WHITE AND YELLOW

For some reason, for many years people on rec.music.beatles and later bloggers have speculated about what might have been the lineup of the White Album (officially called The Beatles) had George Martin's suggestion been taken to reduce the collection to one album's worth of songs. For many years, I refrained from this exercise because I did not like the usual notion of simply choosing the songs that one likes best.

When I finally came up with my own list, I decided to pursue the matter along criteria that were used and/or might have been used by the Beatles and George Martin. My considerations include:

  1. George Martin placed the tracks that he thought were "best" at the beginning of each side. All four of these songs are included.
  2. George Harrison was alloted one song per side.
  3. John and Paul normally filled out the remainder of the fourteen songs, with Ringo being allowed to add songs if he had written them. My compilation includes the song written by Ringo.
  4. "Good Night" was clearly intended as the album's closer and had to be included.
  5. Singles were often issued contemporary to the album but containing none of the album's songs. I have selected two "single" tracks as well.
  6. As to the order, Paul's and John's were usually alternated by this time. George Martin made a point of not putting more than 2 of John's or Paul's songs back to back.
  7. No songs dropped from the double album were considered for the single album.
  8. After making my compilation, I considered also the possibility that the songs that they recorded earlier (after coming back from India) were possibly the ones they were most keen on.
  9. Animal songs were placed together deliberately on the double album.

Those things having been said, here are my selections:


SINGLE:
"Helter Skelter"/"Julia" (Apple 2385)


ALBUM:
A Doll's House (Apple SW-101)

Side One Side Two
Back In the USSR Birthday
Sexy Sadie I'm So Tired
Ob-la-di; Ob-la-da Piggies
Revolution 1 Blackbird
Don't Pass Me By Cry Baby Cry
Mother Nature's Son Martha My Dear
The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and my Monkey
While My Guitar Gently Weeps Good Night

Notes:

I really wanted "Glass Onion," but I considered that "Cry Baby Cry" had a nicer pastiche of lyrics and that "I'm So Tired" had a good sound on side 3 of the original album. It stands as an alternate to "I'm So Tired" if you prefer; the other song would have been saved for the next release.

Following George Martin's rules, the heavier sounds were separated from one another. The "strongest" tracks were placed first on each side. Two more folksy numbers ("Don't Pass Me By" and "Mother Nature's Son") were placed together.

For the most part, I was keen on lyrical content. Songs that had particularly interesting (Blackbird), pointed (Sexy Sadie), or picturesque (Mother Nature's Son) lyrics were included.

The follow-up release would then have been the soundtrack to Yellow Submarine (and other songs), to include:

SINGLE:
"All Together Now"/"Not Guilty" (Apple 2403)


ALBUM:
Yellow Submarine (Apple SW-153)

Side One (from the film Yellow Submarine) Side Two (other songs from Pepperland)
Yellow SubmarineGlass Onion
Only a Northern Song Rocky Raccoon
All Together Now Yer Blues
Hey Bulldog Honey Pie/Wild Honey Pie
It's All Too Much Savoy Truffle
Across the Universe Dear Prudence
All You Need Is Love I Will

Notes:

  1. The title song had to be included.
  2. "All You Need is Love" is a central theme in the film, which had not appeared on any UK album.
  3. "Across the Universe" (version 1) was considered for possible UK EP release. As producer, I would have suggested it be placed into the animated film.
  4. I picked another Harrissong for side 2 even though there were 2 on side 1. George's white album material was really good. I also considered the film songs to be separate from the "album tracks," in a manner similar to what the band did with Hard Day's Night and Help! The group seemed to regard their album stuff seriously but the film as a throwaway...until they saw it.
  5. As a "full release," the album might have contained a Blue Meanie iron-on or some such thing.

This leaves several songs entirely unreleased:

  1. "Happiness is a Warm Gun"
    An interesting merging of three songs, probably left for the "next" album. Since the next "studio-type" album was Abbey Road, and this wouldn't fit, it would've been omitted entirely -- left for a Plastic Ono Band release.
  2. "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?"
    What was Paul thinking? Bag it.
  3. "Long Long Long"
    A haunting song, which George would probably include on All Things Must Pass, along with the others he was writing.
  4. "What's the New Mary Jane?"/"Revolution 9"
    released by the Plastic Ono Band as Apple 2426
    I like the way that "Revolution 9" was placed between the soft "Cry Baby Cry" and the soppy "Good Night," but as a track in and of itself, almost everyone regards it as their "least favorite." Together with "What's the New Mary Jane," we have a perfect Plastic Ono Band single.

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