4.06pm
18 April 2013
I agree with George Martin that it should have been a single album. I never listen to the whole thing straight through, and it doesn’t flow at all. I don’t really see it as a concept, either–just a bunch of songs that don’t go together thrown together.
When I was 12 years old (1982) I heard Let it Be. I thought it was good, but not life-changing…but then at 12 your musical taste is not that mature. In 1993 or so I decided to give The Beatles another try–the album that I heard was The White Album . I thought it was so mediocre that I didn’t give The Beatles another chance until around 2007 when a friend started giving me a few Beatles things to listen to…didn’t even become a big fan until last year when I heard the whole catalogue chronologically.
So, I guess it took me about 30 years to become a Beatles fan.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
4.28pm
18 April 2013
Let me define what I mean by “mediocre.” I don’t think all of the songs are mediocre. I see it as basically the album where The Beatles started falling apart. It’s all over the place because there was no unity in the band anymore.
Also: Ob-La-Di, Honey Pie , Bungalow Bill, Piggies , Rocky Racoon, Why Don’t We Do It…lots of silly songs on the album that made me take it less seriously as a whole when I first heard it.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
4.51pm
8 August 2013
Expert Textpert said
Hannah said
Very true! You can find ‘evidence’ anywhere if you want to believe in something.
I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now? —John Lennon
There’s something in that! Do you believe in the Paul is dead thing then Expert Textpert? I won’t judge if you do, plently of Beatles fans believe it (not me though, i hasten to add! Although I did do some research and briefly entertained the possibility that it could be true but have now come to the conclusion that it doesn’t really make sense for lots of reasons).
Sorry, getting back on topic.
Expert Textpert said
Let me define what I mean by “mediocre.” I don’t think all of the songs are mediocre. I see it as basically the album where The Beatles started falling apart. It’s all over the place because there was no unity in the band anymore.Also: Ob-La-Di, Honey Pie , Bungalow Bill, Piggies , Rocky Racoon, Why Don’t We Do It…lots of silly songs on the album that made me take it less seriously as a whole when I first heard it.
I actually like the songs you’ve mentioned, except possible Bungalow Bill which, if i’m honest, i don’t particularly enjoy listening to. I think that part of what makes the Beatles so unique is their ability to craft fun, silly songs like Why Don’t We Do It in the Road and Piggies . There are plenty of deep and meaningful Beatles songs which speak to our souls but they also have that incredible sense of humour which allowed them to come up with songs that were like little stories. They weren’t snobs with their music, everything didn’t have to be inspirational. I know a lot of people who don’t like Maxwell’s Silver Hammer or Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da but I love them. They’re full of wonderful imagery and fun.
6.10pm
18 April 2013
I don’t buy the Paul is dead thing, but I’ve always been interested in the strange coincidences linking the Manson Family, The Beatles, the Beach Boys , the Satanic Church, and Rosemary’s Baby/Roman Polanski.
I agree that those are fun songs, but I had to grow to like them. I was initially turned off by Paul’s silly songs (I know Bungalow Bill is Lennon–probably his worst song).
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
7.05pm
8 August 2013
There are Beatles songs that I have grown to like too. Long Long Long is one. I used to really hate it, thought it was boring and dreary. However recently I’ve totally changed my opinion. The lyrics are brilliant and I love Ringo’s drumming on it. I don’t dislike many Beatles songs and if I do i try to find some positives.
7.23pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Hannah said
There are Beatles songs that I have grown to like too. Long Long Long is one. I used to really hate it, thought it was boring and dreary. However recently I’ve totally changed my opinion. The lyrics are brilliant and I love Ringo’s drumming on it. I don’t dislike many Beatles songs and if I do i try to find some positives.
Same here. An example would be Blue Jay Way which I always found dull and wanting to skip, Ringo’s drumming saved it for me.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
8.07pm
8 August 2013
meanmistermustard said
Hannah said
There are Beatles songs that I have grown to like too. Long Long Long is one. I used to really hate it, thought it was boring and dreary. However recently I’ve totally changed my opinion. The lyrics are brilliant and I love Ringo’s drumming on it. I don’t dislike many Beatles songs and if I do i try to find some positives.Same here. An example would be Blue Jay Way which I always found dull and wanting to skip, Ringo’s drumming saved it for me.
I still can’t quite say I actually like Blue Jay Way but Ringo’s drumming on it is amazing and I tend to concentrate on that when listening to it. It sounds like I don’t like George’s stuff but I do! It’s just those 2 songs I’m not crazy about.
8.41pm
6 August 2013
Expert Textpert said
I agree with George Martin that it should have been a single album. I never listen to the whole thing straight through, and it doesn’t flow at all. I don’t really see it as a concept, either–just a bunch of songs that don’t go together thrown together.When I was 12 years old (1982) I heard Let it Be. I thought it was good, but not life-changing…but then at 12 your musical taste is not that mature. In 1993 or so I decided to give The Beatles another try–the album that I heard was The White Album . I thought it was so mediocre that I didn’t give The Beatles another chance until around 2007 when a friend started giving me a few Beatles things to listen to…didn’t even become a big fan until last year when I heard the whole catalogue chronologically.
So, I guess it took me about 30 years to become a Beatles fan.
I’m always fascinated to hear how people grow into liking the Beatles, to hear their stories of discovery. Even though Anthology led the way, it really wasn’t till about 2002-03, when I moved out of the house and lived on my own, that it really started for me. I remember buying a used copy of Rubber Soul and that was it… there was no going back. It’s now lead to me buying all the albums, several of the solo records, the Capitol Albums box set, a used copy of a red-disc “Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane ” 45 record, and now producing and hosting my own Beatles show and debating whether or not to get The Beatles in Mono set. Thank God the wife not only tolerates my fandom, but encourages it.
"There's no such thing as bad student... only bad teacher."
11.47pm
19 April 2010
So it’s fascinating reading your posts and figuring out your ages (and I’m not making any judgement regarding the value of your opinion based on anyone’s age).
I was 11 when the White Album first came out (I’m 55 going on 56 now) and Bungalow Bill and songs like that were considered revolutionary – among the favorites at the time of anyone who listened.
It does make a difference not only one’s age when hearing some of these for the first time, but the age or era one is in.
In 1968 the White Album was unlike anything and to most Beatle fans it made perfect sense.
Funny.
"She looks more like him than I do."
12.10am
8 August 2013
That’s interesting robert. I’m 30 and first heard the White Album when I was about 15. I consider the Beatles to be revolutionary even now in this day and age. The creativity and sheer influence they have had on music all these years later is unsurpassed in my opinion. Although i’m not a particular fan of Bungalow Bill I can still say that I haven’t heard anything remotely simlilar to it by any other band. One of the reasons I am so obsessed by the Beatles and such a huge fan, and what elevates them above other bands I simply like, is the fact that they are so different. Every single song on the White Album for instance sounds totally distinct from each other. What other band has truly achieved that? Most bands maybe change their style somewhat from album to album but not have every track on the same album in a totally different style. It’s amazing when you think about it!
12.57am
10 June 2013
Bungalow Bill is one of my favorites from that album! There was also a period of time when I would put on Revolution 9 as I woke up in the morning/went to sleep every night. I love The Beatles the whole way through every time.
"P. P. P. P. S- L. P. Winner."
1.06am
5 November 2011
1.14am
5 November 2011
WhereArtEsteban said
There was also a period of time when I would put on Revolution 9 as I woke up in the morning/went to sleep every night.
Wow, that’s a lot of dedication. Did you end up not being able to listen to it for awhile afterwards?
I used to not like The White Album too much. I liked the individual songs better than the whole album. I listened to it straight through a couple months ago, though, and it was magical. I never really liked Back In The USSR either but now it’s one of my favorites, same with Dear Prudence and Julia .
All living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit
2.07am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
unknown said
Hannah said Very true! You can find ‘evidence’ anywhere if you want to believe in something.
Yeah, they even found evidence from before he died, even though his death was an accident.
Maybe it wasn’t an accident. If all these people were involved why couldn’t it be a pre-planned “accident”?
Im sure someone wrote that Elvis was involved in the cover-up. Elvis!!?? The whole thing is so preposterous you might as well add E.T., the Iron Giant, Tinkerbell, and three of the seven dwarfs to the clues.
The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:
Mr. Kite"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
2.15am
5 November 2011
meanmistermustard said
unknown said
Hannah said Very true! You can find ‘evidence’ anywhere if you want to believe in something.
Yeah, they even found evidence from before he died, even though his death was an accident.
Maybe it wasn’t an accident.
Maybe, but then the story would be wrong. Or maybe Paul was unstuck in time (like in Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut), so he had lived his death hundreds of time before it came.
All living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit
2.18am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
unknown said
meanmistermustard said
unknown said
Hannah said Very true! You can find ‘evidence’ anywhere if you want to believe in something.
Yeah, they even found evidence from before he died, even though his death was an accident.
Maybe it wasn’t an accident.
Maybe, but then the story would be wrong. Or maybe Paul was unstuck in time (like in Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut), so he had lived his death hundreds of time before it came.
“The story could be wrong” is a lyric in a song called Peggy Sue Got Married by Buddy Holly. “Paul” bought up Buddy’s catalogue….
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
2.38am
5 November 2011
meanmistermustard said
unknown said
meanmistermustard said
unknown said
Hannah said Very true! You can find ‘evidence’ anywhere if you want to believe in something.
Yeah, they even found evidence from before he died, even though his death was an accident.
Maybe it wasn’t an accident.
Maybe, but then the story would be wrong. Or maybe Paul was unstuck in time (like in Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut), so he had lived his death hundreds of time before it came.
“The story could be wrong” is a lyric in a song called Peggy Sue Got Married by Buddy Holly. “Paul” bought up Buddy’s catalogue….
Wow, so even Buddy Holly’s was in on this.
All living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit
3.04am
16 July 2013
robert said
So it’s fascinating reading your posts and figuring out your ages (and I’m not making any judgement regarding the value of your opinion based on anyone’s age).I was 11 when the White Album first came out (I’m 55 going on 56 now) and Bungalow Bill and songs like that were considered revolutionary – among the favorites at the time of anyone who listened.
It does make a difference not only one’s age when hearing some of these for the first time, but the age or era one is in.
In 1968 the White Album was unlike anything and to most Beatle fans it made perfect sense.
Funny.
That’s very true that the stage you are at in life very much influences the way you hear any music and some songs will straight away “speak” to you while others will just annoy the hell out of you.
That’s why I don’t understand those who listen just once to something and form an opinion on it for ever after. One thing you learn early on that there is always something to appreciate or like about Beatles songs but you sometimes need to give it a chance. It’s interesting reading how many didn’t like this album at first (including me) but do now. Things change, we change, our lives change so it makes sense that our music tastes are open to change.
"Try to realise it's all within yourself - no-one else can make you change"
4.09am
1 November 2012
99% of the Beatles songs I like (which in turn comprise about 98% of the songs on every album after Hard Day’s Night), I liked from the first time I heard them.
There are other musicians and/or albums I actually disliked at first, then only learned to love after a few listens (e.g., the album in which Brazilian pop musicians Toquinho and Vinicius collaborated in 1974, Personalidade; or the albums of Cirque du Soleil composer René Dupéré — Saltimbanco, Alegria, Mystère); but for some reason, the Beatles hit me right out of the box.
Faded flowers, wait in a jar, till the evening is complete... complete... complete... complete...
1.33pm
Reviewers
29 August 2013
MrBig said
paulsbass said:MeanMrs.Mustard said:
What about “Why Don’t We Do it in the Road?” GOSH Paul. You and your Indian monkeys.
John thought this was one of Paul’s best songs.
I don’t know if I have to agree with that but those vocals are AMAZING!
Sounds very “hoarse” too. Too bad the only lyrics are “Why don’t we do it in the road?” (besides No one will be watching us). Very uncomfortable to listen to when you have family around
You did tell them he was talking about dancing, right?
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