While My Guitar Gently Weeps – The Wheel of Fortune (Harrison) The Beatles (White Album), 1968 By the time the Beatles recorded their self-titled album in 1968, George Harrison’s spiritual studies were starting to bear serious fruit in terms of his songwriting. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was George’s greatest composition up to that point…
Revolution 9 – The Tower (Lennon/McCartney) The Beatles (White Album), 1968 It is the strangest song the Beatles ever released. And it’s probably the weirdest recording that ever appeared on an album for a mainstream audience. Often ranking at the very bottom of fans’ favorite Beatles songs lists, “Revolution 9” is, in its own way,…
The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill – Knight of Swords (Lennon/McCartney) The Beatles (White Album), 1968 “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill” is a silly sing-along appearing on Side 1 of the White Album. The song was written by John while the four Beatles were on retreat in Rishikesh, India, with the Maharishi. Among the…
Martha My Dear – Page of Cups (Lennon/McCartney) The Beatles (White Album), 1968 Paul McCartney had no intention of writing a song about his three-year-old sheepdog when he sat down to write “Martha My Dear”. But it just happened that way. As he described it later, the song was intended as a creative exercise, testing…
Good Night – The Star (Lennon/McCartney) The Beatles (White Album), 1968 The Beatles’ self-titled album is by far their longest and most varied. Listening to it all the way through is like experiencing a journey through all manner of musical styles and dimensions of the psyche. And in the end, the White Album comes to…
Sexy Sadie – 7 of Swords (Lennon/McCartney) The Beatles (White Album), 1968 John Lennon and his bandmates wrote dozens of songs while on spiritual retreat in India during early-1968. “Sexy Sadie” was the last. The song was written by John as he stewed in resentment toward the Maharishi while waiting to leave the compound. A…
Mother Nature’s Son – Page of Pentacles (Lennon/McCartney) The Beatles (The White Album), 1968 “Mother Nature’s Son” perfectly captures the tranquility of communing with the wonders of nature. Take a deep breath and allow it to wash over you. Paul has said the song was influenced by an old favorite, “Nature Boy” by Nat King…