By 1968, The Beatles had already accomplished feats we could only dream of achieving. The band conquered both sides of the pond, exceeding and pushing boundaries of what a rock band could create within the past year released Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour which pushed the sub-genre psychedelic rock to its limits. 1968 would be a turbulent year for the band. However, despite all they endured that year they prevailed and created The Beatles or as society has now deemed it, The White Album. Beatle fanatics will know that around this time, Lennon was well infatuated with Yoko Ono whom John Lennon met back in 1966. Eventually, home life would clash with studio time and inedibly in time, she would soon be sitting in on the band's recording sessions. It was a bold move considering the band retired from touring back in 1966 to solely focus on being present in the studio. The Yoko hate train is well known and I'm with that company. However, I'm solely focusing on the songs and the band themselves.
The bulk of the album was conceived in Rishikesh, India as the band was trying to achieve inner calm with mediation provided by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Combined with the practiced mediation, and ironically the presence of Yoko, the band was able to create individually and in the process created a smorgasbord of material that expands multiple genres. The album opens with "Back in The U.S.S.R". Mccartney wrote the song as an homage to The Beach Boys and is clearly showcased by the backing vocals and Chuck Berry-infused guitar progression. McCartney also provided the drum track. 'Dear Prudence" follows and for my money, it's one of John Lennon's best lyrical works and that is saying a lot. The iconic acoustic guitar work is owed in large part to fellow friend and musician Donovan. It has been written that Donovan introduced Lennon. to a common guitar technique called 'Travis picking' which is all played with your fingers. What's more, the guitar is in drop d tuning which makes the guitar sound fuller. Another compliment of this timeless song is that the band expanded beyond their respective instruments. George Harrison plays a beautifully crafted baseline and McCartney provides an elegantly simple drum pattern.
Sticking with the acoustic approach, Mccartney penned "Blackbird'. It's a beautiful song with not only a gorgeous guitar melody and chord shapes but with an important blueprint as Mccartney wrote the tune to comment on the social injustice occurring during 1968 which was a turning point for America.
During the late 60s, George Harrison was finally starting to blossom as a songwriter. Before the white album, he conceived masterpieces such as 'Taxman", "I Want to Tell You" and "Love You To". The White Album is no acceptance as he penned the beautiful "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." During this time, Harrison became close with Eric Clapton. Both men highly respected each other and were thick as thieves(before the creation of Layla). That friendship carried over to the sessions and the result is Clapton playing the guitar solo on the track and it's definitely the highlight of the song. What's more, Harrison's lyrics are hauntingly lonely as the narrator "looks at the floor and notices it needs sweeping" and confronting the world around him being perverted and why society can't come to peace.
Side 1 of the record closes with "Happiness is A Warm Gun" Lennon was inspired by the title of an article published in The American Rifleman. Lennon was instantly intrigued and stated he must write a song about it. Musically, the song is a masterclass in time signatures as it changes from 6/8 time to 4/4 (common time). The song climaxes with Lennon's falsetto and it is proof that the band could be inspired by anything.
Much as I'm praising this LP, it is to be noted that 'Revolution 9" will not be discussed as that song has its fair share of coverage and hate. I personally don't care for "Ob-La-Di-Ob-la-da" or "Birthday" as well but I know there are fans who hold those songs dearly so to each their own.
Anyways, with that cleared up, let us go back to praising this landmark recording, shall we?
"Yer Blues" was penned by Lennon as a playful jab and comment on the British blues scene. Ironically, Lennon would perform that song with Eric Clapton at The Rolling Stones Rock N Roll circus in December 1968 a month after the record was released. Furthermore, the cover is better than the recording. Just google the performance if you're not convinced.
The following track is "Mother Nature's Son" which is another McCartney acoustic. It's my favorite McCartney acoustic number for sure. Lyrically, it's a love letter to nature. Although the narrator doesn't have much, he can't help but love the environment around him.
One final song I'm gonna dive into is "Helter Skelter" without mentioning anything about Mr. Manson out of respect for Sharon Tate. "Helter Skelter" is The Beatles at their heaviest. The song itself was a response to The Who's a masterpiece "I Can See for Miles". Vocally, it's the rawest McCartney has ever been on recording only rivaling Oh! Darling." but Skelter will always prevail. Distorted, dirty guitars explode in all of their glory from Lennon and Harrison and Ringo screaming "I" 've got blisters on my fingers' is bloody brilliant.
I've grown to really love The White Album as of late. So much so, that I would boldly put in my top 3. It's a masterpiece once you give it a few listens and a miracle since the band was going through a really rough time due to tensions and the behind-the-scenes schemes cooking up at Apple records (Beatle's own record company)
Give it a listen. Or if you're familiar with it, go back and listen again and you might find something new.
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