Smile Away – Ram ‘71 a Fun, Little Rocking Tune – It’S Considered One of the More Inconsequential Tracks on the Album
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1 PLAYLIST June 12th 2016 1 2 9AM The Beatles - I Feel Fine- A Collection Of Oldies (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John The Beatles’ eighth single release for EMI’s Parlophone label. Recorded in nine takes on October 18, 1964. Written entirely by John Lennon. He based the guitar riff on Bobby Parker’s obscure R&B record “Watch Your Step.” The recording marked the first occasion in which guitar feedback had been deliberately incorporated into a pop song. The sound was achieved by Paul plucking a single bass string and John getting amplifier feedback from his guitar. Issued in the U.S. on November 23, 1964, and in U.K. four days later. Not included on the “Beatles For Sale” LP, which was released on December 4, 1964 in the UK. On U.S. albums: Beatles ‘65 - Capitol LP UK: Non-album single (A-side) On UK album: A Collection of Beatles Oldies - Parlophone LP (1966) The Beatles - Eight Days A Week - Beatles For Sale (Lennon-McCartney) 2 3 Lead vocal: John Recorded primarily on October 6, 1964. It is the first instance of the Beatles taking an unfinished idea into the studio and experimenting with different approaches to a song. “Eight Days A Week” is the first pop song with a fade-in introduction. Written mostly by Paul, the title was taken from a line spoken by a limo driver. McCartney: “I was being driven over to visit John. The chauffeur was talking away to me, saying how hard his boss worked the staff, so hard that they seem to do eight days a week. We’ve altered the plot a bit for the song, of course. The bloke loves the girl eight days a week.” In later years John Lennon incorrectly referred to this title in interviews as the original working title for the film “Help!” The actual working title of “Help!” was “Eight Arms To Hold You.” On September 20, 1964 as the band and their entourage flew to their final North American Tour concert destination, the press corps on board the Beatles private plane witnessed from a distance, careful not to interrupt, the four Beatles huddled together working on a new song. John, Paul, and George on guitars and Ringo tapping his knees, and all humming the tune of what would become “Eight Days A Week.” Released as a single b/w “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party” in the U.S. on February 15, 1965. On U.S. album: Beatles VI - Capitol LP The Beatles - If I Fell - A Hard Day’s Night (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John and Paul John Lennon’s stunning ballad “If I Fell” was by far the most complex song he had written to date. It could be considered a progression from “This Boy” with its similar chord structure and intricate harmonies by John and Paul, recorded – at their request – together on one microphone. Performed live on their world tour throughout the summer of 1964. Completed in 15 takes on February 27, 1964. Flip side of “And I Love Her” in the U.S. 3 4 On U.S. album: A Hard Day’s Night - United Artists LP Something New - Capitol LP The Beatles - Things We Said Today - A Hard Day’s Night (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul Written in May 1964 on board a yacht called Happy Days during Paul McCartney's holiday in the Virgin Islands with his girlfriend Jane Asher, plus Ringo Starr and his future wife Maureen. Recorded in three takes on June 2, 1964. In his 1980 interview with Playboy magazine John Lennon remembered this being one of Paul’s better songs. McCartney double tracked his vocals. John Lennon's piano part was meant to be omitted from the final mix, but lack of separation between instruments meant that its sound leaked into other microphones during recording. As a result it can be heard on the released version. The b-side of the UK “A Hard Day’s Night” single. On U.S. album: Something New - Capitol LP * (Pick person in crowd for 66) BREAK 4 from `64 to kick off this live edition of BWTB How about we slip a year and jump to 1966…somebody wanna pick a song from 1966? The Beatles - I Want To Tell You - Revolver (Harrison) 4 5 Lead vocal: George The backing track was recorded in five takes on June 2, 1966. George Harrison's third song on “Revolver,” was, he later said, "about the avalanche of thoughts that are so hard to write down or say or transmit." Once again Harrison had no idea what to call his composition. The band briefly kicked around random ideas, and the song was recorded under the working title “Laxton's Superb,” a type of apple. It later became known as “I Don't Know,” which was George’s answer when producer George Martin asked whether Harrison had come up with a title. By the day of the final mix (June 6, 1966), Harrison had settled on the title “I Want To Tell You.” Contains the first bass overdub on a Beatles record. Paul had his bass recorded on a different track really allowed for more options when it came time to mix the song. On U.S. album: Revolver - Capitol LP The Beatles - The Word - Rubber Soul (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John Recorded in three takes at a late night session starting on November 10, 1965 that ran until 4 a.m. the next morning. Overdubs include Paul on piano, George Martin on harmonium, and Ringo playing the maracas. The song is a full collaboration between Lennon and McCartney, and began as an attempt to write a song based around a single note. On U.S. album: Rubber Soul - Capitol LP The Beatles - Glass Onion - The Beatles (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John In 1980 John described “Glass Onion” as one of his “throwaways,” but the word play in the song is fascinating. Aside from many references to other Beatles songs, listeners were probably left guessing what Lennon meant by phrases such as “bent backed tulips,” “cast iron shore,” and “dovetail joint.” Specifically the phrase “looking through the bent backed tulips to see how the other half lives” referred to a floral arrangement on display at the posh London restaurant Parkes. The Cast Iron Shore is a name for Liverpool’s beach, and a dovetail joint is not a drug reference, but a type of construction wood joint. The title “Glass Onion” is British slang for monocle (or eye piece), and was one of the names suggested by John for the Iveys, an Apple band that changed its name to Badfinger. 5 6 The Beatles - I Am The Walrus – Magical Mystery Tour (EP) (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John The Beatles’ sixteenth single release for EMI’s Parlophone label. On U.S. album: Magical Mystery Tour - Capitol LP 1967 saw the release of the Beatles’ greatest single combination (“Strawberry Fields Forever”/”Penny Lane”), their most critically-acclaimed album to date (“Sgt. Pepper”), a worldwide audience was clamoring to purchase their “All You Need Is Love” single, and, as December rolled around, they were enjoying yet another number one single for the record books (“Hello, Goodbye”/”I Am The Walrus”) and the double-EP set for the music from “Magical Mystery Tour” was selling briskly and would land at or near the top of the singles charts in Great Britain. The Beatles were on a roll. What could possibly go wrong? 6 7 From start to finish, “Magical Mystery Tour” was Paul McCartney’s brainchild. Of course, the idea looked great on paper, but the reality of creating a 50-minute film without sufficient advance planning or having the always necessary “Plan B” ready to go, proved to be a fatal flaw for a project that seemed to be being written as the film camera rolled. On December 26, 1967, Boxing Day in England, BBC-TV ran the cobbled together mish-mash that was “Magical Mystery Tour” to what had to be a jaw-dropping reaction from fans. For four years the Beatles could do no wrong and everything they touched turned to gold. On their first major misstep critics pounced and fans were certainly disappointed. The failure of the project left a stain on what was otherwise a magnificent year for the Beatles. When the TV movie was blasted by critics and fans alike, it was McCartney that received the blame. The Beatles - Maggie Mae - Let It Be (Trad. arr. Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starkey) Lead vocal: John During the casual “Get Back” sessions in January 1969, the Beatles would veer unexpectedly into different songs while trying to find their groove. Usually the impromptu jamming took them through old rock ‘n roll songs (“Shake Rattle and Roll,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Bye Bye Love,” and the like). In between takes of Paul’s “Two Of Us,” on January 24, 1969, the group performed a traditional Liverpool folk song about a prostitute who robbed a sailor. The song is believed to date back to the early 19th century. At just 38-seconds, it is the second shortest song in the group's official catalogue; the briefest is “Her Majesty” A little something for everyone in that first set… 9.26 BREAK Hey kids next Sunday Fathers Day / LIVE at Anaheim Hilton – ALL PAUL B’day Show/ w/ Wings Denny Laine…Hot Wheels cars! And since next week will be 3 hours of McCartney…here’s John Lennon. 7 8 John Lennon – Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) Inspired by a conversation with Yoko’s ex-husband, Tony Cox in Denmark two days earlier – John woke up and started banging out a new tune on the piano – which he completed in an hour.