Of the five, only one — with James Patterson’s name slapped on the cover — reads like a money-grabbing misfire. While Kenneth Womack’s “John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life” is the standout, to varying degrees four are worth reading. As a group, you might say, they passed the audition.
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“The Last Days of John Lennon,” by James Patterson, with Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge
Patterson’s brand is violent crime, so he and his collaborators start the book inside the mind of killer Mark David Chapman as he journeys to New York. This tasteless tactic is exacerbated by the rest of the book, starting with the bait-and-switch title. The book recaps the Beatles story in short, punchy sentences in short, punchy chapters. It often strikes false-sounding notes when presuming to be inside the minds of the Fab Four, but it might have passed as a CliffsNotes biography were it not for the cross-cutting to Chapman’s thoughts and actions as he closes in on his date with infamy.
Source: Yvonne Abraham/bostonglo details
Bob Dylan has secretly released ‘Bob Dylan – 50th Anniversary Collection 1970’ which includes the rare sessions with former Beatle, George Harrison.
The recordings were put on sale quietly via the UK store Badlands. A European law stipulates that recordings enter the public domain 50 years after their creation if they aren’t officially released by the copyright holder.
Since 2012, Dylan has been releasing recordings to avoid legal bootlegs flooding the market. Many of the releases since 2012 would be of no interest to any one other devout Dylan fans. The recordings include repeated takes of songs. However, some of the recordings can fetch up to €1,000.
The new release is different as it would appeal to more people. It includes the rare session with George Harrison. The pair’s recording of the Beatles classic, ‘Yesterday’ has been published before, yet now the sound quality is infinitely better. You can check out a previous released version of ‘Yesterday’ below.
Source: Paul Cooney/nova.ie
detailsPeople from all walks of life have been affected by the music of The Beatles. They gave the world inspiration and happiness in almost everything they did. On October 9, the 80th anniversary of his birth, a new music video was released honoring John Lennon – “John Lennon: A Day In His Life”, Grammy- nominated American producer, Michael Franklin, and Beatles animator, Alvaro Ortega teaming up to create it.
The spark of Lennon’s tribute began when Franklin awoke from a dream in which he dreamt of the Lennon song, “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” while hearing John’s voice singing “A Day In The Life”. Amazed by the similarity between the two songs’ chord sequences and lyrics, Franklin hurriedly put this combination to the piano, the next night, another similar dream awakening him again – this time the baroque piano solo bridge sped up to sound like a harpsichord dashed off by my father, Sir George Martin, for John’s song, “In My Life” from Rubber Soul while The Beatles were on a lunch break.
Source: newjerseystage.com
Paul McCartney said he was still “in denial” over the murder of John Lennon, which took place 40 years ago next week.
He also recalled his last moments with fellow Beatle George Harrison, who died of cancer in 2001.
In a new interview with The New York Times Magazine, McCartney said Lennon’s death was “difficult” to think about. “I rerun the scenario in my head," he explained. "Very emotional. So much so that I can’t really think about it. It kind of implodes. What can you think about that besides anger, sorrow? Like any bereavement, the only way out is to remember how good it was with John. Because I can’t get over the senseless act. I can’t think about it. I’m sure it’s some form of denial. But denial is the only way that I can deal with it.”
He added that he tried to find things to do that would help in small ways, citing his recent radio interview with Lennon’s son Sean. “That was nice — to talk about how cool John was and fill in little gaps in his knowledge,” he said. “So it’s little things that I am able to do … but I know that none of them can get over the hill and make it okay. But details
Paul McCartney looked back at how he became the “instigator” in the Beatles, saying the pattern emerged in his friendships with John Lennon and George Harrison before they were bandmates.
McCartney’s apparent control over the band has been cited as one of the reasons tensions flared in its later years. But in a new interview with The New York Times Magazine, he argued that the situation took form before his musical career.
“I was thinking the other day of my hitchhiking bursts,” he said. “This was before the Beatles. I suddenly was keen on hitchhiking, so I sold this idea to George and then John. ... What I was thinking about was – it’s interesting how I was the instigator. Neither of them came to me and said, ‘Should we go hitchhiking?’ It was me, like, ‘I’ve got this great idea.’”
Source: ultimateclassicrock.com
detailsThe stark beauty found on the cover of the Beatles' 1968 self-titled album has captivated many fans, but artist Rutherford Chang likes it when the LP's famous all-white design takes on some wear and tear.
Chang has been acquiring copies of the White Album from all over the world, in any condition, for years. He prefers first-edition copies - later pressings removed the serial number and the embossed "The Beatles" on the cover - and those that aren't in mint condition. For Chang, the more owners have decorated the bare white cover with their own artwork, the better. Various stains are okay, too.
“I was interested in the different ways that the covers aged,” he told The New York Times. “Being an all-white cover, the changes are apparent. The serial numbers made collecting them seem natural, and the more I got, the more interesting it became. As you see, many of them are written on, and each has a story. The accumulation of the stories is part of it. But it’s also about how the physical object — the record — just doesn’t exist anymore.”
Source: ultimateclassicrock.com
Christmas is coming, and nothing says joy and love like the Beatles, rocking live in your living room! After ten consecutive years of holiday concerts, Abbey Road - A Tribute to the Beatles plan to deliver the joys of the season even if it means pivoting for the pandemic.
The award-winning band will bring their beloved Christmas with the Beatles show by way of a livestream event that you can tune into from the safety and comfort of your own home. LIVE from the legendary Belly Up stage in San Diego, California, see the band perform on Friday, December 18, featuring mash-ups of Christmas classics and Beatles faves. Livestream tickets are only $12.
"COVID can't steal Christmas concerts," said Doug Couture, who plays "George" in Abbey Road.
"We took this show online to hopefully help people put the ugliness of 2020 behind them."
Source: broadwayworld.com
detailsJohn and Yoko were staying together at Ringo’s house in March of 1969. It’s there that John wrote “Because,” inspired by Beethoven, as played by his wife.
“Yoko was playing `Moonlight Sonata’ on the piano,” Lennon said to Peter Scheff. “She was classically trained. I said, ‘Can you play those chords backward?’ and wrote ‘Because’ around them. The lyrics speak for themselves; they’re clear. No bullshit. No imagery, no obscure references.”
When I interviewed Yoko in 1992, I asked her about her memories of the origins of “Because.”
“When you really listen to it, ” she said, “you see that he did play the chords backwards at one point but I think eventually it cleaned up a bit into a pop format. So he didn’t use all the chords. But that was the initial inspiration.”
Source: americansongwriter.com
details19-years-ago on November 29, 2001, George Harrison died. The Beatles star suffered with lung cancer, and after numerous treatments, was confined to his home in Hollywood Hills. The star died at 9.30pm, surrounded by his wife, Olivia Harrison, son, Dhani Harrison, and friends including Ravi Shankar. The star was cremated the same day, and had his ashes scattered in the Ganges River, in India, as per his Hindu tradition dictated.
Just 17 days before Harrison’s death, he with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr in a hotel room in Manhattan.
On November 12, 2001, the three Beatles got together to reminisce about old times, and say their goodbyes to one another.
Harrison’s doctor, Gil Lederman, also attended the meeting to monitor the star’s health. He later revealed what happened in the final, fateful meeting between the three Beatles.
Gil explained: “ There were some tears - but there was more laughter than anything else.”
Source: Callum Crumlish/express.co.uk
detailsWith a net worth of $1.2 billion, McCartney can afford to splurge a little, but apparently, he watches his expenses like a hawk.
Paul McCartney knows money can't buy him love. The famous ex-Beatle knows this because money is practically no object to him with his $1.2 billion net worth. Or is it?
McCartney has done a lot of different things to get that enormous net worth. His career as a Beatle and beyond has been one of the most successful of all time, and he's accomplished so much in his sixty years in the business. He's raised five kids who have turned out successful themselves and has kept pushing boundaries and holding records into his late '70s.
But is McCartney cheap? Some fans think so. He might be wary of spending his billions, but that could be because he was burned in the past.
Source: Hannah Wigandt/thethings.com
detailsPaul McCartney has shared an excerpt of a new song called "The Kiss Of Venus" via a trailer for his forthcoming "McCartney III" album, which is now set to hit stores on December 18th.
The album's released was pushed back a week due to "unforeseeable production delays," according to the Beatles legend's camp. It was originally set to hit stores on December 11th.
The record will be released digitally, on CD, and on LP manufactured by Third Man Pressing. "Vinyl configurations will range from standard 180g to a Third Man Edition of 3,000 hand-numbered red vinyl copies, a U.S. indie retail exclusive pressing of 4,000 hand-numbered white vinyl LPs, and more." Watch the trailer below:
Source: antimusic.com
detailsThe Beatles are widely heralded as one of the greatest, and quite possibly the most influential, bands in history. They wonderfully encapsulated the spirit of the 1960s, transitioning from goodie boy band singing about holding hands to transcendental hippies singing about spiritual freedom and experimenting with advanced studio effects.
Even to this day, their music remains a revelation. Movie producers certainly know this, and The Beatles' music has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows throughout the years. Their incorporation may also prove particularly inspired, benefitting the excellent music on display.
10 Mad Men (2007-15)
Don listens to Tomorrow Never Knows
It's fitting that "Tomorrow Never Knows" appeared in Mad Men, as that show also encapsulates the growing trends and changing times of the 1960s. Season five's Lady Lazarus concerns Don Draper feeling particularly out of tune with the youth and counterculture. His wife, Megan, buys Revolver and tells Don to put on "Tomorrow Never Knows". He does so and sits down with a drink to listen to, but he only makes it a minute into the song before standing and turning it off. "The '60s" have arrived, and Don isn't ready for it.
9 Ferris Buelle
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Luther actor Idris Elba is set to interview former Beatle Paul McCartney for a 60-minute BBC One holiday special.
Produced by The Graham Norton Show outfit So Television, Idris Elba Meets Paul McCartney will be filmed in London over the coming weeks in line with local Covid-19 rules.
Elba, who moonlights as a musician and DJ, will interview McCartney about his career as one of the most successful musicians and composers in pop music history.
Elba said: “When I was asked if I wanted to speak to Paul McCartney, after I realised it wasn’t a joke, I immediately said yes… who wouldn’t?!
“His work has inspired and driven me as a musician, and once I get through the shock of sharing the stage with him, I’m excited to talk about his music and craft. What an honour!”
The special was ordered by chief content officer Charlotte Moore, Jan Younghusband, and Kate Phillips. The executive producers are Graham Stuart, Andy Rowe and Dylan Jones.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
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The 50th anniversary of George Harrison’s seminal solo album All Things Must Pass is marked today (November 27) by the release of a new 2020 stereo mix of its title track.
The George Harrison Estate has announced the mix, which was overseen by the Grammy-winner Paul Hicks. He’s recognized for his work with the estate as well as with The Beatles and major album repackages in 2020 by the Rolling Stones (the extended Goats Head Soup) and John Lennon’s GIMME SOME TRUTH. The Ultimate Mixes compilation.
“The new stereo mix of the album’s title track is just a taste of more things to come in 2021 as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of my father’s legendary All Things Must Pass album,” says George’s son Dhani Harrison. “We’ve been digging through mountains of tapes, and they just kept coming – boxes and boxes of them.
“Making this album sound clearer was always one of my dad’s greatest wishes and it was something we were working on together right up until he passed. But with the help of new technology and the work of Paul Hicks on this project, we are now able to make that happen. We can’t wait for you all to hear everything we& details
The 50th anniversary of ‘John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band’ rolls around on 11 December and with only two weeks before that date the only official word is hidden in the back of the book released with the recent ‘Gimme Some Truth’ collection (released for what would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday in October).
At the back of the ‘Gimme Some Truth’ book it lists the release:
‘John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band’ was John Lennon’s fifth album after the experimental ‘Unfinished Music No 1: Two Virgins’ (1968), ‘Unfinished Music No 2: Life With The Lions’ (1969), ‘Wedding Album’ (1969) and the live album ‘Live Peace In Toronto 1969’ (1969).
The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London between between 26 September – 23 October 1970
Producers: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector
Released: 11 December 1970
Source: noise11.com
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