Please see my introduction and explanation about this project here.
The Beatles, or The White Album, was the only double record the band released during their career. Past Masters is a compilation that was released well after the band broke up. Not only does this album fall into many of the typical trappings of a double album, but it was also a time of experimentation for the band as well as rock music in general. After seeing how far one could take a rock song with the previous year’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band, The Beatles as an album showcases just how hard it is to come back from that point with four very different personalities and learning to push the limits of what a recording studio could do.
This was the first Beatles album I owned personally, so I still have great affection for it. I loved the inserts. Many of the songs don’t hold up but as an artifact of the time it is unparalleled and stands as a great testament to rock history.
Presented in order from least to most favorite, in a highly subjective (and subject to change) manner:
“Revolution 9”
I think we can all agree this is the worst Beatles song
“Good Night”
On any other album this song would be better
“Helter Skelter”
I am sick of this song, and didn’t like it much in he first place
“Happiness Is a Warm Gun”
No it isn’t
“Revolution 1”
This accoustic version of the song isn’t as bad as the single
“Honey Pie”
And from here we move into songs that aren’t bad, they just aren’t as good as the rest of the album
“Long, Long, Long”
Like this one, which isn’t bad, it just feels lacking when compared to others
“Wild Honey Pie”
Kind of fun when you’re in the mood
“Yer Blues”
I can see where the band was going with this song and phase in their career
“Sexy Sadie”
It would be interesting to hear this song had it been recorded and produced a couple of years earlier
“Why Don’t We Do It in the Road?”
Why not?
“The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill”
I like the story here
“Glass Onion”
An interesting tune and lyrics
“Savoy Truffle”
A decent song that would probably stand out more on a different album
“Don’t Pass Me By”
Ringo finally writes a song that would fit in with an album from 5 years previous
“Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey”
Everybody? Really? Are we sure about that?
“I’m So Tired”
I know whay you’re tired, but that doesn’t make the song any less good
“Julia”
A nice touching song about John’s mother
“Cry Baby Cry”
The instrumentation is what makes this song for me
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
The song gets overplayed a bit so it moves down the list sometimes and I get tired of it, but it’s a good one
“Martha My Dear”
A fun song about a dog
“Dear Prudence”
There are some days I don’t like it as much
“Piggies”
A statement song in (sort of) disguise
“I Will”
I like the sentiment here
“Blackbird”
A beautiful song
“Mother Nature’s Son”
Another beautiful song
“Back in the U.S.S.R.”
A solid rocker
“Rocky Raccoon”
I like that this is a full story
“Birthday”
A fun song to sing along to
“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”
Probably the most fun song on the album