White Album: Introduction

Here we highlight The Beatles’ “White Album” in brief. This was The Beatles ninth studio album, which has two LPs, of course. Moreover, the self-titled album brought with it some of the Fab Four’s best-ever songs. In fact, click the button further down the page to hear clips from all the tracks on the album and see for yourself.

In essence, the album itself has no title and just a plain white cover. However, embossed on the front is the name of the band, which is also its real title. So, the album became known as the “White Album.” Therefore, for the purposes of this information guide, we are calling it the White Album too.

Just to point out the different record label for this album, Apple. This was the group’s multimedia business with the name Apple Corps, which replaced their earlier company, Beatles Ltd.

In Detail

• Release Date: November 22, 1968
• Recorded: May 30–October 14, 1968
• Record Label: Apple
• Studio: EMI Studios and Trident Studios, London
• Album Duration: 93:35
• Genre: Rock & pop
• Producers: George Martin, Chris Thomas, John Lennon and Paul McCartney
• Engineers: Geoff Emerick, Ken Scott, and Barry Sheffield

Performers And Instruments

• John Lennon: vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, piano, organ, Hammond organ, harmonica, harmonium, tenor saxophone, timpani, drums, percussion, effects, tape loops, samples, and also some handclaps
• Paul McCartney: vocals, bass guitar, six-string bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, electric piano, organ, Hammond organ, flugelhorn, recorder, tambourine, drums, bongos, percussion, as well as some handclaps
• George Harrison: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, Hammond organ, percussion, drums, samples and some handclaps
• Ringo Starr: vocals, drums, bongos, tambourine, castanets, sleigh bell, effects, maracas, percussion, and also some handclaps
• George Martin: piano, celesta, and also the harmonium

Other Performers

• Eric Clapton: lead guitar
• Chris Thomas: piano, Mellotron, harpsichord, organ, and also the electric piano
• Yoko Ono: vocals, effects, samples, as well as some handclaps
• Mal Evans: backing vocals, trumpet, and also some handclaps
• Pattie Harrison, Jackie Lomax, John McCartney, Maureen Starkey, Francie Schwartz, Ingrid Thomas, Pat Whitmore, Val Stockwell, Irene King, Ross Gilmour, Mike Redway, Ken Barrie, Fred Lucas: backing vocals

The Beatles also used some session musicians. For example, there were many violinists and trumpeters. In fact, there were over 75 other musicians offering some form of musical or vocal input. So, we won’t list all these for page aesthetic reasons. However, we greatly appreciate their contribution.

White Album: The Songs

Side One

Side Two

Side Three

Side Four

The White Album Cover

However, they managed to make 34 tracks in 1968, and 30 made it to the “White Album.” So, making this double album would have had its pressures.

Despite the rumours and the plain sleeve, the cover did have a designer! Indeed, it was pop artist Richard Hamilton, in collaboration with McCartney, who came up with the design. Because there is no official name for this album, people just call it the “White Album.”

Despite the obvious plainness of the album sleeve, it is instantly recognisable. Later, of course, we see the compilation of the Red and Blue albums.

Recording

The Beatles began recording The White Album on May 30, 1968, at Trident Studios for the first time, but the band also used Abbey Road as well. Then, throughout the summer of that year, they continued recording, albeit under a tremendous amount of pressure, right through until around mid-October.

Although tensions did exist, there was still harmony a lot of the time, especially at the start of the sessions.

When Ringo Starr walked out on the band for two weeks, they recorded “Back In The USSR” and “Dear Prudence” without him. Indeed, Paul McCartney played the drums for those two songs. Even George Martin, the band’s producer, walked out on impulse under the guise of “a holiday,” leaving his assistant, Chris Thomas, to do the production by himself.

Geoff Emerick, the group’s engineer, also walked out during the sessions on July 16th, stating that he did not want to work with The Beatles again.

As we can see, the band was obviously beginning to reveal cracks. However, out of this chaos and tension, The Beatles managed to give us another massively influential album. Of course, by now, The Beatles had all the experience necessary in the studios to demand perfection, and perfection is what we got. In fact, many people believe that this is the best recording of all.

The Sounds

We know about the rift in the band, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying the treat in store once the album hit the shops. The “White Album” is full of quality from start to finish, some more palatable than others, of course. However, this all comes down to opinions and taste. But what we see with the “White Album” is a variety of different styles.

Perhaps the obvious rift within the band shows the different styles and the directions they were heading. Beatlemania was still with us, but in a more mature way. However, the band no longer needs to appeal to the pop pickers as one.

Indeed, a few of the songs are solo efforts, and each of The Beatles is now occupying different areas of the studio. However, Paul McCartney was happy to help the other band members develop their ideas.

Immediately prior to recording the “White Album,” The Beatles flew to Rishikesh, India, for a spot of meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. During their time in India, the Beatles came up with many ideas for future tracks.

The Indian trip was successful for the music experience, but it all went sour after a while. However, without that trip, the White Album may not have been the same.

White Album: Chart Success

Critics were waiting in the wings for this eagerly anticipated album; after all, it had 30 songs, and the rift in The Beatles was noticeable. Besides, their last album, “Magical Mystery Tour” is now 11 months old. Moreover, in the UK, the “White Album” was the first full-length collection of new songs since “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”

Although certain critics were sceptical, many publicly endorsed the album. Over time, of course, the “White Album” has proved to be one of the most “significant” albums ever. Indeed, many believe that this album is the best album ever.

All in all, the “White Album” was in the charts for 24 weeks after going straight in at number one. It remained at the top of the charts for 7 consecutive weeks and then a further week later on. But it was on America’s Billboard 200 for 155 weeks—almost 3 years!

Have Your Say

Obviously, you can comment below on The Beatles’ Double White Album. However, we also have a massive Fab Four forum in which to comment. Not only that, but this album has its own dedicated forum post. So, now that you have the best of both worlds, have your say today!

Take A Listen

Listen to the Beatles album, and then leave us a comment below: