THE BEATLES [AKA: THE WHITE ALBUM]

Late November in 1968 The Beatles released a double album and although commonly referred to as The White album it was actually self titled and due to the plain white used on the cover the name has stuck. The album came with four nice glossy photos,one of each band member and a poster with a photo collage on one side and the other had the lyrics of each tune. The original vinyl release was numbered in sequence and was usually for each country where the album was printed.The actual songs throughout the album are not divided but follow on with minimum breaks.This was the first album to be recorded since the death of Brian Epstein and this is where the band really are coming to the end of the road but with all these issues another wonderful record was created and perhaps the most eclectic album in the bands catalogue.

With the sound of a jet engine the album commences with what could be described as a Beachboys influence with Back in The USSR. The first and only single to be taken of the album was Ob la di Ob la da and the flip in Australia was While my Guitar Gently Weeps and yet internationally it appears it was Julia. We got the better deal to say the least. Other singles were taken later but long after the album was released. One other single was also recorded but did not appear on the album. The first three sides of the album are considered the cream by the majority and with songs such as Glass Onion, While my Guitar Gently Weeps ( considered by this reviewer to be George Harrison's proof that he was a great tunesmith as well and could hold his own against the two big boys Lennon/McCartney)Happiness is A Warm Gun, Blackbird, Rocky Raccoon, Don't Pass Me By ( Even Ringo gets a shot), Why Don't We do It In The Road, Yer Blues, Mother Natures Son, Long,Long,Long( George again) and the blazing Helter Skelter and the rest of the songs are just behind in quality but with a Beatles album everybody will have other favourites and that only really shows the quality of the song writing from the band. Sexy Sadie could be pehaps the most dubious song on the first three sides.

On side four of the album which is considered by a lot of people as being patchy there are some absolute little gems contained within and Revolution 9 being one of them and with this Sound Collage created by John Lennon there is something quite original with its own atmosphere contained within and is really only the held together barely with the repitition of No.9,No.9 disliked by a lot of fans and considered their worst track but it is art and one which took the most time for me to enjoy of the album.Revolution 1 is the first version and although slower in tempo. Still another and not too popular tune appears to be the last song on the album which was Good Night but once again this was The Beatles and could be considered as quite a good finisher to the album as one should remember Double albums were considered extremly lengthy in time in their early days.John Lennon wrote it and Ringo did the vocals and even George Martin plays the Celeste. There a few other songs I have not mentioned on side four but none of them are poor but just indivdual members doing their own thing which really could describe how the album was constructed as the band was barely a band anymore but four indivduals working with George Martin.

Some musicians that particapted in the album were Eric Clapton, Jackie Lomax and numerous others. One mention though is how three of the bands wifes or partners( if you prefer) also contribute vocals on the odd track throughout excepting Paul. Patti Harrison, Maureen Starkey and of course Yoko Ono.

A masterpiece of course and a timeless one at that and the first album on Apple. The number on the album I used for the review which is mine is 34,800 issued in Australia. I was late buying my copy as $11.00 was not chicken feed at 10 years of age.