With each new single and album they recorded, the Beatles—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr—strived to advance their sound, to open themselves to new ideas and influences, and, above all else, to not repeat themselves. In 1968, the band released The Beatles—better known as "The White Album" for its distinctive cover—and it was a nexus for the group, a connection point between their present and the future. This is the story of how that classic album came to be made, and what it represents in Beatles' history.
WHY WE LOVE “THE WHITE ALBUM” • The two-record set showed the Beatles evolving as a band and as individuals
DYSSEY IN INDIA • A spiritual quest led to the most extensive recording project in Beatles history
JOHN TRANSFORMS • Recording “The White Album” coincided with major upheaval in Lennon’s life
PAUL GROWS UP • McCartney faced professional and personal turmoil while making “The White Album”
GEOGER BLOSSOMS • During the sessions for “The White Album,” George Harrison both flourished and fumed
RINGO WRITES • For Ringo Starr, a step forward in his songwriting coincided with a step away from the Beatles
THE SONGS • The original vinyl LP, track by track
TRIUMPH AND TRIBULATIONS • “The White Album” was another great success—but one with ominous undercurrents
The Beatles - The White Album
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