Tag Archives: The Beatles

Murder Be Damned or: Wall of Mystery

18 Monday Jan 2021

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Music Review, Video

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Salutations™!!

Yesterday, it was announced that murderous, yet borderline genius Phil Spector had passed away at the age of 81. Spector was serving out a 19-to-life in prison for the murder of Lana Clarkson whom he shot in his mansion/castle in Los Angeles. Be that as it may, he was previously best known for his “Wall of Sound” (WOS).

The Wall of Sound on “The Long and Winding Road” by The Beatles

I have read someone compare his WOS ambitions to Wagner and how epic Richard Wagner’s compositions were. The WOS was Wagnerian in scope. He wanted to make it sound as if the listener was encased in the sound.

Some critics didn’t like that. They thought he cheapened or perhaps covered a lot of crap from the artists’ renderings of the tunes. I like production and I have conflicting feelings about the WOS. If you’re wondering about what the WOS is, well, you can listen to The Beatles Let It Be album. It’s all over that. If you don’t believe me, then listen to Let It Be: Naked which is the album without the WOS treatment. I actually prefer his work on this album.

One of the things about the Righteous Brothers’ music, in particular the two biggest hits, “Unchained Melody” and “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling” (which Spector co-wrote) that I have never liked is how they sound like they’re in a big underground tank. That is Spector’s doing. I hate that.

So, as I said, hit or miss with him for me. Spector died on January 16, 2021 from natural causes. Some said it was C-19 but it’s been confirmed it was just death and nothing more. RIP, I guess, Phil. You definitely left a mark on music. I know this is a very truncated post about Phil but who has time to write all that? Plus, Given how I’m hit or miss, I’m even more hit or miss to the man himself, so…

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I’m dealing in rock’n’roll. I’m, like, I’m not a bona fide human being.” – Phil Spector

Now Normal Chronicles or: Hey! Bulldog!

13 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by in Video

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Salutations™!!

Today is the 52nd anniversary of one of the Beatles most polarizing albums. Now, is it a Beatles album? I think so. A lot of it (the whole second side) is instrumental selections that George Martin wrote for the animated film’s soundtrack. I like those, too. Side A, though, has a lot of great tunes, many of which I think is overlooked because of the album’s place. I don’t know, perhaps, I’m making that up, but I don’t think that I am. Here’s my favorite tune from that album and how can you go wrong with Dave Grohl and Jeff Lynne doing a Beatles tune with two of the Fab Four sitting right in front of them, John and George’s kids and all that. So, enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Big man (Yeah), walking in the park. Wigwam, frightened of the dark. Some kind of solitude is measured out in you. You think you know me but you haven’t got a clue. You can talk to me. You can talk to me, You can talk to me. If you’re lonely you can talk to me.” – “Hey Bulldog” (Lennon/McCartney)

Now Normal Chronicles or: Loser For Sale

04 Friday Dec 2020

Posted by in Video

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Salutations™!!

Yesterday a Beatles album. Today a Beatles album. Today is the 56th anniversary of Beatles for Sale. I am a huge Beatles fan but I’ll admit their pre-1965 stuff I’m less enthused about. I will just leave it at that. I like it, but my favorite stuff is from Help! on. But, outside of more Carl Perkins covers, they were writing some great stuff and this is a really good one. I picked this version because I really like when people do these themselves. I want to do one but I don’t really have the patience. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Of all the love I have won or have lost, there is one love I should never have crossed. She was a girl in a million, my friend. I should have known she would win in the end.” – “I’m a Loser” (Lennon/McCartney)

Now Normal Chronicles or: Soul

03 Thursday Dec 2020

Posted by in Video

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Salutations™!!

Today is the 55th anniversary of one of the greatest albums of all time. While The Beatles have all great albums, there are a few that really soar high. This is in my top 5 Beatles albums and I’d probably go with it being #5. This is a song that is used a lot. A lot!! Usually as some kind of requiem or send off. I think there much more to it than that. This is a beautiful rendition, too. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“All these places had their moments. With lovers and friends, I still can recall. Some are dead and some are living. In my life, I’ve loved them all.” – “In My Life” (Lennon/McCartney)

Sounds Like Saturday or: Does It Really Matter?

26 Saturday Sep 2020

Posted by in Sounds Like Saturday, Video

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Salutations™!!

There are a number of releases celebrating anniversaries today. To me, the two biggest are Abbey Road (51) from The Beatles and Shout at the Devil (37) from Motley Crue. But, really do any other albums released today matter as much as Abbey Road? At least to me, they do not. It is probably my favorite album from the Fab Four, although, as I have said it jumps around between this, Sgt. Pepper, The Beatles (White Album), and Revolver. This is one of my favorite Beatles tunes regardless, but one of the best they’ve ever written and that’s saying something. This cover is airy and brilliant. Enjoy!

And don’t forget, today is RSD Drop #2! Yay, records!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Once there was a way to get back homeward. Once there was a way to get back home. Sleep little darling, do not cry and I will sing you a lullaby.” – “Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight” (Lennon/McCartney)

Now Normal Chronicles or: Darning His Socks

05 Wednesday Aug 2020

Posted by in Video

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Salutations™!!

Today is the 54th anniversary of The Beatles’ Revolver album. It is one of those that rotate in and out of my top slot for the band. It contains one of my favorite Beatles songs (which doesn’t?) and I have recently found the copy of me doing it all myself, that I have been missing for a bit and I’ll release someday. It’s early in my self-recording days and the first time I attempted to do everything myself. Not bad, in that regard, but still pretty rough. This dude’s arrangement is pretty wicked considering he’s doing it all and singing at the same time. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Father McKenzie, writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear. No one comes near. Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there’s nobody there. What does he care?” – “Eleanor Rigby” (Lennon/McCartney)

Spinning Sunday or: The Listens 4/18/20

19 Sunday Apr 2020

Posted by in Records, Spinning Sunday

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Salutations™!!

As has been the case for the last month, we haven’t really gotten anything new because Underdog Records is affected just like everything else in the world right now. So, in the spirit of “normalcy,” or the “Now Normal” that I call it, I used my listening time during the week hitting Discogs’ awesome shuffle feature and picked albums that I have and streamed them. I pay for Napster (the same that used to be arsehats and cheat artists out of their money, but they’re legit – they used to be Rhapsody) and the artists get paid for my listens, so yay for that. So, here’s what I listened to this week under headphones (not counting what I listened to for Beeswax Vinyl & More):

ListeningCollage419

That’s a pretty good “listens” list, I think. Then yesterday, The BCPF and I got to listen to some records. We did our usual alternating turns and it was all “random grab” via Discogs shuffle. Here’s that list (in no particular order):20200419_113623

That’s my listening for the week. I really cannot wait until Underdog Records opens back up. This is really hard. It’s like having to ween off candy. Jonathan is my “candy man” and the records my candy. Well, you can still purchase things from him. Just go to their Instagram and Facebook pages and see what he’s putting out for sale. He’ll deliver to you, either personally or ship them to you. You can shop via the Underdog Records website, as well. You can also purchase one of the new Underdog Records t-shirts and proceeds go to Underdog Records to help them stay afloat. See how here.

You see the marvel of Discogs already in this post.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“You are here and warm but I could look away and you’d be gone. ‘Cause we live in a time when meaning falls in splinters from our lives. And that’s why I’ve traveled far, ’cause I come so together where you are.” – “Sentimental Lady” (Welch)

System Thrown Askew or: Making Up

04 Wednesday Dec 2019

Posted by in Video

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Salutations™!!

Things were a little different today and it threw my whole system off. The other side of that is I’m still recovering from the “sickness.” But, enough about that. Today is the 55th anniversary of the release of The Beatles’ fourth album, Beatles for Sale. Here’s a good cover of a great tune from the album. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Of all the love I have won or have lost, there is one love I should never have crossed. She was a girl in a million, my friend. I should have known she would win in the end.” – “I’m a Loser” (Lennon/McCartney)

Magical Strawberry Fields or: Baby, You’re a Rich Man

27 Wednesday Nov 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Video

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Salutations™!!

Today is the 52nd anniversary of The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. The original soundtrack to the film is a double EP with only the first six tunes. The singles were the other five on the second side. I never pass a chance to post some Mike Massé and he does a great job here. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“No one I think is in my tree. I mean it must be high or low. That is you can’t, you know, tune in, but it’s all right. That is I think it’s not too bad.” – “Strawberry Fields Forever” (Lennon/McCartney)

The Crossing or: Barefoot Two-Step

08 Thursday Aug 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Records

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Salutations™!!

It was 50 years ago today that John, followed by Ringo, followed by Paul (barefoot and out of step) followed by George walked across the crosswalk at 3 Abbey Road, St John’s Wood, City of Westminster in London. The iconic photo was taken by photographer Iain Macmillan, eventually was the cover of the last album recorded by The Beatles, Abbey Road.

Macmillan was given only ten minutes to take the photo while he stood on a step-ladder and a policeman held up traffic behind the camera. Macmillan took six photographs, which McCartney examined with a magnifying glass before deciding which would be used on the album sleeve, according to the Wikipedia entry.

The 50th-anniversary special editions of Abbey Road were announced today. It will be a super deluxe 4 disc set, 3 LP deluxe vinyl, 2 CD deluxe, limited edition picture disc, CD, LP, digital and streaming. This will be available everywhere 27th September 2019. You know I’m going to have to ask Underdog Records for the 3xLP set, yeah?

So, look for more entries about this album coming soon!

Until tomorrow, get some Golden Slumbers…
Scorp out!

—
“Once there was a way to get back homeward. Once there was a way to get back home. Sleep, pretty darling do not cry and I will sing a lullaby.” – “Golden Slumbers” (Lennon/McCartney)