Graham Reid considers the Beatles’ expansive “White Album” half a century after its release.
In 2010, when Rolling Stone magazine compiled its list of the 100 greatest songs by the Beatles – that’s about half the originals they released – there were 13 songs from their 1968 self-titled double album. Known familiarly as “The White
Album” for its plain cover, this seemingly shapeless collection of 29 songs (plus John Lennon’s musique concrète sound collage on Revolution 9) stood in stark opposition to the eccentric psychedelics on Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band of the previous year.
These days, few under 50 could name half a dozen songs from The White Album, which sprung no hits, other than Lennon’s angry-sounding Revolution – the b-side of the pre-album single Hey Jude – and maybe Paul McCartney’s throwaway ska-influenced Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.
The White Album – often sounding more a collection of songs by individual members than a cohesive Beatles album – is largely undiscovered territory for many and was out of step with the times, unlike their previous releases that captured or exemplified the zeitgeist.
Denne historien er fra November 24 - 30 2018-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra November 24 - 30 2018-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
