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Rating: A completely white cover, a remarkable novelty for the era when rock graphics were making great strides, white, therefore, a color that contains all colors, is light, the right color for the kaleidoscope that the four create in 1968.
"The Beatles" could not have been conceived by ordinary people, artists; they create other, let's say more ordinary things; from the title alone, it is clear that the trademark is a guarantee of quality, but things go well beyond the rosiest expectations, even though they had not been composing together for some time, recording very few times as a group, they still manage to produce what is the manifesto of their art, here there is everything that could be done with a song at the time, country, heavy rock, retro atmospheres, and even the boldest experiments.
Many claim that the "white album" finally shows the true face of Harrison, Lennon, and McCartney, their creative veins are free to be indulged, and Martin is always willing to put his talent as an arranger and producer at the service of "his boys," and thus an extraordinary tour in the world of music is assembled; one lands with a "BOAC" flight from Miami Beach in a new country, where popular culture is an absolute protagonist, it involves you, it helps you grow, with its fragile figures, the "dear Prudence who must greet the brand new day" and the "Julia" daughter of the ocean calling John.
If Lennon searches in his songs for portraits of problematic life and on the fringes of society, often through direct attacks, "Sexy Sadie" against the "dirty old man" Maharishi Yogi or journalists who describe a "monkey" his partner Joko, McCartney explores the more romantic side of couple life in "Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da" with "Desmond has a barrow in the market place and Molly is the singer in a band," or his new love, the real one, in "I Will".
The difference between the two seems clear-cut, but in reality, it's not so easy to separate the two souls of the group, Paul writes the hardest track in their history "Helter Skelter", Lennon the sweet "Good Night" for Ringo's peaceful voice after the delirium of "Revolution 9", McCartney writes the most beautiful civil rights song (remember we're in '68) "Blackbird", Lennon plays with a fictitious story in "The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill". Very often the two try to swap roles, succeeding, something that will not happen again, because the following "Abbey Road" will reestablish more marked stylistic differences, here's a valid reason to consider this work the best example of their genius in constructing songs, with few notes but great inventiveness, which precisely separates mere talent from genius. If then one considers Harrison's high inspiration, the circle closes perfectly, rare and absolute perfection that is difficult to achieve in a double album.
Listening to "The Beatles" is truly an experience to have, one cannot say to love music if one hasn't heard this work, it is a too important cornerstone in musical culture.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Dear Prudence (03:55)
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence open up your eyes
Dear Prudence see the sunny skies
The wind is low the birds will sing
That you are part of everything
Dear Prudence won't you open up your eyes
Look around, round
Look around, round, round
Look around
Dear Prudence let me see you smile
Dear Prudence like a little child
The clouds will be a daisy chain
So let me see you smile again
Dear Prudence won't you let me see you smile
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence won't you come out to play
03 Glass Onion (02:18)
I told you about strawberry fields
You know the place where nothing is real
Well here's another place you can go
Where everything flows
Looking through the bent backed tulips
To see how the other half live
Looking through a glass onion
I told you about the walrus and me, man
You know that we're as close as can be, man
Well here's another clue for you all
The walrus was Paul
Standing on the cast iron shore, yeah
Lady Madonna trying to make ends meet, yeah
Looking through a glass onion
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
Looking through a glass onion
I told you about the fool on the hill
I tell you man he's living there still
Well here's another place you can be
Listen to me
Fixing a hole in the ocean
Tryin' to make a dovetail joint
Looking through a glass onion
04 Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (03:09)
Desmond has a barrow in the marketplace
Molly is the singer in a band
Desmond say to Molly, girl I like you face
And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da,
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Desmond take a trolley to the jewelers store
Buys a twenty carat golden ring, (rin-ring)
Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door
And as he gives it to her she begins to sing (sin-sing)
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Yeah, In a couple of years they
have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
of Desmond and Molly Jones
Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond lets the children lend a hand
Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
And in the evening she's still singing with the band
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
In a couple of years they
have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
of Desmond and Molly Jones
Happy ever after in the market place
Molly lets the children lend a hand
Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face
And in the evening she's a singer with the band
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
And if you want some fun
take Ob-la-di-bla-da
06 The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill (03:14)
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
He went out tiger hunting with his elephant and gun
In case of accidents he always took his mom
He's the all American bullet-headed Saxon mother's son
All the children sing
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Deep in the jungle where the mighty tiger lies
Bill and his elephants were taken by surprise
So Captain Marval zapped him right between the eyes
All the children sing
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
The children asked him if to kill was not a sin
Not when he looked so fierce his mommy butted in
If looks could kill it would have been us instead of him
All the children sing
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
07 While My Guitar Gently Weeps (04:45)
I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know why nobody told you
How to unfold your love
I don't know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you
I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don't know how you were inverted
No one alerted you
I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
Look at you all...
Still my guitar gently weeps
08 Happiness Is a Warm Gun (02:43)
She's not a girl who misses much
Do do do do do do do, oh yeah
She's well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand
Like a lizard on a window pane
The man in the crowd with the multicoloured mirrors
On his hobnail boots
Lying with his eyes while his hands are busy
Working overtime
A soap impression of his wife which he ate
And donated to the National Trust
I need a fix 'cause I'm going down
Down to the bits that I left uptown
I need a fix 'cause I'm going down
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
When I hold you in my arms
And I feel my finger on your trigger
I know nobody can do me no harm
Because happiness is a warm gun
Happines is a warm gun
Yes it is
Happiness is a warm yes it is gun
10 I'm So Tired (02:03)
I'm so tired
I haven't slept a wink
I'm so tired
My mind is on the blink
I wonder should I get up and fix myself a drink
No, no, no
I'm so tired
I don't know what to do
I'm so tired
My mind is set on you
I wonder should I call you
But I know what you would do
You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke
It's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep
I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks
I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
I'm so tired
I'm feeling so upset
Although I'm so tired
I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walther Raleigh
He was such a stupid git
You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke
It's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep
I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks
I'm going insane
You know, I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
(Monsieur, monsieur, monsieur, how about another one?)
11 Blackbird (02:18)
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
12 Piggies (02:04)
Have you seen the little piggies
crawling in the dirt
And for all the little piggies
Life is getting worse
Always having dirt
to play around in
Have you see the bigger piggies
In their starched white shirts
You will find the bigger piggies
Stirring up the dirt
Always have clean shirts
to play around in
In their sties with all their backing
They don't care what goes on around
In their eyes there's something lacking
What they need's a damn good whacking
Everywhere there's lots of piggies
Living piggy lives
You can see them out for dinner
With their piggy wives
Clutching forks and knives
to eat their bacon
One more time
13 Rocky Raccoon (03:33)
Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota,
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon(na)
And one day his woman ran off with another guy
Hit young Rocky in the eye
Rocky didn't like that he said I'm gonna get that boy
so one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon
Rock Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Rocky had come equipped with a gun
to shoot off the legs of his rival
His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girl of his fancy
Her name was Magill, and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy
Now she and her man who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoe-down
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
He said Danny boy this is a show down
Daniel was hot he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner
Da, da, da, da, da
Now the doctor came in stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, Doc it's only a scratch
And I'll be better
I'll be better doc as soon as I am able
And now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
only to find Gideon's bible
Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival
Ah, oh yeah, yeah
Da, da, da, da
14 Don't Pass Me By (03:50)
I listen for your footsteps
Coming up the drive
Listen for your footsteps
But they don't arrive
Waiting for your knock dear
On my old front door
I don't hear it
Does it mean you don't love me any more
I hear the clock a'ticking
On the mantel shelf
See the hands a'moving
But I'm by myself
I wonder where you are tonight
And why I'm by myself
I don't see you
Does it mean you don't love me any more
Don't pass me by
Don't make me cry
Don't make me blue
'Cause you know darling, I love only you
You'll never know it hurt me so
How I hate to see you go
Don't pass me by
Don't make me cry..
I'm sorry that I doubted you
I was so unfair
You were in a car crash
And you lost your hair
You said you would be late
About an hour or two
I said that's alright I'm waiting here
Just waiting to hear from you
Don't pass me by
Don't make me cry
Don't make me blue
'Cause you know darling, I love only you
You'll never know it hurt me so
How I hate to see you go
Don't pass me by
Don't make me cry..
17 Julia (03:03)
Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you
Julia
Julia, Julia
Ocean child calls me
So I sing a song of love
Julia
Julia
Seashell eyes, windy smile calls me
So I sing a song of love
Julia
Her hair of floating sky is shimmering
Glimmering in the sun
Julia, Julia
Morning moon touch me
So I sing a song of love
Julia
When I cannot sing my heart
I can only speak my mind
Julia
Julia
Sleeping sand, silent cloud touch me
So I sing a song of love
Julia
Hum, calls me
So I sing a song of love for
Julia, Julia, Julia
21 Across the Universe (03:45)
Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup
They slither wildly as they slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my opened mind
Possessing and caressing me
Jai Guru Deva, Om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes
They call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box
They tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe
Jai Guru Deva, Om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Sounds of laughter, shades of life are ringing through my opened ears
Inciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns
And calls me on and on across the universe
Jai Guru Deva, Om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Jai Guru Deva
Jai Guru Deva
25 Get Back (02:15)
Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a loner
But he knew it couldn't last
Jo Jo left his home in Tucson, Arizona
for some California grass
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back Jo Jo
Go home
Get back, get back
Back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Back to where you once belonged
Get back Jo
Sweet Loretta Martin thought she was a woman
But she was another man
All the girls around her say she's got it coming
But she gets it while she can
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back Loretta
Ah, get back
Yeah, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Yeah get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, Ooo
[Past Masters/single version only:
Get back, Loretta,
Your mommy's waiting for you,
Wearin' her high heel shoes and her low neck sweater,
Get back home, Loretta
Get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged.
Get back, get back, get back...]
32 Get Back (00:43)
Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a loner
But he knew it couldn't last
Jo Jo left his home in Tucson, Arizona
for some California grass
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back Jo Jo
Go home
Get back, get back
Back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Back to where you once belonged
Get back Jo
Sweet Loretta Martin thought she was a woman
But she was another man
All the girls around her say she's got it coming
But she gets it while she can
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back Loretta
Ah, get back
Yeah, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Yeah get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, Ooo
[Past Masters/single version only:
Get back, Loretta,
Your mommy's waiting for you,
Wearin' her high heel shoes and her low neck sweater,
Get back home, Loretta
Get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged.
Get back, get back, get back...]
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Other reviews
By edpoe
This album, one of the great monuments of rock, is the Beatles' bastard expression; no rules, no patterns, a house full of dolls.
These guys really opened the dance, they made people believe anything was possible.
By Angelo93
The album remains a brilliant work in which true masterpieces follow one another, in addition to several experiments that make the Beatles great artists.
"Helter Skelter" by Paul is more than a rock piece: it is a unique prototype of hard and heavy, introducing the metal of bands like Metallica and AC/DC.
By Ali76
"The great disunity of the tracks confirms it."
"In short, a decent album if it had been one...but 2 are just too much."
By R13569920
Despite everything, a masterpiece. Absolute.
Thirty tracks to listen to as a whole, all things considered, so as not to lose the conceptual unity that was paradoxically created only in the end.
By ygmarchi2
"Dear Prudence, with that descending chord progression marked by utmost predictability, tickles the listener's boredom."
"If our beloved ones hadn’t had the presumption of treating us to every little musical trifle, it could have resulted in an album of higher level and more uniform quality."
