India: Day 5

Paul, Frank, and The Beatles visit the Maharishi

Paul, Frank, and The Beatles in search of the inner light.
(click image to enlarge)

Listen / Download:
Beatles - The Inner Light
Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows (Love version)

Remembering Lennon

A message from Yoko Ono

I miss you, John. 27 years later, I still wish I could turn back the clock to the Summer of 1980. I remember everything - sharing our morning coffee, walking in the park together on a beautiful day, and seeing your hand stretched to mine - holding it, reassuring me that I shouldn't worry about anything because our life was good.

I had no idea that life was about to teach me the toughest lesson of all. I learned the intense pain of losing a loved one suddenly, without warning, and without having the time for a final hug and the chance to say, "I love you," for the last time. The pain and shock of that sudden loss is with me every moment of every day. When I touched John's side of our bed on the night of December 8th, 1980, I realized that it was still warm. That moment has haunted me for the past 27 years - and will stay with me forever.

Even harder for me is watching what was taken away from our beautiful boy, Sean. He lives in silent anger over not having his Dad, whom he loved so much, around to share his life with. I know we are not alone. Our pain is one shared by many other families who are suffering as the victims of senseless violence. This pain has to stop.

Let's not waste the lives of those we have lost. Let's, together, make the world a place of love and joy and not a place of fear and anger. This day of John's passing has become more and more important for so many people around the world as the day to remember his message of Peace and Love and to do what each of us can to work on healing this planet we cherish.

Let's: Think Peace, Act Peace, and Spread Peace. John worked for it all his life.
He said, "there's no problem, only solutions." Remember, we are all together.
We can do it, we must. I love you!


Listen / Download:
Paul McCartney - Here Today
George Harrison - All Those Years Ago
Elton John - Empty Garden
David Gilmour - Murder

It Was Forty Years Ago Today

Sgt. Pepper Taught The Band To Play

June 1st 1967 the Beatles released what some feel is the greatest rock album ever made: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Do I think its the greatest rock album ever? Yes. Without a doubt. It changed my life. It is my favorite album of all time? No, that would be The Who's Quadrophenia. Pepper, incidently, is not my favorite Beatle album either. That would be Revolver. Why I feel the way I do about Pepper being the best ever rock album ever and not my favorite is for another post for another day. Today, I'd like to share a few Pepper stories with you.

When I was about 10 years old my parents took me to their friends house for a cook out. It was an all day affair and there were no other kids to play with. Somehow, my mother's friend noticed how my brother and I were bored and told us to go her daughter's bedroom and see what she's up to. We found the daughter sitting on her bed listening to music. In her hands was the Sgt Pepper album. I asked her if I could look at the cover. I recall staring at the cover with amazement. I never saw anything like it before. All those faces! I believe looking at that cover is why I recall this moment in my life. It was that profound.

A few years later my DJ uncle, Steve Martorano, arranged to have the entire Beatles catalog shipped to my home. As I opened the boxed and looked at the covers I immediately recognized Pepper. Because I knew the cover I decided to play that album first. My brother and I shared a small beige record player with a built-in 2 inch by 2 inch speaker. I remember placing the needle on the record and hearing the orchestra tuning up. Then it segued into an incredible guitar sound unlike anything I had ever heard in my life. It didn't matter that the record player was shitty. the music was amazing. Up to this time all I heard in my home was classical music and some skinny Italian singer name Sinatra. Rock music was not allowed in my home. For the next 39 minutes I sat listened to not only my first Beatles album but my first rock album ever. Not a bad first choice, eh? For the next week I played that album over and over again and started my life long love affair with the Beatles.

Cut to June 1, 1987 - twenty years ago today. I'm working for the number one radio station in Philadelphia, WMMR. To commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the release of Pepper Capitol records re-releases the masterpiece on CD. My music director, Erin Riley, gave me a copy of the CD. That afternoon, I went home and played Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in its entirety just like I did the first time I ever heard it some eight years before. This time, however, I didn't have to turn the album over to listen to side two.

Now, here I sit, June 1, 2007, listening to Pepper in its entirety just like I did twenty years ago. This time around I'm listening to the album via mp3 and through my computer. After all these years Sgt. Pepper is still an incredible listen and one filled with musical memories I'll cherish forever.

I'll leave you with my favorite song from Pepper, "She's Leaving Home." Enjoy


Listen / Download:
Beatles - She's Leaving Home

My Brush With Greatness

I Shook Hands With God

A few days ago I was in New York City. My friend Suzanne and I decided to grab a drink at the Four Seasons. As I opened the door a man walked out. As our eyes met I realized it was Eric Clapton. Now, I've met a lot of rock stars that 100 years from now nobody will ever remember (Dee Synder, Meatloaf, and Joan Jett to name just a few). But Eric is different. He's, in my mind, rock royalty. He can be mentioned in the same breath with The Beatles, Stones, The Who, and Zeppelin. I can only think of one other solo artist that is close to Clapton's stature - Neil Young. Dare I say, Lou Reed and Bruce Springsteen aren't in the Clapton's league.

As Eric walked out I immediately recognized him and said, "Um. Hi, how are you?" as if we've known each other for years. I stuck my hand out and as he shook it he said, "how are you?" We both then turned and as I walked into the hotel he stepped his limo. Eric was leaving to attend the "Ahmet Ertegun: A Celebration" private memorial service. Ertegun, the chairman of Atlantic Records, died on Dec. 14 at 83. Clapton, leading a band that included the New Orleans pianist Dr. John, played two songs that he said Mr. Ertegun always sang when they would get drunk together: Percy Mayfield’s “Please Send Me Someone To Love,” a prayer for romance and world peace, and Stick McGhee’s “Drinkin’ Wine Spo-dee-o-dee,” the single that got Atlantic Records off the ground.

To wrap up this post I want to comment on why I wrote "I Shook Hands With God." Back in the mid-sixties when Eric first rose to prominence the phrase “Clapton is God” was spray painted on a wall in the Underground station in Islington in the mid-60s by an admirer.

The graffiti was captured in a now-famous photograph. Helped by the photo, the legend grew. It is now commonly believed that graffiti proclaiming “Clapton is God” could be seen all over the walls of the London Underground system during the mid- to late-60s.

That may be the story. But, here's why I believe Clapton is God. Enjoy.

Listen / Download:
Delaney & Bonnie - Comin' Home

Derek/Dominoes - Got To Get Better In A Little While (live)

Bluesbreakers - Hideaway

Eric Clapton - The Core

Eric Clapton - Mainline Florida

Cream - Crossroads

Clapton/Allman - Mean Old World

Yardbirds - Got To Hurry

Derek/Dominoes - Have You Ever Loved a Woman

Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Beatles "Love"

Within You Without You / Tomorrow Never Knows

I listened to the "new" Beatles release today titled "Love." Since the Beatles haven't officially recorded as a band since 1969 I was under the impression that this release was same wine different bottle. I was way wrong.

Love begins with a twittering of birdsong lifted from "Across the Universe." And once the triple-tracked a capella harmonies of "Because" enter, followed by snatches from "A Hard Day's Night" and "The End," leading into a fired-up "Get Back," it became obvious that this was far more than just another Beatles compilation. Now, there's no new Beatles material per se, but the songs are all approached differently--some are cut together in a flawlessly mixed medley, some reassemble different backing tracks and vocal performances to create new spins on old classics; but all the songs are revitalized considerably. Case in point...

Now you may say, "why mess with perfection?" Well, why not? Especially, if the Beatles are backing the idea and their old producer George Martin is behind the controls. That said, I don't know if I would recommend this to brand new Beatles fan. This album is for the folks who really know the music. They're the ones who'll really appreciate this for its creativity.

Listen / Download other Beatles' mash-ups:
Beastie Boys (Beatles power sampled) - The Sounds of Science
Danger Mouse (Jay Z/Beatles mash) - 99 Problems.mp3

Remembering Lennon

26 years later

Twenty-six years ago John Lennon left this planet for the psychedelic pastures of Strawberry Fields.

Today we remember John with a Come Together outtake from Anthology 3. Famed rock critic Robert Christgau believes Lennon is rock's greatest vocalist. Listen to this version and you'll understand why.


Listen / Download:
Beatles - Come Together (Anthology 3)

Billy Preston: 1946-2006

The Real Fifth Beatle

June 6 - Billy Preston has died after a long illness as a result of malignant hypertension that resulted in kidney failure and other complications.

Billy Preston began his career playing in the bands of Little Richard and Ray Charles as a keyboardist, however he was probably best known for his work with the Beatles. He played on their 1970 Let It Be album and on the songs "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" and "Something", from 1969's Abbey Road. Signed to their Apple label, in 1969, Preston released the album That's the Way God Planned It and a single of the same name (produced by George Harrison).
His relationship with Harrison continued after the break up of The Beatles; he was the first artist to record My Sweet Lord (the single flopped), and he was on several of George's 70's solo albums. Preston also made notable and energetic contributions to the Concert for Bangladesh, a Harrison-organised charity concert, and, after George's death, the Concert for George. Preston also worked on solo recordings by two other ex-Beatles, John Lennon and Ringo Starr.

After the Beatles, Preston played keyboards for the Rolling Stones, alongside pianist Nicky Hopkins. Preston appears on the Stones' albums Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street, Goats Head Soup, It's Only Rock'n Roll and Black and Blue on which he contributed harmony vocals on "Melody." . He toured as a support act with the Stones in 1973, and recorded his live album Live in Europe in Munich with Mick Taylor on guitar. In 1974 composed one of Joe Cocker's biggest hits You Are So Beautiful. In 1975 he became the first musical guest on Saturday Night Live.
In 1975 and 1976 he again toured with the Stones, this time getting to play two of his own songs, backed by the Stones, in the middle of every concert. The Stones and Preston parted company in 1977, mainly due to a row over money. He continued to play on solo records by Stones members, and made an appearance again on the Stones' 1997 Bridges to Babylon album.

The 1980s were lean years for Preston. He was arrested and convicted for insurance fraud after setting fire to his own house in Los Angeles, and he was treated for alcohol and cocaine addictions. In 1991, he entered no-contest pleas to the cocaine and assault charges. He was sentenced to nine months at a drug rehabilitation center and three months of house arrest.

Preston managed to conquer his problems in the early 1990s, and toured with Eric Clapton, and recorded with a wide range of artists.

Preston participated in the tribute concert "Concert for George Harrison" at Royal Albert Hall and his performance of My Sweet Lord has received critical acclaim. He also recorded on the last album of Ray Charles. He toured with The Funk Brothers and Stevie Winwood in Europe in early 2004 and then with his friend Eric Clapton in Europe and North America. It has been claimed that his big contribution to the Beatles' sound was made clear with the release of the Let it be naked album.

Preston played clavinet on the song "Warlocks" for the Red Hot Chili Peppers album Stadium Arcadium released in 2006. Although very ill, he jumped out of bed after hearing a tape of the song given to him by the band, recorded his part, and went back to bed [1]. Preston's final contribution was playing Gospel-tinged organ on the Neil Diamond album, 12 Songs.

Listen / Download:
Get Back - The Beatles with Billy Preston
Melody - Rolling Stones (inspiration by Billy Preston)
Nothing From Nothing - Billy Preston

What's In A Name?

I always thought "The Beatles" was an incredibly clever band name. According to John Lennon, the group's name was a combination word-play on the insect "beetles", a nod to Buddy Holly's band (the Crickets) and the word "beat" which in the late 1950s and early 1960s carried both musical connotations (the beat of a song) and pop-cultural connotations (relating to the Beat generation).

As clever as "The Beatles" may be as a name it can't hold a candle to some other real band names listed on this webpage - The Canonical List of Weird Band Names. A few of my favorites include Above Average Weight Band, Cindy Brady's Lisp, I Buried Paul, JFKFC, Jehovah’s Witness Protection Program, Lee Harvey Keitel, Nearly Died Laughing While Shaving My Butt, Sandy Duncan's Eye, and Whorgasm.

I think if I ever had a band I'd call it Pearl Jamnation.

NYC Radio The Night John Lennon Died

My buddy Tim Weaver sent me a link to WFMU's Beware of the Blog featuring NYC Radio The Night John Lennon Died. Click here to listen to a dial scan of New York City's FM band from 25 years ago. It was recorded shortly after the news of John Lennon's murder broke.

Listen/Download
The Night John Lennon Died

"...the greatest love song of the last fifty years."

Since it's Valentine's Day I thought I'd write about what Frank Sinatra called "...the greatest love song of the last fifty years." I'm referring to George Harrison's "Something."

"Something"--originally released on last album to be recorded by The Beatles, Abbey Road--is the second-most covered Beatles' song with about one thousand cover versions, trailing behind "Yesterday," which has three times that number. BMI has certified "Something" as the 17th most performed song of the 20th century, with over five million performances.

I'm posting three versions of "Something."

The first is Harrison's demo--just voice and shimmering electric guitar--recorded on his 26th birthday. Simply beautiful.

The second is Booker T and the MG's version of "Something." This particular cover takes the sweet love song into an unexpected path that rocks so hard you'll stop what you're doing and pick up your air guitar to play along.

The last version of "Something" comes from Frank Sinatra. Frank recorded it twice: with a traditionally-arranged version in 1970 and a lushy-arranged (and Harrison-preferred) recording in 1979. However, Sinatra made a gaffe – in his original statement, he mistakenly attributed it to the Lennon / McCartney partnership. Sinatra also made an innovation of his own on the song, changing one of its lines to "You stick around, Jack / And she might show" which Harrison loved – in all his future performances of "Something", he used Sinatra's modified lyric instead of his original.

Listen/Download:
George Harrison - Something (demo)
Booker T & the MG's - Something
Frank Sinatra - Something