Color Week Day Two: Orange, Yellow, and the White Album

Ok, so the Beatles' White Album has nothing to do with Color Week. However, we have been discussing it the last few days of class, and for those of you who don't know, it is a double album meaning that when it was released it was on two records, four sides, with a total of 30 songs.

Their producer, George Martin, encouraged them to try to narrow it down for a single record, but they weren't having that as they had just written a good many songs while in India. Of course there was also the John vs. Paul battle for who got the most songs, and then Ringo and George struggling just to get a few of their songs on... so no one really wanted their songs dropped.

Anyways... my professor talked about how he used to have his students in the Beatles class make their 'ideal White Album', and pick 12-14 songs that THEY would have chosen for the White Album out of those that really made the cut. This wasn't an assignment, but I decided to make my own White Album list anyways, and it ended up on an ORANGE post it, which brings it to you today, since it is ORANGE (and yellow) day of the Color Week Challenge!

So, I present to you my ideal White Album:

Back in the U.S.S.R.
Dear Prudence
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
Sexy Sadie
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
Happiness is a Warm Gun
Julia
Blackbird
Rocky Raccoon
Don't Pass Me By
I'm So Tired
Helter Skelter
Why Don't We Do It In the Road?

*I must admit, I'm a sucker for some of the weird stuff (Bungalow Bill), and definitely a sucker for all of Ringo's silly little songs! (Don't Pass Me By) There are definitely others I like, but just not as much as these.

I encourage any other Beatles fans out there to do the same! It's really kind of fun! What would make your list?


And now, for today's Orange and Yellow photos:






(Tonight's stormy sky was really working with me!)

Tomorrow: Green!

The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny

I have missed History of Rock SO MUCH! Today's class largely centered on Frank Zappa, which I'll admit I really just don't like so much. I appreciate and respect the artistic value of his "music", and I like a few of the songs, but some of it is AWFUL. I'm not even kidding... go listen to "The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny" by the Mothers of Invention. It honest to god made me feel like I was being abducted by a colony of aliens resembling Chucky dolls (Child's Play anyone? I had nightmares about that movie for years when I was younger, so that partially explains my discomfort with this particular song) and I think I spent the 6 minute entirety of it's class playtime just wishing it would end.

(Ironic that the colors of this album match my blog so perfectly)

Besides the occasional awful song, usually few and far between, I love hearing random fact about various artists, albums, and songs, and hearing music I might otherwise never have given a second thought. That, and I'm a complete Rock junkie anyways. I think I agree with my professor, Andy Hollinden, that there is NO form of music out there which I can comprehensively say I hate. Even types I don't necessarily love, I can usually find at least a few songs I enjoy in some way or another. Also useful advice: "Do not assume that just because YOU don't like something, it sucks." So true. Sometimes it's hard to wrap our heads around the fact that what we like, and what we think, is not always right, or at least not the same opinion of everyone else. And where would we be anyways if we all thought exactly the same way?

(Andy Hollinden)

No doubt I'm excited to see what this semester holds, since we'll finally be getting into 80's rock (AND pop, new wave, etc!)... which my friends all know serves as the core of my musical preferences.

Right now I'm listening to music from the 50's/60's class, more specifically the Beatles. I love all the slightly obscure songs... some of which I doubt I would have ever heard had I not taken this class (Norwegian Wood? One of my favorites. But you can hear me ramble about that one here). SO good.

Rubber Soul

It is my opinion that the Rubber Soul album by The Beatles is probably the most under listened to compilation ever released by this or quite frankly any band in the history of music.

I find it absolutely bizarre that while many of these songs may be recognizable upon hearing them from commercials or the background music in a movie, none of them seem to be songs that I have EVER heard any Beatles fan I've known listening to. I find it even more bizarre that the only part of this entire album included in the movie Across The Universe was two lines from the beginning of "Girl".

I understand that this album strays pretty far from anything else the Beatles are known for, as it has heavy Folk influence and goes a little far off the beaten path when it comes to instruments included on various songs (E.g. Norwegian Wood, featuring the Sitar), but I also believe that this is exactly what makes it so wonderful. For once these songs are actually infused with real feelings and opinions opposed to lyrics representing only what 60's pop audiences wanted to hear.

Prior to today's History of Rock and Roll (Part II) Class, I personally had never heard most of these songs by name, and had only really heard clips of songs like "Drive My Car", "Michelle", "I'm Looking Through You", but I can safely say that I am SO glad that has changed!

I'd also like to throw in, for one last thought, that John Lennon was one HOT piece of ass circa 1963-1966!!!!!