One White Album (Why?)

I typed my original White Album post on Thursday in a bit of a rush. I wanted to get the idea out there and get reactions to it before coming back to my reasoning later.

Mostly people missed the really weird songs from The White Album which is what I was going for actually. For example, I think Dear Prudence is a meandering piece of fluff with 6 words which doesn't even crack the top 300 Beatles songs. The White Album is better by cutting all of the Prudences, Rocky Raccoons and even Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Das.

My intent was to make a good, straight-forward 1968 rock album. This was the most popular band in the world slowly tearing itself apart from the inside. In my mind this is The Beatles deciding to rededicate themselves and go back to what made them great; making better music than anyone else.

Side A - I felt it was necessary to throw in sides for historical accuracy. If The Beatles were sequencing this album in 1968, there would've been breaks to be exploited.

Glass Onion - The actual White Album begins with Back In the USSR or more accurately with the sound of a plane landing in a great big theatrical entrance. I wanted to go against that. It's two beats and begin with the song.

Additionally, Glass Onion references The Beatles' history as a band. My scenario has them rededicating themselves to being The Best Band In The World and acknowledging their past is a part of that. Putting that up front is even bolder.

Yer Blues - I included this one because it's a bluesy rock song. Also, John Lennon went from "Help! I need somebody!" to "Yes, I'm lonely, wanna die." in three years. Following Glass Onion, it's pretty stark how The Beatles feel about themselves.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps - I think this is the best song on The White Album and possibly the best song in their oeuvre. The real White Album didn't have a single but I'd make this the lead single from the album and as such I put it into the third spot on Side A where most lead singles go.

I'm So Tired - This is one of the under-appreciated songs on The White Album. I think of it as an echo of I'm Only Sleeping from Revolver.

Cry Baby Cry - I didn't want to make The Beatles into joyless assholes (despite the evidence) and left this song on to reflect their playful and less-serious side. Also the little "Can you take me back where I be from?" code leads really well into Julia.

Julia - This is the second prettiest song on the album and John's homage to his mother. A perfect song to take the listener between sides.

Side B - After John covers the vocal duties on all but one of the songs on Side A, he only sings lead once on the flip.

Blackbird - Though he will be forever most remembered for Yesterday, Paul really should be remembered for this song. It's buried on The White Album and I rectify that by moving it to the beginning of Side B. Imagine setting the needle in the groove and the first thing that comes thru the speakers is this song. It would really be perfect.

Revolution 1 - Whereas the version on the B Side of Hey Jude is a fuzzed-out rock song, the horns and slower tempo swing here. I also like putting it one song before...

Back In the USSR - The album hits the fast forward and peaks loudly between this song and the next.

Helter Skelter - Ok, so not a great song on its own and the temptation might be to delete this song because of its association with Charles Manson. I leave it because it represents how much of the mythology of The Beatles is stuff that was out of their control.

Savoy Truffle - George gets one song on Side A and one on Side B. I think this is one of his songs that had-he-not-been-in-The-Beatles is an indicator what his music would've sounded like in his own band.

I Will - Again, while The White Album makes a big theatrical production of its departure with Good Night (sorry Ringo but no singing for you here), I aimed to go against that and have the album make a sweet and subtle exit.

One White Album

My friend Jeff asked me how I would pare and re-order The White Album if I wanted to make it into just one album. In fact, here's what he wrote...

"Just thought this would be fun. If you were the Beatles, and you had to whittle The White Album down to one LP because George Martin finds it too bloated, what tracks (maximum of 15) would you keep and what order would you put them in?"

Jeff, I can do it in 12 songs.

Side A

Glass Onion (Lennon/McCartney)
Yer Blues (Lennon/McCartney)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Harrison)
I'm So Tired (Lennon/McCartney)
Cry Baby Cry (Lennon/McCartney)
Julia (Lennon/McCartney)

Side B

Blackbird (Lennon/McCartney)
Revolution 1 (Lennon/McCartney)
Back In the USSR (Lennon/McCartney)
Helter Skelter (Lennon/McCartney)
Savoy Truffle (Harrison)
I Will (Lennon/McCartney)

Set For Random and Enjoy

I recently had to wipe the hard-drive on my laptop because I'd let my virus protection lapse. (In my defense it was a year and half before anything went wrong.) Not only did it provide me an opportunity to upgrade to Windows 7 but also to reload all my music onto my computer. Which is to say I only put stuff back onto it which I really wanted. I feel very satisfied with the results. Here's the list which would be a perfect cross-section of music I like.

Adriano Celentano - Prisencolinsinainciusol
The Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Aziz Ansari - Intimate Moments for A Sensual Evening
Blackroc - s/t
Bob Dylen - Greatest Hits Vol. 1&2
Broken Social Scene - Something For All of Us & Spirit If...
Cee-Lo Green - Noone's Going To Love You
Chiddy Bang - Hey London & The Opposite of Adults
Doomtree - False Hopes
Doctor Dog - Shame, Shame
The Flaming Lips - Borderline
Gorillaz - Some Kind of Nature
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
GZA - Pro Tools
Jonsi - Time to Pretend
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire
Kraftwerk - I, II, Autobahn & Ralf and Florian
La Roux - s/t
Lil Wayne - Carter III
MGMT - Congratulations
Minutemen - Double Nickels on The Dime
Mos Def - The Ecstatic
Pavement - Terror Twilight
Rick Ross - Ashes to Ashes
Sonic Youth - Antenna
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Pig Lib & Real Emotional Trash
Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
The Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food
The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt
Titus Andronicus - The Monitor
The White Stripes - Under Great White Northern Lights

That's a set of music you can put on shuffle and pretty much count that one song will flow from another to an other.