# The White Album ranked **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2018, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-album-ranked/825186 "2018-11-28T02:46:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [November 28, 2018, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-album-ranked/825186/1 "2018-11-28T02:46:06Z")
So, what with the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ White Album and all, it seems a lot of people are making lists, ranking its 30 tracks from worst to best. Here’s one: ["The White Album" Turns 50: Ranking The Beatles' Behemoth](https://www.stereogum.com/2022340/beatles-white-album-song-rankings-50th-anniversary/franchises/sounding-board/) and here’s one: [Reconsidering 'The Beatles': the new White Album, ranked | Mashable](https://mashable.com/article/beatles-white-album-2018/#4VmHeE9sCiqq) and here’s one: [All 30 Songs On The Beatles’ White Album, Ranked | by Patrick Hosken | Medium](https://medium.com/@patrickhosken/all-30-songs-on-the-beatles-white-album-ranked-fd7ceedc8a75) and here’s one: [The Beatles’ White Album: Every Song Ranked From Worst to Best | Billboard – Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8486189/the-beatles-white-album-anniversary-songs-ranked) and here’s one: [Beatles White Album Songs Ranked Worst to Best](http://ultimateclassicrock.com/beatles-white-album-songs/) and I’m sure there are many others. How would the SDMB rank the tracks? We’ve done polls on this. There have been at least a couple times we’ve voted on the best song from each disc: once in 2010 ([Disc 1](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=580335), [Disc 2](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=580336)) and once in 2014 ([Disc 1](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=717988), [Disc 2](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=718787)). And [in 2013](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=706070) we put 'em all together in an attempt to winnow them down to a single disc. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to base the SDMB’s ranking on which songs got the most votes in that poll, so here’s our list, from worst to best, of the 30 tracks that make up _The Beatles_:Wild Honey Pie Good Night Honey Pie Long, Long, Long Revolution 9 Don’t Pass Me By Yer Blues Piggies Savoy Truffle Mother Nature’s Son Cry Baby Cry The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill Why Don’t We Do It in the Road? Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey I Will Sexy Sadie Glass Onion Birthday Martha My Dear I’m So Tired Rocky Racoon Julia Revolution 1 Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Happiness is a Warm Gun Helter Skelter Blackbird Dear Prudence Back in the U.S.S.R. While My Guitar Gently Weeps Of course, my own personal ranking (were I to take the trouble to construct it) wouldn’t exactly match this one or any of the others I linked to. For instance, “Dear Prudence” has never really done much for me, but I love “Savoy Truffle.” And I was surprised that “Revolution #9” wasn’t even close to last on the SDMB’s list. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-album-ranked/825186/2 "2018-11-28T03:21:55Z")
The White Album is one of my favorites. I can’t count how many times I’ve listened to it. As far as ranking the songs, that’s a tough one. I’ve always enjoyed the album as a whole, with each song being equal, sitting in just the right place. Sure, _Wild Honey Pie_ isn’t as “good” a song as _While My Guitar Gently Weeps_ and _Revolution 9_ is weird as hell\*, but it all fits together as a single piece of “art” for me. I will say that the 5.1 mix on the deluxe box set sounds fantastic. Kudos to Giles for creating a wonderful surround-sound version of album. (\*perhaps _Revolution 9_ is less weird knowing what John was attempting – trying to paint a “sound picture” of a revolution) ---
**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:** [November 29, 2018, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-album-ranked/825186/3 "2018-11-29T05:55:43Z")
Rather than rank the entire album, I’ll list only my favorite tracks, the tracks I still actively listen to 50 years later. In descending order of bestness: \*\* 1- Bungalow Bill / Guitar Gently Weeps / Happiness Warm Gun 2- Julia 3- Cry Baby Cry / Can You Take Me Back 4- Sexy Sadie 5- Savoy Truffle 6- Piggies 7- Everybody’s Got Something To Hide 8- Long, Long, Long \*\* and a custom track I made for myself using the old “RockBand” multitracks: **While My Guitar Gently Weeps** , with Clapton’s isolated guitar part loud, front and center; everything else barely audible. Because I like it. ---
**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:** [November 29, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-album-ranked/825186/4 "2018-11-29T22:17:54Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > …and a custom track I made for myself using the old “RockBand” multitracks: > **While My Guitar Gently Weeps** , with Clapton’s isolated guitar part loud, front and center; everything else barely audible. Because I like it. Looks like I’m not the only one who did this. If you’re interested: _[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28fmF-WiP5o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28fmF-WiP5o)_ ---
**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:** [November 29, 2018, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-album-ranked/825186/5 "2018-11-29T22:49:00Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Looks like I’m not the only one who did this. If you’re interested: > _[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28fmF-WiP5o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28fmF-WiP5o)_ Nice. ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-album-ranked/825186/6 "2018-11-30T21:42:50Z")
As another Horrified Onlooker, Here’s a White Album ‘Top 10’ that on any given day could be randomly played to my satisfaction. The absence of other folks’ favorites is no reflection on the quality of the album as a whole. I could play both sides and enjoy that experience as well. 1. While My ‘Goiter’ Gently Weeps 2. Long, Long, Long - Cuz no one likes this ‘cept me and my monkey 3. Sexy Sadie 4. I Will - Cuz we play this in the group and it comes out so fine 5. Savoy Truffle 6. Blackbird 7. Revolution 1 8. Back In The U.S.S.R. 9. Dear Prudence 10. Glass Onion ---
**Author:** ![Rough\_Draft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Rough\_Draft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rough_Draft)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-album-ranked/825186/7 "2018-11-30T21:44:19Z")
I think the SDMB rankings are pretty good. I only have minor quibbles and they’re definitely just personal opinion: 1. I would have ranked Revolution #9 dead last. 2. Good Night and Long, Long, Long are too low in the rankings. 3. Rocky Raccoon is MUCH too high. Also, I’ve always kinda liked Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, but I hear so much hatred for it that I’m surprised to see its place on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-album-ranked/825186/8 "2018-11-30T21:53:44Z")
I’ve listened to the White Album 1000 times, and here are the songs I skip: Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Wild Honey Pie, Revolution 9. I would skip “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?” but what would be the point as it’s over by the time I find the skip button. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-album-ranked/825186/9 "2018-11-30T22:08:19Z")
I don’t know if this was mentioned in the articles or threads, but here’s a bit of White Album trivia: the guitar riff at the beginning of Bungalow Bill was played by pressing a [single key on a mellotron](https://youtu.be/Fe8g1wlNAPo). ---
**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:** [December 1, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-album-ranked/825186/10 "2018-12-01T01:06:52Z")
> [@Philliam](#): > > As another Horrified Onlooker, Here’s a White Album ‘Top 10’ that on any given day could be randomly played to my satisfaction… Long, Long, Long - Cuz no one likes this ‘cept me and my monkey I saw what you did there, Pal. Having just seen that it’s on my list, you are openly calling me your monkey. I am my own monkey, thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-album-ranked/825186/11 "2018-12-01T07:20:36Z")
Gee, I’m surprised there are only 10 postings so far. Here’s my Top Ten 1. I Will 2. Birthday 3. The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill 4. Mother Nature’s Son 5. Yer Blues 6. Happiness Is A Warm Gun 7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps 8. Back in the U.S.S.R. 9. Glass Onion 10. Helter Skelter It’s strange that “I Will” did not have more popularity. Some folks thought it would be the next “Yesterday”.