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Favourite and Least Favourite "White Album" Songs
9 August 2013
4.40pm
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Funny Paper
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This question is like asking “Which of your children do you love the most?”

That said, I’d have to say Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (though it pains me to have to choose and therefore imply that so many other songs on that album are not exquisitely superlative).

Faded flowers, wait in a jar, till the evening is complete... complete... complete... complete...

9 August 2013
7.18pm
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Maxwell Edison MD
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Mine is a three way tie between WMGGW, Sexy Sadie and Helter Skelter

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.”  John Lennon “Some people live more in 20 years than others do in 80. It’s not the time that matters, it’s the person.” The Tenth Doctor, The Lazarus Experiment.

9 August 2013
8.36pm
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Little Piggy Dragonguy
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Funny Paper said
This question is like asking “Which of your children do you love the most?”

That said, I’d have to say Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (though it pains me to have to choose and therefore imply that so many other songs on that album are not exquisitely superlative).

DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN?! BECAUSE IF YOU DO IT’SA LITTLE WEIRD FIR YIU TO COMPARE THIS TO PICKING A FAVORITE CHILD AND THEN PICKING A FAVORITE SONG. I THINK IT IMPLIES THAT YOU HAVE A CHILD WHO IS MORE LOVED BY YOU, which is probably frowned upon.

 

Anyhow, I think I would have to go with Happiness Is A Warm Gun , but I have really been loving BACK IN THE U.S.S.R. lately, and Honey Pie has always been one of my favorites too. 

All living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit 

10 August 2013
1.41am
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Funny Paper
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unknown said

Funny Paper said
This question is like asking “Which of your children do you love the most?”

That said, I’d have to say Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (though it pains me to have to choose and therefore imply that so many other songs on that album are not exquisitely superlative).

DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN?! BECAUSE IF YOU DO IT’SA LITTLE WEIRD FIR YIU TO COMPARE THIS TO PICKING A FAVORITE CHILD AND THEN PICKING A FAVORITE SONG. I THINK IT IMPLIES THAT YOU HAVE A CHILD WHO IS MORE LOVED BY YOU, which is probably frowned upon.

 

Anyhow, I think I would have to go with Happiness Is A Warm Gun , but I have really been loving BACK IN THE U.S.S.R. lately, and Honey Pie has always been one of my favorites too. 

Actually, I don’t have children.  But I said the question is “like” that — not “exactly like” it…

 

Faded flowers, wait in a jar, till the evening is complete... complete... complete... complete...

10 August 2013
2.13am
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robert
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"She looks more like him than I do."

10 August 2013
2.38am
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SatanHimself
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Dear Prudence “.

– The writing of the song has such a cool story behind it.

– It’s the one full and real song where Ringo had quit the band.  “Back In The USSR ” counts too, but in the next point…

– It features Paul exclusively on the drums, playing like his life counted on it.  This was the song that Lennon was referring to when he (lovingly) said that not only was Ringo not the best drummer in the world, but he wasn’t even the best drummer in the Beatles.  Seriously…  Paul’s drumming is sublime on this track.  Go seek out the isolated drum track if you’re not familiar with it.

– Paul also plays piano and bass.  And does backup vocals.

– It’s a perfect example of Lennon’s light touch in songwriting, which by 1968 was becoming a bit of a rarity.

 

 

E is for 'Ergent'.

11 August 2013
9.59am
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LadyBay
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Impossible to split Dear Prudence and Blackbird . This is an album that took me quite a while to warm to, so I’ve just surprised myself by finding it difficult to choose a favourite!

I’m so glad you made that reference to the quote about Ringo! – I knew I’d heard it somewhere and I’ve been trying for ages to remember the details. I’m also glad to hear that it was made lovingly – when I first heard it I thought it was meant as a put-down.

BTW what is the full story behind the writing of Dear Prudence ?

"Try to realise it's all within yourself - no-one else can make you change"

11 August 2013
4.44pm
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Funny Paper
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Hi LadyBay — if you click on the “Songs” tab at the very top of this website, then click on any song you want, like Dear Prudence , you can find an in-depth article about whatever song you pick.  This site’s owner, Joe, has done a good job of summarizing the “story” behind each song.

 

Faded flowers, wait in a jar, till the evening is complete... complete... complete... complete...

11 August 2013
8.53pm
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Linde
The Netherlands
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Revolution 9 . Not hard at all.

No just kidding. I think it would be While My Guitar Gently Weeps .

12 August 2013
8.06am
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LadyBay
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Thanks Funny Paper, I’ll do that.

"Try to realise it's all within yourself - no-one else can make you change"

19 September 2013
8.23am
kelandwood
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The White Album is something I have very mixed feelings about. The Beatles where evolving musically, they were going in a very progressive direction, they were singing hard rock songs. There’s so much good about this album and I just love the good stuff on it, but if I had to listen to the entire album from start to finish, i’d probably shoot myself in the head. There’s just so many filler songs. Some of them are pretty weak, some of them are down right awful. So I thought it’d be interesting to hear what every one’s favourite and least favourite songs. And what does everyone think of The White Album as a whole? Anyways here’s my favourite’s:

 

Dear Prudence

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Happiness Is A Warm Gun

I’m So Tired

Julia

Birthday

Sexy Sadie

Helter Skelter

Good Night .

And here’s my least favourites: 

Wild Honey Pie

Piggies

Why Don’t We Do It in the Road?

Honey Pie

Revolution 9

(I didn’t pick 10 least favourites because it wouldn’t be fair. Those are the only songs on the album I really don’t enjoy. The rest of the weaker songs are just that. Weak.)

 

19 September 2013
4.22pm
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LikeASir
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I really only love 3 songs, Back In The USSR , Sexy Sadie and While My Guitar Gently Weeps . The main reason I don’t like this album is Paul and John shoe horning George and Ringo’s work. For example, putting WMGGW next to Bungalow Bill and Happiness Is A Warm Gun – really? Granted, most of it isn’t even by the Beatles, but surely that must be better than most of the rest of the album? Paul and John were really controlling and big headed towards the later period of The Beatles.

"White Album - My joint-fave Beatles album along with Revolver. They show the two sides of Beatles. Revolver's very controlled - even though it's also very innovative. The White Album's playful and almost ramshackle. It's like a scrapbook kept by a genius. Fantastic stuff."

19 September 2013
5.42pm
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HeyTrud
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Interesting you should post this now.  I am slowly replacing all my Beatle CD’s and I bought the White Album last Friday.

I agree with comments above…I feel a lot of this album is “filler”.  Having said that, I also think there are some incredible songs on the album too.

My personal fav’s are:

Helter Skelter

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Happiness Is A Warm Gun

Revolution #9

And….I personally like both “Honey Pie ” (I love that old style music tho) & “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road” :)

Least Fav’s:

Piggies

Wild Honey Pie

 

"....take a sad song & make it Meilleur"....

19 September 2013
7.11pm
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Hannah
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I adore the White Album and always listen to it from start to finish. However I can see why it’s not for everyone, there are some weird ones on it (cough number 9, number 9!) 

My favourites are:

Helter Skelter

I’m So Tired

why don’t we do it in the road

Happiness Is A Warm Gun

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Savoy Truffle

Honey Pie

Actually I think I have to abandon this as I’ve suddenly realised the only ones I’m not keen on are Bungalow Bill, Revolution 9 and Goodnight.  I truly love all the the rest. 

19 September 2013
8.29pm
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Funny Paper
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There’s not a song on the White Album I don’t like a lot.  I like some more than others, but even the ones I like less, I like a lot.

I’m the only person on this forum who actually enthusiastically likes “Wild Honey Pie “.  I love demented songs, and in that song, they obviously said, “let’s play like we’re mental asylum patients”, and I love it.  The chords are cool too and reflect the madness:

A7 to G#7 to G7 to F#7 to F7 to E7 — then back to A.  With these chords stairstepping down one rung at a time you get the sense of a madman careening slowly but with an obsessed glint in his eye down a rickety staircase.  I imagine Marty Feldman with his bulging eye, wearing a bedshirt and a nightcap, limping down an old staircase of a grand old mansion. 

Also, the time it’s for the duration of each cycle of chords is off-kilter:

A7 for 2 measures

G#7 for 2 measures

G7 for 1 measure

F#7 for 1 measure

F7 for 1 measure

E7 for 4 measures.

Thus, the cycle from A7 to the end of F7 (which sounds to the ear like one whole run) is 7 measures, while the E7 run goes for 4 measures.  Not only does this throw off our expectations of having sets of 4 measures all the way through, it amounts to 11 measures, which is an exceedingly odd number.

And the way the acoustic guitar sounds, like the strings have been loosened way past normal, contributes to the overall effect.

Faded flowers, wait in a jar, till the evening is complete... complete... complete... complete...

19 September 2013
11.05pm
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Hannah
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Funny Paper, I too like Wild Honey Pie ! I’ve never found it annoying, I don’t know why I like it, it just sounds pleasing to my ears. That almost sounds like a confession because i know most people hate it! 

19 September 2013
11.26pm
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vonbontee
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I love everything about “Wild Honey Pie ” – its atonality, its ramshackle rhythm – everything EXCEPT that final “I love youwoowoo Honey Pie “, which comes too close to minstrelsy for my liking. I don’t know whether that’s what Paul intended or not, but it’s almost enough to ruin the entire thing for me.

GEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty. 

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19 September 2013
11.50pm
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Hannah
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vonbontee said
I love everything about “Wild Honey Pie ” – its atonality, its ramshackle rhythm – everything EXCEPT that final “I love youwoowoo Honey Pie “, which comes too close to minstrelsy for my liking. I don’t know whether that’s what Paul intended or not, but it’s almost enough to ruin the entire thing for me.

We almost got you vonbontee! I’ve never thought of the ending like that before (excuse my ignorance but I assume you mean it sounds like the black and white minstrels?) If I thought that I probably would have reservations too but I don’t think that was the intention. Please give me more info to back up your thoughts! 

20 September 2013
5.57pm
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Funny Paper
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Hannah and vonbontee, I’m heartened to find other “Wild Honey Pie ” fans.  We could start a special club.

I disagree about the ending.  I mean, how else would that song be ended?  It’s a crazy disaster of a song anyway, why not end it that way?  I don’t know, it just doesn’t bother me I guess.

I can imagine an alternative ending, but I’d have to describe it in words:  As they do, they could all sing “I love you” in unison but instead of Paul doing his woo thing, they could just drag out their voices in exaggerated raspy form on the “you” for an unnaturally extended time, ending up by having a collective coughing fit, then at the very end, Ringo strikes a gong.  (It would be the only Beatles song with a gong, too.)

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20 September 2013
8.09pm
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meanmistermustard
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Funny Paper said
Hannah and vonbontee, I’m heartened to find other “Wild Honey Pie ” fans.  We could start a special club.

I disagree about the ending.  I mean, how else would that song be ended?  It’s a crazy disaster of a song anyway, why not end it that way?  I don’t know, it just doesn’t bother me I guess.

I can imagine an alternative ending, but I’d have to describe it in words:  As they do, they could all sing “I love you” in unison but instead of Paul doing his woo thing, they could just drag out their voices in exaggerated raspy form on the “you” for an unnaturally extended time, ending up by having a collective coughing fit, then at the very end, Ringo strikes a gong.  (It would be the only Beatles song with a gong, too.)

 

Kind of like at the end of “the barber of seville” in Help ! (without the gong).

WHP isn’t the greatest cut on The White Album but its not the worst either. 50-odd seconds of bizarreness that is fun. File in the same category as Dig It and Maggie Mae : any longer it would be getting annoying but as it stands its good fun and has some interesting moments. Certainly not a skipper.

"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)

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