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edit the white album

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 6:52 am
by sgt.null
it's 15 October 1968, Apple records calls you up (you are time traveling) and asks the current you to please edit the White Album down to one album. they inform you that any remaining songs will be issued on follow up album(s). what songs do you pick?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_(album)

that will tell you what was available to you at the time...

my album....

the Beatles : the White Album

Revolution 3:21
Blackbird 2:18
I'm So Tired 2:03
While My Guitar Gently Weeps 4:45
Happiness Is A Warm Gun 2:43
Dear Prudence 3:56

Helter Skelter 4:29
Cry Baby Cry 3:02
Why Don't We Do It In the Road? : 1:41
Long, Long, Long 3:04
Hey Jude 7:11

Revolution is the hard rock version that was released as the b side to Hey Jude. both were recorded during the White Album sessions. Something was started at these sessions but not finished until Abbey Road. Sour Milk Sea by George was also up for contention, but wasn't finished and given to Jackie Lomax instead.

sour milk sea - jackie lomax

side 1

back in the ussr : i actually like the song, mid-tempo rocker. but not the strongest song for the opener. but when cutting the album down it loses out.

dear prudence : amazing song. love the bass and john's voice as counterpoints. some great drumming by paul. not sequenced correctly. much better as the ending of side 1.

glass onion : it's not even a proper song, it's an extended song. john's response to those looking for clues to the 'paul is dead' mythology. but the band is so amazing that it still sounds great. sounds like john on bass?

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da : it starts to grate after a bit. paul can write these sorts of songs in hs sleep. very catchy. really like the instrumentation.

wild honey pie : the only time i have ever liked this 'song' is when the pixies covered it. other than that, dreadful.

bungalow bill : where to start? it is a sarcastic one-off that does not hold up. yoko's vocals are an intrusion. unecessary song all around.

while my guitar gently weeps : amazing song. among george's best songs. clapton fits it so well.

happiness is a warm gun : great song. john nails it here. great composition. i would erase a certain someone's bgv.

side 2

martha my dear : best song about a sheepdog that i know. but not strong enough to keep. a trifle, but damn they make it sound good.

i'm so tired : terribly underrated song. the chorus sells the rest.

piggies : ham-fisted preaching. george passed on something for this?!?!

rocky racoon : catchy. i like the song, but not strong enough to keep.

don't pass me by : yes, it's fun. but as usual with ringo, he is the weakest part of any song he sings. would have liked to hear paul sing it.

why don't we do it in the road? : second biggest surprise from paul on the album. only complaint is they could have stretched it a wee bit longer.

i will : fluff, catchy fluff.

julia : brings down the energy level. i know it was important to him. i would have let him keep it for a solo project.

side 3

birthday : a crass attempt to cash in.

yer blues : just don't think they pulled it off. not enough gutbucket blues. not strong enough to keep.

mother nature's son : like julia, just stops the album.

everyone's got something to hide : the only song i struggled with. i love it, but thought we had enough john for the album.

sexy sadie : just not strong enough. john has much stronger material to use.

helter skelter : paul's biggest surprise. wow, amazing. metal's ancestor? sequenced wrong, needs to open a side. a blast of pure energy.

long, long, long : underrated george song. love the chorus. ending needs fixing. love the piano.

side 4

revolution 1 : a slow version wasn't needed.

honey pie : speaking of not being needed...

savoy truffle : again, george chose this over something?

cry baby cry : the only great song on side 4, kind of proves they needed an editor.

revolution 9 : it's just not any good.

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 7:43 am
by finn
I could live without, "I'm so Tired" and "Cry Baby Cry" and at a pinch "Why don't we do it in the road".

But would not like to lose, "I will" or "Julia" or "Mother Natures Son" I'd also like to keep "Sexie Sadie" but don't know what you had in mind for the time limitations.

3 sides would have been ideal!

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:55 pm
by Lord Zombiac
my edit:
1. savoy truffle
2. I'm so tired
3. Helter Skelter (for this album it will be titled "Healter Skelter" and instead of white, the album cover will feature a picture of Charles Manson holding a hippy flower)
4. Dear Prudence
5. Back in the USSR
6. Glass Onion
7. Don't pass me by
8. long long long
9. Every body got something to hide except for me and my monkey
10. Revolution
11. Birthday
The new album must be given a new name. It will be called, "The Long Dark Road of William Campbell."
As you can see, the "non-rock-n-roll songs" (bungalow bill is a prime example) have been cut!!!!!!

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:57 pm
by Lord Zombiac
don't pass me by : yes, it's fun. but as usual with ringo, he is the weakest part of any song he sings. would have liked to hear paul sing it.
this song is about Paul's death, so it wouldn't be right for William Campbell to sing it.
For more on Ringo's singing, watch this:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkvrbXmbvNQ
I actually like "Don't pass me by" more than any other song Ringo has sung except "Photograph."

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:50 am
by sgt.null
finn - around 20 minutes per side.

zom - original title for the album was A Doll's House

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:48 pm
by Obi-Wan Nihilo
Helter Skelter: first heavy metal song or not?

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:07 pm
by Cail
Exnihilo2 wrote:Helter Skelter: first heavy metal song or not?
Nah, that'd be "Summertime Blues" by Blue Cheer.

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:11 pm
by sgt.null
Cail wrote:
Exnihilo2 wrote:Helter Skelter: first heavy metal song or not?
Nah, that'd be "Summertime Blues" by Blue Cheer.
agreed.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Cheer