Il 1968 sarà per i Beatles un anno di introversione, in controtendenza con i segnali di ribellione giovanile che verranno percepiti prevalentemente dal mondo occidentale. Un periodo storico per la band (principale) del momento in cui a prevalere saranno autocontrollo, moderazione e mancanza di eccessi L'evento che aveva fatto mancare ai quattro la terra sotto i piedi, era stato la morte del manager Brian Epstein (agosto 1967) archiviata come suicidio. Nel febbraio del 1968 Paul, John, George e Ringo con famiglie al seguito, intraprendono quel viaggio in India che sarà da stimolo ad una fase della loro vita artistica, permettendo alla band di fare il punto, riguardo a quelle scelte che condizioneranno la vita professionale d'insieme.
Una convivenza che sembra venire meno, considerato che il concepimento dei nuovi brani, avverrà in maniera separata, attraverso un approccio alla strumentazione più diretto dovuto alla lontananza di tutti i membri dagli studi di incisione e favorendo la creazione del materiale prevalentemente con il semplice ausilio di una chitarra acustica. Il processo compositivo di Lennon e McCartney si rivela inconsueto ma originale, portando alla stesura di materiale dissimile ed affinato solo quando il gruppo rientrerà a Londra dove (anche questa volta) presso gli Abbey Road Studios, verranno sviluppate le basi per una consistente lista di brani che andrà a trovare posto sul nuovo disco.
Considerata che la diversificazione dei brani non è andata ad inficiare l'identità stilistica maturata dalla band sino a quel momento, è sempre un piacere lasciarsi trascinare e coinvolgere da esempi di rock spontaneo ed immediato ("Back In The U.S.S.R." e "Why Don't We Do It In The Road") ma anche da indulgenze di carattere western ("Rocky Raccoon" e "Honey Pie") e perché no, da una certa freschezza jazz ("Martha My Dear") a cui non è da meno una piacevole propensione medievale ("Piggies"). Un album che sviluppandosi chiaramente privo di una continuità compositiva in cui i generi proposti che possono apparire anche in antitesi tra loro, riesce ad essere nonostante tutto una colorita e variegata proposta musicale senza confini che ne avrebbero limitato l'inevitabile libertà creativa degli oramai fab four. Infatti la premiata ditta Lennon-McCartney, darà sfoggio ad un'incessante capacità di creare un notevole numero di brani in grado di segnare la storia della musica, come la suadente "Blackbird" o la dolcissima atmosfera di "I Will" o ancora l'audacia di "Helter Skelter" (che pare abbia stregato Charles Manson, inducendolo a compiere la nota strage dell'agosto 1969 in cui a perdere la vita tra gli altri, ci fu Sharon Tate la moglie del regista Roman Polanski ...) insieme a quello che con ogni probabilità, può essere ritenuto il primo esempio di reggae bianco ed ha il titolo di "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da".
Per il long-playing dall'acromatica copertina la penna di George Harrison tirerà fuori la sorprendente "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (inizialmente neanche troppo apprezzata dai suoi compagni), con il solo suonato da Eric Clapton, e la surreale delicatezza di "Long, Long, Long" (dichiaratamente ispirata da " Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" dell'immancabile Dylan), mentre il blues-country di "Don't Pass Me By" sarà la prima prova in assouto figlia della creatività del domo Ringo Starr. A chiudere il primo omonimo doppio Lp dei Beatles è la fanciullesca melodia di "Good Night" (peraltro cantata da Ringo), che Lennon scrisse per suo figlio Julian (che allora aveva cinque anni), senza avergli detto al tempo che era una spontanea dedica al suo primogenito.
La tranquillità e la serenità ricercate dalla band durante l'evasione orientale vengono presto dimenticate. A farsi largo saranno piuttosto incomprensioni e stati d'animo contrastanti, che prevarranno per via nche dell'oramai abituale presenza negli studi di registrazione (... non vi erano quasi mai estranei che assistevano alle prove ...) di Yoko Ono fidanzata di Lennon, negli studi di registrazione in veste di inusuale osservatrice. Le evidenti situazioni di disaccordo tra i quattro musicisti, portarono a far sì che una parte delle incisioni, avvenissero con uno scarafaggio alla volta. Il doppio bianco (il primo con il marchio Apple) segna l'ulteriore sviluppo di un suono variopinto che ha aleggiato nelle magiche atmosfere di "Revolver", sviluppandosi fino a brillare in quell'insuperabile manifesto di rock-psichedelico a nome "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" di quasi un anno e mezzo prima, divenendo con il trascorrere del tempo un perfetto affresco in grado di sfoggiare un lirismo straordinario ed una versatilità sperimentale dai tratti sempre magnificamente originali.
Elenco tracce e testi
03 Dear Prudence (03:55)
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence open up your eyes
Dear Prudence see the sunny skies
The wind is low the birds will sing
That you are part of everything
Dear Prudence won't you open up your eyes
Look around, round
Look around, round, round
Look around
Dear Prudence let me see you smile
Dear Prudence like a little child
The clouds will be a daisy chain
So let me see you smile again
Dear Prudence won't you let me see you smile
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence won't you come out to play
04 Glass Onion (02:17)
I told you about strawberry fields
You know the place where nothing is real
Well here's another place you can go
Where everything flows
Looking through the bent backed tulips
To see how the other half live
Looking through a glass onion
I told you about the walrus and me, man
You know that we're as close as can be, man
Well here's another clue for you all
The walrus was Paul
Standing on the cast iron shore, yeah
Lady Madonna trying to make ends meet, yeah
Looking through a glass onion
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
Looking through a glass onion
I told you about the fool on the hill
I tell you man he's living there still
Well here's another place you can be
Listen to me
Fixing a hole in the ocean
Tryin' to make a dovetail joint
Looking through a glass onion
05 Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (03:08)
Desmond has a barrow in the marketplace
Molly is the singer in a band
Desmond say to Molly, girl I like you face
And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da,
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Desmond take a trolley to the jewelers store
Buys a twenty carat golden ring, (rin-ring)
Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door
And as he gives it to her she begins to sing (sin-sing)
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Yeah, In a couple of years they
have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
of Desmond and Molly Jones
Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond lets the children lend a hand
Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
And in the evening she's still singing with the band
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
In a couple of years they
have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
of Desmond and Molly Jones
Happy ever after in the market place
Molly lets the children lend a hand
Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face
And in the evening she's a singer with the band
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
And if you want some fun
take Ob-la-di-bla-da
07 The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill (03:14)
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
He went out tiger hunting with his elephant and gun
In case of accidents he always took his mom
He's the all American bullet-headed Saxon mother's son
All the children sing
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Deep in the jungle where the mighty tiger lies
Bill and his elephants were taken by surprise
So Captain Marval zapped him right between the eyes
All the children sing
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
The children asked him if to kill was not a sin
Not when he looked so fierce his mommy butted in
If looks could kill it would have been us instead of him
All the children sing
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
08 While My Guitar Gently Weeps (04:45)
I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know why nobody told you
How to unfold your love
I don't know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you
I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don't know how you were inverted
No one alerted you
I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
Look at you all...
Still my guitar gently weeps
09 Happiness Is A Warm Gun (02:44)
She's not a girl who misses much
Do do do do do do do, oh yeah
She's well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand
Like a lizard on a window pane
The man in the crowd with the multicoloured mirrors
On his hobnail boots
Lying with his eyes while his hands are busy
Working overtime
A soap impression of his wife which he ate
And donated to the National Trust
I need a fix 'cause I'm going down
Down to the bits that I left uptown
I need a fix 'cause I'm going down
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
When I hold you in my arms
And I feel my finger on your trigger
I know nobody can do me no harm
Because happiness is a warm gun
Happines is a warm gun
Yes it is
Happiness is a warm yes it is gun
11 I'm So Tired (02:03)
I'm so tired
I haven't slept a wink
I'm so tired
My mind is on the blink
I wonder should I get up and fix myself a drink
No, no, no
I'm so tired
I don't know what to do
I'm so tired
My mind is set on you
I wonder should I call you
But I know what you would do
You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke
It's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep
I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks
I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
I'm so tired
I'm feeling so upset
Although I'm so tired
I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walther Raleigh
He was such a stupid git
You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke
It's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep
I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks
I'm going insane
You know, I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
(Monsieur, monsieur, monsieur, how about another one?)
12 Blackbird (02:18)
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
13 Piggies (02:04)
Have you seen the little piggies
crawling in the dirt
And for all the little piggies
Life is getting worse
Always having dirt
to play around in
Have you see the bigger piggies
In their starched white shirts
You will find the bigger piggies
Stirring up the dirt
Always have clean shirts
to play around in
In their sties with all their backing
They don't care what goes on around
In their eyes there's something lacking
What they need's a damn good whacking
Everywhere there's lots of piggies
Living piggy lives
You can see them out for dinner
With their piggy wives
Clutching forks and knives
to eat their bacon
One more time
14 Rocky Raccoon (03:33)
Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota,
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon(na)
And one day his woman ran off with another guy
Hit young Rocky in the eye
Rocky didn't like that he said I'm gonna get that boy
so one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon
Rock Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Rocky had come equipped with a gun
to shoot off the legs of his rival
His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girl of his fancy
Her name was Magill, and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy
Now she and her man who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoe-down
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
He said Danny boy this is a show down
Daniel was hot he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner
Da, da, da, da, da
Now the doctor came in stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, Doc it's only a scratch
And I'll be better
I'll be better doc as soon as I am able
And now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
only to find Gideon's bible
Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival
Ah, oh yeah, yeah
Da, da, da, da
15 Don't Pass Me By (03:50)
I listen for your footsteps
Coming up the drive
Listen for your footsteps
But they don't arrive
Waiting for your knock dear
On my old front door
I don't hear it
Does it mean you don't love me any more
I hear the clock a'ticking
On the mantel shelf
See the hands a'moving
But I'm by myself
I wonder where you are tonight
And why I'm by myself
I don't see you
Does it mean you don't love me any more
Don't pass me by
Don't make me cry
Don't make me blue
'Cause you know darling, I love only you
You'll never know it hurt me so
How I hate to see you go
Don't pass me by
Don't make me cry..
I'm sorry that I doubted you
I was so unfair
You were in a car crash
And you lost your hair
You said you would be late
About an hour or two
I said that's alright I'm waiting here
Just waiting to hear from you
Don't pass me by
Don't make me cry
Don't make me blue
'Cause you know darling, I love only you
You'll never know it hurt me so
How I hate to see you go
Don't pass me by
Don't make me cry..
18 Julia (02:54)
Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you
Julia
Julia, Julia
Ocean child calls me
So I sing a song of love
Julia
Julia
Seashell eyes, windy smile calls me
So I sing a song of love
Julia
Her hair of floating sky is shimmering
Glimmering in the sun
Julia, Julia
Morning moon touch me
So I sing a song of love
Julia
When I cannot sing my heart
I can only speak my mind
Julia
Julia
Sleeping sand, silent cloud touch me
So I sing a song of love
Julia
Hum, calls me
So I sing a song of love for
Julia, Julia, Julia
19 Birthday (02:42)
They say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you
Yes we're going to a party, party
Yes we're going to a party, party
Yes we're going to a party, party
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Take cha cha cha chance (Birthday)
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Oh, yeah
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Take cha cha cha chance (Birthday)
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
They say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you
21 Mother Nature's Son (02:48)
Born a poor young country boy
Mother Nature's Son
All day long I'm sitting
Singing songs for everyone
Sit beside a mountain stream
See her waters rise
Listen to the pretty
Sound of music as she flies
Tu, tu, tu, tu, du, tu
Find me in my field of grass
Mother Nature's Son
Swaying daisies sing
A lazy song beneath the sun
Tu, tu, tu, tu, du, tu
Tu, tu, tu, tu, du, tu
Tu, tu, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ah, Mother Nature's Son
23 Sexy Sadie (03:15)
Sexy Sadie what have you done
You made a fool of everyone
You made a fool of everyone
Sexy Sadie, ooh, what have you done
Sexy Sadie you broke the rules
You laid it down for all to see
You laid it down for all to see
Sexy Sadie, ooh, you broke the rules
One sunny day the world was waiting for a lover
She came along to turn on everyone
Sexy Sadie the greatest of them all
Sexy Sadie how did you know
The world was waiting just for you
The world was waiting just for you
Sexy Sadie, ooh, how did you know
Sexy Sadie you'll get yours yet
However big you think you are
However big you think you are
Sexy Sadie, ooh, you'll get yours yet
We gave her everything we owned
Just to sit at her table
Just a smile would lighten everything
Sexy Sadie she's the latest
And the greatest of them all
Ha, she made a fool of everyone
Sexy Sadie
Ha, however big you think you are
Sexy Sadie
24 Helter Skelter (04:29)
When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Do you, don't you want me to love you
I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you
Tell me, tell me, tell me come on tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer
Helter skelter
Helter skelter
Helter skelter
Will you, won't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me, tell me, tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer
Look out
Helter skelter
Helter skelter
Helter skelter
Look out, 'cause here she comes
When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
And I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
And I get to the bottom and I see you again
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Well do you, don't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me, tell me, tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer
Look out helter skelter
Helter skelter
Helter skelter
Look out helter skelter
She's coming down fast
Yes she is
Yes she is
28 Savoy Truffle (02:54)
Creme tangerine and montelimar
A ginger sling with a pineapple heart
A coffee dessert yes you know it's good news
But you'll have to have them all pull out
After the Savoy truffle
Cool cherry cream and a nice apple tart
I feel your taste all the time we're apart
Coconut fudge really blows down those blues
But you'll have to have them all pull out
After the Savoy truffle
You might not feel it now
But when the pain cuts through
You're gonna know and how
The sweat is gonna fill you head
When it becomes too much, you'll shout aloud
But you'll have to have them all pull out
After the Savoy truffle
You know that what you eat you are
But what is sweet now turns so sour
We all know ob-bla-di-bla-da
But can you show me where you are
Creme tangerine and montelimar
A ginger sling with a pineapple heart
A coffee dessert yes you know it's good news
But you'll have to have them all pull out
After the Savoy truffle
Yes, you'll have to have them all pull out
After the Savoy truffle
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