Beatles News

In new court papers, the song publishing giant says the former Beatle is "clearly forum-shopping."

Paul McCartney waited decades for his opportunity to reclaim rights to songs he authored as a member of The Beatles. Now, Sony/ATV Music Publishing is telling a judge he should have to cool his heels a little longer.

McCartney made his move in January, suing to confirm that under the termination provisions of U.S. copyright law, he gets to recapture his share. The lawsuit in New York federal court followed a stunning U.K. decision, Gloucester Place Music Ltd v. Le Bon, where it was ruled late last year in a dispute involving Duran Duran songs that American termination law took a backseat to an interpretation of contracts under English law.

"As an initial matter, SATV has made no statement challenging the validity of Plaintiff’s termination notices," states Sony in a letter to the judge on Monday in anticipation of a conference that will lay out its forthcoming motion to dismiss. "Indeed, it has acknowledged they are valid, so there is no controversy regarding this issue. Nor has SATV claimed that Plaintiff’s service of the notices breached any agreement and SATV may never make such a claim. details

For Paul McCartney, it was an all-too-familiar feeling. There he was, paired with an acerbic, rough-voiced co-writer with Liverpudlian roots, sitting face to face as they strummed acoustic guitars, finishing each other's musical phrases and lyrics, singing in comfortable harmony. "We would write in the same method that me and John used to write," says McCartney, recalling his wildly productive late-Eighties collaborations with Elvis Costello. "I figured, in a way, he was being John. And for me, that was good and bad. He was a great person to write with, a great foil to bounce off, but here's me, trying to avoid doing something too Beatle-y!"

Those sessions, at McCartney's rustic Hog Hill Mill Studio in East Sussex, England, were intended to yield songs for what became the ex-Beatle's 1989 album Flowers in the Dirt, an Eighties high point. Four tracks, including the playful duet "You Want Her Too," ended up on that LP, two on McCartney's next one (1993's Off the Ground), and the rest on Costello's albums – most notably the hit single "Veronica."

But as an upcoming box-set reissue of Flowers in the Dirt reveals, the collaborative recordings – rough acoustic versions (long circulated as coveted bootlegs details

The scream at the end – “no reply!” – is one of the bleakest moments in the breakup song genre.

“It was my version of “Silhouettes”: I had that image of walking down the street and seeing her silhouetted in the window and not answering the phone, although I never called a girl on the phone in my life. Because phones weren’t part of the English child’s life.” – John Lennon on “No Reply”

This was going to be another essay. I had planned to write about what I am convinced is the greatest single ever released – “Strawberry Fields Forever” b/w “Penny Lane.” But that was going nowhere (though I can see what I want to say, I can’t quite seem to say it yet, which betrays a lot about my love of the Fabs) so I turn to another favorite, the opening song on both the British release Beatles for Sale or, if you were an 8th grade nerd like me, Beatles ’65.

“No Reply” opens both albums. This is one of those rare times that the British album and its American counterpart agree. That makes me very happy. Let’s leave it at that.

As John notes above, he was trying to write a song l details

Merseyside is packed with fantastic tourist attractions and some of the biggest Hollywood stars have been drawn here for a spot of sight-seeing. A-listers including Tom Hardy , Kim Cattrall and Bob Dylan have been seen snapping selfies and exploring our cultural hot spots. Here are 10 times a celebrity was spotted on the tourist trail in Liverpool .

When the Sex and the City star was in town filming Agatha Christie thriller Witness for the Prosecution, she squeezed in a quick trip to Crosby beach to see the Iron Men. Kim regularly comes back to Merseyside - she was born in Liverpool, before her family migrated to Canada - and was enthralled by Gormley’s “spectacular sculptures”, tweeting a picture of herself at the Another Place installation.

The Beatles have fans all over the world - including some huge celebrity admirers. So it’s no surprise that some have wanted to do the tourist thing in the Fab Four’s hometown. Paul Weller was pictured outside John Lennon’s childhood home Mendips in July 2014. The Modfather squeezed in the visit after a charity gig at the East Village Arts Club. Back in April 2009, singer Bob Dylan also visited Mendips when he joined one of the Beatles mi details

I watched a couple of documentaries (thank you Open Culture) this week featuring rock stars from the classic era, one about a living musician, the other about one who has, alas, shuffled off this mortal coil. What I found most interesting about each of these films is the reminder that it is very difficult for any successful artist, especially for a David Bowie or Paul McCartney, who have enjoyed success at the highest level of their art, to move forward. In a popular art form such as rock music has been, part of the problem is commerce; one who is successful and whose art is embraced by a wide public sells much “plastic ware,” as Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman wrote. They feel constant commercial pressure to repeat their sales success – a pressure that can make any artist choose a safe route.

Another, perhaps even greater part of the problem, especially for an artist like Bowie or McCartney, comes from those whose admiration (and money) made them acclaimed, and wealthy: fans. Any artist like Bowie or McCartney with a long career arc (given that the average length of a popular musical star’s career is 18 months, the nearly 50 year career of Bowie and the 50+ year career of McCartney are by any me details

The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl is the only official live Beatles album ever released. Recorded in 1964 and 1965 but not put out until 1977, the album is a fairly disappointing listen. Though recorded at the peak of Beatlemania, when the Fab Four were still riding a euphoric wave of success driven by their touring years, the concerts tapes were rendered near unlistenable by the insane racket produced by the 10,000 strong crowds.

The Beatles were on point on those nights, and George Martin can seldom be associated with any technical shortcoming within the band’s career. Rather, the limitations of mastering technology in the 70s are to blame for the dismal quality of the original recordings.

You may ask then, how did they get the recordings up to scratch for last year’s triumphant Live at the Hollywood remaster, which coincided with the August release of Ron Howard’s Eight Days a Week doco?

Technological wizardry of the mastering engineers at Abbey Road would be the answer.

“What became apparent when you compared it to what came out in 1977 is how hard Ringo is hitting the drums,” says Giles Martin, George Martin’s son and the producer of the remastered album. details

Imagine there's no tree. It's easy if you try... Sean Lennon has removed the tree that Marisa Tomei's parents claimed tore through the foundation of their Greenwich Village townhouse, they said Tuesday. Gary and Addie Tomei alleged in a lawsuit that the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono had let the 60-foot ailanthus in front of his W. 13th St. townhouse bore under their property.

The Tomeis demanded $10 million in their Manhattan Supreme Court suit, which was filed in February 2015.

A judge ruled in favor of the Tomeis last September. While Lennon filed an appeal shortly thereafter, court filings indicate he stopped pursuing his appeal at some point before the settlement was reached. Gary Tomei said Tuesday that he and Lennon had “recently” reached a confidential settlement. He confirmed that the tree had been removed “about a month ago.”

Gary Tomei declined to comment on the agreement other than to say he’s “just happy it's over.”

Lennon’s lawyer declined to comment.

By: Victoria Bekiempis

Source: The New York Daily News

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Stella McCartney continues to prove it’s possible to design luxury collections with cruelty-free fashion. Showcasing her A/W17 collection during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday 7 March, the longtime advocate of animal welfare debuted a leather alternative material, calling it “skin-free skin”.

Stella McCartney continues to prove it’s possible to design luxury collections with cruelty-free fashion. Showcasing her A/W17 collection during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday 7 March, the longtime advocate of animal welfare debuted a leather alternative material, calling it “skin-free skin”.

Until recently, I avoided using fake [leather] because it never looked luxurious enough,” McCartney told The Guardian. “I am so excited that we have finally developed fabrics that look just as good as the real thing and therefore genuinely pose a question to the industry about why anyone needs to use leather any more.”

 Adding a heart-warming moment, the designer also paid tribute to the late George Michael with a diversified group of models singing to his hit ‘Faith’.

By: Susan Devaney

Source: The Huffington Post

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A vintage Liverpool police recruitment film dating from 1958 may very likely have a glimpse of John Lennon, Paul McCartney and his brother Michael, the McCartney brother told the Liverpool Echo March 7. If it is indeed The Beatles in the footage, it would be the earliest known film appearance of any of the group members.

Contacted by the Echo, Michael McCartney said he believed it was himself, Paul McCartney and very likely John Lennon. “Wow! That could definitely be us,” he told the paper. “It was a really big occasion in Liverpool and that’s what we used to do every summer –- take deck chairs and climb onto the concrete shed and watch a free show. And I think there is every chance John would have been there that year – absolutely. His friend, Pete Shotton, was a police cadet. And George could easily have been there, too. It’s bloody mad – absolutely fascinating and unbelievable!”

The footage was discovered by Peter Hodgson, who posted on Facebook, “I have old footage from 1958. They are seen, stood on top of their outside toilet roof, watching the annual Police Horse and dog display.” Hodgson told the Echo, “I love watching old films about details

Liverpool’s Beatles -themed Hard Days Night hotel has been named the best hotel in the UK in the 2017 Travel Republic Awards. The awards are based on customer scores posted on the travel booking firm’s website. Hard Days Night is said to have prevailed because of its customer service.

The hotel’s general manager Stephen Fernley said: “It’s great to see our hotel being applauded on both a local and global scale, and it makes me feel so proud of our dedicated team members, who go above and beyond to make each guest’s stay enjoyable and highly memorable.” The hotel, situated on North John Street, offers Beatles fans from outside Liverpool great access to the Cavern Club and other Beatles-themed bars and attractions on Mathew Street.

Since opening in February 2008 for Liverpool’s year as the European Capital of Culture, the hotel has experienced several significant brushes with celebrity.

The Voice UK judge Jennifer Hudson posted a series of selfies from the hotel last year when she jetted into Liverpool for R&B star Ciara’s wedding. It’s believed she stayed in the luxurious Lennon suite.

By: Liam O'Brien

Source: The Liverpool Ec details

Musician Sean Lennon has released a song he co-wrote with late Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher. The track, titled Bird Song, was penned "years ago" by Fisher, Lennon – the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono – explained in a note on Soundcloud.

He said he felt the need to record the unreleased song following Fisher's death from a heart attack in December, aged 60. "Carrie and I used to stay up 'til dawn chatting and pontificating about life. They were my best moments," Lennon, 41, wrote.

"Anyway, we wrote a song about staying up too late and hearing the birds sing... The lyrics she wrote with me I think are marvellous." Willow Smith, the 16-year-old daughter of Hollywood stars Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, contributed vocals to the unmixed recording.

"It's all so wrong to greet the dawn / The birds sing that awful song, saying 'You don't belong here!'" go Fisher's lyrics, over a tinkling piano and lilting harmonies that are more than a little Beatles-esque.

By: Rob Moran

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

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“Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” were an early clue to a new direction. The first songs that opened The Beatles' contribution to the summer of love bridged the gap between the experiments of Rubber Soul and Revolver and the massively ambitious George Martin production that became Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Both songs were originally the twin pillars of that album but the Beatles had a policy of leaving off pre-released singles because they were “filler” material. But there’s nothing to get hung about, there is an unsubstantiated rumor going round that an upcoming re-release of the Beatles’ classic album will remedy that. No worries, though, the rumors give us reason to explore the childhood memory song couplet by songwriters John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

The Mirror of London reported that “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” will be included on the Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 50th anniversary reissue when it comes out on June 1. While the story has since been questioned, there is no question that the songs were a centerpiece of the album whether they were included or not. Fans were angry that the song details

In the mid-Nineties, while Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were working on the Beatles' massive Anthology project, they got together with George Martin, their old producer, at Abbey Road Studios to discuss and dissect a few classic Beatles tracks. In the incredible clip below, you can watch as they go through the various parts of John Lennon's Revolver masterpiece, "Tomorrow Never Knows," a song that signaled the band's new direction for 1966.

At the 1:10 mark, watch as Martin and McCartney grab the faders to reveal the many different layers of "Tomorrow Never Knows." "People tend to credit John with the backwards recordings, the loops and the weird sound effects, but the tape loops were my thing," McCartney says in Barry Miles' Many Years From Now. "The only thing I ever used them on was 'Tomorrow Never Knows.' It was nice for this to leak into the Beatle stuff as it did. We ran the loops and then we ran the track of 'Tomorrow Never Knows' and we played the faders, and just before you could tell it was a loop, before it began to repeat a lot, I'd pull in one of the other faders, and so, using the other people, 'You pull that in there,' 'You pull that in,' we did a half random, half orchestrated playing details

To hear Olivia Harrison tell it, it wasn't unusual for George Harrison to stroll through the house spouting words at random — a process that could cause an outsider to wonder whether the ex-Beatle had suddenly started speaking in tongues.

“George would throw out words one after another,” she said in a recent interview. “He knew he’d find the word. He was good at that. Sometimes he was quiet and just thought about it, sometimes he just kept writing down words that began with ‘S’ until he got the right one. … It didn’t matter what they were — he knew he would get to something.” In fact, that method is exactly what helped him get to Something — and While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Here Comes the Sun, Give Me Love, Give Me Peace on Earth, My Sweet Lord, Awaiting on You All, Brainwashed and so many other songs he wrote in the Beatles and as a solo artist.

Olivia Harrison had good reason to recall that detail. She’s been deep in her husband’s writing for months, culling scraps of paper, notebook entries, scribbles on hotel stationery, napkins and other bits of writing surfaces for the new “extended edition” of Harrison’ details

My sophomore year of high school, I decided to make a mockumentary about my experiences in marching band that fall. Somehow I convinced my good-natured band teacher, Mr. Moore, to let me film all kinds of footage during my down time and then show the finished film during class at the end of the semester. When I was looking for an opening credits song, my dad half-jokingly suggested the Paul McCartney & Wings song “Band on the Run” from their hit 1973 album of the same name. Though the song alludes to a band of criminals on the run, I liked the idea of interpreting it as an ode to marching band members running around a football field. I was hooked immediately by its dramatic yet playful structure. Twelve years and one music degree later, Band on the Run has become one my favorite albums, never failing to delight and surprise me with its ever-changing sound and occasionally kooky lyrics.

Wings was Paul and Linda McCartney’s pet project from 1971-1981 with a revolving door of members save for former Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine. After struggling to impress critics and die-hard Beatles fans with their first two albums, Wings finally had a hit with “Live and Let Die,” for the 1973 James details