The Beatles' Thread

[Vic2012]

The rest of the song isn't so bad- I

You're right. I was actually thinking, You Better Run For Your Life (if I catch you with another man, that's the end). I still like the song. I pay no attention to lyrics usually.

[Digital_Man]

I think Let it Be is actually a pretty good album (the original version - I never heard the naked version). I'd say it's main weakness is with the very short filler kinds of songs. They are a kind of distraction here. I also think the album would be improved with a different order of tracks. Maybe put the really short ones first or something.

[Trane]

I know what you're getting at. But it's not fair because what you're saying reduces them to "boy band" status that only girls were interested in. It's also not accurate because all but one person I've ever known who was a huge Beatles fan was male.

didn't help that the lyrics were all about teeny-boppers' love

Ok, I know dudes wanted to be The Beatles at the place of The Beatles.
I can't imagine that The Beach Boys didn't have more impact on males than the Beatles did.

[ronmac]

How did Let It Be turn out to be such a weak album? Just one classic song on the whole thing. I can only think to blame Phil Spector.

It wasn't complete. "Let It Be" and "Long and Winding Road" are both classics. but imagine if they would have allowed George to complete "All Things Must Pass" and they included "Don't Let Me Down".

I don't pay attention to lyrics that much. I've heard the lyrics to When I Get Home, but it's a rockin' song. I love it.

'When I Get Home'...with that one, I find the 'love her 'til the cows come home' bridge really lousy. The rest of the song isn't so bad- I do like the intro hook- if not a classic.

One of John's weaker songs from 1964, IMO.

didn't help that the lyrics were all about teeny-boppers' love

ALL songs were like that back then. For the Beatles it was all about boy/girl relationships until they recorded "Nowhere Man."

I can't imagine that The Beach Boys didn't have more impact on males than the Beatles did.

Writing about little more than girls, surfing, and hot rods would do that.

[Mister Triscuits]

'd say it's main weakness is with the very short filler kinds of songs. They are a kind of distraction here. I also think the album would be improved with a different order of tracks. Maybe put the really short ones first or something.

I've always wished they would have released the full version of "Dig It," which of course would have reached "Revolution 9" levels of popularity with the average Beatles fan. But now that you mention it, I think it would have been great if they had opened the album with "Dig It" as it exists now, and then interspersed further short extracts throughout the album, maybe instead of the studio chatter.

It wasn't complete. "Let It Be" and "Long and Winding Road" are both classics.

As are "Get Back" and "Across the Universe," at the very least.

[Hal...]

Regarding Let it Be, I agree it's got some weak songs and filler on it – and, yes, it should've had Down Let Me Down on it! Whoever made the decision to leave it off is a fucking idiot, who I assume was Phil Spector since the Glyn Johns versions both included it.

Along with George's contributions, the other two weak songs, imo, are Get Back and The Long and Winding Road, which was nothing more than typical McCartney schmaltz.

I think the highlights are Two of Us, Dig a Pony, Let it Be, I've Got a Feeling, and One After 909, all of which I like as much as or more than most of what appears on The Beatles or Abbey Road. And three of those songs have John & Paul both singing lead (as opposed to one singing lead and the other singing harmony), something they didn't do very often. It's like there's a kind of flashback to when they were teenagers and you can hear the joy in their collaboration (sorely lacking on The Beatles), and which you can see in the Peter Jackson documentary.

I, for one, greatly appreciate it and think those songs are terribly underrated (apart from the title track, which any fool can hear is a masterpiece; I'm talking, of course, of the album version, not the single).

[Trane]

I think Let it Be is actually a pretty good album (the original version - I never heard the naked version). I'd say it's main weakness is with the very short filler kinds of songs. They are a kind of distraction here. I also think the album would be improved with a different order of tracks. Maybe put the really short ones first or something.

I then to think of LIB as theirsecod best, despite some songs definitely under-produced or unfinished in writing. It really sounds like it was finished in a hurry with whatever was left to choose from.
But then again I get that same kind of unfinished feel in the second part of White Album (their later album - post Rubber - I listened to least)

ALL songs were like that back then. For the Beatles it was all about boy/girl relationships until they recorded "Nowhere Man."

Writing about little more than girls, surfing, and hot rods would do that.

Yup, the Fab's lyrics evolve (for the better) with their music.

And yes, the BB's themes were equally reductive and catering to males.

Regarding Let it Be, I agree it's got some weak songs and filler on it – and, yes, it should've had Down Let Me Down on it! Whoever made the decision to leave it off is a fucking idiot, who I assume was Phil Spector since the Glyn Johns versions both included it.

Along with George's contributions, the other two weak songs, imo, are Get Back and The Long and Winding Road, which was nothing more than typical McCartney schmaltz.

I think the highlights are Two of Us, Dig a Pony, Let it Be, I've Got a Feeling, and One After 909, all of which I like as much as or more than most of what appears on The Beatles or Abbey Road. And three of those songs have John & Paul both singing lead (as opposed to one singing lead and the other singing harmony), something they didn't do very often. It's like there's a kind of flashback to when they were teenagers and you can hear the joy in their collaboration (sorely lacking on The Beatles), and which you can see in the Peter Jackson documentary.

Wow, that's tough!! I think George's I Me Mine is one of my top 5 Fab tracks.
All four of the tracks you mention are the meat of the LIB album, IMHO.

Although limited to two tracks per album max bu John & Paul, I think that the band constant progress to greatness is in sizeable part due to George' increasing powers in songwriting.

[Vic2012]

Came upon this yesterday:



I get why it's marginalized. The cover photo, all the cover songs, etc. But I like it a lot. All the original tracks are great, especially the first 3 (original) songs of side one. Any thoughts from you all?

[ronmac]

Came upon this yesterday:



I get why it's marginalized. The cover photo, all the cover songs, etc. But I like it a lot. All the original tracks are great, especially the first 3 (original) songs of side one. Any thoughts from you all?

The cover is one of the more popular photos. A lot of people hate "Mr. Moonlight." While it's a sappy song, Lennon's vocal performance kills. You can tell he loved singing it.

[Vic2012]

The cover is one of the more popular photos. A lot of people hate "Mr. Moonlight." While it's a sappy song, Lennon's vocal performance kills. You can tell he loved singing it.

George's head kinda looks like an onion..

Well I'm on a bit of a binge. I just felt like hearing A Hard Day's Night, Help, and For Sale, the full albums in their entirety.

[Hal...]

What's wrong with the cover photo? It's not only my favorite of all The Beatles albums, it's also my 4th favorite of any band!

As for the songs, I especially like No Reply, I'll Follow the Sun, and Eight Days a Week. Every Little Thing is pretty good but the rest of the originals all sound like they're written by a band who's overworked.

[Vic2012]

They look haggard on the cover...

Of the covers I really like Honey Don't. Here's the thing about Beatles covers; for me they're the definitive versions of those songs.

[Hal...]

Haggard? Haggard!?

Vic, wait 'til you're sober before looking at the cover again.

[Vic2012]

Haggard? Haggard!?

Vic, wait 'til you're sober before looking at the cover again.

I'm thinking of making a Beatles compilation CDr of nuthin' but Beatles folky, acoustic, country songs. I might have to make 2 CDs.

[ronmac]

They look haggard on the cover...

Of the covers I really like Honey Don't. Here's the thing about Beatles covers; for me they're the definitive versions of those songs.

I think their version of "Rock and Roll Music" is the greatest rock vocal ever recorded.

Ever hear John's vocal on "Honey Don't"? He sang it before Ringo took it on.

[Vic2012]

I think John's best Rock vocal is Twist and Shout. He shredded his vocal cords on that session.....

[ronmac]

I think John's best Rock vocal is Twist and Shout. He shredded his vocal cords on that session.....

One of my favorite vocal performances is not even released. It's an outtake of "Sweet Little Sixteen" from his R&R sessions. It's totally raw and dirty. If I could find it on Youtube, I'd share it here.

[JJ88]

I like 'Just Because' on Lennon's R&R album. It's the only song he didn't know beforehand but on the re-done vocal for the album, he sang the hell out of it. The original vocal he recorded is...an experience.

I've always enjoyed most of Beatles For Sale as much as the other early ones.

I think John's best Rock vocal is Twist and Shout. He shredded his vocal cords on that session.....

There's an incendiary live version for a BBC broadcast recorded at the Royal Albert Hall for something called Swinging Sound '63. Sadly it's slightly shortened though. That was the very early days of Beatlemania.

[headcrash]

I think John's best Rock vocal is Twist and Shout. He shredded his vocal cords on that session.....

Love it. Also "Bad Boy".

[Hal...]

Well, c'mon. The timbre of John's voice is pretty much perfect for rock, no? Even his ballads are lush because of it. In fact, just about every song he sings lead on is elevated by the very fact he's singing lead on it.

My favorite performances by John are If I Fell, I Feel Fine, In My Life, Norwegian Wood, I'm Only Sleeping, She Said She Said, A Day in the Life, Dear Prudence, Yer Blues, Everybody's Got Something to Hide, Polythene Pam, Down Let Me Down.

But for balls to wall rockers, I'd go with Dizzy Miss Lizzy.

[Vic2012]

Well, c'mon. The timbre of John's voice.........

I just went on a short binge on Rubber/Revolver. I skipped through a few songs on each. John's harmony vocals are tight but distinctive. I probably never paid attention to how great he was singing harmony.

Regarding those two albums, they're sort of considered as two sides of a coin. Revolver seems heavier. It's electric, guitar driven, and in your face.

[ronmac]

I like 'Just Because' on Lennon's R&R album. It's the only song he didn't know beforehand but on the re-done vocal for the album, he sang the hell out of it. The original vocal he recorded is...an experience.

I've always enjoyed most of Beatles For Sale as much as the other early ones.

There's an incendiary live version for a BBC broadcast recorded at the Royal Albert Hall for something called Swinging Sound '63. Sadly it's slightly shortened though. That was the very early days of Beatlemania.

Yeah, they pretty much always shortened "Twist and Shout" when they played it live.

The drunk version of "Just Because" is hilarious.

Well, c'mon. The timbre of John's voice is pretty much perfect for rock, no? Even his ballads are lush because of it. In fact, just about every song he sings lead on is elevated by the very fact he's singing lead on it.

My favorite performances by John are If I Fell, I Feel Fine, In My Life, Norwegian Wood, I'm Only Sleeping, She Said She Said, A Day in the Life, Dear Prudence, Yer Blues, Everybody's Got Something to Hide, Polythene Pam, Down Let Me Down.

But for balls to wall rockers, I'd go with Dizzy Miss Lizzy.

I'm clearly biased, but I think he's the best pop/rock vocalist ever. Could anyone use their voice in more ways than JL?

To be clear, being the best vocalist doesn't necessarily mean the best singing voice.

[Vic2012]

I'm hearing.....Jet...by Wings, in a likely place. What do you guys think of Wings? Never been a big fan of solo Beatles, but I like a few solo hits.

[ronmac]

I'm hearing.....Jet...by Wings, in a likely place. What do you guys think of Wings? Never been a big fan of solo Beatles, but I like a few solo hits.

I think Paul had some great tracks over the years. But most of it did little for me. Band on the Run is his best album by most accounts. Wings Over America is very good.

I think there was plenty of good solo material.

"All Things Must Pass" is a masterpiece.

"Plastic Ono Band" is essential, "Imagine" is great.

Ringo's "Ringo" album is also very good.

Those would be the top shelf selections.

[rich]

Well, c'mon. The timbre of John's voice is pretty much perfect for rock, no? Even his ballads are lush because of it. In fact, just about every song he sings lead on is elevated by the very fact he's singing lead on it.

My favorite performances by John are If I Fell, I Feel Fine, In My Life, Norwegian Wood, I'm Only Sleeping, She Said She Said, A Day in the Life, Dear Prudence, Yer Blues, Everybody's Got Something to Hide, Polythene Pam, Down Let Me Down.

But for balls to wall rockers, I'd go with Dizzy Miss Lizzy.

Agreed on all counts, and a quick addition would be The Ballad of John and Yoko. I love John's signing on that. One of my favorite John songs for sure... and I think the whole story of the song and how it was recorded adds to the songs legacy.