The Beatles: Sex and The Single Album

Mike Schilling

Mike has been a software engineer far longer than he would like to admit. He has strong opinions on baseball, software, science fiction, comedy, contract bridge, and European history, any of which he's willing to share with almost no prompting whatsoever.

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6 Responses

  1. Chris says:

    That would be a good album, but I have a soft spot for “Why Don’t We Do It in the Road.”Report

  2. Jaybird says:

    Back in the U.S.S.R. could easily be swapped out for Why Don’t We Do It in the Road. It’s not a *BAD* song, it’s just been overcome by events. I appreciate that they’re poking gently at the Beach Boys and that’s all well and good but that particular part of the joke has faded as well. Why Don’t We Do It in the Road has a message that remains timeless.

    And I’ve never enjoyed the Savoy Truffle. We could remove that one and few would remember it.Report

    • Chris in reply to Jaybird says:

      I would keep “Back in the U.S.S.R.”, even if Berry and the Beach Boys aren’t as relevant, and the U.S.S.R. doesn’t exist. I think the song is fun, and the writing and recording of it is so late-Beatles — much of what it became was from conversation and just playing around while on a meditation retreat in India; the recording was so contentious that it caused Ringo to briefly leave the band; the final product is a result of the remaining 3 Beatles contributing bits and pieces of just about every instrument (with the exception of the Piano, which was just McCartney) — that cutting it out would be like removing a priceless cultural artifact. Add to that its place in actual cultural history, both in its voicing of the strong anti-American sentiment among younger Europeans at the time, as well as the fact that it lightheartedly spoofs one of the Beatles greatest influences (and someone whose musical styles they could genuinely be accused of appropriating, in their earlier work), I think it is in some ways one of the Beatles most interesting songs.

      It’s also very funny that the Beach Boys spoof was possibly suggested to McCartney by a Beach Boy.Report

  3. PD Shaw says:

    My contribution to controversy would be to axe “Birthday,” as a far too topical song for an album. Cut these and the White Album fits on a single compact disc:

    Wild Honey Pie (filler)
    I Will (Paul’s worst fluff instincts)
    Birthday (but it’s not my birthday)
    Honey Pie (“going to the vaudeville well once to often”)
    Revolution 9 (make it stop)
    Good Night (at an efficient 74 minutes, who needs sleepy time?)Report

  4. Slade the Leveller says:

    I put this together several years ago after the band I was in had a discussion about how The Beatles could be pared down to a single great album. 13 songs, 41 minutes, the perfect length for an LP.

    The songs tend to the rockier side, but for me getting away from the psychedelic stuff was a welcome return to form for the guys who cut their teeth playing in a Hamburg nightclub. They were at heart rockers who didn’t mind playing fast and loud.

    Presented in order:

    Back in the U.S.S.R. – possible the moptops’ best opening track. I’ll echo Chris on this one.
    Dear Prudence – can’t leave out the following track. Lennon getting lyrical.
    Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da – McCartney fluff, but it’s super catchy so it stays
    Martha My Dear – McCartney could toss these 2:30 pop tunes off in his sleep
    I’m So Tired – quintessential Lennon
    Blackbird – no way this one gets cut
    Don’t Pass Me By – Ringo gets a turn
    Birthday – I learned the bass part for this song and got about 70% of the notes. One for the ages.
    Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey – John rocking out
    Sexy Sadie – too bad legal reasons compelled a change from Maharishi
    Savoy Truffle – Harrison having some rare fun
    While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Nearly 5 minutes long and not a note wasted. My only gripe is the fadeout at the end. They should have figured out a coda.
    Helter Skelter – The Beatles get heavy. Ringo shouting makes the perfect ending.Report