The Two Best Beatles Albums?

Most likely, if you're a Beatles fan there are one or two albums that are your favorites or what you consider to be their best work. Recently, I decided to listen to every Beatles album online in an effort to determine which two albums I thought were the best works.

Something I've never understood is why Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is consistently voted the best Beatles album in poll after poll. To me, Sgt. Pepper is a worthy album, but I would not say it is their best. It's all a matter of preference, anyhow.

Presented here, is one Beatles fan's determination of the the top two Beatles albums.

To this day, the large assortment of songs presented on "The Beatles " (The 'White Album') is one of the most diverse and well-written collections of rock / pop music I've ever heard. The two-album set came with a large color poster of the Beatles. Somebody gave me one of these posters years ago and I still have it somewhere.

The year was 1971 and I was a mop-haired adolescent when I borrowed "The Beatles" (The 'White Album') from one of my cousins. For months, I played the album over and over again and remained (to this day) captivated by many of its songs. Unfortunately, I think I neglected to give the album back to my cousin.

The clear and electric sounds of "Birthday" energized me, "Back In The U.S.S.R." is urgent and full of exotic imagery, "Blackbird" is gentle and soothing and "Glass Onion" is trippy.

A lighthearted side of the Beatles shows through on "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", "Rocky Racoon", "Piggies" and "Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey" which is fun yet thought-provoking.

One of my favorite songs on "The Beatles " (The 'White Album') has always been "Why Don't We Do It in the Road ?". To an adolescent's ears and mind, the 'It' in this song represented all sorts of unknown yet provocative acts of rebellion.

The darkness and dejection expressed through the rock hard sounds of "Yer Blues" is heavy, stark and poignant, while "Helter Skelter" will always be dark, brooding and brimming with borderline psychotic imagery.

Besides being one of the most instantly recognizeable album covers in rock music history, "Abbey Road" is also this fan's choice as the other one of the two best Beatles albums.

With its driving, fuzzed-out rythym section, stark vocals and descriptive, atmospheric lyrics, "Come Together" shows a more mature and psychedicized side of John, Paul, George and Ringo.

The heavy bass line and piano accompaniment on the bluesy and impassioned "Oh! Darling" lead into the watery fun of "Octopus's Garden", which is a playful romp through the undersea world

"Mean Mr. Mustard" and "Polythene Pam" are strange relatives who co-exist next door to each other. With piano in the forefront, "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is reminiscent of a pub sing-along tune and "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" offers bits of an interesting story with great lyrics, musicianship and melody.

The rock-bottom matching vocal and instrument notes coupled with a killer melody make "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" a song of urgency and passion. The precision bass and drum work on this Beatles classic is incredible.

"Golden Slumbers", "Carry That Weight" and "End" are at times melodic, inventive, mellow, heavy, catchy and anthemic.

A spacey and esoteric side of the four lads shows through on "Sun King" and "Because", while "Something", "Here Comes The Sun" "You Never Give Me Your Money" and "Her Majesty" are gentle and mellow songs.

Sometimes, it's hard to believe how long ago these two albums were recorded. Funny thing is, no matter how many times I hear the songs on "The Beatles " (The 'White Album') and "Abbey Road", they still sound fresh and vital.

Sources :
Personal experience listening to the albums