# The Beatles (White Album) - Let's make it a single disc - Which songs do we keep? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 26, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310 "2013-10-26T14:40:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/1 "2013-10-26T14:40:16Z")
I love the White Album as it stands, but I know many believe it should have been whittled down to a single disc. I thought it would be a fun exercise to exorcise half the songs and create the album many feel it should have been. There are 30 tunes; let’s whack half of them. Choose up to 15 songs you would designate as keepers. Then we’ll put out a Pure White album and reap the rewards. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/2 "2013-10-26T14:45:15Z")
You sick, sick man. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/3 "2013-10-26T15:27:59Z")
That was brutal. The last three to go were rough on me. Can we re-design the cover also? ---
**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:** [October 26, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/4 "2013-10-26T15:44:11Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > You sick, sick man. This. There isn’t a weak song on the album. You might need to be a bit more world weary before appreciating the genius of Revolution 9, but every song takes up its space and place very nicely. Like Ringo’s drumming. If you want more compact Beatles masterpieces, there’s Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper’s. This effort is expansive by nature. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/5 "2013-10-26T15:49:39Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > This. > There isn’t a weak song on the album. You might need to be a bit more world weary before appreciating the genius of Revolution 9, but every song takes up its space and place very nicely. Like Ringo’s drumming. If you want more compact Beatles masterpieces, there’s Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper’s. This effort is expansive by nature. I don’t disagree, except for Revolution 9. And if I become any more world weary than I already am it’s time to start shopping for my bury-'em suit. mmm ---
**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:** [October 26, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/6 "2013-10-26T16:03:30Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I don’t disagree, except for Revolution 9. > > And if I become any more world weary than I already am it’s time to start shopping for my bury-'em suit. > mmm Yeah, well, I want that 10 bob note, but dry it off first. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/7 "2013-10-26T17:30:34Z")
Wow, it’s not my favorite Beatles record, but I couldn’t do it. I was able to eliminate six of them, but then I just couldn’t bear to cut anymore. I could have easily whittled most of their early albums down to an EP, but I think that one’s pretty good. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/8 "2013-10-26T17:36:10Z")
Twelve for me. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/9 "2013-10-26T18:36:03Z")
Nice to see that (so far, at least) George’s **While My Guitar Gently Weeps** is the most appreciated cut on the album by us Dopers. I am honestly surprised, more than surprised, though, that **Helter Skelter** is valued as much as it is - in the top five! It’s a good track, sure, but ahead of 25 others on the White Album? Don’t think so. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/10 "2013-10-26T19:03:32Z")
It actually wasn’t as hard as I thought it’d be, especially as I kept telling myself that the hacked tracks will just end up an another album. FYI, here are my 15: Back in the U.S.S.R. Dear Prudence Don’t Pass Me By Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey Glass Onion Happiness is a Warm Gun Helter Skelter I Will I’m So Tired Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Piggies Revolution 1 Savoy Truffle Sexy Sadie While My Guitar Gently Weeps ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/11 "2013-10-26T19:28:37Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Nice to see that (so far, at least) George’s **While My Guitar Gently Weeps** is the most appreciated cut on the album by us Dopers. > > I am honestly surprised, more than surprised, though, that **Helter Skelter** is valued as much as it is - in the top five! It’s a good track, sure, but ahead of 25 others on the White Album? Don’t think so. It’d make my top 5 on the album. Dear Prudence is #1, though. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/12 "2013-10-26T19:53:09Z")
> [@Lendervedder's Bloated Corpse](#): > > It actually wasn’t as hard as I thought it’d be I wasn’t able to get past 7 songs to keep. There was a lot of dross on that album. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/13 "2013-10-26T19:59:10Z")
Here are my 15: Back in the U.S.S.R. Birthday Blackbird Dear Prudence Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey Helter Skelter I Will Martha My Dear Mother Nature’s Son Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Revolution 1 Rocky Racoon Savoy Truffle Sexy Sadie While My Guitar Gently Weeps There were quite a few more that were ‘on the bubble’…really, the only songs on the album that I’d just as soon not hear again are _Revolution 9_ and _Wild Honey Pie_. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/14 "2013-10-26T20:33:03Z")
Aside from scratching Revolution 9, this was hard. In the end, I went with: Back in the U.S.S.R. Birthday Blackbird Cry Baby Cry Dear Prudence Don’t Pass Me By Happiness is a Warm Gun I’m So Tired Mother Nature’s Son Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Revolution 1 Rocky Raccoon The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill While My Guitar Gently Weeps Yer Blues Cutting Helter Skelter, Piggies, and Glass Onion was particularly hard, but I wanted to keep the overall feel of the album, and while I love them all (and most of the others I cut), I don’t love them as much as others that would fit the same slot for me. (If forced to swap them back in, HS would kill USSR, Piggies would replace Rocky, and GO would be slotted in Birthday’s place.) ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/15 "2013-10-26T20:46:47Z")
George Martin wanted to make it a single album. I managed to come up with 14 worth, IMHO, keeping. Back in the USSR Birthday Blackbird Dear Prudence Glass Onion Happiness is a Warm Gun I Will I’m So Tired Julia Martha, My Dear Piggies Sexy Sadie While My Guitar Gently Weeps Yer Blues ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/16 "2013-10-26T21:52:16Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > George Martin wanted to make it a single album. I managed to come up with 14 worth, IMHO, keeping. > > Back in the USSR > Birthday > Blackbird > Dear Prudence > Glass Onion > Happiness is a Warm Gun > I Will > I’m So Tired > Julia > Martha, My Dear > Piggies > Sexy Sadie > While My Guitar Gently Weeps > Yer Blues I’m sad that you couldn’t bring yourself to select a 15th, particularly since you put the kibosh on Revolution 1. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/17 "2013-10-26T21:53:30Z")
“Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except For Me and My Monkey” is not getting nearly enough love. It’s a John song with one of Paul’s all-time greatest basslines. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/18 "2013-10-26T21:55:03Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > I am honestly surprised, more than surprised, though, that **Helter Skelter** is valued as much as it is - in the top five! It’s a good track, sure, but ahead of 25 others on the White Album? Don’t think so. I am equally shocked that so many want to get a room with Helter Skelter. Right now it’s in 4th place. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/19 "2013-10-26T22:30:04Z")
I’m shocked that Revolution 9 is higher than either Honey Pie. As cacophonous as Wild Honey Pie is, at least it qualifies as a SONG, and Honey Pie is a pleasant little ditty. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310/20 "2013-10-26T22:31:13Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I’m sad that you couldn’t bring yourself to select a 15th, particularly since you put the kibosh on Revolution 1. > mmm What can I say? I liked the version on the flip side of Hey Jude. After hearing that first, R1 on the LP just seemed really sluggish and draggy to me. If you really want a 15th pick, I’d go with Savoy Truffle, though I’d like to hear how it would sound without the horns. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-white-album-lets-make-it-a-single-disc-which-songs-do-we-keep/672310.md?page=2)