It's a Mania!

The Beatles

(White Album)

1968 Apple

produced by George Martin, Chris Thomas

John Lennon - guitars, bass, vocals, keyboards, percussion, harmonica, saxophone

Paul McCartney - bass, guitars, vocals, keyboards, percussion, flugle horn

George Harrison - guitars, bass, vocals, organ, percussion

Ringo Starr - drums, percussion, piano, vocals

singles:

• Hey Jude/Revolution
• Ob la Di Ob la Da/While my Guitar Gently Weeps

This may not be the "best" Beatles album, but it may be my favorite. The diversity in this project is incredible. It has rock n roll, it has the blues, it has folk and country, and big band. Apparently the turmoil in the band caused all four member to create individually, as infighting led to seclusion. Ringo even quit the band for quite some time during the sessions. 16 of the 30 tracks actually featured all four members. Much like Jefferson Airplane's live performances later in their career, this album brings some of the best of the band's material because it is created in such dischord and chaos.

Being a double album, there are many songs to experience. This particular album has many of my favorite Beatles songs such as While my Guitar Gently Weeps, Rocky Racoon, Happiness is a Warm Gun, Black Bird, Why Don't we do it in the Road, and Helter Skelter.