THE BEATLES [AKA: THE WHITE ALBUM]

My association with The Beatles never included this album; I have never owned it, never listened to it through and through, barely even listened to any of its sides. But I've heard a lot of its music. Some songs are undoubtedly "classics" while others have never registered with me. I owe my Beatles association entirely to my mother. She was an avid fan up to this album. Then she stopped. She never purchased, owned, or liked another Beatles album after Magical Mystery Tour--until the "red" and "blue" greatest hits albums came out. As I grew into my own musical tastes, I found an aversion to this album due to its association with Charles Manson and the grizzly murders he ordered in California--about which Vincent Bugliosi wrote and made a film of. Not one to enjoy horror film, especially when it has true life significance--I was afraid to listen to The White Album until well into my adult years. Never having acquired the fanatic adoration of these music masters that so many have, I have to say that as clever as the music (and, perhaps, lyrics) are on this album, it just doesn't do anything for me. I've even found that covers of these songs as done by other artists have found greater enjoyment and preference to me than the originals. I know it has historical significance, but, as a musical experience, I can give it no more than "for collectors only" status since that is exactly where I would relegate its value.

I really don't care if I ever hear this album as I do not know if I would ever be able to reclaim the hours of time it would take to get to know it--especially should I dislike it enough to regret wasting such a great deal of time and energy on it. Suffice it to say, it came out on November 22 of 1968 and became a big deal to a lot of people. I hear it's a good album.