If you could remove all "filler" OR if you could only have your favorite songs from the WA and make it into a fantastically-fantastic single album, how would you do it? (14 songs for the album)

After much debating with myself, this would be mine:

1) Back in the U.S.S.R
2) Dear Prudence
3) Blackbird
4) Martha My Dear
5) I Will
6) While My Guitar Gently Weeps
7) Revolution (single version)
8) Cry Baby Cry
9) Happiness Is A Warm Gun
10) Don't Pass Me By
11) Glass Onion
12) Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
13) Honey Pie
14) Good Night

Wasn't it going to be a single album but they decided to make it a double to help fulfill their contract about how many lps they must produce?

I'd choose:

1.  Dear Prudence
2. Ob la di Ob la da
3.  While My Guitar Gently Weeps
4. Happiness is a Warm Gun
5.  Martha My Dear
6.  I'm So Tired
7.  Blackbird
8.  Rocky Racoon
9.  I Will
10.  Julia
11.  Mother Nature's Son
12.  Helter Skelter
13.  Long Long Long
14.  Cry Baby Cry

1. BackIn The USSR
2. Dear Prudence
3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
4. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
5. Martha My Dear
6. Im So Tired
7. Blackbird
8. Piggies
9. Julia
10. Everybodies Got Something To Hide
11. Helter Skelter
12. Long Long Long
13. Cry Baby Cry
14. Good Night

My versions only got four paul songs. I didnt do that on purpose. I think i prefer the double album though. All those funny little songs give the white album its weird quirky atmosphere.

1. Glass Onion
2. Dear Prudence
3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
4. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
5. Martha My Dear
6. Im So Tired
7. Blackbird
8. Piggies
9. Julia
10. Everybodies Got Something To Hide
11. Helter Skelter
12. Sour Milk Sea
13. Cry Baby Cry
14. Good Night

Quoted from Kiss_My_Bad_Self, posted September 8, 2004, 9:40am at here

I think i prefer the double album though. All those funny little songs give the white album its weird quirky atmosphere.

Absolutely! This album really does have a unique atmosphere to it.

"It was great, it sold, it's the bloody Beatles White Album. Shut up."

Wise words there Paul :)

Hello all, new guy here! I`m a life-long fan of the boys, and had to join when I read this topic - great one!

1. Back In The USSR
2. Dear Prudence
3. Ob La Di, Ob La Da
4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
5. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
6. Martha My Dear
7. I`m So Tired
8. Blackbird
9. I Will
10. Julia
11. Everybody`s Got Something To Hide....
12. Sexie Sadie
13. Helter Skelter
14. Revolution 1

welcome.............

oh thats kind of hard cause I like most of the songs :-/ but i'll choose my fab later on :-)

No, I like it the way it is.  Perfection

Quoted from Herecomesyoursun, posted September 17, 2004, 9:54pm at here

No, I like it the way it is.  Perfection

yeah, same here but I'll do this just for fun

1. Helter Skelter
2. Yer Blues
3. Back in The USSR
4. Happiness. is a Warm Gun
5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
6. Blackbird
7. I'm So Tired
8. Martha My Dear
9. Piggies
10. Dear Prudence
11. Obladi Oblada
12. Glass Onion
13. Sexy Sadie
14. Mother's nature Son

1. Dear prudence
2 obla di obla da
3 while my guitar gently weeps
4 hapiness is a warm gun
5 Marthat my dear
6 blackbird
7 birthday
8 everybodys got someting to hide except for me and my monkey
9  savory truffle
10 helter skelter
11 sexy sadie
12 piggies
13 back in the ussr
14 revolution

There are only about 3 songs on it that I don't like a lot.

I admit i have started to enjoy the white album a lot more recently

Same here.

1) Back in the U.S.S.R.
2) Dear Prudence
3) Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
4) While My Guitar Gently Weeps
5) Happiness is a Warm Gun
6) I'm so Tired
7) Rocky Racoon
8. Julia
9) Yer Blues
10) Mother Nature's Son
11) Sexy Sadie
12) Helter Skelter
13) Savoy Truffle
14) Cry Baby Cry

I think the White Album stands on a pedistal above all of their other albums... It's so different... It runs so well... Sometime, when I'm in another state of mind, my mind is completely open when I listen to the whole thing through... I love every SINGLE song on it, including Revolution 9... I just can't express with my vocabulary the beauty in this album... They're all on top of their games and they just all sound wonderful...

My version of the White Album:

1. Back In The USSR
2. Dear Prudence
3. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
4. Sexy Sadie
5. Rocky Raccoon
6. Yer Blues
7. Long Long Long
8. Helter Skelter
9. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
10. Revolution 1
11. Blackbird
12. Don't Pass Me By
13. Hey Jude (with intro from Anthology disc 3)
14. Good Night

And that is one helluva White Album... Took me one half hour to compile.  8)

It shall be called... The Off-White Album...

01. Dear Prudence
02. The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
03. While My Guitar Gentle Weeps
04. Blackbird
05. Rocky Raccoon
06. Birthday
07. Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey
08. Savoy Truffle
09. Long, Long, Long
10. Cry Baby Cry
11. Mother Nature's Son
12. Sexy Sadie
13. I'm So Tired
14. Glass Onion

I think the White Album is the Beatles true masterpiece creatively, musically & artistically which defines them during their late 60's era. 

Gave it a second listen to, and I'm changing mine around :P

1) Back in the U.S.S.R
2) Dear Prudence
3) Piggies
4) Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
5) Martha My Dear
6) Honey Pie
7) While My Guitar Gently Weeps
8) Happiness Is A Warm Gun
9) Blackbird
10) Helter Skelter
11) I'm So Tired
12) Don't Pass Me By
13) Revolution (single version)
14) I Will

1.Back In The USSR
2.Dear Prudence
3.Birthday
4.Happiness is A Warm Gun
5.While my Guitar gently weeps
6.Helter Skelter
7.Sexy sadie
8.Dont Pass me By
9.RockyRacoon
10.Im so Tired
11.Yer Blues
12.Honey Pie
13.Julia
14.Good Night

But the point, Sadie, is to remove all filler (if you think there is any) or to pick your 14 favorites.  So many people are coming in saying, "It's a Masterpiece on it's own" that it's defeating the purpose of the thread, because no one is questioning how great the album is.

To kinda quote Joe from a long time: This is not a life/death decision.  No one's holding you at gunpoint if you change the album incorrectly -- it's for fun.

OK, trying to construct it like a Beatles album (2 George, 1 Ringo), I would go with this.

1.  Back In The USSR
2.  Dear Prudence
3.  While My Guitar Gently Weeps
4.  Happiness Is A Warm Gun
5.  Blackbird
6.  Julia
7.  I'm So Tired
8.  Sexy Sadie
9.  Helter Skelter
10. Savoy Truffle
11. Birthday
12. Yer Blues
13. I Will
14. Goodnight


It's very hard, though.  I left off some pretty good stuff and the sprawling nature of the album is what makes it so good, IMO.

As the same way as "Revolver" did it

1.Back In The USSR
2.Dear Prudence
3.Mother Natures Son
4.Happiness Is A Warm Gun
5.Sexy Sadie
6.While My Guitar Gently Weeps
7.Helter Skelter
8.Rocky Racoon
9.Blackbird
10.Savoy Truffle
11.Dont Pass Me By
12.Piggies
13.I Will
14.Good Night

I'm one of those "it's great the way it is" contingent too, but I do understand the point of this thread so here are my 14 White Album favorites.

"Back In The USSR"
"Dear Prudence"
"Blackbird"
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
"Revolution"
"Happiness Is A Warm Gun"
"Julia"
"I Will"
"Birthday"
"Yer Blues"
"I'm So Tired"
"Don't Pass Me By"
"Savoy Truffle"
"Good Night"

Hey Polly you are nice sweet Girl





A Osmond Brother??ß

!!!!!!! 

::blushes::

Thanks!

And yes, it's an Osmond...that's when I met Donny, here in Boca Raton. :)

Cut out some of the sillier stuff (Wild Honey Pie) and some of McCartney's poorer songs, and you have (arguably) the best Beatles album ever.

As it stands, it just scrapes into the top 5.

Hmm..for the White album, the die is cast as far as I'm concerned. But here's my list:

Side 1
1 Back In The USSR
2 Dear Prudence
3 Honey Pie
4 Happiness Is A Warm Gun
5 Yer Blues
6 Mother Nature's Son
7 Blackbird

Side 2
1 Helter Skelter
2 Long Long Long
3 Everybody's Got Something To Hide...
4 Martha My Dear
5 Sexy Sadie
6 While My Guitar Gently Weeps
7 Revolution 9

I wouldn't be able to decide on just 14 songs from the White album. I'd be able to choose a few to get rid of right away, like Revolution 9 and Wild Honey Pie, but after that it would get a bit harder.

I've read the George Martin wanted to trim the White Album down to a single disc, but I'm glad they didn't.  It seems we all have very different ideas about which songs to cut and which songs to keep.

Back in the U.S.S.R.
Dear Prudence
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Martha My Dear
I'm So Tired
Rocky Raccoon
Don't Pass Me By
Why Don't We Do It in the Road?
I Will
Birthday
Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
Sexy Sadie
Helter Skelter
Long, Long, Long

I like the White Album, but it's not one of my favorites.  There's some great stuff on there, but there's a lot of stuff I find unlistenable also.

WB

1. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
2. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
4. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
5. Martha My Dear
6. Blackbird
7. Piggies
8. Rocky Raccoon
9. Don't Pass Me By
10. Birthday
11. Mother Nature's Son
12. Honey Pie
13. Savoy Truffle
14. Cry Baby Cry

hmmm...let's see.

1 - Back in the U.S.S.R.
2 - Dear Prudence
3 - Obla-di, Obla-da
4 - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
5 - Happiness is a Warm Gun
6 - Blackbird
7 - Rocky Raccoon
8 - Martha My Dear
9 - Birthday
10 - Mother Nature's Son
11 - Everybody's Got Something to Hide (Except for Me and My Monkey)
12 - Sexy Sadie
13 - Savoy Truffle
14 - Cry Baby Cry
:)

I can't cut out one song,let alone half the songs from the greatest double album ever made-it's blasphemy. On second thought,yea I can.
The Continuing Story of Bungalo Bill
Dear Prudence
Glass Onion
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Happiness is a Warm Gun
I'm So Tired
Piggies
Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey
Don't Pass Me By
Julia
Cry Baby Cry
Savoy Truffle
Yer Blues
Sexy Sadie
Bonus Tracks:
Revolution 1
Revolution 9
Goodnight
Long,Long,Long

Paul could have then released his first solo album:The Paul is Also White Album

1. Back In The U.S.S.R.
2. Dear Pridence
3. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
5. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
6. I'm So Tired
7. Blackbird
8. I Will
9. Birthday
10. Mother Nature's Son
11. Helter Skelter
12. Long, Long, Long
13. Cry Baby Cry
14. Good Night

1. Back In The USSR
2. Dear Prudence
3. Wild Honey Pie
4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
5. Martha My Dear
6. I'm So Tired
7. Blackbird
8. Julia
9. Birthday
10. Yer Blues
11. Sexy Sadie
12. Helter Skelter
13. Long Long Long
14. Revolution 1

1. Birthday
2. I'm So Tired
3. Blackbird
4. Helter Skelter
5. Cry Baby Cry
6. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
7. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
8. I Will
9. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
10. The Contiuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
11. Dear Prudence
12. Long, Long, Long
13. Glass Onion
14. Sexy Sadie

Man, what an album.

1. Back In The USSR(Paul)
2. Birthday(Paul)
3. Helter Skelter(Paul)
4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps(George)
5. Happiness Is A Warm Gun(John)
6. Cry Baby Cry(John)
7. I`m So Tired(John)
8. Piggies(George)
9.Why dont we do it in the Road(Paul)
10. Savoy Truffle(George)
11. Everybody`s Got Something To Hide Except for me and my Monkey(John)
12. Sexie Sadie(John)
13. Helter Skelter(Paul)
14. Lon,Long,Long(George)

Sorry Ringo,you dont make the cut here,but now I understand why they just threw them all on one album,because Blackbird,and others are to good to leave off.

Speaking of some song that should have been left off...
Wild Honey Pie
Honie Pie
Revolution 9
These three song could have waited til the Anthology...lol

I think this would be the perfect single album:

1. Back In The U.S.S.R.
2. Dear Prudence
3. Don't Pass Me By
4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
5. Revolution 1
6. Sexy Sadie
7. Helter Skelter
8. Long, Long, Long
9. I'm So Tired
10. Mother Nature's Son
11. Blackbird
12. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
13. Yer Blues
14. Julia

That was a real tough choice actually, the sequencing of the songs was difficult to get so it wasn't too repetitive. The 2nd side of the album is more acoustic. But over all my choice for a real strong single album would be this and it would be a very acoustic oriented album.

^ Nice choice, and like the way you've obeyed the Beatle "rules" - strong opener, George song each side, 1 Ringo and a good mix of Paul and John. Which song finishes side 1, HS or Long Long Long (shame to break those up)

Now it gets confusing when you talk about lps. I did it for the cd market LOL  ;)

But thanks for the comments, I tried to keep it as real to The Beatles album formats as I could.

1. Back In The U.S.S.R.
2. Dear Prudence
3. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
5. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
6. I'm So Tired
7. Why Don`t We Do It In The Road
8.  Julia
9. Mother Nature's Son
10. Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
11. Sexy Sadie
12. Helter Skelter
13. Long Lon g Long
14. Cry Baby Cry

Following the original order: 14 songs (like their albums used to be) being only 2 from George (following tradition once again, typical of britlanders)  :P
Singles: Hey Jude/Revolution and Obladi oblada/Blackbird

1. Back In The USSR
2. Dear Prudence
3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
5. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
6. Julia
7. Birthday
8. Revolution 1

9. Helter Skelter
10. Long Long Long
11. Rocky Racoon
12. Yer Blues
11. Sexy Sadie
13. Don't Pass Me By
14. Why Don't We Do it in the Road
15. Blackbird

Pretend you're George Martin (or whoever is the one who decides what songs go on the album, I'm sure its not the band), and its 1968, and you have to decide which 13 songs out of all the songs recorded to go on the new Beatles self-titled album.

Here I go (wish me luck):

01: Back In The USSR
02: Dear Prudence
03: Glass Onion
04: Ob La Di, Ob La Da
05: While My Guitar Gently Weeps
06: I'm So Tired
07: Piggies
08: Birthday
09: Sexy Sadie
10: Helter Skelter
11: Revolution 1
12: Savoy Truffle
13: Cry Baby Cry

I think the White Album is a nice showcase for George Harrison's songs, as he has three in my selections.  This selection of songs would have made it a nice, tight, diverse album - from acoustic ballads to hard a** rock.

What would you choose?

i would have preferred a triple album

Quoted from matthew

i would have preferred a triple album

And what would go on the 3rd LP?

Quoted from Buttmunker

Pretend you're George Martin (or whoever is the one who decides what songs go on the album, I'm sure its not the band), and its 1968, and you have to decide which 13 songs out of all the songs recorded to go on the new Beatles self-titled album.

Here I go (wish me luck):

01: Back In The USSR
02: Dear Prudence
03: Glass Onion
04: Ob La Di, Ob La Da
05: While My Guitar Gently Weeps
06: I'm So Tired
07: Piggies
08: Birthday
09: Sexy Sadie
10: Helter Skelter
11: Revolution 1
12: Savoy Truffle
13: Cry Baby Cry

I think the White Album is a nice showcase for George Harrison's songs, as he has three in my selections.  This selection of songs would have made it a nice, tight, diverse album - from acoustic ballads to hard a** rock.

What would you choose?

Nice call, but Beatle politics wouldn't have allowed it. Seven John songs and only three from Paul? And no Ringo? I think you've just broken up The Beatles! No Abbey Road!! What have you done!!!!

There must be more threads about The White Album than anything else. This was mine from another thread.

Side A

Back In The USSR
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Sexie Sadie
I Will
I'm So Tired
Helter Skelter
Blackbird
Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey


Side B

Birthday
Dear Prudence
Yer Blues
Revolution 1
Long Long Long
Julia
Cry Baby Cry
Happiness Is  A Warm Gun


Singles

A. Back In The USSR
B. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill

A. Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
B. Don't Pass Me By


Double EP

A. Glass Onion
    Julia
    Rocky Racoon

B. Honey Pie
    Piggies
    Mother Natures Son

This was hard , it looks like the Off- White Album now  :D , Think double is best :)

Side One

1/ Sexy Sadie
2/Helter Skelter
3/Long Long Long
4/Glass Onion
5/Blackbird
6/Julia
7/ While my Guitar Gentley Weeps

Side Two

8/ Rocky Racoon
9/ Don't Pass Me By
10/ Dear Prudence
11/ Martha My Dear
12/ Mother Nature Son
13/ Revolution 1
14/ Back In The USSR

DaveRam :)

Quoted from Kevin

Nice call, but Beatle politics wouldn't have allowed it. Seven John songs and only three from Paul? And no Ringo? I think you've just broken up The Beatles! No Abbey Road!! What have you done!!!!

The "Let It Be" album had no Ringo, and they survived ...opps.

Quoted from matthew

i would have preferred a triple album

I agree completely with you! Just think about it. The Beatles releasing the first triple album ever! Consider that they were releasing all 35-minute albums until then, so two records of 47 minutes put it together is maybe too much. This is my triple album:

Side one
1. "Back in the U.S.S.R." – 2:43
2. "Dear Prudence" – 3:56
3. "Glass Onion" – 2:17
4. "Wild Honey Pie" – 0:52
5. "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" – 3:13
6. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" – 4:45
LENGTH: 17:46

Side two
1. "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" – 2:43
2. "Martha My Dear" – 2:28
3. "I'm So Tired" – 2:03
4. "Blackbird" – 2:18
5. "Piggies"– 2:04
6. "Rocky Raccoon" – 3:32
7. "Julia" – 2:54
LENGTH: 18:02

Side three
1. "Birthday" – 2:42
2. "Yer Blues" – 4:00
3. "Mother Nature's Son" – 2:47
4. "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey" – 2:24
5. "Sexy Sadie" – 3:15
6. "Long, Long, Long"– 3:03
LENGTH: 18:11

Side four
1. "Honey Pie" – 2:40
2. "Not Guilty" – 3:22
3. "Don't Pass Me By" – 3:50
4. "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?" – 1:40
5. "Hey Jude" – 7:04
LENGTH: 18:36

Side five
1. "Helter Skelter" – 4:29
2. "What’s The New Mary Jane" – 6:12
3. "Savoy Truffle" – 2:54
4. "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" – 3:08
5. "I Will" – 1:45
LENGTH: 18:26

Side six
1. "Revolution 1" – 4:15
2. "Cry Baby Cry" – 2:35
3. "Take Me Back" – 0:33
4. "Revolution 9" – 8:13
5. "Good Night" – 3:11
LENGTH: 18:47

TOTAL LENGTH: 109:50

What song is Take Me Back??
Side 1
1. Back in the USSR
2. Dear Prudence
3. Obladi Blada
4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
5. Happiness is a Warm Gun
6. I'm So Tired
7. Rocky Racoon
Side 2
1. Why Don't we do it in the Road
2. Birthday
3. Everybody's got Something to Hide Except for me and my Monkey
4. Sexy Sadie
5. Helter Skelter
6. Long, Long,Long
7.Honey Pie

There was no Ringo on A Hard Day's Night and Let it Be,it'll be Ok here too.

Quoted from Beatles

What song is Take Me Back??

end of Cry Baby Cry.
Welcome to the forums Beatles! Enjoy them, nice list by the
way! ;)

personally, I think it's an imbecilic theory that TWA would've been better as a single album..

the whole thought is predicated on some misguided "concept" of late-60's minimalism that contends "lesser is better". I disagree strongely. Perhaps in some graphic art expressions this "economical" approach might be amenable, but why limit a rock band's intended output(and in the present case, the world's greatest) to some dubious time restriction (on the grounds of "artsy" pretension), when the extant 2-Lp set turned out to be a treasure- trove of brilliance no one's ever equalled? When Paul HIMSELF was asked this question, he seemed justifiably annoyed and retorted (I'm paraphrasing) "Single-album, double-album, it's the bloody Beatles White Album, for crying out loud...shut-up!!.."
LOL On this point, I'm w/ Macca 100%.

dems my 2 cents.

Quoted from 829

personally, I think it's an imbecilic theory that TWA would've been better as a single album..

the whole thought is predicated on some misguided "concept" of late-60's minimalism that contends "lesser is better". I disagree strongely. Perhaps in some graphic art expressions this "economical" approach might be amenable, but why limit a rock band's(and in the present case, the world's greatest) to a dubious time restriction when the extant 2-Lp set turned out to be a treasure- trove of brilliance no one's ever equalled?

You are right, but I don't think that most of us think it should've been 1 album, we're just saying what we think it should be if we turned it onto one album.  Personally, I prefer the double album, but it's basically just stating your fav 14 tracks on the White Album

Keeping singles off the albums was a mistake.  It was done for the benefit of the fans, but it hurt albums all the way through their career.  Imagine what those "100 best" lists would look like if the Beatles could have included Hey Jude and other treasures.
Even George Martin said keeping SFF and Penny Lane off of Pepper was his greatest mistake.  Imagine what that album would've been --adding perhaps their greatest double-A side to an already legendary album.
With all that in mind, I'd leave "The White Album" as it was, 2 discs, with the exception of pulling off #9 and Cry Baby Cry, and inserting Hey Jude, Revolution (the single) and Lady Madonna.

Aww...leave #9 alone.

:P

Quoted from walrus_21

Keeping singles off the albums was a mistake.  It was done for the benefit of the fans, but it hurt albums all the way through their career.  Imagine what those "100 best" lists would look like if the Beatles could have included Hey Jude and other treasures.
Even George Martin said keeping SFF and Penny Lane off of Pepper was his greatest mistake.  Imagine what that album would've been --adding perhaps their greatest double-A side to an already legendary album.
With all that in mind, I'd leave "The White Album" as it was, 2 discs, with the exception of pulling off #9 and Cry Baby Cry, and inserting Hey Jude, Revolution (the single) and Lady Madonna.

I Completely Agree.(except maybe Good Night also) I also thought that maybe Hey Bulldog should've been put on this album. I don't think that that song gets the recognition it deserves, it's a rocker and I think maybe if they rewrote it (or maybe not) it could've been a #1 Single in my opinion.

Quoted from Beatles

I Completely Agree.(except maybe Good Night also) I also thought that maybe Hey Bulldog should've been put on this album. I don't think that that song gets the recognition it deserves, it's a rocker and I think maybe if they rewrote it (or maybe not) it could've been a #1 Single in my opinion.

Hey Bulldog was written and recorded for the Yellow Submarine movie long before they even went to India, in Feb '68, around the same time as Lady Madonna. Why should that be on The White Album? And why does it need rewriting?

Quoted from walrus_21

Keeping singles off the albums was a mistake.  It was done for the benefit of the fans, but it hurt albums all the way through their career.  

I'm sorry, with respect that comment is a load of rubbish! Which albums - 'all the way through their career' - did it hurt? Name names!

If SFF and Penny Lane were to be included on Sgt. Pepper, they would not have been released as a single. It was very common in those days to not include the current single on an album, and it wasn't just the Beatles or EMI, it was across the board. So which album was hurt?

Quoted from BlueMeanie

Hey Bulldog was written and recorded for the Yellow Submarine movie long before they even went to India, in Feb '68, around the same time as Lady Madonna. Why should that be on The White Album? And why does it need rewriting?

I Know that it was written for Yellow Submarine, but im saying that it would be better(in my opinion) if it was on the White Album.  Just because it was written before India doesn't mean it can't go on the White Album, and the Yellow Submarine Album had songs from Revolver(like Yellow Submarine) that came before. I just think that it would be nice if it were on the White Album( Which is already magnificent), like Lady Madonna.
( Im just saying that it would be pretty cool, you know, thats it)

I was just saying that I think that Hey Bulldog is #1 single record material and if it were released as is that it could reach #1, I suppose I thought that people would think that it doesn't make sense and they wouldnt like it, but, yeah, I guess I was wrong on thinking that and it doesn't need rewriting sorry :B

Quoted from walrus_21

With all that in mind, I'd leave "The White Album" as it was, 2 discs, with the exception of pulling off #9 and Cry Baby Cry, and inserting Hey Jude, Revolution (the single) and Lady Madonna.

I always thought "Revolution #9" was perfect where it is (even though it is a weird, audio montage--always felt it was a perfect segway between the songs that preceeded and followed it)

BUT, having said that, I really, really like the songs you chose above if it had been replaced.

Excellent choices. ("Hey Jude" DEFINITELY should've been on TWA)

1. Back In The U.S.S.R.
2. Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
3. Why Don't We Do It In The Road?
4. I Will
5. Glass Onion
6. Helter Skelter
7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
8. Don't Pass Me By
9. I'm So Tired
10. Revolution 1
11. Blackbird
12. Rocky Raccoon
13. Birthday
14. Good Night

here's mine (the best i can come up with :)):

1. Back in the USSR
2. Dear Prudence
3. Ob-La-di Ob-La da
4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
5. Happiness is A Warm Gun
6. Blackbird
7. Julia
8. Sexy Sadie
9. Helter Skelter
10. Revolution #1
11. Don't Pass Me By
12. Honey Pie
13. Cry Baby Cry
14. Goodnight

i still think it could have been a slightly better album with songs like
sour milk sea, child of nature, & not guilty on than the dittys like
'do it in the road, & wild honey pie.

Quoted from Andy Smith

...than the dittys like
'do it in the road...

My favorite song on the album.

Quoted from 829

personally, I think it's an imbecilic theory that TWA would've been better as a single album..

Well, the imbecilic George Martin thought otherwise.

Quoted from Bobber

Well, the imbecilic George Martin thought otherwise.

and he was out-voted, wasnt he now...

Im glad dear old George was out voted . It would have been great if Hey Jude had made the track listing , but it's brilliant just the way it is  :)

Incredibly tough task!!!! But here is my revised White Album;

Side one...

1. Back in the USSR
2. Yer Blues
3. While my guitar gently weeps
4. I'm so tired
5. Why don't we do it in the road?
6. Revolution 1
7. Helter Skelter

Side two...
1. Happiness is a warm gun
2. Birthday
3. Mother nature's son
4. Julia
5. Martha my dear
6. Long, long, long
7. Good night

There you have it....a cracking first side, loud and punchy and a much quieter second side after the first two songs!!! Two George, One Ringo, Five Paul, Five John and one Paul and John (Birthday). A good Beatle balance I reckon....but seriously, the White Album is PERFECT as it is!!!!!!!!!!

Joe

.....just realised that I left off Blackbird!!!!!! Will need to revise....it will have to replace a Paul song.......

Side one...

1. Back in the USSR
2. Yer Blues
3. While my guitar gently weeps
4. I'm so tired
5. Why don't we do it in the road?
6. Revolution 1
7. Helter Skelter

Side two...
1. Happiness is a warm gun
2. Birthday
3. Mother nature's son
4. Julia
5. BLACKBIRD
6. Long, long, long
7. Good night

Welcome to the forums joefish!, & what an excellant list on
the white album! I'd buy it!  :)

Quoted from BlueMeanie

I'm sorry, with respect that comment is a load of rubbish! Which albums - 'all the way through their career' - did it hurt? Name names!

If SFF and Penny Lane were to be included on Sgt. Pepper, they would not have been released as a single. It was very common in those days to not include the current single on an album, and it wasn't just the Beatles or EMI, it was across the board. So which album was hurt?

Hope I'm doing this reply correctly.

Blue, perhaps "hurt" is a tough concept to deal with, since their albums were so near perfect.  But think about having the singles on the albums.  What album wouldn't be helped by She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand, etc.?  We Can Work It Out?  Day Tripper?  Keeping those off albums was part of the times -- I'm not arguing that -- but their inclusion helps any album.

My point was, Pepper, cultural landmark that it is, could have been better by adding Penny Lane and SFF.  I'm sorry, but that's a fact.  

Someone else can tell you which albums the singles would have gone on, because I don't have the encyclopedic knowledge of recording sessions/release dates.  

But reverse engineer it, for a sec.  Imagine a White Album with Hey Jude, Lady Madonna and Revolution, and make the argument that it would've been better with #9.  Good luck.

wal

Including I Feel Fine and She's A Woman certainly would have helped Beatles For Sale.

Quoted from Bobber

Including I Feel Fine and She's A Woman certainly would have helped Beatles For Sale.

I'd agree with that one, and only that one. But that's hardly 'all the way through their career' though.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

I'd agree with that one, and only that one. But that's hardly 'all the way through their career' though.

"I Want to Hold Your Hand"/"This Boy" and "She Loves You"/"I'll Get You" wouldn't have helped With the Beatles?  

"I Feel Fine" / "She's a Woman" you've copped to.  

"We Can Work It Out"/"Day Tripper" wouldn't have helped Rubber Soul?  

"Paperback Writer"/"Rain" wouldn't have helped Revolver?

"Penny Lane" / "Strawberry Fields Forever" wouldn't have helped Pepper?

"Lady Madonna"/"The Inner Light" and "Hey Jude"/"Revolution" wouldn't have helped the White Album?

"Don't Let Me Down" + "The Ballad of John and Yoko"/"Old Brown Shoe" wouldn't have helped Let it Be?

Come on, Blue.  

Come.  On.

Love, wal

Quoted from walrus_21

"I Want to Hold Your Hand"/"This Boy" and "She Loves You"/"I'll Get You" wouldn't have helped With the Beatles?  

"I Feel Fine" / "She's a Woman" you've copped to.  

"We Can Work It Out"/"Day Tripper" wouldn't have helped Rubber Soul?  

"Paperback Writer"/"Rain" wouldn't have helped Revolver?

"Penny Lane" / "Strawberry Fields Forever" wouldn't have helped Pepper?

"Lady Madonna"/"The Inner Light" and "Hey Jude"/"Revolution" wouldn't have helped the White Album?

"Don't Let Me Down" + "The Ballad of John and Yoko"/"Old Brown Shoe" wouldn't have helped Let it Be?

Come on, Blue.  

Come.  On.

Love, wal

Actually, no. I don't agree. Those albums didn't need any help. All you've done is mention singles that weren't on albums. Do you think those albums were lacking, and needed them? I don't. Only Beatles For Sale could have benefited. IMO, of course. Happy Xmas! :)

Let's see...

1. Dear Prudence
2. Glass Onion
3. Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
5. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
6. Martha My Dear
7. Blackbird
8. I Will
9. Julia
10. Yer Blues
11. Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey
12. Sexy Sadie
13. Helter Skelter
14. Savoy Truffle

But The White Album wouldn't be The White Album if it wasn't a double album...

Changing the WA is, of course, sacrilegious  ;)

Side One:

1. Back In The USSR
2. Dear Prudence
3. I'm So Tired
4. Blackbird
5. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
6. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
7. Julia

Side Two:

1. Child Of Nature
2. Revolution (album version)
3. Sexy Sadie
4. Across The Universe
5. Not Guilty
6. All Things Must Pass
7. Helter Skelter

14 huh?   I don't normally condone messing around with what is already perfect but just for fun:

1.  I'm So Tired (because thats my favorite all time Beatle song, so nach)
2.  Dear Prudence
3.  Ob La Di Ob La Da
4.  While My Guitar Gently Weeps
5.  Blackbird
6.  Don't Pass Me By
7.  Why Don't We do it in the Road
8.  Birthday
9.  Mother Natures Son
10. Helter Skelter
11. Long Long Long
12. Revolution 1
13. Happiness is a Warm Gun
14. Rocky Raccoon

Interesting blog here about creating 'the perfect' White album: http://www.myspace.com/chrissingleton

The idea is to cut the album down to your favourite 12-14 songs...if you could bear it! Blog on the page is called "Your very own White Album".

Bit of a laugh anyway.

I think that this thread shows that there is at least a clear consensus on the strongest songs on the White album: Back in the USSR, Dear Prudence, Blackbird, I'm so tired, Happiness is a warm gun, Revolution 1, While my Guitar Gently Weeps, Helter Skelter, Julia and Sexy Sadie are on many lists.

1 Back in the USSR
2 Dear Prudence
3 Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
4 While my guitar gently weeps
5 Happiness is a Warm gun
6 I'm so tired
7 Blackbird
8 Why Don't We Do it in The Road?
9 Birthday
10 Yer Blues
11 Helter Skelter
12 Revolution 1
13 Good Night

That would be awesome!

You can tell who's from the 'CD' generation  -  no Side 1 and Side 2!!
;D

Quoted from Beatlemania31

1 Back in the USSR
2 Dear Prudence
3 Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
4 While my guitar gently weeps
5 Happiness is a Warm gun
6 I'm so tired
7 Blackbird
8 Why Don't We Do it in The Road?
9 Birthday
10 Yer Blues
11 Helter Skelter
12 Revolution 1
13 Good Night

That would be awesome!

that's quite a nice list, i would have to throw Sexy Sadie in there myself though.

Quoted from walrus_21

Hope I'm doing this reply correctly.

Blue, perhaps "hurt" is a tough concept to deal with, since their albums were so near perfect.  But think about having the singles on the albums.  What album wouldn't be helped by She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand, etc.?  We Can Work It Out?  Day Tripper?  Keeping those off albums was part of the times -- I'm not arguing that -- but their inclusion helps any album.

My point was, Pepper, cultural landmark that it is, could have been better by adding Penny Lane and SFF.  I'm sorry, but that's a fact.  Someone else can tell you which albums the singles would have gone on, because I don't have the encyclopedic knowledge of recording sessions/release dates.  

But reverse engineer it, for a sec.  Imagine a White Album with Hey Jude, Lady Madonna and Revolution, and make the argument that it would've been better with #9.  Good luck.

wal

I didn't read every post in this thread, but I think I understand the case you're making.

I don't think there is a steadfast rule about it... sometimes adding the songs would "help", sometimes it would "hurt".   So what do I mean by this?

Well, the flow of an album is sometimes as important as the individual songs it contains, and the inclusion of a (great) song (that might have been a huge hit) that breaks this flow may in fact leave you with an album that is significantly "inferior" to what it was.  A White Album with Hey Jude, Lady Madonna and Revolution might work, but adding Penny Lane and SFF to Sgt Pepper might not, because that album is greater than the sum of it's parts precisely because of how it flows.

Adding Helen Wheels to Band On The Run worked, and fortunately did not disrupt the flow of the album. But the US album Hey Jude was just a bunch of singles and b-sides  had no flow at all. The Ballad of John and Yoko might have ruined Abbey Road or Let It Be. But I like the flow of "Let It Be Naked" better than the original with the inclusion of  "Don't Let Me Down" (which should have been on the original Let It Be).

It's hard to say. If adding the single doesn't break the flow of the album, but enhances it or at least maintains it, it's certainly better to have the popular songs on there. I couldn't imagine Band on the Run without Helen Wheels, or MMT without PL and SFF.

I am intrigued by a White Album with Hey Jude, Lady Madonna and Revolution and without Revolution #9 though....

Theres so much good stuff on there it's hard to part with some of it. I didn't count who had more songs than whom, and didn't include a song for Ringo just to give Ringo a song because I think there are much better songs by the others that were left off. I added "Hey Jude" and "Lady  Madonna" and eliminated the "extreme" songs

JJS's White Album:

"Back in the U.S.S.R."              
"Dear Prudence"                      
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"  
"I'm So Tired"                        
"Blackbird"                                  
"Lady Madonna"                            
"Julia"                                    
"Birthday"                                  
"Sexy Sadie"                                
"Helter Skelter"                        
"Revolution 1"                        
"Hey Jude"

I wish I could "play" this thread but I can't.  To me, there's just no "filler" on the White Album.

The "single-album v. double album" discussion reminds me of that scene in Amadeus when, in his critique of Mozart's opera, the emperor tells Mozart that there are "simply too many notes."  To which Mozart replies:  "I don't understand.  There are just as many notes, Majesty, as are required.  Neither more nor less."

I feel the same way about the White Album (".....number nine...number nine...number nine...number nine...").

Quoted from dennylemeiux

The "single-album v. double album" discussion reminds me of that scene in Amadeus when, in his critique of Mozart's opera, the emperor tells Mozart that there are "simply too many notes."  To which Mozart replies:  "I don't understand.  There are just as many notes, Majesty, as are required.  Neither more nor less.".

;D that's a great line from a great movie!

1. Back In The USSR
2. Dear Prudence
3. Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
4. I Will
5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
6. Blackbird
7. Julia
8. Birthday
9. Yer Blues
10. Mother Nature's Son
11. Honey Pie
12. Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
13. Helter Skelter
14. Good Night

I'm new, but really I'm old.
Hello everyone and here's the album idea

Side 1
Back In the USSR
Dear Prudence
Ob-la-di Ob-la-da
Yer Blues
Blackbird
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Happiness Is A Warm Gun

Side 2
Revolution (single version)
Julia
Helter Skelter
Long Long Long
I'm So Tired
Hey Jude
Good Night

A nice balance which keeps some of the original sequencing ideas and includes the single.  Perhaps Hey
Jude should finish the album, but then you wouldn't have Ringo's track to close it and wish us all a good night.

Welcome Kirkbybed. Nice compilation, but personally, I wouldn't include WMGGW. But that's just an opinion.  :)

Side 1

1.Back In The U.S.S.R.
2. Dear Prudence
3. Blackbird
4. Glass Onion
5. Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
6. Sexy Sadie
7. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
8. Martha My Dear
9. I Will
10. Julia

Side 2
1. Revolution 1
2. Mother Nature's Son
3. Yer Blues
4. Everybody's Got Something to Hide...
5. Helter Skelter
6. Long Long Long
7. Honey Pie
8. Savoy Truffle
9. I'm So Tired/Can You Take Me Back..
10. Good Night

This is too long, there's too many tracks to lose though (though as rule a third of cd 1 I think is superflous) and the sequencing is the real genuis - and I consider R9 the centre-piece of the album. So - no, I dont think you can change the White Album into a single without too much sacrifice