The Correct Answer Is...

Well, I can't say that went as expected. The miniscule masses have spoken and it is a tie. Rubber Soul and "I hate The Beatles" both garnered 3 votes. The former is not a bad choice, really, but the latter is just unacceptable. Imagine, haters hanging around the house of love that this blog embodies! Well, I never! Alas, to each her own.

Happily, my brother weighed in with the correct answer, Revolver. Yep, you were all wrong, except those related to me. Let me explain as pompously and verbosely as I can muster.

Rubber Soul is a great record, especially the British version that is now the standard. "Nowhere Man" alone would almost have me voting for it. The Beatles grew up on Rubber Soul. They began to take chances with form and content, witness "Norwegian Wood". A remarkable endeavor that has aged very well. Yet, Rubber Soul was just crossing the threshold into a new world.

Revolver is as near perfection as any recording by anyone. My brother, in his comment, said it very well: "It marks that delicate place at the top of the arc, just after they perfected the three-minute pop song, and just before they blew it up." No two songs sound similar. This was the peak, still ambitious, without the egoism that got in the way later. Paul's songs gleam with a highly polished pop gloss. George had his strongest outing pre-Abbey Road. And John opened the door to the Sgt. Pepper room with "Tomorrow Never Knows." Not a weak or dull song anywhere.

Sgt. Pepper, on the other hand, does get dull and weak in spots. The first concept album, and the first flawed concept album. The great parts (the title song, "Good Morning," "A Day in the Life") are outstanding. But there is filler. Good filler like "Lovely Rita" or "Fixing a Hole," and bad filler like "She's Leaving Home" and "Within You Without You." The record sounds forever an artifact of the summer of '67, terribly dated by its gimmickry. A lovely listen, but overcooked.

Magical Mystery Tour was originally released as a double EP: The soundtrack of the horrid TV film directed by Paul, and a disc of odds and ends. The soundtrack has only the title song and "I Am the Walrus" to recommend it. The second disc fares better, with "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever." But the semi-listenable curiosities like "Your Mother Should Know" and "Blue Jay Way" drag the whole affair down. Truly the first big artistic failure the band had encountered.

The White Album is a favorite of many, but it is bloated with disposable filler. It would have been a truly great single disc, but everyone had songs that just had to be included. It's no coincidence that the record comes with four individual photos of the band members, not a group shot. They were not working as a unit any longer, and the product suffered. Some of their greatest songs are included here, but wading through the ankle deep crap like "Rocky Raccoon" or "Yer Blues" or "Revolution 9" makes you work for the pleasure.

Let It Be is where the stress fractures became compound. The recording sessions were a disaster, with the band even breaking up briefly under the strain of being together. Paul made himself boss and alienated everyone. The sessions were mixed and mastered by more than one producer. Glyn Johns, later of Who's Next fame, had his version rejected. Paul wound up giving the job to Phil Spector, who butchered it for posterity. The record has some brilliant songs, including "Two of Us" and "Let It Be", but mostly it shambles along, leaving one to wonder what would have resulted at the hand of George Martin.

The band pulled themselves off the mat with a terrific swan song in Abbey Road. It's not perfect, but neither is it hard to listen to. The mini pop-opera that closes the disc is truly inspired and thrilling, and George gives hints of imminent greatness to come. This is the work of a veteran band, concentrating on making a group effort for a change. This record holds up incredibly well over time.

There ya go, the truth as I see it. Thanks to all who voted. I think a Bowie poll seems to be the consensus for the next go-round, so I'll get on that soon. Rock on!

Polling Place

Time to kick this up a notch. Let's do a poll.

For me, pop music begins with The Beatles. I believe that one can know a lot about a person by their favorite Beatles album. And I am only referring to the albums that were conceived and created as whole albums, not song collections like Meet the Beatles or Beatles For Sale. Technically, Magical Mystery Tour falls under this rule, too, but I will let it slip through the dragnet.

So I want to know what camp you fall into. I have definite ideas about each of the seven records that I'm including, but I won't bias anyone by hinting about my favorite. I know everyone would just want to emulate me. Ha! Don't be like me.

So, vote, and I'd love to have a comment arguing your choice, if you have the courage of your convictions. Rock on!