The best album of 1968?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pop-Revolution-Transatlantic-Music-Scene/dp/0956272533The Beatles by The Beatles
peaked in the UK charts at No.1
peaked in the US charts at No.1;
produced by George Martin; released in November
By 1968, all was not well on planet Beatles. Brian Epstein’s untimely death in August 1967 prompted the seemingly unsinkable quartet to go it alone and manage their own affairs for the next eighteen months. However, musicians they were; businessmen they were not. This state of affairs was compounded by a revolving door of girlfriends as Cynthia Lennon was obliged to trade places with the avant-garde Japanese artist, Yoko Ono, while Jane Asher abandoned her role as Paul McCartney’s significant other, a vacancy that was quickly filled by the American Linda Eastman. On top of all this emotional upheaval, even the Fab Four were becoming increasingly tired of one another. Having decided to quit touring in the summer of 1966, this in hindsight was the precursor to the eventual break-up, and the decision to spend more time cooped up together in the recording studio was itself partially counter-productive, as many long hours together perfecting their art would have tried anyone’s long-standing friendships. The Beatles sought spiritual relief in the Himalayan foothills in the company of their favourite guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, but even this experience proved less than fruitful, prompting a typically acidic Lennon to compose the majestic put-down of ‘Sexy Sadie’, his less-than-subtle revelation that the Maharishi was a fraud, or at least a self-proclaimed holy man who allegedly expressed an unholy interest in one of the Farrow sisters. If nothing else, their retreat to India provided a fertile ground for more songs which would surface later in the year on what came to be known as the ‘White Album’. Here, the kings of pop made their own daring statement of providing an album cover that was the very antithesis of Sergeant Pepper. There was no colourful, all-singing, all-dancing album cover with a cast of thousands. Hell, there wasn’t even a clever album title. Instead, the famous four were intent on letting their music do the talking and to steer clear of any fancy packaging or marketing. It remains a testimony to their ever-constant popularity that this ninety-minute delight was able to thrive in the absence of an accompanying tour. Here again, as with Pepper, the Beatles were making their own rules. In my semi-humble opinion, the ‘White Album’ contains songs that far surpass the majority of Pepper tunes, but effectively each song was a solo track, with the composer singing his own song, accompanied sometimes merely by an orchestra. Nevertheless, there are some terrific moments that reminded us of their camaraderie as an exhausted Ringo exclaims “I’ve got blisters on my fingers” at the conclusion of the raucous ‘Helter Skelter’. Eric Clapton also made a welcome contribution on ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’. Even as group harmony began to unravel, the Beatles were still remarkably capable of delivering an album of unquestioned greatness.
The album’s best song? Sexy Sadie
SPORT IN 1968
English Division One soccer champions: Manchester City
English FA Cup final: West Bromwich Albion 1 Everton 0
English League Cup winners: Leeds United
Scottish Division One soccer champions: Glasgow Celtic
Scottish FA Cup final: Dunfermline Athletic 3 Heart of Midlothian 1
Scottish League Cup winners: Glasgow Celtic
Irish League soccer champions: Glentoran; Irish Cup winners: Crusaders
League Of Ireland soccer champions: Waterford; cup winners: Shamrock Rovers
European Cup final: Manchester United 4 Benfica 1
European Cup-Winners’ Cup final: AC Milan 2 SV Hamburg 0
European Fairs’ Cup final: Leeds United beat Ferencvaros 1-0 on aggregate
English county cricket champions: Yorkshire
Five Nations’ rugby union champions: France (grand slam)
Formula One world drivers’ champion: Graham Hill
Gaelic football All-Ireland champions: Down; hurling champions: Wexford
British Open golf champion: Gary Player
US Masters golf champion: Bob Goalby
US Open golf champion: Lee Trevino
USPGA golf champion: Julius Boros
Rugby league Challenge Cup final: Leeds 11 Wakefield Trinity 10
Wimbledon men’s singles tennis champion: Rod Laver
Wimbledon ladies’ singles tennis champion: Billie Jean King
The Aintree Grand National steeplechase winner: Red Alligator
The Epsom Derby winner: Sir Ivor
The European Championship soccer final: Italy 2 Yugoslavia 0
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