The Beatles
The Beatles (White Album) (1968)

review by: Glenn Pfeifer
Date: 12/23/00

This is insane, right? Submit a review on what may be one of the most reviewed albums of all time!? Any Beatle fan has heard all the stories....John having Yoko nearly in his lap throughout the entire recording...Paul getting angry that John wouldn't work on any other tunes until his opus "Revolution 9" was complete...4 separate photos in the album jacket indicating that all was not right in Pepperland...Charles Manson finding hidden messages in not only socially-conscious songs like "Piggies" but simple rockers like "Helter Skelter"....I could go on, but this is my review, dammit! It is my feeling that (without any disrespect to Sgt. Pepper & Abbey Road, two albums which I love and which are considered by the 'experts' to be the two 'best' beatle Albums) the White Album is the most enduring, most musically diverse recording The Fab Four released. I mean...everything a Beatle fan could want is in here! Paul trumpeting his penchant for a wide range of genuinely American musical styles like 'Hollywood' jazz on "Honey Pie" inspirational folk on 'Mother Nature's Son' delta blues on 'Rocky Raccoon' and straight-up rock'n'roll on 'Birthday.' John showing early signs of what would become his trademark instrospective lyrical style on 'Julia, Cry Baby Cry and Dear Prudence.' Shit, it's even got a decent Ringo vocal on 'Don't Pass Me By!'

"The Beatles" is the most complete album in their collection. It finds them at the height of their creative powers and, in light of the recent #1 compilation of their chart-topping pop hits, it is a refreshing true original. If your Beatles discs consist of greatest hits packages or anthology rarities, you need to own the White Album...and sing Ob-La-Di-Bla-Da!