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Beatles

cooby classic Mar 10 2016 10:56 AM

I had the advantage of a seven-years-older sister, so I grew up on the Beatles though I was a wee lass at the time. Don't own a single Beatles CD but I've gotten John, George and Ringo in the past few years and love them all. I guess you could deduce from that that Paul was my least favorite but oddly I do like Wings. Every time I listen to any of them I think 'ah yes, he's my favorite...' But I really don't know :) Who's your favorite Beatle?

Fman99 Mar 10 2016 11:13 AM Re: Beatles

My favorite Beatle was always George, for a few reasons. He was the best guitarist in the band, an instrument I also play. And I am a huge fan of his first solo album "All Things Must Pass" which is, to me, the best of any of the Beatles' post breakup releases. Lastly, we shared a birthday -- I was born thirty years to the day after George.

Ashie62 Mar 10 2016 11:38 AM Re: Beatles

My first record was a Beatles 45

Benjamin Grimm Mar 10 2016 12:19 PM Re: Beatles

Ringo, because of his name. Sounds like he could've been a Marx Brother.

themetfairy Mar 10 2016 01:51 PM Re: Beatles

My first exposure to the Beatles was the film Yellow Submarine; I was drawn to Ringo's portrayal, and he's been my favorite ever since. And BTW, Ringo still puts on a great concert and he looks amazing (not just amazing for a guy in his mid-70's, but objectively amazing)! Plus his shows are fun (there are very few concert experiences more enjoyable than singing along to the song Yellow Submarine!). After seeing Sir Paul at Citi Field in 2009 I commented to D-Dad how much I prefer Ringo's shows. D-Dad replied with the observation, "When you see Ringo in concert the vibe is 'Thank You,' whereas when you see Paul it's 'You're Welcome'."

Benjamin Grimm Mar 10 2016 02:00 PM Re: Beatles

themetfairy wrote: D-Dad replied with the observation, "When you see Ringo in concert the vibe is 'Thank You,' whereas when you see Paul it's 'You're Welcome'." Interesting.

Edgy MD Mar 10 2016 02:30 PM Re: Beatles

I always associated with George. I still adore him, but — and I'm sure I've mentioned this theory before — I think the association was in part psycho-social, as I was third in the pecking order of the pack of friends who fell in love with the Beatles together, so I got to play George in our fake band. Just like packs of girls who are fans of a boy band seemingly a tacit agreement to crush on different members of the group, and the alpha girl gets her first pick. To this day, my favorite member of most bands is often the third most prominent, more or less. My favorite Beach Boy is Jardine. My favorite Fleetwood Macker is Christine McVie.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 10 2016 02:52 PM Re: Beatles

Who's your favorite cast member from I Love Lucy?

TransMonk Mar 10 2016 02:57 PM Re: Beatles

I've always been a sucker for Paul. It doesn't mean I don't adore the other three, but Paul's my fave.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 10 2016 03:11 PM Re: Beatles

I love 'em all but realizing recently my relationship with 'em are shifting. I'm much more inclined than I used to be in identifying as a "John" guy when I used to be considerably a "Team Paul" man. Why is this happening? Because I'm boot-camping Lunchpail on Beatles, asking him when each song comes on if he can guess which of the 4 are singing. At the same time, I'm secretly asking this question of myself and have sort of surprised to discover the volume that John was responsible for was greater than I would have guessed. OTOH, I much prefer Paul's post-Beatle career and the fact that he wasn't bad parent and asshole like John was irl.

Vic Sage Mar 10 2016 03:17 PM Re: Beatles

Growing up in the late 60s-70s, the Beatles were a part of the soundtrack of my life. Their split up effected me personally. But the only one whose work i continued to follow was John. It was always John's band. He started it, he lead it, and his life and music ended up having the most impact on me and, in my view, on our culture. His artistry and activism aside, his domestic dramas had the flair of the theatrical -- first comic, then tragic. He was hounded by the government for his beliefs and ultimately martyred at that point in his life where it was finally all working out for him. After failing at marriage and fatherhood the first time, he had made it work the second time around. He had grown. Then he was dead. His murder occurred when i was in college. We had a wake, listening to Beatles and Lennon music all night as we got rip-roaringly drunk, with the plan to later take the train into the city and stand vigil outside the Dakota as we heard others were doing. Happily, we passed out before doing that, since i know i would later have regretted doing it, feeling it to be incredibly insensitive and ghoulish. But the desire to grieve publicly, with others, was strong. I can't imagine having had that sort of response to the death of ANY of the other Beatles. Speaking of "imagine," I have visited Lennon's memorial in Central Park on occasion. People still leave flowers and place stones on it. I have. I also have a Lennon playlist on my iphone, with just those Beatles songs he wrote or is considered the primary author, plus his post-Beatles output. I don't have such a list for any of the others. None of the others have made anywhere near this sort of impact. George played a good guitar, and his spiritual sojourns and, later, his support of Monty Python and other good English films, make him a worthy cultural figure, but he's not in the same class as John in that regard and i never thought he was particularly likeable; he was the quiet brooding presence in the background. Paul had a pretty voice and wrote nice love songs, but he was the one that walked away from the Beatles, so it didn't bother me that much that they recently didn't let him into the Grammy after-party. Ringo was the sweet goofball, but the least of them.

Ceetar Mar 10 2016 03:42 PM Re: Beatles

I like the beatles, don't have a favorite. possess the entire discography so I'm probably heard most of them. I own the Beatles rock band too. I think my father has a story about being stuck on the Thruway for Woodstock.

Lefty Specialist Mar 10 2016 04:16 PM Re: Beatles

John, because he didn't take crap from anybody. Wonder what he'd have done if he'd lived.

themetfairy Mar 10 2016 04:20 PM Re: Beatles

FWIW, a great deal of the music for Double Fantasy was written during John's residence in Bermuda. There have been tribute concerts to celebrate his time on the island, and even a cover album - [fimg=400:2nf2xify]https://daytrippinmag.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/lennonbermuda.jpg[/fimg:2nf2xify]

seawolf17 Mar 10 2016 04:37 PM Re: Beatles

Ringo > George > Paul > John. A tape of the Blue Album was one of my first things my dad made me when I got a Walkman as a kid. I played the second half of that tape A MILLION TIMES. The whole end there (Here Comes the Sun/Come Together/Something/Octopus/Let It Be/Universe/Long & Winding Road) is just the best. They just released a two CD/one DVD set of the "George Fest" Harrison tribute show from last year, and it's fantastic: http://www.amazon.com/George-Fest-Celeb ... B01958Y46I

Frayed Knot Mar 10 2016 04:43 PM Re: Beatles

Never had a favorite. Even as they grew more independent in the later albums and the 'who wrote/sang what' became more obvious, I still tended to think of the songs as by the group as a whole rather than assigning them to just one member. As opposed to say hearing a song where I'll automatically think: oh that's Graham Nash, or that's Stills, with little or no regard as to whether they did it as a solo artist, or as part of CSN(Y), or 'Buffalo Springfield', or whatever. But Beatle songs aren't like that for me and I'll make a definite distinction between a solo John song vs John as a Beatle even if the Beatle song is obviously a John tune, and the same goes for the others.

dgwphotography Mar 10 2016 05:11 PM Re: Beatles

I love them all, but Paul > George > John > Ringo Paul had that sweet voice, was the best of the 4 at marketing, and his concert at Citi is still the best concert I've been to. George was the best pure musician of the group. John was the prototypical asshole genius. If I was a bit older, I might look at John differently like Vic does, but his solo career never really spoke to me, and Yoko just left a bad aftertaste. Ringo was Ringo. Regarding that post-Grammy part that Paul was supposedly turned away from - Was he turned away, or did the bouncer warn him that there were Kardassians inside?

cooby classic Mar 10 2016 05:16 PM Re: Beatles

Until I read [u:2kint1i2]Lennon[/u:2kint1i2] I didn't even know about May Pang but it seems she was a good influence on him.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 10 2016 05:25 PM Re: Beatles

dgwphotography wrote: Regarding that post-Grammy part that Paul was supposedly turned away from - Was he turned away, or did the bouncer warn him that there were Kardassians inside? I doubt that Paul would be Kardashian averse insofar as he's collaborated with Kanye West on some music projects.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 10 2016 05:30 PM Re: Beatles

Frayed Knot wrote: Never had a favorite. Even as they grew more independent in the later albums and the 'who wrote/sang what' became more obvious, I still tended to think of the songs as by the group as a whole rather than assigning them to just one member.... Beatle songs aren't like that for me and I'll make a definite distinction between a solo John song vs John as a Beatle even if the Beatle song is obviously a John tune, and the same goes for the others. I could pretty much endorse this post. I think I might've said in the past or claimed in the past to have had a favorite Beatle, but I don't know that I felt it sincerely. If anything, I probably claimed a favorite Beatle out of some sense of compulsion. I also agree with Fman's comment that All Things Must Pass is the best solo Beatle album. At least it's my favorite. Love the Beatles. I'd put Abbey Road and The White Album on a small list of my favorite all-time albums.

cooby classic Mar 10 2016 05:33 PM Re: Beatles

I think that's how they wanted it --every song as a team effort

Edgy MD Mar 10 2016 05:34 PM Re: Beatles

As a big George fan, I would hesitate to rank George as the best pure musician. He was two years behind John and Paul as a guitarist, and Paul covered for him sometimes taking some of the early solos. He could do some good enough cut-rate Carl Perkins twanging, but the only reason he ended up as the lead guitarist is that he was two years behind John and Paul as a singer and songwriter too. It's only after he did something they never did — picking up the sitar and the developing his beautiful lyrical slide technique — that he found his own voice as a player. They were all pretty good as musicians, and the whole was great and sublime (or, as Coo says, "I think that's how they wanted it --every song as a team effort"), but the only one who reached virtuosity was Paul with the bass in the second half of their run.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 10 2016 05:47 PM Re: Beatles

cooby wrote: When I was a kid I thought ... all songs were either [The Rolling Stones] or the Beatles. You could spin off this comment into it's own thread. No surprise that the Beatles would influence the musical sounds of too many to count. I hear the Beatles in most of Badfinger's catalog (obviously). A few years ago, I went through an ELO phase and damned if I didn't hear the Beatles coming through on a lot of their work. Here's some songs that could be mistaken for Beatles songs, or Beatles songs if they'd continued to record beyond their split: [youtube]xLzfjPkNaM8[/youtube] [youtube]1n03a7cLf0M[/youtube] [youtube]LCWLdulMgSs[/youtube]

Frayed Knot Mar 10 2016 06:02 PM Re: Beatles

batmagadanleadoff wrote: I also agree with Fman's comment that All Things Must Pass is the best solo Beatle album. "The quiet one explodes" was reportedly Ringo's comment on that release. It was, I imagine, a real FU moment to John & Paul with George showing what he could do if not confined by his 2 songs/record quota; a big 'see what you were missing out on boys' kind of deal. Long-time members here may recall a project from many moons ago (going back, I believe, even to the forum previous to this one) which we wound up labeling (IIRC) 'Plastic Rams Must Pass', where the early post-breakup solo efforts were cherry-picked of material with the idea of creating a mythical great and final Beatles album.

seawolf17 Mar 10 2016 06:03 PM Re: Beatles

There was a blog a while back who did an interesting series of post-breakup Beatles "albums" posts, using songs off their various solo projects and then assuming that Julian replaced John in 1980 and they kept making records.

seawolf17 Mar 10 2016 06:05 PM Re: Beatles

seawolf17 wrote: There was a blog a while back who did an interesting series of post-breakup Beatles "albums" posts, using songs off their various solo projects and then assuming that Julian replaced John in 1980 and they kept making records. Found them. It was on Popdose: http://popdose.com/tag/fixing-a-hole/

cooby classic Mar 10 2016 06:08 PM Re: Beatles

http://youtu.be/Bioah3q7JOk I think I've brought this song up before as a soundalike

d'Kong76 Mar 10 2016 06:21 PM Re: Beatles

themetfairy wrote: After seeing Sir Paul at Citi Field in 2009 I commented to D-Dad how much I prefer Ringo's shows. D-Dad replied with the observation, "When you see Ringo in concert the vibe is 'Thank You,' whereas when you see Paul it's 'You're Welcome'." Love that observation. For someone my age, I like and listen to them (the band and their solo stuff) much more now than I did at any other time in my life. I had a couple of friends growing up that were so off-the-hook on their fandom I hid from the Beatles when I had the chance and liked Led Zep, The Who, The Stones, etc. much more than the Beatles. I suppose my first Beatles albums were the red and blue compilations. I liked and listened to the red probably ten times more back in day. Band/Solo=George>Paul>Ringo>John

smg58 Mar 10 2016 07:25 PM Re: Beatles

My dad had a whole bunch of Beatles LPs and 45s hanging around the house when I was little; they were my favorite band when I was 4 and I've never seen a reason to make a change. I've always liked John's songs the most. Yeah he was messed up, but he was messed up from day 1 and he still brought so much good into the world anyway. Artistically speaking, I've always respected and admired his sense of daring even if it led him away from The Beatles ultimately. I loved Paul's CitiField show. I've never thought there was much doubt that he was the best all-around musician in the group. The problem with All Things Must Pass (besides Phil Spector's overproduction) is that George used up his whole backlog. He was never good for more than two songs an album after that. But "Beware of Darkness" was really good, and "Any Road" off his last album is a hidden gem. Ringo's charm may have opened a lot of doors for him, but he remains a unique and extremely underrated drummer.

Frayed Knot Mar 10 2016 07:44 PM Re: Beatles

smg58 wrote: Ringo's charm may have opened a lot of doors for him, but he remains a unique and extremely underrated drummer. The television presentation of the R&R HoF show for the year in which Ringo was inducted as a solo artist began with various drummers (Grohl & Questlove among others) discussing, while seated behind that simple but iconic Beatles kit, Ringo's unique style and contributions to the art. Now I don't know shit about drumming but it was a nice little intro piece which was, in turn, followed by a well done intro by Paul.

Edgy MD Mar 10 2016 07:57 PM Re: Beatles

[youtube:3loradme]cqeBt5ZO4mU[/youtube:3loradme] Among John's unexpected acidic disses was when he was asked if Ringo was the best drummer in the business, and he responded, "He's not even the best drummer in the Beatles."

cooby classic Mar 10 2016 07:59 PM Re: Beatles

Me-ow!

themetfairy Mar 10 2016 08:05 PM Re: Beatles

Meanwhile, I have no idea how they sound but I absolutely love this picture - [fimg=440:1nhhlvmg]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/05/e5/8d/05e58df3e482779e4f5c8bf329bf4d66.jpg[/fimg:1nhhlvmg]

cooby classic Mar 10 2016 10:15 PM Re: Beatles

smg58 wrote: My dad had a whole bunch of Beatles LPs and 45s hanging around the house when I was little; they were my favorite band when I was 4 and I've never seen a reason to make a change. I've always liked John's songs the most. Yeah he was messed up, but he was messed up from day 1 and he still brought so much good into the world anyway. Artistically speaking, I've always respected and admired his sense of daring even if it led him away from The Beatles ultimately. I loved Paul's CitiField show. I've never thought there was much doubt that he was the best all-around musician in the group. The problem with All Things Must Pass (besides Phil Spector's overproduction) is that George used up his whole backlog. He was never good for more than two songs an album after that. But "Beware of Darkness" was really good, and "Any Road" off his last album is a hidden gem. Ringo's charm may have opened a lot of doors for him, but he remains a unique and extremely underrated drummer. I kinda liked Phil Spector. He turned out to be a dick, that's true...

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 11 2016 12:13 PM Re: Beatles

It was George Martin's influence that ultimately led to the Beatles hiring Ringo, since he wouldn't record with Pete Best.

RealityChuck Mar 11 2016 06:17 PM Re: Beatles

Edgy MD wrote: Among John's unexpected acidic disses was when he was asked if Ringo was the best drummer in the business, and he responded, "He's not even the best drummer in the Beatles." Lennon never said that. For me it's Paul > John > Ringo > George.

Edgy MD Mar 11 2016 07:21 PM Re: Beatles

Reviewing it, Mark Lewisjohn, who should know, has it as a misattribution. Looks like I stand corrected. It seemed counterintuitive. If he was going to say that, it would presumably after Paul drummed on two tracks from The White Album. But all accounts have the other Beatles affectionately begging Ringo — who had temporarily quit and gone to Spain — to return to the fold. So, as subversive as John was, it would a pretty counterintuitive insult for him to deal at the time. I should have known better (which would make a good song title). Now I'm going to look up all his other alleged insults.

d'Kong76 Mar 11 2016 08:13 PM Re: Beatles

I've heard that 'quote' before, kind of believable even if legend. "I never said half the things I said." -- Yogi Lennon

smg58 Mar 11 2016 08:26 PM Re: Beatles

It's worth mentioning that Paul's drumming at the end of "Dear Prudence" is really good.

Edgy MD Mar 11 2016 08:33 PM Re: Beatles

Paul did three Beatles tracks as a drummer. I gots no problem with any of them.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 15 2016 12:25 PM Re: Beatles

Beatlesque song of the day: Everywhere You Go You Always Take Your Gently Weeping Guitar With You [youtube:1hwsg71e]b9ZVK6QWp7E[/youtube:1hwsg71e]

Fman99 Mar 18 2016 04:30 AM Re: Beatles

smg58 wrote: The problem with All Things Must Pass (besides Phil Spector's overproduction) is that George used up his whole backlog. He was never good for more than two songs an album after that. But "Beware of Darkness" was really good, and "Any Road" off his last album is a hidden gem. These are both true. I would love to hear a professionally redone, remastered version of "All Things Must Pass" stripped of all the wall of sound Spector mush, the way they did with "Let it Be." I've heard the raw demos but they are just that. Also, for anyone who doubts the quality of the songs, the "Concert for George" that was done after he passed away contains brilliant renditions of his best songs by Billy Preston, Eric Clapton, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Paul and Ringo and a slew of other all stars.

Edgy MD Mar 18 2016 12:37 PM Re: Beatles

Too many good songs on a All Things Must Pass isn't really a problem with ATMP per se. Perhaps it can be called a problem with Living in the Material World and Dark Horse and Thirty-Three & 1/3. With regard to ATMP, I tend to think of it as a grace.

Edgy MD Apr 05 2016 02:10 PM Re: Beatles

On this day in 1964, the Beatles held 12 spots in the Billboard Hot 100, including all of the top five — an unprecedented and unequaled feat. [fimg=600:3vo7zia3]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4EI9ExSQZdI/Uz3CI-wlcxI/AAAAAAAAA98/xaE-7mXVgQk/s1600/billboard-hot-100-beatles.jpg[/fimg:3vo7zia3] [youtube:3vo7zia3]aTsx7qBjd2E[/youtube:3vo7zia3] [youtube:3vo7zia3]YgVWot_xrxE[/youtube:3vo7zia3] [youtube:3vo7zia3]Pf00Oy-dP5s[/youtube:3vo7zia3] [youtube:3vo7zia3]4X5Bt6V7tcM[/youtube:3vo7zia3] [youtube:3vo7zia3]he0B0VMxCsw[/youtube:3vo7zia3] [youtube:3vo7zia3]Fk0sY_WiCpA[/youtube:3vo7zia3] [youtube:3vo7zia3]cKzvDPfDvBs[/youtube:3vo7zia3] [youtube:3vo7zia3]SXn0HQNxzuM[/youtube:3vo7zia3] [youtube:3vo7zia3]nV34Rp8iTV0[/youtube:3vo7zia3] [youtube:3vo7zia3]y8Dpt7TI9q0[/youtube:3vo7zia3] [youtube:3vo7zia3]0rLci6tPOtY[/youtube:3vo7zia3] [youtube:3vo7zia3]JOXg1Unlw6U[/youtube:3vo7zia3]

Frayed Knot Apr 05 2016 02:30 PM Re: Beatles

They were pretty good.

Edgy MD Apr 05 2016 04:19 PM Re: Beatles

Also notable in there is a Beatles soundalike record done in the same style as the version in their setlist ("Hippy, Hippy, Shake," #31) and two Beatles tributes ("We Love You Beatles," #57, and "A Letter to the Beatles," #85).

Edgy MD Apr 05 2016 04:40 PM Re: Beatles

Porny sounding records in that Hot 100 [list:1nxcht2u]#17: “Kissin’ Cousins” #34: “White on White” #40: “New Girl in School” #45: “Penetration” #57: “Ain’t Gonna Tell Nobody” #62: “Love with the Proper Stranger” #68: “Roll Over, Beethoven” #77: “Taint Nothing To Me” #81: “You Lied to Your Daddy” #90: “Kiss Me, Sailor” #91: “Mexican Drummer Man”[/list:u:1nxcht2u] Who knew CBS-FM was such a cesspool?

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 05 2016 02:44 PM Re: Beatles

[youtube:3hoszuvd]49KieAqqIl0[/youtube:3hoszuvd]

Ashie62 May 05 2016 09:28 PM Re: Beatles

Edgy MD wrote: Porny sounding records in that Hot 100 [list]#17: “Kissin’ Cousins” #34: “White on White” #40: “New Girl in School” #45: “Penetration” #57: “Ain’t Gonna Tell Nobody” #62: “Love with the Proper Stranger” #68: “Roll Over, Beethoven” #77: “Taint Nothing To Me” #81: “You Lied to Your Daddy” #90: “Kiss Me, Sailor” #91: “Mexican Drummer Man”[/list:u] Who knew CBS-FM was such a cesspool? "Kissin Cousins" is not by Jerry Lee Lewis.

Edgy MD May 06 2016 02:08 AM Re: Beatles

Boffo work by Ringo there. We looked up "Penetration" by the Pyramids, because what could it be about but sex. Turns out, it's great. An inter-racial surf instrumental act that all shaved their heads as a novelty hook. [youtube]USfMeResE1c[/youtube]

Zvon May 06 2016 08:22 PM Re: Beatles

I've been meaning to chime in here and I will. It'll be a long post. And this isn't even it, but real quick: I've been on a Beatle kick for around a month. Reading the LENNON book set me off again. I'm currently making a special mix of Beatles songs that simulates them in concert, 2005. Of course this is an alternate universe where John & George had lived. Mixing in crowd and Beatles talking to the crowd and segways between songs with other special effects. In no time at all it grew from 1 CD to 2 (could easily be 4 CDs). The first test mix of Beatles Live 2005 had mixed results. But the parts that came out good came out really good. I put it aside for a while and will pick it up again sometime this week and work on it a bit. This is a tough gig. I figure to get it right will probably take a good long time. I have a lifelong friend, both of us Beatle fans (went to the first 3 Beatlefests together) and I hope to have this ready for him come Christmas. And I have to make it good enough, real sounding enough, to fool him (not really fool him, just make him believe). LENNON by Riley: Finished it and I'm re-reading parts. First time through I almost put this book down and stopped reading it. When he got to the Beatles at Shea he says that the boys took a helicopter and landed in the centerfield area of Shea Stadium for the show. I did a whole write up on Shea and I'm pretty sure they landed (by chopper) at Terrace On The Park and rode to Shea from there in a truck. It's a little thing to some, but huge, being that the Shea concert became such a legendary tale to me. But that seems to be his only research boo-boo, and hey, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm thinking of the 1966 Shea show. I dunno. I use the internet for research so...... But I did keep reading and It's a very good book. He uses a lot of words to say the same thing over sometimes, but it was informative. I was hoping to learn more about Johns downtime during 1975-1980, but Riley zipped thru that time like he was late for the funeral. I think the reality of it was that he really didn't do much during that time except raise Sean. And I agree with Vic that John did grow. All you have to do is compare his years with Julian to his years with Sean.

cooby classic May 06 2016 11:34 PM Re: Beatles

I was on a Beatles kick when I started this thread :). I'll have to look for that book zvon. I read one from a different author a couple of years ago that I found at the library but it wasn't there when I last looked. Unbelievably I did not know of May Pang's existence until then.

Edgy MD May 06 2016 11:42 PM Re: Beatles

I'm reading Mark Lewisohn's The Beatles Complete Recording Sessions, culled from the documentation and tapes in the studio archives. At the first few sessions, when he mentions that an unused take or discarded selection was taped over, it feels like a tragedy of history. Fortunately, after a few sessions, everybody involved knew they were dealing with something special and every inch was kept.

Mets Guy in Michigan May 19 2016 05:35 PM Re: Beatles Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 19 2016 06:19 PM

I listen to podcasts a lot given the long commute to Lansing, and I discovered one called "My Favorite Album" where the interviewer asks people about the album that as been post special to them and how it has influenced their own work. The show spent four episodes breaking down "The White Album," one for each side of the double LP. I confess that I certainly know of the "White Album" and some of the stories behind it, and I'm familiar with the biggest songs. But I'd never listened to the thing. So I picked it up from the library this week. Wow. It's as if the band said, "We're throwing out the rules. Do whatever the hell you want." Very interesting stuff, even if it is all over the place. You can sense the growing split between John and Paul by how different their material is. And, yeah, "Revolution 9" is out there. Reminds me of Andy Kauffman's brand of piss-you-off art. I know the debate about whether it should be one album or two. I think the sprawling nature of it is one of the things that make it interesting. If I was going to cull the best material, I think there would be enough for one and a half albums, so there's too much for a single LP. One thing I learned: "Hey Jude" was part of the "White Album" sessions and released as a single instead of being on the album (with the faster, distorted version of "Revolution" on the B-side.) Add "Hey Jude" to the album and lop off, say, "Revolution 9" and that's an incredible album.

Benjamin Grimm May 19 2016 05:38 PM Re: Beatles

Does that podcast ever mention this album?

Mets Guy in Michigan May 19 2016 05:58 PM Re: Beatles

Does that podcast ever mention this album? Not yet! here's the list: [url]http://mrjeremydylan.com/ My favorite episode so far was Julian McCullough talking about Guns n Roses. At least, it starts there and spins off into Clapton, Beatles, Stones.... McCullough thoroughly pissed off the interviewer by the end. He's one of those contrarian guys who thinks everything you like sucks and everything he likes is epic. Clapton, for example, he hates with a passion. In his eyes, if you are a rock star and is not living the rock star lifestyle, you are a poser. There are a lot of legends who "kept it real," and are dead at the moment for doing so. McCullough is a comedian, so at least his rants are kind of funny. He's got funny stories about being a kid and thinking "Mr. Brownstone" was about the landlord -- his family lived in a brownstone -- and taking it to middle school to play in a class project. He pisses off the interviewer when he goes off on Paul McCartney, who, you can guess, is declared a poser for writing upbeat songs that people like and, well, still being alive.

Edgy MD May 19 2016 06:39 PM Re: Beatles

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: Add "Hey Jude" to the album and lop off, say, "Revolution 9" and that's an incredible album. It's pretty incredible anyhow from where I sit. And frankly, add nine minutes of blank space and lop off "Revolution 9," and it's an improvement. Paul says the sort of sonic landscaping that produced "Rev9" was something he was experimenting in first, for whatever that's worth. Most accounts credit (or blame, from where I sit) John, George, and Yoko with doing most of the work on that track.

Mets Guy in Michigan May 19 2016 07:16 PM Re: Beatles

Edgy MD wrote: Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: Add "Hey Jude" to the album and lop off, say, "Revolution 9" and that's an incredible album. It's pretty incredible anyhow from where I sit. And frankly, add nine minutes of blank space and lop off "Revolution 9," and it's an improvement. Paul says the sort of sonic landscaping that produced "Rev9" was something he was experimenting in first, for whatever that's worth. Most accounts credit (or blame, from where I sit) John, George, and Yoko with doing most of the work on that track. I've never heard the John/Yoko "Two Virgins" album, but I get the impression that it's along the same experimental vein. It's as if they are questioning "What exactly is music" they way someone looking at a Jackson Pollock painting and questioning "What exactly is art?" I like Pollock's work. Not there yet on "Rev9.) I've been enjoying exploring the album. I picked up two other CDs from the library at the same time and they've yet to crack in the car CD player. It's aged better than I thought it would have. "Helter Skelter," sounds like a grandfather to grunge. And I had no idea it was about about a carnival slide.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 19 2016 07:39 PM Re: Beatles

We should definitely do a music podcast. Maybe that's the destiny of the Desert Island Mix Tape.

batmagadanleadoff May 19 2016 07:51 PM Re: Beatles

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: "Helter Skelter," sounds like a grandfather to grunge. And I had no idea it was about about a carnival slide. What a coincidence. I did some reading up on the Beatles Helter Skelter last week, and learned for the first time that a Helter Skelter is a carnival slide -- probably British -- or typically found in England. When I get to the bottom, I go back to the top of the slide. I also made the same mistake, that apparently many others make, in crediting that song to John. Becsause it's so grungy. It's a Paul song. And it's Ringo at the end shouting "I got blisters on my fingers".

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 19 2016 08:07 PM Re: Beatles

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: Add "Hey Jude" to the album and lop off, say, "Revolution 9" and that's an incredible album. It's pretty incredible anyhow from where I sit. And frankly, add nine minutes of blank space and lop off "Revolution 9," and it's an improvement. Paul says the sort of sonic landscaping that produced "Rev9" was something he was experimenting in first, for whatever that's worth. Most accounts credit (or blame, from where I sit) John, George, and Yoko with doing most of the work on that track. I've never heard the John/Yoko "Two Virgins" album, but I get the impression that it's along the same experimental vein. It's as if they are questioning "What exactly is music" they way someone looking at a Jackson Pollock painting and questioning "What exactly is art?" I like Pollock's work. Not there yet on "Rev9.) I've been enjoying exploring the album. I picked up two other CDs from the library at the same time and they've yet to crack in the car CD player. It's aged better than I thought it would have. "Helter Skelter," sounds like a grandfather to grunge. And I had no idea it was about about a carnival slide. Paul's first solo record was largely experimental doodllings in a home studio. It's mostly terrible but still includes the gorgeous "Every Night" and "Maybe I'm Amazed"

sharpie May 19 2016 10:09 PM Re: Beatles Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 19 2016 10:16 PM

Two Virgins as well as Wedding Album and Life With the Lions are all mostly experimental tape installations by John and Yoko as is Wonderwall Music by George. All are hard to listen to in complete form but all have their (brief) moments. Closer to Revolution 9 is What's the New Mary Jane? which was the last Beatle track that was worked on and appeared on Anthology 3. That song has a long effects part. I do think that these experiments, while they would have been better left unreleased, were things the lads felt they had to work through in order to progress musically. I have mixed feelings about The White Album. In LP format, Sides 1 and 3 are brilliant, Side 2 is hit and miss (the highs of I'm So Tired, I Will, Julia and the lows of Rocky Raccoon, Piggies and Why Don’t We Do It In the Road) and Side 4 is the worst side they released: Revolution 1 not as good as Revolution, Cry Baby Cry, Honey Pie and Good Night are all among their least successful tracks. Savoy Truffle is the best thing on that side which wouldn't have been the case on any other side they released.

batmagadanleadoff May 19 2016 10:15 PM Re: Beatles

sharpie wrote: Cry Baby Cry, Honey Pie and Good Nigh are all among their least successful tracks. The coda on Cry Baby, Cry ("Can you take me back where I came from....") is one of my favorite White Album snippets.

sharpie May 19 2016 10:16 PM Re: Beatles

The coda does not make the song but yes the coda is beautiful.

Mets Guy in Michigan May 19 2016 11:18 PM Re: Beatles

I read somewhere that part of the fun of the album and the debate about culling songs is that everyone would cull different ones. I like "Rocky Racoon," but "Happiness is a Warm Gun" leaves me cold so far. I know a lot of people like it. I read "Ob la di" was voted worst song by a major artist in some poll. But I kind of like it.

Edgy MD May 20 2016 12:44 AM Re: Beatles

"Happiness is Warm Gun" has some really cool syncopation/meter changes, including at the same time, when one guy would be playing in 4/4, another in 12/8, and a third in 6/8 or something. It supposedly was Paul and George's favorite song on the album. Say what you want about Paul, lightweight or not, he was a fan of John's, and made John's songs better. And in fact, he makes them better through much of the White Album.

cooby May 20 2016 12:48 AM Re: Beatles

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: I read somewhere that part of the fun of the album and the debate about culling songs is that everyone would cull different ones. I like "Rocky Racoon," but "Happiness is a Warm Gun" leaves me cold so far. I know a lot of people like it. I read "Ob la di" was voted worst song by a major artist in some poll. But I kind of like it. Me too; it's perky

Edgy MD May 20 2016 03:48 AM Re: Beatles

I think that would be the Poll of Terrible Conclusions. The Beatles' recorded farts are better than half of Elvis' Presley's catalog. [youtube:304um3p8]_YfKWibzlYU[/youtube:304um3p8] [youtube:304um3p8]mffHwhJtkpE[/youtube:304um3p8] [youtube:304um3p8]rdRCXG-zPhc[/youtube:304um3p8]

Mets Guy in Michigan May 20 2016 01:47 PM Re: Beatles

I found the old Rolling Stone review of the album, which is kind of interesting. I think that then as now, when Rolling Stone is all in on an artist, it is really all in and everything is brilliant. (I'm recalling the 5-star review of U2's "No Line on the Horizon," which I didn't like then and like less now. But Bono can do no wrong in RS.) Here's the link to the 1968 review: [url]http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/beatles-19681221 I did think this paragraph was funny: As usual, the personal honesty is met with an attack. (The secret is that innocence is invulnerable, and those who rush too quickly for the kill, are just themselves dead.) On the level of musical ignorance, I read the very first review of this record that appeared; it was in the New York Times. In about 250 words the "critic" dismissed the album as being neither as good as the Big Brother Cheap Thrills LP nor as the forthcoming Blood, Sweat and Tears album. You come up with only one of two answers about that reviewer: he is either deaf or he is evil. Disagree with me? You are either incompetent -- hence "critic" in quotes -- deaf or evil. (And a certain university might note the irony of RS criticizing anyone rushing in too quickly for the kill.) Our discourse has not really changed all that much since 1968.

Edgy MD May 20 2016 02:01 PM Re: Beatles

That's a great paragraph or a hilariously awful one depending on how seriously you take that writer, or he takes him- or herself. But of course, it's Jann Wenner, so...

Ashie62 May 22 2016 09:19 PM Re: Beatles

George Harrison, A man who never wasted a note. Loved to hear him played distorted rock guitar on the White Album like "Everybodys Got Something to Hide but me and my Monkey." Love him on "I Me Mine" and so many others.

Vic Sage May 24 2016 03:55 PM Re: Beatles Edited 2 time(s), most recently on May 24 2016 08:34 PM

WHITE ALBUM: cut it down to a single album. 14 songs (2 George, 1 Ringo). [u:in9xo75l]SIDE A[/u:in9xo75l] 1) BACK IN THE USSR 2) OB LA DI OB LA DA 3) BLACKBIRD 4) HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN 5) I WILL 6) MOTHER NATURE'S SON 7) WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS (George) [u:in9xo75l]SIDE B[/u:in9xo75l] 1) HELTER SKELTER 2) ROCKY RACOON 3) JULIA 4) DON'T PASS ME BY [Ringo] 5) CRY BABY CRY 6) SAVOY TRUFFE (George) 7) REVOLUTION

batmagadanleadoff May 24 2016 04:44 PM Re: Beatles

Lop off half of the White Album? That's crazy talk! [youtube:35cm39b6]H6_eqxh-Qok[/youtube:35cm39b6] I wish I had three heads, I like 'em all so much. (Revolution #9 could go, though). [youtube:35cm39b6]Z20dhgfP9VA[/youtube:35cm39b6]

sharpie May 24 2016 04:53 PM Re: Beatles

I think the idea would be that the rest of the songs get used for other projects: the Yellow Submarine tie-in album, EPs, flip sides. SIDE ONE 1, BACK IN THE USSR 2. DEAR PRUDENCE 3. WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS 4. I'M SO TIRED 5. DON'T PASS ME BY 6. I WILL 7. HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN SIDE TWO 1. YER BLUES 2. BLACKBIRD 3. EVERYBODY'S GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE EXCEPT ME AND MY MONKEY 4. JULIA 5. SAVOY TRUFFLE 6. MOTHER NATURE'S SON 7. HELTER SKELTER OB-LA-DI-OBLA-DA, CRY BABY CRY, REVOLUTION 1, ROCKY RACCOON all bounced from Vic's list for me with YER BLUES, MONKEY, I'M SO TIRED and DEAR PRUDENCE subbing in. I went 6 John, 5 Paul. Interesting exercise to put it in order.

Edgy MD May 24 2016 05:00 PM Re: Beatles

Yeah, come on. "Dear Prudence" is where it's at, people.

sharpie May 24 2016 05:04 PM Re: Beatles

Yeah, "Prudence" makes my list if it needs to be cut down to a single side.

cooby May 24 2016 05:10 PM Re: Beatles

Did you guys know that The Stairsteps, of 'Oooh, Child' fame, also did a nice recording of 'Dear Prudence'?

Zvon May 24 2016 05:42 PM Re: Beatles

cooby wrote: Did you guys know that The Stairsteps, of 'Oooh, Child' fame, also did a nice recording of 'Dear Prudence'? I did not, but I ran right to youtube. This is kool. [youtube]l4a8vMZGaFg[/youtube]

sharpie May 24 2016 05:59 PM Re: Beatles

Agreed. Thanks, Cooby and Zvon.

cooby May 24 2016 06:05 PM Re: Beatles

Stumbled across it about a year ago while on a 'Oooh Child' kick. You're welcome... Enjoy :)

Edgy MD May 24 2016 06:07 PM Re: Beatles

Yeah, "Prudence" makes my list if it needs to be cut down to a single side. Prudence may make my list if it needs to be cut down to a single track. It's a great example of how John and Paul were still collaborating. It's John's song, but Paul is all over it. As John stays on one chord, Paul cycles through four on bass, and he's playing a different figure every verse. It's a loud bass, too. Plus he's on piano, drums, percussion, and he and George add these ethereal backing vocals. Some sources credit Paul with playing the flügelhorn on that track. I don't know. That's just showing off. OE: Photo evidence!

Zvon May 24 2016 06:17 PM Re: Beatles

Stumbled across it about a year ago while on a 'Oooh Child' kick. You're welcome... Enjoy :) I was totally amazed at the memories that came back while listening to Oooh Child. I guess because it was on the radio a lot, I never owned the record. But I loved that song sooo much. That was a summer song in 1970. And I discovered that Dear Prudence was on the B side of the Oooh Child single.

cooby May 24 2016 06:23 PM Re: Beatles

The funniest part is that when you see the video for Ooh Child on Soul Train they are all grown up and wearing much cooler clothes, yet originally Oooh Child and Dear Prudence were on the same 45 at first, as you said. On the Dear Prudence video (though it is just s still shot) they look like little kids and dress in matching suits I looked and looked for info on them but there isn't much out there.

Benjamin Grimm May 24 2016 06:53 PM Re: Beatles

I was on an "Oooh Child" kick years ago. I found myself singing it a lot to my infant daughter in the weeks after the September 11 attacks.

Ashie62 May 24 2016 07:01 PM Re: Beatles

Siouxe and the Banshees did an excllent version of Prudence.

sharpie May 24 2016 07:13 PM Re: Beatles

The Leftovers album: SIDE A 1. THE CONTINUING STORY OF BUNGALOW BILL 2. OBLADI-OBLADAH 3. PIGGIES 4. GLASS ONION 5. SEXY SADIE 6. MARTHA MY DEAR 7. ROCKY RACCOON 8. WHY DON'T WE DO IT IN THE ROAD? SIDE B 1. BIRTHDAY 2. CRY, BABY, CRY 3. HONEY PIE 4. WILD HONEY PIE 5. LONG LONG LONG 6. REVOLUTION 1 7. REVOLUTION 9 8. GOOD NIGHT

Mets Guy in Michigan May 24 2016 07:44 PM Re: Beatles Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 25 2016 12:29 PM

My picks, after discovering and listening almost non-stop for two weeks: Side 1: 1) Back in the U.S.S.R. 2) Dear Prudence 3) Glass Onion 4) Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da 5) Birthday 6) While My Guitar Gently Weeps 7) I Will Side 2: 1) Everyone's Got Something to Hide (Except for Me and My Monkey) 2) Blackbird 3) Savoy Truffle 4) Don't Pass Me By 5) Julia 6) Rocky Raccoon 7) Helter Skelter

Vic Sage May 24 2016 07:51 PM Re: Beatles

you left song #5 off of Side A. But MONKEY over GUN? And no REVOLUTION? Interesting.

Vic Sage May 24 2016 08:30 PM Re: Beatles Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 24 2016 08:59 PM

I didn't think to balance the John and Paul songs, so i'm revising my list accordingly. Also, i'm making a Paul side and a John side, since that was more consistent with what the band was at that point: [u:32ocnr6d]SIDE A (Paul/Ringo)[/u:32ocnr6d] 1) BACK IN THE USSR 2) OB LA DI OB LA DA 3) MOTHER NATURE'S SON 4) ROCKY RACOON 5) DON'T PASS ME BY [Ringo] 6) BLACKBIRD 7) HELTER SKELTER [u:32ocnr6d]SIDE B (John/George)[/u:32ocnr6d] 1) WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS (George) 2) DEAR PRUDENCE 3) GLASS ONION 4) JULIA 5) HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN 6) SAVOY TRUFFLE (George) 7) REVOLUTION I substituted PRUDENCE for I WILL (for John/Paul balance) and GLASS ONION for CRY BABY CRY (for pacing).

Vic Sage May 24 2016 08:54 PM Re: Beatles

and the follow-up: THE OFF-WHITE ALBUM BUNGALOW BILL I'M SO TIRED SEXY SADIE YER BLUES PIGGIES CRY BABY CRY EVERYBODY'S GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE... [optional: WILD HONEY PIE] BIRTHDAY MARTHA MY DEAR I WILL WHY DON'T WE DO IT IN THE ROAD LONG LONG LONG (G) HONEY PIE GOOD NIGHT [optional: REVOLUTION #9] I've made REV# 9 and WILD HONEY PIE optional add-ons, but I could live without them. How about releasing them as a single, with WILD HONEY PIE as the B side? It'd be interesting to see just how few 45s a Beatles record could sell in 1968.

Mets Guy in Michigan May 24 2016 09:03 PM Re: Beatles

Vic Sage wrote: you left song #5 off of Side A. But MONKEY over GUN? And no REVOLUTION? Interesting. Yup! I like the single version of Revolution better. I know a lot of people love "Warm Gun." Not there. But I do like "Monkey" a lot. I know it's a nonsense song, but it's fun. This is tough because there's probably an album and a half worth of songs I really like a lot. I can see why they went to two discs.

Vic Sage May 24 2016 09:20 PM Re: Beatles

but what is song #5?

Zvon May 24 2016 09:28 PM Re: Beatles

"Monkey" kicks azz. "Come on, come on!" I found this teasingly interesting. [youtube:1l4uzylb]E_gAeHlIrWc[/youtube:1l4uzylb]

Ashie62 May 24 2016 10:00 PM Re: Beatles

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: Vic Sage wrote: you left song #5 off of Side A. But MONKEY over GUN? And no REVOLUTION? Interesting. Yup! I like the single version of Revolution better. I know a lot of people love "Warm Gun." Not there. But I do like "Monkey" a lot. I know it's a nonsense song, but it's fun. This is tough because there's probably an album and a half worth of songs I really like a lot. I can see why they went to two discs. Monkey achieves a unique Beatles electric guitar sound not often heard til "Hey Bulldog" later on. Another words it rocks hard.

cooby May 25 2016 12:48 AM Re: Beatles

I remember my dad wearing white shirts and ties to work.

Fman99 May 25 2016 01:25 AM Re: Beatles

Am I the only one who prefers the acoustic "Revolution 1" to the plugged in, electric "Revolution"? I think the best part of Revolution 1 is that John says "you can count me out... " and then adds "in" afterwards. It changes the meaning of the song and he doesn't do it on the single. So there. Plus I am partial to the acoustic stuff.

Fman99 May 25 2016 01:31 AM Re: Beatles

So, not to be contrarian, and without regard to balance or order, here are my 14 tracks that make the cut. They're more or less the songs I like the best, the ones that I play and sing and enjoy the most. Dear Prudence Glass Onion While My Guitar Gently Weeps Happiness is a Warm Gun Blackbird Why Don't We Do It In The Road I Will Yer Blues Mother Nature's Son Helter Skelter Long Long Long Revolution 1 Cry Baby Cry Good Night

Zvon May 25 2016 02:04 AM Re: Beatles

Hey Bulldog: Beatles at their rockinest imo. With I Feel Fine, And Your Bird Can Sing, fast Revolution, & Birthday. Say what you want about Birthday. It kicks azz. Cry Baby Cry was one of the first songs I learned on acoustic. That, Rocky, & Blackbird.

Edgy MD May 25 2016 03:01 AM Re: Beatles

You almost have to include "Birthday," because a double-lead vocal or three is a pretty standard item on a Beatles album too.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 25 2016 10:27 AM Re: Beatles

I feel like this exercise however you cut it makes the worst single Beatles album. Also tried P & J sides. 1. Back in the U.S.S.R. 2. I Will 3. Martha My Dear 4.Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da 5. Mother Nature's Son 6. Blackbird 7. Helter Skelter Side B 1. Revolution 1 2.Glass Onion 3.Don't Pass Me By 4.Birthday 5.Dear Prudence 6.While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Mets Guy in Michigan May 25 2016 12:29 PM Re: Beatles

Vic Sage wrote: but what is song #5? Birthday

batmagadanleadoff May 25 2016 01:27 PM Re: Beatles

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I feel like this exercise however you cut it makes the worst single Beatles album. Also tried P & J sides. Another problem with this exercise, besides having to decide which songs to cut is that The White Album (TWA) was put together so that the songs are on top of one another. TWA's practically a gapless album, and having heard it so many times on account of its greatness, it's hard to mess with the order of the songs. I can't hear Birthday without anticipating Dear Prudence up next before Birthday's even over and Glass Onion after that. TWA is one big song and that the whole thing is bigger than the sum of its parts is definitely at play here. If I played along, though, I'd be tempted to start the single album with Glass Onion. It kicks right in with some strong drumbeats and you're right in the song, no mamby-pamby hesitating. And then lyrically, Glass Onion immediately alludes to Beatles songs from the past --- then announces a new place ("Well here's another place you can go") perhaps referring to new songs, the new where it's at ... The White Album.

Ashie62 May 26 2016 04:24 PM Re: Beatles

Going with 6 songs on each side. One side Rockish and one side slower. Trying to run from "birth" to aging sadness and death. SIDE 1. 1. BIRTHDAY 2. EVERYBODY'S GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE EXCEPT ME AND MY MONKEY. 3. BACK IN THE USSR. 4. HELTER SKELTER 5. REV 1 6 IM SO TIRED SIDE 2 1. MOTHER NATURES SON 2. DEAR PRUDENCE 3. CRY BABY CRY 4. I WILL 5. HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN 6. WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS

TransMonk Jun 18 2016 08:31 PM Re: Beatles

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: OTOH, I much prefer Paul's post-Beatle career.... I listened to (most of) the new Paul Greatest Hits collection Pure McCartney this morning. That guy can write a pop song! I didn't realize David Gilmour played the guitar solo on "No More Lonely Nights" back when it was popular, but it is unmistakable to me now.

Mets Guy in Michigan Jun 18 2016 11:06 PM Re: Beatles

TransMonk wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: OTOH, I much prefer Paul's post-Beatle career.... I listened to (most of) the new Paul Greatest Hits collection Pure McCartney this morning. That guy can write a pop song! I didn't realize David Gilmour played the guitar solo on "No More Lonely Nights" back when it was popular, but it is unmistakable to me now. I love "No More Lonely Nights." I've heard that the movie is dreadful, but the soundtrack is an underrated gem. There are new versions of some Beatles songs -- a restrained version of "Long and Winding Road" that came out long before the "Naked" album. A medley of "Yesterday," "Here, There and Everywhere" and "Wanderlust" is beautiful and worth the price of admission alone. Not saying it's perfect -- there's a nine-minute version of "Eleanor Rigby" -- but a solid album.

Mets Guy in Michigan Jun 21 2016 02:57 PM Re: Beatles Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 21 2016 03:09 PM

I continue to expand my Beatles education beyond the hits and the three albums I had (Pepper, Abbey Road, Hey Jude and the recently obtained White Album.) and got my hands on Revolver and Rubber Soul. I had always assumed that while both are great, that Rubber Soul was the better of the two. But after listening to both a lot this week, I think it might be the other way around. Both have brilliant classics, of course. Actually, about half of each album seems to consist of classics. But the Revolver "deep cuts" seem to hold up a little stronger. And the amazing part is that they were turning out a album every six months, and had non-album singles that are as strong as anything on the albums.

Edgy MD Jun 21 2016 03:02 PM Re: Beatles

You can't go wrong with those two. "For No One," for instance, features a whole bunch of George Martin-infused non-rock instrumentation, features only Paul with Ringo on percussion, and was maybe Lennon's favorite Paul composition. Paul at his best steps on the schmaltz line but doesn't cross it.

Edgy MD Jul 05 2016 04:07 AM Re: Beatles

I'm watching footage now of the rooftop concert. I'm eight minutes in and Billy Preston hasn't appeared. I haven't seen Let It Be in a while. Was Preston not in the rooftop concert and his parts mixed in later? [video]https://www.facebook.com/joe.graves.161/videos/1092936144091316/[/video] OE: Nope, he's up there.

Frayed Knot Aug 06 2016 01:27 PM Re: Beatles

[fimg=350]http://www.beatlesinterviews.org/al7.jpg[/fimg] Released August 5th, 1966 - aka: fifty years ago (yesterday) SIDE 1 Taxman Eleanor Rigby I'm Only Sleeping Love You To Here, There and Everywhere Yellow Submarine She Said She Said SIDE 2 Good Day Sunshine And Your Bird Can Sing For No One Doctor Robert I Want to Tell You Got to Get You into My Life Tomorrow Never Knows

smg58 Aug 06 2016 02:11 PM Re: Beatles

It's very telling about how The Beatles felt about performing live at that time that, as good as Revolver was, they released it as their last tour was winding down and made no attempt to add any of the songs to their concert set lists.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 06 2016 02:38 PM Re: Beatles

Amazin' album. Robyn Hitchcock remarked yesterday: Happy 50th birthday, Revolver! Thank you for enriching our lives & giving us something to aim at & miss My friend's band does this: [youtube]hTp1nklct1Q[/youtube]

Mets Guy in Michigan Aug 06 2016 08:48 PM Re: Beatles

I've done a lot of exploring the Beatles catalog this year after hearing just the well-known songs (And with the Beatles, that's still a huge amount). I picked up Revolver shortly after our White Album discussions. Amazing. I heard recently that Paul did the guitar solo on "Tax Man." Wow.

Ashie62 Aug 06 2016 10:07 PM Re: Beatles

I believe Paul played lead on U.S.S.R.

sharpie Aug 07 2016 01:36 AM Re: Beatles

Lead on Ticket to Ride as well

RealityChuck Aug 08 2016 12:04 AM Re: Beatles

smg58 wrote: It's very telling about how The Beatles felt about performing live at that time that, as good as Revolver was, they released it as their last tour was winding down and made no attempt to add any of the songs to their concert set lists. Probably because they knew they couldn't reproduce the sound on stage (especially over screaming fans with their small amps).

Edgy MD Aug 08 2016 02:41 PM Re: Beatles

smg58 wrote: It's very telling about how The Beatles felt about performing live at that time that, as good as Revolver was, they released it as their last tour was winding down and made no attempt to add any of the songs to their concert set lists. I imagine with Revolver, they hit their threshold of "sound we can't match on stage," though I bet they could've come close two years later. Stage production technology needed to catch up to them.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 08 2016 02:51 PM Re: Beatles

Richie Cunningham is coming out with a movie about the Beatles touring. Maybe its out aleeady.

Frayed Knot Aug 08 2016 04:15 PM Re: Beatles

[fimg=800:3tqcccy4]http://www.croydoncinemas.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/The-Beatles-In-Cinemas-Banner.jpg[/fimg:3tqcccy4] Looking like a September preview in some places, but no specific date for a full U.S. release so it could be later in the year.

batmagadanleadoff Aug 08 2016 04:38 PM Re: Beatles

I heard recently that Paul did the guitar solo on "Tax Man." Wow. From 14 Awesome Facts about Revolver 13. The guitar solo on Taxman was played by Paul McCartney. Hours were poured into the recording of the Harrison-penned track and after much frustration from producer George Martin it was decided that Paul McCartney would play the savage guitar solo as George struggled to nail it. This understandably caused much upset to Harrison who reportedly left the studio in a sulk yet talking about the track in 1987, Harrison conceded it was a wise move to have Paul lay down the guitar part as he brought an Eastern flavour to the proceedings. In Ian MacDonald's Revolution In The Head he wrote: "Paul’s solo was stunning in its ferocity - his guitar playing had a fire and energy that his younger band mates rarely matched - and was accomplished in just a take or two.” George wrote the song out of anger towards how much money he was paying to the taxman, with overdubbed backing vocals mentioning “Mister [Harold] Wilson” and “Mister [Edward] Heath." Read about the 13 other awesome facts here: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on ... e-11692663

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 08 2016 04:43 PM Re: Beatles

I guess I never really noticed but the idea that George wasn't exactly a golden guitar god has come up on my radar a few times recently. The other story I'm thinking of was John being upset that George effed up the guitar "solo" in "All You Need Is Love" -- you know it was cut live, a short solo begins and just trails off for no reason. To my ears it has always worked as its absence highlights the hardworking strings, but considered as a solo, it's a complete shit effort. Thoughts?

Mets Guy in Michigan Aug 08 2016 05:26 PM Re: Beatles

I heard recently that Paul did the guitar solo on "Tax Man." Wow. From 14 Awesome Facts about Revolver 13. The guitar solo on Taxman was played by Paul McCartney. Hours were poured into the recording of the Harrison-penned track and after much frustration from producer George Martin it was decided that Paul McCartney would play the savage guitar solo as George struggled to nail it. This understandably caused much upset to Harrison who reportedly left the studio in a sulk yet talking about the track in 1987, Harrison conceded it was a wise move to have Paul lay down the guitar part as he brought an Eastern flavour to the proceedings. In Ian MacDonald's Revolution In The Head he wrote: "Paul’s solo was stunning in its ferocity - his guitar playing had a fire and energy that his younger band mates rarely matched - and was accomplished in just a take or two.” George wrote the song out of anger towards how much money he was paying to the taxman, with overdubbed backing vocals mentioning “Mister [Harold] Wilson” and “Mister [Edward] Heath." Read about the 13 other awesome facts here: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on ... e-11692663 That was a cool article. Thanks for posting, though I'll never listen to "Got to Get You Into My Life" the same way again. Too much info, Paul!

Edgy MD Aug 08 2016 06:23 PM Re: Beatles

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I guess I never really noticed but the idea that George wasn't exactly a golden guitar god has come up on my radar a few times recently. The other story I'm thinking of was John being upset that George effed up the guitar "solo" in "All You Need Is Love" -- you know it was cut live, a short solo begins and just trails off for no reason. To my ears it has always worked as its absence highlights the hardworking strings, but considered as a solo, it's a complete shit effort. Thoughts? My position is that George was close to the talent of John and Paul, but was two years behind them as a singer, a songwriter, and a guitarist, and the idea that he could never catch up really got in his head. He was the lead guitarist by default as the other two were the co-frontmen, but he was probably the the third best guitarist in the band in the first 40% of their run, and Paul did some of the best solos (including the only two solos on Sgt. Pepper. Add to this that the other two had an official working partnership, but George was on his own as a songwriter. (John said that if George asked him for ideas on a song, he would be afraid to tell Paul, as if it was a betrayal.) It was just a shitty position to be in, or the shittiest version of a really great position to be in, depending on how you look at it. Two turning points in his career was (1) picking up the sitar, giving him a head start on something neither John nor Paul (nor Clapton nor anybody else in the invasion) had done yet, and (2) building off the confidence this gave him to find his own voice playing the slide guitar, adding these beautiful, pure, lyrical phrases while the rest of the invasion guys were just using the slide for bluesy slurs. I just don't think he could make up phrases on the spot until that point. He had previously had to chart out his solos before he cut them. In the rooftop concert, his playing solos are inspired and impeccable, which is cool because one of the reasons "One After 909" got shelved years earlier was that he didn't nail the solo. I think John does the "Get Back" solo, though.

Mets Guy in Michigan Aug 08 2016 07:53 PM Re: Beatles

Interesting thing to me about "Taxman" is that the subject matter -- especially poking two individuals -- seems more like something John would do. I associate George with more uplifting kinds of songs, "Piggies" notwithstanding.

sharpie Aug 09 2016 03:40 PM Re: Beatles

Don't Bother Me, Think For Yourself, If I Needed Someone -- all kind of bitter and not uplifting George songs.

Edgy MD Aug 09 2016 03:57 PM Re: Beatles

"Blood from a Clone" "Only a Northern Song" "Sue Me, Sue You Blues" "I Me Mine" "World of Stone" "Run of the Mill" The dude bore witness to the light, but he knew the darkness too.