This year marks the 50th anniversary of the release of the Beatles self-titled ninth studio album which over time has been referred to as "The White Album" due to the plain white cover with only the band's name embossed. In celebration, a new edition of the album has been remastered and fully remixed with a seven-disc, box set featuring plenty of bonus material and demos. This massive project was overseen by producer, Giles Martin, the son of the late Sir George Martin who produced most of the band's music and has been referred to as "the fifth Beatle".
While the album marked a creative high point for the Beatles, the tension between the band members intensified during the recording sessions leading to many arguments and disagreements (particularly between the main writing team, Paul McCartney and John Lennon) with even happy-go-lucky drummer, Ringo Starr briefly quitting the group. The band did manage to record a couple more albums before finally calling it quits by 1970.
The Beatles had enjoyed critical and commercial success with their last album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and had all embarked on a transcendental meditation course in India in order to recharge and clear their heads. During the retreat, Lennon and McCartney began working together in relative calm to write material for the band's next record.
But by the time the group returned to Abbey Road Studios in London to begin recording, all of the peace and calm they had experienced had quickly evaporated. With their long-time producer, Martin no longer able to have a steady, guiding influence over the band, their creative problems escalated. Another concern was the presence of Yoko Ono who was Lennon's new creative and love partner at the time. Since the band did not usually invite wives or girlfriends to be present during recording sessions, Ono was considered an unwelcome distraction as she always remained by her man's side.
The Beatles finally finished the album and released it on November 22, 1968. While it did have a working title of "A Doll's House", the thirty song, double-album was just simply called "The Beatles". Despite all of the drama that went in to it's creation, this wildly diverse record is considered the band's greatest achievement and features some of their most classic songs like "Dear Prudence", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Back in the U.S.S.R." "Happiness is a Warm Gun" and "Helter Skelter". Here are a few of my favorite songs from the album:
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