Andreas asked:


Many Beatles fans are unaware of the great impact British folk-singer and guitarist Donovan (Donovan Philips Leitch) had on the Beatles and their music in 1968.

Donovan was a friend of the Beatles, and when the group traveled to Rishikesh in India to study Transcendental Meditation in February 1968, Donovan came along. There were several other westerners present at the Rishikesh camp too, including Mike Love of the Beach Boys.

Many of the songs that would later feature on the Beatles’ 1968 album entitled The Beatles - also known as The White Album because of its white cover - emerged during the group’s stay in India.

One reason for this was the fact that Donovan was there. Between the mediation classes, he taught John, Paul and George a special finger-picking guitar style which can be traced on many of the songs on The White Album.

Take Paul McCartney’s Blackbird, for example. It was written in India, and it’s a prime example of how Donovan’s guitar-technique was applied by the Beatles. Listen how elegantly Paul picks the strings and how the guitar pattern supports the lead vocal brilliantly.

Acoustic guitars had arguably not sounded quite as sophisticated as that on previous Beatles recordings, perhaps with a few exceptions, such as Paul’s I’ve Just Seen A Face from 1965 and Lennon’s Girl from 1966. The Beatles had often used the acoustic to play rhythm guitar - which of course worked brilliantly - but the Donovan finger-picking style added yet another dimension their music.

Another of Paul’s songs, Mother Nature’s Son, also took shape in India. Also here Donovan’s influence is obvious. The lyrics, meanwhile, are said to have been influenced by a lecture given by meditation guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a central figure at the camp.

Paul was of course not the only Beatle who was inspired by Donovan’s guitar technique. Just listen to the songs Julia and Dear Prudence, both penned by John Lennon. Dear Prudence is actually about a specific incident that occurred at the Rishikesh meditation camp. The song is really about Prudence Farrow, sister of actress Mia Farrow, who also stayed at Rishikesh. Prudence, however, preferred to meditate in solitude in her chalet. In the end Lennon and George Harrison had to convince her to come out and join the others: Dear Prudence, won’t you come out and play?

Other songs written or inspired by the stay in India were Lennon’s The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill and **** Sadie, plus McCartney’s Why Don’t We Do It In The Road and Wild Honey Pie.

Sexy Sadie was originally called Maharishi after Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the meditation guru. After having stayed in India for a while, Lennon lost trust in Maharishi, apparently because of a rumor that the guru had made sexual advances to a female member of the course. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill was about college graduate named Richard Cooke III who visited the Rishikesh community because his mother Nancy was staying there. They did indeed go tiger hunting, just like the song suggests.

Paul McCartney later said he got the idea to Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? in India, where he had seen two monkeys copulating in the road. Wild Honey Pie was a sing along that also emerged in Rishikesh.

The first Beatle to leave India was Ringo, who returned to London in early March. McCartney soon followed, while Lennon and Harrison left in April.

You can read about all the songs the Beatles released on my website: http://www.thebeatlesonline.com



Agnes

Sherry L asked:


The buzz started sometime during the televised portion of the auditions - you must watch “the best top 24 ever.” While I didn’t completely buy it, after last year’s disappointing group, I was somewhat inclined to want to believe it.

After these past two weeks of having the “best top 24 ever” crammed down my throat I finally had to stop and think about it. The final straw may have been when Ryan Seacrest announced Sony/ATV Music Publishing (a merger of Sony and ATV, which was owned by Michael Jackson) had given the go ahead for a Beatles night based on the “strength” of this year’s contestants.

Are we really supposed to believe this? It’s only the second week. Are we really supposed to buy that it’s possible this all happened after the first week of performances? I’m sure these negotiations have been going on for a while. In fact I know they have because there was a Beatles medley in last the finale last year, and The Beatles were the catalyst for the British Invasion theme last season. Though we didn’t actually get to hear any Beatles songs then.

I’m sure whoever was doing the negotiating with Sony crammed “the best top 24 ever” down their throats too.

So do we really have the best top 24 ever? Not in my opinion. It’s true that this is only the third season of the show I have watched, but I can say just going off that limited knowledge that season 5 had an all around better group of contestants. I will also venture to say that there is no one this season that can touch Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood.

So why are they saying it? Why do they have to say it so much? The answer to the second question is probably because it’s not true, but if they say it enough people will believe it. I have heard people repeat it around my office and message boards about the show, as if it’s true. That’s how marketing works.

The top 24 is already down to 16 and is anyone lamenting the loss of Colton Berry or Amy Davis? In two weeks most people probably won’t remember who they are. Simon even told poor Colton that he should give up singing and get a real job. So if he’s one of the best singers the show has ever had, then why would Simon say that?

In fact Simon’s comments have been the same, if not more cruel, as they always have been. “That was ghastly,” “you’re boring,” “that was like some horrible wedding performance,” “it’s old fashioned,” etc etc. Simon certainly doesn’t seem to believe it’s the best ever, so why should we?

Simon has only shown real enthusiasm for one contestant. He seems to like Carly Smithson a little, but not as much as David. Simon says David is the one to beat, and he doesn’t seem to care about anyone else even being in the competition. As David White from The Advocate writes - David Archuleta is the only male contestant I have any reason to be writing about. And unfortunately that seems to be true.

It’s like the show is already gearing up for a Carly Smithson/David Archuleta finale and the rest of the contestants can slowly get eliminated one by one without a second thought. Maybe the rest of the contestants aren’t really as strong as the show purports them to be, and perhaps the “best top 24 ever” is just a smokescreen to get the show to it’s final intended destination.

Am I saying the show is fixed? No. But marketing is a powerful tool, and it can be hard to see around it. The viewers have the ultimate power, but Simon knows whose word matters the most. His.



Jacob

Marvin J Markus asked:


es 1967 album Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is perhaps the most legendary album in rock music history. So much has been said about it that it is considered by quite a few music critics to be overrated. While I can understand that view, I do not think it is overrated.

It’s not my favorite Beatles album ever, that is The White Album, but it is probably the most perfect album they ever did. Definitely the most cohesive and arguably the most consistent (although Revolver’s got a pretty good case too.)

While it’s been said by many that the whole “concept album” thing has been overstated and that the songs really don’t have much to do with each other, I think that’s missing the point entirely. I actually think the concept works best because it isn’t forced (like it would be in some later concept albums by other bands.) The “concept” is really quite loose. It’s just an imaginary band going through their set.

The effect works now and I can imagine it must have been even more effective back in 1967. This is a band that totally destroyed their prior “mop top” image. This is “art rock.” This is something more than just a bunch of tunes to tap your toes to. It’s something more.

What I enjoy so much about this album is how every song seems so necessary and vital to the whole of the album and every song flows so perfectly into the next despite the fact that the songs are all so incredibly different. Songs like “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” & “Within You Without You” & “When I’m 64″ have very little in common with each other but somehow they all work together as one whole.

The album is truly a “trip” in that when I listen to it I feel as if I’m walking through some strange carnival, particularly during “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite” of course.

That’s the big reason why I think it’s a better album than Revolver. Yes Revolver’s songs are just as brilliant, if not even more brilliant but it just doesn’t have the same flow that Sgt. Pepper does. Revolver sounds like a collection of (amazing) songs. Sgt. Pepper is a trip that flows from one song to the next.

As the album grows with me over the years (I’ve been listening to it frequently for about 12 years now) it seems that many of the songs that were not originally among my favorites are now the ones that stand out for me the most. In particular “Getting Better” & “Fixing a Hole.” Paul McCartney could truly do no wrong at this time. The music is incredible and it contains some of his best lyrics.

Of course I can’t write this review of Sgt. Pepper without talking about the album closer, “A Day in the Life” which is the absolute greatest song of all time. I don’t even have the slightest doubt in making that claim. How can an album that ends with “A Day in the Life” be overrated? I think it’s a logical impossibility.



Gene

Nor Nan asked:


es is the music band that has great reputation as well as very long and interesting history. There is no doubt that this group has made significant success for their career and it is still good to learn more about how they get such a success. The following article covers a topic that includes a short history of them. You may find that before they become The Beatles they have to face so many problems and obstacles, which require patience and a lot effort to struggle. If you want to learn more about it, here’s your opportunity.

The guy named John Lennon, who has very strong inspiration from the rock and roll music of Elvis Presley, created the Beatles. John Lennon and his friends had formed up the music band named Quarry Men in the year 1957. At the end of the year 1942, John met Paul McCartney, the guy from Liverpool, and persuaded him to join the band after he finished seeing John’s performance.

Afterwards, in the year 1943, The Paul’s schoolmate joined the band on leading guitar and also changed the name of the band to Johnny and the Moondog. In early 60’s, Cliff who was the schoolmate of John Lennon, joined the band on bass guitar despite the fact that he had no knowledge about music and notes. Tommy Moor was replacing Pete Best for drums and the band used the name Silver Beetles. Soon after, the name of the band was changed again from Silver Beetles to The Beatles.

After that, the new Beatle music band had the first concert to welcome new member, Pete. In December 1943, Harrison was arrested by German police and sent him back to his hometown because he was too young and after him, the guys from Liverpool were also sent back to their home country.

In the year 1960, the Beatles started their concert performance again in Cavern Club in Liverpool, and this place was the beginning of their success story. They had almost 300 performances at this place and then they decided to go back to German in April 1961. At this time, one of the band members decided to leave the band to be full time artist and they became four instead of five.

Paul compulsorily had to play bass guitar as well. After that, the Beatles performed concerts in Liverpool many times until 9 November 1961, Brian, the owner of music record, came to see their concert. Brian’s customers had asked him for “Bonnie” which is the song that The Beatles had made the record in Germany few months ago. Two months later, Brian became the first band manager for The Beatles who changed the look of all members of the band including their hairs



Jorge

Marvin J Markus asked:


My favorite album of all time, The Beatles self titled double album turns 40 this year. It was released on November 22nd of 1968 and while it is officially titled simply The Beatles, it is best known as “The White Album.”

While it’s not as flawless as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Revolver, or Abbey Road (which I rank #2, #3, & #4 respectively) I think it’s spectacular variety makes it the most interesting listen over the long term. I’ve been listening to The White Album frequently since I first discovered it twelve years ago. And even now, 12 years later, I still discover new things about it. Songs that I used to think were dragging the album down a bit are now among my favorits. It’s an album that has just continued to grow on me over the years.

Many have argued that The White Album should have been cut down to a single album. That some of the album’s less perfect songs such as “Bungalow Bill” & “Don’t Pass Me By” could (and should) have been axed along with the experimental avant-garde “Revolution #9.” In fact the Beatles producer (George Martin) himself has made that argument.

I strongly disagree with that point of view. A great part of what gives the album it’s endearing charm are these songs that would have been chopped to make it into a single album. While I don’t listen to “Revolution #9″ every time I play the album, I do enjoy listening to it when I’m in the mood. It’s an experience like none other.

While “Don’t Pass Me By” is definitely among The Beatles worst songs, it still has some charm. In a way it’s charming almost because it’s not such a great song. It’s neat to hear the other Beatles try to give life to Ringo’s less than stellar tune.

And how about songs like Paul McCartney’s great “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?” & “Piggies.” These are songs that would be unlikely to make such a single album version and yet I find them to be extraordinarily interesting. Some people would call songs like these “filler” just because they are not hit singles. I would say to people like that: “Open your ears & your mind.” Put away your Beatles 1 CD and put in The White Album. It may be a more difficult listen at first but it’s also a far more rewarding one in the long term.

Not that The White Album doesn’t have some “hits” as well. Songs like “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Birthday,” “Back in the USSR,” & “Obladi-Oblada” are all among The Beatles most well known and most well loved songs. “Blackbird” & “I Will” are certainly among The Beatles most beautiful songs.

The White Album is my favorite album of all time. Not despite of any imperfections and not because of them either, but because of the album as a whole. It’s an incredible journey through many different types of music. So many different styles but the one common thread is The Beatles amazing songwriting talent. Whether it is “Helter Skelter” or “Julia.” “Happiness is a Warm Gun” or “Martha My Dear.” This is brilliant music that has definitely stood the test of time.

Happy Birthday to The White Album! Not all music sounds so good when it hits the big four-o.



Shannon

Robert Benson asked:


He dreamt of world peace. He was an artist, poet and an outspoken voice of the hippie generation. He was an influential musician, a peace activist, an absent father and a devoted lover and husband. He abused alcohol and drugs, sneered at normality, yet took time off from his rock and roll career to raise his son. But most of all, he was a Beatle. He was and still is, John Winston Lennon.

Born in Liverpool on October 9, 1940, John Lennon was shot to death on December 8, 1980 by a fanatical fan. December 8, 2005 marks the 25th anniversary of this tragic and senseless loss.

There are many words to describe John Lennon. He was an unruly, stubborn and a disobedient, troubled youth. He failed at art school, yet swore to his aunt that “one of these days I’m going to be famous and you’ll be sorry”.

He called himself a leader, yet did some of his best work alone. He was an alleged wife beater, very outspoken, often putting out contoversial quotes to the media; either to make a point or just to be outlandish. But when he spoke, people listened.

He was a partner with his boyhood friend, Paul McCartney and together they left a musical writing partnership and a legacy that is unequalled to this day and may never be. The Beatles, with their producer George Martin, changed music in dramatic fashion; with studio techniques that had never been attempted.

They pioneered the concept album with “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, which the editors of Rolling Stone magazine list as the greatest rock album of the rock era.

He had the attention of our government with his anti-war protests and at one point was under FBI investigation. He sang of love and peace and living in harmony, with all people coming together as one. There are some who called him a genius. He could be nasty, resentful and mean-spirited. He fought his demons and it seems he was winning, until December 8, 1980.

We can only recall his career, from the beginning, until the end and who doesn’t know the story about the four lads from Liverpool. He was part of the group that changed rock and roll music history.

We can only wonder what John Lennon would be doing if he were alive today. How active would he be in promoting world peace? Would he still be creating wonderfully crafted rock and roll songs? All we can do is Imagine, and that is the shame of it all.



Jerry

Marvin J Markus asked:


es released 13 official studio albums from 1963 to 1970. What follows is a short “review” of each of these 13 albums. In my view as a true Beatles fanatic every single on of these albums should be a part of your collection eventually. But there are definitely some albums that are more essential than others.

Please Please Me (1963) - The Beatles very first album has some great songs on it including the title track, the opening track “I Her Standing There,” and the great cover “Twist & Shout” but it also has a much higher percentage of clunkers than most Beatles albums. In fact I’d say at least half of this album just isn’t that good. It’s interesting from an historical stand point and sometimes it can even be quite enjoyable to listen to, but I’d probably make it one of my last albums if I were just getting into The Beatles.

With The Beatles (1963) - The Beatles second album includes a few nice songs but it’s largely quite forgettable due to the large amount of covers.

A Hard Day’s Night (1964) - The Beatles third album is when they really started to come into their own. While their first two albums only included 8 originals each, A Hard Day’s Night is nothing but Lennon/McCartney originals. It includes some of The Beatles very best early pop & rock n roll music. If you find yourself more drawn to their early pop songs then this may be a great album to get started with.

Beatles For Sale (1964) - I do think this album is somewhat underrated but it is definitely a step backwards from A Hard Day’s Night. It includes 6 mostly forgettable covers. But the originals are quite nice. “I’m a Loser” & “Every Little Thing” are among the highlights.

Help! (1965) - This was another step forward. It included some of The Beatles biggest hit songs including the title track “Help!” and the legendary ballad “Yesterday.” “Ticket to Ride,” “I’ve Just Seen a Face,” and “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” are also among the album’s highlights. It’s a great album with a couple of miss steps (”Dizzy Miss Lizzy” and “Act Naturally” are both awful covers that shouldn’t have been included on the album.)

Rubber Soul (1965) - A huge step forward. Includes the first use of a sitar on a western pop record on “Norwegian Wood” which may be favorite song on the album. Rubber Soul includes many of The Beatles greatest songs like “Nowhere Man,” “In My Life,” “Girl,” “Michelle,” and “I’m Looking Through You.”

Revolver (1966) - Again with the step forward. The Beatles were progressing at an unbelievable rate during these years. From “I Want To Hold Your Hand” to “Tomorrow Never Knows” in 2 years? Are you kidding me? Absolutely mind blowing. One of The Beatles greatest albums. There are no weak songs. Many consider it to be The Beatles very best album.

Sgt. Pepper (1967) - It’s become somewhat hip to say that Sgt. Pepper is overrated. But it’s not. It’s a truly incredible album. I find every single song on this album to be a thoroughly enjoyable listen. They are all essential in my view. Includes the absolute greatest album closer of all time, “A Day in the Life.”

Magical Mystery Tour (1967) - This was The Beatles at their most purposefully “psychedelic.” To me that’s a good thing. It includes some of The Beatles most incredible psychedelic masterpieces “I Am The Walrus” & “Strawberry Fields Forever.”

The White Album (1968) - My favorite Beatles album. That being said, it’s probably not a good one to get started with. It’s probably too sprawling for a first time listener. It’s not as consistent as Sgt. Pepper or Revolver but for me it’s even more endlessly interesting. There’s so many different styles of music on this album and to my ears they are all done perfectly.

Yellow Submarine (1969) - Probably The Beatles least essential album as it includes only four songs that are not heard elsewhere. But of those four songs two are really great “Hey Bulldog” and particularly the very underrated “It’s All Too Much.” I actually recommend getting the 1999 Yellow Submarine Songtrack instead as it replaces the rather boring incidental “film music” that makes up much of the Yellow Submarine album with remixed, remastered versions of many of The Beatles greatest hits.

Abbey Road (1969) - Possibly The Beatles most “modern” sounding album as it was actually the final album they recorded and the only one they recorded on the then new 8 track recording machine at Abbey Road studios. Includes the amazing second side suite and some of their most well known songs like “Here Comes The Sun,” “Something,” and “Come Together.” Probably a pretty good first album to get if you are new to The Beatles.

Let It Be (1970) - Let It Be was actually recorded prior to Abbey Road but had been shelved do to The Beatles being unhappy with the recordings. While it’s often seen as somewhat of a disappointment compared to The Beatles other incredible albums that’s really quite ridiculous when you look at the track listing and see that it includes absolutely killer songs like “Let It Be,” “Get Back,” “I’ve Got A Feeling,” “Across The Universe,” & “Two of Us.” Let It Be has a more funky laid back feeling than any other Beatles album. Let It Be… ***** probably has a better track listing but I think they “cleaned up” the sound too much, the original’s “fuzzy” sound was part of it’s charm and fit the songs better.



Leo

Donald Carroll asked:


When I was nineteen years old I was doing some research in the area of “out of body experiences”, and at that time I did experience what is commonly known as the “classic out of body experience”! (I would go on to have many more of them over the next ten years of my life!)

In my early twenties I further developed my interest in Psychology and the Human Sciences, and I developed an especial interest in the paranormal, ghosts, and later the occult sciences. I was curious as to the reality of spirits, spells, and magickal powers! I went on to study some of the Western Traditions of Ritual and Ceremonial Magick, Enlightenment, Mysticism, Religion, Eastern philosophies (including Yoga), and other “so called” ancient philosophies and practices, including Wicca, and/or “witchcraft”. Yes, even Voodoo was on my list of studies! I then and still maintain a genuine curiosity and/or fascination as to the reality of these “so called” unexplained phenomenon!

I was a member at one time or another of several different organizations such as the A.M.O.R.C., the A.A., and even O.T.O.! I wrote to and was answered by several different popular writers of the time on occult subjects; writers such as Donald Michael Kraig, Ted Andrews, and Gerald and Betty Schueler. I also pursued a degree in Psychology so that I could eventually work in either the field of Psychotherapy or Parapsychology!

My interest in ghosts came about while I was even younger, some time before my above mentioned interests came about. My interests in ghosts phased out as my interests turned to the paranormal, the Divine Mysteries, God, Religion, the Occult, Magick, and other documented human and spiritual powers. My conclusions, at that time, as regards ghosts, and “so called” pictures and videos of ghosts, was that it was at least possible for the human soul to remain here after death, in some visible form, and either haunt or communicate with us as all as good ghosts do!!! But? My research with certain occult practices, Yoga, meditation, and human and spiritual development proved to be far more interesting!

Nowadays I am somewhat convinced as to the reality of certain occult practices, and to things like Astrology, Tarot Card reading, and other forms of divination. I do not lend much credibility these days to ghost pictures and ghost videos in general! My feeling, ultimately, is that people do not hang around in some form or another upon their death, and if there is anything to paranormal disturbances or ghosts they would be better explained as either the mind itself - hallucinations, temporary delusions, etc. - or, simply “unexplained phenomenon”. Some of the better occult literature I have read refer to ghosts as being “shells of the dead” - i.e., a “leftover energy form of some sort that does not possess consciousness in itself!” Perhaps? To this day, no one really knows for sure!

Of course, such a question as to the reality of ghosts also brings up also the whole subject of the afterlife itself, and since that has proven to also be improvable, the only thing we have to go on as regards ghosts are the photos and videos that people manage to capture. That is, in many respects, going on “a person’s word”, and is not scientific enough to amount to any sort of proof as to the reality of ghosts and/or spirits.

Ghost pictures and ghost videos, in my opinion, are mostly either a hoax, a brain malfunction, or even a technical malfunction of some sort. How come is it that there is still so much controversy on the subject? That is because the “so called” proof has not yet convinced us all? It is something that has been reported for thousands of years, and even with all of the footage and writings out there, no one is still really sure? Still, I, like many others out there, long for an explainable answer to the often eerie images we see in pictures and video footage of ghosts. Often, people even close to us claim to have had an unexplainable and often frightening encounter with the unknown!

Things like God, the Devil, and everything in between, has fascinated me for a long time. How about Tarot Cards, and who is Aleister Crowley, and how is Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin involved in all of this? READ ON…let me share with you some of my own adventures into the world of the unexplained, Magick, Mysticism, Yoga, Enlightenment, and Aleister Crowley; take a step into the real world of Astrology, the Tarot, Magick, Miracles, Peace, and Enlightenment!!!

About a year after I myself began experimenting with “out-of-body experiences” I became interested in a famous writer, occultist, and magician named Aleister Crowley. I sought to purchase every book that I could find by Aleister Crowley, and I also joined an Order practicing the Western Tradition of Magick called the Hermetic Society of the Golden Dawn. I later also became a member of Aleister Crowley’s own Magickal Order, the Astrum Argentum, A.A., or Order of the Silver Star. This Order is still in existence today, and still maintains a great amount of secrecy in order to better preserve the heart of the Order’s teachings. I was also scheduled to attend a feast and an initiation into the Order of Ordo Templi Orientis, or O.T.O. (Aleister Crowley later became a prominent figure head within this Order.)

As part of my studies, practices, and training, I learned something about ancient languages, practices in numerology, and I learned the “initiated” meanings of various occult symbols, astrological symbols, and religious symbols. I learned how to develop heightened awareness, focus, self-discipline, and concentration through the practice of certain observances and the practice of ritual magick. I also learned the art of divination, and Cartomancy - how to read Tarot Cards. (I believe that I may have been born with a psychic gift or a bizarre talent with the Tarot, and my own personal experiences and abilities with the Tarot have remained to this day unexplainable even to me; I always lay out an accurate reading, no matter what the object or subject of the divination is. I can only demonstrate this psychic ability with Tarot Cards!

My mother has had a couple of “prophetic” dreams that she shared with me once. In accordance with some traditions, I may have inherited the ability from her - for her, prophecy comes in the form of a dream, and for me it is demonstrated in the practice of reading Tarot Cards.!I have also experimented with pendulum dowsing and obtained “remarkably inaccurate results” - so astonishingly incorrect as to suggest psychic ability, but at the same time so undependable that I left my studies with pendulum dowsing to pursue my practice with the Tarot.



Reading Tarot Cards takes years to learn how to do correctly because of the complexity of the symbolism involved; the individual meanings of each of the seventy-eight cards, and the individual meanings of each of the positions, depending upon which layout method, or methods, you are utilizing Repetition, practice, and experience count for everything! The symbolism is deep and at times quite obscure - mastery also depends, theoretically, on a “psychic gift”. I can demonstrate extraordinary abilities with the Tarot, and I have done so for more than fifteen years. I want to write a small, practical book on how to learn and practice the Art correctly, and how to gauge your own progress in a scientific manner! I will make this book available through Green Planet Fantasy Theater and/or Green Planet Fantasy Malls!

Reading Tarot Cards is something that I know a lot about, and I am very well versed in other religious and mystical studies and practices in the occult sciences. I do not personally believe in a “Devil” or demons as some people believe, nor do I understand God to be as “personal of a person” as people sometimes portray Him, or think about Him. For the most part, occult practices have more to do with cultivating self-discipline, focus, concentration, self-healing, physical and emotional healing, and later even learning to heal and/or help others. There are exercises in fitness, Yoga, breathing, and meditation. And, yes, there are the practices of invoking and evoking forces, ritual, and prayer, working miracles, and divination. In some of these areas there is perhaps a lot of rubbish as far as writings and teachings go, but there also writings and practices that are gems; teachings and understandings that anyone can benefit from. True practice of the occult sciences is to initiate you to a path of self-understanding, self acceptance, self-discipline, and study! It is to place yourself onto the Path that eventually leads you to YOU, to Love, Peace, Strength, Honor, and Devotion; the One, True Path that brings us closer to ourselves, and to God, and teaches us to be more “Christ” like! This Path is as unique as each individual is, but the method of approach is very much the same for all, according to the traditions I, myself, am well versed in!

At least some people have heard of the infamous Aleister Crowley, and perhaps even the infamous “Aleister Crowley Castle”. Aleister Crowley was a famous writer who flourished around the turn of the century. He was also a world record holder in the sport of mountain climbing (climbing at least Kanchenjunga, and K-2, two of the tallest mountains in the world.) He was also world class chess player, and a big game hunter. He traveled the world, was wealthy for a time being, studied heavily in the occult sciences, as well as in other world religions, was often referred to as being a genius, and was once even kicked out of Italy by none other than Mussolini himself. Many know of him only because he was once hailed to be “the wickedest man in the world” in the tabloids of the 1940’s!

The “Aleister Crowley Castle” is not really a castle at all…see my pic at the bottom of this page! Most people who have heard of the infamous “Aleister Crowley Castle” have heard about it because it is now owned by the famous rock guitar player for Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page! Though I myself once possessed a rare collection of Aleister Crowley’s works, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin has collected an enormous amount of Aleister Crowley memorabilia. And, yes, he even bought Aleister Crowley’s flat on Loch Ness - the “Aleister Crowley Castle”! (Aleister Crowley only lived in the “Aleister Crowley Castle” himself for roughly six months! The “Magickal Work” that he did there supposedly made the place haunted, and so even Aleister Crowley himself eventually left the flat!!!)

So, what did Aleister Crowley do during his six month stay on Loch Ness? Well, Mr. Crowley obtained a book called “The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage”. He was, at that time, aspiring to the Magickal Grade of Adeptus Minor. So, he sought out and bought a place to retire for six months (sometimes referred to as a “magickal retirement”) while he carried out the instructions in the above mentioned book; a six month Ritual of Magick in which the goal was to obtain to “The Knowledge and Conversation of The Holy Guardian Angel”

I understand a thing or two about this particular Grade Work myself, and if accomplished correctly, attainment in this Grade means simply that you now understand what God’s True Will is for you. In the next Magickal Grade of Work, you set out to rearrange your life in accordance with your Divine understanding. Attainment in this Magickal Grade means that you finally understand your strengths and weaknesses in such a way as to know what God’s will is for you; it is like finally understanding who you are, and what your purpose is, especially from the Divine perspective. This is all a rather complicated subject!

Whether or not Aleister Crowley succeeded in this Work or not was heavily debated within his own circles. But, the flat pictured below is where he settled down to undertake this Magickal Work. The Aleister Crowley Castle is purportedly haunted as a direct result of Crowley’s Work there! I suppose we could all ask Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin if the Aleister Crowley castle is really haunted, assuming he himself has ever been there.

I recently heard about some connection between the Beatles and Aleister Crowley. Aleister Crowley does make an appearance on one of the Beatles albums. He is pictured on the album, “Sergeant Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band”! It is likely that one or more members of the Beatles knew of Aleister Crowley. After all, both the Beatles and Aleister Crowley are from England, and both parties experimented freely with drugs, at one time or another! I would guess that John, Paul, and Ringo may have read of Aleister Crowley, or perhaps one or more of them had even read some of his books? Well, there is no better an ending for this article as:

Love is the law, love under will.

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Marilyn

Robert Benson asked:


Album cover art software allows you to explore this pop phenomenon

In the last article, we discussed some of the elements of album cover art and I would like to continue the discussion with some more details and an album cover finder that is a must for any fan of album cover art.

As I stated previously, many famous artists have been commissioned to design and produce album covers. For example, the Rolling Stones and pop artist Andy Warhol are famous for the cover art on the Stones’ album “Sticky Fingers.” As the story goes, at a party in 1969, Andy Warhol casually mentioned to Mick Jagger that it would be amusing to have a real zipper on an album cover. A year later, Jagger proposed the idea for “Sticky Fingers.” But, there was a flaw in the shipping process, the zipper would press onto the album stacked on top of it, causing damage to the vinyl record. The solution? The zipper had to be pulled down before the album was shipped, then it would only dent the album covers. However, they never figured out how to keep the zipper from scratching the other album covers. Additionally, some department stores refused to display the album, feeling it was risque and not family oriented because of the model’s snug jeans and the zipper display. But this album is historic because it broke new ground and also saw the debut of the now famous Stones logo: a caricature of Jagger’s lips and tongue.

If you are a Janis Joplin fan, then you would probably know that the famed cartoonist Robert Crumb designed the cover for Joplin’s album “Cheap Thrills.” This revered, yet misunderstood artist, drew the cover as a favor to Joplin, who he befriended in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood where they both resided. He was paid $600 for his work by Columbia Records, which later sold the artwork. Crumb was asked to do a cover for the Rolling Stones, but refused because he did not like their music. Crumb is also the artist for the “Keep On Truckin’” poster and “Fritz The Cat,” and has more than seventy covers to his credit.

The Internet is full of sites related to album cover art and is just too numerous to list. There are sites devoted to fan favorites, the weird and unusual, particular decades and so on. Many users have turned to ebay to find lost art treasures from their childhood. But I want to share a website and album cover artwork finder that is not only convenient, but a must have for any art lover.

I recently spoke with Richard Nicol, the program designer and owner of “Album Cover Finder.” (http://www.albumcoverfinder.com) The program has been available for more than two years and is a godsend for anyone interested in album cover art.

“Album Cover Finder” allows the user to not only find specific searches for interesting album cover art, but also allows the user to download selected songs from the release. I asked Richard about his fascination with album cover art.

“I’ve always been interested and loved album cover art and wanted to create a database where the users could not only look at album cover art, but experience it as well. The program allows the user to browse through the cover art of a particular band and also lets the user to download particular songs through iTunes as well. The main feature is convenience, you can utilize iTunes and not only get more of an experience for the music, but the great artwork involved with the music and artists.”

But “Album Cover Finder” is more than just iTunes and album cover art. The program allows users to look at different art work from different countries as well. Some of the art work involved in a US release may be different from that of a UK release or German release, only adding to the experience. The program also allows users to review artist biographies, read reviews of a particular release and add the artwork to their iTunes library and an iPod. “Album Cover Finder” also allows users to find additional cover art from a particular artist or band, copy the artwork to a clipboard and has artist videos and applicable tour information. “Album Cover Finder” is a fully functional way to search for album artwork and includes free updates for registered users and is available at http://www.albumcoverfinder.com.

Now, I have only had the program about a week, but I have to admit spending literally many, many hours looking at historic artwork and listening to the songs associated with the acts. This software gets a hardy “thumbs-up” and is a “must have,” affordable program for album cover art connoisseurs and anyone with a fascination with art and music.

Needless to say, there can be a lot more written about album cover art and the impact it has had upon music and pop culture and cannot be summarized in a couple of articles. There are countless books, (I actually own one that talks about and illustrates ***** vinyl and the images used to try and sell albums!) that detail album covers and the impact upon pop culture and music.

Additionally, there are so many web sites and blogs associated with album cover art, they are to numerous to list. Why there are even web sites devoted to preserving this treasured art and frame it for display.

Furthermore, did you know that June 1, 2007 marked the 40th anniversary of the release of the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band?” Not only is the release one of the most influential albums of all time musically, the cover art itself is iconic as well.

I spoke with Gary Freiberg, owner and operator of http://www.rockartpictureshow.com about “Sgt. Pepper” who related to me that the album “broke new ground and challenged the industry.” Gary and I talked about album cover art and the influences it has had on our culture. He also told me of a recent poll conducted by http://www.vinylrecordday.org that voted the “Sgt. Pepper” album cover the favorite album cover of all time. Gary is world renowned for his work in the album cover art industry with his patented record album frame and his work has been cited and used by the Smithsonian, Home & Garden TV, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and thousands of satisfied Internet customers. And if you interested in getting your great album art framed, you may visit http://www.rockartpictureshow.com and tell Gary you heard about him from an article posted at http://www.isnare.com



Agnes

Mike Shaw asked:


Music memorabilia has always been popular for keen collectors of merchandise from famous music artists. Now, with the help of online auction sites, collecting music memorabilia is fast becoming a popular hobby for brand new collectors.

If you want a piece of music history these days, just search the internet. There’s no need to check out music shops and second hand shops. You can find virtually anything you’re looking for, some of it very desirable. Items such as Elvis Presley’s Piano, John Lennon’s autograph or maybe a concert ticket from years ago are all available. Of course, this is just a tiny example of what’s available. At the time of writing this article there are over 1500 items for sale on eBay, and that’s just in the UK.

The older the artist the more valuable the merchandise

Music artist such as Elvis Presley, obviously, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and ABBA are among the many popular artists that are creating thousands of memorabilia sales. I would have to say that Elvis memorabilia is the most popular. Although this changes from one month to the next. I have seen Elvis memorabilia for sale on eBay for as much as a Million Dollars. The Beatles memorabilia can fetch this kind of money too.

Obviously it’s not just about the age of the artist but also the impact that artist had on the world. The examples I have listed above, particularly Elvis and The Beatles were in many ways iconic, many have copied them but they will never be able to replace them. Maybe that’s why memorabilia is so expensive where these artists are concerned, it’s a feeling of having a piece history and it could be argued that these kind of collectables are a good investment for the future.

Learn to be a serious collector

There is obviously an art to collecting the more expensive items available for sale. As a new collector of memorabilia, you wouldn’t want to be spending thousands of dollars without knowing what you are doing. Fortunately, there are many items that are very cheap, all right they might not have been owned by the artist, but it’s a start. You can buy key rings, pictures, posters and T Shirts. These items are probably classed more as merchandise rather than memorabilia. If you want to touch an item that your favourite artist has touched, be prepared to pay a lot of money. Check out listings on a regular basis and learn what the going price is for an item that interests you.

For most people, collecting music memorabilia online will be a hobby, but be careful, because it’s very addictive.



Anthony