Today's the monday before Christmas, but where I'm at you can't tell since it's so damn warm. Rainy, but warm. It is winter right?
Yeah, thought so.
Anyhoo, here's a skit of sorts I did, set to one of my favorite Beatles'songs off the White Album, "Across The Universe." It's one of my personal favorites from John Lennon, and combined with "Imagine" make up two of the most important songs he ever wrote. Plus I think those two alone, if not just Imagine, gives Mccartney's song "Yesterday" serious competiton on who wrote the best Beatles' song ever.
Today's star should be no stranger to you, the Silver Surfer. I figured he was a natural fit for this one, and I'm pretty sure you'll agree.
It's cool guys, I got something to hopefully help distract you for like 5 minutes.
I'm trying something new, and using comic panels instead of the usual action figures to do the musical skit thing I usually do around here. Today I'm using Swamp Thing. Now of course I don't own a Swamp Thing action figure, thus I was forced to used existing comic art of Swampy to sing one of my favorite Beatle songs from the White Album, "Mother Nature's Song".
It still gets me everytime I hear it.
Here's what it sounds like just in case you don't remember or know how it goes:
That's the raw acoustic version from the Beatles Anthology 3 album.
So with that in mind, here's Swamp Thing "singing" a very appropriate song for him, Mother Nature's Son:
(Break)
(break)
(Break)
The End
So what did you guys think?
I tried to find the best images to me that fit the images from the lyrics, and that wasn't a super easy task. but I'm happy with the final results.
I don't usually like covers, with a few exceptions, as nothing beats the original for me. But I will recommend listening to John Denver and Harry Nillson's cover of Mother Nature's Son. They do it they're way and in their style, yet still stay true to the original. Honestly I prefer John Denver's cover myself.
Tommorow, back to action figure skits, with famous GL Ch'ip. Yes, Ch'ip.
Well it's official; I'm sick as a fucking dog, and no I'm not talking about being dirty-minded or perverted, although I am, and will always remain that way too;)
No, I'm just fucking sick. Snot running free like a Gazelle, making my nose look redder than Rudolph, and just that all-around shitty, icky feeling.
Oh well, it'll pass.
I figured I'd still do/make a Top 5 list though, so bear with me here.
I was watching the awesome documentary by award-winning director Martin Scorsese about George Harrison called Living in the Material World. I'd seen before of course, but it's still fresh in my mind, thus why I picked this album:
It's the best, best of compilation out there so far about George Harrison's music and career. It encompasses his Beatle days and solo career.
One of the the things that sets it apart from other "Best Of" albums, is the swapping in of some live versions of his popular hits written while still in The Beatles. And really, the sheer amount of songs, both hits and b-sides is very appealing and worthwhile for any and all George Harrison fans.
I'll attempt to pull 5 top songs with a tie(or two) from this album, but damn if it isn't gonna' be tough as hell to do.
Let's do this thing!
5).Isn't It A Pity/Marwa Blues:
I really love "Isn't it a pity" even though it's a sad song. It's realistic and is all about the different ways people hurt each other, whether intentionally or not. The accompanying music to the last parts of the song feel epic and so beautifully moving. If you happen to get misty-eyed it's okay;)
Plus as an added pathos bonus, it seems George wrote this while he and long-time love Patti Boyd broke up and she got together with one of his best friends Eric Clapton. "Layla" anyone?
Marwa Blues is an instrumental, but damn is it beautiful. This one really showcases just how damn talented of a guitar player George was. Plus it's soothing. Like lay out on the beach with a drink in your hand, or just admire the sunset/sunrise kind of song. Definitely good enough to meditate or fall asleep to as well.
4). While My Guitar Gently Weeps
How could you not include a song like this on a top 5 list right? Now while the live version on this album's fine, I prefer both the original and the version on the Beatles Love album. This was written during a rough period near the end of the Beatles existence as a group, and it seems as though George was trying to let everybody know ins his own way how he felt about the whole experience and his take away from all that.
Classic Harrison all the way.
Oh and did I mention Eric Clapton played with Harrison on the recording of this song? Well I did now;)
3). What Is Life?
Now you want a fun, poppy song, and this one's your man. I guess it's basically George asking one of those deep, introspective questions we all ask ourselves or someone else from time to time, and that's no different here.
I first became aware of this song while watching my favorite movie of all time, Goodfellas, also by directed by Martin Scorsese. Amazing how those two projects wound up lining up with Scorsese huh? Hey, whatta' ya' gonna' do? The man has great tastes in music;)
2). Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp( Let It Roll)
I really, really love this song. Inspired by the very eccentric man who's house he bought in the the early 70's, The Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp is a really well-put together song that plays to Harrison's strengths, such as his guitar-playing, and the he had with words and phrasing things. And of course, the arrangement of accompanying instruments is impeccable as usual. But would you expect anything less from an ex-Beatles?;)
Bonus pop-culture reference, the sit-com show on CBS, How I Met Your Mother really kind of brought this song back into the collective consciousnesses once it started the playing the song during really important episodes.
1). My Sweet Lord
On the George Harrison documentary, legendary musician and for a time, unofficial fifth Beatle Billy Preston explained how George had come up with this song, but wanted it sound very Gospel-like and if Billy could help him out. I'm glad(or maybe he did) Billy Preston didn't flat out state the obvious to Harrison that his background and start to stardom was his Gospel roots/background. In no time at all, Preston worked his magic on the piano, and a massive hit song was born.
Even legendary music producer and convicted killer, Phil Specter loved this song so much, he pushed for it to be released as THE single from the very album this song originated from. Harrison wasn't so sure at first. He thought people wouldn't care for the chanting or the choir, or the different mantras included in the song, but he was proved wrong when it was released and became a colossal hit. It remains to this day one of Harrison's signature songs, and is definitely one of my favorites.
And that's it for me for this week. I hope you all have a great weekend no matter what you're doing.
So what's on today's agenda? Oh yeah, The Top F'N 5 songs that's what!
Well today I have a treat you guys. Today I'm picking songs from my new favorite Reggae band, Easy Star and the All-Stars.
Yep, I recently discovered this kick-ass band per chance while listening to the music program Echoes on NPR. Yes I sometimes listen to NPR. Don't laugh.
Well the this edition of Echoes(where they play all sorts of music, especially ambient) featured Easy Star and the All-Stars and their reggae rendition of Pink Floyd's hit album, Dark Side of the Moon.
Of course, their album was called "Dub Side of the Moon". Cute huh?
Don't worry, I'll be covering that album next.
Anyways I found myself enjoying the reggae versions of my favorite rock songs, and quickly scoured the internet to see what else they did. They've covered Radiohead's Ok Computer, Michael Jackson's Thriller album, and this one, The Beatles' Lonely Hearts Club Band album.
Well, I decided to pick 5 songs from the latter.
Released on April 14, 2009, here's my top 5 picks from an awesome album:
5). "A Day In The Life" Ft. Michael Rose and Menny More/"Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite" Ft. Ranking Roger
A Day In The Life
Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite
I had to go with a tie here, seeing as how both really add to already incredible songs. The reggae editions just add that much more you know?
4). "Within You and Without You" Ft. Matisyahu
It's hard to top the original, what with the heavily and unapologetically Indian-influenced beat and arrangement by George Harrison. But Easy Star and the band sure do manage to top even that, with adding a reggae beat on top of an already killer song. It's like adding whip cream and a cherry on top of an ice cream sundae that's just been covered with drizzled chocolate sauce; You may not need it, but it does make it that much more tastier.
3). "Lovely Rita" Ft. Bunny Rugs and U-Boy.
You can practically smell the herb from your computer screen man!;)
So yeah, they covered Lovely Rita, and hey, what song doesn't sound good with a reggae beat am I right?
2). "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" Ft. Frankie Paul.
This is the live version of course, but it still sounds awesome. I love the whole arrangement and production on this one myself. I haven't been this enthralled by a cover of LSD since Elton John's.
1). "She's Leaving Home" Ft. Kristy Rock.
Quick confession: I picked this video because the song was performed on Aug 4th, my birthday....and all other videos were too small to paste;)
Seriously though, you guys know how much I love this song, and thanks to singer Kristy Rock it still sounds beautiful but not as sad as the original. It sounds like a fun, party song, and that's how it should be. And thus why, it's numero uno on my list.
So yeah, I highly recommend you guys go YouTube these and other covers they do. You will not be disappointed.
So roll a joint/blunt, puff, puff, pass, and prepare to feel ire;)
I figured for today's edition of the Top 5, I'd pick one of The Beatles, namely Ringo Starr.
Yep, good ol' Ringo gets the spotlight today, as I pick my top 5 favorite songs from his solo career. And yes he actually had a solo career you smart-asses;)
What really surprised me is, that Ringo is the one Beatle to have the most #1 hits. Yeah I know. I didn't believe it either, until I checked it out. My money was on Paul, but nope, ol' Richard Starkey(Ringo's real name) has that claim nailed down.
Now of course he didn't write all of his hit songs; that honor usually went to other writers, like his fellow ex-band-mates George and John just to name a few.
But that still shouldn't take away from the solo success he's enjoyed, and good on him for it.
So let's get to it shall we?
And trust me, for me, it's not as easy as you'd think when you really go through his back catalogue of songs.
5). No No Song/ Early 1970
Yes I picked a tie already, but I can because it's my blog;)
In all seriousness, it was hard to keep Early 1970 out of this list. Why you may ask? Simple really; I really dig the song because it was a fun bit of insight into the state of the former band-mates at the time. Remember that The Beatles had officially broken up by April of that year, and Paul wasn't really talking to Ringo, John, or George at the time. So that's why when Ringo mentions Paul 1st, he says "And when I get to town, I wonder if he'll play with me."
He was still talking to the other guys at the time, thus why he goes in more detail about being able to play with them(not like that you perverts;)
The No No Song is just a purely funny song about Ringo's newly won sobriety and and a quick list of all the drugs he either used to do, or had done at one time. The gimmick here is that he's being offered all those drugs again, and comes up with a bunch of funny excuses to get out of it.
Here's the lyrics to give you a better clue as to the hilarity of it all:
A lady that i know just came from Columbia, She smiled because i did not understand. Then she held out some marijuana, ha ha! She said it was the best in all the land.
And i said, "no, no, no, no, i don't smoke it no more, I'm tired of waking up on the floor. No, thank you, please, it only makes me sneeze, And then it makes it hard to find the door."
(ah-ah-aye-aye)
A woman that i know just came from Majorca, Spain, She smiled because i did not understand. (parazzi! Parazzi!) (ole!) Then she held out a ten pound bag of cocaine, She said it was the finest in the land.
And i said, "no, no, no, no, i don't sniff it no more, I'm tired of waking up on the floor. No, thank you, please, it only makes me sneeze, And then it makes it hard to find the door."
A man that i know just came from Nashville, Tennessee, oh, (oh no!) He smiled because i did not understand. Then he held out some moonshine whiskey, oh ho, He said it was the best in all the land. (and he wasn't joking!!!)
And i said, "no, no, no, no, i don't drink it no more, I'm tired of waking up on the floor. No, thank you, please, it only makes me sneeze, And then it makes it hard to find the door."
Well, i said, "no, no, no, no, i can't take it no more, I'm tired of waking up on the floor. No, thank you, please, it only makes me sneeze, And then it makes it hard to find the door."
Hey yeh!
"i'll just have another drink, barman, have you got a large brandy?"
4). Back off Boogaloo
Had to include this classic hit single on the list.
Just listen to how hard Ringo's hitting the fucking drums man! Love the military-style beat too.
It just goes to show you how damn good a drummer he is, and helps illustrate why Ringo was chosen by Rolling Stone Magazine as the 5th greatest rock drummer of all time.
3). Beaucoups of Blues
I really like this one, even though some of you, or most of you, may wonder what a song like this is doing in the Top 5 list. Simple really. I love it!
I don't like a lot of Country music, but there are a few I do like, and I think for a purposes this is Ringo's version of a country song.
It's slow tempo-ed, but easy on the ears. Not to mention pretty decent to listen to if you're feeling kinda' down.
Love it.
2). It Don't Come Easy
And it didn't come easy to put this song in the #2 spot either.
This is a damn good, classic hit from Ringo, and really, if you listen to it or really familiar with it, how could not love this one?
It's got such a great message about paying your dues in life to get where you want to go, and how the road/journey to get there isn't easy at all. But it's all presented in an uplifting, up-beat way.
God love Ringo for this one.
1). Photograph
The video I was finally able to use, doesn't really do this song justice. This one is tops because of how well it was written and crafted, and ultimately performed. Co-written by George Harrison, this one just has so many meanings attached to it.
It can be about missing an old flame, a family member, beloved pet, anything. And to me, that's what makes this song such a classic, and keeps it enduring after all these years.
Of course when George passed away in 2001, the song had a different meaning for Ringo whenever he performed it, like he did in the memorial concert for George in '02.
But damn what a sweet, if somewhat sad song. Really, who can't relate to this one?
Well that's my Top 5 Ringo Starr songs. There's more of his hits I like to listen to, and if you're interested, his latest(well not super-latest) greatest hits album, Ringo Starr: Photograph, the very best of, has all of these songs and more. So give it a try, or do what I do, and download these fuckers in mp3 form for free;)
