1968 was one of the most turbulent years in America history. Amidst a presidential race, an unpopular war, and a countercultural revolution, music was becoming one of the most engaging forms of artistry and some of the biggest bands were at their peak. The Doors, the Rolling Stones, and Cream were just some of the big names and politics was firmly intertwined with popular music.. It was during this time that the Beatles recorded their only double album. While the world was in a series of flux, so was the band. Early in 1968, the Beatles went to India to study meditication with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. During that time, they composed a number of songs and returned to the studio in the spring to record the album. Unfortunately, tempers flared as the artistic dispositions of the members began to assert themselves more aggressively. Ringo temporarily quit the band and Yoko Ono's constant presence and belittling comments in the studio was met with hostility from Paul and George. Despite this serious divide, the were able to record 30 very different songs while maintaining their status as the biggest band in the world. While no singles, were released from the album, songs such as "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Blackbird" and "Dear Prudence" have become classics and serve as a testament to the fruitful compositions created during the White Album sessions. The album was released in November to critical and commercial acclaim, although many critics derided the band for not making a big enough political statement. The Beatles never really needed to do that though because their music wasn't just for one demographic. Instead, they were creating music for any listener and perhaps it's that reason they continued to outsell any other act of the era.
As always, Classic Albums Live did a great job recreating the sound of the album. The Beatles are known for their meticulous and complex studio work and it's no wonder they stopped touring in 1966 since much of this music is hard to duplicate on stage. Nonetheless, the musicians did the best they could and really brought the songs to life. While some of the filler tracks took away from the performance, in the end it was an honest representation of the music. The White Album has gone down as one of the greatest albums of all time and while not every song is dynamic, there's enough to satisfy any appreciator of popular music.
My favorite part of the show was when they did "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". I always wished the Beatles had done one more tour so they had a chance to perform this one live but alas, I can only imagine.
Looking forward to more shows in the future!
DC
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