# Beatles (White Album) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 12, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693 "2003-03-12T00:16:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/1 "2003-03-12T00:16:57Z")
It’s been said that the Beatles’ White Album would have been better as a single disc. If it were up to you, which songs would you drop to get it down to one disc? My cuts: Revolution #9 Julia Yer Blues Cry Baby Cry ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/2 "2003-03-12T00:26:11Z")
God no! Cry Baby Cry is one of my favorite Beatle songs! ☹ My cuts: Wild Honey Pie (even Pixies couldn’t save this one) Don’t Pass Me By (yeah, I know that locks out Ringo, but it isn’t one of the finest songs) Everybody’s Got Something to Hide… (pointless) Good Night (schmaltzy) ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/3 "2003-03-12T00:27:34Z")
You’d have to cut a lot more than that! By the way, I like all of your picks, with the exception of Cry baby Cry - I would probably cut that one. Revolution #9 is a great song! Julia is beautiful Yer Blues is classic blues For a start, I would cut: Goodnight Savoy Truffle Happy Birthday Number 9 ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/4 "2003-03-12T00:33:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lisa-go-Blind \* > **Everybody’s Got Something to Hide… (pointless)** Pointless? Say it ain’t so! That song has the World’s Most Kickass Bass Riff[sup]TM[/sup] in it! Right at the end of the “C’monc’monc’monc’monc’mon” part! Can’t be cut. My first reaction is that whoever suggested cutting The White Album down to one disc is a froot loop. If I had to, I could probably cut: Revlution 9 (I actually did listen to the whole thing once) And… Uh… That’s it. Sorry, you just can’t jack aroud with The White Album. It’s like asking “Which movement of the Ode to Joy could be removed without damaging the whole?” You can’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_the\_CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_the\_CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_the_CC)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/5 "2003-03-12T00:34:08Z")
**Samarm** unless I’m mistaken, and I’m pretty sure I’m not, Revolution 9 is the song you are thinking of when you list Number 9. Revolution 9 is the "song’’ that has that voice saying “Number 9” repeatedly. The song that is good that you are probably thinking of is Revolution 1, or just called Revolution. I think this is probably their worst album. Most of disc one is good. Most of disc two is bad. A 1-2 crap-to-goodness ratio. The highest of their careers. I’ll always be confused by this albums fame. Is it so famous because it was so uncharacteristically bad? ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/6 "2003-03-12T00:34:25Z")
Savoy Truffle Revolution 9 Wild Honey Pie Everybody’s Got Somethin’ to Hide Except Me and My Monkey Why Don’t We Do it in The Road? Don’t Pass Me By I’m too attached to the other songs. ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/7 "2003-03-12T00:37:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Why Don’t We Do it in The Road? Sacrilidge! You must never have played this really loud with a good pair of speakers - it rocks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/8 "2003-03-12T00:39:09Z")
**Earl of the CC** : Yes, you are right. I got a bit confused! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/9 "2003-03-12T00:51:07Z")
But I love “Savoy Truffle”! It rocks! I love the way it’s sinister and stupid at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/10 "2003-03-12T00:53:29Z")
I probably don’t belong in this thread, but whf. Imho, The White Album is their “best” and nothing should be added or deleted. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/11 "2003-03-12T00:59:45Z")
Dump “Savoy Truffle!?!?!?” No way! I think it’s easier to decide what to keep: Back in the USSR Dear Prudence While My Guitar Gently Weeps Julia Helter Skelter Birthday Long, Long, Long Honey Pie Savoy Truffle Cry Baby Cry Happiness is a Warm GunThe Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill I’m So TiredI Will See how easy that was? ---
**Author:** ![kefka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@kefka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kefka)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/12 "2003-03-12T01:09:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Earl of the CC \* > \*\ ***Samarm** unless I’m mistaken, and I’m pretty sure I’m not, Revolution 9 is the song you are thinking of when you list Number 9. Revolution 9 is the "song’’ that has that voice saying “Number 9” repeatedly. The song that is good that you are probably thinking of is Revolution 1, or just called Revolution. > > I think this is probably their worst album. Most of disc one is good. Most of disc two is bad. A 1-2 crap-to-goodness ratio. The highest of their careers. I’ll always be confused by this albums fame. Is it so famous because it was so uncharacteristically bad? \*\* wow. i mean, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion and all, but wow. this album is my favorite one that the beatles ever released(tied with sgt. pepper). i think music is such a subjective thing, but i wouldn’t change anything about this album. it has slow parts, sure, but they make the whole better… i wouldn’t cut a thing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/13 "2003-03-12T01:14:37Z")
The OP’s directions are simple, cut a 30-track album down to, say, 16 tracks (8 per side). Thankless, prone to controversy, and not an easy task for any Beatle lover. With that, out go: Dear Prudence Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Wild Honey Pie Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill I’m So Tired Rocky Raccoon Don’t Pass Me By Why Don’t We Do It in the Road? I Will Mother Nature’s Son Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey Savoy Truffle Revolution 9 Good Night This, naturally, requires some resequencing for organization and balance. Hence… _Side 1:_ Back in the U.S.S.R. Cry Baby Cry Sexy Sadie Martha My Dear Happiness is a Warm Gun Blackbird Long, Long, Long Helter Skelter _Side 2:_ Birthday Yer Blues Piggies Glass Onion Honey Pie Revolution 1 Julia While My Guitar Gently Weeps Fairly well-balanced in tone, style, and content (though no Ringo, alas). Still prefer the two-disc version, though… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/14 "2003-03-12T01:15:50Z")
I would have just moved the “lightweight” songs to _Yellow Submarine_ and made that a nearly all original full album. (“Yellow Sumarine”) (“Hey Bulldog” (All Together Now) “Bungalow Bill” " Obladi Oblada (Life Goes On)" (“Only a Northern Song”) “Rocky Racoon” “Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey” “Martha My Dear” (“All Too Much”) “Don’t Pass Me By” “Honey Pie” “Cry Baby Cry” " Good Night" I like these songs. But it would leave a more darker White Album…how’s that for an oxymoron. “Revolution #9” just can’t get any respect. I would argue the “White Album” just wouldn’t be what it is withought that. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/15 "2003-03-12T01:27:02Z")
Anybody who suggests cutting “Everybody’s got something to hide except for me and my monkey” is a damn **communist**. That song rocks. Kind of. But it’s still probably my favorite song on the album. Here’s what you can cut: Wild Honey Pie I’m So Tired Piggies Rocky Raccoon Don’t Pass Me By (optional) Julia (optional) Yer Blues Sexy Sadie Honey Pie Revolution 9 Good Night (optional) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/16 "2003-03-12T01:52:56Z")
I wouldn’t cut a thing. I can understand the dislike of “Revolution #9” and “Good Night,” but cutting anything else is dumb (as the comments in this thread attest). ---
**Author:** ![Ave\_Minerva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@Ave\_Minerva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ave_Minerva)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/17 "2003-03-12T02:32:58Z")
Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da (one of the few Beatles’ songs I don’t like) Don’t Pass Me By Good Night I know that’s not enough but it’s all I could do without. I actually like Revolution 9. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/18 "2003-03-12T03:05:43Z")
sidetrack… I have heard that The White Album is not truly a Beatles album. In that, none of the songs had all of the Beatles playing together. It was just a collection of individual members songs. Is this true? ---
**Author:** ![Elvis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@Elvis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elvis)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/19 "2003-03-12T03:19:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Reeder \* > \*\*sidetrack… > > I have heard that The White Album is not truly a Beatles album. In that, none of the songs had all of the Beatles playing together. It was just a collection of individual members songs. Is this true? \*\* I don’t believe this is true. I think what is meant by this is that the album was basically each Beatle playing his own songs with the others as sidemen. Hey, while we’re on the subject, which songs would you leave off _Sgt. Pepper_ to make it into a really great EP? No, seriously, I think what makes the White Album so great is its very sprawl. Much as I don’t enjoy listening to “Rev. No. 9” or “Good Night” or “Long Long Long” or “Honey Pie”, cutting all that stuff out kills the album. In fact, I think this is one thing the move to CDs has killed–the art of the double album. _Exile On Main Street_, _Daydream Nation_, _Blonde On Blonde_, _Double Nickels On the Dime_, _1999_, such great albums and part of what’s so great is that they’re huge, and that each of four sides is programmed uniquely as a listening experience. Cutting out songs, or putting them all on one CD…it’s just not the same. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693/20 "2003-03-12T04:02:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SolGrundy \* > \*\*Anybody who suggests cutting “Everybody’s got something to hide except for me and my monkey” is a damn **communist**. That song rocks. Kind of. But it’s still probably my favorite song on the album. > > Here’s what you can cut: > Wild Honey Pie > I’m So Tired > Piggies > Rocky Raccoon > Don’t Pass Me By (optional) > Julia (optional) > Yer Blues > Sexy Sadie > Honey Pie > Revolution 9 > Good Night (optional) \*\* You had me at “communist.” But you lost me with your list. Wild Honey Pie-- I agree. Get rid of this crap. I’m So Tired-- this song is awesome. Well written song, that really conveys what John was going through at the time. Piggies-- I love this song. And besides, where would Charles Manson be without it? (Kidding) Rocky Raccoon-- Any song that makes reference to the “Black Mountain Hills of Dakota” is alright in my book. Don’t Pass Me By-- eh, it was better than Octopus’ Garden. Throw Starkey a bone, fer cryin’ out loud! Julia-- John would’ve been better off saving this for a solo album. I agree, get rid of it. Yer Blues-- one ass-kickin’ blues rocker. No _way_ could this one get cut. Sexy Sadie-- One of my three favorite Beatles songs. Beautiful piano, beautiful lyrics. Honey Pie-- While Paul actually did a good job emulating another era of music with this song, the album could’ve done just as well without it. John’s guitar solo on it is nice, tho. Revolution 9-- I agree with **syncrolecyne** that this album just wouldn’t be the same without it. The first electronica song. Good Night— scrap it. MHO. So what would I cut? 1. Glass Onion-- nice bass line, but just a waste of space. 2. Wild Honey Pie 3. The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill-- silly song. Plus it has Yoko singing. Ugh. 4. Martha My Dear-- eh, Paul should’ve held it for a solo album. Maybe could’ve released it as the B-side to “Jet.” 🙂 5. Julia 6. Birthday-- eh, just another silly Paul song 7. Mother Nature’s Son-- think it would’ve gone better on the side 2 of Abbey Road, right between “Sun King” and “Mean Mr. Mustard.” 8. Long, Long, Long-- _hate_ this song. 9. Revolution 1-- always liked the single better. They should’ve held this version for the Let it Be album. 10. Honey Pie 11. Good Night That’s all I can cut. That still leaves 19 songs, I think. Well, I did my best. Happy [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-white-album/160693.md?page=2)