DM's Beatles forums
Beatles forums => Albums => Topic started by: Ollier on May 31, 2014, 02:23:43 AM
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John:
Dear Prudence
Glass Onion
The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
I'm So Tired
Julia
Yer Blues
Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
Sexy Sadie
Revolution 1
Cry Baby Cry
Revolution 9
What's The New Mary Jane?
Revolution
Paul:
Back In The USSR
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Wild Honey Pie
Martha My Dear
Blackbird
Rocky Racoon
Why Don't We Do It In The Road?
I Will
Birthday
Mother Nature's Son
Helter Skelter
Honey Pie
Can You Take Me Back?
Hey Jude
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John:
Dear Prudence
Glass Onion
The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
I'm So Tired
Julia
Yer Blues
Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
Sexy Sadie
Revolution 1
Cry Baby Cry
Revolution 9
What's The New Mary Jane?
Revolution
Paul:
Back In The USSR
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Wild Honey Pie
Martha My Dear
Blackbird
Rocky Racoon
Why Don't We Do It In The Road?
I Will
Birthday
Mother Nature's Son
Helter Skelter
Honey Pie
Can You Take Me Back?
Hey Jude
I found 4 on each list I'm not crazy about but I think John's gutsy return to his R&R takes my vote.
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Overall I'd probably plump for the John cuts. While Revolution 9 and Mary Jane are never going to make a "best of" pretty much every other song I'm happy to listen to.
There's probably more songs id skip on Paul's list.
Not much in it though. There's excellent stuff on both sides.
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I'd take John's tunes.
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Sorry, neither hangs as well without the contrast the other's songs provide. You need a McCartney song somewhere in the mix to break up the John string of songs and same the other way. Even though they basically were solo-ish songs (many of them) by themselves would never hang win them together as a Beatle album.
I realize that isn't where the question was intended to go but I took it as which would I rather listen to. Both lists get weaker when the others' songs are excluded IMO.
If pressed, I would call it a draw.
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Sorry, neither hangs as well without the contrast the other's songs provide. You need a McCartney song somewhere in the mix to break up the John string of songs and same the other way. Even though they basically were solo-ish songs (many of them) by themselves would never hang win them together as a Beatle album.
I realize that isn't where the question was intended to go but I took it as which would I rather listen to. Both lists get weaker when the others' songs are excluded IMO.
If pressed, I would call it a draw.
Excellent, my thoughts exactly.
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Sorry, neither hangs as well without the contrast the other's songs provide. You need a McCartney song somewhere in the mix to break up the John string of songs and same the other way. Even though they basically were solo-ish songs (many of them) by themselves would never hang win them together as a Beatle album.
I realize that isn't where the question was intended to go but I took it as which would I rather listen to. Both lists get weaker when the others' songs are excluded IMO.
If pressed, I would call it a draw.
Yes, very well put. This is exactly how I feel as well. I tend to favor John's songs, but they appeal to me even more when they are "leavened" with Paul's lighter material.
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a draw for me glassesslip
but then, I love Prudence & Warm Gun so much it may just tip it in Johns favour
;sorry
;yes
???
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Sorry, neither hangs as well without the contrast the other's songs provide. You need a McCartney song somewhere in the mix to break up the John string of songs and same the other way. Even though they basically were solo-ish songs (many of them) by themselves would never hang win them together as a Beatle album.
I realize that isn't where the question was intended to go but I took it as which would I rather listen to. Both lists get weaker when the others' songs are excluded IMO.
If pressed, I would call it a draw.
For sure. One of the big pluses of Beatle albums is the contrast between John and Paul. And the White Album benefits from some good George cuts as well.
So separating them definitely weakens them. I just think pound for pound Johns songs are a bit stronger on this album.
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I agree that each requires the other to provide balance, but overall I've always felt The White Album was dominated by Paul. One or two of John's tracks would certainly be at or near the top of the pile for me, but I just feel that Paul maintains a more consistently high standard overall, and I always get the feeling that an uncharacteristically passive John's heart just isn't in it (apart from "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" - and that has a very McCartneyesque structure to it) until we reach side three.
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I agree that each requires the other to provide balance, but overall I've always felt The White Album was dominated by Paul. One or two of John's tracks would certainly be at or near the top of the pile for me, but I just feel that Paul maintains a more consistently high standard overall, and I always get the feeling that an uncharacteristically passive John's heart just isn't in it (apart from "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" - and that has a very McCartneyesque structure to it) until we reach side three.
Id say it has more a Lennon-esque structure to it, in the way of differing time signatures, for me it reeks of a John Lennon song, a lot of his change time signature here and there, Rain, Walrus, She Said She Said, Good Morning, Mr Kite for example.
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My tally has it 12 to 11 in favor of John.
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I often read that the White Album wasn't a typical Beatles-Album, as John & Paul were composing more individually, than together. So I think that this album is sort of patchwork of their own songs, in a positive way.
These are my favourites:
John:
Dear Prudence
Glass Onion
The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
I'm So Tired
Yer Blues
Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
Sexy Sadie
Revolution 1
Cry Baby Cry
Paul:
Back In The USSR
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Rocky Racoon
Birthday
Helter Skelter
Hey Jude
Snoopy
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The White Album is definitely an example of something being better than the sum of its parts.
Reading the songs divided between John & Paul doesn't stir me, and yet mixed up, and spliced with the 4 George songs, and the record is, in my opinion, virtually faultless.
Indeed, given my love for 'Wonderwall Music' and 'McCartney', I think it would have make an even better triple LP.
On the other hand, the original opinions (and not the revised history) on 'Exile On Main Street' were right.....'Exile', again in my opinion, would have made a much better single LP.
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Hi Nimrod....
Re my comment about "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" being McCartneyesque in structure... it comes over to me as three separate songs expertly blended together, which I've always felt is something of a Macca trademark - the gentle, soothing opening ("She's not a girl who misses much...") followed by the punchy interlude ("Mother Superior jump the gun") before blossoming into the high octane climax ("Bang bang shoot shoot!") - three quite different tracks somehow seamlessly woven together. Although John sometimes shifted gear within a song (from your list I'd go along with "I Am The Walrus" which has a very obvious change in tempo) these three-songs-in-one-medley compositions are to my mind quite rare from Lennon, whereas McCartney used the pattern over and over again ("Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey", "Band On The Run" etc). That said, I'm struggling to think of an example that pre-dates "Warm Gun". Maybe Paul liked that shape and went onto using it so successfully that I as a modern listener now think of the structure as "McCartneyesque"?
I just wish John had shrugged off some of the somnolence prior to his excellent offerings on the third of four vinyl sides. Great tracks but "Dear Prudence", "Julia" and (appropriately enough) "I'm So Tired" seem to find him half asleep, and whilst no one could outdo Lennon when it came to turning a repetitive slogan into an anthemic melody, "The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill" does tend to plod forward into a drone after a while. Your wish that he'd provided a bit more bite and venom into the "Cry Baby Cry" vocal is precisely what I wish he'd done with the over-wispy "Prudence"... could have been a fabulous track if he'd only vocally stepped up a gear before the end.
Paul on the other hand was straight on the money from the get go: "Back In The USSR" is a belter and I find his a much more "in your face" presence than John's throughout most of the album.
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Paul's stuff takes it in the end. Boy that was hard. John's rock n roll songs were quite fine but some of Paul's songs on this record are among my all time favorites...
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Hi Nimrod....
Re my comment about "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" being McCartneyesque in structure... it comes over to me as three separate songs expertly blended together, which I've always felt is something of a Macca trademark - the gentle, soothing opening ("She's not a girl who misses much...") followed by the punchy interlude ("Mother Superior jump the gun") before blossoming into the high octane climax ("Bang bang shoot shoot!") - three quite different tracks somehow seamlessly woven together. Although John sometimes shifted gear within a song (from your list I'd go along with "I Am The Walrus" which has a very obvious change in tempo) these three-songs-in-one-medley compositions are to my mind quite rare from Lennon, whereas McCartney used the pattern over and over again ("Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey", "Band On The Run" etc). That said, I'm struggling to think of an example that pre-dates "Warm Gun". Maybe Paul liked that shape and went onto using it so successfully that I as a modern listener now think of the structure as "McCartneyesque"?
I just wish John had shrugged off some of the somnolence prior to his excellent offerings on the third of four vinyl sides. Great tracks but "Dear Prudence", "Julia" and (appropriately enough) "I'm So Tired" seem to find him half asleep, and whilst no one could outdo Lennon when it came to turning a repetitive slogan into an anthemic melody, "The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill" does tend to plod forward into a drone after a while. Your wish that he'd provided a bit more bite and venom into the "Cry Baby Cry" vocal is precisely what I wish he'd done with the over-wispy "Prudence"... could have been a fabulous track if he'd only vocally stepped up a gear before the end.
Paul on the other hand was straight on the money from the get go: "Back In The USSR" is a belter and I find his a much more "in your face" presence than John's throughout most of the album.
When I heard The White Album for the first time in the fall of 1968, it was pretty obvious to me that Happiness Is A Warm Gun had to do with mainlining heroin. As John had the lead vocal, I figured he wrote the song. In those pre-internet days, news traveled slowly. We found out later that John had a problem with the drug.
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The White Album is definitely an example of something being better than the sum of its parts.
Reading the songs divided between John & Paul doesn't stir me, and yet mixed up, and spliced with the 4 George songs, and the record is, in my opinion, virtually faultless.
I agree with you, oldbrownshoe. George's songs weren't included and they were essential for the full The Beatles album experience.
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I agree with you, oldbrownshoe. George's songs weren't included and they were essential for the full The Beatles album experience.
I understand what your saying Barry, I really do, but half of George's stuff is throw aways for me. I love 'Long Long Long' and like 'Savory Truffle. Hate 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' and 'Piggies'.
He only had 4 tunes on the whole album.
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I understand what your saying Barry, I really do, but half of George's stuff is throw aways for me. I love 'Long Long Long' and like 'Savory Truffle. Hate 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' and 'Piggies'.
He only had 4 tunes on the whole album.
Haha its amazing how were all different
the only one Id keep out of his 4 is WMGGW, a great song, made better by Claptons mesmerising solo ;D
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My White Album
USSR
Prudence
Im So Tired
Helter Skelter
Blackbird
Sexy Sadie
While My Guitar
Birthday
Warm Gun
I Will
Obla Di
Revolution 1
Mother Natures Son
Goodnight
Fantastic single album.
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My White Album
USSR
Prudence
Im So Tired
Helter Skelter
Blackbird
Sexy Sadie
While My Guitar
Birthday
Warm Gun
I Will
Obla Di
Revolution 1
Mother Natures Son
Goodnight
Fantastic single album.
That's a good 'un.
;)
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Just on this, I was scanning one of my reference books and found that these were the songs on The White Album that all four Beatles played on:
Glass onion
Bungalow Bill
While my guitar ...
Happiness is a Warm Gun
I'm so Tired
Rocky raccoon
Birthday
Yer blues
Everybody's got something to hide ...
Sexy Sadie
Helter Skelter
Revolution
Honey pie
Cry baby cry
So there you go. It even equates to the usual 14 songs. The true Beatles White Album. No solo acts. No Paul substituting for Ringo's on drums or George songs where John grumpily absented himself.
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Other than Revolution 9 & Good Night, this is my fav Beatles LP, followed by pretty much everything else they ever did! icon_good
I just cringe when I hear #9 :-X
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I just cringe when I hear #9 :-X
I get frightened. ;D
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I think Paul.
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I think Revolution 9 is a waste of album space they had other songs recorded that could been on there in it place. Good night is a great track I Love the mono track of Helter Skelter it way better than the Stereo mix
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I always skip Revolution 9, too. I'd rather they had What's The New Mary Jane in its place. But no matter. We got both anyway.
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Just on this, I was scanning one of my reference books and found that these were the songs on The White Album that all four Beatles played on:
Glass onion
Bungalow Bill
While my guitar ...
Happiness is a Warm Gun
I'm so Tired
Rocky raccoon
Birthday
Yer blues
Everybody's got something to hide ...
Sexy Sadie
Helter Skelter
Revolution
Honey pie
Cry baby cry
So there you go. It even equates to the usual 14 songs. The true Beatles White Album. No solo acts. No Paul substituting for Ringo's on drums or George songs where John grumpily absented himself.
Wonder if that's Johns lead guitar on Honey Pie... it sounds a bit like him
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Well according to Wikipedia it says George Harrison said John played Guitar on Honey pie It also give gives credit to both John & Paul. so the debate continues!
I skip it revolution 9 too
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_Pie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_Pie)
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I like the demo better than the recorded version...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdlnIYiCr8g# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdlnIYiCr8g#)
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That is a good take they have many that is better then the take they used on the White Album and other albums
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Wonder if that's Johns lead guitar on Honey Pie... it sounds a bit like him
I'm pretty sure it's John. I think he's being quoted as saying it's him and Paul praises John's work on the solo
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John was on fire in 1968. He gets my vote.
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John was on fire in 1968. He gets my vote.
He was on fire in 64 as well
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I Love the mono track of Helter Skelter it way better than the Stereo mix
I'm disappointed the mono does not have Ringo screaming "Ive Got Blisters On My Fingers". >:(
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My White Album
USSR
Prudence
Im So Tired
Helter Skelter
Blackbird
Sexy Sadie
While My Guitar
Birthday
Warm Gun
I Will
Obla Di
Revolution 1
Mother Natures Son
Goodnight
Fantastic single album.
I did pair the LP down to make a single CD and had no problem removing: 1) Revolution 9, 2) Good Night, 3) Honey Pie, 4) Wild Honey Pie, and unfortunately 5) Long, Long, Long.
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I'm disappointed the mono does not have Ringo screaming "Ive Got Blisters On My Fingers". >:(
So listen to the stereo version. ;D
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So listen to the stereo version. ;D
Oh I do. I only play the monos sometimes, I'm a Stereo guy!
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I like "Birthday" and "Martha, my Dear" the most from the White Album. I like the piano parts in "Martha." I've always liked John's "I'm so tired." Whenever I hear it, I will compulsively sing it over and over for at least 2 to 3 days, being completely unable to stop.
I had a girlfriend at the time who hated "Birthday." She thought it was stupid and didn't make any sense. Well, we broke up later and not because of the song. I needed to find a girlfriend who liked all the Beatles songs I liked but I never did! This is why I've been single all my life.
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I had a girlfriend at the time who hated "Birthday." She thought it was stupid and didn't make any sense. Well, we broke up later and not because of the song. I needed to find a girlfriend who liked all the Beatles songs I liked but I never did! This is why I've been single all my life.
In every relationship, you need something of your own. Differences in taste are good.
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I like how you threw in "What's The New Mary Jane?" & "Hey Jude" like they're on the album..... ???
John:
Dear Prudence
Glass Onion
The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
I'm So Tired
Julia
Yer Blues
Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
Sexy Sadie
Revolution 1
Cry Baby Cry
Revolution 9
What's The New Mary Jane?
Revolution
Paul:
Back In The USSR
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Wild Honey Pie
Martha My Dear
Blackbird
Rocky Racoon
Why Don't We Do It In The Road?
I Will
Birthday
Mother Nature's Son
Helter Skelter
Honey Pie
Can You Take Me Back?
Hey Jude