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Favourite and Least Favourite "White Album" Songs
13 May 2017
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QuarryMan
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I used to kind of dislike this album, but that was before I understood it. Once you do it’s a glorious moment. Earlier someone described the album as an overgrown garden. I personally think of this one as having a personality: an eccentric old man who can go from kindly to mean and who you want to keep alive because you’re sure he has more great stories about his life he hasn’t told you. Kind of like a great uncle to Revolver

In the context of the album, I don’t dislike a single track. If I could change anything, I’d perhaps squeeze in a couple more good songs from the period but it’s mostly perfect. I even like Revolution 9 and Wild Honey Pie .

What I consider great songs:

While My Guitar Gently Weeps , Back In The U.S.S.R, Happiness Is A Warm Gun , Dear Prudence , Blackbird , Mother Nature’s Son , Yer Blues , Helter Skelter , Martha My Dear and I’m So Tired .

The rest is average but they’re all essential to give the album it’s personality.

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silverhammerYT

I've been up on the mountain, and I've seen his wondrous grace,
I've sat there on the barstool and I've looked him in the face.
He seemed a little haggard, but it did not slow him down,
he was humming to the neon of the universal sound. 

13 May 2017
5.40pm
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Dark Overlord
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Let’s start negative and end positive:

Although The Beatles is my favorite Beatles album, it ironically also contains what is in my opinion their worst song, Good Night .

Looks like you guys want me to another song ranking, here goes nothing:

TheBeatles68LP.jpgImage Enlarger

30. Good Night

This is the worst Beatles song of all time and it really pisses me off that they chose this to end the album instead of Hey Jude , which was not included on the album due to the fact that singles rarely went on albums back then. First of all, I think Ringo sucks at singing and this is him at his worst. Second of all, the other 3 Beatles are not on this song and all Ringo does is sing, so it’s just Ringo singing, George Martin on celesta, and an orchestra and a choir. Finally, I hate the type of music being displayed in this song, The Beatles are a rock band and The Beatles is a classic rock album, I didn’t buy this record to listen to a gentle lullaby, if I wanted to listen to something eerily soft and gentle, I’d listen to Frank Sinatra or the music from a Disney movie. Piss off, you’re a terrible song.

29. Wild Honey Pie

The only instrumental on the album and a terrible one at that, this song goes nowhere and is pure rubbish from start to finish. If it weren’t for Good Night , I’d say this is the worst song on the album, at least this song doesn’t end the album.

28. Piggies

I don’t like this song, it seems like filler and it just doesn’t grab my interest.

27. Long, Long, Long

Not a bad song but not a good one either, one of those take it or leave it songs.

26. Don’t Pass Me By

Although significantly better than Ringo’s other vocal spot, when compared to the other songs on this album, this song is poor in comparison.

25. Mother Nature’s Son

Decent at best, nothing much to say really.

24. Revolution 9

A very interesting composition by John but also very unfitting, as much as I like this from a curiosity standpoint, I also hate it from a commercial standpoint, I could imagine being an 8 year old girl and hearing this for the first time back in 1968 and having nightmares for days, this song sounds like it’s from hell and coming from the same band that sings She Loves You and Good Day Sunshine , that’s saying something.

23. Julia

Decent song but I never got into it.

22. Martha My Dear

Good song, I sure with John and Ringo were on it as well.

21. Honey Pie

John actually does a pretty good job on guitar here and I like the jazz influence.

20. Sexy Sadie

I like this song, it’s interesting how they made a song about a prostitute that isn’t at all sexual in nature.

19. I Will

Great acoustic number by Paul, just remember to tune your guitar down a full step if you want to play this yourself.

18. Rocky Raccoon

If you want a folky song with a cowboy feel then The Beatles got your back with this great song.

17. Revolution 1

This is a great number that goes against the US military and has the balls to do so, although I wish they used the superior single version.

16. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill

You got to love the sing along feel of this song, it makes you want to sing along.

15. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Another great sing along, I especially like how Paul doubles the bass part with an acoustic guitar.

14. Blackbird

The best solo acoustic song on this album and it really shows off Paul’s great picking style.

13. Cry Baby Cry

Nothing quite like an acoustic guitar and piano ballad to settle us down for 1 last good number, especially one about fairytales.

12. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?

The Beatles most sexually explicit song, which isn’t saying much, it really shows how you only need 1 person to play a song. Vocals, guitars, bass, drums, piano, and handclaps, it’s nothing but Paul, this song is the precursor to the McCartney album released 2 years later.

11. I’m So Tired

A very underrated song that showcases how John can keep it soft and rock at the same time.

10. Glass Onion

A great song that helps you catch up if you missed out on their previous album and that intro really helps emphasize Ringo’s entrance into the album.

9. Back In The USSR

Great opener, starts off the album on a great note and it’s a real rocker, the type of music I like.

8. Savoy Truffle

If there’s a best songs off all time about candy list, this one would be at number 1. George really kicks it into overdrive with this song, going in full force about a love of candy while also mentioning the dangers of eating too much of it, all while rocking out on his Gibson Les Paul that he named Lucy that he had received earlier as a gift from fellow guitarist and very close friend Eric Clapton.

7. Helter Skelter

One of The Beatles heaviest numbers, this rocker sure is a blast to listen to, as well as a blast to play, just make sure you’re listening to the stereo version because unlike most Beatles songs that have both a mono and stereo version, the mono version is inferior, as it cuts out the great outro where we get to hear Ringo blaring on his drums while John plays a saxophone and then to end the song by saying “I’ve got blisters on my fingers”, such a great song.

6. Birthday

This song is probably the most popular song on this album and I can understand why, who doesn’t love a real rocker that you can sing along to and if you want to have a birthday but can’t stand listening to happy birthday, use this as an alternative, you’ll be thankful you did.

5. Yer Blues

Thought The Beatles were a happy and upbeat band, think again. This number is a great parody of the British blues scene that was going on at the time and it really kicks ass and gives you one hell of a ride, I especially love the guitar solo which starts off with John playing a very simple solo and then goes to George for the finish off, which he uses a Leslie Speaker to help him do.

4. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey

Want to hear a song that will have you jumping up and down, look no further, there’s no better example of a fast paced rocker than this.

3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Who would’ve thought George has such a great singing voice, this is the best song to feature George on vocals ever and it even comes with 2 great guitar solos from a special guest, none other than Cream guitarist Eric Clapton.

2. Dear Prudence

Such a beautiful and lovely song, I sure wish I was as good of a songwriter as John, nothing quite like hearing an electric guitar double tracked with an acoustic guitar in front of great lyrics and great everything, I love you, you’re a great song.

1. Happiness Is A Warm Gun

I can’t think of a better song to place at number 1, what other song puts you into full drive and delivers both an aggressive and heartfelt lyrics, these being about love and how violence feels good to some people but love wins in the end, such a great song and i can’t think of a better Beatles song.

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13 May 2017
5.53pm
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Evangeline
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Dark Overlord said
21. Honey Pie
John actually does a pretty good job here and I like the jazz influence.

Paul was the main Beatle on the song, not John.

20. Sexy Sadie
I like this song, it’s interesting how they made a song about a prostitute that isn’t at all sexual in nature.

It was originally about the Marharishi, but I think George disapproved of releasing it with that lyric and title. So John changed it to Sexy Sadie .

I am you as you are you as you are you and you are all together. 

13 May 2017
6.35pm
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Dark Overlord
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I know Paul is the lead singer on Honey Pie , I was referring to John’s guitar part, which I really like. Also, although Sexy Sadie is about the Maharishi, prostitution is implied throughout the song, especially with lines like “she came along and turned on everyone” and “you broke the rules, you laid it down for all to see”, I think they added some references to prostitution later on.

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13 May 2017
6.54pm
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Evangeline
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They might’ve been there since the beginning. I mean the song was specifically about the Marharishi’s ‘sexual’ interactions with one of the girls in his commune thing.

I am you as you are you as you are you and you are all together. 

13 May 2017
7.11pm
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sir walter raleigh
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We talking Sexy Sadie ? Talk about a favorite White Album song. When Sadie comes along to turn on everyone, he’s talking about transcendental meditation, and how he turned every one on to it when he was actually a big phoney, or at least according to John who was eager to get pissed off and bail on the whole thing based on rumors spread by magic Alex. 

"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"

-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues

"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"

-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl

13 May 2017
7.26pm
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Dark Overlord
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I always assumed things differently, here’s an altered version of the lyrics so you can understand what I thought each line meant:

Sexy Sadie

Verse 1:

Sexy Sadie what have you done
You made a fool of everyone
You made everyone that you had sex with feel like a fool
Sexy Sadie ooh what have you done

Verse 2:

Sexy Sadie you broke the rules
You layed it down for all to see
You took off your clothes and let everyone see
Sexy Sadie oooh you broke the law

Chorus 1:

One sunny day the world was waiting for a hooker
She came along to sexually aroused everyone
Sexy Sadie the greatest prostitute of them all

Verse 3:

Sexy Sadie how did you know
The world was waiting just for you
Everybody wants to have sex with you
Sexy Sadie oooh how did you know

Verse 4:

Sexy Sadie you’ll get yours yet
However big you think you are
However big you think you are
Sexy Sadie oooh you’ll get your turn having sex with her

Chorus 2:

We gave her all of our money just to get in bed and have sex with her
It gave us a smile and lightened our moods
Sexy Sadie she’s the best prostitute in town

Guitar Solo:

She made a fool of everyone
Sexy Sadie

However big you think you are
Sexy Sadie


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16 May 2017
9.22pm
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TheBeatlesFanatic231
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14 December 2018
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silverhammerYT
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My favorite song from the album is  Julia . I  especially like the vocals, they are very pleasant and it is a sweet song. I also like Revolution 9 .

i have to say that my least favorite is Back In The USSR , not because it’s necessarily a bad song, just that it’s very repetitive.

Reporter: Beethoven figures in one of your songs. What do you think of Beethoven?
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14 December 2018
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50yearslate
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My two favorites are While My Guitar Gently Weeps and I Will , which are tied with two other songs for the title of My Favorite Beatles Song.

My least favorites are Wild Honey Pie and Revolution Nine. I’m also not a fan of Don’t Pass Me By and The Continuing Story of Bubgalow Bill.

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14 December 2018
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50yearslate
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silverhammerYT said
My favorite song from the album is  Julia . I  especially like the vocals, they are very pleasant and it is a sweet song. I also like Revolution 9 .

i have to say that my least favorite is Back In The USSR , not because it’s necessarily a bad song, just that it’s very repetitive.  

When I hear “repetitive” and “White Album ” in the same sentence, I think of Wild Honey Pie a-hard-days-night-george-10

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14 December 2018
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Dark Overlord
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silverhammerYT said
My favorite song from the album is  Julia . I  especially like the vocals, they are very pleasant and it is a sweet song. I also like Revolution 9 .

i have to say that my least favorite is Back In The USSR , not because it’s necessarily a bad song, just that it’s very repetitive.  

Really, i think Julia is a total snorefest but i love Back In The USSR . Also, i don’t see how Back In The USSR could be repetitive.

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14 December 2018
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Dark Overlord said

Really, i think Julia is a total snorefest but i love Back In The USSR . Also, i don’t see how Back In The USSR could be repetitive.  

I’m going to respectfully disagree with you about Julia — I actually used to feel the same way but it has grown on me and now I quite like it. I agree about Back In The USSR , though– the lyrics are brilliant, and the only thing I can think of that’s repeated is the chorus, but it’s the chorus so that doesn’t count. 

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14 December 2018
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Can’t pick a winner……Loser? Don’t Pass Me By and Rev 9 have had about equal plays for me over the years. Probably it’s Rev 9, mainly because it takes up precious record time that could have been used to slot a couple of the great  songs John, Paul, and George had kicking around. I resent it. 

However, historically it seems to matter……It gives TWA a tweak many appreciate today……I’m so confused. 

14 December 2018
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My favourites are Savoy Truffle , Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey , Birthday , and Helter Skelter . Find the common thread there – they are all fairly heavy songs.

 

My least favourites: Revolution 9 (you either love it or hate it), Happiness Is A Warm Gun (don’t hate me), Rocky Raccoon (really, really don’t like this sort of music), and Wild Honey Pie (bad throwaway). 

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14 December 2018
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The Hole Got Fixed said

My least favourites: Revolution 9 (you either love it or hate it), Happiness Is A Warm Gun (don’t hate me), Rocky Raccoon (really, really don’t like this sort of music), and Wild Honey Pie (bad throwaway).   

How could we hate you, Holey?!? I used to feel the same way about Happiness Is A Warm Gun . I like it now though– not sure what changed.

List of Songs On The White Album that I Used to Hate But Not Anymore:

Dear Prudence

Glass Onion

Happiness Is A Warm Gun

I’m So Tired

Why Don’t We Do It In The Road

Julia

Sexy Sadie

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14 December 2018
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silverhammerYT
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Wigwam said
Can’t pick a winner……Loser? Don’t Pass Me By and Rev 9 have had about equal plays for me over the years. Probably it’s Rev 9, mainly because it takes up precious record time that could have been used to slot a couple of the great  songs John, Paul, and George had kicking around. I resent it. 

However, historically it seems to matter……It gives TWA a tweak many appreciate today……I’m so confused.   

I’ve always thought Revolution 9 was interesting because it was a sound collage meant to portray a Revolution .

Just thoughts though mccartney-shrug_01_gif

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14 December 2018
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50yearslate
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silverhammerYT said

I’ve always thought Revolution 9 was interesting because it was a sound collage meant to portray a Revolution .

Just thoughts though mccartney-shrug_01_gif  

True. I don’t actively dislike Revolution 9 ; it’s actually kind of interesting. It’s just way too long and a waste of space; think of all the great tracks they could have fit if they didn’t have Revolution 9 . I would like it a lot more if it was shorter.

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16 March 2019
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To me there are no songs on the White Album that shouldn’t be on there. Even those like Wild Honey Pie and Revolution 9 . It’s all great and THE MORE BEATLES THE BETTER! 

My favorites on the album of course include Happiness Is A Warm Gun , WMGGW, Dear Prudence , Yer Blues , Back In The USSR , I’m So Tired , Birthday and Everybody’s got something to hide except for me and my monkey, but there are more on this album that I feel are REALLY underrated. For example , Long, Long, Long is my favorite beatles song. George’s soft vocals and Ringo’s drums are a perfect mix. The song is so calming and yet not at the same time. The drums go perfectly with George’s vocals. Almost A Day In The Lifeesh. And the guitar is probably my favorite from any beatles song. 

Then Revolution 1 is extremely underrated. I do love Revolution (The fast version) but I prefer this version. The guitar is great and it almost has a campfire feel. Just another example of how great John Lennon is.

Julia is one of the best love songs the Beatles ever made. The guitar is beautiful and John’s vocals again are amazing. So soothing and of course like all Lennon vocals you can really feel the emotion in his vocals. Which is why John is my favorite vocalist ever. 

Sexy Sadie ‘s piano opening is wonderful.

And Good night is my favorite Beatles closer(besides A Day In The Life of course ) Ringo’s amiable vocals fit so well with this song. I will sing this song to my children for sure!

16 March 2019
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50yearslate said

silverhammerYT said

I’ve always thought Revolution 9 was interesting because it was a sound collage meant to portray a Revolution .

Just thoughts though mccartney-shrug_01_gif  

True. I don’t actively dislike Revolution 9 ; it’s actually kind of interesting. It’s just way too long and a waste of space; think of all the great tracks they could have fit if they didn’t have Revolution 9 . I would like it a lot more if it was shorter.

  

I’ve never thought of it like that. I do love Revolution 9 but now that I think about it they could have made it shorter. I know songs like Across The Universe could have made the album, which would have been a great addition. Let It Be I believe was being kicked around at the time of the White Album too. Child Of Nature would have been great as well

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