The Beatles — The White Album (1968): Full UK Tracklist in Order

The Beatles, commonly known as The White Album, is the ninth studio album by The Beatles, released on 22 November 1968 by Apple Records. Produced by George Martin — though he was frequently absent during sessions, with the band often recording independently — the double album contains 30 songs spanning rock, folk, blues, country, avant-garde experimentation, and acoustic ballads. Many of the songs were written during the band's stay in Rishikesh, India, studying Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in early 1968. The deliberately plain white sleeve, designed by Richard Hamilton, was a direct contrast to the elaborate artwork of Sgt. Pepper's. Explore the Psychedelic Era (1967–1968)

Full UK Tracklist

Disc One

Side One

1. Back In The U.S.S.R.
2. Dear Prudence
3. Glass Onion
4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
5. Wild Honey Pie
6. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
8. Happiness Is A Warm Gun

Side Two

9. Martha My Dear
10. I'm So Tired
11. Blackbird
12. Piggies
13. Rocky Raccoon
14. Don't Pass Me By
15. Why Don't We Do It In The Road?
16. I Will
17. Julia

Disc Two

Side Three

18. Birthday
19. Yer Blues
20. Mother Nature's Son
21. Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
22. Sexy Sadie
23. Helter Skelter
24. Long, Long, Long

Side Four

25. Revolution 1
26. Honey Pie
27. Savoy Truffle
28. Cry Baby Cry
29. Revolution 9
30. Good Night

Songwriting Breakdown

Lennon–McCartney compositions (23): the majority of the album

George Harrison compositions (4): While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Piggies, Long Long Long, Savoy Truffle

Ringo Starr composition (1): Don't Pass Me By (credited Richard Starkey) — his first solo songwriting credit on a Beatles album

Yoko Ono co-credit (1): Revolution 9 (Lennon–McCartney–Ono)

Lead vocal highlights:

• John Lennon: Dear Prudence, Glass Onion, The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill, Happiness Is A Warm Gun, I'm So Tired, Julia, Yer Blues, Everybody's Got Something To Hide, Sexy Sadie, Revolution 1, Cry Baby Cry
• Paul McCartney: Back In The U.S.S.R., Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Wild Honey Pie, Martha My Dear, Blackbird, Rocky Raccoon, Why Don't We Do It In The Road?, I Will, Mother Nature's Son, Helter Skelter, Honey Pie
• George Harrison: While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Piggies, Long Long Long, Savoy Truffle
• Ringo Starr: Don't Pass Me By, Good Night

Key Songs: The Story Behind the Tracks

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Written by George Harrison, who brought in Eric Clapton to play the lead guitar part after the other Beatles were dismissive of the song in early sessions. Clapton was reluctant, saying no one played on a Beatles record, but Harrison persuaded him. The result is one of the most celebrated guitar performances in rock history. Harrison later said he wanted an outside presence in the studio to make the others behave.

Blackbird

Written and recorded by McCartney alone — just his voice and acoustic guitar, with a tapping foot providing rhythm. McCartney has said the song was inspired by the American civil rights movement, with the "blackbird" representing Black Americans being urged to "take these broken wings and learn to fly." The guitar part was based on a Bach piece he had learned as a teenager.

Helter Skelter

Written by McCartney after reading a review of a new Who single that described it as the loudest, most raucous rock record ever made. McCartney decided to write something louder. The result — recorded in multiple versions, with the longest running over 27 minutes — is one of the heaviest recordings in the Beatles catalogue and is widely cited as a precursor to heavy metal.

Back In The U.S.S.R.

Recorded during the sessions when Ringo Starr had temporarily walked out of the band. All three remaining Beatles played drums between them. Written by McCartney as a parody of Chuck Berry's Back In The U.S.A. and the Beach Boys' California Girls, set in the Soviet Union. It opens the album with one of the most energetic performances on the record.

Julia

Written by Lennon about his mother Julia, who died in a road accident in 1958 when Lennon was seventeen. It is the only Beatles recording on which Lennon performs entirely alone — just his voice and acoustic guitar. The song also references Yoko Ono through the phrase "ocean child" (Yoko means ocean child in Japanese).

Revolution 9

An eight-minute avant-garde sound collage created primarily by Lennon and Yoko Ono using tape loops, studio recordings, and found sounds. George Martin was largely absent during its creation. It remains the most experimental track in the Beatles catalogue and the most divisive — McCartney and Harrison both opposed its inclusion.

Historical Notes

• Ringo Starr walked out of the band during the sessions in August 1968, returning two weeks later to find his drum kit decorated with flowers by the other Beatles. Back In The U.S.S.R. was recorded while he was absent, with all three remaining members playing drums.
• George Martin was frequently absent during the White Album sessions, with the band often recording independently or with engineer Chris Thomas supervising.
• Eric Clapton played the lead guitar on While My Guitar Gently Weeps at Harrison's invitation — one of the few guest musicians to appear on a Beatles studio recording.
• Many songs were written in Rishikesh, India, during the band's stay with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in early 1968.
• Sexy Sadie was originally titled Maharishi — Lennon changed the name on legal advice after falling out with the Maharishi.
• Julia was the only Beatles recording on which Lennon performed entirely alone.
• Don't Pass Me By was the first solo songwriting credit for Ringo Starr on a Beatles album.
• The album was released on 22 November 1968 — exactly five years after With The Beatles and the assassination of President Kennedy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called the White Album?

The official title is simply The Beatles, but the deliberately plain white sleeve — designed by Richard Hamilton as a direct contrast to the elaborate artwork of Sgt. Pepper's — led fans and critics to nickname it The White Album.

Who played guitar on While My Guitar Gently Weeps?

The lead guitar part was played by Eric Clapton, brought in by George Harrison after the other Beatles were dismissive of the song in early sessions. Clapton was reluctant, saying no one played on a Beatles record, but Harrison persuaded him.

How many songs are on the White Album?

The album contains 30 songs across four sides — making it the longest Beatles studio release and the only double album in their catalogue.

Where were the songs written?

Many songs were written during the band's stay in Rishikesh, India, where they studied Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in early 1968. The prolific writing period produced enough material for a double album.

Did Ringo Starr really quit during the sessions?

Yes — Ringo walked out in August 1968 after tensions in the studio became too much. He returned two weeks later to find his drum kit decorated with flowers. Back In The U.S.S.R. was recorded while he was absent.

Explore More Beatles Albums

Previous Album: ← Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

Next Album: Yellow Submarine (1969) →

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