# Best of the Beatles: The Beatles (aka The White Album) - Part One **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392 "2014-03-10T23:30:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/21 "2014-03-11T03:55:15Z")
The White Album is a real mixture of some very good stuff and some that is not so good. Of these, I love “Happiness Is a Warm Gun”, but it is a bit too weird and fragmented to get the vote. I am very fond of several others here, and there are others yet that I could well do without. There was a time when I thought “I Will” was the most perfect song ever, but I am over that now. George gets the vote this time, even though it was largely Clapton who was responsible for making it so good. (I am a bit baffled by how many people seem to like “Dear Prudence”, which I can’t stand. The _Siouxsee and the Banshees_ version is far superior to the original, in my opinion, although I am generally no great fan of Siouxsee.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/22 "2014-03-11T04:02:35Z")
Happiness Is A Warm Gun ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/23 "2014-03-11T04:08:09Z")
I went with “Rocky Raccoon”, mainly for the lyrics, although on another day I might have chosen “Glass Onion” or “USSR”. Please don’t shoot me with your warm guns, but “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” never did much for me. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/24 "2014-03-11T04:10:54Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > “While My Guitar” was one of my favorite songs until I started listening to the words. The words add to it for me. George had a history of musically weak songs with misanthropic lyrics that I always found annoying. While My Guitar keeps the misanthropy but the music is so beautiful that it lifts them. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/25 "2014-03-11T04:12:43Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > (I am a bit baffled by how many people seem to like “Dear Prudence”, which I can’t stand. The _Siouxsee and the Banshees_ version is far superior to the original, in my opinion, although I am generally no great fan of Siouxsee.) Thanks for the recommendation. I just listened to it and I think I like it better than the Beatles version. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/26 "2014-03-11T04:19:32Z")
> [@Sir\_Prize](#): > > Thanks for the recommendation. I just listened to it and I think I like it better than the Beatles version. Oh yeah, theirs is much better. Esp. the live version from _Nocturne_. Their version of “Helter Skelter” from the same record is better than the Beatles version, too. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/27 "2014-03-11T04:24:35Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > “While My Guitar” was one of my favorite songs until I started listening to the words. I thought you were going to refer to George’s penchant for scolding preachiness, in this and several other songs. (I still voted for it, for the music.) ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/28 "2014-03-11T04:40:27Z")
I couldn’t make up my mind, so I picked Dear Prudence, just because njtt dissed it.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/29 "2014-03-11T22:20:47Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > _Happiness is…_ I’ve also always liked, one of those that sound like it was cobbled together from fragments while on some heavy substances, but it works for me. And as far as McCartney light pieces are concerned _Blackbird_ will do quite nicely. “Blackbird” is definitely one of my favorite songs on the album. The opening acoustic part was actually based off Bach’s [Bourree in E minor](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APNI2CC0k6A&feature=kp) - it was a piece he and George Harrison had tried to learn together as children. The whole symbolism of the civil rights movement makes it even better. > [@Sir\_Prize](#): > > The words add to it for me. George had a history of musically weak songs with misanthropic lyrics that I always found annoying. While My Guitar keeps the misanthropy but the music is so beautiful that it lifts them. It’s not so much the misanthropy as the awkward rhyming. I do, however, agree that the music itself is absolutely amazing, especially Clapton’s guitar solo. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/30 "2014-03-11T22:24:58Z")
Dear Prudence for me…love the guitar sound, the opening riff and the awesome vocal harmonies. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/31 "2014-03-11T22:31:51Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > “Blackbird” is definitely one of my favorite songs on the album. The opening acoustic part was actually based off Bach’s [Bourree in E minor](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APNI2CC0k6A&feature=kp) - \*\* it was a piece he and George Harrison had tried to learn together as children.\*\* (Bolding Mine) Say again? ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/32 "2014-03-12T00:08:51Z")
I’m glad you split it up, because side 2 of the White Album would already be, by itself, my favorite Beatles album. And side 1 is way up there too. Dear Prudence, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and I’m So Tired are all among my favorites by the band. But the choice is Happiness is a Warm Gun Yes it ih ih iss guuuuuuuoohuuuuuuuun ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/33 "2014-03-12T00:13:49Z")
“Martha My Dear” with “Back in the USSR” a somewhat distant second. But I’m an odd duck. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/34 "2014-03-12T00:23:40Z")
Happiness Is A Warm Gun. The love for While My Guitar Gently Weeps has always eluded me - too rock, not enough roll. As stated upthread, I think the lyrics are actually among the band’s worst. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/35 "2014-03-12T00:51:05Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > “Martha My Dear” with “Back in the USSR” a somewhat distant second. But I’m an odd duck. Martha My Dear for me, too, with Blackbird next in line. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/36 "2014-03-12T02:45:49Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > > [@Octarine](#): > > > > “Blackbird” is definitely one of my favorite songs on the album. The opening acoustic part was actually based off Bach’s [Bourree in E minor](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APNI2CC0k6A&feature=kp) - **it was a piece he and George Harrison had tried to learn together as children.** > > (Bolding Mine) > > Say again? Well, not as _young_ children - they were probably somewhere in their teens. And it was Paul and George, not George and Bach, if that’s what confused you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/37 "2014-03-12T04:28:51Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > Well, not as _young_ children - they were probably somewhere in their teens. And it was Paul and George, not George and Bach, if that’s what confused you. 😃 By the time Paul and George were playing _anything_ together they would have been at least 15. Not what I would call “children.” ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/38 "2014-03-12T04:56:59Z")
I had “Back in the USSR,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” and “Julia” pretty much all tied for first place. I chose to vote for “Julia” because it’s so lovely and moving and meaningful. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/39 "2014-03-12T05:32:57Z")
I looked, waffling for a long time, but eventually voted for **Blackbird**. I love hearing it, and I love playing it. It’s the one constant on this 1/2 album that I’ve never had a period of dislike for. (Oddly, **Blackbird** and **Rocky Raccoon** are the two _Beatles_ songs I have been able to play and sing start-to-finish for the longest amount of time. I don’t think I’ve played either in a few years, but I could pick up the guitar and give you either one of 'em. I think that means something. Don’t know what, but something). ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392/40 "2014-03-12T05:53:52Z")
Personally, I think “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is a pretty shitty Beatles song. Just my opinion. It never seems to…do anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-the-beatles-aka-the-white-album-part-one/683392.md?page=3)