The Beatles White Album

It was forty years ago this week when The Beatles released The White Album. Music collectors regard this double album to be the band’s best work, and many publications list it in their Best Top 10 or Top 20 Albums of all Time.

Regardless of your opinion, this album continues to endear The Beatles to millions of fans worldwide. And there’s always interesting stories surrounding some of these wonderful songs. This was the first album issued on the Apple record label, which was a brand new business venture in 1968.

I just dug out my copy of the LP with The BEATLES embossed on the glossy white cover, with the number stamped in the bottom right corner; A 3025387. It’s ironic that most of the songs are credited to the writing team of Lennon/McCartney, when it’s common knowledge that most of these great songs were recorded separately by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and even Ringo Starr got his own song included on the album, “Don’t Pass Me By,” credited to Richard Starkey.

It’s hard to pick one favorite song, there’s so many great ones here, but among my favorites are:
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” one of my favorite Harrison tunes with guest guitarist Eric Clapton;
“Blackbird” one of McCartney’s best acoustic songs, and a favorite for guitar pickers;
“Yer Blues” has a fantastic groove to it that Lennon really poured his soul into;
“Honey Pie” has a great oldies feel to it, like going back to a dance hall in the forties.

My vintage double LP still has the original poster inside. Of course, it’s mostly worn out from years of handling, but like the records inside, they’re like old friends coming back home for a visit.

Resources:
beatles.com

en.wikipedia.org

Friday, November 21st, 2008
Written by: Mike Withrow