Posted on 06/20/2022 8:50:10 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
I get my Beatles fandom honest. My mom turned me on to the Fab Four at an early age, and although her tastes lean heavily toward the early, Beatlemania days, that exposure to their music served as a gateway drug to their whole catalog.
Nearly every Beatles fan has his or her favorite Beatle, and I knew early on that mine was Paul McCartney. John Lennon? He always came across as pretentious and obnoxious — a bit of an ass, if you will. (Although I’ve read that he came close to embracing both conservatism and Christianity before he was killed, so who knows what he could have become?) George Harrison? The “spiritual one” was a bit too weird for my tastes. Ringo Starr? He’s an amazing drummer, but after the Beatles, he became sort of…campy.
But there was Paul. Critics often dismissed him as lightweight, but with the Beatles, Paul had an affinity for old-fashioned songcraft that helped make the Fab Four’s music stand the test of time. From early on, a sense of devotion characterized Beatles tunes.
He could write gorgeous rockers, but fans could also count on him for some of the most gorgeous quiet moments in the Beatles’ canon, as well as some chamber-pop masterpieces. He did as much as John Lennon in terms of stretching the band beyond its early, party-music days.
Paul could also do nostalgia masterfully, a trait that stemmed from his affinity for the music his father exposed him to during his youth.
Although many people think of John Lennon as the artistic force behind the Beatles, Paul was the driving force behind the band’s two best albums: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have two of the best albums in music history.
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
Jojo probably did more drugs.
Yes. I would rank them as abbey road, sgt pepper then maybe revolver. Abbey road was the pinnacle and last thing they recorded. They went out at their peak.
I just heard "Listen to What The Man Said" a few days ago and it brought back such fond memories from 1975. That song was coming out of every car radio during that summer.
I pretty much agree. I was a huge Beatles fan when I was younger. Listened to their albums constantly during college in the 70's. I don't listen to them as much now. I don't listen to the "yeah, yeah, yeah!" stuff at all. My favorite period is 1965-1967. I like Rubber Soul, Revolver & Sgt. Pepper and the singles that came during that period like We Can Work it Out, Day Tripper, Paperback Writer, Rain, Strawberry Fields, Penny Lane.
Thank Joe. The strings are divine.
My personal favorite song by Paul McCartney is Penny Lane. While it’s attributed to Lennon McCartney, Paul was the primary writer.
The lyrics are quirky, and he paints such a beautiful little picture of a lost age.
I also love his song, Martha My Dear — which is a touching song to his Old English Sheepdog, Martha. The horns in it alone kill me. And it’s a song to his favorite dog, can’t beat that.
Second worst. John and Yoko’s “Merry Xmas (War is Over)” is by far the worst.
Live and Let Die was all George Martin.
The credit I give to McCartney is he absorbed the things he learned from George Martin.
Still love the “Ram” album, when Paul still had the right mix of pop and avant-garde.
Emerson Fittipaldi, the champion Formula 1 racer, says George came to faith in Jesus before he died. Harrison had adopted Hindu beliefs for many years.
It was pretty easy to tell who was the primary creator of practically ever Lennon-McCartney song. Just listen to who sings the lead.
He was also a natural-born dumbass.
Ahhh yes, silent George!
One of the reasons I love the Beatles’ album, ABBEY ROAD is it featured two great songs written and performed by George Harrison — SOMETHING and HERE COMES THE SUN.
It also featured a song written and sang by Ringo — Octopus Garden.
RE: Abbey road was the pinnacle and last thing they recorded. They went out at their peak.
One of the reasons I love the Beatles’ album, ABBEY ROAD is it featured two great songs written and performed by George Harrison — SOMETHING and HERE COMES THE SUN.
It also featured a song written and sang by Ringo — Octopus Garden.
“Revolver” is my favorite Beatles album too. After I swiped my parents’ copy a few times to play on my “kid” record player, they gave it to me and bought a new album for themselves.
and today, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys turns 80
My BFF, another close friend and I saw Wings at RFK Stadium in DC in the late 80s. Like most, if not all people at the concert, we were there to see Paul McCartney.
We had to listen to a very short anti-meat statement at the beginning and there was no meat sold at any of the concession stands (we ate at a restaurant before the concert), but otherwise, it was a great show.
We couldn’t help but notice that everyone stayed rooted in their seats during the Beatles songs (and there were many, much to our delight) and went to the restroom or concessions during the Wings songs. LOL
Beatle mania memorabilia is losing demand and value as the boomers age out. Earlier this hear I sold a great collection of it my sister accumulated in real time while it happened between 1963-1970. Got $120 for it when 15-20 years ago it would have brought $500.
Yes. 1976 SNL had George Harrison and Paul Simon performing here comes the sun. Great rendition.
There is also a forgotten tune by Lennon on AR called Because. Multiple tracks of Paul, John and George singing in luscious harmony. Stunning harmonies. Geoff Emerick’s book details what they did to create these pieces.
Tomorrow never knows on revolver was highly compressed which was unusual for those days. I know this because in recording it on my reel to reel the VU meters hardly moved at all. Highly compressed drums, sitar and sound effects with Lennon’s voice through a Leslie.
Lol when they say, “And here is a song from our latest album!”, they might as well say, “Good time for a bathroom break or get more beers!”
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