Album Summary: The Beatles

The Beatles, which I've (kind of) consistently referred to as the White Album, has been an incredibly interesting (and lengthy) journey. It contained several songs I'd heard previously, either on my own or in Across the Universe, and I really enjoyed hearing the originals, such as "Happiness is a Warm Gun", "Blackbird", and "Dear Prudence". I also heard many more songs I'd never known about but immediately loved, like "Glass Onion" with its self-references, and (re)discovered new favorites like "Rocky Raccoon" and "Helter Skelter".

Unlike some of their earlier albums (including my favorites, Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour), there didn't seem to be any kind of overarching theme, style, idea, plot, or vibe. It felt more like what it was: a collection of songs which had been created by some of the Beatles, one or two or three but rarely all four, at a time. All the same, it didn't feel disjointed to me. Rather, it felt like a branching-off, experimental, getting tired of things but going forth anyway, sort of voyage. The guys were getting sick of one another and so were going off and doing their own thing; they may or may not have realized that they were testing the waters for the future, seeing how far they could push or be pushed before the breaking point. Paul was simply the first to realize just where that point was for him.

It seems to me that the White Album really was a turning point for the Beatles. From what history I gleaned over the past two and a half weeks or so, the guys were no longer fighting the world and their own celebrity so much as fighting one another. Having been so well established as a cohesive unit over the past several years, it must have felt exhausting to them, trying to have their own individual voices heard over the others. It's not surprising to me that they all went on to solo careers, and it's not surprising that such a wildly prolific and celebrated group didn't last long--they were burning the candle at both ends, truly.

Although The Beatles is widely regarded as the beginning of the end for "The Beatles" as a group, it's certainly not the last album they created during their remaining time together. We'll start a few new songs from Yellow Submarine tomorrow. See you then. :)

Good Night

"Good Night", written by John for his son Julian and performed by Ringo (the only Beatle to perform on the track), provides the perfect send-off to the White Album. The lullaby features soaring music provided by an orchestra, purposefully "cheesy" at Lennon's request, to give it the feel of an "Old Hollywood" number; the piece was arranged and conducted by George Martin. The music is, according to Wikipedia, "excessively lush" and features twelve violins, three violas, three cellos, one harp, three flutes, one clarinet, one horn, one vibraphone, and one string bass. 

This felt like the perfect song to end the album. Not only was it Ringo's second of only two songs (astounding, considering The Beatles is a double album), but it was also so relaxing and soothing that I really feel more sleepy after having listened to it. The lyrics themselves remind me of such bedtime classics as "Goodnight Moon", among others. It's an ideal lullaby to send a child (or an adult) to sleep. :)

That's it for this song. Next up is the White Album summary. :)

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Heard It Tally: 39

Songs Completed: 167

Revolution 9

"Revolution 9", which as we know is another version (I would call it a spinoff) of "Revolution", was a "sound collage" by John Lennon. John and George were the only Beatles to work on the song; Paul was out of the country at the time. Yoko Ono contributed as well. According to Wikipedia:

Lennon said he was trying to paint a picture of a revolution using sound. The composition was influenced by the avant-garde style of Ono as well as the musique concrète works of composers such as Edgard Varese and Karlheinz Stockhausen.

The repeated phrase "number 9" (in a voice that sounds like Ringo's, but isn't) provided ammunition for fans of the "Paul is dead" conspiracy theory; when played backwards, parts of the song apparently say, "Turn me on, dead man".

As an art history major in college, I studied Yoko Ono and her work as part of a contemporary art course. If I had to choose songs other than her own to represent her work, "Revolution 9" would definitely make the list. Her avant-garde influence is quite clear. The song paints a vivid picture (a thousand pictures, really) in the listener's mind, reaching in with many tentacles to stimulate different parts of the ear, the brain, and, if one closes one's eyes and lets the imagination fully take over, the eyes. All told, the song used 45 sound sources, which included Beatles songs, recordings, and even Yoko Ono's voice (she says, "you become naked" towards the end).

Overall, I'm a fan. However, I'm also a fan of contemporary art (whether it's an audio work, performance piece, or whatever other medium contemporary artists may use), which doesn't always appeal to the general masses. I can understand very well why "Revolution 9" wasn't a hit with critics or fans, and why Paul argued against including the track on the White Album.

That's all for today. Only one song left on the White Album, and then I'll be doing the usual album summary (which may be longer than usual by necessity :P ). Then, it's off to the next exciting album! See you then. :)

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Heard It Tally: 39

Songs Completed: 166

Cry Baby Cry

"Cry Baby Cry" was written by John Lennon, who was inspired to write the original lyrics, "Cry baby cry / Make your mother buy", by an advertisement. According to Wikipedia, "Cry Baby Cry" was the last straw for someone who worked closely with the Beatles:

This was the song the Beatles were working on when engineer Geoff Emerick quit, though his departure was precipitated by Lennon and McCartney's obsessions over the recordings of "Revolution" and "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da", respectively, and the overall tensions of the White Album sessions. Emerick would not work with the Beatles again until the session for The Ballad of John and Yoko nine months later.

As a nerdy, geeky kind of person, my first thought when I started listening to this song was, of course, "Firefly". On that show, the "Cry Baby" was a device the good guys employed that would mislead anyone pursuing their spaceship. Two of the characters actually say the first lines of the song: "Cry baby cry." and "Make your mother sigh!" That's a huge part of the reason this song makes me happy. :P 

Other than that, the lyrics themselves remind me most of the nursery rhyme, "Sing a Song of Sixpence" because both songs talk about a king, a queen, and their various locations and activities. I'm sure it was done that way on purpose by Lennon, who, like many children (particularly in England), was no doubt familiar with the popular 18th-century tune. 

The lyrics of the Beatles song are much different, however, and at some points seem to suggest a rather dysfunctional family. In particular, the lines "the children of the king" combined with the chorus ("Cry baby cry / Make your mother sigh / She's old enough to know better / So cry baby cry...") were almost disturbing to me; the part about the Duke and Duchess was even worse. All together, the lyrics suggest that all is not quite well/normal in the kingdom of Marigold.

That's all for today... See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 39

Songs Completed: 165

Savoy Truffle

Today's sweet song is "Savoy Truffle". George Harrison, inspired by his friend Eric Clapton's chocolate addiction, "derived the title and many of the lyrics from a box of Mackintosh's Good News chocolates." 

Apparently the "them" in the line "But you'll have to have them all pulled out / After the Savoy truffle" refers to one's teeth, which would rot after eating so much sugar. :P I enjoyed the lyrics, since I have a sweet tooth of my own, but on a shallow level, a song about candy isn't all that interesting. 

The middle two verses seem to expand the meaning beyond simple candy, however. They talk about pain, as well as some kind of metaphysical identity issue ("You know that what you eat you are / But what is sweet now turns so sour / We all know Ob-la-di-bla-da / But can you show me where you are?"). They sound more like a torturous existential crisis (possibly due to drugs) than a cheerful sugar binge. Either way you interpret the song, however, it's still, on the surface at least, a song about tasty, sugary confections. :P

That's it for now. See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 39

Songs Completed: 164

Revolution 1

Today's rather well-timed song is "Revolution 1", which is a slow version of a song written by John Lennon. The original arrangement, "Revolution", was released as the B-side to "Hey Jude" (we'll catch that one when we hit the Past Masters albums--that's the best way to catch all the singles released on their own rather than on an album); another related version is "Revolution 9", coming up in a couple of days. :)

"Revolution 1" was inspired, like "Revolution", by increasing protests against the Vietnam War. According to Wikipedia: 

The Beatles had avoided expressing political viewpoints, with "Taxman" being their only prior song with an overt political topic. During his time in Rishikesh, Lennon decided to write a song about the recent wave of social upheaval. He recalled, "I thought it was about time we spoke about it [revolution], the same as I thought it was about time we stopped not answering about the Vietnamese war. I had been thinking about it up in the hills in India."

This bluesy version of the song is very laid-back and relaxed, which makes sense; the song is attempting to ease the tension between the revolutionaries and the establishment ("Don't you know it's gonna be alright?"). I've really only heard the original "Revolution" (as well as the version from Across the Universe), so this slow, chilled-out version seems a little strange to me, but in a good way. :P

That's all for today! See you tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 39

Songs Completed: 163

Long, Long, Long

"Long, Long, Long", written by George Harrison, was (and is) a critical darling. From Wikipedia:

Music analyst Alan Pollack said the song has "an off-beat mixture of styles typical of the times: a three-way cross between jazz waltz, folk song, and late sixties psychedelia." Critic Richie Unterberger wrote that "Long, Long, Long" is one of the most underrated songs in the Beatles' large discography. Ian MacDonald also argues that the song is Harrison's "finest moment" on The Beatles.

The ambiguity of the lyrics and the psychedelic nature of the music itself lend a unique air to this one. "'Long, Long, Long' is a love song, though as Nicholas Schaffner notes, it was 'the first of dozens of Harrison love songs that are ambiguous in that he could be singing either to his lady or to his Lord'." The singing is so quiet that I had a difficult time trying to figure out what George is saying (which I actually find really irritating, for whatever reason--a pet peeve, maybe). The way the song is set up, I think I actually enjoy the second half a little more (fewer lyrics to not hear?). The whole song would've been well suited for one of the earlier, more psychedelic albums, and overall I like it. I liked it much more once I looked up the lyrics, of course. :P

That's it for now... See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 39

Songs Completed: 162

Helter Skelter

Today we reach "Helter Skelter". The Wikipedia article contains a fabulous quote summarizing the song: "A product of McCartney's deliberate effort to create a sound as loud and dirty as possible, the clangorous piece has been noted for both its "proto-metal roar" and "unique textures." 

Recording the song was appropriately difficult, taking 18 takes. "After the 18th take, Ringo Starr flung his drum sticks across the studio and screamed, 'I got blisters on my fingers!'" The article also mentions how raucous the session itself was:

According to Chris Thomas, who was present, the 18 July session was especially spirited. "While Paul was doing his vocal, George Harrison had set fire to an ashtray and was running around the studio with it above his head, doing an Arthur Brown." Starr's recollection is less detailed, but agrees in spirit: "'Helter Skelter' was a track we did in total madness and hysterics in the studio. Sometimes you just had to shake out the jams."

"Helter Skelter" is hard not to like. It's wild, chaotic, with blistering (no pun intended) instruments and equally devastating vocals, and some pretty interesting lyrics as well. Lennon credits the entire business to McCartney; he said in a 1980 interview, "That's Paul completely ... It has nothing to do with anything, and least of all to do with me." Not sure if he meant to compliment Paul or if that was a snide remark, but "Helter Skelter" remains one of the most popular Beatles songs. :P

That's all for today! See you tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 39

Songs Completed: 161

Sexy Sadie

Today we meet "Sexy Sadie", which was written by John and chronicles his disillusionment with the Beatles' erstwhile teacher, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He had learned, just before the guys were due to depart the ashram, that the yogi had made a pass at one of the female students. Lennon, outraged and disappointed in his beloved mentor, wrote the song, replacing "Maharishi" with "Sexy Sadie" and removing the strong expletives that he'd written as the original working lyrics. Upon his return to England, he scratched the lyrics down on a piece of wood. 

The story continues; over time people have begun to doubt the veracity of the accusers and the yogi's reputation is (somewhat) repaired. I'm not one to blame the victim and I have no idea what actually happened, so I encourage you to dig around Wikipedia if you're curious about the sordid details. :P

I'd never heard "Sexy Sadie" before (though of course I was aware of the song's existence after watching Across the Universe), but when I started listening to it, what immediately popped into my head was Jet's "Look What You've Done", which shares the lines, "Look what you've done / you've made a fool of everyone". However, Jet wasn't the only group inspired by "Sexy Sadie"; Charles Manson and his "family" used this song as part of their Armageddon conspiracy theory. 

That's all for today; see you here tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 39

Songs Completed: 160

Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey

Today's winner of the weird title contest is "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey". It was written and performed by John, who attributed his inspiration to Yoko Ono:

In 1980, Lennon said: "That was just a sort of nice line that I made into a song. It was about me and Yoko. Everybody seemed to be paranoid except for us two, who were in the glow of love. Everything is clear and open when you're in love. Everybody was sort of tense around us: You know, 'What is she doing here at the session? Why is she with him?' All this sort of madness is going on around us because we just happened to want to be together all the time."

Paul of course remembered it a bit differently; Wikipedia tells us that "McCartney believes it was a reference to Lennon's heroin habit."

I'm a big fan of this song! It's quirky, ridiculous, paranoid, catchy, probably references drugs, and just hilariously fun, especially if you choose to take "monkey" literally instead of as a Yoko Ono/drug reference. :P It's a nice change from the past two or three songs, which haven't been all that interesting to me personally. With "Everybody's", the guys are back in the game. :P

That's all for today. See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 39

Songs Completed: 159

Mother Nature's Son

"Mother Nature's Son" was written mostly by Paul while the guys were at the ashram. "It was inspired by a lecture given by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi while the Beatles were in India. The same lecture inspired Lennon's unreleased song 'Child of Nature', the tune of which he later re-used for 'Jealous Guy'." 

This one's short and sweet, and the lyrics are simple. The nature theme and inspiration is very obvious. I think it was probably refreshing for Paul (and John, who contributed "a few words" according to Wikipedia) to write such a straightforward song. There aren't any innuendos or references to drugs or sex, just nature (at least, as far as I can tell). It's not my favorite--I'm definitely into the innuendos and references, being a lyrics person--but it's relaxing and sweet on the ears nonetheless. :)

That's all for today... See you here tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 38

Songs Completed: 158

Yer Blues

"Yer Blues" was written by John in India. It's a very bluesy number, and the lyrics explore Lennon's battles with depression. From Wikipedia:

Lennon said in a Rolling Stone interview that he used the humorous title as something of a defense mechanism, so that if anyone criticized the song, he could write it off as a parody. The lyrics are extremely suicidal, and include references to Bob Dylan's "Ballad of a Thin Man" as well as cosmology, and were possibly reflective of Lennon's well-documented battles with his psychological demons.

To me, that seems to mark a deep insecurity--the kind he talks about in many of his songs--about not only his work, but about himself and his relationships as well. In addition, its blues vibe bears a "similarity to much of Lennon's early solo output... and marks a retreat from Lennon's concern with studio experimentation that marked such songs as 'Tomorrow Never Knows' and 'Strawberry Fields Forever'." We'll see more of that as we move away from The Beatles as a cohesive unit and start to explore each Beatle's solo career. 

That's all for today... See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 38

Songs Completed: 157

Birthday

Today's song is "Birthday", which was based around a guitar riff that Paul thought up. All of the Beatles participated in the creation and recording of the song; George's wife Pattie and Yoko Ono also contributed on backing vocals and handclaps. According to Wikipedia: 

The song is an example of the Beatles' return to more traditional rock and roll form, although their music had increased in complexity and it had developed more of its own characteristic style by this point... The song is among McCartney's most intense vocal performances given the range in which he sings during the blues run.

As far as birthday-themed songs go, it's definitely not the worst. The guitar riff is probably my favorite part; it's reminiscent of the old-style rock-and-roll Beatles songs, which, though they're in no way my favorite thing in the world, are still fun to listen to now and then. :P I think the guys would agree; Paul and Ringo performed "Birthday" for Ringo's 70th birthday party in July 2010.

That's all for today! See you tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 38

Songs Completed: 156

Julia

Today we hear John's ballad to his mother, "Julia". He's the only Beatle to perform on this track, making "Julia" the only song to feature only Lennon. Also, he uses a finger-picking style of guitar known as "Travis-picking" that he'd learned from musician Donovan while in India. 

According to Wikipedia:

"Julia" was written for John's mother, Julia Lennon (1914–1958), who was knocked down and killed by a car driven by a drunk off-duty police officer when John was 17 years old. It was also written for his future wife Yoko Ono, whose first name, which literally means "child of the sea" in Japanese, is echoed in the lyric "Oceanchild, calls me."

The long, drawn-out "Julia" in each chorus is like a slow wave rolling in the ocean (in keeping with the theme of the song). The lyrics present themselves, in bits and pieces, as almost a love song to the sea itself--to John, his mother and Yoko were probably as hugely important to his life as the ocean, making it a fitting metaphor. The factoid that interested me the most was where he got the opening lines: 

The line "Half of what I say is meaningless, but I say it just to reach you" was a slight alteration from Kahlil Gibran's "Sand and Foam" (1926) in which the original verse reads, "Half of what I say is meaningless, but I say it so that the other half may reach you".

Overall, I find it a very soothing song--the perfect lullaby. 

That's all for today. See you tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 37

Songs Completed: 155

I Will

"I Will" is a sweet little love song by Paul McCartney. According to Wikipedia, "This quiet song required 67 takes, and George Harrison did not play (during The Beatles sessions, The Beatles often recorded in separate studios)." That's a lot of takes for a song that clocks in at 1:48. 

Although George is missing on this track, the other guys make up for his absence; Ringo's bongos in particular give "I Will" a sound that I would call cute or even adorable. The lyrics give me the impression that the singer hasn't yet met his love, but he's willing to wait a long time. It's just a great song, something I can definitely imagine hearing at a wedding or on a mixed CD/playlist for your significant other. 

That's all for today. See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 37

Songs Completed: 154

Why Don't We Do It in the Road?

Today's ode to odd places to have sex is "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?". It was written by McCartney, whose "increasingly raucous" vocals provide the perfect bluesy note to this two-line song. He was apparently inspired to write it after seeing two monkeys mating in the street while in India, saying, "And I thought ... that's how simple the act of procreation is ... We have horrendous problems with it, and yet animals don't."

Paul made this one with Ringo while John and George were busy doing other songs. Lennon was a bit miffed that he wasn't included in the recording or production. I was reading the Wikipedia entry on this song and the guys seem particularly vehement about this one; it was a great big he-said-he-said sort of thing, with both parties attempting to paint the other as the bad guy and crying foul. It's a good reminder that even musical geniuses can be petty and childish. :P

My own opinion of this one is positive; it's extremely simple, but with soulful musical and vocal aspects that lend it a unique quality. Overall a fun song, though probably not worth the guys arguing over. :P

That's all for today... See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 37

Songs Completed: 153

Don't Pass Me By

"Don't Pass Me By" was Ringo Starr's first solo work. The song includes some interesting instrument choices, such as a sleigh bell and a violin (played by Jack Fallon), which, coupled with the (of course) drum-heavy back beat produce a completely unique-sounding piece. 

The lyrics talk about a man who's sitting around, waiting for his lady to get home and wondering if her absence means she doesn't love him anymore. He finally learns she's been in a fender-bender and that she's "lost her hair" (British slang meaning she's very worried or anxious), and that she'll be home soon. However, as Wikipedia mentions:

The line "I'm sorry that I doubted you, I was so unfair, You were in a car crash and you lost your hair" is cited by proponents of the Paul is Dead urban legend as a clue to McCartney's fate; the line "you lost your hair" is claimed to be a reference to "When I'm Sixty-Four", which McCartney wrote.

I suppose there's an alternative interpretation for just about any line. :P

That's all for today! See you here tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 37

Songs Completed: 152

Rocky Raccoon

Today we meet the infamous "Rocky Raccoon", who went to avenge himself on his girl's lover, got himself shot, and found a drunk doctor and a Bible in the process. It was written by Paul, with help from John and musician Donovan, while they were in India. According to Wikipedia, "'Rocky Raccoon' was the last Beatle[s] song to feature John Lennon's harmonica playing."

I have fond memories of this song from college; my friends and I would sit around with a guitar (and sometimes, if we were lucky, even a drum set) and sing various songs, from The Beatles to Radiohead to The White Stripes. I like to think that's how the Beatles prefer many of their songs to be enjoyed--in a low-key gathering with friends. 

Something about this song really attracts me; I think it's the interesting combination of hearing a Western-style song about a love triangle coming from The Beatles. It seems like even John was surprised by the left-field "Rocky Raccoon". From Wikipedia:

In Mojo magazine in October, 2008, McCartney acknowledged that the style of the song is a pastiche, saying, "I was basically spoofing the folksinger." Lennon attributed the song to Paul, saying "Couldn't you guess? Would I have gone to all that trouble about Gideon's Bible and all that stuff?

That's all for today... See you tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 37

Songs Completed: 151

Piggies

Today's song is "Piggies", George Harrison's Animal Farm-esque commentary on class and corporate greed. It pairs a Baroque-style harpsichord and string quartet with more modern lyrics, producing a rather satirical atmosphere in the song. Music critic Ian MacDonald was not a fan of the song, calling it "dreadful" and "an embarrassing blot on (Harrison's) discography." "Piggies", among other songs from The White Album, was unfortunately also used as inspiration for the grisly murders committed by Charles Manson's "family". 

Less alarmingly, Harrison wrote an additional verse that was not included in the recording (but which he added to the song during performances in the 1990s):

Yeah, everywhere there's lots of piggies
Playing piggy pranks
And you can see them on their trotters
Down at piggy banks
Paying piggy thanks
To thee, pig brother

I wish this verse had been included in the recorded version, because "pig brother" is just hilarious and great. :P Other than that, I'm not overly fond of the song. I  enjoy satire as much as the next person, but "Piggies" just seemed awkward to me, in a way I can't really explain. Guess I'll have to side with MacDonald on this one.

That's all for tonight... see you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 37

Songs Completed: 150

Blackbird

"Blackbird" is one of the most famous Paul songs (along with "Yesterday"). Paul wrote and performed the song, although it's credited to John as well. McCartney said it was partially inspired by the Civil Rights struggle in the U.S. at the time (1968).

So, I was doing explanations, and I actually just remembered why I'd written Blackbird... I was in Scotland playing on my guitar, and I remembered this whole idea of "you were only waiting for this moment to arise" was about, you know, the black people's struggle in the southern states, and I was using the symbolism of a blackbird. It's not really about a blackbird whose wings are broken, you know, it's a bit more symbolic.

(Interview with KCRW's Chris Douridas, May 25, 2002)

On the surface, the song is very simple; it has repeating lyrics, features Paul on vocals, acoustic guitar, and metronome, and includes chirping birds in the background. However, the structure of the song is irregular and I'm sure if I were to try and learn the strumming pattern, my brain (and fingers) would hurt--I am just a beginner, but it still seems quite complicated to me. :P

That's it for this one... See you tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 37

Songs Completed: 149