The Beatles (aka The White Album) Sides 1 & 2

Released:
November 1968 - US & UK

Charted:
#1 US & UK

Album Notes:
Perhaps foretelling their imminent solo careers, each band member contributed lyrics and vocal solos.

Album Cover Notes:
Originally, the band's name was embossed on a white background, with a unique serial number printed on each cover. In subsequent issues, the name was printed in gray, with no serial number.

Track List & Song Info:

Side One
1. "Back in the USSR" (Lennon-McCartney)
      ^{Paul's parody of The Beach Boys, Chuck Berry and Hoagy Carmichael}
2. "Dear Prudence" (Lennon-McCartney)
      ^{Inspired by Mia Farrow's sister, who was with The Beatles in India}
3. "Glass Onion" (Lennon-McCartney)
      ^{Lennon's joke on those who searched for nonexistent hidden meanings in Beatles lyrics}
4. "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" (Lennon-McCartney)
      ^{A bow to the emerging reggae movement, with a little honky tonk for good measure}
5. "Wild Honey Pie" (Lennon-McCartney)
      ^{Paul provides the vocals and plays all the instruments in this experiment}
6. "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" (Lennon-McCartney)
      ^{Another song inspired by the band's visit with the Maharishi in India}
7. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (George Harrison)
      ^{The other Beatles weren't interested, so George enlisted Eric Clapton to play lead guitar}
8. "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" (Lennon-McCartney)
      ^{John once referred to it as a "history of rock and roll"}

Side Two
1. "Martha My Dear" (Lennon-McCartney)
      ^{Martha was Paul's sheep dog}
2. "I'm So Tired" (Lennon-McCartney)
      ^{During their visit to India, John wrote this in the middle of a sleepless night}
3. "Blackbird" (Lennon-McCartney)
      ^{Another India-inspired song, after Paul was awakened by a singing bird early one morning}
4. "Piggies" (George Harrison)
      ^{George's satrical commentary on corporate greed}
5. "Rocky Raccoon" (Lennon-McCartney)
      ^{This song came to Paul as he jammed with John and Donovan in India}
6. "Don't Pass Me By" (Ringo Starr)
      ^{Ringo's first solo writing credit; he recorded just one take on the vocals, mistakes included}
7. "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?" (Lennon-McCartney)
      ^{McCartney's inspiration: an incident in India involving two monkeys}
8. "I Will" (Lennon-McCartney)
      ^{Written and performed by Paul for his future wife, Linda}
9. "Julia" (Lennon-McCartney)
      ^{Julia was John's mother, killed by a drunk driver when Lennon was a teenager}

SIDES 3 & 4