by admin on January 12, 2010
I haven’t read every book on The Beatles but being the big Beatles fan that I am, I have read many of them. I’ve read books that are primarily about their biography and books that are primarily about their music. I’ve read books on The Beatles that are really great and I’ve read some that are not so great. In this article I focus on the good ones that I do recommend reading.
Revolution In The Head – This is a book that I love a “love/hate” relationship with. I strongly disagree with many of the opinions shared in this book but I still find it to be a really good read. One that makes me want to listen to The Beatles songs again to hear things from this author’s perspective. It takes a close look at each of the songs The Beatles recorded during the 1960s (originals and covers. ) Although it contains many opinions, it also contains a lot of facts that make it a good resource.
The Beatles As Musicians – This is actually a two book set that is sold separately. One edition covers all of the music The Beatles recorded from their beginnings up through 1965’s Rubber Soul and the other edition covers their music from 1966’s Revolver through the break up of the band in 1970. This books is really aimed at students of The Beatles music. It largely bypasses the biographical stuff (which is fine, because so many other books cover that stuff) and instead focuses in great detail on the musical construction of their songs. This book is probably over the head of many readers because of it’s focus on music theory. But for those really interested in the musicianship and songwriting of the band, there is no better resource.
Lennon Revealed – This is a “revealing” biography of John Lennon (hence the name!) I have read a few books on Lennon and I think this is the best of them. It does a good job of making you feel like you’re getting to know the real John Lennon rather than just the “icon. ”
Many Years From Now – Tells The Beatles story from Paul McCartney’s perspective. Includes many direct quotes from Paul. This is an extremely informative book.
Here, There, & Everywhere: My Life Recording The Beatles – This book was written by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick and it tells The Beatles story from his very interesting perspective. I don’t think any other book had me feeling like I was really there for the recording of their albums as much as this one. It includes some interesting technical details on how the music was recorded. I very highly recommend this book!
The Beatles Anthology – The “official Beatles story. ” I think this is an obvious “must have” for any Beatles fan. It’s the perfect companion to the Anthology documentary film (which is available on DVD of course. )
The Beatles Complete Scores – The music (including guitar & drum tabs) for every song the band officially released during their active career (ie: no Anthology songs are included. )
Joshua J. Jacks believes that all of these Books On The Beatles are available for the Global Kindle. The Kindle With Global Wireless makes the Kindle EBook reading device available to the rest of the world (outside of the US) for the first time.
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by admin on December 19, 2009
While Paul McCartney was the most well known member of the band to indulge in seemingly ethereal song concepts, John Lennon was also from time to time given to contribute his own musical visions. With Across The Universe Beatles fans were treated to a glimpse into Lennon’s creative process. In 1967, Lennon was inspired during an argument he had with his wife. While listening to her talking at him, rather than to him, the first line of ‘Across The Universe’ kept repeating in his mind: ‘words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup’. Whether this indicated the state of Lennon’s feelings regarding his marriage or was truly a transcendental moment the world will never know, but the line persisted in Lennon’s imagination and he began to search for music and verses to accompany it.
At the time, the Beatles were in their Indian guru / meditation phase, which accounts for the inclusion of the ‘Jai guru deva om’ mantra, spoken in Sanskrit in the chorus of the song. The song was somewhat hastily recorded prior to a trip to India, and Lennon was not satisfied with the results. It was shelved, and other tracks were released to tide the public over until the group could return from their vacation. He later groused that he felt McCartney had tried to steamroll the song through the studio, a glimpse of the impending breakup of the band due to constant inner squabbling. The song was remixed in order to be part of a charity release before it was properly packaged onto the ‘Let It Be’ album. It was one of the few contributions Lennon made during the recording sessions for that album.
Interestingly, the song has had a lasting impact on world culture long after its original release. In a film named Across The Universe Beatles songs and themes were used to tie together a rather loose plot. The film was more of a visual and musical exploration than a proper narrative. ‘Across The Universe’ also had the honor of being broadcast into space on X band radio raves by NASA in 2008. It was only the second time that a piece of music had been intentionally transmitted into deep space, although radio waves from all over the planet routinely bridge the gap between the stars. This was done in celebration of the 50th anniversary of NASA, and hopefully anyone out there on the receiving end will be converted into a Beatles fan.
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by admin on December 1, 2009
by admin on November 28, 2009
Many people think of The Beatles classic film when they hear “A Hard Day’s Night” but the soundtrack album by the same name was a huge step forward for the band’s songwriting. Their first two albums included only 8 original songs each (along with 6 covers) and quite a few of those originals were not particularly good. A Hard Day’s Night was all originals (no covers) and for the most part these songs were a huge improvement over their previous originals.
From the first distinctive chord of “A Hard Day’s Night” the album has it’s own special feeling. High energy & classic songwriting. This album is filled with brilliant singles like the aforementioned title track that leads off the album & “Can’t Buy Me Love” along with gorgeous ballads like “If I Fell” & “And I Love Her. ”
Sure there are a couple of not so great songs on the album. Particularly I have never been a fan of “When I Get Home” which just sounds like a throwaway to me. I’m not a huge fan of “I Should Have Known Better” and “I’m Happy Just to Dance With You” either but they both have their charms.
One of my very favorite songs on the album is “Things We Said Today” which just has this perfect unique vibe to it. Great acoustic strumming with an irresistible McCartney melody. Perhaps my favorite part of the song is when it goes back into verse on the word “enough. ” It’s largely because of those smart little bits of songwriting that their songs still sound so fresh even 40 years later.
“I’ll Cry Instead” is another one of my favorites. It has sort of a faux country sound to it and I don’t normally get into The Beatles faux country songs. But this one and “I’ve Just Seen a Face” (from Help!) are two notable exceptions. I just love Lennon’s singing on this one. It’s a great catchy melody and while the lyrics are kind of silly, they somehow just work.
The album ends with strongly with “You Can’t Do That” & “I’ll Be Back. ” Both are songs that I didn’t get into much at first for some reason but that I appreciate quite a bit now.
If you are mostly a fan of the later Beatles music, it can sometimes be hard to get into their earlier work. But if you have an open mind and understand the context of the times, I think you can appreciate the brilliant tunes included on A Hard Day’s Night.
One bit of trivia that you may find interesting is that A Hard Day’s Night is the only Beatles album that includes only Lennon/McCartney originals. Why is that? Well, it’s because it’s their only early album that doesn’t include any covers. While many of their later albums are all originals as well, by then George Harrison was contributing at least one song for each album. For example every song on Sgt. Pepper is a Lennon/McCartney original except for Harrison’s “Within You Without You. ”
There’s no doubt that The Beatles took a huge step forward artistically in 1964 with A Hard Day’s Night. Of course we now know that it was only the beginning of many huge steps forward The Beatles would take throughout the 1960s.
Marvin J. Markus recommends you get your daily dose of music trivia at music by day. You can read more about The Beatles there as well.
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by admin on November 28, 2009
Many people think of The Beatles classic film when they hear “A Hard Day’s Night” but the soundtrack album by the same name was a huge step forward for the band’s songwriting. Their first two albums included only 8 original songs each (along with 6 covers) and quite a few of those originals were not particularly good. A Hard Day’s Night was all originals (no covers) and for the most part these songs were a huge improvement over their previous originals.
From the first distinctive chord of “A Hard Day’s Night” the album has it’s own special feeling. High energy & classic songwriting. This album is filled with brilliant singles like the aforementioned title track that leads off the album & “Can’t Buy Me Love” along with gorgeous ballads like “If I Fell” & “And I Love Her. ”
Sure there are a couple of not so great songs on the album. Particularly I have never been a fan of “When I Get Home” which just sounds like a throwaway to me. I’m not a huge fan of “I Should Have Known Better” and “I’m Happy Just to Dance With You” either but they both have their charms.
One of my very favorite songs on the album is “Things We Said Today” which just has this perfect unique vibe to it. Great acoustic strumming with an irresistible McCartney melody. Perhaps my favorite part of the song is when it goes back into verse on the word “enough. ” It’s largely because of those smart little bits of songwriting that their songs still sound so fresh even 40 years later.
“I’ll Cry Instead” is another one of my favorites. It has sort of a faux country sound to it and I don’t normally get into The Beatles faux country songs. But this one and “I’ve Just Seen a Face” (from Help!) are two notable exceptions. I just love Lennon’s singing on this one. It’s a great catchy melody and while the lyrics are kind of silly, they somehow just work.
The album ends with strongly with “You Can’t Do That” & “I’ll Be Back. ” Both are songs that I didn’t get into much at first for some reason but that I appreciate quite a bit now.
If you are mostly a fan of the later Beatles music, it can sometimes be hard to get into their earlier work. But if you have an open mind and understand the context of the times, I think you can appreciate the brilliant tunes included on A Hard Day’s Night.
One bit of trivia that you may find interesting is that A Hard Day’s Night is the only Beatles album that includes only Lennon/McCartney originals. Why is that? Well, it’s because it’s their only early album that doesn’t include any covers. While many of their later albums are all originals as well, by then George Harrison was contributing at least one song for each album. For example every song on Sgt. Pepper is a Lennon/McCartney original except for Harrison’s “Within You Without You. ”
There’s no doubt that The Beatles took a huge step forward artistically in 1964 with A Hard Day’s Night. Of course we now know that it was only the beginning of many huge steps forward The Beatles would take throughout the 1960s.
Marvin J. Markus recommends you get your daily dose of music trivia at music by day. You can read more about The Beatles there as well.
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by admin on November 10, 2009
The Beatles She Loves You was their first real break in the market for American music. The year was 1963 and the Beatles had already scored big time in their native England with the million-selling hit "I Want To Hold Your Hand." The release of 'She Loves You "granted to the group with the same level of success, and today, Capitol Records, headquartered on the other side of the Atlantic began to take note of this phenomenon is place in England. They exercised their option to release tracks by the group in the United States, and "She Loves You 'was their first choice. Accordingly, the Beatles She Loves You "is for many Americans one of the first songs they ever heard of the band. While the previous version by the band to make it Stateside hit a meager number 116 on the cards before being unceremoniously dumped on the radio, "She Loves You 'has found a rather tortuous way to the top was made in September but did not find much success until the group also released "I Want To Hold Your Hand 'in the United States a few months later. Already the biggest selling single of all time in the United Kingdom, (ironically just passed 14 years later by a song recorded by Paul McCartney's post-Beatles group Wings), The Beatles She Loves You would soon find occupies a unique place in the history of American music as well. In the first week of April 1964, "She Loves You 'was one of the Beatles songs claiming the top 5 spots on the Billboard Hot 100 charts – a feat never since duplicated. Having been republished on the Swan label, the track spent over 15 weeks in the American charts. The Beatles She Loves You ", with" I Want To Hold Your Hand "and their appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show helped largely to cement their popularity among American youth. The group finally offered a viable option for packaged crooners teenager who had been imposed by the record company in the mainstream music for much of the early 60s. The Beatles helped to legitimize the rock and roll as a cultural phenomenon, not just pap released by major labels to satisfy the youth market. With so many teenagers screaming for more, the group opened the doors to the wave of British bands invading the United States in coming years.
Classic Rock-Music. com is the mystical rehearsal studio for rockers DEMON TWEAK. Listen as they prepare for battle with the evil Trickster Loki by playing home brewed classic rock direct from Ragnarok. Also read articles on your favorite classic rock band written by resident historian VIRGIL The Storyteller
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by admin on October 26, 2009
Unfortunately, I found that many people think that the Beatles as the group that sings songs like "She Loves You" & "Can not Buy Me Love." While these simple early tunes are great and have lasted the test of time. It's The Beatles more artistic, experimental songs that I feel are their true heritage. They are songs that inspire are always thinking of music artists for nearly 40 years after they last recorded together.
These seven songs of the Beatles were at their most experimental. Not all these songs are among their best (although some certainly are), but they are all a valuable part of the Beatles catalog back to me.
# 1 "What's The New Mary Jane"
This song is only included John Lennon, George Harrison and John Lennon soon be the wife Yoko Ono. He has not actually been released as The Beatles Anthology 3. It was for The Beatles' incredible 1968 double album called The White Album (it was actually self titled.) It was not included due to time constraints.
The song includes a piano part simple, bizarre lyrics, and crazy sound effects. The last 4 minutes of the song is basically just Spacey sound effects. This is certainly one of those songs that is quite difficult to describe with words. This is definitely a real trip.
# 2 "Revolution # 9"
8 minutes This track was included on the White Album and it has become perhaps the title of the Beatles most infamous. Many hate. Some love it. Count me among those he loves. Do not get me wrong, I do not listen to whenever I put the album on, not what kind of track. But when I listen, I always find fascinating.
# 3 "Tomorrow Never Knows"
Incredibly the last track on Revolver, "Tomorrow Never Knows" was actually the first song recorded for the album. I think it's incredible that song, even after 42 years still sounds like the future. With the words of the book The Psychedelic Experience (which was based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead), the guitars back, insane loops soundtracks, it was a song that struck thousands of years removed from the MOP hits in just 2 years earlier.
# 4 "Wild Honey Pie"
It is a strange song that was entirely sung and played by Paul McCartney. It is simply the refrain "Honey Pie" and some weird guitar resonance.
# 5 "I Am The Walrus"
Perhaps the most perfect songs of the Beatles psychedelic weird. It is endlessly listenable as there are so many layers that you can literally hear something they have never heard before on their 1000th listen.
This was the Beatles at the height of the studio "as an" instrument of phase and it is always inspiring countless musicians experimental rock to date. Forget "I Want To Hold Your Hand," It's all about "I Am The Walrus".
# 6 "Strawberry Fields Forever"
If "Strawberry Fields Forever" is not as bizarre as "I Am The Walrus", it is probably even more perfect. It's a really brilliant song and a bit like "I Am The Walrus" is an incredible example of the studio "as an instrument" aesthetic that the Beatles developed in 1967.
# 7 "Within You Without You"
I think this song is often not the case. And yes, it's very experimental. A "pop" song with a very instrumental on the Indians? Of course there was "Love You To" & "The Inner Light" before, but it took it to the next level. I think it's a brilliant song that takes on Sgt. Pepper perfectly. It is a journey through some weird carnival and you have to make a stopover in India while you are there, of course.
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by admin on October 11, 2009
With The Beatles may be the least known and least talked about of all Beatles albums (if not Beatles For Sale.) It was their second album released after me Please Please so he has no privilege to be their first album. It was not the distinction of being their first truly great album formed (which was their 3rd album A Hard Night's Day.) But this does not mean that this is not a good album, it contains some classic Beatles.
It was ranked number 420 on the list of Rolling Stone more than 500 albums of all time released in 2003. The album was released in England in 1963 but was not officially released in the United States until 1987 as the first Beatles album in the U.S. have been cut paste job. It was not until Revolver album is even released in the States was published in Great Britain.
The album starts off "It Will not Be Long" which, while does not rank among the greatest songs of the Beatles is a pleasant pop song early.
The second song is "All I've Got To Do", which has a nice bluesy sound to it, including the title tune. Among The Beatles first songs most forgotten, is a keeper.
The third song is by far the most famous song on the album, "All My Loving." It was the opening song for the first performance of The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan performance.
The fourth song is "Do not Bother Me" which was started songwriting of George Harrison.
The fifth song is called "Little Child". The first five tracks are all original Beatles.
The sixth song is "Till There Was You", which is a cover. It is a very sweet song that Paul McCartney in this music-hall "mode.
Next is "Please Mr. Postman" which is another cover. This was the first Motown song to reach # 1 when it hit the top spot for The Marvelettes at the end of 1961.
The eighth song (and the first of the second side of the album) is the classic Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven." It was a success for Berry in 1956 and has been ranked as one of the 100 greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone. The song George Harrison both as the lead singer, and of course as a guitarist best results of his impersonation Chuck Berry.
Ninth is the song "Hold Me Tight" is an original Beatles break the line 3 covers the right. The song was originally recorded for me Please Please, but has been left. He was re-recorded for the Beatles.
The 10th song "You Really Got A Hold On Me" which was a cover by Smokey Robinson. It was a unique success in 1962 the Miracles (featuring Robinson) and is another Motown song.
11 is the song "I Want to Be Your Man", which written by Lennon & McCartney for their friends the Rolling Stones. The Stones version was released first. The Beatles version is composed Ringo Starr on vocals.
The 12th song "Devil in Her Heart", which is a cover sung by George Harrison.
The song 13 is "not again", which is the last original Beatles on the album. It was written and sung by John Lennon (of course it was credited to Lennon / McCartney as all the songs written by Lennon / McCartney or were.)
The 14th and final song is "Money", another cover of a song by a black artist (the 5th of the album.) It was a unique achievement for 1959 Barrett Strong.
Even With The Beatles is certainly not one of the best albums of the Beatles, it's a fun listen if you're interested in their earlier material.
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by admin on October 8, 2009
Allocation to school. Need to find a song that deals with social issues. I want to use a Beatles song, but we must find one that can still apply today.
{answers}
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