This album was such a hodge-podge of individual song from the Beatles.
When I bought the album back in 68, I remember "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" to be one of my fav tracks. "Dear Prudence"; "Back In the U.S.S.R."; "Sexi Sadie"; "Martha My Dear"; "Savoy Truffle"; and "Cry Baby Cry" were my fav tracks that I enjoyed playing over and over again. I also got hooked on Ringo's "Don't Pass Me Buy". (The title of Ringo's song was actually thought of back in 64 on an album called: "The Beatles Talk Downunder" ie: Australia/New Zealand. Paul sang the words in the chorus which you hear on the album. So, therefore, this idea was in the works and Paul sung Ringo's song for the interviewer for him. Seems Ringo's microphone shy with reporters when singing!)
In retrospect now, I look as the album where each track recorded sounds like backup muscians. It depends though on the individual. Some fans swear by it as the Beatles best recording ever made while music critics have said that about the only thing that really rocked on the album was "Savoy Truffle" and "Back In The U.S.S.R." I tend to lean towards what George Martin said about it in two ways: First, the double album should have only been made into a single album. This might have produced better results. Secondly, the artistic achievements had "level out" compared to Pepper with Magical Mystery Tour being just a slight drop overall in terms of "great music." Let It Be in Martin's opinion was a definate drop in artistic creativity/togetherness by the FABS. The bitter tension between the FABS seem to damper what potential they really could do. Amazingly though, it still had three hits off the album!
But the White Album has stood the test of time. It's a great album which truly reflects the individual artist growth of each Beatle. John writes about guns, revolution, marharishi (sexie sadie), his mother Julia. Paul writes about love (I will), nature, honey pies, playground slides (helter skelter), breaking down social barriers (Back In the U.S.S.R.), and some poor country bumpkin named Rocky Racoon. George gives us a taste of what happens from eating too much in Savoy Truffle and tells about his longing for love in Long, Long, Long while Piggies is a social statement against the "establishment". (Back in the late 60's, cops were referred to as PIGS! Thank heavens that remark died out soon afterwards.) While My Guitar Gently Weeps, perhaps George's best song on the album, tells what a state George's mind is in when he views the world: "I look at you all, see the love, there that's weeping...still my guitar gently weeps." And Ringo introduces his first ever country song (excluding the Lennon/McCartney/Starkey on "What Goes On?") penned by him alone. It may interst you to know that "Don't Pass Me By" was released as a single in Scandinavia where it made to the number 1 position (source: Nicholas Schaffner: The Beatles Forever).
Anyways, that's my nickle on the White Album.
J. Whelan
August 1997