re: 1968 -Helter Skelter- The Beatles...was this the first metal song?

I don’t really consider it metal, although I can see how that link is made, particularly to what is more commonly considered early metal like Black Sabbath or maybe even deep purple. It’s more just a loud song, but it helped to break that barrier so you do have to give it some credit in that regard.

To me, metal has a much more driving and prominent guitar behind it, especially in the lower register. Other classic characteristics would be a dropped low string, palm muting and the use of a more dissonant scale like harmonic minor which changes the last note but gives that unmistakably sinister feel.

White Album is so good. Really has something for everybody. Anytime someone says the Beatles suck or they don’t like them, I ask if they have ever listened to the White Album all the way through. You can almost bet that they have only heard their hits (which are skewed heavily toward their early stuff) and there is something on that album that would change their opinion of them entirely.

It’s crazy to me that it was during this time that they became “bored” and sick of eachother. Because from that point on they had some straight up masterpieces. It had become easy for them. But I guess half of being great is knowing where to stop.

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Dear Prudence and Happiness Is A Warm Gun are my favorite songs on this one. I agree that it's their best album.

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Those are both great songs and it is a fantastic album...but for me, side 2 of Abbey Road was their masterpiece.