DARK YET INDISPENSIBLE: Review of THE BEATLES-- otherwise commonly referred to as THE WHITE ALBUM

 

Many younger listeners prefer THE WHITE ALBUM above all other Beatles albums. Above even the gold standard of Sgt. Pepper and the highly beloved Abbey Road. I don't share this enthusiasm. I place the afore mentioned Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road in the top two followed by Revolver and Rubber Soul. Rounding out the top five would be the unjustly neglected Magical Mystery Tour. THE WHITE ALBUM would then come in sixth.

The Beatles never made a bad album. LET IT BE may be the lone exception--a failure so curious that it is difficult to merely tag it as "bad". (So "bad" it's good in a peculiar sort of way.).

Coming after the psychedelic period, THE WHITE ALBUM is a surprisingly dark album--the previous focus of peace and love is missing here. The record anticipated the stripped down production and "confessional" songwriting found in prevalence during the early 1970's. While this was a welcome development for some, THE WHITE ALBUM was something of a let down initially. Most buyers were disappointed in the absence of the *Hey Jude/Revolution*. The Beatles had a preference for not putting their singles on the albums; but in this case it this was a significant error.

Like most double albums, this one could easily been paired down to a single disc. Many of the cuts are frivolous while others bog things down. Harrison felt on reflection that some of the tracks could have been released as B sides. Still many critics acclaim THE WHITE ALBUM as a celebrated explosion of musicianship in which the Beatles demonstrated that they could play in number of styles--as if such a demonstration was necessary. Still, many listeners like the album precisely because it is so varied.

Whatever else could be said, the wide variety of styles signaled a foreboding and desperation. With the exception of the first side, each song is distant and isolated from all the others. There is a sense of fragmentation and disassociation on THE WHITE ALBUM not found on any of the Beatles previous records. Indeed, now that we know some of the history behind the scenes, it can be seen that The Beatles were fracturing. In retrospect, without the glue of Brian Epstein, their recently deceased manager, each band member was spinning of into separate directions. The Beatles, particularly Lennon and McCartney, had in the past bounced off each other to good effect-- jolting each from their own element.. Collaboration was deteriorating and along side many flashes of brilliance weaker musical instincts slithered in.

Only side one hangs together in the flow of tracks to form a "whole" which is both pleasing and memorable. Three great songs, even the lesser songs stick with you, fun, humorous and recklessly inventive -and it absolutely rocks. The three remaining sides of the original LP version suffer in comparison.

Side one opens with a great coupling in Back in the USSR and Dear Prudence. Parody is a much overused word--too often meaning a barb thrown at others. In fact the Beatles frequently paid homage to the music they loved from other musicians. *Back In The USSR* is no more a parody of the Beach Boys or Elvis (both of whom McCartney loved) than *Got To Get You Into My Life* was of Motown. This is seamlessly followed by Dear Prudence which sounds better with each listening and is far more complex as a song than it seems. The rest is pleasant enough and one song follows another in sharp focus. But the room stops still with *While My Guitar Gently Weeps*. Harrison's *Guitar* towers over the rest of the album and is the one song that immediately jumps to mind in any discussion of THE WHITE ALBUM. McCartney and Lennon are like the older brother turning out excellent work. But Harrison is like the little brother who pops out of nowhere with a piece of work that blows the daylights off the competition. The acoustic version found in the Anthology series reveals it is actually a simple song that lends itself to a relaxed and tender presentation. But here it is played with vehemence with the guest guitar solo by Eric Clapton. The Beatles loved silly songs for their own sake. Yet here, following the failure of the age of peace and love to appear, lyrics of unvarnished grief are put on full display.

Side Two does not hang together well and most tend to pick their favorites to listen to rather than the entire side. *I'm So Tired* is a Lennon downer that ruins this side for me. Much better is *Rocky Raccoon*--a McCartney nonsense song. *I Will* is a lovely McCartney romance that remains an unjustly neglected song by even McCartney's diehard fans. Lennon's *Julia* is one of the sweetest songs he ever wrote--infuriately used as a bit of psychoanalysis into his soul by his biographers (Julia was his mother's name).

Side three was a favorite of early FM rock radio. *Birthday* just rocks. *Me and My Monkey* is joyous, free flying a rocker and truly funny. *Helter Skelter* is one tough hard rocker which some claim is a precursor to heavy metal. *Long Long Long* anticipates much of ALL THING MUST PASS and the rest Harrison's output in the 1970's. However, here THE WHITE ALBUM really needs a kickass rocker--perhaps Lennon's *Bulldog* or a reworking of Harrison's own *It's All Too Much* (both found on the YELLOW Submarine soundtrack).

Side four is a disappointment. The version of *Revolution* appearing here has its own charm but in the context of the album is slow, plodding, and understated where the excitement and full blast rock and roll of the original is needed. John Lennon later claimed that he preferred the slower version--but like many things he said in the 1970's he was just plain wrong. Harrison's big band *Savoy Truffle* is quite good.

In view of what was to come after the Beatles broke up, it is interesting to note that the styles of music we now associate with each Beatle are pretty much here. If you separate and group each song according to its author, we find the spiritual and sometimes sarcastic George, the gentle and good hearted Ringo, the acidic yet sometimes sentimental John, and the entertainer Paul with one foot in rock and roll and the other foot in the old English music hall.

Taken as a whole, John's contributions are not his best. *Yer Blues* is a

desolate and pointless barb aimed at the British blues revival. Revolution #1 had none of the exhilaration of the original. *Sexy Sadie* is just plain tedious. *I'm So Tired* makes one uncomfortable and not in a good way. On the other hand, contrary to his common image, THE WHITE ALBUM contains two of Lennon's sweetest and charming compositions: *Dear Prudence* and *Julie*. It is tempting to search *REV # 9* for a deep meaning in the chaos--there is none there. It is only a cut and paste job of various sounds and spoken word. George Martin hated it and opposed its inclusion. It sucks the air out of the room. It would have been much better if *Hey Jude* took its place.

Absent the earlier psychedelic wash, much of McCartney's work remains charming but devoid of "cosmic significance". This is not to say that much of his contributions to THE WHITE ALBUM aren't truly great. It is just that he has a penchant to write very minor work. As much as many complain of the deteriorating quality of McCartney's work in the 1970's, the truth is it is all found here.

Harrison hits two out of four with *My Guitar* and *Savoy Truffle* --making one wish that he caught the fire again in his later work. Ringo Starr remains the "gentle giant" who is more fun than musically significant.

Perhaps one's opinion of THE WHITE ALBUM depends on how one views psychedelic music. If you have an innate understand of the multi-layered, slightly touched noise, THE WHITE ALBUM is a step down. If you feel that it is rubbish, THE WHITE ALBUM is a revelation. What is clear is that the Beatles largely began the psychedelic era and then ended it after a few years. Just compare the chronology of the Beatles and the Stones and you'll get a hint of others following in the Beatles wake. THE WHITE ALBUM is dark, yes. But it is also indispensible.

SUFFERING

Some reading his post might not know that I am a diabetic and in the last three years I have lost my two feet.   The first was a below knee amputation on May 12, 2017.  By late July I received my prosthesis and was up and walking right away using two canes.  (I had been experiencing problems with my balance for several years prior—making he use of one cane necessary.) 

The most recent amputation was all the way last October.    Unfortunately, the incision from the surgery took its own sweet time to heal; so I was only cleared to get another prosthesis two weeks ago.  I was supposed to receive my new peg-leg today; but the prosthesis people called yesterday to cancel my appointment.  It seems my surgeon has yet to submit critical documentation needed in order to apply for an authorization from my insurance company.  Just a matter of paperwork I was assured.

Since my discharge from the rehab hospital last early November, I’ve gotten around the house by crawling on the floor.  My physical therapists objected to this method of getting around but my wheelchair will not fit through any of the doorways in my house.  (Very common problem in almost all modern homes.)  “Surely, there must be a better way of you getting around than crawling” they protested.   But they themselves had no other solution; so crawling it had to be.

Crawling at my age is rather rough on the knees and knee pads can only protect you so much.  So, after all this time I was really looking forward to standing and walking upright once again.  When they cancelled my appointment, I was very disappointed.  I was downhearted for a while.  Then I decided this was just another bump in the road.  Two weeks or maybe even another month would be nothing after all this time.  In time, all would be well.

Invariably, someone(s) will ask me the same question.  When my wife and I lost our second child to miscarriage, a close friend asked me if it made me question my faith.  I honestly never felt the need to challenge God in His goodness as a result of losing our baby.  I trusted that it was in God’s hands and our child was safe in his care.  Not that I didn’t experience grief.  My wife and I suffered our loss quite severely.  But we believed in His providence and good will for us.

Some would say that that was quite cold.  I don’t know about that.  Seems to me Christian faith is made of sterner stuff than that.  On the other hand, when other Christians feel their faith undermined by tragic events, it seems coldhearted not to understand their predicament.  At least so it seems to me.  In sharing their suffering, however, we are careful not to shower them with dubious assurances such as “God must have needed Bill/Jane with Him in heaven” or “There had to be something wrong with the child and God took him/her so you and Bill/Jane wouldn’t suffer”.  Trust me.  Nothing enrages a pair of parents

Some would suggest that my response is more due to my ethnic characteristics (Northern European) than to any Christian faith.   That is, I simply am reflecting a normal “Nordic” stoicism to personal tragedy.  Perhaps.  One should never discount the typical traits of one’s ethnic background while seeking the wellsprings of one behavior—although, in my case, the Irish are not known to be natural born stoics.  Nevertheless, the Lutheran faith I was brought up in teaches that tragedy and suffering is to be expected even among those who love the true God.

The Christian has two natures.  One is the newly created being through baptism.  The other is the natural creature born in sin.  As long as the Christian is also a creature—which he/she will be until the resurrection—he/she will share in the lot of all human beings.  Life is full of tragedy and suffering.  Our ancestors knew that.  Suffering was all around them.  Most of human history is signified with poverty, disease, and warfare.  It is only in more modern times with modern advances in science, production, ans statecraft many have come to think these are unnatural to men—or at least should be.  World War I disillusioned many of their belief in such progress.  But the notion that health, plenty, and peace are our natural birthright still carries on.  Such notion brings some to rage against heaven their whole lives.

The Christian should know better.   Perhaps, in time, we would see the good that would come of particular evil events and sufferings.  But most of the time, such things will not be revealed to us.  Catastrophe and heartbreak will just appear to be senseless—without reason—or at least without good reason.

Why I should go another two weeks, two months, or two years without a prosthesis for my left leg… crawling on the floor worse than a dog…is probably something I’ll never know.  Believe me.  That is suffering I’d easily wish to forgo.  Disappointment I wish would not have come.  Nevertheless, so it is.  I trust all is in the hands of our loving God.