Beatles News
Like many other artists from his generation, Bruce Springsteen was inspired by The Beatles. One wonders what the reaction to hearing The Beatles for the first time was like for The Boss. Here’s a look back at exactly what The Boss did when he first heard them. In addition, here’s a look at the foreboding prediction John Lennon made about Springsteen’s career.Firstly, some background. In his book Born to Run, Springsteen described what it was like growing up on the Jersey shore, the people, groups and institutions he encountered in his early life. He also provided a glimpse into the artists that impacted him musically during that time.
Source: cheatsheet.com
More than 60 years after his first chart hit, Paul McCartney remains one of the most iconic names in world music.
And the Beatles legend looks set to have another hit on his hands when he releases new book, Lyrics.
The 900-page tome, which is due to be released in two volumes, will chart Macca’s incredible career using his lyrics as a guide.
It will focus on more than 150 of his most famous songs and examine “the people and places that inspired them”.
The book, which is said to be “as close to an autobiography as Sir Paul may ever come”, is due out in November. Here, we look at some of the musician’s classic hits and the stories behind them.
Love Me Do, 1962
The Beatles’ first hit was jotted down in a school notebook by Macca in 1958 when he was just 15. It’s simple and repetitive in nature and has been criticised in the past for being childish.
Beatles producer George Martin did not like the lyrics at all and thought John Lennon’s harmonica solo halfway through was the best part.
Source: Richard Simpson/mirror.co.uk
On April 16, Yoko Ono Lennon and Capitol/UMe will celebrate 50 years of John's transformational and influential masterpiece, with the eight-disc super deluxe box set, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band – The Ultimate Collection, an immersive, deep listening experience and in-depth exploration of what John described as "the best thing I've ever done." Fully authorized by Yoko Ono Lennon, who oversaw the production and creative direction, and from the same audio team that worked on 2018's critically acclaimed Imagine – The Ultimate Collection, including triple GRAMMY®-Award winning engineer Paul Hicks and mixers/engineers Rob Stevens and Sam Gannon, the Ultimate Collection puts listeners in the center of the studio and explores the album's 1970 recording sessions at EMI Studios 2 & 3, Abbey Road along with John's post-Beatles singles, "Give Peace A Chance," "Cold Turkey" and "Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)" from inception to the final master through scores of unreleased and rare demos, rehearsals, outtakes, jams and studio conversations, revealing how these beloved songs came to be. Everything in this expansive box set has been newly mixed from scratch from brand new 192kHz/24bit hi-res transfers. In addition to the various new mixes, the set boasts 87 never-before-heard recordings.
Source: Capitol/UMe/prnewswire.com
The Beatles memorabilia reportedly valued at 'millions of pounds' might see its prices slashed after it was revealed that the band members used to fake each other's signatures, according to The Sun.
Jools Holland has a record from the Fab Four, and he revealed it was covered in autographs from the stars which were, in fact, all written by guitarist George Harrison.
The musical legend and TV presenter, 63, said on the Jools and Jim’s Joyride podcast: 'George Harrison gave me a Beatles record all signed entirely by him.
He said that when they started, they’d have to sign thousands of autographs for the Beatlemania fans so they’d all practice and know how to do each other’s.'
In 2020, a Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album dating back to 1967 was signed by the late George, Sir Paul McCartney, the late John Lennon and Ringo Starr. It reportedly sold for more than £129,000.
A sealed lock from one of the The Beatles' head was previously available on eBay for the price of £29,000.
The seller claimed the strand is genuinely from one the Fab Four - and was cut off after a tour in the 60s.
Source: Natasha Hooper/dailymail.co.uk
Though George Harrison was called “the quiet Beatle,” his influence on the foursome—and 20th-century popular music—was inestimable. As a member of the most famous rock band in history, and as an independent artist, Harrison forged new trails that affected music, pop culture, even fashion and haircuts. The musician, who passed away in 2001, would have turned 78 years old last week. To mark the occasion, Pro-Ject Audio Systems revealed a turntable in his honor.
The commemorative component features a plinth with the pop star’s likeness, embellished with a decidedly psychedelic-retro design. Pro-Ject worked with Bravado, Apple Corps and Studio Number One to create graphics based on the 2014 art-print lithograph designed for the Harrisons by Shepard Fairey—the artist responsible for the iconic Hope poster—and George Harrison’s personal analog recording console, visible underneath the acrylic platter.
Source: Robert Ross/sports.yahoo.com
Bill Frisell is one of my favourite guitarists and I’m a huge John Lennon fan so this album is the best of both worlds. Frisell re-interprets sixteen of Lennon’s compositions (Beatles songs and solo work) joined by four equally remarkable musicians.
Greg Leisz (pedal steel & guitar), Jenny Scheinman (violin), Tony Scherr (bass) and Kenny Wollesen (drums) provide thoughtful textures and colours along with Frisell’s unmistakable guitar playing without ever straying too far from the originals.
In a way, it’s refreshing to hear Lennon’s gorgeous melodies and sublime chord changes without too much improvisation. Frisell, Leisz and Scheinman tangle and weave through lines as in delicate conversation while Scherr and Wollesen keep the pulse of things locked in.
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Across the Universe begins with shimmering harmonics and subtle waves of ambient steel before the arrival of the melody. Scheinman’s violin plays a subtle harmony as Leisz swells from below. The bass is minimalist and the drums purely textural.
Source: David Reed/intelligencer.ca
John Lennon is one of the most acclaimed musicians of all time, however, he felt The Beatles didn’t make a song as great as one of Elvis Presley’s most famous tracks. In addition, Ringo Starr had strong feelings about the Elvis song in question. Here’s a look at how members of the Beatles felt about one of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s most famous songs.
In 1968, John gave an interview to Rolling Stone’s Jonathan Cott. He discussed everything from T. S. Elliot’s The Waste Land to the black power movement to Bob Dylan.
During the interview, Cott said The Beatles were trying to get away from their old records. “But I’d like to make a record like [Richie Barrett’s] ‘Some Other Guy,’” John revealed. “I haven’t done one that satisfies me as much as that satisfied me. Or [Gene Vincent’s] ‘Be-Bop-A-Lula’ or [Elvis’] ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ or [Little Richard’s] ‘Good Golly, Miss Molly’ or [Jerry Lee Lewis’] ‘Whole Lot of Shakin’.’ I’m not being modest. I mean we’re still trying it.”
Source: cheatsheet.com
It’s always the quiet ones…
Even in the anarchic annals of rock music, The Beatles’ split in 1970 was a messy affair. Paul McCartney was the first to issue a proper press release that he was “no longer working with the band” yet the four would still record under The Beatles brand to complete the Let It Be sessions. All four were working on solo records: John, Ringo and George Harrison would all contribute to each others’, while McCartney cut his self-titled solo album on home recording equipment at his St John’s Wood home after writing much on retreat in Scotland.
Source: Michael Leonard/guitar.com
John Lennon wrote many of the great songs that Ringo recorded, including “With A Little Help from my Friends” and “Good Night,” recorded with The Beatles. Lennon also wrote “I’m The Greatest,” which Ringo recorded as the opening cut of his 1973 album Ringo. George Harrison played on the track along with Lennon, marking the only time all three Beatles played on a record together since their band broke up.
Ringo Starr, “I’m The Greatest”
“I couldn’t sing it!” said John. “But it was perfect for Ringo. He could sing ‘I’m A Loser’ to the world
but not ‘I’m The Greatest.‘
John Lennon’s original demo of “I’m The Greatest,” 1970
Lennon wrote the song in 1970, soon after The Beatles broke up. Inspired by the line spoken often by Muhammad Ali, he wrote “I’m The Greatest” as a joke. It’s quite like a Randy Newman song, musically and lyrically. But unlike Randy, who would sing songs told by the most untrustworthy narrators without compunction, Lennon felt differently. The man who sang “I’m A Loser” to the world, would not sing “I’m The Greatest.”
Source: americansongwriter.com
Do a deep dive into the best songs about candy, and suddenly ten titles arrive, yet for some reason, the best by far is excluded—The Beatles, “Savoy Truffle.” A few of the other candy songs are memorable, but none are worthy, really, to touch the hem of this classic by George Harrison and his first band, The Beatles.
After all, almost all of the other candy songs are not really about candy itself, but are using candy as a metaphor for something else altogether. This something else, according to our most current research, is always sex. Even the most innocent of these uses secret codes aimed dually towards older teens focussed full-time on sex, and the younger kids who just love candy.
Even “Sugar Sugar,” written by Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich for The Archies, divulges its secret heart in the first verse: You are my candy, girl, and you got me wanting you…
But “Savoy Truffle” from The White Album is not based on a metaphor, nor any kind of sneaky indirection. It’s about candy, and also the repercussion of such over-indulgence: bad teeth.
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