View Full Version : Beatles 'White' album
So, it's Ringo who has the first pressing of the individually numbered 'White' album, which he's now auctioning for charity. (Paul said John got it cause he shouted the loudest!). Maybe Yoko slipped it to Ringo after John's demise? The album, serial number 0000001 is expected to fetch $60,000. Serial number 0000005 went for $30,000 in 2008.
This prompted me to get out my mono copy - serial number 0112191 (bids in excess of £5,000 considered!). It's a great sounding album with some memorable tracks - 'Revolution', 'Glass Onion', 'Happiness is a Warm Gun' (showing my Lennon bias) But it never achieved the cult status of Sgt. Pepper or Abbey Road, probably because it's too long - some editing down to a single album would have helped, but by 1968 the band were, apparently, hardly speaking to each other so even the mediocre tracks were included ('Honey Pie' 'Rocky Racoon'). Ringo usually got one comedy-type song per album, but here he got the lovely 'Good Night', the last track on side 4, which perhaps suggests they thought this might be their last album. Thankfully it wasn't and we got Abbey Road before they bowed out after a staggering eight years when they changed the face of popular music.
It could also be argued that 'The white Album' was even more out there than Sgt Peppers............:peace:
It could also be argued that 'The white Album' was even more out there than Sgt Peppers............:peace:
You mean it had a lot more filler.....?
I like the album..got a vinyl and cd copy... Dont think its numbered though...sure my vinyl is a us copy... Not sure if i still have the cd as aint seen it lately.
You mean it had a lot more filler.....?
Nein! Some ov dem tracks are strange on white.
I take it back ive found my cd version..yay! Its the 30th anniverary edition..its numbered too..300k ish... Ive been trying to get my cds all together again so its now in with my other beatles stuff.
As Andy says..dunno what they were on but it worked well
The Black Adder
26-11-2015, 17:21
It could also be argued that 'The white Album' was even more out there than Sgt Peppers............:peace:
It was certainly the 'darker' side of psychedelia.
One of my fave tracks on that album is one that most skip passed, Revolution 9. I love the ways it's layered, so intensely manic, a peak of experimentation. It's like the album comes out from having a bad trip with those last songs.
I have a question I've wanted to ask for a while now. I've never heard the original mono White Album, but I have the mono remaster. I'm very used to the stereo version (been listening to it for about 40 years now); it seems to me that some tracks on the mono version are a different speed. If I recall correctly "Don't Pass Me By" was one of those.
Can anyone comment on this?
Edit: after I posted this, I found an article on the differences. Of course I would find my answer on the internet! I need another cup of coffee.
And indeed, there are speed differences, but the mono "Don't pass me by" is actually faster.
For those of you interested in the article: http://www.thewhitealbumproject.com/the-album/mono-vs-stereo/
Hugely over-rated IMO. Should have been reduced down to a single album. And "Revolution Number 9" is a good example of what should have been left out (progressive, experimental or not).
Also I think the recording quality could have been better - much better! :sofa:
It was certainly the 'darker' side of psychedelia.
One of my fave tracks on that album is one that most skip passed, Revolution 9. I love the ways it's layered, so intensely manic, a peak of experimentation. It's like the album comes out from having a bad trip with those last songs.
Well put Bev, it is very 'dark' l know what you mean, l still find it a great listen, however l am a Beatles fan
Helter:mental skelter! Anyone?:mental::scratch::eek:
The Black Adder
26-11-2015, 17:48
I have a question I've wanted to ask for a while now. I've never heard the original mono White Album, but I have the mono remaster. I'm very used to the stereo version (been listening to it for about 40 years now); it seems to me that some tracks on the mono version are a different speed. If I recall correctly "Don't Pass Me By" was one of those.
Can anyone comment on this?
Edit: after I posted this, I found an article on the differences. Of course I would find my answer on the internet! I need another cup of coffee.
And indeed, there are speed differences, but the mono "Don't pass me by" is actually faster.
For those of you interested in the article: http://www.thewhitealbumproject.com/the-album/mono-vs-stereo/
Yes, there are differences in the mono mix. I believe the mono mix was mixed by the band/producer. Just like Sgt. Peppers, that is also slightly different in the mono mix.
The Black Adder
26-11-2015, 17:51
It was certainly the 'darker' side of psychedelia.
One of my fave tracks on that album is one that most skip passed, Revolution 9. I love the ways it's layered, so intensely manic, a peak of experimentation. It's like the album comes out from having a bad trip with those last songs.
Well put Bev, it is very 'dark' l know what you mean, l still find it a great listen, however l am a Beatles fan
Helter:mental skelter! Anyone?:mental::scratch::eek:
lol.. same here. Except my name isn't, Bev! :scratch: - lol - I'm sure Bev is a lovely fan too, though. :)
The Black Adder
26-11-2015, 17:57
Hugely over-rated IMO. Should have been reduced down to a single album. And "Revolution Number 9" is a good example of what should have been left out (progressive, experimental or not).
Also I think the recording quality could have been better - much better! :sofa:
lol.. it was the 60's, man... it all just happened, nobody were 'really' listening.
Revolution 9 to me is a technological wonder of 'real' tape loops, line effects and overdubbing. The track itself isn't 'a song' and to many is rather a none starter, but I listen to it differently to most. Snippets of political statements and crazy tape winded reverse/music, very odd statements from the band, weird and dark... love it... great! :)
I think it made a good (and uncanny) image on what the world was like moving in to the 70's... bad acid flooding the streets, the cold war, Vietnam etc. A time of massive change and let's face it, it was all going a bit Bill Oddy.
Your right with the recording quality. It's good in places and shocking in others but I feel that they lost it a little before the down mix. Revolution 9 was done at Lennon's studio I think but could be wrong.
Yes, there are differences in the mono mix. I believe the mono mix was mixed by the band/producer. Just like Sgt. Peppers, that is also slightly different in the mono mix.
I haven't listened to the mono version more than twice, because I found the speed changes off-putting. Now I want to listen to it a little more closely, just to see what else I may have missed while I was distracted :rolleyes:
Thanks, Josie.
The Black Adder
26-11-2015, 18:14
I also remember Ringo saying (on Anthology) that the 2nd half of the album should have been a different album altogether. He said, it should have been 'The whiter album' (I think...), To him, it was too long and I kind of agree, it did lose steam. Still great though.
lol.. same here. Except my name isn't, Bev! :scratch: - lol - I'm sure Bev is a lovely fan too, though. :)
:doh: Sorry Josie:lol:
I've never liked the White Album it has a bit of a mish mash whats left over feel to it , but it also has a wonderful track in George's While my Guitar Gently Weeps .
While I have some sympathy of the idea of the white album being too long, I wouldn't want to deny them the opportunity to experiment in longer form. Looking at the tracklist, I am not sure what I would cut out -- and I'm sure that's how George Martin, the band and the people at Apple/EMI felt when they come to put this together as an album. And whether it's Honey Pie or Rocky Raccoon or Ob-la-di... or whatever (although I happen to like all of these) - when I listen to the album in its entirety it always seems to make perfect sense to me.
While I have some sympathy of the idea of the white album being too long, I wouldn't want to deny them the opportunity to experiment in longer form. Looking at the tracklist, I am not sure what I would cut out -- and I'm sure that's how George Martin, the band and the people at Apple/EMI felt when they come to put this together as an album. And whether it's Honey Pie or Rocky Raccoon or Ob-la-di... or whatever (although I happen to like all of these) - when I listen to the album in its entirety it always seems to make perfect sense to me.
:yesbruv:
You have a point Malcolm, and I suppose you can view the lack of uniformity of song types on Beatles albums as either a reflection of their open-minded, creative and adventurous approach to their art, or as a marketing ploy to maximise sales by appealing to everybody (something for the mums and dads!). Probably a bit of both, and partly due to the Beatles massive commercial success leading to them being given creative control over their output - a big achievement at a time when popular music was entirely controlled by record companies. Musicians can now operate with more independence, but this doesn't seem to have freed them up to experiment with different styles - who would dare make anything like Revolution #9 now, which I agree with Josie, is a ground-breaking and totally amazing recording.
In the past few days I've listened to the White Album a few times, and I can't think of very much I would do without. Maybe "Mother Nature's Son"...it's just never really clicked with me. And while "Revolution #9" is not one of my favorites, I do like it and I certainly admire the experimental spirit it shows, and I still believe it earns its place on the album.
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