"Ultimate Beatles Record Collection"
You'd need a temporary secretary, just to catalogue it This collection, up for sale on eBay through Saturday, lives up to its title. It’s definitely the most comprehensive Beatles and Beatles-related one I’ve ever seen. There are records I’ve seen only in Bruce Spizer’s books, like McCartney’s “Walking in the Park with Eloise,” what looks like a full run of [...]
Before "Toot and a Snore"
The act you've known for all these years, in Santa Monica, 1974. Here are some photos from Retronaut.com — the last photo of John and Paul — taken at Peter Lawford's old beach house here in Santa Monica. Whenever I want to bask in some ghosts (Marilyn and Jack! Marilyn and Bobby! Nilsson and Baron Von Moon!) I bike down six [...]
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
Don't ask me which is which. Some of you might remember George's introduction to "I Me Mine" on the Anthology discs where he name-checks this 60s band—which was, apparently, internal Beatles slang for each other. http://youtu.be/ReSuTBoXTWM Now, thanks to this post from Dangerous Minds, I think we perhaps know where The Beatles crossed paths with them…Vic Lownes' Playboy Club. "But," [...]
Solo Beatles: Good stuff from this millenium?
These CDs don't NEVER EVER sell. NANCY CARR • In the "Blue Sway" thread, Commenter J.R. remarked that he hasn't sought out Paul McCartney's work since 1999's Run Devil Run. Then I came across this blog post by Todd Pack, which reprints the "Do Not Never Ever Buy" list reproduced above. (It's from the Laurie's Planet of Sound music store in [...]
Current favorite song: "Blue Sway"
From McCartney II (1980). Paul McCartney is an amazing dude. Here I am, positively obsessing over his stuff for 40 out of my 43 years, and yesterday I stumbled upon this great tune, which I'd never heard. "Blue Sway" has proceeded to dominate my consciousness for 36-going-on-48 hours. Paul, please promise to use this awesome power only for good, never [...]
Lewisohn on Strawberry Fields Take 1
No graffiti pre-'67 I'd bet A commenter asked whether Mark Lewisohn's Beatles Recording Sessions attributed the mellotron beginning of Strawberry Fields Forever. Here's what he says: Thursday 24 November Studio Two: 7:00pm - 2:30am. Recording: "Strawberry Fields Forever" (take 1). P: George Martin. E: Geoff Emerick. 2E: Phil McDonald. ...Of all Beatles recordings, "Strawberry Fields Forever" is known for being [...]
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When you go to the URL at the bottom, all it says is, "There are seven levels."
Evolution of Strawberry Fields Forever
If you don't know the blog Dangerous Minds, go take a look. I find it essential reading, and check it nearly every day. This morning they posted a YouTube video which lovingly traces the evolution of Strawberry Fields Forever, which I've embedded below. You'll doubtless recognize the tracks (from It's Not Too Bad, Anthology and other places), but it's a nice piece of [...]
"The mopheads or whatever"
Yoko Ono and an apple, 1966. Browsing in a used bookstore last night, I came across this quote in Rolling Stone Raves: What Your Rock & Roll Favorites Favor (1999): Yoko Ono: "No, I didn't know any of [the Beatles' music when I met John Lennon.] I had heard about the band, the mopheads or whatever. I knew that they [...]