*shakes head*
How did we forget this?

Laziness on my part. I figured somebody else would put it up. And if they didn't... |shrugs| Oh well.

I like The Beatles, but I do have to agree with George Harrison; they weren't the greatest musicians in the world. (I've joked with a friend of mine, who's a major Beatles fan, that The Fab Four broke up because Ringo couldn't handle doing another drum solo like on "The End". "Sorry mates. That's too hard for me. I quit!")

What The Beatles had going for them was personality, a gift for great song-writing, and the knack for being just ahead of the next big thing in music.

I really don't like the early stuff too well. It sounds too dated. The Beatles really don't start to take offuntil around the Rubber Soul/Revolver era. Some of the later stuff starts to get a little silly however. (See the Yellow Submarine album and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" [John and George were right about that song.]) I agree with one remark I heard that Paul was descending into "ditty land" near the end of The Beatles era.

The best Beatles album is by far "The White Album". They should've stopped there.

Best songs:

"I Am the Walrus"
"Day Tripper"
"Strawberry Fields Forever"
"Hey Jude"
"Nowhere Man"
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
"Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"
"A Day In the Life"
"Paperback Writer"
(Yes, I do tend towards John's material.)

Still and all, it's hard (hell impossible) to deny The Beatles' influence on Rock and Roll.

You know what? You and me just confict over things. I really don't think there was enough good music on The White Album to fill a single LP, let alone two. "Helter Skelter" "Sexy Sadie" "Happiness is a Warm Gun" and "Dear Prudence" are the only ones I like. Also, I don't really care for Rubber Soul, it just sounds forced. (after all, they were getting burned out by the road). Revolver is probobly their best (Sgt. Pepper, while good, is a bit over rated).

Whoa! Hold the presses, Blitz! We agree on something! Sgt. Peppers is a bit overrated. Does this mean the universe will end?

"The White Album" to me, is The Beatles most adventurous album, musically. I also feel that it is the culmination of their career. They should have broken up afterwards.

"You and me just confict over things."

Does this mean we can't still be friends? Seriously, I personally don't mind the conflicts. We like The Beatles, The Monkees, The Who. We may differ over what their best work is, but does that really matter? Who knows, I might learn to look at what you like in a different light, and change my mind. I mean, I used to think Sgt. Peppers was The Beatles' best album. Now I'm bored with it.

John Lennon was a horrible human being! I'm glad he's dead.

Peter

Good lord. Peter is infesting ANOTHER board!

>"The White Album" . . . they should have stopped there.

Then they never would have made my favorite Beatles album. "Let It Be!"

I've got a Beatles bootleg called Get Back which is basically Let It Be before Phil Spector got ahold of it. It's pretty interesting.

Saying "The White Album" "is a culmination of their career" is inaccurate. It is a summation of their career. More importantly to me, it gives a glimpse of what the four Beatles' solo careers would be like.

Which of the Fab Four™ does anyone think had benefitted the most from a solo career in terms of success without pretentiousness?

I never said we couldn't be friends, Benn, I just pointed out that we conflict. In fact, I actually prefer that in my buddies! Anyway, I didn't have much time to rant yesterday, so I'll make up for it now (RUN!!!):

To start, while I like John's music fine (I don't particularly care for him as a person, though)(still, that was uncalled for Peter!), I've always leaned towards George as my favorite. I suppose it has to do with the fact that I've always had a thing for the underdogs (I mean, I prefer Robbie Krieger to Jim Morrison, but that's another discution), but I think George is more interesting musicly. And I'm not simply refering to the indian flair in his later songs, I'm going as far back as "Don't Bother Me", one of their best as far as I'm concerned.

Anyway, to jump into the album discution, I think most of the world - minus Todd of course - agrees that Let It Be is an embarassment (didn't Spector pay attention to the title?); especially when you listen to the material featured in The Anthology Vol. 3 (some of which may be on Get Back, I don't know). While not that great a composition in any form, the Anthology version of "Dig A Pony" is obviously better than the album version; as is "I've Got a Feeling", aside from the breakdown by the end (which could have been ammended in editing, as the band had given up the "live" approach by then). Also, the run through of "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" sounds better than the Abbey Road version to me, why wasn't it used? I do love the title track, of course, but the single version on Past Masters Vol. 2, not the album version *sigh*

In Spector's defence, however, I should point out that I prefer his version of "I Me Mine" to the origional, if for no reason other than he made it longer. Also, I'm sorry Paul, but the origional version of "The Long and Winding Road" is just boring. True, Spector's take is a bit overblown, but that's still beter than the original.

Letting Let It Be be for now, I don't think The Beatles should have broken up after The White Album, otherwise we never would have gotten Abbey Road! Not their best album, to be sure, but definately their most cohesive (I mean, look at side two!). The White Album may have had some of The Beatles best songs, but it also had some of their worst. Now Abbey Road isn't perfect, "Octopus' Garded" anyone?, but even it's weakest tracks aren't really thatweak. Plus, it has a musical unity who's absence is what, I think, destroys The White Album. Sure, it's cool to see all the different styles and aproaches they used in the album; but by throwing them all together, the whole album sounds thrown together without any concern for the flow. Obviously, Abbey Road has this in abundance.

And, yes, I do think that Sgt. Pepper is over rated. Sure it's good, but it's hardly as experamental as people make it out to be (in fact, much of it is the most traditional music The Beatles ever made).

And, Sven, I have no idea. Define "without pretentiousness" and say "pretentiousness" five times fast. Go on! I dare you!

Abbey Road was the last album The Beatles recorded. If it's more cohesive, it's because it's so dominated by Paul. None of the others cared anymore (especially John). Side two is fun, but that still doesn't distract from the fact that it's composed mainly of song fragments. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but it shows Paul's proclivity towards ditties and medleys (see his first solo album, Red Rose Speedway, London Town, and Back To the Egg). Abbey Road was recorded at a time when the guys no longer wanted to be Beatles.

I wouldn't call Let It Be an embarrassment. Maybe the recording process and what's in the movie, but not the album. Spector did not, however, understand the point of the album. It was originally to be called Get Back, with the idea being that The Fab Four would go back to their musical roots. Spector's production changed all of that. To me, the album is a compromise.

Seen today, Sgt. Pepper may not seem like much. But at the time of its release it was a very revolutionary album. So much so that it killed Brian Wilson's spirit for all intents and purposes and prevented the release of The Beach Boys' Smile album, (a legendary album that was suppose to be THE GREATEST pop album of all time. But, that we'll never know.).

George's music always seemed so prosaic to me. Lennon seemed to be the more adventurous of the four.

Paul was supposed to be the "keeny" of the band, the one who wanted to please people, but I always get the feeling he was in competition with John in his solo career. That's why I don't think it's much of a coincidence that McCartney's material went downhill so fast in the `80s after John was murdered. He had no one he was trying to one-up.

Therefore, Sven, I'd have to say George is the one who benefitted the most from a solo career without pretentions. But, I'd like to know what you mean by "benefitted", as well as "without pretentiousness". I may change my mind.

I did not post the above message, although it is true that Lennon was an evil man who funded IRA terrorism and it was right that he die for his crimes.

Peter.

Peter, you say this and expect us to believe it WASN'T you? What kind of fools do you take us for?

That out of the way, I like 1 myself. Mainly because it and the Anthology set are the only ones I have!

Unless someone happens to give me a copy, I'll probably never own 1 myself. Right now I have all of The Beatles' albums but With The Beatles, Beatles For Sale, A Hard Day's Night and Anthology 3. Once I get those four, I won't need 1. (That sounds a really bad pun, don't it?)

Also if you have both the red and blue anthology collections, that makes 1 superflous as well.

I don't plan on getting 1 either. Past Masters Vol. 1 and 2 have most of the song on it on those two. The albums I don't have yet are Please Please Me, Beatles For Sale, and Let It Be (and I don't really plan on getting that last one for any other reason than to avoid having holes in my colection)

In my humble oppinion, I think the best albums The Beatles did are Revolver and the newer Yellow Submarine.

Oh, and I don't think there's any way to say anyone other than Paul "benefited" the most. Wings is really the only thing anyone of them did that is still thought of entierly as a an "ex-Beatle band"...Well, I suppose the Traveling Wilburys could make the same claim, but that's cause it became "Roy Orbison's last thing" instead.

Ugh. Yellow Submarine be it in its soundtrack or songtrack (the new one) version, is still too much a kiddies' album to me. It's redeemed only by "Hey Bulldog!", "It's Only a Northern Song" and "It's All Too Much". The rest of it is either put to better use on earlier albums, or is outright silly ("All Together Now". I still have memories of that being used on Sesame Street.)

Paul had the most successful solo career, but he had too much of an ego, and was competing with John for me to say it wasn't pretentious. (Hey Sven, where are those definitions?) I think Paul has always worked best within the confines of a band though.

Brian, you are so bloody ••••••. Why do you think I would post a message and then deny it the next day? I have no interest in this board, and I only posted to correct the impression some moron had made.

Peter.

Yeah, sure.

Bloody •••••• am I? If YOU were a smart you think you are, you'd have come up with a retort some what wittier than "bloody ••••••."

Hey, where can we talk about the Paul is Dead rumors?

Someone impersonating Peter again, eh?

Oh and my favo(u)rite album is probably Sergeant Pepper.

Um, I guess here, if you want. I've got a book called The Walrus Was Paul which compiles several of the supposed Paul Is Dead clues.

Yeah, I figured that was Petey being impersonated. He almost never refers to his last name. What's interesting is that whoever cloned him, posted pretty much what he would've posted. He has gotten boring and predictable.

I just got 'Live at the BBC' for Father's day. Haven't had a chance to listen to it yet. Any good?

I've got the original release of it. It's decent considering that the music's from their earlier era. I've heard it, but I really need to sit down and listen to it. Awful lot of Chuck Berry's stuff on it, though. (And there ain't nothin' wrong with that.)

I don't know if they really needed to make it two CDs, as a lot of it is one-listen-only stuff. Still, there's pleanty of good stuff, especially the hard rockers. "Some Other Guy" is wonderful, "Sit Right Down And Cry" has some of Ringo's wildest excursions, "I Got A Woman" is a lot of fun (unless your a feminist:P), and so'd "Too Much Monkey Buisnes". I'm sure I've forgoten a bunch, but I haven't given it a good listen for a while either.

There are also a suprising number of good slow songs. "I'll Be On My Way", which they wrote for Billy J Kramer, is beutiful, and the mellow treatment of "Memphis Tennesse" is great.

All in all, however, I think some of the best moments are non-musical. The interviews and other such banter are hillarious! ("I'm John, and I too play a guitar! Sometimes I play the fool!")

MAK deirub I

You have a waterbuffalo???

Stig has been dead for a very long time, honestly.

I've finally sat down and listened to The Beatles Live At the BBC. It's pretty good. It's greatest importance is as a documentary of the Fab Four's early influences. "I'm a Loser" and "Ticket to Ride" are very good, as are "Lucille", "A Hard Day's Night", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Slowdown", "Rock and Roll Music" and "I Saw Her Standing There".

Have you heard it yet, Scott? What's your opinion of it?

Great news for fans of The Rutles! Eric Idle has another mockumentary about the Fabricated Four.

Apparently "Can't Buy Me Lunch" will also contain a newly discovered Rutles tune: "Blue Suede Schubert".

Source: LA Daily News, 7/13/2001

"Blue Suede Schubert" is not a new Rutles song. It's on the soundtrack for All You Need Is Cash. The DVD shows a brief clip of it. "They call me 'Blue Suede Schubert'/King of the Bop."

At the time of the release of All You Need Is Cash, there was talk of a sequel.

"12 Bar Original", Blitz, proves that as a blues band, The Beatles were a great pop band. Musically, it sounds okay. But it sounds fake. They know the blues form, but not its substance. "Yer Blues" isn't much better either. Even though the Fab Four were influenced by Chuck Berry, who can play the blues, the blues are not something they really picked up on. It's one musical style they could not master.

Re: Blue Suede Schubert,

Hey, I was just quoting the article.

I know. In The Dallas Morning News, they ran a review of the All You Need Is Cash DVD. The critic, Al Brumley, refered to "Blue Suede Schubert" as a previously unreleased song. For some reason or another, everybody keeps wanting to claim it's a new song. Now, it's true it wasn't on the original vinyl record. But when Rhino reissued it, they put it on the disc. Unfortunately, unlike the original vinyl record, the CD does not have the lyrics to the songs.

Just so you'll know, Scott, I meant nothing personal with the correction.

I know... no hard feelings.

"I Buried Stig".

Here's a good Beatles trivia question, probably be fairly easy -

What's the only original (that is, not recorded by the Fab-Four) Lennon/McCartney composition recorded by a former-Beatle?

"Give Peace A Chance"?

Bingo! That be the one. Ironically, Paul had nothing to do with the composition of that song. John basically gave him credit for old times' sakes.

I'll announce your prize later, Blitz. After I think of it. After I give sleep a chance. It's been a llloooonnnngggg week for me, folks.

WOW! Here's to lucky guesses! OK, here's a tough one: John and Paul wrote a number of songs for Billy J Krammer. The very last one (I think) the did was writen for contractual reasons alone and they both hated it. Krammer did too and refused to record it. Name that tune!

It's not "Bad For Me", is it?

It's just been confirmed that George Harrison has died following a long battle with cancer. He was 58, and was in his Los Angeles home.

I just read that myself, Sven. I'm starting to get a little depressed now.

"When you've seeb beyond yourself
Then you may find,
Peace of mind,
Is waiting there.
And the time will come when you see
We're all one
And life flows on within and without you."

I've got all my Beatles, Wilburys and George Harrison discs out. I'm gonna make one more post (maybe), start playing the discs and probably bawl my eyes out.

'Bye, George.

Sorry, I meant to say he was in a friend's home in LA, his wife and son were by his side.

I'm a little sad, too.

On behalf of my mom the Beatlemaniac and myself, thanks, George, and rest ye well.

Went through my Beatles collection, all three George Harrison disc I have and all three Wilburys. I may not have bawled, but I did cry.

Interestingly, about two days before George's death, I had played All Things Must Pass. Several tracks are ironic: "All This Must Pass", "Beware of Darkness", "What Is Life?" and "The Art of Dying".

Yesterday, on the Today show, they spoke with a man named Martin Lewis. Supposedly, a Beatles historian. Not much of one. He refered to All Things Must Pass as George's first solo album. First, it should noted that George was the first of the Fab Four to release a solo album. ATMP wasn't it. George's first album (and the first Beatles solo album) was 1968's Wonderwall Music.

Incidentally, if you're going to be looking for George Harrison albums, these are all that are currently in print: All Things Must Pass (1970), Living In the Material World (1973), Dark Horse (1974), Extra Texture (1975), Best of George Harrison (1976). Concert for the People of Bangladesh is also still in print. Harrison's second, album Electronic Music (1969) is available as an import.

On eBay, some of those discs are already going for outrageous prices. Under "George Harrison CD" yesterday morning, there was only a page and a half of listings. By yesterday afternoon, there were four pages. Of course, it won't be long before all the other albums will be reissued.

Apparently in order to pay off what he owes Sony Music for that "classic" album, Invincible, Michael Jackson is thinking about selling Sony the rights to the Beatles' catalog. . Frankly, if I were Paul McCartney, I'd offer to clear Jackson's debt with the company in exchange for the songs' rights. It's funny that Jacko bought the publishing rights to the Lennon-McCartney catalog as an investment. It's not much of an investment is it if he has use it to pay off the debt incurred by a "bad" album?

Just my 2 cents...

In each year of their recording existence except one, the Fabs recorded and/or released 2 full albums worth of material (and numerous non-album singles):
1963 - Please Please Me/With The Beatles
1964 - A Hard Day's Night/Beatles For Sale
1965 - Help!/Rubber Soul
1966 - Revolver
1967 - Sgt. Pepper/Magical Mystery Tour (a double EP in Britain, but a full album in the US and CD release)
1968 - White Album (double album)
1969 - Yellow Submarine/Get Back (Let It Be)/Abbey Road
Is there any other band that is so prolific?

Their first album (except for the 4 songs from their first 2 singles) was recorded in 1 day. I defy any band today to do that.

And finally, think about this: everything the Beatles ever accomplished - in music, fashion, pop culture - was done when they were all still in their 20s.

Haven't bought it yet, but George Harrison's first post-humous album, Brainwashed, has been released. Looks like I'll have to find a bootleg version of it, too. Seems the album's producer, Jeff Lynne, gave it the Phil Spector treatment. What I mean is Harrison wanted the album to have a raw demo sound to it. Lynne "poshed" it up. Jeff said the songs were too good to leave them as is. That kinda makes me mad at Jeff. I mean, George specified how he wanted the disc to sound, but NO, Mr. Jeff Lynne, Mr. ELO, decides to ignore that last request of a dead man.

Wonder if the bootleg's on eBay yet?

Well, the above was all posted a while ago, but I just wanted to say that I really liked Brainwashed. I knew going in that, as a posthumous album, it could very easily have been strange and off, but the album really rings with verve, and I definitely enjoy it, especially the title track and "Any Road" (which coincidentally bookend the album).

Meanwhile, though, the Beatle-loving world is now gearing up for the release of Let It Be... Naked (the title of which keeps reminding me of that bit in the end of "Revolution 9"), the de-Spectorized version of what was first released as Let it Be. Benn, I know above you said you had a bootleg of the original tapes, Get Back, so I'll be interested to see how that compares to the official release.

In any case, the album comes out next week, I believe, and it's definitely on my holiday list. Anyone else excited over this?

I'm ordering Let It Be...Naked from Amazon.com. But I am a bit disappointed with the album's line up. It will not have such tracks as "Teddy Boy", "The Walk" or "Save the Last Dance for Me". (Admittedly, the latter two are two throw-away tracks lasting under a minute each.) On the other hand, such original Let It Be tracks as "Dig It" and "Maggie Mae" are also missing. However, "Don't Let Me Down" has been added.

The complete track listing is as follows:

1. "Get Back"
2. "Dig a Pony"
3. "For You Blue"
4. "The Long and Winding Road"
5. "Two of Us"
6. "I've Got a Feeling"
7. "One After 909"
8. "Don't Let Me Down"
9. "I Me Mine"
10. "Across the Universe"
11. "Let It Be"

I kinda wish they had retained the album's original title of Get Back, though. Still, it'll be interesting to hear the new album and compare it both with the original release and the bootleg I've got.

np - Broken Arrow - Neil Young and Crazy Horse

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Yeah, I don't know why they didn't change the title, either. The inclusion of the word "Naked" is kinda confusing.

Here in Oz it comes with a bonus dvd of footage from the sessions (I assume it's stuff not seen in "Let It Be" but having never seen the film I have no idea)

I haven't heard of it coming with a DVD here in the States. If it does, that's the version I want. I know that enhanced CDs and albums with DVDs included are becoming the norm these days. Anything to boost sagging sales, I guess.

Incidentally, Let It Be remains the one Beatles movie I have never seen.

np - Curse of the Hidden Mirror - Blue Öyster Cult

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Small correction- It is just a bonus cd with about 22 minutes of sound grabs from the sessions- but still, a bonus disc is a bonus disc!

Ah, okay. The same is being offered here.

Got my copy of the Beatles' Let It Be...Naked Friday. I've only played it through once and that was while I had company and we were drinking. (I'm coming down from my buzz right now. A few more beers and I wouldn't be able to make this post.)

Anyway, just from one run through, this isn't as good (to me) as my Get Back bootleg is. I think they could've picked some more interesting versions of the various tracks. Moreover, given that the album isn't even 40 minutes long, you'd think they'd've put more cuts on the album. The second disc is called "Fly On the Wall" and is okay. I'll need to listen to it more closely. It does have some interesting snippets in it. Listen carefully and you'll hear a piece of Lennon's "Jealous Guy".

I'll let you know what I think after I've heard it all again more sober and after comparing it to the original and the bootleg.

np - Free - Concrete Blonde

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Benn: I'll let you know what I think after I've heard it all again more sober and after comparing it to the original and the bootleg.

More sober ... hhhmmm ... OH!, you mean after just one twelve-pack and a roach?

No, no roaches. Don't do that. As for the rest....

np - The Notorious K.I.M. - Lil Kim

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Okay, I've had the Let It Be . . . Naked disc for about a month now, so I guess it's time for me to chime in with my impressions.
Basically, this is simply the original Let It Be album with slightly superior sound quality than previous CD issues and alternate versions of three tracks. Everything else is pretty much the same, except for a different running order and the presence of "Don't Let Me Down" replacing "Dig It" and "Maggie Mae".
So, while it is a nice item to have for the diehard Beatle fan, it doesn't really offer enough new to justify its existence as a single CD. Even the liner notes in the CD booklet are a bit of a disappointment. While there is an interesting lengthy transcript of a studio session which is fun to read, we don't get any comments at all on the individual tracks or even a real explanation as to what is different from the original album. I was expecting the CD booklet to offer track-by-track commentary, which I thought would be essential for a release such as this. But there was nothing of the sort. Disappointing.
Which brings me to another beef: The Beatles are generally considered to be one of the single most , if not the most, important act in pop music history. So why hasn't their back catalog been given the proper treatment in CD rereleases? I mean, look at what Rhino has done with the Monkees back catalog. A full series of reissues with remastered sound and incredibly detailed liner notes with full info on each individual song. Don't the Beatles at least rate this?? And listen to how poor the sound quality of most of the Beatles CDs are - it hasn't been updated since these albums were first released on CD in the late eighties, despite the many breakthroughs in remastering technology since then.

Some lines in "The Long and Winding Road" are different from the original release. But yeah, you're right, Todd. This isn't as good as it could have been. The only other Beatles album that has been remastered, btw, is Yellow Submarine. Many of the tracks on it - the "Songtrack", not "Soundtrack" - sound like a completely different mix. It's pretty impressive overall.

"You can call me, 'Dr. Music.'" - Blue Öyster Cult

Oops! I apologize. Two other Beatles albums have been remastered - Sgt. Pepper's and "The White Album". Both on the anniversaries of their releases. Sgt. Pepper's even has a great booklet/liner notes with it.

"You can call me 'Dr. Music.'" - Blue Öyster Cult

My copy of Abbey Road claims to be re-mastered. But neither my copies of "Sgt. Pepper's" or "The White Album" claims to be remastered, although each has a full lyric booklet. My "White Album" certainly doesn't sound remastered.

Are they the Anniversary editions? "The White Album" was reissued a few years back in a 30^th Anniversary Edition. It includes replicas of the poster and postcards that were included in the album's original release. I would assume that it's a remastered version. I'm probably wrong about Sgt. Pepper's, though. It was released on disc with an elaborate liner notes booklet and it also has the missing "Sgt. Pepper's Inner Groove" on it. It is for that reason I've assumed it was remastered. I haven't heard of a remastered Abbey Road.

"You can call me 'Dr. Music.'" - Blue Öyster Cult

Um... I wasn't aware that either album had been remastered. Wouldn't such a remasterin show up in the Discography at Allmusic.com? I've never seen any such thing listed.

Meanwhile, I got Let it Be... Naked for Christmas but I've only listened to it once. I have to agree that it's kinda dissapointing. I thought the stripped down "Across the Universe" was interesting, but that was really the only thing to pique my interest. And the "Fly on the Wall" disc is something of a let-down, too.

My White Album does not have a poster or a postcard.
My Sgt. Pepper's has a booklet and also has the "Inner Groove" tacked on to the end of "A Day In The Life".
On the back cover of both the disc and the booklet for Abbey Road, it says it was digitally remastered, albeit in 1987. I doubt they had the technology that they do today, it was about 1995 that the current standards of remastering began.

The version of "The White Album" I have is a 1998 reissue of the album. It duplicates the original packaging of the classic album. It may not, after all, be digitally remastered. Which that late in the game is very strange. Still, if you wanna take a look at the CD, here's an eBay auction that feature it:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2585504026&category=1573

And yeah, while Sgt. Pepper's is probably not remastered (again strange given the repackaging of that album), my copy of Abbey Road is remastered. The only other remastered Beatles songs can be found on 1. Which is probably the one (no pun intended) Beatles album I'll never own.

np - American IV: The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash (God, not only did The Man In Black do a kickass version of nine inch nails' "Hurt", but his versions of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "In My Life" (yes, the Beatles song), is worth the price of admission. Oh, and his version of Roberta Flack's "First Time I Ever Saw Your Face"... God! What a loss we suffered when Johnny Cash died last year. He'll be missed!)

"You can call me, 'Dr. Music'." - Blue Öyster Cult

In the UK HMV produced some limited edition boxes for the CD releases in the late 1980s. These might have come with a booklet or something about each album.

I'm going to go out on a major limb here. I know some of you will react violently to what I'm going to say, but it needs to be said. I listened to Let It Be... Naked before I left for my Califonria vacation last week, and I hoenstly feel that's it's BETTER than the original. Let the death threats begin.

No death threats, Brian. I personally prefer Get Back, the bootleg I have. This was hyped to the extreme. Let It Be...Naked offered few differences from the original Phil Spector versions of the songs. It's disappointing 'cos none of the people who were responsible for LIB's original creation - Paul, Ringo or George Martin - had any real input on the record. Paul in particular, because he was such a driving force on the record, should have been consulted. Moreover, I think it would have been more interesting to hear rawer versions of these tunes. As well as some other songs, or pieces of songs, as the case may be, that were cut during these sessions. I mean, there are hours of tapes from these sessions available to chose from. It would have been nice to find some of the more unusual, or interesting takes, rather than hew to the ones that most closely resembled the old familiar ones.

But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

"You can call me, 'Dr. Music'." - Blue Öyster Cult

IIRC, the "new" remastered version of Yellow Submarine is radically different in track lineup from the original. The new version contains a handful of tracks from both Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's. The instrumental tracks which comprise side two of the original album have all been eliminated.

Right. The new version is the "Songbook," containing all the new songs from the film and other, older songs that were used in patches. For example, "Love You To" is on the Songbook, by virtue of showing up in a less-than-five-second-clip in the flim.

Oh, and Benn- You managed to mention two of my favorite songs in that Johnny Cash bit... how intruiging...

Personally I think the early beatles albums should be released ala the new version of "Pet Sounds" with both the mono and stereo mixes on the one cd. Given how sometimes radically different the mixes were it would be fascinating.

As for "Let It Be...Naked" I quite enjoy it, but c r a p is still c r a p now matter how you remix it. These songs (with a couple of exceptions) were nowhere near as good as their other stuff. I believe Lennon described it as "The sh*ttiest load of sh*t".

Does anyone know exactly why the original UK release of Yellow Submarine was as a double EP rather than an LP?

At the time of Yellow Submarine's release, e.p.s were all the rage. Magical Mystery Tour was released that way, too. It was just a fad of some sort in the UK.

np - Axis of Evil: Mixes of Mass Destruction - Nocturne

"You can call me 'Dr. Music'." - Blue Öyster Cult

EPs were popular for the same reason that singles were at that time. For the simple reason that it was a lot easier for fly-by-night bands to come up with just four or five songs as opposed to the dozen tracks they would need for a full album.
Yellow Submarine was actually released in '69, when EPs were on their way out. The Beatles themselves may have ushered in the album era themselves with the release of Sgt. Pepper's.

Question for Benn:

What was the tracklising for the 6 sides that made up "All Things Must Pass"? I recently got the remastered edition, and noticed it was one only two discs- with bonus tracks- and was curious. Indeed, was it even released as a triple album or am I just hearing things badly?

And seeing as you are the music God around here, what would be your top 5 Beatle solo albums? [other posters please feel free to share your lists]

All Things Must Pass was, indeed, a triple record set when it was released on vinyl in 1970. I used to have a copy of it. These days, I only have the unremastered CD. The tracks for it are:

1. "I'd Have You Anytime
2. "My Sweet Lord"
3. "Wah-Wah"
4. "Isn't It a Pity (Version One)"
5. "What Is Life"
6. "If Not For You"
7. "Behind That Locked Door"
8. "Let It Down"
9. "Run of the Mill"
10. "Beware of Darkness"
11. "Apple Scruffs"
12. "Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)"
13. "Awaiting On You All"
14. "All Things Must Pass"
15. "I Dig Love"
16. "Art of Dying"
17. "Isn't It a Pity (Version Two)"
18. "Hear Me Lord"
19. "Out of the Blue"
20. "It's Johnny's Birthday"
21. "Plug Me In"
22. "I Remember Jeep"
23. "Thanks For the Pepperoni"

1. Walls and Bridges - John Lennon
2. Ram - Paul and Linda McCartney
3. George Harrison - George Harrison
4. Londontown - Wings (Does this really count, seeing that it's Paulie in another band?)
5. Imagine - John Lennon

Just so's you know, there, Benn, I wouldn't count Londontown- but you could slip Flaming Pie in there, if you want to keep your symmetry.

In other Beatle news, there was a blurb in the local paper this morning saying that Paul had copped to using cocaine for about a year in the pre-Sgt. Pepper period, which wasn't in and of itself that exciting, but he also mentioned that many of the songs from that period were drug-reference-laced, including "Day Tripper" (supposedly about LSD), and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (duh). I found those choices interesting; as far as I had heard before, "Day Tripper" was more about sex than drugs, and the supposed story behind "Lucy" is well-known, of course. He was a little ambiguous about "Lucy," leaving the impression that the references could have been in the title or the lyrics. Anyone else hear about this?

Actually, I'd probably more inclined to go with Tug of War, if you want to get picky about the whole "solo" works thing. I haven't heard Flaming Pie yet, so I can't really rate it. After Macca broke up Wings, he began to decline musically to me. "Say, Say, Say", "No More Lonely Nights" and "So Bad" were just terribly lame songs to me. Press to Play wasn't too bad an album. Flowers In the Dirt was just there, as far I'm concerned. Y'know, an album that fills up air space (and space on the CD rack), but little else. I dunno. I guess, after Wings, Paul really just cut loose with his worse instincts musically. It's no longer important, nor necessary, for him to put out great songs anymore, it seems. It's all just product.


BTW, Sparrow, you and MrPorter are two others I feel are very knowledgeable about music, too.

"Music is a world within itself and a language we all understand."

Thanks for that Benn- I actually wanted to know the side by side track breakdown but I didn't phrase the question very well (blame it on production week for my latest musical production "A Little Night Music")

Oh! That's what you wanted! Okay, here's the answer you were looking for. Hope it helps.

Side 1

1. "I'd Have You Anytime"
2. "My Sweet Lord"
3. "Wah-Wah"
4. "Isn't It a Pity (Version One)"

1. "What Is Life"
2. "If Not For You"
3. "Behind That Locked Door"
4. "Let It Down"
5. "Run of the Mill"

1. "Beware of Darkness"
2. "Apple Scruffs"
3. "Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp"
4. "Awaiting On You All"
5. "All Things Must Pass"

1. "I Dig Love"
2. "Art of Dying"
3. "Isn't It a Pity (Version Two)"
4. "Hear Me Lord"

1. "Out of the Blue"
2. "It's Johnny's Birthday"
3. "Plug Me In"

1. "I Remember Jeep"
2. "Thanks For the Pepperoni"

Thanks for the plug, Benn.

I'm not really familiar with the post-Wings period you speak of, up until Flaming Pie, that is, so I can't compare, but I think that album is generally solid, as is Run Devil Run. The wheels definitely flew off for Driving Rain, though.

Hey Benn, you should at least give the "Ringo" album a listen. It's quite good, full of Beatle references and is the closest the Fab Four ever came to a reunion, with all four appearing on the album though never on the same tracks. "Goodnight Vienna" was a good follow-up (in the sense that "Venus & Mars" was to "Band on the Run"--what worked once works the second time though not as fresh). Other Ringo album (and I've never replaced my 8-track cutouts) can be avoided.

Surprised to see "London Town" make such a short list, but I'm not complaining. I think it's underrated and overlooked.

My favourite solo albums, not in order:
Band on the Run
Ram
Plastic Ono Band
Imagine (these two almost function as a double album despite their vast differences. Lennon once said something to the effect of "Imagine" being a sugercoated "Plastic Ono Band".)
All Things Must Pass
Ringo

In other Beatle news, there was a blurb in the local paper this morning saying that Paul had copped to using cocaine for about a year in the pre-Sgt. Pepper period, which wasn't in and of itself that exciting, but he also mentioned that many of the songs from that period were drug-reference-laced, including "Day Tripper" (supposedly about LSD), and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (duh). I found those choices interesting; as far as I had heard before, "Day Tripper" was more about sex than drugs, and the supposed story behind "Lucy" is well-known, of course. He was a little ambiguous about "Lucy," leaving the impression that the references could have been in the title or the lyrics. Anyone else hear about this? - Sparrow47

The closest I've heard of that is contained in this quote I read over the weekend: "I was just handed something, smoked it, then found out what it was. It didn't do anything for me, which was lucky because I wouldn't have fancied heading down that road." What Paul was talking about was herion, and how he tried it "just the once." But again, that's the closest I've come across.

Well, Kev, I may one of these days, try some more of Ringo's solo albums. But for now, the one I've got suits me fine.

Interesting choices you've got there, too, goog, er, Kevin. Plasstic Ono Band is another album I have yet to hear, so I can't rate it. It's one I most likely will get, though.

np - Some Girls - the Rolling Stones

"Music is a world within itself and a language we all understand."

The good news: Michael Jackson may soon be forced to give up his stake in the Beatles' catalog.

The bad news: If that happens, control of the empire will likely go to a bank.

Read all about it here.

Beatles guru, Mararishi Mahesh Yogi (immortalized in the song, "Sexy Sadie") has died in his sleep at the age of 91 on Tuesday, February 5, 2008. The Mararishi also brought the concepts of Transcendental Medition to the West. For more details about the Mararishi, go here.

np - "Standing In the Rain" - Electric Light Orchestra

Don't mail Ringo

I've never heard the phrase "much peace and love" said with so much venom. Poor bugger, must be hard scribbling your signature on a few pictures. How about on October 20 any copy we see of his latest cr@p solo album gets "tossed" as well?

Ringo is a G.O.M.








(Grumpy Old Man)

I guess this means he won't be performing "Please Mr. Postman" any more.

The Beatles' entire catalog will be re-released and digitally remastered on 09/09/09. I doubt I'll buy any of these. Unless they contain songs I don't have already have, like the "Pakistani" version of "Get Back" or includes the release of Live at the Hollywood Bowl. I'm not willing to allow Capitol Records to double dip me. I've invested enough money in my Beatles collection. Having the albums digitally remastered is unimportant to me at this point in my life.

"Number 9, number 9, number 9..."

I'll believe it when I see it. It's hardly the first time this has been announced.

I'm curious about them though. Remasters these days almost never sound better than the original CDs unless the original CDs were total botch jobs, but since the original Beatles CDs *WERE* total botch jobs soundwise, I can't guess.

From the link: "The release marks the first time that the first four Beatles albums are being made available in their entirety on compact disc,"

Huh? The first four Beatles albums have been available in their entirety on CD for some time.

It's the first time they're available in stereo on CD.

OK. But the quote doesn't say anything about stereo. It says "first time in their entirety".

Yeah, Todd, I wondered about that comment, too. I just figured the idiot didn't know what he was saying, or as Kevin put it, they were talking about their stereo releases. Except, I thought the Capitol Records boxset covered that aspect of their recordings?

I think (some of) the UK stereo mixes were different than the US stereo mixes. And if not, the first four UK albums were technically not available in stereo, just the tracks from them, spread over a couple different CDs. (Nitcpicky, but that's what we do here.)

Wasn't defending the article, mind you, which is clearly wrong, just trying to give the only explanation of what the author must have meant.

George Harrison got his star on "The Walk of Fame"

Paul McCartney was there...but no Ringo Starr.

What's up with that?

I'd imagine it would have had to do with scheduling conflict. IIRC, George and Ringo were very close, so I can't imagine Richard Starkey not showing up for something honoring his good friend.

Paul McCartney was there...but no Ringo Starr.

What's up with that?
He was never really all that good at keeping time....

As for the remasters, I will be getting them as I've always hated the original cd issues.
To be fair to them, it's not like they bring out new editions every couple years. This is the first major overhaul of the catalogue since they first were issued 20-odd years ago.

Here's a thought. Given the brevity of those early albums, why not put BOTH stereo and mono mixes on the same cd?

That's exactly what they did with the recent Monkees remaster issues. Although a couple of those were 2-CD sets with one CD stereo and the other mono.

The author of Sam Beckett from Quantum Leap’s favourite song “Imagine”, John Lennon was murdered forty years ago today.

That's some odd tunnel vision.

Julian Lennon proves that talent is not inherited.

---

quote:

One of the weirdest rumours that swirled around white America after John was killed was that now that John was safely dead, Yoko planned to have five year old Sean surgically altered into a young (female) Japanese child.

---

What a bunch of rubbish.