We’re just eight days away from the release of the 50th anniversary edition of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band which was painstakingly remastered and expanded by Giles Martin, the son of the Fab Four’s original producer, George Martin.
Giles has now revealed (and retracted somewhat) that he is ready to move on to his next project, the Beatles’ 1968 album The Beatles (aka The White Album).
The White Album was an oddity for the band. It was their only double album and the only one where a single was never released to radio; however, you would never know it from listening to classic rock stations who still play a wide selection from the set as if they had been chart toppers including Back in the U.S.S.R., Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Blackbird, Rocky Raccoon, Birthday and Helter Skelter. The album also contains a trio of songs that could be placed among the most beautiful from the Beatles catalog, Julia, Good Night and I Will.
Martin told the BBC on Thursday morning “The White Album, which is the next release – that is where they started becoming indulgent. There are 70 takes of Sexy Sadie, for instance. The efficiency went slightly out the window. There’s a lot of stuff. So, it’s getting the balance right.”
Giles went on to explain his aim in these special editions. “My motivation – when I tell my kids or grandkids about this album that changed the face of pop music, you want them to put it on a go, ‘Yeah, I get it!’ rather than, ‘This sounds a bit old… It’s getting that balance between trying to provide people what they want. There’s quite a lot of stuff.”
Later in the day, Martin tempered the excitement and anticipation Beatles’ fans had over a new version of The White Album. He said on Twitter “Just to confirm..I said the White Album is the next Beatles album. I promise that I’m not working on it. Enjoy Sgt Pepper first! X”
Of course, that doesn’t say he isn’t GOING to work on it in the future.
The Beatles tracklisting
Back in the U.S.S.R
Dear Prudence
Glass Onion
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Wild Honey Pie
The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
Martha My Dear
I’m So Tired
Blackbird
Piggies
Rocky Raccoon
Don’t Pass Me By
Why Don’t We Do It In The Road
I Will
Julia
Birthday
Yer Blues
Mother Nature’s Son
Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey
Sexy Sadie
Helter Skelter
Long Long Long
Revolution 1
Honey Pie
Savoy truffle
Cry Baby Cry
Revolution 9
Good Night
