.

[@magneto7930]

Great idea. Personally, I think they could lose Blue Jay Way and Flying, in favor of something else.

[@adrianselbst6777]

This is all like SO unnecessary lol

[@MatthewBates-w9q]

I think it would be better, or perhaps harder, to say how Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane would've been incorporated within Sgt. Pepper.

[@WalnutAnimations]

@@adrianselbst6777 it’s fun tho

[@marksutter182]

My favorite part of this was nodding my head and agreeing with the top 15 but then being shocked by nearly all of the other songs that didn’t make it. 😂😂😂

[@thecaptainjones]

Hi Andrew, I tried this a couple of years ago and it was always unsatisfactory. So one day I added Lady Madonna and Hey Jude and came up with "McCartney '68" instead. I tried to alternate piano and guitar songs. Comes in at about 40 mins. All in good fun of course A1 Back In The USSR A2 Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da A3 Wild Honey Pie A4 Blackbird A5 Lady Madonna A6 Rocky Raccoon A7 Why Don't We Do It In The Road A8 I Will B1 Birthday B2 Martha My Dear B3 Mother Nature's Son B4 Honey Pie B5 Can You Take Me Back (hidden track) B6 Helter Skelter B7 Hey Jude On the cd you could have the demo of Step Inside Love as a bonus track. I really appreciate your channel, keep up the good work! Cheers

[@TheArtisticExperience]

Good way of going about it. This happens to be my favourite Beatles album, so I love it as a double in all its messiness, but it's certainly an entertaining and interesting game to try and cut it down.

[@wienerschnitzel1739]

I am unironically so happy that The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill was not last in popularity I love that song Also good to see the people's champion Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da come back in the Spotify list

[@andyboerger]

It is a testament to the greatness of the White Album and our love for it that we can't resist watching a video like this even though we know that the album is fine just as it is.

[@toquecentralmusic9212]

I prefer the spreadsheet version over the Spotify version, but as you stated, older folks (like me) are most responsible for the spreadsheet version. A while back I attempted to make a single disc "rock" version of the album. Therefore, I left off some very good more solo-ish tracks that would perhaps have fit better on post Beatles albums. I also tried (in most cases) to choose tracks with as many Beatles as possible, making the album more consistent with other Beatles albums. Here you go: Back in the USSR Dear Prudence Glass Onion While My Guitar Gently Weeps Happiness is a Warm Gun I'm So Tired Blackbird Birthday Yer Blues Savoy Truffle Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey Sexy Sadie Helter Skelter Revolution 1 Long, Long, Long

[@kalebaldwin5398]

I love the White Album as is… even “Revolution 9”. Although “Not Guilty” would’ve been a fine addition. Fun game, though. It’s just like All Things Must Pass… it’s a lot of album, and that’s part of the magic.

[@kimclark5736]

Thank you, Andrew, for another fine video. I've had lots of fun putting together different single-LP versions of the White Album. One of mine is based on the idea that the suits at Capitol reared their heads again and issued their own version for North America. Employing their usual logic, here's what I came up with and it's actually quite enjoyable: Side One: Lady Madonna Julia While My Guitar Gently Weeps Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me and My Monkey I Will Glass Onion Hey Jude Side Two: Back in the USSR Dear Prudence Martha My Dear Hey Bulldog Blackbird Revolution (single version) Goodnight

[@JamesGowan]

The idea that always resonated with me was two SEPARATE albums… as Ringo put it “the White Album” and “the Whiter Album”. When creating my “albums”, I imagined them actually sold separately so I wanted them to be two Equally good. I wanted each member to get the same exposure so I had to divide them up accordingly. I worked on arranging the songs to flow well. If it wasn’t broke, I didn’t fix it… like opening The White Album the same and flowing Dear Prudence right after Back In The USSR. Lastly, it was important for each side of both albums to open strong and finish well, with Side 2 ending the album as a whole… two albums and two endings. Here’s my take: WHITE ALBUM Side 1 Back In The USSR • Dear Prudence • Happiness Is A Warm Gun • Piggies • Wild Honey Pie • I’m So Tired • Mother Nature’s Son • Yer Blues Side 2 Birthday • Don’t Pass Me By • Martha My Dear • Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except For Me & My Monkey • Rocky Raccoon • Sexy Sadie • Revolution 9 • Long, Long, Long WHITER ALBUM Side 1 Glass Onion • Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da • The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill • Why Don’t We Do It In The Road • Savoy Truffle • Cry Baby Cry • Blackbird Side 2 Helter Skelter • While My Guitar Gently Weeps • I Will • Julia • Honey Pie • Revolution 1 • Good Night

[@Joanna-il2ur]

The white album was for a while sold as two records. Double albums were too expensive for many, so some early ones, such as Blonde on Blonde and Tommy were sold as two as well. The Beatles was the same. But they were just each disc sold separately.

[@geraldbrennan7425]

@@Joanna-il2ur Really? Where was this? I was 17 when the White Album came out and I never saw it sold as separate discs.

[@Joanna-il2ur]

@@geraldbrennan7425 Yep, but maybe you came from a wealthy area. The ones I remember were Canadian mono editions, sold cheap in Britain.

[@geraldbrennan7425]

@@Joanna-il2ur Ha ha. I grew up INSIDE the city of Detroit!

[@Joanna-il2ur]

@@geraldbrennan7425 never mind. We all have our cross to bear.

[@charliestoops8815]

As someone who swears by the double white album, I was waiting for that Paul clip the whole video, and was not disappointed. Though admittedly I have tried my hand at making a single before, and I generally agree with the first list, albeit with some exceptions (especially since it leaves out the sublime Long, Long, Long, one of the most underrated Beatles songs). I think the sequence of Cry Baby Cry > Helter Skelter > Long, Long, Long would work perfectly to close the album. Great video as always!

[@MalMonaguillo]

I don't belive there's a ponit on doing this album like this. The White Album is my fab beatle's album,and I think you can't change anything about it and be good... Just a perfect album...

[@MalMonaguillo]

@@chaffsalvo totally agree!!!!

[@MDE128]

I like the White Album the way it is. It’s even better when the Inner Light, Lady Madonna, Revolution, and Hey Jude are included.

[@alancruzdominguez5074]

Hey Bulldog sounds good too in the White Album

[@trublu71]

I always enjoy your videos Andrew. For me the White Album is the best way it is. I agree with Paul. It is one of my favorite albums. So many different styles and genres represented.

[@Stickermania2853]

THE BEATLES is one of the first perfect double albums ever recorded. CAN’T CHANGE ANYTHING! Frank

[@eadweard.]

Some of it is rubbish though.

[@Stickermania2853]

That is what makes it PERFECT. Mr Stickermania

[@eadweard.]

@@Stickermania2853 You can't make something perfect by adding rubbish to it. Makes no sense.

[@Stickermania2853]

@@eadweard. That is your opinion not mine. Maybe you should set a day to listen to the complete album with no distractions all in one setting. Frank

[@Stickermania2853]

@@eadweard. Check out my ‘MR STICKERMANIA’ KZbin Beatles channel where I showcase a 1st day UK stereo vinyl issue of ‘THE BEATLES’ with all -1 matrices in near mint condition from December of 1968!

[@daydreamproductions2617]

When I hear people talk about making the WH a single disc or what would you take off it, etc I always come back to Pauls AMAZING quote “Its great, it sold, its the bloody Beatles White Album! Shut up!”

[@dimebagdave77]

Agreed.we're just having fun here✌ although they could totally sack O Bla Di O Bla Dah and I'd be very happy

[@daydreamproductions2617]

Dont get me wrong, I love this stuff as much as the next Beatlemaniac. I was just making a joke.y favorite Beatle LP to redo has always been Yellow Submarine. The rest are perfect. ;)

[@thomasboggs6691]

If there has to be a single-disc White Album, I honestly think that the track listing you show at about 1:04 is the ideal one. It contains the perfect balance of John, Paul and George songs, plus the absolutely necessary Ringo song. Also, the progression of hard rockers versus beautiful ballads is excellent, while closing off the album with my favorite song on it. Thanks for another fun video and keep up the good work!

[@fijistarproductions990]

I love the first side, so I kept it the same. Here’s my listing: - Back in the USSR - Dear Prudence - Glass Onion - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da - Wild Honey Pie - The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill - While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Happiness is a Warm Gun - Martha My Dear - I’m So Tired - Blackbird - Mother Natures Son - Helter Skelter - Long, Long, Long - Everybody’s Got Something to hide Except for me and my Monkey - Good Night

[@galreuven-mu8di]

“The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill” is actually one of my favorites songs in the album and it hasn’t even been mentioned in the list of all the songs of the album rated by streams😭😭 I think that it’s a great song to come before the one and only - “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and that there is a very good transition between them!

[@alancruzdominguez5074]

It's a sing a long song similar to All Together Now with dark lyrics but with a childish feel

[@KBTime]

I love the cinematic quality of the original, and decided to expand mine to a "triple LP"! Added in Not Guilty, some Esher demos (Junk, Sour Milk Sea synched with the Lomax backing track), What's the New Mary Jane, A Beginning (before Don't Pass Me By), the Step Inside Love/Los Paranoias jam (from Anthology 3), Lady Madonna, The Inner Light, Across the Universe (with the sound effects intro from Let It Be), and even the songs from Yellow Submarine (from Mono Masters). For side 6, I started with the short montage of studio chatter that was used in the Anthology TV broadcast, followed by Honey Pie, then Savoy Truffle, Cry Baby Cry, and then the long Revolution 1 (from the 50th box) which slowly descends into Revolution 9, followed by Good Night. I'm sure once I fully digest the 50th box, I'll find even more to include. I did try to follow the "rules" of the original, but it was tough... George gets one song per side. John and Paul get no more than two songs in a row. Each side starts strong and ends quietly. Animal songs on side 3. MONO!

[@robranney-blake8731]

“…especially in mono.” “Surprisingly at number nine, well surprisingly to me anyway,…” That’s why I love your work.

[@varsityathlete9927]

The rambling nature of The White Album, and its varied songs is what makes it a special listening experience. Compare it to Sgt Pepper which is tight and organized, The White Album is completely free of that. I really like that it ends with Rev9 and all it's weirdness then the day ends with Ringo singing you to sleep. One disc would have taken that experience away.

[@themoviedealers]

Yeah it's like going to an acid party then being lulled to sleep😊

[@alancruzdominguez5074]

Even Abbey Road is more tight and organized like Sgt. Pepper but The White Album is more varied and free

[@varsityathlete9927]

@@alancruzdominguez5074 they are all great in different ways.

[@Doc_Holaday]

No love for Savoy Truffle?! That's one of my all time favorites! (I might be biased as a saxophone player though...)

[@Man_of_Oil]

Really interesting to see all the different perspectives covered in this video! I'm somewhere inbetween the two demographics honestly. here's what I came up with when i did this a while back: Side 1: Back in the USSR Dear Prudence While My Guitar Gently Weeps Happiness is a Warm Gun Martha My Dear Don't Pass Me By I Will Julia Side 2: Blackbird Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da I'm So Tired Helter Skelter Glass Onion Long Long Long Revolution 1 I think the overall flow is really good (although im having second thoughts about the sequencing of Side 2 tracks 2&3) and it (mostly) follows the typical conventions that beatles albums adhered to. I think the song selection is about as good as you can get but the only way id be okay with this is if the other tracks were on a second album called the whiter album or something lol.

[@jrpipik]

The difference between the two sets of data is not primarily age. The first set are self-proclaimed Beatles experts who not only come up with an "I know best" list, they publicize it. (I count myself among them.) It's a critic's choice list. The second set is comprised of folks who want to hear a song. Not surprisingly, the first set leans toward Lennon's apparently more intellectual and introspective approach, while the second leans towards McCartney's catchy melodies and apparently more sentimental lyrics, not necessarily better, simply more popular. And I'm not sure that age is that significant a factor, since older folks are all about Spotify etc.

[@sr.gateau]

That was fun! I always have and always will listen to a Beatles album continuously from beginning to end. One time, as I listened to the White Album, Bungalow Bill had just ended and Happiness is a Warm Gun began! What? Hold on! For some reason While My Guitar Gently Weeps was gone. Had to fix that immediately not just because it is one of the album's best tracks, rather because each and every track has its right place on what is my number one desert island record ... on white vinyl of course. 🙂

[@matthewhood7844]

My mate and I talked about this idea last year. We each worked on what we thought should be excised and both eliminated songs we liked to keep songs that "should" be on the album. I'm glad we all have The Beatles as a double album.

[@Keither754]

“Perfect” is a strong word 👀🤔 definitely an interesting video tho! And I think either of the new albums would be a great listen. I prefer the Spotify list as Ob-La-Di is one of my favorite Beatles songs. Period.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

I love the quote from Sir Paul. Perfect.

[@jumpingthestylus263]

Rocky Raccoon is one of my all time favourite songs! Mainly for very personal reasons. Would genuinely be one of my desert island discs.

[@Zholobov1]

The beauty of the original 2LP White Album is in its dynamics and in the sense of the inevitably upcoming chaos. We first meet the signs of it in the dark coda of "Glass Onion" and then after that the chaotic elements grow bigger and bigger, becoming more scary until "Revolutuon 9" steps in and shows us that it’s not The Beatles who are hosting the show amidst the craziness - the host here is chaos itself, and The Beatles are its guests. The strange epilogue, sweet "Goodnight" sung by Ringo and the unrealistic heaven's choir, just underlines the idea: you may go to sleep, but the chaos won't disappear anymore.

[@fluff9086]

I remember buying the White Album on the day of release and running back up the road to work as I was a bit late. I tripped up and fell down face first, and my shiny new album came out of its brown paper bag and slid up the pavement! Right from the first time I heard it on Kenny Everett’s show, my favourite track was Birthday, and still is. Savoy Truffle followed close behind. I agree with your closing comments when you say keep it as a double album, but to my mind it was always 7/8ths of an album. The last two tracks (11 minutes) could have been replaced by three more which they already had in their repertoire but as yet had not released. E.g. 'Sour Milk Sea' - George Harrison, 'Child of Nature' - John Lennon and although it tends to get bad press, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer would have fitted in with the eclectic mix of the album. I have always felt that Revolution 1, Honey Pie, Savoy Truffle and Cry Baby Cry suffered by being on side 4 and this seems to be reflected in your favourites list. So. that’s all from me ….

[@Parlogram]

Great story! Thanks for posting.

[@edwardmeradith2419]

It’s perfect as it is. Perfect in its imperfection- I’d never cut it back

[@yoidontknow]

My thing is that the way Wild Honey Pie and Bungalow Bill lead into Guitar Gently Weeps make that song sound even more beautiful to me, and those three songs together are probably my favorite chunk of the whole album, so I would never leave those off of my version for that reason alone.

[@alancruzdominguez5074]

Wild Honey Pie, Bungalow Bill and While My Guitar Gently Weeps is a great medley

[@nicholaslongford-solopage4476]

I love Monday mornings waking up to a new Parlogram video

[@gregwallace552]

It's interesting to speculate and if I had to go with one I would choose the first one over the Spotify list. But ultimately I agree with Paul. The White Album is great as it is. I can listen to the whole thing, even Wild Honey Pie and Revolution 9.

[@grahampaulkendrick7845]

this was a very interesting idea, Andrew. however, almost all of the major sixties bands produced a studio double album, so it'd have been a bit strange if the Beatles had never done so. i was relieved that ''I Will' made the cut, as it's such a beautiful song.

[@leica_sl2]

Beatles - birthday , In the early days of my guitar learning , I got the sheet music to this album and learnt to play the bass/guitar riff. The double White , ABBEY RD and Hey Jude are really the albums that I that I really like.Let it be , gets a honourable mention only because it has a good guitar riff.

[@aboutsoundandvision]

I'm excited for the Kinks video, perfect timing too as I just picked up a copy of the beautifully pressed Kinks Mono Collection I have wanted for years!

[@steveoshow4832]

I always thought it should haven been a single White Album, thought so even back in 69 when I was sixteen even by then my circle had listened to it hundreds of times! Imo Lady Madonna/ Hey Jude/ Revolution (rock double A side version) should have been in the album, but then that was the beauty of The Beatles, they never conformed, always did it their way and only they could have the brazen self confidence to release Hey Jude without also being on an album, but then they did exactly the same in 67 with Sgt Pepper with not one track released as a single…quite incredible when you think of it. Anyway here’s my single White Album. Once again great content as always😎👌 Back In The USSR Birthday Revolution Glass Onion Ob la de Ob la da Dear Prudence Blackbird Lady Madonna While My Guitar Gently Weeps Martha My Dear Mother Natures Son Sexy Sadie I Will Hey Jude

[@karstenpost1477]

I find it impossible to cut only one song out of the White Album. Even to see that familiar gatefold cover separated in two segments hurts the eye. Nice mind games to choose some songs to cut them out for a moment, but really not to do in reality. Love this work of art in a whole as it is since it’s first day of release🎸

[@robertfmorton]

Trying to make this album into a single albumis an impossible task. Such a move would upset so many fans for so many reasons. There has always been a debate as to the relative merits of each of the songs and we all have our favourites. But in reality, in my opinion, there are only about three superfluous tracks, which are, "Wild Honey Pie", "Why Don't We Do it In The Road" and (no surprise) "Revolution #9". Having said that, I'm not sure that I'd be happy with their exclusion! But there you have it...that's what makes the Beatles a force to be reckoned with all these years later!!

[@silverclive]

Would have been fascinating to know which tracks would have made it onto the single album version George Martin always advocated.

[@eduardocervantesaca]

Too bad we cannot corner george Martin into telling us which songs he woulve picked, or is there such a thing as a Geore martins pick for this album?

[@7snap]

Thank you for putting so much into these Beatles breakdowns, great insight and quality production. This is just my personal opinion, but I would have the White Album slightly longer: Take Me Back would be the unedited longer version, Paul would sing the first verse of I'm So Tired, John would sing Goodnight, and Revolution 9 would have a backwards playback option.

[@kohlgilbert]

Thought many times about getting this as a lathe cut vinyl... Side One: Total Time: 21:07 Back in the U.S.S.R. - 2:43 Dear Prudence - 3:56 Happiness is a Warm Gun - 2:43 Martha My Dear - 2:28 I'm so Tired - 2:03 Blackbird - 2:18 Piggies - 2:04 Wild Honey Pie - 0:52 Side Two: Total Time: 21:33 Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey - 2:24 Yer Blues - 4:01 Mother Nature's Son - 2:48 Helter Skelter - 4:29 Long, Long, Long - 3:03 Cry Baby Cry - 3:02 I Will - 1:46

[@gregorymchutchison1878]

A few years back I made up a white album on Spotify with Lennon only tracks including Number 9. Always been my favourite Beatles album. Also loved While my guitar gently weeps,blackbird and I will,which I've learnt to play on guitar. Good list but always loved Cry Baby Cry also. Anyway as usual enjoyed the video.✌️❤️

[@christopherchadwick480]

Good video thank you. I never really liked the whole white album until i heard it in mono. Disc 1 sides 1 and 2 worked well enough for me. A big difference between the two lists is that the first is created by people who've listened to the whole thing and are thinking of an album, the second by those picking out single tracks and is therefore more like a hits compilation than an album.

[@MrKaywyn]

Truly wonderful and I'm really looking forward to the video on The Kinks.

[@louiebee6745]

Ok, challenge accepted! This was tougher than expected since the White Album is my 2nd fave behind Abbey Road. So a few caveats because well after all it's my list! 1. 16 tracks, 8 per side, 24 minutes each. 2. Exit Martha, adding Birthday and ObLaDi. 3. As with the original no more than 2 songs in a row sung by the same lead singer. Ergo... Side 1 - 1. USSR 2. Prudence 3. Onion 4. Gently Weeps 5. ObLaDi 6. So Tired 7. Blackbird 8. Warm Gun Side 2 - 1. Birthday 2. Yer Blues 3. Nature's Son 4. Monkey 5. Sadie 6. Helter Skelter 7. I Will 8. Julia ...and there you have it! Pretty balanced with 8 John's 7 Paul's and 1 George. (Sorry Ringo!)

[@christianattfield133]

Great video, good that you avoided any judgement of individual tracks. I was convinced Long Long Long would have been high on the internet lists, but less so the Spotify one, it's feels like a fan favourite to me. I've been playing the single disc game for 40 years, and the double always wins out. Yes it's all over the shop (and regrettably contains Ob-La-Di) but the sequencing of the four sides lifts it way above its component parts. But that said, here's my take, compiled in competition with a mate with the rule that it had to include a Ringo song as the band would most likely have done had they released a single album. I wanted to capture the eclecticism of the album but boil it down. Hardest part for me was leaving off Revolution 9, one of my favourite tracks on the record. Side 1 (21.33) 1) Back In The USSR 2) Dear Prudence 3) I'm So Tired 4) Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey 5) Why Don't We Do It In The Road 6) Yer Blues 7) While My Guitar Gently Weeps Side 2 (22.55) 1) Blackbird 2) Long, Long, Long 3) Sexy Sadie 4) Don't Pass Me By 5) Glass Onion 6) Wild Honey Pie 7) Helter Skelter 8) Happiness Is A Warm Gun

[@DavidImiri]

I have to agree with Paul, and your summation. Going through the tracks this way shows that, even though there's a few that most folks could do without (and we won't agree on those), there's just too many that it just wouldn't be the White Album without. It's a fools errand, there's just no way to do it. But you got me to watch the video anyway...

[@ronmartin4212]

I went the other direction for the version in the Capiphone set,as Ringo suggested he wanted,3 discs! I included Hey Jude,Revolution(without Nicky's piano on the mono mix)and a Hey Jude reprise.Spread out to 3 discs,2 discs make up the White Album,with mostly the heavier tracks.The third disc is the Black Album,with the Hey Jude reprise,and the bulk of side 4,along with Long Long Long.

[@dublinbluetune]

Ringo always got a song to sing on an album. Therefore you would have to include Good Night. It would make for a good last track on the second side.

[@alfietomkins7829]

I love these kind of videos, I have over the years compiled my own White album list and always end up with a different result. I love the album anyway, even the weaker tracks have charm. I do wish Not Guilty had made it onto the album though. Looking forward to your Kinks episode Andrew, another band i love dearly, thanks

[@RobScuremusic]

Like so many others, I took at stab at this years ago. Here's the 43 minutes single album that I created. 14 tracks, like so many other Beatles albums. Five each for John and Paul, three for George and one for Ringo. Everyone is represented and I believe that this makes for a fun listen. Side one: 1. Back In The USSR 2. Dear Prudence 3. Savoy Truffle 4. Cry Baby Cry 5. Mother Nature's Son 6. Revolution 1 7. Piggies Side Two: 1. Birthday 2. The Continuing Story Of Bunhalow Bill 3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps 4. Blackbird 5. Happiness Is A Warm Gun 6. Don't Pass Me By (I just had to include Ringo) 7. I Will

[@luxnerSD]

I love Bungalow Bill! This video proves that while there's some filler on the white album, there's far too much great stuff for a satisfying single disc!

[@Josetwobows]

When I was in High School, I turned this album upside down. I managed to make three albums off of it: White Noise (Rockers), Grey Album (The weird stuff), and Black Album (Ballads and sad songs) Was it perfect? Nope! But it was a lot of fun. Great video, as always.

[@georgemeacham8591]

excellent stuff Andrew, i haven't heckled and cheered a video so much for ages 😀

[@amb2745]

Producer George Martin was the one that got Beatles fans thinking about what a single White Album would look like. George had said in interviews how he wished he had the upper hand, and had the Beatles whittle down (or "throwing out the chaff" as George called it) the album into 14 or 15 really good songs. It's difficult to create a single White Album, as the White Album itself is a sprawling canvas of chaos on two records. All the different directions going on in the White Album kept listeners on their toes. I liked George Martin's approach to the beginning and ending of an album: Start off with what George would call a "potboiler" (Back In The U.S.S.R), and end it with something like Helter Skelter with "I've got blisters on my fingers" and the abrupt end to the album. That would be the perfect cut off .

[@ThePlaidman-]

I don't know what I would do for my album but I know for sure that Birthday would be on it as it's one of my favorite songs on the album. I listen to that song every year... well, on my Birthday.

[@BlindGordie]

Interesting video and the list was certainly surprising, as to how a single White Album could have sounded. However, I believe that both Paul and Ringo are right in that the album is great either the way it is, or as The White and Whiter Albums. I have always said that each disk has their own musical personalities and it's nearly impossible to create a single album, from all 30 tracks, with sides 1 and 2 sounding more in the present and sides 3 and 4 having more of a futuristic bent, with heavier songs on it, with both disks bouncing from genre to genre, while having a loose sound of their own. It's all in the track listing and looking at how music has progressed from 1968 to today. No matter what I and others think, I'm glad you did this video, to get us talking about this album and our favourite, to least favourite tracks, even if that wasn't really the original intent. I'm looking forward to next week's video on The Kinks.

[@davidtoups4684]

Great video Andrew! I've thought about doing this for a while. I decided to do mine as a CD so there would be room for a few more tracks. I kept your running order, but I added "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" after "Glass Onion" and also added "Revolution 1" before "Yer Blues" as you suggested. I also cheated and added "Hey Jude" as a bonus track at the end. This gave me a running time of 59:27 so just under 1 hour. I could fit more on a CD, but I thought that was enough. All in all it was a fun exercise, but in the real world, the album should probably be left alone.

[@benjimartinnc]

I have never owned a copy of the White Album, but I have some of the tracks on it like I Will, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and Yer Blues. Those are great records. The Beatles were always ahead of their time, and I have always loved Paul's take on the criticism about the White Album being a double album. I also remember Ringo saying that it should have been put out as "two separate albums, the White and the Whiter Album." However, if I were to assemble an ideal single White Album, it would have been about 8 to 12 tracks, which would have been way too short. My track listing would have probably been: Side 1: 1. While My Guitar Gently Weeps 2. Birthday 3. Don't Pass Me By 4. Blackbird 5. Yer Blues 6. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Side 2: 1. Happiness Is A Warm Gun 2. I Will 3. Back In The USSR 4. Piggies 5. Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey 6. Goodnight

[@juancarlosnunezf96]

After seeing the lists I have to agree 1000% with Paul. The White Album is great as it is, you would have to leave out memorable songs to make it a one record album.

[@ianpurnell4752]

Why would anyone want to turn The White Album into a single LP album? It's brilliant because it's so eclectic, I wouldn't change a thing, even Revolution number 9.

[@garysannerude8176]

Long Long Long and savoy truffle are two underrated songs which I like on this album

[@Siletzia]

I made the same comment before reading yours. I totally agree with you!

[@moxievision]

Very excited for next week's Kinks video, I've got a few Kinks grails winging their way to me in the post as I type this!

[@Louisejames23]

I loved don’t pass me by, but possibly because I heard the Georgia Satellites version before the Beatles, although I still think it deserves a top 15 spot 😊❤

[@Desertson67]

This is a very enjoyable video. Great research, and I can see multiple versions of this list working for me. There are only a few tracks on the White album I don't care for, the rest are all great.

[@jpreza]

Love Paul's comment at the end! The White Album is so sacred that there's no way to part or dice it in any way! Even Rev9 which is my least favorite track, gets a listen every now and then. Because the only way to play the White Album is from beginning to end and flipping LPs in the middle!

[@Dontblamethemonkey]

I started with cassette tapes, then got cds and then we got the internet and someone put it all on to KZbin ☺️ 90s generation had it all.

[@Havelbaude]

Maybe I'm too weird. I am longing for "Long long long" on any tracklist. I love this one.