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Ranking all 30 songs from The White Album
10 August 2017
11.43am
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Pablo Ramon
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Flyingbrians said

sir walter raleigh said
Wow, Paul’s first song clocks in at the 11 spot. 90% John in the top ten.   

I think the White Album probably has John’s best Beatles work. a-hard-days-night-john-1

I find Paul’s contribution to be pretty mixed. paul-mccartney

Sorry Paul, but I’m a John fan. a-hard-days-night-john-6  

John’s White Album songs are packed with emotional content. Paul’s are well-crafted but on this album they just don’t feel as emotionally engaged as John’s. I would quibble over “Long, Long, Long ” which is one of my favorites, particularly the drum track. Of particular note on the White Album , though, are Paul’s contributions to the others’ songs – the piano part in the intro to While My Guitar Gently Weeps , all the overdubs on Dear Prudence , the “Fool On The Hill” recorder bit on Glass Onion , crazy good bass playing everywhere…

As always, the whole was greater than the sum of its parts!

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Flyingbrians
10 August 2017
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Dark Overlord
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Since we’re on the topic of Paul’s instrument parts on this album, i love how he plays guitar (not counting bass) on at least 11 of the 30 tracks. Also, i’m surprised Julia made it in your top 10 Flyingbrains.

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10 August 2017
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Pablo Ramon said

John’s White Album songs are packed with emotional content. Paul’s are well-crafted but on this album they just don’t feel as emotionally engaged as John’s. I would quibble over “Long, Long, Long ” which is one of my favorites, particularly the drum track. Of particular note on the White Album , though, are Paul’s contributions to the others’ songs – the piano part in the intro to While My Guitar Gently Weeps , all the overdubs on Dear Prudence , the “Fool On The Hill” recorder bit on Glass Onion , crazy good bass playing everywhere…

As always, the whole was greater than the sum of its parts!  

 Not to mention his mind bending piano line on Sexy Sadie . Although its a John song (and my favorite song of all time) the piano part makes it. 

Ranking all 30 would look something like this. 

Sexy Sadie

Happiness Is A Warm Gun

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

I’m So Tired

Yer Blues

Martha My Dear

Long Long Long

Blackbird

I Will

Dear Prudence

Honey Pie

Cry Baby Cry

Mother Natures Son

Glass Onion

Rocky Raccoon

Savoy Truffle

Birthday

Back In The USSR

The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Billl

Helter Skelter

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

Julia

Revolution 1

Revolution 9

Good Night

Wild Honey Pie

Ob La Di Ob La Da

Piggies

Why Don’t We Do It In the Road?

Don’t Pass Me By

 

I love all songs on the White Album

"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

10 August 2017
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Flyingbrians
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Dark Overlord said
Since we’re on the topic of Paul’s instrument parts on this album, i love how he plays guitar (not counting bass) on at least 11 of the 30 tracks. Also, i’m surprised Julia made it in your top 10 Flyingbrains.  

It took me a while to appreciate Julia but I love it now.  I’d say it probably has some of John’s most sensitive lyrics.

It’s also a very nice song to play on guitar. 

"And life flows on within you and without you" - George Harrison

20 September 2017
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This was a really hard one to rank. Even now, I’m not 100% certain on a few placements, but, this is as close as I’m going to get it for now.

 

1. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

2. Dear Prudence

3. Cry Baby Cry

4. Martha My Dear

5. Savoy Truffle

6. Long, Long, Long

7. I’m So Tired

8. Yer Blues

9. Honey Pie

10. Sexy Sadie

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

12. Helter Skelter

13. Glass Onion

14. Don’t Pass Me By

15. Revolution 9

16. Happiness Is A Warm Gun

17. Why Don’t We Do It In the Road?

18. Wild Honey Pie

19. Birthday

20. Piggies

21. Rocky Raccoon

22. Ob-La Di, Ob-La Da

23. Mother Nature’s Son

24. I Will

25. Blackbird

26. Julia

27. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill

28. Back in the U.S.S.R.

29. Revolution 1 (I prefer the electricrified version, & take 20, over this version any day)

30. Good Night

21 September 2017
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This is gonna be hard. I’m probably also gonna end up listing songs multiple times which will make my entire list meaningless. I’m also probably going to regret my order as it could change regularly. 

BEST

1. While My Guitar Gently Weeps  

2. Happiness Is A Warm Gun

3. Mother Nature’s Son

4. Dear Prudence

5. Sexy Sadie

6. I’m So Tired

7. Blackbird

8. Yer Blues

9. Martha My Dear

10. Back In The U.S.S.R

11. Helter Skelter

12. Long, Long, Long  

13. Everybody’s Got…

14. Julia

15. Birthday  

16. Good Night

17. Cry Baby Cry

18. Savoy Truffle

19. Revolution 1

20. I Will

21. Revolution 9  

22. Honey Pie

23. Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da

24. Rocky Raccoon

25. Wild Honey Pie  

26. Glass Onion

27. Bungalow Bill

28. Don’t Pass Me By

29. Why Don’t We…

30. Piggies

WORST

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. 

21 September 2017
3.42pm
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Ahhhhhh, don’t look at the post above this one, @Starr Shine?!

21 September 2017
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a-hard-days-night-paul-10

https://youtu.be/52nwiTs7bk8

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21 September 2017
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Starr Shine? said
a-hard-days-night-paul-10  

I know. I know. How could someone put Piggies dead last?

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The Hole Got Fixed
22 September 2017
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Dead Piggies can result in bacon so not all bad.

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I’m more annoyed that he confused Glass Onion and While My Guitar Gently Weeps a-hard-days-night-george-10

Just kidding, of course! Everyone’s entitles to their own opinion, whether it’s right or wrong!paul-mccartney-facepalm_gif

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Here’s my ranking:

 

1| Happiness Is A Warm Gun – Wonderful song, good lyrics and vocals and… well, everything.

2| Martha My Dear – Beautiful Piano, good singing, cool brass, love it.

3| Blackbird – Beautiful solo Paul tune, what more can you really say?

4| Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da – Wonderfully bouncy and cheerful, gets a lot of undeserved hate, but I love it.

5| Helter Skelter – Damn, this rocks. Basically a metal song, and I love it.

6| While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Beautiful and rockin at the same time, great George song.

7| Cry Baby Cry – Beautiful John tune, wouldn’t be complete without Can You Take Me Back.

8| Honey Pie – Always thought this song was underrated, great Paul tune.

9| Back In The USSR – This one and Dear Prudence always feel like two parts of the same song to me. Good rockin’ Paul tune.

10| Dear Prudence – Beautiful John Tune.

11| Long, Long, Long – Beautiful George tune, with a great ending to match.

12| Rocky Raccoon – Paul has a great American accent.

13| Sexy Sadie – Cool song, beginning sounds a bit like Imagine .

14| I’m So Tired – Good vocals, cool song.

15| The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill – Damn good song, I like the Flamenco guitar at the beginning.

16| Birthday – Totally rocks out, blasting this for every birthday I have from now on.

17| Savory Truffle- Rocks out, and I like the story behind it.

18| Mother Nature’s Son – Quiet and peaceful, good song.

19| Yer Blues – Rocks out pretty good, just can’t match up to the songs above this.

20| I Will – Pretty good, a simple Paul love song.

21| Revolution 1 – I prefer the single, but this version is pretty good.

22| Revolution 9 – Sets a mood, but much too long. 

23| Good Night – Pretty good, kind of generic, good vocals from Ringo.

24| Wild Honey Pie – Short enough to be funny without being annoying. Got more enjoyment from laughing at this one than I did listening to the songs below.

25| Piggies – Good, but kind of annoying, with the harpsichord and the pig noises and everything.

26| Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey- I have the same problems with this as I do with 28, they could switch places on my list easily.

27| Why Don’t We Do It In The Road- Boring and generic.

28| Julia – I respect it musically, but I can’t stand John’s vocals on this track.

29| Glass Onion – Boring and a bit gimmicky, but I don’t bother to skip it when listening to the album. Fine song overall. 

30| Don’t Pass Me By – I hate this song. Jangly, uninteresting, and annoying.

4 July 2018
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30: Wild Honey Pie (I still like the song)

29: Don’t Pass Me By (Not Ringo’s best effort)

28: Martha My Dear (Still enjoyable to an extent)

27: Good Night (Revolution 9 should have ended the album but this will do)

26: Honey Pie (Probably McCartney’s best rag time song)

25: Why Don’t We Do It in The Road (Nice little song with Paul and Ringo)

24: Rocky Raccoon (Meh)

23: Glass Onion (“The Walrus was Paul” still the best line)

22: Cry Baby Cry (The ending transitions well in Revolution 9 )

21: Piggies (One of the funniest songs by George Harrison )

20: Savoy Truffle (The most rocking song about sugar ever recorded)

19: Mother Nature’s Son (Nice little breather after the first two tracks on Side 3)

18: Revolution 9 (Love it or Hate it this track is pure madness like it’s out of Alice in Wonderland)

17: Long, Long, Long (Man that ending is creepy but I love it)

16: Sexy Sadie (Great “Wah-Wah ” harmonies by George and Paul and my favourite piano playing on a Beatles record)

15: The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill (Great opening transition played on the Melotron)

14: Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (You can hate all you want on this song but I find it an enjoyable McCartney tune)

13: Yer Blues (Probably the first emo song ever written)

12: I Will (Great Harmonies and Guitar playing)

11: Blackbird (Classic)

10: Julia (Beautiful Guitar picking by John)

9: Happiness Is A Warm Gun (Amazing and underrated)

8: Back In The U.S.S.R. (Great opening track)

7: I’m so Tired (Very mellow and great build up)

6: Birthday (A bright and heavy rocker)

5: Dear Prudence (Fantastic build up and fade out)

4: Helter Skelter (Down right insanity with amazing drums, bass and guitar)

3: While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Need I say more)

2: Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey (Nice rock beat with a really funny ending)

1: Revolution 1 (Great opening for the final side and a much better version of the final single version)

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5 July 2018
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The White Album is my favourite album of all time. I make no secret I’m a John fan, so I can’t help but put his songs near the top. Especially with the White Album , which was a really strong showing for him. If a song is lower down on the list, it doesn’t mean I dislike it, OK?

So here we go…

  1. Sexy Sadie
  2. Dear Prudence
  3. Julia
  4. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
  5. I’m So Tired
  6. Cry Baby Cry
  7. Glass Onion
  8. Revolution 1
  9. Yer Blues
  10. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
  11. I Will
  12. Blackbird
  13. Mother Nature’s Son
  14. Helter Skelter
  15. Birthday
  16. Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and my Monkey
  17. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
  18. Savoy Truffle
  19. Honey Pie
  20. Back In The USSR
  21. Rocky Raccoon
  22. Ob-La-Di- Ob-La-Da
  23. Martha My Dear
  24. Piggies
  25. Don’t Pass Me By
  26. Good Night
  27. Long, Long, Long
  28. Wild Honey Pie
  29. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?
  30. Revolution 9

1.The Beatles 2.Sgt. Pepper 3.Abbey Road 4.Magical Mystery Tour 5.Rubber Soul 6.Revolver 7.Help! 8.Let It Be
9.A Hard Day’s Night 10.Please Please Me 11.Beatles For Sale 12.With The Beatles 13.Yellow Submarine

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5 July 2018
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Not exactly a list of favorite to least favorite… I tried to take into account song complexity and innovation as well as melody, lyrics, and band performance (quality of the recording). It’s an attempt to be more objective than just listing the songs I listen to most.

1. Happiness Is A Warm Gun – terrific and innovative song… well recorded and love how each movement gets better than the last

2. Blackbird – original guitar style and chord choices… prefer the mono version as the sound effect placement is better and more effective

3. Martha My Dear – melodically complex– a mini pop concerto with it’s 3 movements… doesn’t deserve a hundredth of the hate it gets

4. I Will – fantastic melody and great performance all around, even down to the sung bass and percussion

5. I’m So Tired – one of John’s best vocal performances and a good band effort

6. Revolution 1 – I like this just as much as the single version (possibly more)

7. Sexy Sadie – nice melody, piano, and backing vocals

8. Dear Prudence – good song, amazing bass line… love the build at the end with the ascending guitar line chiming in the background

9. While My Guitar Gently Weeps – i think this song is somewhat overrated but a solid track nonetheless

10. Glass Onion – weird little song but love the strings & drums, plus that freaky ending… better recording than song

11. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide– like the previous song, not a great song but a great recording

12. Helter Skelter – the hardest song to place since I’m only in the mood to listen to it about half the time, but it’s certainly important

13. Back In The USSR – not a great recording (rhythm section is a bit off) but a good song

14. Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da– much maligned, but a great sounding record… perfect rhythm section and creative horn line.

15. Mother Nature’s Son – nice contemplative ditty… especially fond of the tympani

16. Savoy Truffle – horn section obviously makes the track… better recording than song

17. Cry Baby Cry – I like the part where the piano comes in, plus Ringo’s drum pattern in the 2nd verse is terrific

18. Yer Blues – great guitar work but I generally find 12-bar blues dull… also there’s not much melody, but the tempo change makes it livelier

19. Honey Pie – very catchy song, even if it lacks importance

20. Long, Long, Long – love the dynamics of this song and the different instruments fading in and out

21. Birthday – the electric piano part during the instrumental part makes this song for me… nice riffing and the “party, party” part is cool

22. Julia – never connected with this song– double-tracked vocals don’t sound great and it kind of bores me… rarely listen to it, but it’s decent

To me this is where the quality drops off… I don’t consider any of the remaining songs essential to the Beatles catalog

23. Rocky Raccoon – a decent song I occasionally listen to… the instrumentation (honky-tonk piano, harmonica, harmonium) adds a nice touch

24. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill – a mediocre singalong… best part is when Yoko sings (said no one ever!)

25. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?– more 12 bar blues… shows off Paul’s vocal range but it’s still nothing special

26. Piggies – I like the instrumentation, it’s the song itself that I don’t really care for… the last ten seconds (false ending) is my favorite part

27. Revolution 9 – way too long and pretty unnecessary… somewhat innovative for it’s time but I never listen to it unless I’m on drugs

28. Wild Honey Pie – more of an interlude than a song… it’s weird and unnecessary but hard to hate because it barely exists

29. Good Night don’t like much about this song… some orchestra parts are kind of cool… maybe I’d like it more if it were an instrumental

30. Don’t Pass Me By – difficult to choose between this and Good Night for last– came down to sound & instrumentation (not a fan of the fiddle)

5 July 2018
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With 30 songs, it’s the hardest album to rank. mccartney-shrug_01_gif

1.The Beatles 2.Sgt. Pepper 3.Abbey Road 4.Magical Mystery Tour 5.Rubber Soul 6.Revolver 7.Help! 8.Let It Be
9.A Hard Day’s Night 10.Please Please Me 11.Beatles For Sale 12.With The Beatles 13.Yellow Submarine

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6 August 2018
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Pablo Ramon said

John’s White Album songs are packed with emotional content. Paul’s are well-crafted but on this album they just don’t feel as emotionally engaged as John’s. I would quibble over “Long, Long, Long ” which is one of my favorites, particularly the drum track. Of particular note on the White Album , though, are Paul’s contributions to the others’ songs – the piano part in the intro to While My Guitar Gently Weeps , all the overdubs on Dear Prudence , the “Fool On The Hill” recorder bit on Glass Onion , crazy good bass playing everywhere…

As always, the whole was greater than the sum of its parts!  

Helter Skelter is the most emotional song on the album by far, followed by My Guitar Gently Weeps and Blackbird . John was absolutely rattling with drugs at the time so it’s hard to know whether it was the drugs talking or whether it was him. I find some of his songs ont the White Album tiresome and repetitive. Don’t like Paul’s American accent stuff much, don’t care for Piggies and Savoy Truffle , Don’t Pass Me By is corny. I enjoy the rest to varying degrees depending on my mood.

7 August 2018
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Saltie said

Helter Skelter is the most emotional song on the album by far, followed by My Guitar Gently Weeps and Blackbird .  

Interesting choice, why do you think Helter Skelter is the most emotional song?

For me, that title goes to Julia .

1.The Beatles 2.Sgt. Pepper 3.Abbey Road 4.Magical Mystery Tour 5.Rubber Soul 6.Revolver 7.Help! 8.Let It Be
9.A Hard Day’s Night 10.Please Please Me 11.Beatles For Sale 12.With The Beatles 13.Yellow Submarine

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7 August 2018
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Saltie
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Timothy said

Interesting choice, why do you think Helter Skelter is the most emotional song?

For me, that title goes to Julia .  

I think there is more to Helter Skelter than Paul writing the dirtiest, heaviest song to out who The Who. There is turmoil in his voice – 1968 was a year of change and upheaval for them (and the world). It’s not necessarily the best song, although up there, but it’s cathartic. As listeners, our emotional responses vary so widely from individual to individual, and even within ourselves, that it can be easy to treat emotions as some sort of competition.

I agree with you though about Julia . I overlooked it  – it’s a lovely song and one of my favourites.

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