March 08, 2021

1968 - December: The Beatles “The White Album”

35 minutes

By the time the ninth studio album was put out, The Beatles had achieved astounding critical and popular success. Their only double-album was self-titled. However it has become known as The White Album because, unlike the color and art of the prior Sargent Peppers album, this one was entirely without color, white, with simply the name "The Beatles" on the cover. Much of the songs on the album were created while the band was on a Transcendental Meditation retreat in India, and that influence can be felt in the scaled down, often acoustic feel of the songs.

The band was also beginning to fragment, and arguments or hurt feelings would cause some of the songs to be recorded by just part of the group. Yoko Ono would become a constant presence with Lennon in the studio, contributing to the tension.

Despite the iconic status the album achieved virtually from its release, there were still detractors. Some criticized songs like ”Back in the U.S.S.R.” to be too sympathetic of communism and accused the group of trying to brainwash American youth. Those on the left found the non-activist message of songs like “Revolution” to be a betrayal of leftist ideology during a period of intense social upheaval. And perhaps most famously, Charles Manson claimed inspiration for his violence in many songs from the album.

Today, The White Album is rightfully considered one of the greatest albums of the rock era. We hope this podcast will encourage you to explore the album more fully.

Back In the U.S.S.R.

Mike Love of The Beach Boys was one of the participants in the Transcendental Meditation retreat. McCartney was encouraged by Mike Love to create a Soviet version of "California Girls." with this song. The name of the song was inspired by Chuck Berry's "Back In The U.S.A." McCartney plays drums on this single, as Ringo Starr briefly quit during this time.

Dear Prudence

The inspiration for this Lennon-penned song is Prudence Farrow, Mia Farrow's sister, who was also at the TM retreat. Prudence took the meditation so seriously that she fell into a catatonic state, which obviously worried the entire group. The song was written to lift her spirits. McCartney also played drums on this song in Starr's absence.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

George Harrison matured greatly as a songwriter on this album, and this is one of his more famous contributions. Lennon and McCartney were not enthusiastic about including this song, but relented when Harrison brought his friend Eric Clapton in to play (uncredited) on this song. The members of the Beatles were at each others throats at the time, and Clapton's presence exerted a calming influence on the band. This was also the first song in which Ringo Starr played drums after his return to the group.

Helter Skelter

After reading an interview of Pete Townshend in which he described a Who track, Paul McCartney was inspired to write the "loudest, nastiest, sweatiest rock number we could." This track is infamously associated with Charles Manson and the Tate-LaBianca murders.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

“Baby What You Want Me to Do” by Elvis Presley

This month saw the release of Elvis's TV Comeback Special, "If I Can Dream." It was the highest rated show for the year of 1968.

STAFF PICKS:

“Hooked on a Feeling” by B.J. Thomas

Bruce gets the staff picks started this week with a song made famous by the motion picture "Guardians of the Galaxy." Written by Mark James, B.J. Thomas did the original in 1968. The track would be covered by Jonathan King in 1971, and then by Blue Swede in 1974, the Blue Swede cover being the one with which most are familiar.

“Cinnamon” by Derek

Rob's upbeat staff pick was designed so that singer Johnny Cymbal could avoid being pigeonholed as a novelty singer. As a result, he went by the name, “Derek” for this release — which was his brother's name, Derek Cymbal.

“I Got a Line on You” by Spirit

Wayne's pick is another upbeat track, this one from the Spirit album "The Family That Plays Together." The album got its name because lead guitarist was playing with his stepfather as drummer. Jay Ferguson was also in this band, who wrote the score for the American version of the television series "The Office." This track peaked at number 25.

“Kentucky Woman” by Deep Purple

Brian features an unusual cover of Neil Diamond's 1967 original in a style that some call the first heavy metal song. The song was on the psychedelic and Arthurian album entitled "The Book of Taliesyn."

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

“Joy of a Toy” by Soft Machine

This prog rock/psychedelic instrumental takes us out this week.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

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