Tracklist Remix vol. 4: The White Album
As much as I love the original album, it's always interesting in how difficult making an alternate tracklist for it is. Since I heard it years ago I’ve been working on one, although this was initially because I didn't like it very much (oh how time changes things!). I decided this time around I would make things easier on myself. The boys responsible for Beatlemania are now all grown up and are being torn apart from the inside out with conflicting egos and interests. So this tracklist is my attempt at making the convoluted behemoth that is The White Album and strip it down to something simpler, yet still stick out sorely in the band’s discog like the original. With this, I wanted to make a darker, heavier, and more experimental album yet with an attempt at balance. What I mean by the latter is, in arranging the tracks, I also had the goal to make no song by the same Beatle next to each other and at the same time to not let an amount of any Beatle outweigh the others. Also, I tried to keep the run time as concise as possible; in turn this tracklist is about 12 minutes shorter. On another side note, I did not take into account what songs would close what sides or not or how these would divide into vinyl sides like I typically have done in this series. I think The White Album kinda transcends that. |
| 1 |  | The Beatles
The Beatles
Back in the USSR - shortened Love remix
Not only do I think the Love remix is my favorite version of the song, the 1:50 version was just what I needed for this tracklist. Quick and to the point but without feeling too unfulfilled. Too bad about the clipping and slight compression tho. |
| 2 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Dear Prudence - alternate mono
The mono version I used has a clean intro with no fading in and ends without a fade out, although the mixing itself is somewhat difference despite the similarities to the studio versions of both stereo and mono. This mix emphasizes the psychedelic undertones the song has with the vocal layering and other subtle additions. There are also some minor deletions of some of John’s lines right before the final repetition of the chorus but overall this is a simply stunning recording. There are many aspects of this that I cannot fully explain in the word count lists have |
| 3 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Wild Honey Pie
Eh. It's technically a Paul track and one of the stranger recordings on the album. I sometimes think it's the 3rd song on the album despite coming later, so it came as a nice surprise when I found this served as a nice segue into… |
| 4 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Glass Onion
Here’s another clue for you all: the Walrus was Paul! |
| 5 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Piggies
As I previously stated, I did not want songs by the same Beatle to be next to each other. So I had go about in a similar spirit as the original album. Which song would interrupt the momentum this tracklist has built up so far? Piggies man! An underrated Harrison tune, although I’m a sucker for baroque pop. Wish the band had more songs like this and Eleanor Rigby. Imagine a whole album entirely baroque pop by The Beatles, mind blowing right? |
| 6 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Happiness is a Warm Gun - some odd mix I fancy most that I found on YouTube a long time ago but is now taken down
All I can really say is that the organ in the first third of the song is made totally audible, the effects on the guitar solo are more exaggerated, and the piano is more centered. Anyway, one of my favorite Lennon songs and all that. There can't be anything more I can say that hasn't been said before. |
| 7 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
I deeply considered using the lonely, acoustic Anthology version but I thought the album version would be more appropriate. After all, the first half of the album would hardly have any riffing until the side 1 closer. |
| 8 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
I’m So Tired
GAVE YOU EVERYTHING I GOT FOR A LITTLE PIECE OF MIND. |
| 9 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Blackbird
I really wanted to keep all 3 of the animal titled songs together with Hey Bulldog coming right after Rocky Racoon, but I ultimately had to separate them. It astounds me how effortless McCartney plays the complex guitar lines although I don't know if he simultaneously sang. |
| 10 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Julia
The longest stretch of acoustic tracks on this tracklist. Yup, just Blackbird and Julia. They actually sound very nice next to each other |
| 11 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Circles (White Album demo) https://youtu.be/VMShCfaVnx4
I debated whether I really wanted to include it but I ultimately relented, especially since I discovered the version in the YouTube provided here. Again, I also wanted to not let 2 Lennon tracks coincide. Besides, I think this would make for an even more startling contrast with the next song and what I would consider the unofficial side 1 closer. |
| 12 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Revolution - Love remix with minor personal editing on the end
The Love mix I use transitions directly into Back in the USSR so I edit another version of the song at the end here. Anyway, besides the Rock Band one, this quite possibly the best stereo mix of the song that exists. Goodness this has even more punch than the mono. |
| 13 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
The Inner Light - mono
I personally prefer the mono version of this song and hey what's a better way to open the second half of the album with a calm, spiritual George Harrison song? Kinda like Within You Without You coming right after Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! on Sgt. Pepper |
| 14 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Rocky Racoon
Pretty underrated imo. It's a strange song really, a sparse country song complete with the honky tonk and harmonica. But it's also quite dark song, like Maxwell’s Silver Hammer it’s quite upbeat sounding until you pay attention to the lyrics. However, in Rocky Racoon’s case, the upbeat part comes from the chorus but even then it sounds ironically upbeat. |
| 15 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except for Lennon and Yoko
Boy did John love drugs |
| 16 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Hey Bulldog
The 2012 remaster has my favorite mix but holy hell is it brickwalled, just absurd. So Beatles Rock Band it is. A simply great song all around and a real shame this seemed to be the last recording between Paul and John where they seemed to be having a blast together like the old albums. I originally had Why Don't We Do It In the Road? here because it was one of Lennon’s favorites on the album but it's too silly to fit. |
| 17 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Savoy Truffle
Those distorted horns sound so cool man. And then those lyrics about Eric Clapton getting fat on candy and the cancerously sugary Ob-la-di. |
| 18 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Cry Baby Cry
The version I listen ends with the full version of Can You Take Me Back |
| 19 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
What's the New Mary Jane
Because Revolution 9 would become redundant with the existence of Revolution Take 20, I thought I’d replace it with the next best thing… This… Monsterous Syd Barrett esque diddy right here. The version I listen to is 6:50 as opposed to the slightly over 6 minute one that's most well known and circulated. |
| 20 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Not Guilty - original 1968 stereo mix
This is that 4:26 version that is readily available on YouTube, not that weakened 3 minute edit on Anthology. I figured why have Sexy Sadie when I could have Not Guilty? George’s scathing document on the band’s state and their slightly disasterous trip to India. And that guitar riff and solo… His re-recording for his debut is gorgeous, but I dig the guitar work on this a lil too much. And those random two or so bars of waltz time is a genius touch. |
| 21 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Helter Skelter
YOU MAY BE A LOVER BUT YOU AINT NO DANCER m/ |
| 22 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Long, Long, Long
I originally wanted this to close the first half of the album but then it would conflict with the next song being The Inner Light cos that's also a George song. Anyway, song is sublime as fuck. |
| 23 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Revolution Take 20
I recently found a high quality version of this with the studio chatter at the beginning fully intact so no long silences here in the first 30 seconds. A happy accident that at this point in the tracklist, a song with a topic concerning the band’s India trip is followed by Helter Skelter the followed by Long then followed by the slow Revolution… except this isn't a regular Revolution. Take your knickers off and get naked guys. |
| 24 | | The Beatles
The Beatles
Hey Jude - mono
I felt very bad about not having a Ringo song on here but… C’mon, how could you not end the album with Hey Jude? It's too perfect |
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