Better known as The White Album, this is undoubtedly
The Beatles most mature and diverse album. Clocking in at ninety minutes
(considered to be monumentally long upon release in 1968) every track is a
gem.
But how The Beatles were holding it all together at
this time remains a complete mystery. With all this talent and the massive
ego’s they had developed, it’s a wonder that any songs were recorded
by the whole band at all, and to come out with an album of such brilliance
is nothing short of miraculous.
Each song spotlights one member of the band, with
obviously Lennon and McCartney supplying the bulk of the material,
although by now it was quite clear that that they were writing separately.
Listen to the diversity on this album, from the cynicism of Lennon, “Yer
Blues”, McCartney’s natural sense of pop on “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”,
Ringo’s whimsical take on country rock in “Don’t Pass Me By” to
George Harrison’s sublime “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (with a
young Eric Clapton questing on lead guitar, and simply lighting up the
song with his sublime soloing). With four such different characters in a
band, how on earth could anything be boring, and let me assure you it
doesn’t get that way.
The
Beatles really rocked as well, with such classics as “Birthday”,
“Back In The U.S.S.R” (since when, this has become the perfunctionary
encore for any rock band playing in the Soviet Union) and “Helter
Skelter”. “Helter Skelter” became a live staple for many major rock
bands including Aerosmith, Motley Crue, and Ian Gillan, but none of them
could match the amazing performance by Paul McCartney, his vocals on this
track leaving you wondering how he ever uttered another syllable, mind you
the same could be said of his hilarious “Why Don’t We Do It In The
Road”.
Of course you then had the other end of the scale with
some powerful ballads, like Lennon’s tribute to his mother in
“Julia” - probably the most moving track amongst this collection. Or
McCartney’s acoustic “Blackbird”. Then taking it into another realm,
there’s Lennon’s very avant-garde “Revolution 9”, not really a
song, more a collection of sound bites; not only a forerunner of things to
come, it’s amazing how well this fits in with the other songs here.
George
Harrison really comes of age during the recording of this album, not only
for his guitar playing, but also his song writing abilities. His searching
“Long Long Long” is possibly the most underrated and memorable track
here. His contribution was all the more remarkable considering he left
“The Beatles” during the recording sessions. Of course he came back
again, leaving it up to Paul McCartney to do the dirty deed to the Fab
Four two years later.
Sadly, as The Beatles no longer did live concerts, none
of the songs were ever played live by the band themselves. Giving them a
live concert outlet might have kept them together for a while longer, and
who knows where that might of led. As after they broke up, although some
of their solo work was nothing short of brilliant (Lennon’s
“Imagine”, McCartney “Band On The Run” and Harrison’s “All
Thing Must Past”, sorry Ringo no mention for “Thomas The Tank
Engine”) they were never destined to reach these dizzying heights again.
From Beach Boy knock offs to reggae and the unknown
this has it all, and if you’re only allowed one album on your desert
island make sure this is it. Some records have legend written all over
them, this is one.
Musicians
John Lennon - Guitar, Vocals & Dodging tape machine
Paul McCartney - Bass & Vocals
George Harrison - Lead guitar & Vocals
Ringo Star - Drums & Vocals
Track Listing
Disc 1
1. Back In The U.S.S.R.
2. Dear Prudence
3. Glass Onion
4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
5. Wild Honey Pie
6. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
7. *While My Guitar Gently Weeps
8. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
9. Martha My Dear
10. I’m So Tired
11. Blackbird
12. *Piggies
13. Rocky Raccoon
14. + Don’t Pass Me By
15. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?
16. I Will
17. Julia
Disc 2
1. Birthday
2. Yer Blues
3. Mother Nature’s Son
4. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
5. Sexy Sadie
6. Helter Skelter
7. *Long, Long, Long
8. Revolution 1
9. Honey Pie
10. *Savoy Truffle
11. Cry Baby Cry
12. Revolution 9
13. Good Night
Many
years ago, when visiting Thailand for vacations, I always purchased a
restaurant guide and would spend some time in the hotel working out which
places at which we would dine. The beginning of the holiday it was the
more expensive venues and the cheap places at the end! Unfortunately, it
was always Bangkok based and you were lucky to get half a dozen Pattaya
restaurants as an ‘afterthought’.
When
Mr. Deeds visits New York City, the tabloid television and newspaper
journalists work to spread gossip about the city’s most eligible
bachelor. Mr. Deeds of course has no idea what kind of shark’s pool he
is swimming in. In this version of the movie the ambitious female reporter
is Pam Dawson (Winona Ryder), who poses as a fellow wide-eyed
out-of-towner. But while trying to dupe a naive Mr. Deeds into tabloid
news, she falls for him and has a change of heart so decides to help save
him from the urban wolves.
Mott’s CD review: