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