First released: 1992
I'm just going to write the same thing about all of these, so I'll just clump it all together. These instrumentals were all from the animated film "Daumier's Law". The songs were composed and recorded in 1989. They are very similar to Paul's other classical work, just very short pieces, however.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Across the Universe by The Beatles - ** for original versions; *** for "Naked" version.
First released: 1969
You know I have never been a huge fan of this song and basically took Lennon’s own views on the track that it never really was properly recorded and released. I actually much prefer David Bowie’s version to The Beatles one. That is until the "Naked" version. The story goes that Lennon recorded this with the other Beatles and a guest female singer and it was slated to become The Beatles next single release until McCartney waltzed in with Lady Madonna. Then, the track was given to the World Wildlife Federation LP and promptly forgotten. This version eluded another compilation until 1980's "Rarities" and then it first appeared on CD in 1988 on "Past Masters, Volume Two". A demo version appears on 1996's "Anthology 2".
A year later, instead of taking more material from the hours and hours of performances from the "Get Back" sessions for release onto "Let it Be", producer Phil Spector decided to dust off this recording, take off the bird sounds and female voice and add it to the "Let it Be" line-up. I still don’t like this version. This version also appears on "1967-1970", though I feel that "For You Blue" would have been a more appropriate choice for that compilation.
Then, when "Let it Be…Naked" was released in 2003, the version was altered again and all of the Spector-isms were removed and finally the song has been released in a version that I like.
This song also became the title of a Beatles-inspired movie in 2007, a film that I actually liked…in places.
You know I have never been a huge fan of this song and basically took Lennon’s own views on the track that it never really was properly recorded and released. I actually much prefer David Bowie’s version to The Beatles one. That is until the "Naked" version. The story goes that Lennon recorded this with the other Beatles and a guest female singer and it was slated to become The Beatles next single release until McCartney waltzed in with Lady Madonna. Then, the track was given to the World Wildlife Federation LP and promptly forgotten. This version eluded another compilation until 1980's "Rarities" and then it first appeared on CD in 1988 on "Past Masters, Volume Two". A demo version appears on 1996's "Anthology 2".
A year later, instead of taking more material from the hours and hours of performances from the "Get Back" sessions for release onto "Let it Be", producer Phil Spector decided to dust off this recording, take off the bird sounds and female voice and add it to the "Let it Be" line-up. I still don’t like this version. This version also appears on "1967-1970", though I feel that "For You Blue" would have been a more appropriate choice for that compilation.
Then, when "Let it Be…Naked" was released in 2003, the version was altered again and all of the Spector-isms were removed and finally the song has been released in a version that I like.
This song also became the title of a Beatles-inspired movie in 2007, a film that I actually liked…in places.
Monday, April 28, 2008
"Acoustic" by John Lennon - **
First Released: 2004
Too bad Yoko decided to issue "The John Lennon Anthology" box set back in 1998, because now every album released with John’s name on it seems like another warmed over greatest hits collection sprinkled with one or two unreleased tracks. The fact that you can cram all of Lennon’s released solo output (released and unreleased) onto five discs makes one realize that his output wasn’t all that plentiful. I don’t mind this album, and it makes for pleasant listening as an interesting contrast to Lennon’s first solo album, "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band", but what was the point? Everything of consequence with Lennon’s name on it has truly been released or bootlegged and this is just another example of something for the completists. Casual fans should steer themselves towards the 1970-1975 and 1980 output. It does have the guitar chords spelled out so if you want to learn to play.
The two star rating refers to the necessity of owning this compilation over the value of the four-star music contained therein.
Too bad Yoko decided to issue "The John Lennon Anthology" box set back in 1998, because now every album released with John’s name on it seems like another warmed over greatest hits collection sprinkled with one or two unreleased tracks. The fact that you can cram all of Lennon’s released solo output (released and unreleased) onto five discs makes one realize that his output wasn’t all that plentiful. I don’t mind this album, and it makes for pleasant listening as an interesting contrast to Lennon’s first solo album, "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band", but what was the point? Everything of consequence with Lennon’s name on it has truly been released or bootlegged and this is just another example of something for the completists. Casual fans should steer themselves towards the 1970-1975 and 1980 output. It does have the guitar chords spelled out so if you want to learn to play.
The two star rating refers to the necessity of owning this compilation over the value of the four-star music contained therein.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Ach Du Lieber Augustin by The Beatles - *
Unreleased.
A three second little attempt of this traditional German folk song was recorded by The Beatles during the lengthy "Get Back" sessions in 1969. Seriously, nothing special.
A three second little attempt of this traditional German folk song was recorded by The Beatles during the lengthy "Get Back" sessions in 1969. Seriously, nothing special.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Absolutely Sweet Marie by George Harrison - ***
First released: 1993
I hate to say it, but unlike The Beatles, I have never been a big Bob Dylan fan. I have had many discussions with Dylan fans that don’t understand my dislike and actually despise the fact that I make a comparison of Dylan to Yoko. Hear me out. I feel that Bob Dylan and Yoko Ono are both excellent songwriters, and both cannot sing. Case in point this tune, which has one thing really going for it, which is George Harrison in a rare live performance sings lead vocals on Dylan’s 30th Anniversary Concert from 1992 and the subsequent CD release "The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration" the next year. Dylan himself originally recorded it for his "Blonde on Blonde" album in 1966 and even he never performed it live until 1988.
I hate to say it, but unlike The Beatles, I have never been a big Bob Dylan fan. I have had many discussions with Dylan fans that don’t understand my dislike and actually despise the fact that I make a comparison of Dylan to Yoko. Hear me out. I feel that Bob Dylan and Yoko Ono are both excellent songwriters, and both cannot sing. Case in point this tune, which has one thing really going for it, which is George Harrison in a rare live performance sings lead vocals on Dylan’s 30th Anniversary Concert from 1992 and the subsequent CD release "The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration" the next year. Dylan himself originally recorded it for his "Blonde on Blonde" album in 1966 and even he never performed it live until 1988.
Friday, April 25, 2008
About You by Paul McCartney - **
First released: 2001
Ok track from Paul's "Driving Rain". It's a little bit meatier sound that what's typical on the record, but unfortunately in recent years, Paul’s voice is somewhat shot and the overall effect is somewhat pedestrian. I don’t know about you, but it always seems like there’s a few bum notes played here and there. Maybe that was supposed to be the effect, but it doesn’t work for me. It makes it sound like an average garage band rehearsing.
Ok track from Paul's "Driving Rain". It's a little bit meatier sound that what's typical on the record, but unfortunately in recent years, Paul’s voice is somewhat shot and the overall effect is somewhat pedestrian. I don’t know about you, but it always seems like there’s a few bum notes played here and there. Maybe that was supposed to be the effect, but it doesn’t work for me. It makes it sound like an average garage band rehearsing.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
"Abbey Road" by The Beatles - ****
First released: 1969
One of THE classic Beatles LPs and actually their true swansong, despite being released before "Let it Be", it was actually recorded after. This was the first Beatles LPs I ever heard, and I’ve often wondered what would have happened if I didn’t get introduced to The Beatles this way. One could argue that this was The Beatles peak moment, and probably was, and that hearing everything else afterwards would surely be a letdown. It never bothered me, except for the fact that this truly was it. One could compile (and indeed I have) a collection of tracks that were rehearsed with the group and properly recorded solo-ly and try to determine whether The Beatles would have continued to progress had they stayed together beyond this point. My short answer is yes, and a 1971 Beatles album featuring those tracks would have been outstanding. Would they have been able to continue after that is anyone’s guess. Methinks that had The Beatles stayed together, they would have evolved much like The Rolling Stones or The Who, still making outstanding albums through the 70s, but becoming more and more routine as the 80s progressed.
The Beatles possibly had one or two more great albums in them, but in the long run, quitting when they did has the virtue of maintaining The Beatles at legendary status instead of the (sometimes) laughable geriatrics of their contemporaries. It’s always fun to speculate and the events of 1980 concluded the possibilities.
One of THE classic Beatles LPs and actually their true swansong, despite being released before "Let it Be", it was actually recorded after. This was the first Beatles LPs I ever heard, and I’ve often wondered what would have happened if I didn’t get introduced to The Beatles this way. One could argue that this was The Beatles peak moment, and probably was, and that hearing everything else afterwards would surely be a letdown. It never bothered me, except for the fact that this truly was it. One could compile (and indeed I have) a collection of tracks that were rehearsed with the group and properly recorded solo-ly and try to determine whether The Beatles would have continued to progress had they stayed together beyond this point. My short answer is yes, and a 1971 Beatles album featuring those tracks would have been outstanding. Would they have been able to continue after that is anyone’s guess. Methinks that had The Beatles stayed together, they would have evolved much like The Rolling Stones or The Who, still making outstanding albums through the 70s, but becoming more and more routine as the 80s progressed.
The Beatles possibly had one or two more great albums in them, but in the long run, quitting when they did has the virtue of maintaining The Beatles at legendary status instead of the (sometimes) laughable geriatrics of their contemporaries. It’s always fun to speculate and the events of 1980 concluded the possibilities.
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