White Album:pinnacle of Beatles & Music in general
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Topic: White Album:pinnacle of Beatles & Music in general
Posted By: earlyprog
Subject: White Album:pinnacle of Beatles & Music in general
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 18:33
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I think the Beatles - and music in general - peaked at ´the White Album´ - and that subsequent albums The Beatles' 'the Worst Album´(Let It Be) and ´the Best Album´(Abbey Road) could have be augmented to that first album to form a quadruple - rather than double - album without changing music history.
What do you think? any developments in Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr music or music in general after the White?
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Replies:
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 18:35
Let It Be is the worst? No way....------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: smartpatrol
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 18:44
 ------------- http://bit.ly/1kqTR8y" rel="nofollow">  The greatest record label of all time! |
earlyprog wrote:Posted By: smartpatrol
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 18:46
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The Beatles never made a bad album, but even if they did, Let it Be is absolutely not one. ------------- http://bit.ly/1kqTR8y" rel="nofollow"> The greatest record label of all time! |
Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 18:48
| Music peaking with the Beatles? I will make you listen to Monteverdi and Purcell, you uncouth barbarian!!! |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 18:51
Nice one Thor.  ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 18:54
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The White Album isn't even in my Top 3 Beatles records. Go figure. ------------- Crushed like a rose in the riverflow. |
Posted By: earlyprog
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 18:54
Heard of THe Beatles though :-)
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Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 19:00
Praying to a Viking god doesn't make one unable to enjoy opera. |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 19:04
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Let it Be is my favorite Beatles album. Bar none. White Album I'd place near the bottom of my post Rubber Soul list. Though there's a few tracks on it that I think are great. So that's what I think of your theory, earlyprog, sorry.  Though I realize I'm in the minority and everyone will agree with you. |
Posted By: earlyprog
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 19:09
....but always enjoyed Beatles....
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Posted By: earlyprog
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 19:16
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Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 19:20
I'm not sure, but I think that it's quite the contrary and that you just unleashed the fury of... Er, Winnie the Pooh? |
Posted By: earlyprog
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 19:21
| So "Let It B" is The Beatles´13'th release and only 13'th best ever album in history...go figure....;-) |
Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 19:23
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The White Album can be considered a very elaborate homage to a wide variety of popular music styles from Blues, Calypso, Soul, Metal, Folk, Pop, Rock'n'Roll, Chanson etc However, as brilliantly executed as these expert homages are, the very nature of pastiche means the Beatles are deliberately cribbing from existing styles and will of course be less groundbreakingly original than some of their other albums. That said, the likes of Julia, Dear Prudence and Sexy Sadie have no precedent in popular music in my view and represented freshly minted originals. Let It Be ain't a great Beatles album but it's certainly not their worst (Yellow Submarine might qualify?) ------------- 
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Posted By: earlyprog
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 19:27
^Great hearing from you ExitTheLemming 
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Posted By: earlyprog
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 19:34
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^IMO the White Album sums up 1967-'68 and directs the music into the future. (But please give my anothter ´The Beatles´ to guide me!)
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Posted By: smartpatrol
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 20:15
It means i'm so infuriated that my minded exploded ------------- http://bit.ly/1kqTR8y" rel="nofollow"> The greatest record label of all time! |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 20:44
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My theory is that the oft-maligned Revolution 9 is the pivotal song on the whole album. Without it, it's just a bunch of unrelated tunes. With it, the whole package takes on an air of chaos leading to inevitable apocalypse, with the closing Good Night sounding almost macabre in that context.
Even so, it's far from my favorite Beatles album. That honor would go to Hard Day's Night or Mystery Tour, depending on my mood. ------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 20:58
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^ the oft maligned Revolution 9 is such because a very bad imitation of Stockhausen will never cut it as far as innovation or pushing the boundaries go. Contrary to conventional wisdom, it was McCartney who had the avant garde wanderlust , not Lennon (whose first love was always very basic primal rock'n'roll) -------------
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Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 21:23
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My version of the White album - a single album. Dear Prudence Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da While My Guitar Gently Weeps Martha My Dear Im So Tired Blackbird Piggies Rocky Raccoon I Will Julia Mother Nature's Son Sexy Sadie Helter Skelter Honey Pie Cry Baby Cry Good Night Not sure how it works out time wise......At first I was going to juggle the track order, but I think I like the two sides like they came out. And now if you'll excuse me I'll be ducking the incoming tomatoes, eggs, and empties.....  |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 21:31
That's right on the money for me.....I would include 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps...' in that list of good original music. Revolver will always be my personal favorite with Pepper next. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: smartpatrol
Date Posted: March 28 2013 at 21:56
Personally I think it's just fine how it is. Almost every song is great ------------- http://bit.ly/1kqTR8y" rel="nofollow"> The greatest record label of all time! |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 04:45
I like it as it is too. It is the variety and the little gems here and there I like. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 05:02
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After Sgt Pepper, their albums went like this: Yellow Submarine - George Martin's album. White Album - effectively a compilation albums by four solo acts, sometimes playing on each other's pieces. Abbey Road - a great Beatles album. Let It Be - Phil Spector's album. I love the white album. (Magical Mystery Tour was not an album, it was a double single.) ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 05:08
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I disagree on your analasys. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 05:20
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ok then, only half of Yellow Submarine was George Martin's album ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 05:20
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I think there is merit in Stewart's thumbnail analysis if you just look at production, but for song-writing and playing I don't think it is that accurate. Most of the material that appears on those last four albums was pretty much contemporaneous (Let It Be was originally recorded between Yellow Submarine and Abbey Road). ------------- What? |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 05:29
I mean The Beatles album ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 05:38
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Maybe Sgt Pepper was more groundbreaking, because it was more unified. Or Rubber Soul, because then they were really entering a new phase in their music. Critics sometimes single out Revolver as their best album, their most unified effort and also very artistic. Me, personally, I'd say Sgt. Pepper. (But my personal favorite is Abbey Road)
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Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 05:43
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Back In The USSR, Dear Prudence, I Will, Long Long Long, Savoy Truffle - 3 Beatles Don't Pass Me By, Why Don't We Do It In The Road, Revolution 9 - 2 Beatles Wild Honey Pie, Martha My Dear, Blackbird, Julia, Mother Nature's Son, Goodnight - 1 Beatle Almost half the songs on the album were lacking all four Beatles, and 1-in-5 only had a single Beatle. ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 05:46
------------- What? |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 05:47
So who isn't on Back in the USSR? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 06:36
Ringo. Paul drums on it ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 06:42
Oh good. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Anthony
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 07:38
In the UK it was a double EP, in the USA it was a full album with the same tracklist as the CD version. ------------- Future prosperity lies in the way you heal the world with love (Introitus - The hand that feeds you) |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 07:41
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Their best period was from Revolver to Abbey Road. I think the white album is my second or third favourite, after Revolver and maybe Abbey Road. ------------- 
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Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 09:15
Strange about Yellow Submarine, as it is a rather "orchestral" album but it does contain one of my all-time favorite song "Hey Bulldog"  I guess there is no such thing as a poor Beatles album------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: KingCrInuYasha
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 10:49
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Rubber Soul to Abbey Road for me. I think The White Album was one of their better albums, though I'm reluctant to call it their best since, let's face it, that honor could apply to a large chunk of their output - particularly A Hard Day's Night, Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour, The White Album and Abbey Road. ------------- He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball! |
Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 11:20
It wasn't an LP where The Beatles come from until 1976. Capitol Records did it, one of those cash-in hybrids ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 12:43
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This album is often heralded the same way as The Stones' Exile on Main Street is - an eclectic loosely assembled record which offers up a multitude of different styles. That said, I don't think either of the two come close to being the peak of their respectable careers.
------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: DisgruntledPorcupine
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 20:08
| The only Beatles album I find more than just kinda good is Revolver. They just have so many bland tracks I find it hard to take a full album of them in every case other then that one. |
Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 20:42
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Revolver is my favorite and the pinnacle of their career as far as I'm concerned, with Magical Mystery Tour in second (yes, I prefer it to Pepper's), Rubber Soul, Pepper's, Abbey Road follow.
------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: DisgruntledPorcupine
Date Posted: March 29 2013 at 21:10
| Revolver is a perfect album I find. Every track is great. They really hit a good stride there. |
Posted By: Anthony
Date Posted: March 30 2013 at 03:58
Isn't that exactly what I posted? As far as I know, The Beatles come from the UK. ------------- Future prosperity lies in the way you heal the world with love (Introitus - The hand that feeds you) |
Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: March 30 2013 at 04:35
What the Beatles made was a double EP, what Capitol Records made was an LP. The Beatles did not make the Magical Mystery Tour LP, it was made by an american record company cashing in. That's what I mean. ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: March 30 2013 at 05:02
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^ you're both saying the same thing. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: March 30 2013 at 05:23
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Gotta love this place ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: March 30 2013 at 06:04
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I like the white album and let it be, but if you stop here there and not everywhere, you've missed out on a lot of great albums. However, it might make musical life much simpler... ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: March 30 2013 at 06:09
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The "doubles" - The Beatles LP and Magical Mystery Tour EP - are, (without a shadow of doubt), my two favourite Beatles releases - the former because it is an unrestrained extravagance and the latter because it isn't. ------------- What? |
Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: March 30 2013 at 06:14
Like that makes any sense at all, disciplined or undisciplined, both are sublime for the former and the latter - ain't that a classic win win they can't lose lose scenario -------------
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: March 30 2013 at 06:34
With the benefit of hindsight it is easy to make glib assessments of what they did release, but I don't regard MMT as improved by the addition of the 5 non-album singles. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: March 30 2013 at 07:07
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I've got the MMT EP on CD, WTF??? ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: earlyprog
Date Posted: March 30 2013 at 09:37
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There is very little variation in their output after The White LP. Take all the The White LP and post-White songs, mix them and the outcome would be a very homogeneous quadruple album.
Lennon and McCartney peaked or rather stagnated on The White Album onwards. No or insignificant progression in their songwriting (from fantastic on The White Album over fantastic on Let It Be to fantastic on Abbey Road). Perhaps they were content with the style they had arrived at on The White LP.
Post-White they tried to add a little production flavour by using Spector and allowing George Martin more freedom but with limited effect. I suppose their music and perhaps music in general had grown up to become what and stay as it was in '68. Or they had become lazy?
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Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: March 30 2013 at 10:00
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Homogeneous? Just side 4 of the white album has an orchestra backing Ringo's lullaby ballad, Paul's 20s pastiche, and John's avant garde tapeloops, not to mention the rest of it. ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: NYSPORTSFAN
Date Posted: March 31 2013 at 12:50
Ian MacDonald claims this track is actually superior as art to anything by Stockhausen. |
Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: April 01 2013 at 07:06
The important thing to remember is that lots more people actually heard Revolution 9 than anything by Stockhausen, simply because the band were hugely popular. I imagine more future avant garde musicians were led to Stockhausen from Revolution 9 than from any other piece of music. ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: Gerinski
Date Posted: April 01 2013 at 08:22
| From a Prog frame of mind perspective, the White Album is grossly disjointed and lacking any flow or coherence, but it contains great songs anyway, one of my favourite Beatles albums even if I reckon its weaknesses. It's too bad they did not attempt to build up a concept album with it, it could have been the 1960's The Wall. |
Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: April 01 2013 at 08:49
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could've been the 60s Wall?Why would they stoop so low? (allowing that when the White Album came out, Pink Floyd had only made two albums, I mean) They made a terrific double album. If they'd just released a single album then they would've released an extra album of the other songs within a short time, and then we wouldn't have the Let It Be songs. 'From a prog frame of mind perspective' is irrelevant for a pre-1969 album by a pop group. ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: April 02 2013 at 07:03
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The Beatles is my favourite album of theirs, for its sense of humour, eclectic mix of styles and general brilliantness, however Revolver is probably their peak in terms of an overall album.
The Beatles, as others have said, is the work of a disintegrating band and is basically 4 solo albums (or 2.5 solo albums and 1 solo track).
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: April 02 2013 at 07:05
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Posted By: LinusW
Date Posted: April 02 2013 at 08:24
Yeah, I'd gladly skip Honey Pie as well .I love the White Album. I love its free and fun eclecticism and wealth of material, regardless of the status of the band at the time. Most of what I considered duds initially have grown on me...Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da and Honey Pie are still rather painful experiences though. I'd include it in my top 3 alongside Abbey Road and Revolver. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/LinusW88" rel="nofollow - Blargh |
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: April 02 2013 at 12:38
THis is more or less what I think. They are certainly my favourite Beatles albums. The White Album has been my favourite for years and MMT has recently grown on me. One difference is that I love Baby you're a Rich Man but because it reminds me of being very young and listening to my Uncle's single over and over and over again! And not having heard the EPs i'm not over bothered about the inclusion of the singles.
I wouldn't change a thing about The White Album not a duff track on it. I even love.... oh well I won't say as it doesn't matter.
(AND because what flipping right have I got to change it anyway) ------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: Eria Tarka
Date Posted: April 02 2013 at 14:47
I agree with all of this
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Posted By: earlyprog
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 06:52
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The lack of development in Lennon's and Macca's music after The White Album coincides with the replacement of the Lennon/McCartney collaboration with the Lennon/Ono partnership. I guess Paul and John needed each other to progress individually and together.
Just an idea and for the record.
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 07:15
Except Lennon and McCartney was a financial partnership, not a colaboration - they rarely worked together on a song - the basic maxim with Lennon & McCartney songs is "whoever sang it wrote it" (who smelt it dealt it) ------------- What? |
Posted By: earlyprog
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 07:26
| Lennon and McCartney worked closely together on songs in the early years, rarely in the latter years. In fact they worked together more closely than often portrayed in public. This is documented in Lennon's first wife Cynthia's book "John". |
Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 07:33
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One of my favourite stories about Lennon & McCartney is from the late 70s. Paul was visiting John, and they were watching "Saturday Night Live" on TV. On the show, an offer of $200 dollars was made for The Beatles to reunite and perform on the show. Knowing the TV studio was local, Paul and John considered actually going down there and doing it, but decided they were too tired. One of those little 'what if' moments in music history - if only they hadn't been too tired! Back to The White Album - what does everyone think of Richard Hamilton's artwork?
------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 07:43
Whatever - it was long time before November 1968 so your claim that "[t]he lack of development in Lennon's and Macca's music after The White Album coincides with the replacement of the Lennon/McCartney collaboration with the Lennon/Ono partnership" is not wholely accurate. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 07:49
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Comments on this album by the Fab Four: http://www.beatlesinterviews.org/dba09white.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.beatlesinterviews.org/dba09white.html ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: earlyprog
Date Posted: April 04 2013 at 18:42
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Admittedly, I announced a quadruple Beatles album (edit - for clarity:) . However, forgetting all the singles (gosh, they were really, really great.......hmmm), I probably should have made it a pentagon (?) album.
Hence, before annoucing my 5 albums, I would like to ask for yours? Or at least your conceptual pentagon (OR is that ""pentagle?) album (perhaps along the lines: 1 Rockers 2 Folk Rockers 3 Vaudeville and other Awkwards 4 Out of the extraordinary (prog?).
Assumption: exclude the Lady Madonna single! or what do you think? this is more like Magical Myszrey To (obviously, I´m drunk by now!)...but very ...I forgot what I was going to say.....Chers!
I Love You...ćřĺ
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: April 05 2013 at 06:49
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Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: April 05 2013 at 07:02
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meanwhile, back in 1968.... 3rd? Behind Nirvana?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albums_considered_the_greatest_ever" rel="nofollow - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albums_considered_the_greatest_ever ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: April 05 2013 at 07:16
The Model "T" is 3rd? Behind The Beetle??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bestselling_automobiles" rel="nofollow - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bestselling_automobiles ------------- What? |
Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: April 05 2013 at 08:34
meanwhile, back in the insect kingdom...  Beetles at Number 1!!! http://top5ofanything.com/index.php?h=5c7454eb" rel="nofollow - http://top5ofanything.com/index.php?h=5c7454eb ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: April 06 2013 at 17:54
What art work....? ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: April 08 2013 at 18:31
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I can't stand the Phil Spector-ized original release of Let it Be...those cheezy strings ruin some great songs. I'll take the "Let it Be...Naked" release any day. ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: April 08 2013 at 19:01
^Naked is better....in more ways that one! 
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Posted By: ProgMetaller2112
Date Posted: April 08 2013 at 22:19
------------- “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” ― George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four "Ignorance and Prejudice and Fear walk Hand in Hand"- Neil Peart |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: April 09 2013 at 06:22
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: April 09 2013 at 06:27
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...if he embossed and numbered each one by hand ------------- What? |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: April 09 2013 at 06:56
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Actually I heard all the covers were made out of brown cardboard and he painted them all white by hand.
Or was it Tippex?
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