Stand Out Albums has been a showcase for my favorite albums across the vast performers that I love. Covering a little bit of everything from classic rock to country hits, much like Key Movies of My Life, it has been the albums that shaped me. This year, I am going to take a slightly different approach by discussing the discographies of my favorite musicians, album by album, in release order.
Today we explore the Beatles’ 10th studio release with an album simply titled The Beatles, but one everyone else knows as ‘The White Album’.
Why This Album?
The White Album is a complete and total mess but that is part of it’s joy. Unlike the cohesive nature of the previous albums, this release really shows the turmoil that was brewing behind the music at the time. You have to keep in mind, by this time these guys had been playing together for nearly a decade and, in that time, had each evolved in different ways. Paul tended to keep more traditional, John wanted to experiment with new sounds (and new drugs), George was into Eastern Religions and sounds and Ringo, well the guy just wanted everyone to be happy. So, needless to say, this group of personalities were having some issues but still managed to release an insane double album released by their very own Apple Studios.
I have always loved the sheer passion and raw feel of The White Album. This is a minimally produced record that is filled with emotion in every track. From the joy in ObLaDi to the sorrow of Julia, this is the album where the Beatles themselves explore not only their musical abilities but also share their emotional depths with their fans. There is introspection, fun, insanity and pure joy running rampant through this album and, despite the circus of insanity it forces this album to become a cohesive. This album is as if someone threw together a dozen Lego kits and ended up building a perfect recreation of the Winchester House, sure there are some staircases that lead nowhere and doors that open to a void, but that is all part of the fun.
Favorite Tracks
Being a double album there is a lot to choose from but I will keep it to three as I usually do.
The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill. There is something about this song that I find nothing but pure joy in. It is a tale of a game hunter who in actuality is a big chicken but uses his bravado to cover it up. It’s pretty fantastic.
Savoy Truffle. I love food and this song is all about enjoying the decadence of any and all food that you want. For years I wondered what a Savoy Truffle was and where I could find this treat that was so beloved by these guys. To this day, I still don’t know what it is, but one can always guess.
My all time favorite track is a George Harrison tune called While My Guitar Gently Weeps. This one hits me hard every time I hear it and, while the album version is tremendous, the acoustic version with the extra lyric is Devine. I’ll provide them both for you.
Ok, Where do I get it?
As usual, grab a copy here or just give it a spin on Spotify. Either way, this is a tremendous one that you should give a go.
Late to the Game 3/9/2021
Thanks for reading, If you would like to read more reviews I have a weekly series called Key Movies Of My Life that comes out every Thursday and also check out some retro tv goodness with the ongoing series Retro TV Reviews here. You can also find a few of my other Music Reviews Here.
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