Back in the USSR - I have never, in all of my time as a Beatles fan, heard that Mike Love had anything to do with this song (or any Beatles song). You may be right, but I've never heard that before. Anyway, I don't think they're trying trying to sound like the Beach Boys. I think it's kind of a sarcastic *reaction* to all of the Beach Boys' sunny happy surf music. The White Album is pretty dark in spaces, and I think that this is just setting the stage for that.
ObLaDi ObLaDa - Jamacian music? Do you mean reggae? Maybe they were trying something different, but I don't think that they were trying to sound like anything in particular.
Yer Blues - Okay, I might give you this one, especially since they were hanging out with Clapton. But keep in mind that ALOT of bands were doing this kind of 'electric blues' at the time, so they could've just been following a trend in general.
Helter Skelter - The story goes that Paul read an interview with Pete Townshend where he said that they'd just recorded the 'loudest, nastiest rock song ever.' Paul then tried to write what he thought was the loudest, nastiest rock song ever, NOT something that would sound like the Who. Because if you listen to it, Helter Skelter does not sound like the Who.
Hide Your Love Away - A Dylan impersonation, you're very right.
I don't know, Briggs. I think that there are touches of other bands' music in the White Album. But there are touches of other bands' music in almost any album. I think that it would be a mistake to write the White Album off completely as 'the Beatles trying to sound like other bands.' I like Abbey Road, too. It's my second favorite Beatles album.
Relevant: Prince, PT Anderson, Punk, Post-Punk, Purple, Party of Five, Peter Swanson, Peter Gabriel-led Genesis, "Peter Panic", Paul's Boutique, Potential Energy, Every Features MB member but me.