The Beatles (The White Album) by The Beatles
Performed by: The Beatles
Editorial Reviews:
Better known as the "White Album," this was meant to be the record that brought them back to earth after three years of studio experimentation. Instead, it took them all over the place, continuing to burst the envelope of pop music. Lennon and McCartney were still at the height of their powers, with Lennon in particular growing into one of rock's towering figures. But even McCartney could still rock, and the amazement on "Helter Skelter" was that he had vocal cords at the end. From Beach Boys knock-offs to reggae and to the unknown ("Revolution #9"), this has it all. Some records have legend written all over them; this is one. --Chris Nickson
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Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating:
Summary: The best album ever by anyone, including the Beatles.
Comment: This album is perfect, and it's imperfection makes it that way. If you could only own one album, this is it. It has it all. It's influence is incalculable. Sell everything you own, and just listen to this. Really.
Customer Rating:
Summary: the beatles White Album
Comment: Received the CD in excellent condition. Price was outstanding--very affordable. The wait was a little long having been shipped from Czechoslovakia. Still, it was worth the wait. Thanks.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Fine Piece Of Work
Comment: Aside from "Number Nine", there are no "clinkers" on this. To answer one reviewers question, yes, as a matter of fact, there were times in '68 that I personally DID wake up & "just have to listen to "Why Don't We Do It In The Road"" (just as there were times I just had to listen to "Jigsaw Puzzle"). Like another reviewer, I also got the White Album for Christmas '68. Is this album the greatest of The Beatles releases? A silly question, if you ask me. To my ears, that would be "Revolver", & Sgt. Pepper would be third or fourth on the list. That said, I realize that it's a VERY subjective question with no "right" answer. If you're looking for the most eclectic album, one that displays the widest range of the combined songwriting skills of the Fab Four, I'd say this is the obvious choice. Is every song a "masterpiece"? Hardly, but on the other hand, I wouldn't judge any of the songs, save the aforementioned (and very experimental) "Number Nine", to be "clinkers". It's as fine piece of work as any produced in the '60's, and better than most. Certainly on a par with "Beggers Banquet", which I also judge as one of the best of the '60s.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Best album of all times...
Comment: When McCartney goes from "I Will" to "Helter Skelter" ...and then creates something like "BlackBird", while Lennon adds "Happiness is a warm gun" and George "While my guitar gently weeps" anyone could argue this is not only a masterpiece but also the best album of all times.
Customer Rating:
Summary: If The White Album didn't exist, it would be necessary to invent it
Comment: At the end of "Glass Onion" is when you know you are in for something unique and special from the Beatles on The White Album. The end of the song features a slow, piercing violin meshed with a "dink, dink, dink" sound that prepares the listener by saying "Okay, we are going to do something different and we are going to lay it all on the line for you, so be ready." Although I believe Revolver to be the quintessential Beatles album because of its mastery of the balance of art and pop, I believe The White Album to be the very best Beatles album of them all because it has aged the best. Paul himself said, "It stood up, but it wasn't a pleasant one to make." Admit it, Sgt. Pepper sounds like a 1967 album, (which doesn't necessarily hinder its greatness) but The White Album does not sound like a 1968 album. It rocks, but most importantly, it experiments. For a pop group of the Beatles' magnitude, making a double album was a brave move indeed. But with all of their massive success, what did they have to lose? They finally came to realize that making music isn't supposed to be fun, it is supposed to be an adventure and make you push yourself beyond your limits. There is no conceptual theme, just a bravura of eclectic styles and genres boldly bouncing off each other. Trust me, the Beatles tried EVERYTHING on here: rock, pop, blues, chamber hall, vaudeville, Rodgers/Hammerstein-style orchestration, avant-garde experimentation, folk rock, surf rock...and "Helter Skelter" might be the first heavy metal song ever recorded! Who knew the Beatles had it in them? Not the teenyboppers of 1964, that's for sure. This album perfectly illustrates the evolution of the Beatles. The only thing missing is band unity, but no worry - the magic that pays off in the risk-taking more than compensates. Here's the best part: despite all the ground that is being covered, there are no bad songs to be found! For my tastes however, "Obla-Di, Obla-Da" and "Why Don't We Do It In the Road?" are just okay to me. The former has a nice catchy piano melody, but the lyrics are somewhat trite and the latter is very repetitive, although it must be noted that Paul sings each verse in a different fashion and the short length of the song saves it from oblivion (you might not notice Paul singing each verse differently until about the third or fourth time of listening to it). The notoriety surrounding "Revolution 9" is unjust. There have been better avant-garde recordings and there have been worse. Say what you will about "Revolution 9", but the chronology of "Cry Baby Cry", "Revolution 9", and "Good Night" is, to my ears, perfectly sequenced. "Julia" is John's most sentimental moment (it is an ode to his mother who died in a car crash) and ranks as one of the most profoundly moving exercises in catharsis ever recorded, with opening lyrics so emotional, you can't help but be touched by it. The White Album contains some of John's most personal and best songs, which is another reason it is a must-have for any great rock collection. The irony of The White Album is that the best song might be George's! "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", featuring Eric Clapton on lead guitar, is a stunning classic in every sense of the word and only gets better after repeated plays. It is sheer perfection from a guitar and melody standpoint. There is a certain mystique that surrounds The White Album while you're listening to it that the other Beatles albums don't really possess. It's really hard to describe. This is the kind of album that leaves you itchy with anticipation for what will come next and, quite frankly, you can't ask for more out of music than that. A+
EAN: 0077774644327
Label: Capitol
Manufacturer: Capitol
Number Of Discs: 2
Publisher: Capitol
Release Date: 1990-10-25
Studio: Capitol
 | Format: Audio CD List Price: $34.98 Our Price: $21.99 Your Save: $ 12.99 ( 37% ) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Customer Rating:  |
Editorial Reviews:
Better known as the "White Album," this was meant to be the record that brought them back to earth after three years of studio experimentation. Instead, it took them all over the place, continuing to burst the envelope of pop music. Lennon and McCartney were still at the height of their powers, with Lennon in particular growing into one of rock's towering figures. But even McCartney could still rock, and the amazement on "Helter Skelter" was that he had vocal cords at the end. From Beach Boys knock-offs to reggae and to the unknown ("Revolution #9"), this has it all. Some records have legend written all over them; this is one. --Chris Nickson
If you like "The Beatles (The White Album) by The Beatles , you might also like ...
 | Abbey Road |
 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band |
 | Rubber Soul |
 | Revolver [UK] |
 | Let It Be |
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating:
Summary: The best album ever by anyone, including the Beatles.
Comment: This album is perfect, and it's imperfection makes it that way. If you could only own one album, this is it. It has it all. It's influence is incalculable. Sell everything you own, and just listen to this. Really.
Customer Rating:
Summary: the beatles White Album
Comment: Received the CD in excellent condition. Price was outstanding--very affordable. The wait was a little long having been shipped from Czechoslovakia. Still, it was worth the wait. Thanks.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Fine Piece Of Work
Comment: Aside from "Number Nine", there are no "clinkers" on this. To answer one reviewers question, yes, as a matter of fact, there were times in '68 that I personally DID wake up & "just have to listen to "Why Don't We Do It In The Road"" (just as there were times I just had to listen to "Jigsaw Puzzle"). Like another reviewer, I also got the White Album for Christmas '68. Is this album the greatest of The Beatles releases? A silly question, if you ask me. To my ears, that would be "Revolver", & Sgt. Pepper would be third or fourth on the list. That said, I realize that it's a VERY subjective question with no "right" answer. If you're looking for the most eclectic album, one that displays the widest range of the combined songwriting skills of the Fab Four, I'd say this is the obvious choice. Is every song a "masterpiece"? Hardly, but on the other hand, I wouldn't judge any of the songs, save the aforementioned (and very experimental) "Number Nine", to be "clinkers". It's as fine piece of work as any produced in the '60's, and better than most. Certainly on a par with "Beggers Banquet", which I also judge as one of the best of the '60s.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Best album of all times...
Comment: When McCartney goes from "I Will" to "Helter Skelter" ...and then creates something like "BlackBird", while Lennon adds "Happiness is a warm gun" and George "While my guitar gently weeps" anyone could argue this is not only a masterpiece but also the best album of all times.
Customer Rating:
Summary: If The White Album didn't exist, it would be necessary to invent it
Comment: At the end of "Glass Onion" is when you know you are in for something unique and special from the Beatles on The White Album. The end of the song features a slow, piercing violin meshed with a "dink, dink, dink" sound that prepares the listener by saying "Okay, we are going to do something different and we are going to lay it all on the line for you, so be ready." Although I believe Revolver to be the quintessential Beatles album because of its mastery of the balance of art and pop, I believe The White Album to be the very best Beatles album of them all because it has aged the best. Paul himself said, "It stood up, but it wasn't a pleasant one to make." Admit it, Sgt. Pepper sounds like a 1967 album, (which doesn't necessarily hinder its greatness) but The White Album does not sound like a 1968 album. It rocks, but most importantly, it experiments. For a pop group of the Beatles' magnitude, making a double album was a brave move indeed. But with all of their massive success, what did they have to lose? They finally came to realize that making music isn't supposed to be fun, it is supposed to be an adventure and make you push yourself beyond your limits. There is no conceptual theme, just a bravura of eclectic styles and genres boldly bouncing off each other. Trust me, the Beatles tried EVERYTHING on here: rock, pop, blues, chamber hall, vaudeville, Rodgers/Hammerstein-style orchestration, avant-garde experimentation, folk rock, surf rock...and "Helter Skelter" might be the first heavy metal song ever recorded! Who knew the Beatles had it in them? Not the teenyboppers of 1964, that's for sure. This album perfectly illustrates the evolution of the Beatles. The only thing missing is band unity, but no worry - the magic that pays off in the risk-taking more than compensates. Here's the best part: despite all the ground that is being covered, there are no bad songs to be found! For my tastes however, "Obla-Di, Obla-Da" and "Why Don't We Do It In the Road?" are just okay to me. The former has a nice catchy piano melody, but the lyrics are somewhat trite and the latter is very repetitive, although it must be noted that Paul sings each verse in a different fashion and the short length of the song saves it from oblivion (you might not notice Paul singing each verse differently until about the third or fourth time of listening to it). The notoriety surrounding "Revolution 9" is unjust. There have been better avant-garde recordings and there have been worse. Say what you will about "Revolution 9", but the chronology of "Cry Baby Cry", "Revolution 9", and "Good Night" is, to my ears, perfectly sequenced. "Julia" is John's most sentimental moment (it is an ode to his mother who died in a car crash) and ranks as one of the most profoundly moving exercises in catharsis ever recorded, with opening lyrics so emotional, you can't help but be touched by it. The White Album contains some of John's most personal and best songs, which is another reason it is a must-have for any great rock collection. The irony of The White Album is that the best song might be George's! "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", featuring Eric Clapton on lead guitar, is a stunning classic in every sense of the word and only gets better after repeated plays. It is sheer perfection from a guitar and melody standpoint. There is a certain mystique that surrounds The White Album while you're listening to it that the other Beatles albums don't really possess. It's really hard to describe. This is the kind of album that leaves you itchy with anticipation for what will come next and, quite frankly, you can't ask for more out of music than that. A+
Technical Details
Binding: Audio CDEAN: 0077774644327
Label: Capitol
Manufacturer: Capitol
Number Of Discs: 2
Publisher: Capitol
Release Date: 1990-10-25
Studio: Capitol
