All sound recording and images are copyrighted by their respective copyright owners.
Copyright: Apple Corps Ltd., EMI Records Ltd., Parlophone (UK), Capitol Records (USA)
Members: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr
Writer: Lennon/McCartney
Producer: George Martin
Original Album Released: October 28, 1996
The Beatles Official Web Page: http://www.thebeatles.com/
EMI Music: http://www.emimusic.com/
Parlophone Records: http://www.parlophone.co.uk/
Capitol Records: http://www.capitolrecords.com/
“Because” is a ballad written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon/McCartney) and performed by The Beatles. It features a 3-part harmony vocal performance between Lennon, McCartney and George Harrison, overdubbed three times to make nine voices in all. The results of this have been compared in sound to the Beach Boys.[citation needed] It appeared on the 1969 album Abbey Road, and is the song that precedes the extended medley that formed side two of the original LP record.
Composition:
The song begins with electric harpsichord played by George Martin and then joined by Lennon’s guitar doubling the harpsichord and played through a Leslie speaker. Vocals and bass guitar enter in what Alan Pollack calls the “mini-bridge.”
The song was one of the few Beatles songs to include an analogue synthesizer arrangement (although analog keyboards such as the Mellotron had been used often by The Beatles, few songs featured the use of a traditional analog synthesizer with voltage-controlled oscillators). The Beatles at the time of Abbey Road were among the first contemporary rock bands to experiment with the Moog synthesizer (the first, or at least the first to chart on the top 40, had been The Monkees).
According to Lennon, “Because” was inspired by Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”. “Yoko was playing Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata’ on the piano … I said, ‘Can you play those chords backwards?’, and wrote ‘Because’ around them. The lyrics speak for themselves … No imagery, no obscure references.”
Recording:
The main recording session for “Because” was on 1 August 1969, with vocal overdubs on 4 August, and a Moog synthesizer overdub by George Harrison on 5 August.[5] As a result, this was the last song on the album to be committed to tape, although there were still overdubs for other incomplete songs.
A vocals-only version of the song can be found on Anthology 3 and Love and is an example of three part harmony from Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison, although the latter is slowed down and includes quiet nature sound effects. Both versions include the ‘Ahh’ at the beginning.
Album:
Anthology 3 is a compilation album by The Beatles released in October 1996 by Apple Records as part of The Beatles Anthology series. The album includes rarities and alternative tracks from the final two years of the band’s career, ranging from the initial sessions for The Beatles (also known as The White Album) to the last sessions for Let It Be and Abbey Road in later 1969 and early 1970.
Following “Free as a Bird” in Anthology 1 and “Real Love” in Anthology 2, a third John Lennon solo demo entitled “Now and Then” was to be reworked by the three surviving members of The Beatles for Anthology 3. However, it was decided against due to complications and sound quality issues involving Lennon’s recording. In its place is “A Beginning,” an orchestral instrumental track initially intended for The White Album.
Similar to the previous Anthology albums, the cover image painted by Klaus Voorman features a collage of The Beatles-related imagery designed to appear as a wall of peeling posters and album covers. An updated picture of Voorman can be seen in George Harrison’s hair in a segment of the Revolver album cover.
This was the group’s third double album in a row to go to #1 on the American charts, equaling a record set by Donna Summer back in the 1970s.
Duration : 0:2:24
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All sound recording and images are copyrighted by their respective copyright owners.
Copyright: Apple Corps Ltd., EMI Records Ltd., Parlophone (UK), Capitol Records (USA)
Members: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr
Writer: Lennon/McCartney
Producer: George Martin, Jeff Lynne, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr (”Real Love”)
Original Album Released: March 18, 1996
The Beatles Official Web Page: http://www.thebeatles.com/
EMI Music: http://www.emimusic.com/
Parlophone Records: http://www.parlophone.co.uk/
Capitol Records: http://www.capitolrecords.com/
“Eleanor Rigby” is a song by The Beatles, simultaneously released on the 1966 album Revolver and on a 45rpm single. The song was written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. With a double string quartet arrangement by George Martin, and striking lyrics about loneliness, the song continued the transformation of the group from a mainly pop-oriented act to a more serious and experimental studio band.
Inspiration:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Rigby#Inspiration
Historical artefacts:
n the 1980s, a grave of an Eleanor Rigby was discovered in the graveyard of St. Peter’s Parish Church in Woolton, Liverpool, and a few yards away from that, another tombstone with the last name McKenzie scrawled across it. During their teenage years, McCartney and Lennon spent time “sunbathing” there, within earshot of where the two had met for the first time during a fete in 1957. Many years later McCartney stated that the strange coincidence between reality and lyric could be a product of his subconscious, rather than being a meaningless fluke. The actual Eleanor Rigby was born in 1895 and lived in Liverpool, possibly in the suburb of Woolton, where she married a man named Thomas Woods. She died on 10 October 1939 at age 44. Whether this Eleanor was the inspiration for the song or not, her tombstone has become a landmark to Beatles fans visiting Liverpool. A digitised version was added to the 1995 music video for the Beatles’ reunion song “Free as a Bird”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Rigby#Historical_artefacts
Album:
Anthology 2 is a compilation album by The Beatles, released on Apple Records in March of 1996. It is the second of a three-volume collection, all of which tie-in with the televised special The Beatles Anthology, and contains “Real Love”, the second of the two recordings that reunited the Beatles by means of magnetic tape. Like its predecessor it topped the Billboard 200 album chart, and has been certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA.
Content:
Anthology 2 features outtakes, rarities, and alternative performances from the 1965 sessions for Help! to sessions just prior to their trip to India in February of 1968. It starts off with the second new Beatles track, “Real Love”, as with “Free As A Bird” again based on a demo made by John Lennon and given to Paul McCartney by Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono. The three surviving Beatles added guitars, bass, drums, percussion, and backing vocals, but unlike with the previous song, did not re-work either lyric or music. “Real Love” remained solely credited to Lennon, becoming the only Beatle song to have Lennon by himself in the writing credit.
Disc one contains three unreleased compositions, one being an instrumental entitled “12-Bar Original” recorded for Rubber Soul but subsequently unused. Two other songs recorded for Help!, “If You’ve Got Trouble” and “That Means a Lot”, were abandoned and never returned to again by the band. The former was originally slated to be the usual vocal spot for Ringo Starr on Help!, and the latter was eventually given to singer P.J. Proby. The version of “Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby” from the group’s famed August of 1965 show at Shea Stadium but left off the documentary appears here for the first time. “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” and “I’m Looking Through You” appear in early versions before they were remade in the forms known from their release on Rubber Soul.
Disc two contains work-in-progress versions of tracks from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour. “Your Mother Should Know” also appears in an early version different from the known release, and tracks one and 15 are demo recordings respectively by Lennon and McCartney. The take of “Strawberry Fields Forever” that made up the first minute of the released record appears in its entirety on track three. Although recorded or started during this period, “Only a Northern Song”, “You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)” and “Across the Universe” would not see release until years later, in 1969 and 1970.
One track that remains officially unreleased from this time, “Carnival of Light”, was vetoed off this set by George Harrison.
Reception:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthology_2#Reception
Duration : 0:2:8
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The history of four Liverpool lads and how their tremendous talent turned the world of the rock music upside down.
The songs of The Beatles played and performed inside:
The Royal Variety performance – “Twist And Shout”
“Please Mister Postman”, “Roll Over Beethoven”
Duration : 0:10:23
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I’m doing the play ‘Spoon River Anthology’. I’m supposed to sing the opening song, He’s Gone Away, and the Spoon River Reprise, but I can’t find a clear recording of either song, or guitar chord progressions. Help?? The lyrics are:
He’s gone away:
He’s gone away
For to stay a little while
But he’s coming back
If he goes 10,000 miles.
But who will buy my shoes,
And who will
Kiss my ruby lips
When he is gone?
Look away–
Look away–
Over yonder!
Spoon River Reprise:
But once having left, you can never return
there is no going back, there is only the yearn
you’re haunted, you’re hunted wherever you roam
spoon river, spoon river is calling you home
for the river is time and it flows toward the sea
and in leaving its banks, you are free, you are free
but you’re haunted. you’re hunted wherever you roam
Spoon river, spoon river is calling you home
Hey,
Ask your music teacher for the chords he or she will be using as they could differ from any of the ones posted on the net.
He’s Gone Away:
Here’s a version by Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins)
Your lyrics start at 0:44 seconds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZhVPuzg-1I
He’s gone away
For to stay a little while
But he’s coming back
If he goes 10,000 miles.
And who will tie my shoe
And who will glove my hand
And who will
Kiss my ruby lips
When he is gone?
Look away–
Look away–
……………
Here’s a good guitar rendition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG0Hc1GCy_I
One of the most listened to voices on radio from the mid 1960s through the early 1970s
belongs to The Grass Roots lead vocalist, Rob Grill.
Now, nearly 30 years later, one of the most recognized voices on Classic Rock stations
(one of the strongest formats in radio today) continues to be that of Rob Grill. During all
that time, Rob Grill and The Grass Roots have averaged over 100 live performances each
year.
Rob is a native of Hollywood, California where he attended Hollywood High School.
Soon after graduation, Rob began working at American Recording Studios with some of
his musician friends; Cory Wells and John Kay who later formed 3 Dog Night
Steppenwolf, respectively. Convinced to start his own band, Rob and 3 others formed
The Grass Roots. Teaming up with mega-hit producer Steve Barri (The Mamas & The
Papas, Tommy Roe, Four Tops and Dusty Springfield), The Grass Roots went on to
chart 29 singles; 13 of which went gold followed by 2 gold albums and 1 platinum
album. Their CD, The Grass Roots Anthology on Rhino Records, was released in 1993
and remains a strong seller today.
Here are some impressive facts about The Grass Roots:
1. In the entire history of Rock n Roll, only 9 bands (including The Beatles) have
charted more hits on Billboards Hot 100 than The Grass Roots.
2. The Grass Roots have appeared on over 50 national television shows including,
The Tonight Show, The Today Show, Ed Sullivan, Andy Williams,
Sonny & Cher, Good Morning America, VH1 Hit-Makers, MTV, and a
record 16 times on Dick Clarks American Bandstand.
3. The Grass Roots hold the all-time attendance record for a one act, US concert of
600,000 people on July 4th, 1982 in Washington, DC.
4. During a 6-year period (1967-1972) The Grass Roots set a record for being on the
Billboard charts an unbelievable 307 straight weeks!
5. The Grass Roots have sold over 20 million records worldwide.
While not in the midst of touring, Rob spends his time off at home in central Florida with
his wife, Nancy, a local radio personality. When touring, Rob sounds stronger today than
he did when he recorded all those great Grass Roots hits. Combine that with the Bands
sincere appreciation for all their fans and you have a show that is filled with solid gold
hits, solid entertainment, and memories that will not soon be forgotten!
Duration : 0:5:22
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Listen: http://bit.ly/dgD7gN / http://bit.ly/C9HQh
This new compilation CD from Black Tambourine covers all of this short-lived band’s recordings. For two years, this DC outfit blended their love of Phil Spector and the UK’s shoegaze movement into a unique brand of noise pop. It’s weird to hear such sweet, haunting songs nailed onto a harsh wall of distortion, but that’s what made Black Tambourine Black Tambourine. Though these guys never hit it big–and probably never will–they’re undoubtedly a big deal to bands like Vivian Girls, Dum Dum Girls, and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. If those bands are topping your Last.fm charts or getting a lot of replays on your MP3 player, then Black Tambourine should be your next musical destination, for sure. Even if they don’t win you over completely, their obscure place in American independent rock history is something to appreciate.
7/10
http://www.theneedledrop.com
Duration : 0:4:47
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Living is easy with eyes closed. Misunderstanding’s all you see. It’s getting hard to be someone but it all works out. It doesn’t matter much to me.
John Lennon wrote that in while filming "How I Won The War" in Spain in 1966. He had taken several acid trips on LSD. He wrote a song about his childhood and remembered a place called Strawberry Filed in Liverpool. The musical sounds are distorted by instruments recorded backwards and the electronic flute sounds of a Mellotron that John had and Paul played. The first demo recording of the song was John on his acoustic guitar. Later demo recordings feature Paul and George experimenting with sounds on the Mellotron and the electric guitar.
Somehow the idea came to John and George Martin to add an orchestra to the production. A brass section was recorded on one take. A string section was recorded on another take.
"I kinda like the bits in both," John said to George Martin.
George Martin gave John a wry remark. "Well John first of all each take is played in two different keys and secondly they are recorded in two different tempos."
But John, being John, simply pleaded with his producer to sort it out somehow and patch the two takes into one.
And so the speed of one take was slowed down on one take and the speed of the second take was sped up so that both takes would be in the same key while the tempos changed accordingly like two different sections of one piece blended together. This collaboration heightened the psychedelic atmosphere of the song and produced a trippy atmosphere in the final mix.
Here are a few sources.
Strawberry Fields Promo film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A4r2RU1u3g
John Lennon demo 1966
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD2h0WuQ9kE&feature=related
The Anthology SFF demo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P9yKHyGThg&feature=related
Some interesting background of the song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylI0S1v9B3k&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7NoOhmVMac&a=IHI9vW793Is&playnext_from=ML
Sped up alternative mix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRhZRIA6rh0&feature=related
SFF Takes 1-4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLt5D5gsOhI&feature=related
SFF Takes 5-7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssJ-E7mTF98&feature=related
Take 1 added reverb on Anthology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8voBGjpk80I&feature=related
There is tons more stuff on this. Is that thorough enough for you Beatlemaniacs?
Great job with a very informative posting, Nowhere Man! The ten points are yours..
I had a girlfriend who loved the SFF experiments more than anything else on the Anthology Discs..
I passed up a bootleg of nothing but SFF isolated trax at a Beatles fair once, and have always regretted it….Quite possibly rock’s most fascinating single of all time..I loved that it was paired with Penny Lane, which was so disarmingly sweet and safe….
Lennon/McCartney…..nice pair!
Of Anthology volume 6
Que D released several twelve inch white label singles with various record labels in the U.S. and abroad; Quite Delicious (12 inch, Fat Beats), Still Bangin (12 inch, Up Above – Japan), Rock Box (featured on both Urban Underground Compilation Vol.1 – UK release and Mushroom Jazz Vol. 3 Compilation) and Cash Flow (feat. Frank of Frank n Dank) (featured on Honeymoon Compilation by DJ Cam). He has writing credits on the most recent Slum Village albums Trinity, Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit) and their eponymous release, Slum Village. He appeared on Dirty District Volume 1, Dirty District Volume 2 and 3, compilations of Detroit hip hop on Barak Records. He also appeared on Black Milk’s full length album Sound of the City, Vol. 1 released in 2005. He is also featured on Frank n Dank’s European Vacation CD/DVD.
In 2004 he released a 12 inch single titled “Still Bangin’ “, on Up Above Records, Royal Flyness Records.[1]
Duration : 0:4:12
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John Farnham is regarded as Australia’s top performing artist, with a career spanning three decades. Born in Essex, England, John immigrated to Australia in 1959 at the age of 10. Since his debut in 1967 he has had numerous successes as a solo performer. His solo album Whispering Jack (1986) continues to be Australia biggest selling album of all time by a local artist, with sales in excess of 1.4 million, and for which Farnham was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award by the Australian Record Industry Association. In addition to local success, Whispering Jack and the single You’re the Voice were chart-topping hits throughout Europe, England and Canada. The multi-award winning singer was named Australian of the Year in 1988. In 1989, Farnham was invited to launch the Greenpeace’s ‘Rainbow Warriors’ album in Moscow. In 1992, he recorded the role of Jesus for the Australian cast of Jesus Christ Superstar – The Album then toured with the stage production. In the same year, he was awarded the coveted Australian Music Awards’ Crystal Trophy for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry, On Australia Day 1996, he was honoured with the Order of Australia for Services to Music and Charity. Farnham has undertaken numerous local and international tours throughout his career, including a national Australian tour with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra amongst his achievements. His Australian tours are renowned for breaking attendance records, specifically the Chain Reaction Tour in 1990 during which there were eight sell-out performances at Melbourne Park. His 1996 Jack of Hearts – Live in the Round Australian tour, a $5 million production, was broadcast live on national television and simulcast on national radio concurrently. Since Whispering Jack, Farnham has released Age of Reason, Chain Reaction, Full House, Then Again and Romeo’s Heart, all of which have an impressive list of credits with respect to awards and record sales. In late 1997, the Anthology series was released: Anthology 1 (3 times Platinum), Anthology 2 (Platinum) and Anthology 3 (Gold). In the same year, Farnham was recognised as the Most Broadcast Australian Recording Artist by the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia. In 1998, John toured Australia with Olivia Newton-John and Anthony Warlow in ‘The Main Event’, accompanied by The John Farnham Band and a 40 piece orchestra, a phenomenal production which sold close to 300,000 tickets in a limited season. The album, “Highlights from The Main Event” reached Quad Platinum status within four weeks of release. The “I Can’t Believe He’s 50″ tour followed in 1999, in celebration of John’s 50th birthday.
Duration : 0:3:37
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Tekitha – I Love You So (Original) – Razor Sharp Records – Los Anthology
Duration : 0:4:45
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