Why the Beatles?
- Thread starter Billville
- Start date
Great, thanks alot! You all know as much or more about the other "B"--the Beatles! Interesting how they produced that wonderful opening sound...I also wonder how many other of their songs have origins elsewhere? It's like Leonard Bernstein's "There's a Place for Us" which is a "borrowing" of the slow movement of Beethoven's 5th piano concerto...
There are only so many notes; and a good riff is a good riff. I wasn't aware of the Watch Your Step association until today, but you've got to figure that songs in your brain eventually work their way into your playing, either consciously or unconsciously. I've done that on bass - a cool groove comes out and I think "did I make that up or am I ripping it off?" Look around popular music - The Kinks' Superman totally uses the Stones' Jumping Jack Flash riff, while the chord progression to All Along the Watchtower is essentially what Zep plays under the guitar solo on Stairway to Heaven. And Harrison got dinged in the '70s for apparently using the melody from He's So Fine for My Sweet Lord. I believe the judgment was that he didn't do it consciously.
Black Swan
Abord the Yorikke!
I just watched The Beatles/Salute on CBS. Was anyone there? It was absolutely wonderful.
I didn't know about that; I learned two things today! The Night that Changed America just wrapped up here on the east coast. I only caught the last half-hour, which was McCartney. Still kickin' it at 72. I saw that same band at Fenway Park almost five years ago (it's hard to believe it's been that long) and they absolutely killed it that night.
Black Swan
Abord the Yorikke!
There were several great moments. Aside from Paul's, who was in great shape, I loved Annie Lennox singing The Fool on the Hill. I recorded it but also missed one half hour of the show.
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Black Swan
Abord the Yorikke!
What the critics wrote about the Beatles in 1964
'Appallingly unmusical,' 'hirsute' and 'destined to fade away' — that pretty much sums up the general consensus.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/comm...quotes-20140209,0,1146431.story#ixzz2sz3skNd5
'Appallingly unmusical,' 'hirsute' and 'destined to fade away' — that pretty much sums up the general consensus.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/comm...quotes-20140209,0,1146431.story#ixzz2sz3skNd5
It's not overly surprising that stodgy critics would look at the screaming fans as a reason to dismiss them as a passing fad. But it is rather surprising that they would cite their harmonies and musicianship as reasons as to why they were no better than dirt. McCartney sang Till There Was You that first night on Ed Sullivan and that was a good choice - it contrasted the old guard with the new guard in a completely non-confrontational way. For some reason, many critics couldn't even listen to that and think about how different these guys were from the other new-fangled R&R stuff. As for harmonies, I don't think that the live performances in the U.S. from '64 are the best way to judge them; without true monitors in those days, singing harmonies was a crap-shoot. I'm rambling, I suppose; and I have the benefit of hindsight.
In the interest of equal time, there were critics who gushed glory about them in '64; even using terms from music theory that left the Beatles scratching their heads.
In the interest of equal time, there were critics who gushed glory about them in '64; even using terms from music theory that left the Beatles scratching their heads.
Bukfan
"The law is wrong; I am right"
How about this one:
Science Newsletter
Feb. 29, 1964
The Beatles follow a line of glamorous figures who aroused passionate cries and deep swoons. Most prominent in the 1940s was Frank Sinatra and in the 1950s Elvis Presley. Their glory passed when they got too old to be teenagers' idols or when teenagers got too old to need them.
The same, it is predicted, will happen to the Beatles. In the meantime, there are two ways to handle the situation: either grin and bear it or relax and enjoy it. For the Beatles are inevitable.
- Elvis was still quite popular in 1964 and so was Sinatra so it's not true their glory passed when they got too old to be tennage idols.
Science Newsletter
Feb. 29, 1964
The Beatles follow a line of glamorous figures who aroused passionate cries and deep swoons. Most prominent in the 1940s was Frank Sinatra and in the 1950s Elvis Presley. Their glory passed when they got too old to be teenagers' idols or when teenagers got too old to need them.
The same, it is predicted, will happen to the Beatles. In the meantime, there are two ways to handle the situation: either grin and bear it or relax and enjoy it. For the Beatles are inevitable.
- Elvis was still quite popular in 1964 and so was Sinatra so it's not true their glory passed when they got too old to be tennage idols.
Skygazer
And in the end...
My favourite tracks from John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band are Working Class Hero and Well Well Well; I just love the Bass in it, amazing.
But here's another influence, found it on Wiki - so it must be true:):
[ According to Ringo Starr, Lennon played Lee Dorsey's "Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On)" 100 times while recording "Well Well Well" in an effort to capture the feel of the song...]
[This video is unavailable.]
But here's another influence, found it on Wiki - so it must be true:):
[ According to Ringo Starr, Lennon played Lee Dorsey's "Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On)" 100 times while recording "Well Well Well" in an effort to capture the feel of the song...]
[This video is unavailable.]
Bass played by one Klaus Voorman, who created the cover for Revolver.
Skygazer
And in the end...
A bit of a debate at work yesterday, with a colleague who didn't think The Beatles were suitable material for university! - Ph.D's etc, which annoyed me a bit, how is it not valid? told him you could also do Bob Dylan at uni - to wind him up further, snooty bugger.
-I hope that's true, or I'm in trouble.
Anyhooo, looking at Abbey Road stuff last night, think these are my favourite photos of the day, anyone know who the lady is with them?
Also came across this webcam of Abbey Road for extreme fans: :) Apparently it's now a listed site of cultural importance.
http://www.abbeyroad.com/Crossing
-I hope that's true, or I'm in trouble.
Anyhooo, looking at Abbey Road stuff last night, think these are my favourite photos of the day, anyone know who the lady is with them?
Also came across this webcam of Abbey Road for extreme fans: :) Apparently it's now a listed site of cultural importance.
http://www.abbeyroad.com/Crossing
mjp
Founding member
https://bukowskiforum.com/threads/oh-my-there-goes-239-99-beatles-mono-box.4305/page-7
:?:
:?:
Just a woman who happened to walk by while they were waiting to cross.
Skygazer
And in the end...
Kind of knew she wasn't a secret 5th Beatle, but a lot of the people in the album cover shot have been tracked down and their story documented,
even the white Volkswagen Beetle was sold to a german museum. I just like the photo , she looks like she is trying to get them to smarten up a little for the photo shoot, it just strikes me as a little incongurous with her overall on, maybe she was an Abbey Road studio cleaner or something, I am just being nosey.
even the white Volkswagen Beetle was sold to a german museum. I just like the photo , she looks like she is trying to get them to smarten up a little for the photo shoot, it just strikes me as a little incongurous with her overall on, maybe she was an Abbey Road studio cleaner or something, I am just being nosey.
The woman is Mrs. Prunella Pillock-Git who happened to be popping down to the Chemist for a bit of Drencrom for her son, Sniveling-Little-Rat-Faced.
mjp
Founding member
Fifteen Great Bass VI Tracks - from the Fender blog.
Black Swan
Abord the Yorikke!
this ps photo will fit snug right here.
mjp
Founding member
50 years ago today, The Beatles occupied the top five positions of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In all they had 12 places on the US chart.
Blah, blah, blah, everyone's heard that. What I found interesting when reading an old record business trade paper article from the time was the prices American record stores were getting for singles imported from Canada - $1.25 to $1.75. That's the equivalent of $9.50 to $13.25 today. For a single.
The import LPs were selling for $4.20 to $6 ($31.81 to $45.44 today)!
Blah, blah, blah, everyone's heard that. What I found interesting when reading an old record business trade paper article from the time was the prices American record stores were getting for singles imported from Canada - $1.25 to $1.75. That's the equivalent of $9.50 to $13.25 today. For a single.
The import LPs were selling for $4.20 to $6 ($31.81 to $45.44 today)!