Which is the best Beatles album?

Question

I find it hard to choose between "Revolver" and the "White Album", what do you think?

Has Robert Abuse ever heard the "White Album"?

What does Bowzer think of "Revolution no.9" ? - that's the one I skip, I find it painful.

Answer 1

a. 'Revolver'
b. 'White Album'
c. 'Let It Be' (!)

Why?

The first is the most compact brilliance they ever put on record. Only two clunkers - well, that's subjective - 'Dr. Robert' and 'I Want To Tell You' are the only ones I regularly skip over. And I really admire 'Tomorrow Never Knows', surely a commercially risky song to do in 1966.

The second is messy, often misfires, but is the most interesting, bravest Beatles record, hands-down. And no, I don't wish it had been a single album : ) It's chaotic but after absorbing it fully over the years the only track I really cannot stand is 'Glass Onion.'

The third is one that few would choose. But its almost 'lo-fi'-ness (in the 'Spectorless', naked version) is something I just love, as is the humour scattered through the albums in tracks like 'Dig It' and 'Maggie Mae'.

All these albums have more sheer (flawed) personality and presence than the more perfect (more perfected?) Sgt. Pepper or Abbey Road, IMHO.

Answer 2

White Album

Answer 3

God they're all FANTASTIC. I can't ever choose because every one of them has buckets of pure genius.

But out of the two you've chosen, I'd have to go with The White Album, for these reasons:

1. Revolver has Yellow Submarine, and it's a bit crap. Yes, The White Album has Piggies, but it's not quite as crap as Yellow Submarine.

2. The White Album is over twice the length of Revolver - more Beatles Bang for your Buck, so to speak.

3. The White Album is sonically superior (...in my humble opinion).

4. Lennon's songs on Revolver aren't quite as good as those on The White Album. (Dear Prudence! AMAAAAAAAAAZING)

5. I love the Pure White cover. And the Apple logos. And the cool pics.

I hope this doesn't sound like I don't like Revolver! The White just tips the balance ever so slightly.

Edit - Revolution 9? Still better than Yellow Submarine :)

Answer 4

I'll go with George Martin's favourite, Abbey Road. I just love all the way all the tracks in the 2nd half run straight into the next one. AND you've got Come Together, Something and Here Comes The Sun.

My favourite keeps changing, when I was a child, I liked Sgt Pepper (its fun), when I was at Uni I liked Rubber Soul (lots of deep songs) and The White album (its crazy).

Maybe when I'm older I'll like the old ones.

Answer 5

Of course the Beatles couldn't agree either as I recall. But the two you mention are good, of course, but surely the Sgt Pepper album was just so innovative from the design of the sleeve, the arrangements, the fills, it is like a well arranged book with a satisfying ending, that chord at the very end of the album is just right, the lyrics, everything.
I think it might have been Paul Gambaccini who said "simply put there is, Before Sgt. P and after Sgt. P. It is that important in pop history"

Answer 6

The Blue Album

Answer 7

My personal favourite is 'Please Please Me', but I know it's not as good as most of the others (although it's better than 'Beatles For Sale'). I just like how gangly it is.

'Revolver' is the tightest, most daring and most glitteringly sexy, but it's not as warm-hearted as 'Sgt. Pepper'.

'Sgt. Pepper' is actually a masterpiece, but less than half the songs are as good as the average song on 'Revolver'. If it came down to overall coherence and unity of spirit, it'd be the best.

The White Album is the most epically melancholy, but there are too many crap songs, too much stoned fooling about. I would actually prefer to listen to 'Revolution 9' than to 'Bungalow Bill'. I think it's a masterpiece in so many ways, I just find it hard to articulate why I don't think it's their best. I feel it on a gut level.

It's easier to say which is the second best - either 'A Hard Day's Night' or 'Abbey Road'. The former is the greatest single expression of classic Beatlemania-era charm, power, arrogance and optimism. The latter is the Beatles album that's most likely to make me cry.

Answer 8

Definitely The White Album - awesome

Answer 9

I personally think that Sergeant Pepper's is the best album. That album and all the innovative things that they did, from the introduction of foreign instruments, to the way the whole album was mixed, has been an influence on every body from Zepplin to The Westminster abbey.

Answer 10

Rubber Soul or the White album