White Album - Single Album

[JK]

Apropos of the "truncated Tommy" discussion with Choc in the Who topic, I decided to revisit a similar, much more controversial issue.

I was also looking for my John-and-George-only White Album proposal to post across the road. Note that "WMGGW" isn't on it--I fail to "get" the plaudits showered on this track. I much prefer the gorgeous version George and Giles M included on Love:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU4yWui_DFQ

[Wata]

Personally, I don't want to cut it down to a single album - there are too many keepers on this album (I love every song on the album, to varying extent, but three: Wild Honey Pie, Long Long Long & Revolution 9)

As for my own playlist, I tend to add more songs. Right now, I add Lady Madonna, The Inner Light, Hey Bulldog, Not Guilty, Hey Jude and You're So Square, making it a 33-song "album" as a whole. I know it's not realistic, but it works for me.

However, I agree the idea that it was better off separated as two albums. It's just that I can't imagine how those two albums would've been.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

Definitely a tough one but this is what I'm going for at the moment:

1.   Back in the USSR
2.   Dear Prudence
3.   Glass Onion
4.   Ob-la-di Ob-la-da
5.   While My Guitar Gently Weeps
6.   I Will
7.   Happiness is a Warm Gun

8.   Revolution
9.   Blackbird
10.   Savoy Truffle
11.   Helter Skelter
12.   Julia
13.   Mother Nature’s Son
14.   Good Night

[Lonely Summer]

I personally don't have the attention span for a double album.  I'm not ashamed to admit that I would find single album versions of White Album, Physical Graffiti, Tommy, and the Wall more appealing. 

Sadly, as i get older, i find my attention span is going, too. I used to sit glued to the record player, as Bob spewed out all 120 verses of Desolation Row, Hurricane, or Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts. Now my mind starts to wander after 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
Keep it short and sweet. Straight to the point.
Maybe that's why i am going back to more 50's/mid 60's music these days. If your single ran over 3 minutes, it was less likely to get played.
Unless it was Like a Rolling Stone or Hey Jude.

[Julia]

Back in the days of the Pet Sounds Forum, I made a playlist for my "alt White Album" that I think they could've made had Brian Epstein not passed away so suddenly. I didn't give any consideration to balancing everyone's contributions, just picked the songs I liked the best.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOhV6evUDxLhzeVizZpjaKP646P7lr8b5

I might change my mind on this soon, haven't heard the White Album in its entiriety for a few years. If I do, I'll post an update.

For my money, this playlist of the White Album's "best" songs is better than any of their real albums. I always felt the real WA had their highest highs and lowest lows (except the Spector version of Let It Be) as a studio band.

Back in the USSR
Dear Prudence
Happiness is a Warm Gun
Bungalow Bill
Piggies
While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Helter Skelter
Martha My Dear
Savoy Truffle
Revolution (single version)
Rocky Raccoon
Sexy Sadie
Goodnight

It'd be cool to have everyone submit their version of a truncated White Album and then tallying the most frequent inclusions to determine a "White Album...Slimmed" version or something

[JK]

Good call, J.

I posted a rather naughty "John and George only" version on page one but I'm sure I can do better than that!

I'll try to organize a more balanced single LP -- much John and Paul, some George and a little Ringo. Hopefully to be continued.


   

[JK]

This is what I have so far. I did it off the top of my head, rather than check to see if I'd missed anything:

A:
1 Birthday (2:42)
2 Happiness Is A Warm Gun (2:47)
3 While My Guitar Gently Weeps (4:45)
4 Julia (2:57)
5 Helter Skelter (4:30)
6 I Will (1:46)

B:
1 Yer Blues (4:01)
2 Don't Pass Me By (3:51)
3 Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey (2:24)
4 Mother Nature’s Son (2:48)
5 Sexy Sadie (3:15)
6 Savoy Truffle (2:54)