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Post by funhouse on Feb 4, 2019 10:13:55 GMT -5
Not White Album but I was listening to Abbey Road last night and I forgot how mediocre Maxwell's Silver Hammer is. One of their worst tracks, ever. Can't stand Because anymore too. It's a shit song, innit ?On the other hand, Octopus's Garden is really underrated. Finest Ringo work. Wrong! (but right about Octopus's Garden) That medley is fucking overrated though. That's too bad, because the first half of Abbey Road is the greatest thing they ever did.
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Post by The Escapist on Feb 4, 2019 13:19:12 GMT -5
Every track on Abbey Road is fantastic.
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Post by theyknowwhatimean on Feb 4, 2019 14:55:56 GMT -5
Every single track on Abbey Road is fantastic. I wouldn't say Maxwell's Silver Hammer is fantastic, but it is pretty good. And Because is great!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2019 18:13:34 GMT -5
Per me, the 2 best songs on Abbey Road are Come Together and Here Comes The Sun. Here Comes The Sun being George's finest song ever, Come Together a monster of a tune. Both are in my top 20. And my dear funhouse, I love the medley myself ! I also like Something and I Want You (She's So Heavy), but both aren't among my favourites tbh.
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Post by funhouse on Feb 5, 2019 2:49:04 GMT -5
Per me, the 2 best songs on Abbey Road are Come Together and Here Comes The Sun. Here Comes The Sun being George's finest song ever, Come Together a monster of a tune. Both are in my top 20. And my dear funhouse, I love the medley myself ! I also like Something and I Want You (She's So Heavy), but both aren't among my favourites tbh. It's funny, "HCTS" is one of those songs that sound nice, but for some reason always fails to make a lasting impression with me. Deserves its place on the album though. The End is great of course, as well as She Came In Through the Bathroom Window, but the rest of it is not as good(although still somewhat enjoyable) as it would have had to be imo. And yeah, you just mentioned the two best songs off the album... I think.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2019 5:57:46 GMT -5
Per me, the 2 best songs on Abbey Road are Come Together and Here Comes The Sun. Here Comes The Sun being George's finest song ever, Come Together a monster of a tune. Both are in my top 20. And my dear funhouse, I love the medley myself ! I also like Something and I Want You (She's So Heavy), but both aren't among my favourites tbh. It's funny, "HCTS" is one of those songs that sound nice, but for some reason always fails to make a lasting impression with me. Deserves its place on the album though. The End is great of course, as well as She Came In Through the Bathroom Window, but the rest of it is not as good(although still somewhat enjoyable) as it would have had to be imo. And yeah, you just mentioned the two best songs off the album... I think. That's what is great with The Beatles. Everyone has his own favourite tracks. I think if we all do our top 10/20/whatever, all our lists will be quite different.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2019 7:49:49 GMT -5
Not White Album but I was listening to Abbey Road last night and I forgot how mediocre Maxwell's Silver Hammer is. One of their worst tracks, ever. Can't stand Because anymore too. It's a shit song, innit ?On the other hand, Octopus's Garden is really underrated. Finest Ringo work. Are you suggesting that even the lofty Beatles are fallible!? Scandalous! How refreshing. ----- This is off topic... but I feel the Beatles get a free pass far too often for mediocre or even poor music. They're brilliant no doubt, but stop trying to convince me and everyone else that 'Norwegian Wood' is an all-time great song. It's isn't. Just stop. (yes I'm aware that NW is not on Abbey Road, it's just the first thing that came to mind in the moment.)
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2019 8:19:36 GMT -5
Not White Album but I was listening to Abbey Road last night and I forgot how mediocre Maxwell's Silver Hammer is. One of their worst tracks, ever. Can't stand Because anymore too. It's a shit song, innit ?On the other hand, Octopus's Garden is really underrated. Finest Ringo work. Are you suggesting that even the lofty Beatles are fallible!? Scandalous! How refreshing. ----- This is off topic... but I feel the Beatles get a free pass far too often for mediocre or even poor music. They're brilliant no doubt, but stop trying to convince me and everyone else that 'Norwegian Wood' is an all-time great song. It's isn't. Just stop. (yes I'm aware that NW is not on Abbey Road, it's just the first thing that came to mind in the moment.)Oh even as a "fan", I agree they have some shit songs innit. Some of their songs are overrated, yes and their untouchable gods status grates on me a bit. But at the same time, their collection of great songs is unbelievable. The density of their work in not even a decade is also unreal. And Norwegian Wood is very good !
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2019 14:58:28 GMT -5
Btw, we sometimes wonder what Oasis songs sound the closest to The Beatles but let's put it the other way round: which Beatles song(s) would be the closest to Oasis ?
I'd say Rain.
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Post by eva Fawkes on Feb 5, 2019 16:31:22 GMT -5
Btw, we sometimes wonder what Oasis songs sound the closest to The Beatles but let's put it the other way round: which Beatles song(s) would be the closest to Oasis ? I'd say Rain. I kinda think Revoluton sounds like an Oasis song. At the very least, I'd like to hear Lîam cover it, he might struggle with some of the chorus but I think he would do it justice. God bless.
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Post by matt on Feb 5, 2019 16:50:46 GMT -5
I love all of McCartney’s ode to the vaudeville/music hall genre - or ‘granny’ music to those who hang on every word of Lennon.
When I’m Sixty Four Lovely Rita Your Mother Should Know Martha My Dear Honey Pie Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
Suppose you could throw in a few from Sgt Pepper - Getting Better and Fixing A Hole come to mind but they’re lyrically a bit darker and more psychedelic to be real tributes to that genre, but the above list primarily because of their rather twee and seaside postcard humour.
That’s alright though, they always provide Beatles albums with that light breezy touch and keeps the band away from any threat of earnestness and self-indulgence. For sure, a whole album would be too sugary but it’s all about variety and eclecticism and it’s nice to see a nod to an old form of traditional northern English working class entertainment. They’re fun tunes, nothing more nothing less.
The Kinks kind of perfected it with this genre, but McCartney does a good job of providing a lot of comic relief amongst more serious and thoughtful compositions.
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Post by matt on Mar 4, 2019 18:27:57 GMT -5
Would just like to share these spellbinding fan made documentaries here. It’s an incredible labour of love from a true fanatic and far better than most official Beatles documentaries. So compelling.
P.S. Not sure where Vol 1 is but very easy to dip into any of them.
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Post by tomlivesforever on Mar 5, 2019 8:23:31 GMT -5
I love all of McCartney’s ode to the vaudeville/music hall genre - or ‘granny’ music to those who hang on every word of Lennon. When I’m Sixty Four Lovely Rita Your Mother Should Know Martha My Dear Honey Pie Maxwell’s Silver Hammer Suppose you could throw in a few from Sgt Pepper - Getting Better and Fixing A Hole come to mind but they’re lyrically a bit darker and more psychedelic to be real tributes to that genre, but the above list primarily because of their rather twee and seaside postcard humour. That’s alright though, they always provide Beatles albums with that light breezy touch and keeps the band away from any threat of earnestness and self-indulgence. For sure, a whole album would be too sugary but it’s all about variety and eclecticism and it’s nice to see a nod to an old form of traditional northern English working class entertainment. They’re fun tunes, nothing more nothing less. The Kinks kind of perfected it with this genre, but McCartney does a good job of providing a lot of comic relief amongst more serious and thoughtful compositions. Maxwells Silver Hammer is absolutely honking. The more twee Paul was the worse he was.
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Post by RocketMan on Mar 5, 2019 9:40:35 GMT -5
Martha my dear is the cutest song ever written about a dog
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Post by Rolo on Mar 5, 2019 10:22:49 GMT -5
Martha my dear is the cutest song ever written about a dog Absolutely love it.
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Post by matt on Mar 5, 2019 12:27:26 GMT -5
I love all of McCartney’s ode to the vaudeville/music hall genre - or ‘granny’ music to those who hang on every word of Lennon. When I’m Sixty Four Lovely Rita Your Mother Should Know Martha My Dear Honey Pie Maxwell’s Silver Hammer Suppose you could throw in a few from Sgt Pepper - Getting Better and Fixing A Hole come to mind but they’re lyrically a bit darker and more psychedelic to be real tributes to that genre, but the above list primarily because of their rather twee and seaside postcard humour. That’s alright though, they always provide Beatles albums with that light breezy touch and keeps the band away from any threat of earnestness and self-indulgence. For sure, a whole album would be too sugary but it’s all about variety and eclecticism and it’s nice to see a nod to an old form of traditional northern English working class entertainment. They’re fun tunes, nothing more nothing less. The Kinks kind of perfected it with this genre, but McCartney does a good job of providing a lot of comic relief amongst more serious and thoughtful compositions. Maxwells Silver Hammer is absolutely honking. The more twee Paul was the worse he was. Never seen in that way at all. It’s all tongue in cheek rather than twee (I mean, the song is about a mass murderer after all!) - it’s not of the kind of twee stuff you get from indie pop bands like Zooey Deschanel, you know, all that faux-innocence and charm. McCartneys an eccentric fella, more than he’s given credit for (tempered somewhat by his national treasure status and the fact he’s never done anything really daring as a solo artist for years) and this is right up his street. It’s always done with a cheeky nod, I think true to the roots of that music hall style. Plus that transition into I Want You She’s So Heavy is a great juxtaposition that shouldn’t work but somehow does.
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Post by matt on Mar 5, 2019 12:31:36 GMT -5
Thinking about post-Beatles songs that would have been held in greater esteem if they had been released under The Beatles name.
Surely Jealous Guy would have been a sure-fire album highlight? I think the official release is somewhat ruined by Phil Spectors melodramatic and saccharine production, whereas George Martin would have reigned it in. A more complete version of Child Of Nature, and ideally, a more intimate version would have been preferable and perfect for The White Album.
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Post by The Escapist on Mar 6, 2019 0:15:27 GMT -5
Maxwells Silver Hammer is absolutely honking. The more twee Paul was the worse he was. Never seen in that way at all. It’s all tongue in cheek rather than twee (I mean, the song is about a mass murderer after all!) - it’s not of the kind of twee stuff you get from indie pop bands like Zooey Deschanel, you know, all that faux-innocence and charm. McCartneys an eccentric fella, more than he’s given credit for (tempered somewhat by his national treasure status and the fact he’s never done anything really daring as a solo artist for years) and this is right up his street. It’s always done with a cheeky nod, I think true to the roots of that music hall style. Plus that transition into I Want You She’s So Heavy is a great juxtaposition that shouldn’t work but somehow does. Completely agree about Maxwell's Silver Hammer, I think it's a little gem of a tune. The production is gorgeous.
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Post by matt on Mar 6, 2019 16:37:36 GMT -5
Never seen in that way at all. It’s all tongue in cheek rather than twee (I mean, the song is about a mass murderer after all!) - it’s not of the kind of twee stuff you get from indie pop bands like Zooey Deschanel, you know, all that faux-innocence and charm. McCartneys an eccentric fella, more than he’s given credit for (tempered somewhat by his national treasure status and the fact he’s never done anything really daring as a solo artist for years) and this is right up his street. It’s always done with a cheeky nod, I think true to the roots of that music hall style. Plus that transition into I Want You She’s So Heavy is a great juxtaposition that shouldn’t work but somehow does. Completely agree about Maxwell's Silver Hammer, I think it's a little gem of a tune. The production is gorgeous. The other Beatles hated Paul for working so hard on this one, but all the effort is worth it when hearing it. The Moog synthesiser and the anvil is a great addition. P.S. I wrongly stated that it’s a great juxtaposition to I Want You She’s So Heavy but that’s Octopus”s Garden. Getting my ‘light entertainment’ Beatles songs mixed up!
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Post by eva Fawkes on Mar 21, 2019 20:16:36 GMT -5
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Post by Rolo on Sept 11, 2019 14:08:07 GMT -5
Genuinely think this is one of McCartney's best songs ever.
Incredible that he is writing this sort of quality still at his age.
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Post by matt on Sept 12, 2019 15:13:42 GMT -5
www.beatlesbible.com/2019/08/08/abbey-road-50th-anniversary-reissue/So will be splashing out on the super deluxe version of this like I did with The White Album last year. To be honest, it’s the Beatles album that has the least need to be remixed into modern stereo surround as it was already catering for stereo when it was recorded. But no doubt, it will add more punch to these great songs. Now we’re just waiting for the rest of the albums to be remixed. How they missed the opportunity to remix Revolver, I will never know but dying to hear that done alongside Rubber Soul.
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Post by theyknowwhatimean on Sept 12, 2019 15:53:16 GMT -5
www.beatlesbible.com/2019/08/08/abbey-road-50th-anniversary-reissue/So will be splashing out on the super deluxe version of this like I did with The White Album last year. To be honest, it’s the Beatles album that has the least need to be remixed into modern stereo surround as it was already catering for stereo when it was recorded. But no doubt, it will add more punch to these great songs. Now we’re just waiting for the rest of the albums to be remixed. How they missed the opportunity to remix Revolver, I will never know but dying to hear that done alongside Rubber Soul. I'd say that's Let It Be. Maybe because Spector mixed it instead? If you listen to Abbey Road again, it's actually not that much of an improvement on the White Album, which was better than their previous albums recorded for mono, but still not that close to a true stereo image. Listen to the Stones' Beggars Banquet, released a couple of weeks after, for comparison. It holds up much better--which you don't expect to say of the Stones in comparison to The Beatles. Abbey Road does have a fuller sound, but that's probably due more to them working with an eight-track for the first time. There's still lots of hard panning, and all the orchestration for the medley was recorded in mono. Listen to 'You Never Give Me Your Money': when the band comes in it sounds dreadful by today's standards. The drums far right and the bass and keyboards far left, the rhythm guitar just a murmur, and a great cavernous space left in the middle. I think Giles has gotten braver with his remixes as he's gone on, so I'm kinda glad they didn't get to Revolver three years ago. You wanna get that baby right. If you listen to his first efforts, the 2015 re-release of the 1 compilation album, he's playing it very safe. A lot of those mixes aren't really modern stereo mixes. Far too much separation still. Like you, I just can't wait till they've gone through the rest. Hopefully the Magical Mystery Tour American LP will get its turn as well. I wanna own all the albums on vinyl and go through them in chronological order, maybe listening to a year a day--the 1963 releases on Monday, 1964 on Tuesday, etc.--just to wonder at how they grew so much in such little time.
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Post by matt on Sept 12, 2019 18:05:30 GMT -5
www.beatlesbible.com/2019/08/08/abbey-road-50th-anniversary-reissue/So will be splashing out on the super deluxe version of this like I did with The White Album last year. To be honest, it’s the Beatles album that has the least need to be remixed into modern stereo surround as it was already catering for stereo when it was recorded. But no doubt, it will add more punch to these great songs. Now we’re just waiting for the rest of the albums to be remixed. How they missed the opportunity to remix Revolver, I will never know but dying to hear that done alongside Rubber Soul. I'd say that's Let It Be. Maybe because Spector mixed it instead? If you listen to Abbey Road again, it's actually not that much of an improvement on the White Album, which was better than their previous albums recorded for mono, but still not that close to a true stereo image. Listen to the Stones' Beggars Banquet, released a couple of weeks after, for comparison. It holds up much better--which you don't expect to say of the Stones in comparison to The Beatles. Abbey Road does have a fuller sound, but that's probably due more to them working with an eight-track for the first time. There's still lots of hard panning, and all the orchestration for the medley was recorded in mono. Listen to 'You Never Give Me Your Money': when the band comes in it sounds dreadful by today's standards. The drums far right and the bass and keyboards far left, the rhythm guitar just a murmur, and a great cavernous space left in the middle. I think Giles has gotten braver with his remixes as he's gone on, so I'm kinda glad they didn't get to Revolver three years ago. You wanna get that baby right. If you listen to his first efforts, the 2015 re-release of the 1 compilation album, he's playing it very safe. A lot of those mixes aren't really modern stereo mixes. Far too much separation still. Like you, I just can't wait till they've gone through the rest. Hopefully the Magical Mystery Tour American LP will get its turn as well. I wanna own all the albums on vinyl and go through them in chronological order, maybe listening to a year a day--the 1963 releases on Monday, 1964 on Tuesday, etc.--just to wonder at how they grew so much in such little time. Yes you’re right about Let It Be. Always one I forget though as I never really consider it a ‘proper’ Beatles album. And good point about the fuller sound being due to the 8-track usage, never thought about that. There are many elements in the medley that are off kilter - the hard panning of the acoustic guitars in Polythene Pam suck the energy out of it. Makes you think, what exactly was the point of the 2009 remasters? I bought the mono sets but a lot of the time with the stereo mixes, it was tantamount to polishing a turd. I don’t know whose decision it was to curate that remaster but they were well behind the time if they wanted young folk to listen to The Beatles. With so many listening through headphones, it must have been a pretty galling experience hearing all that panning. A real waste of time because if you’re going to do stereo mixes, remix them for today’s standards. Ideally, we’ll get to the point where all the albums and singles are remixed and the 09 stereo remasters are quietly put out of print. I’ve always listened to The Beatles in mono, but only since these remixes started have I been going to stereo. Incredibly for the greatest band of all time, we’re still waiting for the complete perfect treatment of their music. It’s getting there though - surely the other albums will be done too (although I believe the first couple albums are impossible to remix from mono, maybe I’m completely wrong though)??
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Post by matt on Sept 12, 2019 18:24:59 GMT -5
Also theyknowwhatimean, interesting article in The Guardian about the plans for what would have been a follow up to Abbey Road. www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/11/the-beatles-break-up-mark-lewisohn-abbey-road-hornsey-roadAlways assumed the band were conscious of the fact that it was most certainly their last album, so it’s a surprise to see them advocating plans for the next album - even more surprising as the most assertive is John. His idea was four tracks each by John, Paul and George with one or two from Ringo (and this giving George equal billing at last). An interesting concept, one which I’ve been thinking about how it might have looked when taking into account their immediate solo projects. For me, you have songs that were writtten/demoed during the bands lifetime or written immediately around and after their split (forgetting all the aggro based tunes concerning the breakup so no Wah Wah or Run of the Mill for example). My selection would be: JohnMother Jealous Guy Working Class Hero Instant Karma PaulMaybe I’m Amazed Junk Another Day The Backseat of My Car GeorgeMy Sweet Lord Isn’t It A Pity All Things Must Pass Awaiting On You All RingoIt Don’t Come Easy That’s actually an amazing album. I’d have to think about how to sequence that, but imagine some three way harmonies in tunes like Instant Karma or Awaiting On You All. Would have been a bonafide classic.
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