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comment by b_b
b_b  ·  4635 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Ask Hubski: Your Top 3 Albums Off the Top Of Your Head..... GO!
Re: The White Album. It has many of favorite songs on it, probably more than any other Beatles album. In addition to the two you mentioned, which are masterpieces, I'll toss in Helter Skelter, Happiness is a Warm Gun and Julia. But in the end, I just don't think it flows as well as some of their others. Rarely do I ever listen to Revolution 9, for example. There are a couple others--Honey Pie comes to mind--that I feel break up the flow too much. I have no problem with anyone calling The White Album the best Beatles album, but for me, Revolver and Abbey Road just seem to have more cohesion. What do you think?




thenewgreen  ·  4635 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Great points, to be sure. I would never call the White Album the best "album", in the sense of it being a cohesive work. It's essentially a collection of leftover tracks from their trip to India to visit Maharishi. A damned good collection of songs but not an "album" in the classic sense.

I agree that Revolver and Abbey Road are probably two of my favorites, DEFINITELY Revolver. I would add Rubber Soul to the list though. Revolver always gets credit as the Album that transitioned them from "dance/pop" tunes to songs to be listened to. -For good reason, I could literally praise every song on it and its the obvious choice to carry the mantle as their "transition album". For No One -WTF? Could a song be any more painful to listen to for the broken hearted? The crunchy guitars on Taxman and And Your Bird Can Sing, Not to mention the lyrics or songs like Tomorrow Never Knows, are just fantastic.

BUT... I think Rubber Soul is really a great album to see the transition in a more pure form from bubblegum pop to songs like I'm Looking Through You, Norwegian Wood, Nowhere Man, In My Life and even George's If I Needed Someone. For my money songs don't get any better than "In My Life". They just don't. It's perfect.

So, for me Rubber Soul is there best work. But ask me tomorrow and my answer may be different, not because I'm flakey but because their work is just that damned good.

Wow, this was fun to think about. Thanks.

b_b  ·  4635 days ago  ·  link  ·  
I think the transition started with Help!--especially "I've Just Seen a Face" and "The Night Before"--even though a lot of the stuff is more akin to Hard Day's Night et al, Rubber Soul was their real coming out party, and Revolver just completely hit the nail on the head. I don't think I can name a piece of art that hits me harder than For No One > Dr. Robert.
thenewgreen  ·  4635 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Another argument on behalf of the White Album -Was the first song my daughter ever heard. I sang it to her the first night she was alive. Awesome stuff!! What a song. -Amazing percussion
thenewgreen  ·  4635 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Also, what do you think caio, bgood79 anyone else...? Best Beatles album?
sounds_sound  ·  4635 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Abbey Road is their most timeless although I have a soft spot for the White Album because it was my first encounter. But Abbey Road for sure. What other album brings you into its own space more than that one does?
thenewgreen  ·  4635 days ago  ·  link  ·  
    What other album brings you into its own space more than that one does?
I don't disagree with you but I think you could make the argument that Sgt. Pepper does. From the outset of Pepper you're literally invited to come and join them in an experience. "We hope you will enjoy the show". Abbey Road is a very special album though. They all knew it was the last one they'd make together. They made an effort to record it like their earlier work. Guitar's and drums, straight forward. Great songs. Although they were barely speaking to one another at the time and much of the overdubbing was done without the others around, it's a masterpiece that feels very "tight". Guess that's what you get after 10 years of playing together and making albums.
caio  ·  4631 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Oh, you're gonna make me choose? Well, then I guess it's this one. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_(The_Beatles_album)

This is the album that really made me fall in love with the Fab Four. But Pepper and and Abbey Road are both definitely a close second.

thenewgreen  ·  4631 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Love doesn't count. Just kidding, it's a great piece of work by George Martin and his son Giles. I really enjoy listening to it too. It's not so much a Beatles album though. More of a Beatles mash up from the 5th Beatle himself.

Don't get me wrong though, I really dig listening to it.

caio  ·  4631 days ago  ·  link  ·  
I have to agree with sounds: Abbey Road is amazing. I'll go with it, if only because it allows me to share one of my favorite things on the internet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8f8drk5Urw
thenewgreen  ·  4631 days ago  ·  link  ·  
I saw that a while back but had forgotten how amazing it is. Such a wonderful performance, truly. Thanks for sharing that again.

Also, kick ass drum solo. The longest Ringo ever had on an album. A lot of people claim it was Paul playing but both Ringo and Paul have said otherwise. How about those guitar sounds at the end? Whew!! Awesome song! Awesome juggling!