FReeper Canteen - Christmas Music Dedication - 21 Dec 2013

Our Troops Rock!!!!! | The Canteen DJ Elves

[Drumbo]

In early 1965, The Beatles hit Abbey Road studios for their sessions for their sixth album "Rubber Soul". It was the first Beatles' album (other than the British version of "A Hard Day's Night") which contained original Beatles material only. "Rubber Soul" was successful commercially and critically, and is often cited as one of the greatest albums in music history. In 2012, Rubber Soul was ranked #5 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time".

Lyrically, the album was a major progression. Though a smattering of earlier Beatles songs had expressed romantic doubt and negativity, the songs on "Rubber Soul" represented a pronounced development in sophistication, thoughtfulness and ambiguity. In particular, the relationships between the sexes moved from simpler boy-girl love songs to more nuanced and negative portrayals. "Run For Your Life" is often cited as the first stalker song in pop history.

The major differences in these cuts is George Martin's production value and stereo separation applied to the master in the post production mix. While the stereo version of the original release of "Rubber Soul" was similar to that of their earliest albums, featuring mainly vocals on the right channel and instruments on the left, it was not produced in the same manner. The early albums were recorded on twin-track tape, and they were intended only for production of monaural records, so they kept vocals and instruments separated allowing the two parts to later be mixed in proper proportion. By this time, however, the Beatles were recording on four-track tape, which allowed a stereo master to be produced with vocals in the center and instruments on both sides, as evidenced in their prior albums "Beatles for Sale" and "Help!". Looking for a way to easily produce a stereo album which sounded good on a monaural record player, Martin mixed down the four-track master tape to stereo with vocals on the right, instruments on the left, and nothing in the middle.

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

Run For Your Life (Take 5 - Monaural)
~ The Beatles ~

Run For Your Life (Stereo Master)
~ The Beatles ~

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[Professional Engineer]

Heh heh heh.

[Drumbo]

Ellas Otha Bates who wrote under the name of Ellas McDaniel and was known by his stage name Bo Diddley was also known as The Originator because of his key role in the transition from the blues to rock, influencing a host of acts, including Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Velvet Underground, The Who, The Yardbirds, Eric Clapton, Elvis Presley and The Beatles, among many others. He introduced an insistent, driving rhythm and a hard-edged electric guitar sound on a wide-ranging catalog of songs, along with African rhythms and a signature beat (a simple five-accent clave rhythm known as the Bo Diddley Beat) that remains a cornerstone of rock and pop.

On November 20, 1955, he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, where he infuriated the host. "I did two songs and he got mad," Bo Diddley later recalled. "Ed Sullivan said that I was one of the first colored boys to ever double-cross him. Said that I wouldn't last six months". The show had requested that he sing the Merle Travis-penned Tennessee Ernie Ford hit "Sixteen Tons", but when he appeared on stage, he sang his signature "Bo Diddley" instead. This substitution resulted in his being banned from further appearances. Diddley was an excellent story teller whose stories varied from time to time, however, Diddley contended to friends and family that he was not trying to double-cross Sullivan and attributed the "misunderstanding" to the fact that when he saw "Bo Diddley" on a cue card, he was under the impression he was to perform two songs, "Bo Diddley" and "Sixteen Tons".

Perhaps his most influential contribution was the blues standard "Mannish Boy" also know as "I'm A Man" and covered by a wide range of artists too numerous to mention. Included here are three notable Bo Diddley versions: a rare early session in 1955 for Chess Records, The Chess Master and a rousing version featuring Bo and Muddy Watters "cutting heads" in 1967 with Little Walter (Marion Walter Jacobs) playing harmonica.

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

I'm A Man (alternate take)
~ Bo Diddley ~

I'm A Man (Chess Master)
~ Bo Diddley ~

I'm a Man
~ Bo Diddly, Muddy Waters & Little Walter ~

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[Drumbo]

The Beatles first recorded this Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller classic combining it with Richard Penniman's (Little Richard) "Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!" in 1963 at the BBC. In August of 1964, they dusted it off at EMI Studios in London for their fourth album "Beatles For Sale". Their grueling tour schedule left little time for writing or rehearsal so it was natural to fall back on their Hamburg and Liverpool standbys including Chuck Berry's "Rock and Roll Music", Buddy Holly's "Words of Love", and two by Carl Perkins, "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby" and "Honey Don't". A cover of Little Willie John's "Leave My Kitten Alone" was recorded at the same session, but rejected from inclusion on the finished album.



Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

Kansas City (Live At The BBC)
~ The Beatles ~

Kansas City (For Sale Sessions - Take Two)
~ The Beatles ~

Kansas City (Stereo Master)
~ The Beatles ~

Leave My Kitten Alone
~ The Beatles ~

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[Drumbo]

This manic take written by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown from 1968 is one of the dozens of Cream songs that were never included on an album during the band's heyday. Bruce has trouble cramming all the lyrics into the up-tempo phrases and Eric Clapton seems less than enthused with the droning guitar parts. While fitting the classic Cream template it is obviously sub-standard for the supergroup.

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

Hey Now Princess (Demo)
~ Cream ~

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[Drumbo]

In January, 1966, this single hit #1 on the UK Chart and peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 (edged out by their own song "Help!"). The major difference here is again the post production mix of George Martin, the man behind the curtain. His use of reverb on the lead guitar, echo to "sweeten" the vocals and stereo mix down puts a new dimension on the already superior performance.

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

Day Tripper (Take 3)
~ The Beatles ~

Day Tripper (George Martin Master)
~ The Beatles ~

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[Drumbo]

When it comes to rarities some of us collectors get a big kick out of our secret stash of radio and television advertisements and commercials. Over the years, dozens of bands have "sold out" to the corporate masters who made them offers they couldn't refuse. Coca~Cola has long been a sponsor of the "hipsters" hawking their product.

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

1965 Coca-Cola Commercial
~ Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons ~

1965 Coca-Cola Commercial "Go-Go Better with Coke" (60 sec)
~ Jan and Dean ~

1965 Coca-Cola Commercial "Go-Go Wild" (90 sec)
~ Jan and Dean ~

1965 Coca-Cola Jingle (60 sec)
~ Jan and Dean ~

1967 Coca-Cola Commercial
~ The Moody Blues ~

1969 Coca-Cola Commercial
~ The Moody Blues ~

1969 Coca-Cola Commercial
~ Vanilla Fudge ~

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[Drumbo]

Of course, not to be left behind, other beverage makers have employed superstars as well:

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

1965 Pepsi Commercial
~ Del Shannon with The Royal Tones ~

1969 Falstaff Beer Commercial
~ Cream ~

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[Drumbo]

This record was part of “Columbia Special Productions” and was “Created Exclusively for Chevrolet Dealers”. It's a rare single by Paul Revere & the Raiders recorded for Chevrolet (distributed exclusively at its dealerships). "SS396" was originally backed with The Raiders doing "Corvair Baby" in 1966. The following year, when Chevy rolled out the Camaro, "SS396" was re-mastered and released as the B-Side to “Camaro” by The Cyrkle. In those days, a visit to the local Chevy showroom scored you a free 45 (RPM).

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

'66 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396
~ Paul Revere & The Raiders ~

Of course soft drinks, beer and cars weren't the only products being promoted in the 60's by Rock'n'Rollers. Here's one of mine and mylife's all-time favorites - I mean seriously, how many kids were guitar players anyhow? (Guitar not included.)

1967 Vox Wah-Wah Pedal Commercial
~ The Electric Prunes ~

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[Drumbo]

Recorded as the B side for the "Help!" single in 1965, this song was not included on the "Help!" album or in the motion picture. It was essentially a filler to back the "Help!" single. At the beginning of the rehearsal McCartney says, "Let's hope this one turns out pretty darn good" in a faux American accent. During the session, particularly between takes one and two, McCartney can be heard repeating the phrase "Plastic soul, man, plastic soul". He later revealed that the phrase, which the Beatles later adapted for the title of their album "Rubber Soul", was used by black musicians to describe Mick Jagger.

The first take is noticeably missing John and George's background vocals. Initially obscure, the song has notably been covered by Heart, Adrian Belew, Jay Ferguson, Aerosmith, Deacon Blue, The Kentucky Headhunters, YES, The Beastie Boys and The Reatards.

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

I'm Down (Outtake)
~ The Beatles ~

I'm Down (Master)
~ The Beatles ~

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[Drumbo]

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

You Won't Have To Cry (Demo)
~ The Byrds ~

You Won't Have To Cry (Master)
~ The Byrds ~

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[Drumbo]

After visiting the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India and having a particularly productive songwriting session at George Harrison's Esher house in early 1968, the group returned to the studio, recording from May to October 1968, resulting in "The White Album". The copious acoustic writing sessions have become known among collectors as "The Esher Demos" and have for years been highly treasured rarities.

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

Cry Baby Cry (Esher Demo)
~ The Beatles ~

Cry Baby Cry (Master)
~ The Beatles ~

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[Drumbo]

Here's anther early Van Halen demo from the Cherokee Studios sessions that never saw the light of day.

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

Piece of Mind (1975 Cherokee Demo)
~ Van Halen ~

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[AZamericonnie]

You’re an absolute treasure, you know that?

Such a fantastic collection & commentary! *Hugs*

Merry Christmas Drumbo Thunder!

[Drumbo]

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

Jemima Surrender (Alternate Take)
~ The Band ~

Jemima Surrender (Master)
~ The Band ~

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[Drumbo]

While I've posted a lot of my secret stash recently, I've never quite thrown open the treasure chest as I have the last two weekends. There's a hoarding mentality among "collectors", to keep their stuff a secret, only to be shared when some other collector has a much prized possession to be traded for. I've done my share of that, but in the 12+ years I've been spinning songs in the Canteen I've come across innumerable treasures as well as lasting FRiendships that are beyond explanation. :)

There's no better time than Christmas to share my passion with the folks I've come to love and treasure more than a few tunes. The argument that rarities cease to be rare when they become widely available no longer holds any sway with me. In this day an age there's nothing you can't get almost instantly from the dozens of file sharing sites and mp3 stores on the Internet, not to mention youtube and social media. I have no mp3 store or youtube channel, but I do have a passion for music that exceeds that of your average bear. My place is here with my FRiends sharing that knowledge and as I said last week, useless trivia.

[Drumbo]

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

I'm Only Sleeping (Rehearsal Take 1)
~ The Beatles ~

I'm Only Sleeping (Instrumental Rehearsal)
~ The Beatles ~

I´m Only Sleeping
~ The Beatles ~

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[Drumbo]

This early Roger Waters demo eventually evolved into the song "Julia Dream" from Pink Floyd's 1971 album Relics.

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

Julia Dream (demo)
~ Roger Waters ~

Julia Dream (Master)
~ Pink Floyd ~

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[Drumbo]

Here's a snatch of a song recorded by George Harrison meant for his 1970 album, "The Art Of Dying". Besides a lack of lyrics and a few errant chords it's lovely.

Demos, Out-takes and Rarities

Beautiful Girl (Demo)
~ George Harrison ~

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[mylife]

Love it!