The Beatles (but everyone calls it "the white album")
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1968: The Beatles (affectionately
rechristened "the white album" by the fans)
![](/web/20060407030722im_/http://www.norwegianwood.org/beatles/disko/lp/images/white.2.jpg)
(Apple/November 22, 1968) PMC 7067/8 (mono) PCS 7067/8 (stereo)
Produced by George Martin. All songs composed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, unless otherwise noted.
LP 1, side 1:
Back In The USSR
Dear Prudence
Glass Onion
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
Wild Honey Pie
The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (George Harrison)
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
LP 1, side 2:
Martha My Dear
I'm So Tired
Blackbird
Piggies (George Harrison)
Rocky Raccoon
Don't Pass Me By (Richard Starkey)
Why Don't We Do It In The Road
I Will
Julia
LP 2, side 1:
Birthday
Yer Blues
Mother Nature's Son
Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
Sexy Sadie
Helter Skelter
Long Long Long (George Harrison)
LP 2, side 2:
Revolution 1
Honey Pie
Savoy Truffle (George Harrison)
Cry Baby Cry
Revolution 9
Good Night
Against George Martin's advice, the Beatles released a double album. The cover was as white as "Pepper" had been
colourful. The first edition was individually numbered on the front, and opened
at the top, not the sides. A poster with lots of pictures and lyrics on the back
was included, as well as four individual portraits of the four. Ringo makes his debut as a solo-songwriter. Besides, the Apple-label
appears.
In 1998, a 30th anniversary edition CD was
released, containing the same packaging and extra stuff as the original vinyl
double album.
The gatefold (it opened at the top, originally, not the sides)
The poster and the individual portraits
Back In The USSR
basic recording- 22 Aug 1968
additional recording- 22,23 Aug 1968
master tape- 4 track 2d generation
mono-mixed: 23 Aug 1968.
stereo-mixed: 13 Oct 1968.
The plane sound effects differ in mono and stereo. Mono
has louder piano, a yell after the opening plane sound, and drumbeats under the closing plane sound. Stereo
has extra guitar chords at the start of the solo, and shouts and piano during the guitar solo.
Dear Prudence
basic recording- 28 Aug 1968 at Trident
additional recording- 28,29,30 Aug 1968 at Trident
master tape- 8 track
stereo-mixed: 13 Oct 1968.
mono-mixed: 13 Oct 1968.
Stereo has slightly more treble and fades to a lower volume at the end.
Glass Onion
basic recording- 11 Sep 1968
additional recording- 12,13,16 Sep, 10 Oct 1968
master tape- 8 track
stereo-mixed: 10 Oct 1968. edited.
mono 10 Oct 1968. edited. Another mono-mix from 26 Sep 1968 was used for "Anthology 3"
The edit adds the end orchestral piece. Stereo is lacking Paul's added vocal "oh yeah" at the end of the break.
The mono-mix unearthed for "Anthology 3" has various sound effects, of which only the whistle after "fool on the hill" was used in the standard mix. The orchestra was added on Oct 10 and used for the standard versions.
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
basic recording- 8 Jul 1968
additional recording- 8,9,15 Jul 1968
master tape- 4 track 3d generation
stereo 12 Oct 1968.
mono 12 Oct 1968.
The mono-mix lacks handclaps in the intro, heard in
stereo.
Wild Honey Pie
basic recording- 20 Aug 1968
additional recording- 20 Aug 1968
master tape- 4 track
mono-mixed: 20 Aug 1968.
stereo-mixed: 13 Oct 1968.
Of the two vocal tracks, one is louder in stereo, the other in
mono.
The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
basic recording- 8 Oct 1968
additional recording- 8 Oct 1968
master tape- 8 track
stereo-mixed: 9 Oct 1968. edited.
mono-mixed: 9 Oct 1968. edited.
The guitar intro is one of the sample tapes included in a mellotron, played by an John, and is part of this recording. The "eh up" after the song is also part of this recording.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
basic recording- 5 Sep 1968
additional recording- 6 Sep 1968
master tape- 8 track
mono-mixed: 14 Oct 1968.
stereo-mixed: 14 Oct 1968.
This is the first 8 track recording (by anyone) at EMI Abbey Road.
The Clapton guitar remains loud in mono after the solo break, not in stereo. Near the end of the fadeout only the stereo has "yeah yeah yeah", even though it is a few second shorter than the mono--mix.
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
basic recording- 24 Sep 1968
additional recording- 25 Sep 1968
master tape- 8 track 2d generation
mono-mixed: 26 Sep 1968. edited.
stereo-mixed: 15 Oct 1968. edited.
The 2d generation master is an edit of (copies of) two takes with more material overdubbed. Mono has tapping (organ) on the beat from the start until the drums come in, but it is soft and mixed out 4 beats earlier in stereo. In the "I need a fix" section in stereo, by error, although the first line was mixed out, the last "down" is just audible. Mono has louder bass in the "I need a fix" section. Mono has laughter near the very end, just before the last drumbeat, not heard in stereo.
Martha My Dear
basic recording- 4 Oct 1968 at Trident
additional recording- 4,5 Oct 1968 at Trident
master tape- 8 track
mono-mixed: 5 Oct 1968 at Trident.
stereo-mixed: 5 Oct 1968 at Trident.
This has a lot of tape hiss.
I'm So Tired
basic recording- 8 Oct 1968
additional recording- 8 Oct 1968
master tape- 8 track
mono-mixed: 15 Oct 1968.
stereo-mixed: 15 Oct 1968.
Paul's harmony at the first "You'd say" is louder in mono. The muttering after the song is part of this recording.
Blackbird
basic recording- 11 Jun 1968
additional recording- 11 Jun 1968
master tape- 4 track
stereo-mixed: 13 Oct 1968.
mono-mixed: 13 Oct 1968.
The overdubs of bird sounds were done differently in
mono versus stereo, during mixing.
Piggies
basic recording- 19 Sep 1968
additional recording- 20 Sep, 10 Oct 1968
master tape- 8 track 2d generation
mono-mixed: 11 Oct 1968.
stereo-mixed: 11 Oct 1968.
The overdubs of pig sounds differ in mono and stereo. The guitar is louder in mono.
Rocky Raccoon
basic recording- 15 Aug 1968
additional recording- 15 Aug 1968
master tape- 4 track 2d generation
mono-mixed: 15 Aug 1968.
stereo-mixed: 10 Oct 1968.
Don't Pass Me By
basic recording- 5 Jun 1968
additional recording- 5,6 Jun, 12,22 Jul 1968
master tape- 4 track 3d generation
mono-mixed 11 Oct 1968. edited.
stereo-mixed 11 Oct 1968. edited. Remixed in 1996 for the "Anthology
3" CD set.
Mono runs faster, and it has more fiddle throughout the song, and different fiddle at the end. The fiddle at the end of stereo
seems to a repeat of a bit of the chorus. The edit added the intro.
The Anthology mix has only work from 5 and 6 June without the fiddle or intro added in July. It's at the speed of the stereo mix.
Why Don't We Do It In The Road?
basic recording- 9 Oct 1968
additional recording- 9,10 Oct 1968
master tape- 4 track 2d generation
mono-mixed: 16 Oct 1968.
stereo-mixed 16 Oct 1968.
Mono lacks handclaps in the intro.
I Will
basic recording- 16 Sep 1968
additional recording- 17 Sep 1968
master tape- 8 track 2d generation
mono-mixed: 26 Sep 1968.
stereo-mixed: 14 Oct 1968.
This started as 4 track and was copied to 8 track, so it's 2d generation. The "bass" (vocal) starts later in mono, after the first verse.
Julia
basic recording- 13 Oct 1968
additional recording- 13 Oct 1968
master tape- 4 track
stereo-mixed: 13 Oct 1968.
mono:mixed: 13 Oct 1968.
Birthday
basic recording- 18 Sep 1968
additional recording- 18 Sep 1968
master tape- 8 track 2d generation
mono-mixed: 18 Sep 1968.
stereo-mixed: 14 Oct 1968.
The last "daaaance" starts twice, maybe a double-track error or a leak from a guide vocal, as heard on stereo, but covered up by other sound in mono.
Yer Blues
basic recording- 13 Aug 1968
additional recording- 13,14,20 Aug 1968
master tape- 4 track 2d generation
mono-mixed: 14,20 Aug 1968. edited.
stereo-mixed: 20 Oct 1968. edited.
The 2d generation tape is an edit of two takes, each of the two tapes being itself a mixdown from the original 4-track. The edit causes an abrupt transition at the end of the guitar solos. In stereo, traces of other vocal and guitar parts can be heard throughout the song in the left channel, including something shouted over parts of the vocal and what sounds like another different guitar solo. After the edit, the trace lead vocal suggests we are hearing the first part of the song from the other take.
The edit in the mixes added the countdown intro, which is louder in mono. Mono
is also 11 seconds longer, long fade.
Mother Nature's Son
basic recording- 9 Aug 1968
additional recording- 20 Aug 1968
master tape- 4 track 2d generation
stereo-mixed: 12 Oct 1968.
mono-mixed: 12 Oct 1968.
Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
basic recording- 27 Jun 1968
additional recording- 27 Jun, 1,2,3 Jul 1968
master tape- 4 track 4th generation
stereo-mixed: 12 Oct 1968.
mono-mixed: 12 Oct 1968
The screaming after "come on" in the last verse is different in
mono and stereo.
Sexy Sadie
basic recording- 13 Aug 1968
additional recording- 21 Aug 1968
master tape- 4 track 4th generation
mono-mixed: 21 Aug 1968.
stereo-mixed: 14 Oct 1968.
Stereo has an extra tap at the start. Mono lacks bass until the vocal starts.
Helter Skelter
basic recording- 9 Sep 1968
additional recording- 9,10 Sep 1968
master tape- 8 track
mono-mixed: 17 Sep 1968. edited.
stereo-mixed: 12 Oct 1968. edited.
The basic song runs about 3:10 to a pause shortly after Paul's distorted vocal, too close to the microphone. Mono
then is edited into more of the same take, with sound effects noises, and fades at 3:36. Stereo
is edited instead to a different part of the take, fading out and then back in again, with another edit, ending finally at 4:29 after Ringo shouts "I've got blisters on my fingers!".
Is the distorted vocal "Can you hear me speaking-- woo!" or "My baby is sleeping, ooh!, dreaming"?
Long Long Long
basic recording- 7 Oct 1968
additional recording- 7,8,9 Oct 1968
master tape- 8 track
stereo-mixed: 10 Oct 1968.
mono-mixed: 14 Oct 1968.
Doubletracking starts at the first "long" in stereo, the third "long" in mono, and sounds somewhat different thereafter. In mono the rhythm guitar is softer but the lead guitar is louder, especially in the later part of the song.
Revolution 1
basic recording- 30 May 1968
additional recording- 31 May, 4,21 Jun 1968
master tape- 4 track 4th generation
stereo-mixed 25 Jun 1968.
mono-mixed from the stereo mix in 1968
Honey Pie
basic recording- 1 Oct 1968 at Trident
additional recording- 2,4 Oct 1968 at Trident
master tape- 8 track
mono-mixed: 5 Oct 1968 at Trident.
stereo-mixed: 5 Oct 1968 at Trident.
Mono has the full lead guitar break, slightly shortened in stereo.
Savoy Truffle
basic recording- 3 Oct 1968 at Trident
additional recording- 3,5,11,14 Oct 1968 at Trident
master tape- 8 track
mono-mixed: 14 Oct 1968.
stereo-mixed: 14 Oct 1968.
Mono has sound effects during the instrumental break, and the lead guitar continues through the break into the refrain after it. The organ is missing from the last verse in mono.
Cry Baby Cry
basic recording- 16 Jul 1968
additional recording- 16,18 Jul 1968
master tape- 4 track 2d generation
stereo-mixed: 15 Oct 1968.
mono-mixed: 15 Oct 1968.
The USA Apple release has a drop in sound level during "by the children" in the last verse, probably a tape problem.
Revolution 9 is preceded on the white album by a short song not listed on the album, Can You Take Me Back, which was recorded after Revolution 9 was
mixed. It is listed separately here (below).
(Can you take me back)
basic recording- 16 Sep 1968
additional recording- none
master tape- 4 track
mono-mixed: 16 Oct 1968.
stereo-mixed: 17 Oct 1968.
A segment of this improvisation was placed between Cry Baby Cry and Revolution 9; it was recorded as a take of I Will.
Revolution 9
basic recording- 30 May 1968
additional recording- 6,10,11,20,21 Jun 1968
master tape- 4 track
stereo-mixed 21,25 Jun 1968.edited.
mono-mixed from the stereo mix in 1968
Tape loops prepared on Jun 6-11 were fed into the master on Jun 20-25. The basic track was the end of Revolution 1 (see above). Editing shortened the piece by almost a minute.
Although the mono was made from the stereo, the opening lines are more clear in mono: "I would've gotten claret for you but I've realized I've forgotten all about it, George, I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?". This is evidently a separate piece of tape added during
mixing.
Good Night?
basic recording- 22 Jul 1968
additional recording- 22 Jul 1968
master tape- 4 track
mono-mixed: 11 Oct 1968.
stereo-mixed: 11 Oct 1968.
Stereo fades in; mono does not.
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