This is a challenge I’ve recently seen on a few other websites and since I know there are at least a few Beatles fans on this website, I thought it would be fun to introduce this here.
So as we all know, in 1968, the Beatles released an album simply called THE BEATLES, although it is usually referred to as THE WHITE ALBUM. It’s unique in that it was the only double album that they ever made. However, what if it was like the other Beatles albums and was limited to one record?
The goal of this challenge is to do just that. Basically, the idea is to cut out tracks until you can get a singular album with them. The goal is to make it around 45 minutes, though if you can’t get close enough to that number, then at least try to keep it from being under 30 minutes or over 50. That’s the only real goal, although if you do want to make it more challenging, here are two other restrictions you can put in place:
1. Do not include all four Harrison compositions. This is the only Beatles album in which Harrison got four songs, as the norm for him was usually one or two songs per album, although he did get to sing three on at least one of them, so the most you can include is three. Also, you have to include at least one Harrison song since he always sang at least one song on each Beatles album, even if he didn’t write it.
2. You can only include one song with Ringo as the lead vocal, since every other album features either one song with him on lead or none at all. You can exclude both if you want, though.
Here is the track listing with times for reference. Note that all the lead vocals are performed by the Beatle who wrote it, with the exception of GOOD NIGHT, in which the lead vocal is by Ringo:
Side 1
Song Writer(s) Time
1.BACK IN THE U.S.S.R. McCartney 2:43
2.DEAR PRUDENCE Lennon 3:56
3.GLASS ONION Lennon 2:18
4.OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA McCartney 3:08
5.WILD HONEY PIE McCartney 0:52
6.THE CONTINUING STORY OF BUNGALOW BILL Lennon 3:14
7.WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS Harrison 4:45
8.HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN Lennon 2:43
Total length: 23:39
Side 2
Song Writer(s) Time
1.MARTHA MY DEAR McCartney 2:28
2.I’M SO TIRED Lennon 2:03
3.BLACKBIRD McCartney 2:18
4.PIGGIES Harrison 2:04
5.ROCKY RACCOON McCartney 3:33
6.DON’T PASS ME BY Ringo 3:51
7.WHY DON’T WE DO IT IN THE ROAD? McCartney 1:41
8.I WILL McCartney 1:46
9.JULIA Lennon 2:54
Total length: 22:38
Side 3
Song Writer(s) Time
1.BIRTHDAY Lennon & McCartney 2:42
2.YER BLUES Lennon 4:01
3.MOTHER NATURE’S SON McCartney 2:48
4.EVERYBODY’S GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE Lennon 2:24
EXCEPT ME AND MY MONKEY
5.SEXY SADIE Lennon 3:15
6.HELTER SKELTER McCartney 4:29
7.LONG, LONG, LONG Harrison 3:04
Total length: 22:43
Side 4
Song Writer(s) Time
1.REVOLUTION 1 Lennon 4:15
2.HONEY PIE McCartney 2:41
3.SAVOY TRUFFLE Harrison 2:54
4.CRY BABY CRY Lennon 3:02
5.REVOLUTION 9 Lennon 8:22
6.GOOD NIGHT Lennon 3:13
Total length: 24:27
Total album length: 93:35
Also, after you’re done cutting songs, you can change the order of the songs if you want. I’ll post my choices later tonight; I have the songs picked, but I’m still determining what order I’d put them in.
