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Billy Joel didn't hold back his thoughts on The Beatles' iconic 1968 White Album during a recent sit-down on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast. Joel had a much different take on the album which is often praised as a classic. "I'm not a big fan of The White Album, but some people love it. I hear it as a collection of half-assed songs they didn't finish writing because they were too stoned, or they didn't care anymore," he told Maher.
Joel's comments stirred up renewed debate over the album's legacy, with many fans defending it as a masterpiece while others admit it felt scattered. For Joel, the issue was the band's state of mind at the time. "I think John was dissociating at that point," he said. "I think Paul was carrying the weight."
The White Album which was released during a chaotic time for the group, was written largely during their retreat with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The band was going through personal and creative shifts. Paul's growing role, Lennon's distance and Ringo Starr briefly quitting the band reflected deeper issues. "Sometimes they were more prolific and sometimes they weren't and I hear that in some of those things," Joel added.
Ringo Starr has previously expressed a deep appreciation for the White Album, viewing it as a moment where the band reconnected musically. Paul McCartney has also stood by the album, pointing to its commercial success and enduring legacy as proof of its significance.
Joel's remarks come as a surprise given the major influence The Beatles had on his own musical journey. In a past interview with CNN, he's credited the band with inspiring his career and shaping his path as an artist.
But admiration doesn't mean blind praise. Joel believes the record lacked the focus of earlier Beatles work. "I think they had fragments and they put them on the album," he said. And he's not alone. Some critics over the years have pointed to the album's inconsistency, even though it contains classics like "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Blackbird."
