White Album Turns 40

Regarding my Beatles obsession, my mom used to say to me, all those years ago, "How can you keep buying the same stuff over and over -- it's still the same!"

Silly Mom. (Like the Fab Four, she celebrates a birthday this week, too. Happy birthday, Mom.)

I am consistently amazed that no matter how much I've heard, seen and read about the Beatles, there is always something new that pops up. This week, the world celebrates the 40th anniversary of the release of "The Beatles" (aka the White Album). Just today, I was listening to a DTS surround sound version put together by a clever bootlegger, and I noticed a sonic revelation never before detected by my ears in 100's of previous listenings. On Paul's song, "I Will," the bass parts are punctuated by his vocalized "doot-doot-doot". I had to turn it up even louder to make sure my ears weren't tricking me. It's hard to believe I'd never noticed that till now.

Another new item regarding this long-familiar album was made clear to me in a recent special issue of MOJO magazine. There it was, a never-before published photo of Paul McCartney and the album's art designer, Richard Hamilton. Hamilton is seen gazing at a photo collage he was putting together to be made into the poster inserted into the LP. Amazing stuff for true Beatles nerds, fascinated by the makings of all things Beatle. As I said, there's always something new.

Several years ago, I was just as amazed when I caught a sonic revelation on the song "Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da." Paul sings throughout "...lets the children lend a hand." Listen closely, and you can hear various Beatles shouting out, off microphone, "arm," or "leg," or "foot," in different verses.

On my first listening of the Beatles' biggest selling album, I wasn't sure what to make of it. It was big. 93 minutes worth. It isn't exactly considered a pop album, then or now, but age certainly has had an effect on my appreciation of it. Sure, there are many tracks that have always been personal favorites, but songs I used to consider weaker efforts have grown on me, considerably. The simplicity of "Blackbird," for example, I now value as absolutely wonderful, with it's ringing acoustic guitar, solo-vocal, and tapping shoe for percussion. Some songs have become even better than they already were. Turn up "Dear Prudence," and just try not to get lost in the wash of sound as it pours over you out of your speakers. (And folks, if you're listening on an Ipod, or your tiny shelf system, you just ain't gettin' it.)

BBC Radio 2 is also celebrating the 40th anniversary of the White Album with an hour documentary on it's making. Fabulous stuff for nerds. Tune in online by clicking here.

NPR also has a new documentary of their own here:

People still debate whether the double-LP should have been a single disc instead, cutting out some of the lesser numbers. As Paul McCartney himself said, in a quote that's sure to be just as famous as the LP, itself, "It's great, it sold, it's the bloody Beatles' White Album -- shut up!"

Drop a line in the comments feature and tell me, what's your favorite white album song?