1 BWTB Playlist August 23rd 2015 Special guest author Ivor Davis 9AM/Open And lets start with George Harrison who has a word …or two…for you. The Beatles - Think For Yourself - Rubber Soul (Harrison) Lead vocal: George The fifth original composition by George Harrison to be recorded by The Beatles was completed on November 8, 1965 in one take with overdubs under the working title “Won’t Be There With You.” The song features Paul playing his bass through a fuzz box to give it a distorted sound. On U.S. album: Rubber Soul - Capitol LP The Beatles - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Lennon-McCartney) 2 Lead vocal: John Recorded March 1, 1967. John Lennon’s classic song of psychedelic imagery was inspired by a drawing brought home by son, Julian, who was four years old at the time. In February 1967, Julian returned home from his nursery school with a painting depicting one of his classmates, Lucy O’Donnell. Young Lucy was pictured with a background of stars in the sky. When asked by his father about his painting, Julian said it was “Lucy, in the sky, with diamonds.” John was so taken with the phrase he combined it with passages similar to two books by Lewis Carroll that he’d loved as a child, “Through The Looking Glass” and “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Paul added the line about “newspaper taxis” and Lennon’s beloved “Goon Show” got a shout out. Their famed “plasticine ties” merged with “Through the Looking Glass” to become “plasticine porters with looking glass ties.” Work began on “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” with an evening full of rehearsals. The rhythm track was recorded on March 1 with Paul playing the opening riff on a Lowery organ (with a bell stop), George on acoustic guitar, Ringo on drums and John on maracas and offering a guide vocal. John’s lead vocal and other instruments (George’s tamboura, Paul’s melodic bass) were added the next evening. The Beatles - She’s A Woman (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul Recorded in seven takes on October 8, 1964, take 6 is the released version. Written by Paul McCartney while waking around St. John’s Wood the morning of the recording session and finished at home before heading off to Abbey Road studios. Issued in the 3 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. The B-side of “I Feel Fine.” On U.S. albums: Beatles ‘65 - Capitol LP UK: Non-album single (B-side) The Beatles - Penny Lane - Non-LP track (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul The Beatles’ fourteenth single release for EMI’s Parlophone label. Following the disastrous 1966 world tour the individual Beatles took control of their hectic schedule. They were no longer in a rush to do anything. In September 1966, Brian Epstein informed EMI and Capitol that there would be no new Beatles album, and quite possibly no single, ready in time for the 1966 Christmas season. EMI quickly assembled a 16-track greatest hits album (“A Collection Of Beatles Oldies”). In the U.S., Capitol did not release a hits compilation and instead waited impatiently for a new single. The band reconvened in late November to begin work on their next LP. With no deadlines, they simply brought in new songs as they dreamt them up. Contains at least TWO slightly slang obscenities (“finger pie” and “keeps his fire engine clean”). On U.S. album: Magical Mystery Tour - Capitol LP 4 BREAK Up next one of those songs that just sounds better on Sunday morning…as opposed to say Monday morning. Here’s Johnny. John Lennon – Bless You - Walls And Bridges ‘74 This track was an ode to Yoko during the “Lost Weekend” phase. It is considered by some to be one of John’s most tender solo compositions. Paul McCartney & Wings – My Love – Red Rose Speedway ‘73 Another massive hit for Paul and a great shot in the arm after being derided by critics, who were still unimpressed by McCartney’s solo efforts. This song was written about Linda and has become a staple in McCartney’s live set list. “My Love” was also released as a single in March 1973, reaching #1 on the US charts, with a #9 showing in the UK. 5 The Beatles - Something - Abbey Road (Harrison) Lead vocal: George The Beatles’ twenty-first single release for EMI, and fourth on the Apple Records label. Although initially crediting Lennon and McCartney as the songwriters, legendary crooner Frank Sinatra called George Harrison’s “Something” “the greatest love song ever written.” Commonly referred to as George’s first Beatles A-side, some sales chart makers at the time considered the single a “double-A,” as both sides of the record received significant radio airplay, and charted both “Something” and its flip side (John’s “Come Together”) as one combined chart listing. The song is the first of two CLASSIC songs George delivered for the “Abbey Road” album, the other being “Here Comes The Sun.” It was a phenomenal one-two punch that had to have Lennon and McCartney wondering what else Harrison had up his sleeve. Some easy listening Beatles for yer Sunday morning Aug. 23rd 2015….(read em follow w/ adding long quiz tones…) QUIZ # 1/ Let’s Play it was 50 years ago today. 800-955-KLOS 6 Where were the Beatles 50 years ago today? 9.27 BREAK Winner HERE________ The Beatles had arrived in Los Angeles shortly before midnight on 22 August 1965. They had five days of rest prior to their concerts in San Diego, San Francisco and the Hollywood Bowl, which concluded their North American tour. The group rented a large house at 2850 Benedict Canyon Drive in Beverly Hills, which was owned by actress Zsa Zsa Gabor. Less than 12 hours after their arrival, however, the address had been announced by radio stations, and the LAPD were called in to keep fans away from the property. A group of security men from the Burns Agency were also on hand to offer protection. 7 In the evening The Beatles went to a party at the Bel Air home of Capitol Records' president Alan Livingstone, where they were presented with a number of awards. Also present were Edward G Robinson, Jack Benny, Vince Edwards, Gene Barry, Richard Chamberlain, Jane Fonda, Rock Hudson, Groucho Marx, Dean Martin, Hayley Mills and James Stewart. While in LA!!! John wrote this song after a hang with Crosby & Fonda…not Bing and Henry The Beatles - She Said She Said - Revolver (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John The rhythm track was finished in three takes on June 21, 1966, the final day of recording for “Revolver.” When the recording session started the song was untitled. The key line came from a real-life incident. On August 24, 1965, during a break in Los Angeles from their North American Tour, The Beatles rented a house on Mulholland Drive. They played host to notables such as Roger McGuinn and David Crosby of the Byrds, actors and actresses, and a bevy of beautiful women, “From Playboy, I believe,” Lennon remembered. John, high on acid, found himself in a strange conversation with actor Peter Fonda, who kept coming up to him and whispering, “I know what it’s like to be dead.” As a child, Fonda had a near-death experience after accidentally shooting himself on the stomach. The song was a last-minute addition to the “Revolver,” rehearsed and recorded on the final day of sessions when the band discovered they were one song short. McCartney recalls getting into an argument with John and leaving 8 the studio. He believes this is one of the only Beatle records he didn’t play on. It is assumed George played the bass in McCartney’s absence. John sings the lead vocal and plays the organ, and John and George double-tracked the backing vocals. On U.S. album: Revolver - Capitol LP Wings – Getting Closer This song had been lying around since 1974 in an unfinished form. This was the first time in five years that a leadoff single from the album was a “rocker.” This may have had to do with why the single didn’t perform as well, as the audience who had expected some lighter material. The Beatles – I’ll Follow The Sun - Beatles For Sale 100% pure McCartney. Written pre- Beatles? 9 Recorded Oct. 18th, 1964. Musicians: Paul McCartney – lead vocal, acoustic guitar; John Lennon – harmony vocal, acoustic guitar; George Harrison – lead guitar; Ringo Starr – knees(?) This was written in the late-fifties when Paul was sixteen years old (not bad for a little kid – I didn’t learn to ride a bike ‘til I was twenty!). Pete Best remembered that he used to busk it on the piano, in-between sets at The Kaiserkeller. It may well be the earliest song that they ever committed to tape. Nobody’s sure what Ringo’s playing, but he might be pounding out the beat on his knees. (Or maybe it’s someone else’s knees!) McCartney 1.00 Lead vocal Paul US - Capitol LP Beatles '65 The Beatles - Every Little Thing - Beatles For Sale (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John (with Paul on the choruses) Written primarily by Paul between and recorded on September 29 and 30, 1964 in nine takes. Ringo makes his debut on timpani (the orchestral drum instrument), which appears only on the final take (Take 9) of the song.