So it's probably clear to anyone that's been around me this past month that I'm in the middle of my biggest wave of Beatlemania. This time, it's definitely not a passing one. For a band that will complete 50 years of the release of it's 1st single next year, some might say I'm getting into the mood far too early. Honestly, for the band that means so much to me, anytime works!
My first association with The Fab Four goes back a long time. First memories, when I was maybe 8, in the back of our first car - the Van, listening to the sweet sounds of "Love Me Do". I'm sure I'm wrong, but they're the 1st "phoren" band I remember listening to. Or, atleast, the one I'll claim is. Still, the early years were mostly restricted to a few old cassettes my Dad had taped, mostly songs from their early recordings. "She Loves You"/ "I wanna hold your hand"/"Ticket to ride". Light, upbeat, silly little love songs. I consider myself very very fortunate that musically, I had a "life" (with The Beatles, Abba and the Carpenters and even Boney M) before the "Boyband/Pop" wave hit in the late '90s and sadly, swept me along for a while.
Thankfully, it wasn't too long before I got my head out of that musical cesspool. Bryan Adams started it, Def Leppard helped and U2 finally got me out. When I came back to the Beatles, they had changed. A lot. Discovering the later albums was like discovering a whole new band. One that had shed all pretenses. One that was making music the way it always wanted to. At 14or 15, I wasn't distinctly aware of the drugs talking, but I didn't care. I had found my band. And I was going to stick to it.
This "sticking to it" consisted of following the band in various capacities, having periods of only listening to them and nothing else, moving on to "better" things, but I still kept coming back. The journey was complete when I finished my collection. With this, I got a a taste of everything, from the brilliant "Rubber Soul" to the absurd "Yellow Submarine". Everytime, I got a whole another experience. A whole new meaning to a lot of songs. Tripping with them is a highly recommended experience. You don't need drugs. Just close your eyes and let yourself go. As Messers. Lennon and McCartney write
"Turn off your mind, relax and float down stream,
It is not dying, it is not dying
Lay down all thought, surrender to the void,
Is it shining? Is it shining?"
So, here's presenting 10 songs of John, Paul, George and Ringo. They're not the most well-known. Some of them might not even figure on my "all-time" Beatles lists. But they're 10 very significant songs. Songs, which, being a Beatles fanatic, I can recite backwards. But, more importantly, songs with which I'd like the rest of you to get to know my band better.
1. While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Album : The White Album.
Studio Version : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3RYvO2X0Oo
Live Version 1( Concert for George) :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC1EZcrZEIs
Live version 2 - Clapton and Harrison : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezd7fRvJgtc
Easily the best Beatles song of all time, for me. Considering the fact that George was significantly overshadowed by the Lennon-McCartney express, the rare moments where he got to demonstrate his exquisite talent are all the more enjoyable. One of the most memorable guitar riffs ever to start off and then, what a solo! Having Eric Clapton playing lead guitar made such a difference! Try, then, the live version, with Clapton and Harrison taking the song to a whole new level. Also, from the LOVE album, try the "stripped down" version, with just George singing and a simple guitar accompaniment. Heavenly!
Truly the ultimate tribute to George, especially evident at the "Concert for George", with Dhani Harrison playing acoustic guitar. As Olivia put it, " With Dhani on stage, it looked like George stayed young, and we all got old"
2. Across the Universe. Album : Let it Be.
The best song from the last album, and possibly THE best written song. This isn't them on a trip. This is Lennon-McCartney showing that, when it came to writing, they could "write an entire swimming-pool".
" Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe"
The "Jai Guru De Va" line added to the chorus adds so much to the song, written at the time they were heavily influenced by TM. A brilliant song all-round.
3. Norwegian Wood (This Bird has Flown). Album : Rubber Soul.
Reporter: I'd like to direct this question to Messrs. Lennon and McCartney. In a recent article, Time magazine put down pop music. And they referred to "Day Tripper" as being about a prostitute...
4. I am the Walrus. Album : Magical Mystery Tour.
This is, truly, tripping with the Beatles. Written when Lennon was on one of his acid trips, the fact that it's the drugs talking makes for a weird and wonderful song. Crazy lyrics, a great melody and an instantly recognizable line "Goo-goo-g-joob". Don't try to decipher the lyrics - you can't.
5. Dear Prudence. Album : The White Album.
This one, another from the White Album, again emphasizes the importance of the melody. The story goes that John Lennon wrote it for Prudence Farrow, Mia's sister, to get her "out of her shell" after she became a recluse - in the whole TM/Maharshi/drugs era. It's very simple and very beautiful lyrically.
6. Hey Bulldog. Album: Yellow Submarine soundtrack.
One of the lesser known tracks by the band, but supreme all the same. To me, it signifies everything the Beatles were about. A killer bass line by Paul to start, a nice Harrison solo, brilliant vocals by Lennon and utter chaos at the end, when Paul and John just let go. Barking, howling and maniacal laughter. Yeah!!!
7. A Day in the Life. Album : Sgt.Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
The best song from "The best album of all time". An epic, influential piece. Lennon and McCartney wrote different parts of the song. The part about the accident was supposedly inspired by the death of a friend of John's. Paul provided the verses in the middle. Brilliant lyrics, a great melody as always and as Wiki puts it "the greatest/most famous final chord in music history"
8. We Can Work it Out. Single.
This one's another of my personal favourites. And I like this version a lot more than Stevie Wonder's cover. It reflects the dynamism in the song-writing and some of the group's internal struggles with a great contrast of Paul's optimism and realism with Lennon's dreams and philosophy. With "Day Tripper" this makes for a fantastic record.
9. Blackbird. Album : The White Album.
This one's a gem. Disguised as a soft, unassuming folk song, it becomes so much more. Lennon felt it reflected the African American struggle in the southern states. To me, it represents any struggle, to try and reach what you've always yearned for, and worked for. "You were only waiting for this moment to arise. Blackbird, fly!"
Another track from one of my favourite Beatles albums, this is a brilliant melody. No hidden, deep meanings here. Just a simple song. Always makes me smile. More so because "Penny Lane" is also Kate Hudson's eternal groupie in "Almost Famous".
There you have it. 10 songs from the greatest band of all time. Till next month, then...
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