Saturday, January 22, 2011

Brian Epstein

Former Beatles' manager Brian Epstein was born on September 19, 1934 in Liverpool, England. After a brief stint in the Royal Army, Epstein was made director of NEMS (North End Music Stores) an Epstein family business. After confessing that he was homosexual, he was sent to London to study acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, but Epstein soon dropped out.

Back in Liverpool, Epstein was put in charge of the record department of the latest NEMS store on Great Charlotte Street. It is here that he met Peter Brown, who would later become good friends with the Beatles. The Beatles themselves frequented NEMS stores and knew who Brian Epstein was. Likewise, Epstein was familiar with the group, which was featured in editions of Mersey Beat magazine, and he had also heard the band's recording of "My Bonnie," made with Tony Sheridan. When the Beatles debuted at the Cavern on November 9, 1961, Epstein attended the rowdy club and was struck by the Beatles high energy, humor, and onstage presence.

After attending the Cavern several more times, Epstein told the Beatles that someone needed to manage their affairs, although no contract was yet extended. He also encouraged them to audition for Decca Records, which the group did on December 13, 1964 in London. Although Decca refused to sign the Beatles, Epstein offered them a contract on January 24, 1962, although he himself did not sign the document in order to leave himself an out. After the release of "Love Me Do" in 1962, Epstein offered the group a legally binding contract. By that time, Epstein had secured a contract with Parlophone producer George Martin, who would begin to help shape the Beatles' musical evolution in the studio.

As far as the Beatles' onstage presence, Epstein wanted the group to adopt a more refined demeanor and urged them to abandon their leather jackets and jeans in favor of suits. He also wanted them to cease cursing, drinking, and smoking onstage. The Beatles, especially Lennon, did not want to conform to these suggestions, but after McCartney agreed, the rest followed, with Lennon saying that he would do almost anything if someone would start paying him well. At the time, Epstein also handled many other British groups and performers, such as Cilla Black and Gerry and the Pacemakers.

Epstein wanted the Beatles to continue touring after their final concert in 1966 at Candlestick Park, but the Beatles refused to do so, citing that they were exhausted and could no longer be heard or improve their music. It is said that Epstein grew more depressed after the Beatles entered their studio years since they did not need his hands-on management necessary for tours. He had previously become immersed in drugs, fine wines, and gambling during the height of Beatlemania, having taken the same uppers the Beatles had used in Hamburg in order to get through their grueling tours and late nights. He also admitted to using cannabis and LSD.

Rumors of a homosexual relationship with John Lennon have circulated for years, but both Lennon and his wife Cynthia always denied that any kind of sexual relationship existed between the two men.

Epstein died of an alleged accidental overdose of alcohol and sleeping pills on August 27, 1967 while the Beatles were in India with the Maharishi. Subsequently, the Beatles admitted that they lacked direction without Epstein "telling us what to do," and their search for a new manager and their attempt to launch and maintain Apple Corps, Ltd. contributed to tension within the group and ultimately the band's break-up. Lennon said that Epstein's death marked the beginning of the end.

For more information on Brian Epstein, consult BEATLES CONNECTIONS in the SITEMAP below.

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Pete Best

Pete Best was born in Madras, India on November 24, 1941 and was the original drummer for the Beatles. Best is known as the "fifth Beatle" among Beatles fans.

In 1960, Allan Williams arranged a series of appearances by the Beatles in Hamburg, Germany. Williams was owner of the Jacaranda Club in Hamburg. He auditioned Best, which turned out to be unnecessary since Paul McCartney was looking for a drummer in order to begin the gig in Germany, and he believed that Best, known for a steady backbeat on the drum kit and also known to be popular with female fans, would be best suited to become the drummer. Best had originally planned on going to teacher college but opted to play with the Beatles instead. In Hamburg, the Beatles also played at the Indra Club, the Kaiserkeller, and the Top Ten Club, where they met Tony Sheridan, who had the Beatles play as his backup-band on the recording "My Bonnie" and other numbers.

In June of 1962, five months after the Beatles, with Best, auditioned for Decca and were not extended a recording contract, the Beatles auditioned for George Martin and Parlophone Records at Abbey Road Studios. Not overly impressed with the Beatles' repertoire of songs yet, he nevertheless felt they were good enough to sign, with the stipulation made to Beatles manager Brian Epstein that he would use a session drummer instead of Best.

Cynthia Lennon has said in her book John that while John liked Best, McCartney and Harrison were not especially fond of him since he did not socialize with them in Hamburg and did not seem to fit in with the group's persona. While Epstein did not want to change the membership of his successful rock group, the Beatles insisted, and many years later they would say that they should have handled the situation with Best better. Lennon admitted to being downright "cowardly" about the matter. The bottom line, however, is that Epstein informed Best that he was out of the group, to be replaced by Ringo Starr. Ironically, Martin decided to have Andy White replace Starr when it came time to record the second version of "Love Me Do," relegating Starr to playing the tambourine. To this day, Best claims that the reasons for his dismissal were never made clear by Epstein or the Beatles. Many now speculate that Best was adequate, but not superior in his drumming skills. McCartney has said he was never really a Beatle and that his playing simply wasn't up to their emerging standards.

After being dismissed, Best was offered the opportunity by Epstein to build another band around his drumming, but Best declined. He ultimately would play with Lee Curtis & the All Stars, which became Pete Best & the All Stars, which recorded the unsuccessful "I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door" for Decca. Later, Best's groups were called The Pete Best Four and the Pete Best Combo.

When the Beatles released the Anthology series of CDs in 1995, Best's drumming was featured on many track's from the band's early days, from which Best received considerable royalties.

Beginning in 1988, Best formed the Pete Best Band and performed in Liverpool. He still tours with this band and was inducted into the All You Need Is Liverpool Music Hall of Fame in 2007. His LP discography is as follows:

Best of the Beatles (1966)
The Beatle That Time Forgot (1981)
Rebirth (1981)
The Beatle That Time Forgot (reissued in 1981)

For more information on Best, see the sitemap below under BEATLES CONNECTIONS.

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Friday, January 21, 2011

Hey Jude: The Album

Hey Jude is a Beatles album released on February 26, 1970 on the Apple label. The album was comprised of songs that had never appeared on a Capitol Records Beatles album in the United States. The songs had been issued in the U.S. as singles (or on The United Artists soundtrack of A Hard Day's Night). "I'm Down" and "The Inner Light" were not chosen for the album, however.

The project was conceived by temporary Beatles manager Allen Klein, who believed that the Beatles needed a release while the Let It Be album, delayed because of the Beatles' personal issues, was still being remixed by Phil Spector.

The original title of the album was The Beatles Again, although the title was hastily changed to help promote the recent single release of "Hey Jude." Some of the vinyl and cassette copies of the album were issued with the original title on the record's circular label and/or packaging. No title appeared on the front or back covers of the album. Subsequent copies were released with the title Hey Jude on the album jacket's spine.

The photographs for the front and back covers were taken at the Beatles' final photo session on August 22, 1969 at Lennon's estate at Tittenhurst Park. The group wears black, and all but McCartney have very long hair and dark beards.

The track list is as follows:

Side One

Can't Buy Me Love
I Should Have Known Better
Paperback Writer
Rain
Lady Madonna
Revolution

Side Two

Hey Jude
Old Brown Shoe
Don't Let Me Down
The Ballad of John and Yoko

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Love: The Beatles Album

Love is a soundtrack of remixed recordings by the Beatles and was released on November 20, 2006. The CD was produced and re-mixed by George Martin and his son Giles for a Cirque de Soleil show after the producers obtained permission from McCartney, Starr, Olivia Harrison, and Yoko Ono. The album was well received by both critics and fans, while the surviving Beatles (and widows of Harrison and Ono) felt that the music was vibrant and re-united the Beatles in a dynamic, unexpected way. Ringo said he heard things on the remix that he'd never noticed before.

Using the original two-, four-, and eight-track recording tapes, George and Giles Martin created a new, common digital framework for all of the songs, which were spliced together in clever and innovative ways. Sometimes a single guitar chord, phrase, or verse is used from a song, while other songs receive lengthier treatments. This landmark way of fusing the Beatles creativity won a Grammy in 2008.

The track listing is as follows:

Because
Get Back
Glass Onion
Eleanor Rigby/Julia
I Am the Walrus
I Want to Hold Your Hand
Drive My Car/The Word/What You're Doing
Gnik Nus ("Sun King" backwards)
Something/Blue Jay Way
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite
Help!
Blackbird/Yesterday
Strawberry Fields Forever
Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Octopus's Garden
Lady Madonna
Here Comes the Sun/Inner Light
Come Together/Dear Prudence/Cry Baby Cry
Revolution
Back in the U.S.S.R.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
A Day in the Life
Hey Jude
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
All You Need Is Love

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Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Beatles Second Album

The Beatles Second Album was released by Capitol Records on April 10, 1964 and was actually the third Beatles album released in America since Introducing the Beatles had been released in early January of 1964 by Vee Jay Records. This album was also part of 2004 CD box set, The Capitol Albums, Volume 1. It was produced by George Martin.

The album took songs from With the Beatles, A Hard Day's Night (Parlophone version), and British singles to produce the following track list:

Side One

Roll Over Beethoven
Thank you Girl
You've Really Got a Hold on Me
Devil in Her Heart
Money
You Can't Do That

Side Two

Long Tall Sally
I Call Your Name
Please Mr. Postman
I'll Get You
She Loves You

With songs such as "Roll Over Beethoven," "Long Tall Sally," "She Loves You," "Money," and "You Can't Do That," the album was high energy rock and roll and helped fuel Beatlemania in America after the Beatles appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. It remains a favorite of American fans to this day.

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Meet the Beatles: The Album

The interesting Beatles fact for Meet the Beatles is that it was the second Beatles album released in the United States despite the claim by Capitol Records that it was the first. Introducing the Beatles, issued by Vee Jay records was the first. It was released by Capitol on January 20, 1964 in anticipation of the Beatles first trip to America and appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Capitol is the American affiliate of Parlophone Records in Great Britain, both companies subsidiaries of EMI.

The cover is the same as the Parlophone release of With the Beatles, showing the Beatles dressed in black turtlenecks against a black background. Meet the Beatles also has many of the tracks of With The Beatles, although the following songs were omitted for the American release: "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," "Devil in Her Heart," "Money," "Please Mr. Postman," and Roll Over Beethoven." The album was released in stereo CD box set format as part of The Capitol Albums, Volume 1.

The track listing is as follows:

Side One

I Want to Hold Your Hand
I Saw Her Standing There
This Boy
It Won't Be Long
All I've Got to Do
All My Loving

Side Two

Don't Bother Me
Little Child
Till There Was You
Hold Me Tight
I Wanna Be Your Man
Not a Second Time

Since most American Beatles fans were not aware that Beatles songs were issued in a different chronological sequence in England on Parlophone, it is believed that Capitol reissued the 2004 box set to take advantage of the nostalgia millions of fans retained over the original American releases.

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Beatles Anthology 2: The Album

Anthology 2 is the follow-up compilation two-CD set to Anthology 1. Produced by George Martin (with Jeff Lynne and Harrison, McCartney and Starr jointly producing "Real Love"), the CD set was released on March 18, 1996. With many exceptions, the albums covers the middle period of the Beatles, ranging from Rubber Soul through Magical Mystery Tour. The opening track was "Real Love," which was another new Beatles song resulting from the surviving Beatles re-engineering an old Lennon home recording tape and augmenting it with their own vocals and instrumentation. As with Free as a Bird, the writing credit for "Real Love" was left to only Lennon. The album was released by Apple, and a vinyl set was also released for collectors.

The track listing was as follows:

Disc One

Real Love
Yes It Is (takes 2 and 14)
I'm Down
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (takes 1,2 & 5)
That Means a Lot
Yesterday
It's Only Love (takes 2 & 3)
I Feel Fine
Ticket to Ride
Yesterday
Help!
Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby
Norwegian Wood
I'm Looking Through You
12-Bar Original (an instrumental)
Tomorrow Never Knows
Got to Get You Into My Life (take 5)
And Your Bird Can Sing (take 2)
Taxman (take 11)
Eleanor Rigby (take 14)
I'm Only Sleeping (rehearsal)
I'm Only Sleeping (tale 1)
Rock and Roll Music
She's a Woman

Disc Two

Strawberry Fields Forever (home demo)
Strawberry Fields Forever (take 1)
Strawberry Fields Forever (take 7)
Penny Lane (take 9)
A Day in the Life (takes 1,2,& 6)
Good Morning Good Morning (take 8)
Only a Northern Song (takes 3 & 12)
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite (takes 1 & 2)
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite (take 7)
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (takes 6, 7, & 8)
Within You Without You (the instrumental track only)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band Reprise (take 5)
You Know My Name (Look Up My Number)
I Am the Walrus (take 16)
The Fool on the Hill
Your Mother Should Know (take 27)
The Fool on the Hill (take 4)
Hello, Goodbye (take 16)
Lady Madonna (tales 3 & 4)
Across the Universe (take 2)

As with Anthology 1, the main Beatles fact is that these tracks represent a combination of rehearsals, alternate versions, home demo recordings, false starts, and songs that have different versions edited together to show the evolution of a song in the studio, as with "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Yes It Is." Some tracks are live performances. Many tracks sound very close (or nearly identical) to the final take used for the released albums or singles, while others are missing special sound effects. "Got to Get You Into My Life," for example, does not have a horn section.

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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Anthology 1 by the Beatles: The Album

The Beatles Anthology 1 was released by Apple in November of 1995 to coincide with the documentary series on ABC, The Beatles Anthology. It was produced by George Martin, with Jeff Lynne producing "Free As a Bird," a new Beatles track based on an old Lennon tape given to the surviving Beatles by Yoko Ono.

The two-CD set contains outtakes, live performances, and rare versions of the songs never heard (or only available on bootleg albums and CDs). The material for this first-of-three CD set features material recorded from 1958 to 1964. Some of the initial tracks date as far back as the Quarrymen days and/or come from reel-to-reel recordings the Beatles made as teenagers. In general, the set contains early home recordings, the Decca audition, and Beatles material through Beatles for Sale.

The CD cover is a collage of dozens of Beatles photographs, some torn. The cover was done by Kalus Voormann in the same style he used for the cover of Revolver.

The track list is as follows. Ones followed by ellipsis are brief snippets of dialogue.

Disc One:

Free as a Bird
We were four guys, that's all ...
That'll Be the Day
In Spite of All the Danger
Sometimes I'd borrow ...
Hallelujah, I Love Her So
You'll Be Mine
Cayenne
First of all ...
My Bonnie
Ain't She Sweet
Cry for a Shadow
Brian was a beautiful guy ...
I secured them ...
Searchin'
Three Cool Cats
The Sheik of Araby
Like Dreamers Do
Hello Little Girl
Well, the recording test ...
Besame Mucho
Love Me Do
How Do You Do It
Please Please Me
One After 909 (false start)
One After 909
Lend me Your Comb
I'll Get You
We were performers ...
I Saw Her Standing There
From Me to You
Money
You Really Got a Hold on Me
Roll Over Beethoven

Disc Two

She Loves You
Till There Was You
Twist and Shout
This Boy
I Want to Hold Your Hand
Boys, what I was thinking ...
Moonlight Bay
Can't Buy Me Love (takes 1 & 2)
All My Loving
You Can't Do That (take 6)
And I Love Her (take 2)
A Hard Day's Night (take 1)
I Wanna Be Your Man
Long Tall Sally
Boys
Shout
I'll Be Back (take 2)
I'll Be Back (take 3)
You Know What to Do
No Reply
Mr. Moonlight (takes 1 & 4)
Leave My Kitten Alone (take 5)
No Reply (take 2)
Eight Days a Week (partial)
Eight Days a Week (take 5)
Kansas City/Hey! Hey! Hey! (take 2)

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The Beatles Live at the BBC: The Album

Live at the BBC is a 1994 Beatles compilation album consisting of performances the band did for the BBC from 1963 to 1965. The two-CD set is comprised of 56 songs, thirty of which had not been previously issued. There are also thirteen tracks of dialogue. The most interesting Beatles fact is that while most of the tracks were recorded before air time to provide an opportunity for a re-take or overdub, the performances are still essentially live and show the raw energy of the Beatles in their early years. As with The Beatles Anthology CDs, many of the tracks had already circulated on bootlegs for many years.

The Beatles appeared on a total of 52 BBC broadcasts. The various radio shows included the following BBC programs: Teenager's Turn--Here We Go; Saturday Club; The Beatles Invite You to Take a Ticket to Ride; and Pop Go the Beatles. The CD set does not include all BBC performances, however, since the Beatles recorded a total of 275 performances for the station, which included 88 songs.

The track selections were made by George Martin based on sound quality and songs he believed would be of interest since they had not been recorded for official Beatles albums. Man songs were excluded because of inferior sound quality, but that having been said, the existing CD set contains many songs that, despite re-engineering, are anything but clear.

The Beatles Live at the BBC was released on November 30, 1994. The track list is as follows:

Disc One:

Beatles Greetings--dialogue
From Us to You
Riding a Bus--dialogue
I Got a Woman
Too Much Monkey Business
Keep Your Hands Off My Baby
I'll Be on My Way
Young Blood
A Shot of Rhythm and Blues
Sure to Fall
Some Other Guy
Thank You Girl
Sha La La La La
Baby It's You
That's All Right, Mama
Carol
Soldier of Love
A Little Rhyme--dialogue
Clarabella
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry
Crying, Waiting, Hoping
Dear Whack--dialogue
You've Really Got a Hold on Me
To Know Her Is to Love Her
A Taste of Honey
Long Tall Sally
I Saw Her Standing There
The Honeymoon Song
Johnny B. Goode
Memphis, Tennessee
Lucille
Can't Buy Me Love
From Fluff to You--dialogue
Till There Was You

Disc Two

Crinsk Dee Night--dialogue
A Hard Day's Night
Have a Banana!--dialogue
I Wanna be Your Man
Just a Rumor--dialogue
Roll Over Beethoven
All My Loving
Things We Said Today
She's a Woman
Sweet Little Sixteen
1822--dialogue
Lonesome Tears in My Eyes
Nothin Shakin'
The Hippy Hippy Shake
Glad All Over
I Just Don't Understand
So How Come (No One Loves Me)
I Feel Fine
I'm a Loser
Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby
Rock and Roll Music
Ticket to Ride
Dizzy Miss Lizzy
Kansas City/Hey! Hey! Hey!
Set Fire to That Lot--dialogue
Matchbox
I Forgot to Remember to Forget
Love Those Goon Shows--dialogue
I Got to Find My Baby
Ooh! My Soul!
Ooh! My Arms!--dialogue
Don't Ever Change
Slow Down
Honey Don't (with John singing lead vocal)
Love Me Do

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The Beatles Anthology Documentary Series

The Beatles Anthology is a documentary series aired on ABC television in three two-hour installments on November 19, 22, and 23 of 1995. The documentary, which was the first time the Beatles provided a history of the group in their own words, used interviews with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, with voice-overs from past interviews with the deceased John Lennon to account for his point of view of Beatles history. The series also relied on interviews with George Martin and Neil Aspinall. Aspinall, former Beatles Roadie and interim administrator for Apple Corp, Ltd., produced the series. An interesting Beatles fact not generally known is that the interviews were conducted over a five-year period.

The series used archival footage from all phases of the Beatles career, portraying the group's concerts, interviews, and everyday actions in both live action footage and still photographs.

The series was followed by three double-CD sets of unreleased recordings and outtakes. New to the Beatles catalog, however, were two new Beatles songs based on two tapes given to the remaining Beatles by Yoko Ono. The tapes, of poor quality, revealed two solo songs, "Free as A Bird" and "Real Love," recorded by Lennon in his post-Beatles years. He accompanied himself on an acoustic guitar. The tapes were cleaned up in the studio and augmented with performances by Harrison, McCartney, and Starr to create the first true Beatles collaboration since the break-up of the group. "Free as a Bird" was aired at the end of the first installment of the series on November 19, 1995, while "Real Love" was aired at the end of installment two on November 22, 1995.

The series was released in VHS format in 1996 and on DVD in 2003. The Beatles Anthology (book) was published in October, 2000 and rose to the top of the New York Times bestseller list.

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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Help!: The Film

Help!, the movie, followed closely on the success of A Hard Day's Night. Once again produced by Walter Shenson and directed by Richard Lester, the color film was released in July, 1965.

The film was not as well-received as A Hard Day's Night, with critics saying that the plot seemed contrived. The Beatles themselves did not consider the film to be as well-made, noting that they had a bigger budget and intentionally asked the producers to arbitrarily write in scenes in the Alps and the Bahamas.

The film was broken down into "parts." Part One begins the movie, when an eastern cult is on the verge of sacrificing a young woman to the God Kaili. The sacrifice is stopped when the High Priestess (Eleanor Bron) notices that the woman is not wearing the sacrificial ring. Subsequently, High Priestess Ahme and the Swami (Leo McKern) try to find Ringo, who is wearing the ring. When the Beatles realize what's happening, they enlist the help of a mad scientist (Victor Spinetti) to help remove the ring. Meanwhile, Ahme, now on the Beatles' side, tells Ringo that he has become the new sacrificial victim.

The Intermission consists of John pretending that Ringo is a yo-yo as he bobs Ringo's head up and down. Part Two consists of Ahme's sister being given a scolding by her mother. It's brevity is intended to be a part of the film's comedy.

In Part Three, the Beatles try to find protection from the government and flee to the Austrian Alps, Salisbury Plain, and the Bahamas. The ring eventually falls off Ringo's hand after he is painted red in order to be sacrificed.

The Beatles said the film was reminiscent of the Marx Brothers, and the film is credited with inspiring the zany American sitcom called The Monkees.

The Beatles have stated that they were in a "marijuana haze" during most of the filming for the movie, and Ringo tells an anecedote in The Beatles Anthology, saying how he and Paul ran a long distance after the curling scene in order to smoke a joint. Ringo also stated that the warm-weather scenes shot in the bahamas were deceptive since it was "bloody cold" during their stay.

The film also starred Roy Kinnear and Patrick Cargill.

Help! was released in VHS in 1987 and on DVD in 1997. As with A Hard Day's Night, the British and American sountracks differed (see sitemap below for details).

The film featured the following songs:

Help!
You're Going to Lose That Girl
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
Ticket to Ride
I Need You
The Night Before
Another Girl
She's a Woman
A Hard Day's Night
I'm Happy Just to Dance with You
You Can't Do That

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A Hard Day's Night: The Film

The movie A Hard Day's Night is a black and white Beatles film produced by Walter Shenson and directed by Richard Lester for United Artists in 1964. The film was shot shortly after the Beatles returned from their first American visit in 1964. It was released in the UK on July 6, 1964, and in the United States on August 11, 1964.

The film starred the Beatles and Wilford Brambell, an Irish actor known for the sitcom Steptoe and Son (basis for U.S. Sandord and Son) and his work for a British comedy troupe called the Goons. Norman Rossington played the Beatles' manager, and John Junkin played "Shake," their road manager. Victor Spinetti played the television director. A Beatles roadie, Mal Evans, has a cameo; he moves a stand-up bass through the hallway while John Lennon talks with a woman who believes him to be someone else.

The plot of the film is an "amplified," comedic version of an actual day in the life of the Beatles during the height of Beatlemania. Having escaped screaming fans at a railway station, the Beatles travel from Liverpool to London by train, on which the audience learns that the group must care for Paul's grandfather (a "very clean man" played by Brambell). In London the Beatles are driven to a hotel room, where they feel the pressure of always being sequestered to avoid being mobbed by fans. The film then shows the Beatles rehearsing for a broadcast, answering questions from the press, going to a casino to retrieve Paul's grandfather, and romping in a field. Towards the end of the movie, Ringo is seen moping along a riverbank (he confesses that in real life he was very hung-over at the time). The band also escapes the police after a chase caused by Paul's grandfather and finally gives their televised performance before boarding a helicopter at the end of the movie.

The title of the film, according to Lennon, was the result of a Ringo malapropism, a Ringo-ism that director Richard Lester liked. In The Beatles Anthology, McCartney said that it was the Beatles who chose Ringo's phrase, which seems to be the general consensus.

The film, which cost only half a million dollars to make, was well-received by critics, and the movie is still thought to be a remarkable piece of film-making. It is widely taught in university film classes for it's editing, writing, and cinematography. A hard Day's Night was released in VHS format in 1984, on CD-ROM in 1993, on DVD in 2000 (Miramax films), and on Blu-Ray in 2009.

The screenplay was written by Alun Owen because the Beatles and Richard Lester liked his work, which demonstrated a familiarity with the Liverpudlian accent. Owen followed the Beatles around while working on the concept to further observe the Beatles speech and mannerisms. It was Owen who ultimately wrote the movie's screenplay, the theme of which was the Beatles being prisoners of their enormous success.

The film included the following songs:

A Hard Day's Night
I Should Have KNown Better
I Wanna Be Your Man
Don't Bother Me
All My Loving
If I Fell
Can't Buy Me Love
And I LOve Her
I'm Happy Just to Dance with You
Tell Me Why
She Loves You.

The UK soundtrack of the film (Parlophone) was different in the UK from the U.S. version (United Artists), which eliminated some songs and added instrumentals. For more info on these versions, consult the links below for Beatles albums/discography.

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Ringo Starr Albums: The Complete Discography

Ringo Starr surprised most Beatles fans by recording some of the most successful albums after the break-up of the Beatles. He continues to record and tour today. In his early solo days, George Harrison helped him record and produce his LPs.

The following Beatles facts cover the studio, live, and compilation albums/CDs by Ringo Starr. Recording information on individual albums are included on this site, although some pages are still under construction. The following does not include bootlegs or reissues.

Studio Albums
Sentimental Journey--1970
Beaucoups of Blues--1970
Ringo--1973
Goodnight Vienna--1974
Ringo's Rotogravure--1976
Ringo the 4th--1977
Bad Boy--1978
Stop and Smell the Roses--1981
Old Wave--1983
Time Takes Time--1992
Vertical Man--1998
Ringo Rama--2003
Choose Love--2005
Liverpool 8--2008
Y Not--2010

Live Albums
Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band--1990
Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, Volume 2--1993
Ringo Starr and His Third All Starr Band, Volume 1--1995
VH1 Storytellers--1998
King Biscuit Flour Hour Presents Ringo & His New All Starr Band--2002
Extended Versions--2003
Tour 2003--2004
Ringo Starr and Friends--2006
Ringo Starr: Live at Soundstage--2007

Compilation Albums
Blast From Your Past--1975
Starr Struck: Best of Ringo Starr, Vol. 2--1989
The Anthology ... So Far--2001
Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr--2007
Ringo 5.1: The Surround Sound Collection--2008

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Monday, January 17, 2011

Paul McCartney Albums: The Complete Discography

Paul McCartney has been one of the more prolific Beatles in terms of his solo career. Not all of his releases have met with critical acclaim, but he continues to be the most active Beatle in terms of touring and recording.

The following Beatles facts cover the studio, live, and compilation albums/CDs for Paul McCartney. Recording information on individual albums are included on this site, although some pages are still under construction. The following information about Paul Mccartney's recordings does not include bootlegs or reissues. It also does not include albums on which the McCartney or the Beatles appeared as guest artists.

Studio
McCartney--1970
Ram--1971
Wild Life--1971
Red Rose Speedway--1973
Band on the Run--1973
Venus and Mars--1975
Wings at the Speed of Sound--1976
London Town--1978
Back to the Egg--1979
McCartney II--1980
Tug of War--1982
Pipes of Peace--1983
Give My Regards to Broad Street--1984
Press to Play--1986
Flowers in the Dirt--1989
Off the Ground--1993
Flaming Pie--1997
Run Devil Run--1999
Driving Rain--2001
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard--2005

Live
Wings Over America--1976
Tripping the Light Fantastic--1990
Tripping the Light Fantastic: Highlights--1990
Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)--1991
Paul is Live--1993
Back in the U.S.--2002
Back in the World--2003
Good Evening New York City--2009

Compilations
Wings Greatest--1978
All the Best--1987
Wingspan: Hits and History--2001

Classical
Liverpool Oratorio--1991
Standing Stone--1997
Paul McCartney's Working Classical--1999
Ecce Cor Meum--2006

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George Harrison Albums: The Complete Discography

George Harrison was not considered to be a strong songwriter in the early days of the Beatles, but by the time Revolver and Abbey Road were issued, he had gained the respect of peers John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who previously did not believe Harrison's songs met their rigid criteria for excellence. George came on strong after the breakup of the Beatles, impressing the entire rock community with All Things Must Pass.

The following Beatles facts cover the studio, live, and compilation albums/CDs for George Harrison. Recording information on individual albums are included on this site, although some pages are still under construction. The list below does not include reissues, but rather the original recordings. It also does not include albums on which the Harrison or the Beatles appeared as guest soloist or producer.

Studio
Wonderwall Music--1968
Electronic Sounds--1969
All Things Must Pass--1970
Living in the Material World--1973
Dark Horse--1974
Extra Texture--1975
Thirty Three & 1/3--1976
George Harrison--1979
Somewhere in England--1981
Gone Troppo--1982
Cloud Nine--1987
Brainwashed--2002

Live
The Concert for Bangladesh--1971
Live in Japan--1992

Compilations
The Best of George Harrison--1976
Best of Dark Horse 1976-1989--1989
Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison--2009

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John Lennon Albums: The Complete Discography

John Lennon recorded many solo albums with the help of Phil Specter and Yoko Ono. While he felt his songwriting talents wane a bit at times after the breakup of the Beatles, he has left a strong legacy of solo recordings. His solo songs reflect both his eccentricities, eclectic musical tastes, and political activism.

The following Beatles facts cover the studio, live, and compilation albums/CDs for John Lennon. Recording information on individual albums are included on this site, although some pages are still under construction. The following does not include bootlegs or reissues, of which there are many. It also does not include albums on which the Lennon or the Beatles appeared as guest artists.

Studio
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band--1970
Imagine--1971
Some Time in New York City--1972
Mind Games--1973
Walls and Bridges--1974
Rock 'n Roll--1975
Double Fantasy--1980
Milk and Honey--1984

Live
Live Peace in Toronto 1969--1969
Live in New York City--1986

Compilations
Shaved Fish--1975
The John Lennon Collection--1982
Menlove Ave.--1986
Imagine: John Lennon--1988
Lennon--1990
Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon--1997
John Lennon Anthology--1998
Wonsaponatime--1998
Acoustic--2004
Working Class Hero: The Definitive John Lennon

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Sunday, January 16, 2011

Why Don't We Do It in the Road

"Why Don't We Do It in the Road" brings up several interesting Beatles facts. Lennon loved the song because of its irreverence, but he was hurt that Paul had taken Ringo and gone off to another room and recorded the song quickly without his involvement. As Lennon noted, however, this was the way things were often done during the turbulent months of the White Album sessions.

This McCartney song was recorded with Ringo on October 9, 1968 at Abbey Road Studios, with overdubs added the following day. McCartney sang the vocal (double-tracking himself at times) and played lead guitar, bass, and piano. Some accounts say McCartney played the drums himself, although McCartney has always said the song was recorded with Ringo. McCartney claims John and George were in another studio room finishing up a song, which is why he and Ringo recorded this separately.

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George Harrison: The Album

George Harrison was an LP recorded at Harrison's home at Friar Park from July through November of 1978. The album was released on February 23, 1979. At the time of recording, Harrison was married to Olivia Trinidad Arias, and his son Dhani had recently been born, making this time in Harrison's life tranquil and satisfying. The LP was remastered and reissued in 2004, separately and as part of the boxed set called The Dark Horse Years 1976-1992.

The track list was as follows:

Love Comes to Everyone
Not Guilty
Here Comes the Moon
Soft-Hearted Hana
Blow Away
Faster
Dark Sweet Lady
Your Love Is Forever
Soft Touch
If You Believe

George Harrison played guitars, bass, and did lead and backing vocals; Eric Clapton played guitar on "Love Comes to Everyone"; Willie Weeks played bass; Ray Cooper played percussion; Andy Newark played drums; Neil Larson played keyboards and mini-moog; Steve Winwood played poly-moog, harmonium, and did backing vocals; Gary Wright played the oberheim; Gayle Levant played harp; and Del Newman did string and horn arrangements.

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Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey

This Lennon number, according to the author, was about his relationship with Yoko Ono and how those around them seemed to be paranoid. Lennon said he and Yoko were simply surrounded by the glowing love for one another and had nothing to hide from anyone. Fats Domino did a cover version that Lennon liked very much.

The song, issued on the White Album, was recorded at Abbey Road Studios on June 27, 1968, with overdubs added in July.

Lennon plays lead guitar and sings the lead vocal; McCartney plays bass and sings backing vocal; Harrison plays rhythm guitar and firebell; and Starr played drums.

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When I'm Sixty-four

The most interesting Beatles fact about "When I'm Sixty-four" is that McCartney wrote the song when he was fifteen and regarded it as something of a cabaret tune. A new set of lyrics was added many years later in honor of his father's sixty-fourth birthday. McCartney always believed that his talent and future, together with John's, lay in writing show tunes. Lennon is said to have helped to a small degree with a few lyrics, although he said that writing such a tune would never have occurred to him.

The song was recorded on December 6, 1966 at Abbey Road Studios for inclusion on the Sgt. PepperLP.

McCartney plays piano and bass and sings lead and backing vocals; Lennon played lead guitar (his Epiphone Casino) and does a backing vocal; Harrison did a backing vocal; Starr played drums; and session musicians did clarinets, including a bass clarinet.

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Her Majesty

"Her Majesty" is a quick and off-the-cuff song by McCartney that comes at the end of side two on Abbey Road. The fascinating Beatles fact is that it was originally intended to go immediately before "Polythene Pam," although McCartney changed his mind. If one listens to the bass note that abruptly ends the song, one realizes that it fits perfectly with the bass notes that introduce Polythene Pam."

McCartney recorded the song alone at Abbey Road Studios on July 2, 1969. He plays acoustic guitar and sings the vocal track.

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Rocky Raccoon

"Rocky Raccoon" was one of the many songs McCartney wrote while in India. The western-themed song was supposedly influenced by Lennon and Donovan Leitch, although they never claimed any song-writing credit. The interesting Beatles fact for this song is that the working title was "Rocky Sassoon."

McCartney sings the lead vocal and plays acoustic guitar; Lennon plays harmonica and does backing vocal; Harrison plays bass and does a backing vocal; Starr plays drums, and george Martin plays a honky-tonk piano.

The lines "Her name was McGill/But she called herself Lil,/But Everyone knew her as Nancy" are clearly referncing a prostiture in the Old West, one who had a professional name and reputation.

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