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Posts Tagged ‘Beatles’

Many Beatles fans are unaware of the great impact British folk-singer and guitarist Donovan (Donovan Philips Leitch) had on the Beatles and their music in 1968.

Donovan was a friend of the Beatles, and when the group traveled to Rishikesh in India to study Transcendental Meditation in February 1968, Donovan came along. There were several other westerners present at the Rishikesh camp too, including Mike Love of the Beach Boys.

Many of the songs that would later feature on the Beatles’ 1968 album entitled The Beatles – also known as The White Album because of its white cover – emerged during the group’s stay in India.

One reason for this was the fact that Donovan was there. Between the mediation classes, he taught John, Paul and George a special finger-picking guitar style which can be traced on many of the songs on The White Album.

Take Paul McCartney’s Blackbird, for example. It was written in India, and it’s a prime example of how Donovan’s guitar-technique was applied by the Beatles. Listen how elegantly Paul picks the strings and how the guitar pattern supports the lead vocal brilliantly.

Acoustic guitars had arguably not sounded quite as sophisticated as that on previous Beatles recordings, perhaps with a few exceptions, such as Paul’s I’ve Just Seen A Face from 1965 and Lennon’s Girl from 1966. The Beatles had often used the acoustic to play rhythm guitar – which of course worked brilliantly – but the Donovan finger-picking style added yet another dimension their music.

Another of Paul’s songs, Mother Nature’s Son, also took shape in India. Also here Donovan’s influence is obvious. The lyrics, meanwhile, are said to have been influenced by a lecture given by meditation guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a central figure at the camp.

Paul was of course not the only Beatle who was inspired by Donovan’s guitar technique. Just listen to the songs Julia and Dear Prudence, both penned by John Lennon. Dear Prudence is actually about a specific incident that occurred at the Rishikesh meditation camp. The song is really about Prudence Farrow, sister of actress Mia Farrow, who also stayed at Rishikesh. Prudence, however, preferred to meditate in solitude in her chalet. In the end Lennon and George Harrison had to convince her to come out and join the others: Dear Prudence, won’t you come out and play?

Other songs written or inspired by the stay in India were Lennon’s The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill and Sexy Sadie, plus McCartney’s Why Don’t We Do It In The Road and Wild Honey Pie.

Sexy Sadie was originally called Maharishi after Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the meditation guru. After having stayed in India for a while, Lennon lost trust in Maharishi, apparently because of a rumor that the guru had made sexual advances to a female member of the course. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill was about college graduate named Richard Cooke III who visited the Rishikesh community because his mother Nancy was staying there. They did indeed go tiger hunting, just like the song suggests.

Paul McCartney later said he got the idea to Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? in India, where he had seen two monkeys copulating in the road. Wild Honey Pie was a sing along that also emerged in Rishikesh.

The first Beatle to leave India was Ringo, who returned to London in early March. McCartney soon followed, while Lennon and Harrison left in April.

You can read about all the songs the Beatles released on my website: http://www.thebeatlesonline.com

Andreas Walstad is a journalist and the author of http://www.thebeatlesonline.com

Amazon.co.uk Review

The Beatles Anthology was initially broadcast as a TV miniseries to run alongside the series of three Anthology double-CD albums. This set of eight documentaries has the heft and scope of one of Ken Burns’ expansive projects. Still, you may find yourself with more material–particularly about the Beatles’ early lives as lads in Liverpool–than you’ll want to watch. The documentary material is copious, including early performance films and tapes, at the point b (more…)

CD Description
Including eight years of groundbreaking recordings, the Beatles Stereo Box Set contains the individual albums, as well as a two CD Past Masters collection of non-album tracks. Painstakingly remastered over four years by a team of dedicated studio engineers at the legendary Abbey Road studios, they utilised vintage studio equipment in conjunction with state of the art modern recording technology to bring the catalogue to the highest fidelity it has seen since its origi (more…)

Sir Paul McCartney is in a bind. He wants to release “Carnival of Light,” arguably one of the Beatles’ most experimental tracks, but he needs permission from the other living Beatle, Ringo Starr, and from the estates of George Harrison and John Lennon. The 14-minute “Carnival of Light” was recorded in early 1967 and McCartney recently told BBC Radio 4 that “the time has come for it to get its moment.” The recording has never been bootlegged and McCartney continued to cite his reasons for wanting the world to hear the song, saying “it would be great to put this on because it would show we were working with really avant-garde stuff.” “Carnival of Light” was only released for public play in early ’67 after being recorded for the electronic musical festival the Million Volt Light and Sound Rave. One Beatle who may not grant McCartney’s wish (alive or deceased) is George Harrison, who vetoed Paul’s request to include “Carnival of Light” on the Beatles’ Anthology in the late 1990s.

For those who stick to the pop anthems that made the Beatles famous and don’t deviate into the experimental realm of the Fab Four’s 1967 album Sgt. Pepper may be shocked by “Carnival of Light” should it ever be released. McCartney described the song more to the BBC: “I said all I want you to do is just wander around all the stuff, bang it, shout, play it, it doesn’t need to make any sense. Hit a drum then wander on to the piano, hit a few notes, just wander around. So that’s what we did and then put a bit of an echo on it. It’s very free.” Although a few lucky Beatles aficionados claim to have heard the song, McCartney supposedly owns the master tape. Author Mark Lewisohn, who is widely regarded as the globe’s leading authority on all things Beatles, described “Carnival of Light” as “distorted, a distorted lead guitar, the sound of a church organ, various effects (water gurgling was one), and perhaps the most intimidating of all, John Lennon and McCartney screaming dementedly and bawling aloud random phrases like ‘Are you alright?’ and ‘Barcelona!.’” Beatles biographer Barry Miles also weighed in on the unreleased track, describing it as similar to Frank Zappa’s “The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet.”

McCartney was most recently in the news when he played a historic performance in Tel Aviv on September 25. The concert came 43 years after the Israeli government banned the group from playing in fears that they would corrupt the youth population with their music. McCartney performed Beatles favorites like “Hello, Goodbye” and 31 other hits chronicling the Beatles career as well as John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance.” While you wait for McCartney to make another pop moment that will go down in the history books, don’t miss your chance to see him perform live. You can find Paul McCartney tickets at http://www.stubhub.com to see him perform live!

Author Bio: This article is sponsored by StubHub.com and was written by Kirby Brooks. StubHub.com is a leader in the business of selling Paul McCartney tickets, sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and special events tickets.

This volume contains over 120 songs written and sung by The Beatles, specially arranged from the actual recordings, in the original keys. Each song includes chord symbols, guitar chord boxes and complete lyrics. The book also includes a playing guide and full discography.

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Amazon.co.uk ReviewA Hard Day’s Night may have been The Beatles’ first big-screen experience but, as they had become the biggest band in the world by the time of its production, the Moptops were able to ensure it was a bit different from the band-movie norm. “We’d made it clear that we weren’t interested in being stuck in one of those nobody-understands-our-music plots,” John Lennon would later recall. “The kind of thing where we’d just pop up a couple of times between the action, all (more…)

CD Description
From Please Please Me to the White Album, all the original Beatles mixes are represented here in full, glorious mono! The Past Masters CD has been recreated as Mono Masters to properly reflect this period. This set duplicates the Past Masters track listing with the exception of those tracks that only ever appeared in stereo. However, as an added bonus, five tracks, never previously released in mono, are included in the package. These are “Only A Northern Song”, “All T (more…)

Music is magic! Music speaks louder than words and it’s a ‘language’ that the whole world understands. Did you know that people can be mentally conditioned to respond to a set stimulus like a series of tone signals? It works almost like a telephone does: You can dial a certain combination of numbers and that special sequence keys the equipment to connect one instrument with another. You’ve probably noticed at times how if a piece of music hits the right combination of notes for you; it can generate a significant response in your heart and mind. It has a psychological and spiritual effect on you. And if you’re really spiritually tuned, it can sometimes have a profound effect on you akin to sensing an electrical current or to receiving a personal radio signal.

Certain kinds of music will turn you on for certain kinds of things -it’s Spiritual. I listened to music all my life, but when I was twelve years old the Beatles came to America and my whole world opened up. Their music turned me on so much that it was just like I was flipping out into another world. I understood the music and I knew what was going on at deeper levels.

For those of you who were not alive when the Beatles exploded across America you won’t easily understand the significance of their impact upon not only America, but the entire world. They changed the way we dressed, looked, acted, spoke… and even our culture. The Beatles arrived in America just under three months after the assassination of President John Kennedy. This assassination had pulled America into a massive depression and the freshness and lively spirit of the Beatles was exactly what the country needed to revitalize itself.

The power of their music was definitely inspired and I believe that the Divine Spirit was working with them, to deliver the message of love to the world. A world which was in such chaos in the 1960′s.

Music links the heart of the hearer with the heart of the composer. This means that as you listen it blends the spirit of the composer with your spirit. It’s almost like the composer is a spirit guide, with you taking the role of the psychic medium – as the music becomes your crystal ball! When you listen to their music you gaze with them into the crystal ball, and all of a sudden your spirits are united and you both see and feel the same things. It sucks your spirit out of your body and transports you into another world. Suddenly you’re enraptured and revitalized and metaphorically transported into the World of the Spirit in that magical way that music can do. This is definitely the feeling I get when I listen to Jimi Hendrix. He was a brilliant musical guide.

The spiritual realm is far more real then the physical world! Music is like a vehicle to take you into the spirit world. Some people can receive messages from Heaven through the lyrics of songs. In answer to a question for instance ? The Great Spirit can bring an apt verse to mind that provides the answer to the conundrum. It’s a form of clairaudience. Songs that resonate with an individual can be used to send information to an individual. Spirit resonates with the ‘tuning’ that the recipient of the message has and sends the message with ‘the right vibes’, so to speak. This means that it would be difficult for someone who’s tuned in to Chopin to understand the sounds of Jimi Hendrix, although both were inspired by Spirit.

Composers are definitely tuned into the spirit world and inspired! Mozart’s music was completely different and inspires tranquility. Scientific research has even shown that music by Mozart can help to calm hysterical people and settle their minds.

You can tell a lot about music by its effect on you. Is it beautiful or is it ugly? Is it inspiring or is it oppressive? What impression does it have on your spirit?

What inspires so many people about a lot of the music of the Beatles is, I think, that it makes them feel happy. It’s fantastic music and it evokes good feelings. She Loves You! Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band! Hey Jude! Such enjoyable songs that inspire people around the world to join in and sing along with John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

Why is music so prevalent in our lives? Why do we connect so well with music?

According to the American Music Therapy Association:

Music is used in general hospitals to: alleviate pain in conjunction with anesthesia or pain medication: elevate patients’ mood and counteract depression; promote movement for physical rehabilitation; calm or sedate, often to induce sleep; counteract apprehension or fear; and lesson muscle tension for the purpose of relaxation, including the autonomic nervous system.

Music therapy is used in some psychiatric facilities, as well as in hospitals, nursing homes… and schools.

Chances are you’ve unknowingly developed your own form of music therapy. Have you ever felt low and played one of your favorite songs to soothe yourself? What about popping your favorite CD on to calm yourself down when you’re angry?

Music has a great way of touching people. Music can make you laugh, cry, shout and so much more. It’s also a great source of inspiration. Try this sometime and notice what happens: make yourself a cup of tea, sit down in your sofa and turn up your stereo as you play one of your favorite songs. Close your eyes, and soon you’ll find yourself creating mental images – matching the music you’re enjoying. Maybe you’ll even get a sense that the words of the song have a special ‘message’ for you too? And you’ll probably notice that you feel good within no time! Enjoy the Magical Music!

Author Bio: Cherokee Billie World renowned Native American Psychic Cherokee Billie has been working as a Clairvoyant advisor for over 25 years. She receives messages that will change your life! She helps her clients to connect with their Soul’s Path, bringing peace and joy into their daily lives Fast – Straightforward Answers! http://www.cherokeebillie.com

Happy Birthday and welcome back to an old friend, the 45 rpm record officially turned 60 years old on March 31. British trade journals are reporting that single song 45rpm records are now outselling their CD counterparts and many American bands are now releasing music via this historic audio medium.

The 45rpm record was initially introduced in 1949 by RCA Records as a smaller, more durable replacement for the heavy 78 shellac-based records of the time. The 45 was created by RCA as a competitive move against one their rival record companies, Columbia, which had just introduced the new microgroove 33 1/3 rpm LP. The number 45 came from taking 78 and subtracting Columbia’s new 33 to equal the 45. Record companies and consumers alike faced an uncertain future as to which format would survive the 78rpm or the 45rpm; in what was known as the “War of the Speeds.” In 1949 Capitol and Decca started issuing the new LP format and RCA relented and issued its first LP in January 1950. But the 45 rpm was gaining in popularity and Columbia issued its first 45s in February 1951. Soon other record companies saw the mass consumer appeal the new format allowed and by 1954 more than 200 million 45s had been sold.

So On March 31, 1949, RCA Victor released “Texarkana Baby” b/w “Bouquet of Roses” by Eddy Arnold. The first 45 to hit the Billboard charts was “A — You’re Adorable” by Perry Como, listed on the charts on May 7, 1949. The next week, the year’s biggest hit appeared on the Billboard charts — “Riders In The Sky (A Cowboy Legend)” by Vaughn Monroe. The first 45rpm records were monaural and as stereo sound became more prevalent and popular in the 1960s, almost all 45rpm records were manufactured in stereo.

The historical and commercial significance of the 45rpm record has varied over time, the technological developments in recorded music and according to the audience of the particular artists and musical genres. In general, 45rpm records were more important to the music acts who sold music to the younger audiences (mostly teenagers) who tend to have limited financial resources and shorter attention spans. That said, the golden age for the 45 was in the 1950s and 1960s in early development of rock music. They were affordable and allowed artists the freedom of releasing a single song as opposed to a whole LP. Conversely, some singles helped to launch the sales of the albums that the musicians were promoting.

The length of the songs also evolved. In the 1950s, it was common for songs to be anywhere from two to two and a half minutes long and in the 1960s; the three minute single became the norm. This length was very convenient and fit the AM radio format very well. Millions of demo records were sent out to radio stations with specific instructions as to which song was supposed to be the ‘hit single,’ although there were some DJs that played the ‘B’ sides and those songs became hits. Elvis Presley was one of the first artists to release the ‘double-sided single’, meaning that both songs would ultimately end up on the charts. The Beatles followed suit and were also one of the first recording artists to push the envelope, so to speak and commonly had songs over the three-minute norm. In fact, there are some singles that had to be edited by radio stations and shortened to fit their particular formats. Don McLean’s 1972 hit “American Pie” is an example, the single was split up into two parts on the 45. The Beatles broke new ground in 1968 with their over seven minute epic “Hey Jude.”

The sales of the 45s were recorded on the record charts in most countries in a Top 40 format and these charts were often published in magazines (Billboard), television shows (American Bandstand) and radio programs often had the Top 40 countdown shows (Casey Kasem).

Nowadays, they still manufacture 45 rpm records, but on a much smaller scale than decades ago. Indie bands, r&b artists and punk bands love the format; it makes the music affordable for their target audience and, after all these years, are still highly sought after by collectors. Happy Birthday to an old friend, here’s for many more!

Sales of 45rpm Records:

Over 11 million copies
“Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the Way You Look Tonight” – Elton John

Over 8 million copies
“We Are the World” – USA for Africa

Over 4 million copies
“Hey Jude” – The Beatles
“Hound Dog”/”Don’t Be Cruel” – Elvis Presley
“I Will Always Love You” – Whitney Houston
“Low” – Flo Rida featuring T-Pain
“Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” – Los Del Rio
“Whoomp! (There It Is)” – Tag Team

Over 3 million copies
“Apologize” – Timbaland presents OneRepublic
“Disturbia” – Rihanna
“(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” – Bryan Adams
“Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor
“Gangsta’s Paradise” – Coolio featuring L.V.
“Hot N Cold” – Katy Perry
“How Do I Live” – LeAnn Rimes
“I Kissed a Girl” – Katy Perry
“I’ll Be Missing You” – Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112
“I’m Yours” – Jason Mraz
“Just Dance” – Lady Gaga featuring Colby O’Donis
“Live Your Life” – T.I. featuring Rihanna
“Love Me Tender/Any Way You Want Me” – Elvis Presley
“Stronger” – Kanye West
“Viva la Vida” – Coldplay

Author Bio: Author Robert Benson writes about rock/pop music, vinyl record collecting and operates http://www.collectingvinylrecords.com, where you can pick up a copy of his FREE ebook called “The Fascinating Hobby Of Vinyl Record Collecting.” Have your vinyl records appraised at http://www.vinylrecordappraisals.com

Third eye review of a live performance in Calgary, Alberta, from a local 60′s, 70′s and 80′s rock band. This three person group is called ShadowBeat. If going to Calgary and you appreciate older music, you might just enjoy this combo. Do so if you get a chance.

“Get your motor running” That’s what this band will do to you. I managed to catch this three person combo by accident Friday night in Calgary. They were shaking the walls in some lost eastside pub called Chelsea’s, and though the crowd was not huge, we were on fire with this performance. And so was ShadowBeat.

As the night went on I found myself losing time but not wasting it. It was an experience worth living. The little place was a-happenin’, as they might say and we all enjoyed many familiar oldies (think John Paul George and Mick) and a few NotHeardThatinAge’s.

And then they hit us with a sharp left hook. A few great wing-ding’s from the 1990′s country line dancing and hat head era. Personally, I don’t two-step, but plenty were stompin’ their runners to this classic string of hits that included an Alan Jackson favorite of mine and that old Grundy County Auction song. I could tell by the wall posters that country bands frequented this establishment. But this was a rock outfit with a bit of creative dabble.

The first set I saw opened with Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf and by the third or fourth selection we were convinced this group knew their stuff. They weren’t much to look at, not having a drummer on stage with them or the heavy-metal concert trappings seen in bar bands of years gone by. It was just the three of them. Dying to have a voice. They were just there. Authentic. In your face. They were good.

I like it when a cover band tries to make the well-known piece their own and have fun with it. Granted, ShadowBeat did not do this with every composition on the setlist but when they did, it shone through, and the effort became worthwhile. You might want to check out the original versions of these songs. I did some Googling and found out that they have their own mini internet broadcast station easily found by entering “Shadowbeat radio”. That’s where you can hear those originals. Handy. It’s at http://www.live365.com/stations/radiosonde1?play

Who would have thought a stage keyboard could be played like that? Not me, that’s for sure. Somebody sprinkled this guy with magic dust, or maybe a few extra recorded tracks. It’s hard to tell. Wait for “Time of the Season” by the Zombies. It’s worth it.

In general, the band takes full advantage of the highs and lows (tempo, dynamics etc.) in the material. When they were tight, it was as good as it gets and the loose rambling between songs kept the feeling quite casual. Nobody was intimidated. With the old stuff I heard that night, you’ll go back to your younger days in an instant.

Author Bio: More about – this band if you like this kind of rock.

And more – check it out – you’ll be glad you did.