I personally think the Beatles should have brought out 2 single Lps that when purchased the fans would have gotten the #9 song on a 45 single? There are so many songs on this double Lp that some often get overlooked! Two single Lps would have broken up the huge amount of songs and allowed more time to reflect upon them?

I like how it is, I also like how many underrated songs are on the album. It makes it a nice surprise to listen to.

Yeah Im quite happy with the 2 disks. It is my favourite album from them and I also agree with what Matt said above.

I think most double albums suffer from a lack of brevity. But The White albums' sprawl is its charm. I never listen to all four sides in one hit, but choose the one that suits my mood. Unfortunately side 4 rarely gets a listen because of Rev 9, which is a shame, cos I love the slow Revolution.

It was made for the intellectuals!

Yeah, it was to long. It would be perfect without Revolution #9.

So prehaps a "45" of Rev#9 would have been a good idea then. Yes there's a certain charm in the collection of songs on this double album, but as stated it never really gets played all the way through. I think some of the quality songs get lost due to it's length.

I don't think the White Album is too long at all, it's a helluva rock & roll trip from beginning to end & it would have been great as a triple album.

Quoted from Kevin

Unfortunately side 4 rarely gets a listen because of Rev 9, which is a shame, cos I love the slow Revolution.

Side 4 on vinyl would quickly become a mess from playing Revolution #9 backwards and forwards at different speeds.

Quoted from Hello Goodbye

Side 4 on vinyl would quickly become a mess from playing Revolution #9 backwards and forwards at different speeds.

When I was young I did such things. Now - who cares.

I do not think there is a Beatles album that is too long, the longer the better I say (does that sound wrong or is that my dirty mind?)  

Two seperate albums without larking around (Rocky Raccoon, Birthday, etc.) would have been better.

Quoted from Kevin

When I was young I did such things. Now - who cares.

Same here, now, but then we were "looking for clues".  It's a shame what happened to that album.  I bought it the first day it was released.  It had a serial # stamped on the cover.

Quoted from Hello Goodbye

Same here, now, but then we were "looking for clues".  It's a shame what happened to that album.  I bought it the first day it was released.  It had a serial # stamped on the cover.

I cringe when I think of how I desecrated albums. I had a zipper Sticky fingers and a round Odgens Nut Gone Flake. All ended up on my wall. But a day of release numbered White Album? How do you sleep??  

After all these years I still maintain that with the correct selection of songs this would have made a truly great single album. Don't get me wrong, I love the 'sprawling' nature of the double, the diversity of sounds, and the humour (strange considering the tension in the group at the time).

Revolution 9 belongs on a John & Yoko album. Good Night and Savoy Truffle are tripe and don't deserve the Beatles name.

A single album and maybe an EP would have done the trick.

I really like Savoy Truffle. Based on a box of chocolates. (Can any other Britlanders remember Good News chocolates?). And, a 'hidden' spiritual message? 'We all know ob-la-di-bla-da, but can you show me where you are?'

Quoted from Kevin

I cringe when I think of how I desecrated albums. I had a zipper Sticky fingers and a round Odgens Nut Gone Flake. All ended up on my wall. But a day of release numbered White Album? How do you sleep??  

Kevin, my sister still has her zipper Sticky Fingers, in pretty decent shape too.  As for my serial number White Album, I gave it to a girlfriend at the time.  When I bought another a year later, it had no serial number.  Who knew what it all meant in those days.

I'm content with my vinyl Beatles collection.  All were bought within a week or two of release (eg. "The Beatles Again") and survived the years.

Quoted from GreenApple

I really like Savoy Truffle. Based on a box of chocolates. (Can any other Britlanders remember Good News chocolates?). And, a 'hidden' spiritual message? 'We all know ob-la-di-bla-da, but can you show me where you are?'

I remember them. Claptons favourite chocolates, were't they? Still don't like the song though. Or the chocolates!!!

P.S. Where did you get the word: Britlanders?

Quoted from BlueMeanie

I remember them. Claptons favourite chocolates, were't they? Still don't like the song though. Or the chocolates!!!

P.S. Where did you get the word: Britlanders?

Yes, A Hard Day's Write says that Clapton loved chocolate and George told him that one more soft-centred chocolate would mean he would have to have his teeth pulled out. I think it was Raxo who invented 'Britlander'. I took to it because I'm a 'British first' Welshman.   And it just sounds good anyway.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

I remember them. Claptons favourite chocolates, were't they? Still don't like the song though. Or the chocolates!!!

P.S. Where did you get the word: Britlanders?

Quoted from GreenApple

Yes, A Hard Day's Write says that Clapton loved chocolate and George told him that one more soft-centred chocolate would mean he would have to have his teeth pulled out. I think it was Raxo who invented 'Britlander'. I took to it because I'm a 'British first' Welshman.   And it just sounds good anyway.

Well, this subject was discussed here   ...
http://www.dmbeatles.com/forums/b-books/m-1133866563/s-all/  (reply 12)

Quoted from GreenApple

Yes, A Hard Day's Write says that Clapton loved chocolate and George told him that one more soft-centred chocolate would mean he would have to have his teeth pulled out. I think it was Raxo who invented 'Britlander'. I took to it because I'm a 'British first' Welshman.   And it just sounds good anyway.

Never heard it before. Sounds good though, yes.

It all comes back to me as I read. Thanks to PC31.  

I see poor PC had a bit of a crises back then. I do hope he managed to repair himself.

Still, he obviously has his alter ego to fall back on.  

I don't think White Album was too long at all, the only complaint I have is that it's too much of a mish-mash. There are no flow in the tracks except side 1 from Back In The U.S.S.R. to Happiness Is A Warm Gun.

Quoted from Tatterdemalion

, the only complaint I have is that it's too much of a mish-mash. There are no flow in the tracks except side 1 from Back In The U.S.S.R. to Happiness Is A Warm Gun.

You made me think about that. Revolver certainly doesn't flow and Pepper can be a bit bumpy at times (the switch from Indian raga to music hall can be a bit harsh.) And they're supposed to be the best.
I guess everything up to Rubber Soul and a good hunk of Abbey Road flows. MMT (the EP) too.

Quoted from Kevin

You made me think about that. Revolver certainly doesn't flow and Pepper can be a bit bumpy at times (the switch from Indian raga to music hall can be a bit harsh.) And they're supposed to be the best.
I guess everything up to Rubber Soul and a good hunk of Abbey Road flows. MMT (the EP) too.

WYWY was out of place on Sgt. Pepper. OANS would have fitted better. But apparently it was left out because George was complaining about his lower status in the band in that song. Published by Northern Songs in which he got a much smaller royalty dividend than John and Paul. Not sure if GM,GM was right on that either. John admitted it was a minor composition. Nice and heavy though.

Quoted from GreenApple

WYWY was out of place on Sgt. Pepper. OANS would have fitted better. ... Nice and heavy though.

For me, if there is a song out of place its WI64. I think WYWY is a great opener for side 2 and fits the album nicely. My appreciation of it grows daily. I don't think Pepper would be any worse off if WI64 wasn't there, but it would if it lost WYWY. Never really like OANS. Nor Blue Jay Way. A bit of a lean time for George IMO

Just for the record, regarding your quote of my words, I said GM, GM was nice and heavy.   WYWY is a fine song. And innovative. Excellent combination of western and Indian classical instruments. Sir George found it difficult combining the two. But he did a great job.

Quoted from GreenApple

Just for the record, regarding your quote of my words, I said Sir George did a great job.

Sorry - didn't mean to change the meanning. Just making it smaller.

Quoted from Kevin

Sorry - didn't mean to change the meanning. Just making it smaller.

As I thought. But, so any other readers would get it right.  

Quoted from GreenApple

Just for the record, regarding your quote of my words, I said Sir George did a great job.

See how daft I can be? I just got your joke!  

No way, white album is like a long, mysterious journey, that i love everytime, and never tire off.
it's the bloody beatles white album for christ sake! (As paul may say)

I think it should have been a triple disc

Quoted from ShesCominDownFastYesSheIs

I think it should have been a triple disc

To include what?

Child Of Nature
Not Guilty
Soar Milk Sea
Circles
Mean Mr Mustard
Polithene Pam
Across The Universe
What's The New Mary Jane
for example ... and maybe others too ...

Quoted from raxo

Child Of Nature
Not Guilty
Soar Milk Sea
Circles
Mean Mr Mustard
Polithene Pam
Across The Universe
What's The New Mary Jane
for example ... and maybe others too ...

Here we go again. Obviously The Beatles themselves thought these were all not good enough to include on the album. Some were renewed and used for Abbey Road. But you can't be serious to state that Mary Jane could be on an album. George's songs were just not good enough. They tried to record Not Guilty in more than a hundred takes and it remains mediocre.

Quoted from raxo

Child Of Nature
Not Guilty
Soar Milk Sea
Circles
Mean Mr Mustard
Polithene Pam
Across The Universe
What's The New Mary Jane
for example ... and maybe others too ...

Most of these apart from Across The Universe were unfinished. In fact George didn't even re-record Not Guilty and Circles for some years.

Quoted from Bobber

Here we go again. Obviously The Beatles themselves thought these were all not good enough to include on the album. Some were renewed and used for Abbey Road. But you can't be serious to state that Mary Jane could be on an album. George's songs were just not good enough. They tried to record Not Guilty in more than a hundred takes and it remains mediocre.

Here we go again (only if you want).
ShesCominDownFastYesSheIs talked about a triple disc and BlueMeanie asked what to be included? Right?

Now, the guys recorded what they thought it was the best stuff (tho John loved Revolution 9 and Paul had to look away) ... but if they would have wanted a triple disc they had enough songs (that's the thing and here the discussion could easily end) ...

... not good enough to include on the album? or they hadn't space enough for everything?

... why not Mary Jane if the album would have been a triple one if Revolution 9 is on the double? ... if people think a single album would have been better a triple album would have been worse, nah?

About mediocre songs: we've got some (about a quarter of it) in the released album so I can't see the point ... and they recorded about a hundred times Sexy Sadie too and it remains good or bad or whatever ...

Quoted from BlueMeanie

Most of these apart from Across The Universe were unfinished. In fact George didn't even re-record Not Guilty and Circles for some years.

Which ones? ... they changed some lyrics later but they used to do it while hey were recording ... anyway, they were recorded almost with the same form as we know they had by that time ... short songs in some cases? and Wild Honey Pie and others? ...

... George had a lot of songs in the early 70s (he even gave away some) and most of them were better than circles or Not Guilty ... he said that Art Of Dying, for example, was began in 1966 and there were some others already began ...

(we discussed something here):
http://dmbeatles.com/forums/b-albums/m-1130104843/s-all/ (replies 37 and 50)

so there was unfinished stuff, y'know ... anyway, there was enough stuff for a third disc, wasn't it?

Well, you're talking to someone who thinks it should have been a single album anyway

Quoted from BlueMeanie

Well, you're talking to someone who thinks it should have been a single album anyway

Well, I've always said that this album contains some bad, mediocre, good and great songs   ... no much quality balance on it ... some tracks are among the worst they ever produced but it's still one of their best albums ... and they recorded in a way that could have worked for the early 70s ... I mean, they could have still produced albums like this very easily