Within their catalog album-wise I place it at top - Revolver's too consistent and brief, the debut lacks drugginess, Abbey Road's too respectable and the rest...whatever.
― facepalm death (rattled), Friday, 18 October 2013 15:41 (ten years ago) link
The fact that Z S responded with 'Thanks for doing that!' makes me worry that people might take my 'You're welcome' in earnest and think that I was looking for people to express gratitude that I had collated information from an ilx thread where people rank the White Album. So for the record my 'You're welcome' was meant to be a joke, the implication being that it would ridiculous to demand gratitude for doing such a thing. Sorry to Z S if his 'Thanks for doing that!' was also sarcastic.
― and when they don't pay a newsreader well, he tells lies on the news (bends), Friday, 18 October 2013 16:42 (ten years ago) link
I never realised people like 'Cry Baby Cry' so much, I always just thought of it as 'that one before Revolution 9', it always seemed like filler to me.
― and when they don't pay a newsreader well, he tells lies on the news (bends), Friday, 18 October 2013 16:44 (ten years ago) link
'Martha My Dear' is such a sad song! I think sad Paul McCartney is my favourite Paul McCartney mode. I read a discussion on the internet about whether the song is about Jane Asher or about McCartney's sheepdog, but surely the song is 'about' the breakdown of a relationship at some level, even if just subconsciously or whatever? I know some people don't like McCartney's music hall pastiche style songs but it really works here, I think the artificiality of the style captures this sense of communicating with someone you are used to speaking to intimately in a newly formal way that feels somewhat awkward and alien.And the way the jauntiness of some of the plays against how sad and needy some of the lyrics are- it's no longer appropriate for him to be open about the depth of his feelings with this person but there is this palpable desperation for them to remain on good terms, for the memory of the relationship to not be tainted. 'Don't forget me', there's this simultaneous knowledge that the relationship is over but also desperation for some part of it to be preserved in some way?
― and when they don't pay a newsreader well, he tells lies on the news (bends), Friday, 18 October 2013 19:08 (ten years ago) link
The 'When you find yourself in the thick of it, help yourself to a bit of what is all around you, silly girl' bit I always find poignant, it gets across this sense of still caring for someone but struggling to find the appropriate register to express this sentiment? The song makes me think of an awkward last meeting between a couple who are breaking up in a film. Sorry if this is all a bit too emo-Beatles.
― and when they don't pay a newsreader well, he tells lies on the news (bends), Friday, 18 October 2013 19:13 (ten years ago) link
martha my dear is garbage
― marcos, Friday, 18 October 2013 19:25 (ten years ago) link
honey pie is even worse
― marcos, Friday, 18 October 2013 19:26 (ten years ago) link
although bends i didn't mean to dismiss your interpretation! it might even help me enjoy the song a little mroe
― marcos, Friday, 18 October 2013 19:27 (ten years ago) link
Abbey Road's too respectable
What does this mean?
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Friday, 18 October 2013 19:30 (ten years ago) link
It's my favourite, by the way.
Can someone who likes Happiness Is a Warm Gun explain why people seem to like Happiness Is a Warm Gun so much?
― and when they don't pay a newsreader well, he tells lies on the news (bends), Friday, 18 October 2013 19:39 (ten years ago) link
I like the last part, the doowop pastiche.
― Victor Immature (WilliamC), Friday, 18 October 2013 19:44 (ten years ago) link
Honey Pie is crap, but Martha's v. good McCartney. Besides being a much better song, the simplicity of the production helps its stature (whereas the high-corn claptrap they saddled Honey Pie with kneecaps it even more). I like bends's analysis.
Happiness is notable for its incredible lyrical creepiness, unparallelled even for Lennon, and the dreamlike way it shifts between sections remains surprising for many listens. It's also an ace performance by the band (love Lennon's tuneful screaming in the final section!). I wouldn't put it tops in my list if I were to make one, and it's lost a bunch of its charm for me in the many intervening years since I first encountered it (as has most of the Beatles' output), but it's a singular performance. I'm not challposing when I say I think Revolution 9 is a catchy little number; it's one of the only tracks I think I'd feel the need to seek out & listen to again on this record, but of course that says more about my current tastes (which are leaning much more toward Tim Hecker than whatever's going on in power pop right now) than it does about the intrinsic worth of the track.
Does anyone know, did Rutherford Chang ever press that collage of hundreds of copies into a double LP like he threatened to do? I can't imagine he'd have succeeded in getting licensing for a commercial release, but I'd damn sure buy it if he did.
― Has talent, needs to figure out how to improve (staggerlee), Friday, 18 October 2013 20:15 (ten years ago) link
"Respectable" in this particular context I would say is referring to the 2nd side, how it's a suite? And there's other stuff as well but hey, AR is totally excellent imo and it's just my own twisted taste in music and misuse of the english tongue.
― facepalm death (rattled), Friday, 18 October 2013 21:08 (ten years ago) link
I normally hate music hall McCartney (as well as actual music hall) but I love 'Martha My Dear', bends otm about the sadness of it aand also the melody is just really good.
I started trying to do my own ranking and nearly all my favourites are Lennon songs, he was on fire around this time.
― Gavin, Leeds, Friday, 18 October 2013 21:26 (ten years ago) link
lol bends, my thanks were sincere. Every once in a while I do something for the internet that takes like 8 hours so I try to acknowledge the effort!
― reckless woo (Z S), Friday, 18 October 2013 22:34 (ten years ago) link
Beenlistening to this recently - it's pretty good!
http://i.imgur.com/CKxQ2rb.jpg
― three times a LAD (seandalai), Friday, 18 October 2013 23:41 (ten years ago) link
I LIEK IT LIEK THAT!OOOOOOHHHHHHH HA!I LIEK THIS KINDA HOT KINDA MUUUUUUSIC! HOT KINDA MUUUUUUSIC!PLAY IT TO MEEEEEE! PLAY IT TO ME HOLLYWOOD BLUUUUUUES!
^ I remember hearing this part of 'Honey Pie' upon listening to this album for the first time, and, I won't lie: I cringed. I don't mind the song otherwise, it's just this particular bit that I find a touch embarrassing. 'You Gave Me The Answer' from Wings' Venus and Mars does this style much better and in a far less cringey way than 'Honey Pie' or 'When I'm Sixty-Four' ever did.
― Dog Man Star took a suck on a pill... (Turrican), Sunday, 20 October 2013 13:26 (ten years ago) link
i love this album start to finish, incl honey pie. the combo of helter skelter paul and music hall paul suggests a kind of derangement that i cant resist
― shiny trippy people holding bandz (m bison), Sunday, 20 October 2013 15:00 (ten years ago) link
i love this album start to finish, incl honey pie. the combo of helter skelter paul and music hall paul suggests a kind of derangement that i cant resist --shiny trippy people holding bandz (m bison)
^^^ my new best friend, this guy gets it
― My question is primarily riparian (Phil D.), Sunday, 20 October 2013 22:59 (ten years ago) link
I always find 'Birthday' hilarious for reasons I can't quite put into words, I guess because it's so incongruosly amped up and twitchy.
― this is how a punch sounds, like ditch, like quitch (soref), Sunday, 20 October 2013 23:11 (ten years ago) link
Yeah, extended drum/tambourine break adorned with off-mike whoops and hollers are so weirdly awkward....It's as if they were imagining playing for audiences again, only with more 1968-style stretching out, and that drum break was earmarked as their "come on Cleveland, clap your hands!" moment.
― Sir Lord Baltimora (Myonga Vön Bontee), Monday, 21 October 2013 01:10 (ten years ago) link
afaic this record is lennon at his best and mccartney at his worst, generally i'm cool with both but paul was really stinking up the joint
― reeves garbles (flamboyant goon tie included), Monday, 21 October 2013 04:01 (ten years ago) link
'Yeah, extended drum/tambourine break adorned with off-mike whoops and hollers are so weirdly awkward.'
It's fantastic though, especially the bit where McCartney screams 'DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANCE!' I think it captures this particular type of jittery, giddy excitement really well.
― this is how a punch sounds, like ditch, like quitch (soref), Monday, 21 October 2013 09:19 (ten years ago) link
Long, Long, Long
Dear PrudenceHelter SkelterBlackbirdCry Baby Cry Sexy SadieI WillDon't Pass Me ByI'm So TiredObla-di Obla-daWhy My Guitar Gently WeepsJuliaMartha My DearHappiness is a Warm Gun ROCKY RACOONRevolution 9Revolution 1BirthdayThe Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill Mother Nature's SonYer BluesSavoy TruffleGlass OnionBack in the U.S.S.R. Honey PieWild Honey PieGood NightEverybody's Got Something to Hide...Why Don't We Do it in the Road
Piggies
― (emphasis Treeship's) (Treeship), Tuesday, 22 October 2013 05:27 (ten years ago) link
I am with you on the superiority of long long long
― reckless woo (Z S), Tuesday, 22 October 2013 05:35 (ten years ago) link
However I think you need to reevaluate me and my monkey. It's probably not a top 3 white album track or anything, but definitely one of the better ones
― reckless woo (Z S), Tuesday, 22 October 2013 05:37 (ten years ago) link
just finished re-listening to it. it's better than i remember, much like most of these songs. i like how the noisy cowbell-thing that plays intermittently through the song.
― (emphasis Treeship's) (Treeship), Tuesday, 22 October 2013 05:44 (ten years ago) link
*i like how the noisy cowbell-thing
― (emphasis Treeship's) (Treeship), Tuesday, 22 October 2013 05:45 (ten years ago) link
― this is how a punch sounds, like ditch, like quitch (soref), Sunday, October 20, 2013 7:11 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
haha totally
― marcos, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 14:07 (ten years ago) link
"Birthday" has the nervous energy of early 80d New Wave power pop. The Cars? Talking Heads? Feel like "I would like you to dance!" is almost on some proto-Devo tip.
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 22 October 2013 14:15 (ten years ago) link
The key to "Happiness" is definitely in that last section, with those gorgeous backing harmonies and Lennon doing some classic rock breakdown.
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 22 October 2013 14:16 (ten years ago) link
― shiny trippy people holding bandz (m bison), Sunday, October 20, 2013 11:00 AM (2 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
OTM.
It's impossible for me to hate on anything here, though, since I first heard it when I was three. I was scared of side 3, though (because of Ringo's blisters), and didn't hear those songs again until I was in high school.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 22 October 2013 14:22 (ten years ago) link
For whatever reason, I had the idea when I was a kid that self titled albums were greatest hits albums,so when I got the White Album (age 14) I took it as a chronological collection of hit singles. Of course, many of the songs were, but I recall thinking "man, the top 40 was really weird back in the 60s." Love this crazy bitch top to bottom, including the Esher demos.
― Liquid Plejades, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 14:53 (ten years ago) link
It's funny, I got this record for a birthday present as a kid, and there happened to be a little bubble in the vinyl that made playing martha my dear impossible... and as a result i ended up not hearing that song until 20+ years later when I was in a thrift store and it came on over the radio station they had playing inside. I was like "gee this is great, which paul mc record is this from?" and then i realized it was martha.
anyways i agree w a lot of what's been said about the album as a whole itt. the sequencing and segues are sooo good. and even though there are a few clunkers, plus some otherwise-good songs that have been kinda spoilt due to overexposure, the entire thing is really surprisingly listenable and also just sounds really good to me at this late date. kudos beatles.
― dell (del), Wednesday, 23 October 2013 04:36 (ten years ago) link
from my perspective as a kid it made for such a cool visual package, too. the poster with the lyrics (I remember poring over them and finding all these references that were completely unfamiliar and mysterious to me -- montelimar, sir walter raleigh, chairman mao) the pictures of them looking all scruffed out and druggy, the collage that was more downtown avant-garde art scene than the bright psychedelia of their previous stuff...
― dell (del), Wednesday, 23 October 2013 04:48 (ten years ago) link
surprised by the high ranking for Julia, that was the one track that made me go "woah.." listening to the Mono remasters through the first time. Anthology version of Cry Baby Cry is better than the album IMO.
― piscesx, Wednesday, 23 October 2013 05:17 (ten years ago) link
I'm trying to do a ranking right now and I'm surprised at how low I'm putting Julia. I used to really like that one but now it sounds a lil too twee for me
― dell (del), Wednesday, 23 October 2013 05:21 (ten years ago) link
Also think I might be the only one who really likes Revolution 1.
― dell (del), Wednesday, 23 October 2013 05:22 (ten years ago) link
i used to love it but now it seems smug and condescending.
― (emphasis Treeship's) (Treeship), Wednesday, 23 October 2013 05:28 (ten years ago) link
I was trying to think of what Long, Long, Long, reminded me of, and then i realized it's basically a blueprint for Third/Sister Lovers
― dell (del), Wednesday, 23 October 2013 05:38 (ten years ago) link
xpost I just really like the weird arrangement. I'm sure the lyrics would be annoying if I thought about them enough
― dell (del), Wednesday, 23 October 2013 05:40 (ten years ago) link
Mother Nature's SonMartha My DearBlackbirdCry Baby CryLong, Long, LongSexy SadieRevolution 1Dear PrudenceHappiness Is a Warm Gun Wild Honey PieHoney PieHelter SkelterJulia Rocky RaccoonBack in the U.S.S.R.I'm So TiredDon't Pass Me By Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My MonkeyWhile My Guitar Gently Weeps Glass Onion Piggies Savoy TruffleI Will Yer Blues Good Night BirthdayWhy Don't We Do It in the Road?The Continuing Story of Bungalow BillOb-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Revolution 9
― dell (del), Wednesday, 23 October 2013 05:43 (ten years ago) link
yeah as a song it's pretty good. i think there are interesting things with the tempo and time signature but i no longer have the vocabulary to describe these things. the politics of that song are shit though. misguided as movements like the weather underground and the black panthers were, they were responding to crises and acting out of a sense of urgency. it doesn't make sense to tell these people to "free their mind" because "everything is going to be alright." xp
― (emphasis Treeship's) (Treeship), Wednesday, 23 October 2013 05:47 (ten years ago) link
aw revolution 9 isn't that bad
― (emphasis Treeship's) (Treeship), Wednesday, 23 October 2013 05:51 (ten years ago) link
heh I know, I probably rated it that low b/c I was listening to it on cruddy laptop speakers and the panning stereo effects were annoying. said setup also might explain some of my other choices, oops
― dell (del), Wednesday, 23 October 2013 05:54 (ten years ago) link
other ppl on here could probably explain what was going on in lennon's head when he wrote that song -- i'm sure he must have discussed a bunch in interviews... but w/o researching it, my hunch is that a large part of it was his awareness of the influence he had over ppl at the time, and his uneasiness at them throwing themselves into violent situations, etc.
― dell (del), Wednesday, 23 October 2013 05:57 (ten years ago) link
did anyone genuinely sit down and listen to Revolution 9 again when the remasters came out? have to say i couldn't face it in mono or stereo. i've still no idea what's going on at the start either.
― piscesx, Wednesday, 23 October 2013 06:01 (ten years ago) link
i just listened to it (unremastered stereo mp3) on $10 sony earbuds and it was cool. i mean, it's a sound collage that feels influenced by horror movies. i suspect it would suck in mono.
― (emphasis Treeship's) (Treeship), Wednesday, 23 October 2013 06:11 (ten years ago) link
Revolution #9 is ace. Would be in the top half of my list if I made one.
― Luigi Nono le petit robot, actually, saves Christmas (seandalai), Wednesday, 23 October 2013 10:23 (ten years ago) link