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.
I know I'm a day early with the Top 5 feature, but fuck it, I can do what I want. And what I want is to pick my Top 5 songs from the Beatles'Magical Mystery Tour album.
Besides, I have "Flying" stuck in my head.
Yep. Straight from 1967, comes this gem of an album that was designed primarily as more of a soundtrack than a straight-out actual album.
You see, Paul McCartney had an idea of making a film that revolved around the Beatles and their music. And so this project came to be, with no scripts and just a bunch of randomness filled with funny, quirky adventures.
It was officially released on television for the BBC just in time for Christmas, but the critics absolutely hated it! And this was during the height of Beatlemania.
I guess the unscripted approach was too experimental and too hip for the times.
But out of that seeming flop(which it isn't too me) came this pretty damn good album.
Yeah, that's what I have to choose from. And no, it's not going to be easy:(
And yes, they're will be a tie(s)...... 5. Baby, You're a Rich Man/ Your Mother Should Know
Baby, you're a rich man
I really dig the beginning to this one, with the horn/flute thingy and all. Hey, I don't know what the hell the proper instrument name is, but it sounds just like what snake charmers play to you know, charm the snakes into popping up out the basket and shaking their groove thing to the funky beat.
It's a very clever and tongue-in-cheek song, that seems to be making fun off/talking shit to and about celebrities and famous people. You know, acting like their shit doesn't stink because they have lots of money and fame now. And you can also possibly point out that the Beatles are kinda' making fun of themselves as well, since they're also included in the rich and famous celebrity club. Either way, it's still a damn fine song that deserved to be included in my list.
And it shares it's spot with this song, You're Mother Should Know:
They look pretty pimp in those white suits don't they?
See that's one of the things I like about the Beatles; even they're jokey, non-serious songs that seem like throwaway stuff sounds so good. It's probably because even when they're goofing off, they're still professional about it.
But seriously, how pimp are those suits?
And what tune/song are they dancing to that only your mother seems to know? They never explain that one. Hmm;)
4. Fool On The Hill
This one's a classic for sure. Who hasn't felt like the Fool on the Hill at one time or another? And not just if you were drunk or high.
Here's McCartney in his own words explaining how the song came about:
" 'Fool on the Hill' was mine and I think I was writing about someone like Maharishi(Maharishi Mahesh Yogi). His detractors called him a fool. Because of his giggle he wasn't taken too seriously ... I was sitting at the piano at my father's house in Liverpool hitting a D 6th chord, and I made up 'Fool on the Hill."
So there you go.
3. Penny Lane/ All You Need Is Love
Penny Lane
How iconic is this song? It's so British, yet also so very much like the song stylings of Lennon and McCartney. It's a silly pop song that sounds like a crazy adventure all centered around the inhabitants of this one particular street. Very few bands/singers could pull something that might appear on the outside as a mundane song off so well.
Of course I had to have another tie, and that's where the next song comes in: All you need is love.
All You Need Is Love
Yeah I know. How come this isn't #1? Well the video alone should damn well be. Just how awesome is that video by the way? All those people just sitting around, enjoying themselves and joining in to sing when it was their time. Just awesome.... Spiritual even.
Again, this was not only at the height of Beatlemania, bout also Flower Power and the love/peace movement.
To me, it's not just an anti-war song, but also a pro-peace and love song directed at everybody to quit hating each other over petty shit and just love and except one another. With songs like that you can never go wrong.
Another quick note of interest in case you didn't already know.....
this song was viewed live via satellite in an era and time when that sort of technology was crude and brand spanking new. Think about that one for a second. Oh the Beatles; always the innovators;)
And yes, I'll freely admit, there are times when watching this that I get a bit choked up. Not just because of the power and message of the song, but also because I quickly realize that both John and George are no longer around:( 2. Strawberry Fields Forever
Oh you know this song had to be included on the list!
This song in particular, for me, let the world know that this album and the band, were different from the previous ones in a bold and new way. Named after a now famous cemetery in Liverpool, England, SFF proudly showcased the Beatles dabbling with drugs like LSD and Marijuana, you know, if you didn't already get that from the trippy songs.
There's at least two versions of this song I really like; this one, and the stripped down acoustic version that you'll hear on the Beatles Anthology album and the Beatles Love album.
I highly recommend listening to both, especially the stripped down version because Lennon's vocals are so much clearer and so of the times.
What else is there more to say, then this is a true classic.
1. Hello, Goodbye
Yeah this was hard one, but for know I stick by my choice. As much as I love Strawberry Fields and how it truly heralded the psychedelic phase of the Beatles, Hello, Goodbye for me is just the shit. I love the beginning, middle, and end. I love the guitar effects and sounds that weren't being used like that or at all before that song came out.
And just look at that video, with the Fab Four wearing those crazy, trippy, psychedelic military-inspired outfits. Those outfits are iconic, and not just because it was the 60's; but also because the Beatles made that shit work.
And seriously, how can you not like that song? It's so poppy and catchy. Not to mention making a hit song out of an argumentative statement....."I say yes, you say no, I say stop, and you say go, go ,go" C'mon!
No doubt to me why I picked this song as my number one, and you know it wasn't easy.
And that's not to say the others are bad, because they're not. Like I said earlier, I've had the instrumental song "Flying" in my head for a day or two now, and that's a pretty damn decent song.
If you haven't had a chance to see the original album cover up close and personal, you gotta' try it. It has loads of wacky pictures from the movie, and some weird stuff as well.
Case in point, are some supposed "Paul Is Dead" proof pics, and one other disturbingly accurate one.
There's one photo where John's standing @ a desk with a bunch of anonymous stuff. Well there's one travel advertisement on the desk that goes "The best way to go, is with MDC."
Sounds innocent enough, until you pay close attention to the initials MDC. Get why?
Because they're also the same initials belonging to the very man who shot and killed John Lennon almost 20 years later.....Mark David Chapman=MDC.
Yeah, freaky huh? Especially with now that that eerie phrase "The best way to go" can be seen into a totally new light. It's ironic, don't you think?
So, as always, feel free to give your top 5 picks from this album. Remember, there's no right or wrong answer, just what your preferences are.
And you know what that means; yes folks, it's that time again for the weekly edition of the Top 5 Songs taken from any album of my choosing. Today's pick is from the debut album from The Doors, titled simply, "The Doors."
Ah yes, and what a debut album it was.
This during the flower power and hippy movement, going strong and continually growing across the nation as a huge pop cultural phenomenon.
Everything was going along all smooth and calm until a certain band erupted on to the music scene like a cold, sobering breeze from the beaches of California. And that band called themselves The Doors.
Led by the ever charismatic poetry-spouting Jim Morrison, who would go on to become the the poster boy and stereotypical rock and roll front-man for new audiences to follow, The Doors quickly established themselves as a music force to be reckoned with.
Released in January of 1967, the self-titled debut album from The Doors rocketed up the charts, eventually settling at #2, going multi-platinum in no time at all.
And really if you look at the list of popular songs by the Doors, it's amazing to consider just how many of them came from their debut album alone.
So, I've taken it upon my self to try and pick my top 5 songs of this album, and yes it wouldn't be easy.
5). "Soul Kitchen"/ "Twentieth Century Fox"
Soul Kitchen
I had to use a tie here, and these two were my choices for that tie. I really feel both songs fit this spot, meriting the position they earn on my list.
20th Century Fox
Soul Kitchen's seems to be just as catchy as 20th Century Fox, and both songs kind of have the same tune and musical style. Well at least to me they sound similar.
4). "The Crystal Ship"
Much like the top song on my list, "End of the night", this song is wildly hypnotic and thoroughly engaging. It's a perfect song to smoke weed or trip to, because, well hell, just listen to it and tell me I'm wrong. The whole production, from the instruments to the vocals makes this a solid hit and damn fine song for me.
And if you'd like, you can imagine the crystal ship being a ghostly ship that carries off the souls of the dead to their final resting places, much like the the Ferryman does along the mythic River Styx.
3). "Alabama Song(Whiskey Bar)"
If this song wasn't meant for drunken karaoke singers across the world, I don't know what is.
It's perfectly ideal for drunken or fun-loving idiots to sing along and belt out this famous tune. You don't have to know all the words, and after more than a few drinks, you probably won't. But you'll at least be able to shout out "Must have whiskey all of the time!"
Admit it; you've even probably been guilty of it at least once yourself;)
2). "Back Door Man"
If you're at all familiar with this song, then it's not that hard to imagine how this song got on the list. Trust me, it's just that damn good. It reeks of a new age-type of Blues, the type that only a band like the Doors and a singer like Jim Morrison can deliver.
I love the lyrics to this song:
"Wha, yeah!
C'mon, yeah Yeah, c'mon, yeah Yeah, c'mon Oh, yeah, ma
Yeah, I'm a back door man I'm a back door man The men don't know But the little girl understand
Hey, all you people that tryin' to sleep I'm out to make it with my midnight dream, yeah 'Cause I'm a back door man The men don't know But the little girls understand All right, yeah
You men eat your dinner Eat your pork and beans I eat more chicken Than any man ever seen, yeah, yeah
I'm a back door man, wha The men don't know But the little girl understand
Well, I'm a back door man I'm a back door man Whoa, baby, I'm a back door man The men don't know But the little girls understand"
Yep.
Now of course you can get two or more meanings from the lyrics. The original songwriter and legendary blues singer Willie Dixon probably meant the term Back Door Man, as being he's the type of guy that creeps into the backdoor, while the husband/boyfriend leaves out the front.
Of course with Jim Morrison, it might be the other meaning; meaning he likes to hit it in the boo-hole if you know what I mean;) Either one works here, but knowing Morrison, it's probably the last one.
1). "End of the Night"
Surprised by what song ended up as my top pick? Not me.
I'm probably one of a very select few that like, but don't love the classic hit singles from this album, like "Light my Fire" and "Break on Through". Like I said I like 'em, but due to their being overplayed and other factors, they just don't make my own top 5 list. No doubt they will for you, and that's cool.
I love End of the Night because it's such a beautifully, hypnotic tune. It's like being at a warped carnival on acid, but with that one certain tune that seems to draw you in and doesn't let you go. It's haunting, but in a beautiful way.
Ray Manzarek's haunting keyboards sets the mood, while Robby Krieger's guitar punctuates and helps color the mood. John Dinsmore keeps the steady beat, and Morrison kills with his lyrics that seem to echo and rattle around in your brain long after he's done singing. And that's why this song is #1 in my book.
And that's my top 5 picks from this album. I'd be more than happy to hear yours.
Oh I'm so excited to present this week's edition of My favorite albums. "Why?" You may ask.
Simple, three words: Cream, and Disraeli Gears.
Aww yes, Cream's Disraeli Gears:)
This is definitely the type of classic album that I've been meaning to write about here for awhile, but then another classic album by David Bowie, or Alice Cooper, or Led Zeppelin would pop into my head, and this one would be pushed to the back-burner.
Well no more.
So let's just jump into this thing alright?
Cream was a power trio, consisting of Eric Clapton on vocals and lead guitar, Jack Bruce on vocals and bass, and Ginger Baker on drums. And oh what power rock trio they were.
Disraeli Gears was Cream's 2nd album, right after their 1st, Fresh Cream(love that title:)
Fresh Cream was good in that it helped got the band's name out there, but it wasn't exactly lighting up the charts, stalling at number 39 on the US charts, despite having such hits as "I feel free", and a Willie Dixon cover, "Spoonful".(I love, love that last one)
But it wasn't until Cream hooked up with legendary producer Felix Pappalardi, that Cream really hit it big with this album.
Much like that time period, all the band's image and albums needed was color. Lots of it. And much like the rebellious kids of that generation rebelled with color and drugs, and wild imagery, so too did those elements become infused into what would become Disraeli Gears.
1). "Strange Brew"
Who doesn't already know this classic song right?
I did find out though that the producer(who later go on to form another short-lived classic rock band Mountain) and his wife wrote the lyrics to this song. Huh. This song was based off of the other classic Cream tune "Lawdy Mama", but really "Outside woman blues" is the song that's the most identical to it.
I love how Clapton's got that white man/Jew 'fro going on:)
2). "Sunshine of your love"
Another great Cream classic, and thanks to Martin Scorsese's masterpiece(and my favorite movie of all time)Goodfellas, became forever immortalized in one scene. Here it is:
Goddamn that's fucking awesome!
Hell, there's even a poster on that very scene out. Nice:)
3). "World of pain"
Basically the song's about all of the political and social upheaval going on at that time in the 60's and in 1967, when the album came out.
It's not a bad tune, and it seems to kind of put that decade in the proper perspective.
4)."Dance the night away"
Nope this isn't like Van Halen's version, since that's a totally different song altogether. No this one, is about the writer of the song tripping on acid, trying to dance away his pain and frustrations.
Love the lyrics that go to this song:
"Gonna build myself a castle
High up in the cloudsThere'll be skies outside my windowLose these streets and crowds Dance the night away Will find myself an oceanSail into the blueLive with golden swordfishForget the time of you Dance the night away Dance myself to nothing
Vanish from this placeGonna turn myself to shadowSo I can't see your face Dance the night away" 5)."Blue Condition"
I'll upfront about this one; I don't care for it. Just don't. Don't care for the vocals(Sorry Ginger Baker:(, and probably would have preferred to have been left off the album altogether, but it's on there, so that's that. 6). "Tales of Brave Ulysses"
Love, love this one!And you really have to give it again, to those killer and creative lyrics:"You thought the leaden winter would bring you down forever, But you rode upon a steamer to the violence of the sun. And the colours of the sea bind your eyes with trembling mermaids, And you touch the distant beaches with tales of brave Ulysses, How his naked ears were tortured by the sirens sweetly singing, For the sparkling waves are calling you to kiss their white laced lips. And you see a girl's brown body dancing through the turquoise, And her footprints make you follow where the sky loves the sea. And when your fingers find her, she drowns you in her body, Carving deep blue ripples in the tissues of your mind. The tiny purple fishes run laughing through your fingers, And you want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter. Her name is Aphrodite and she rides a crimson shell, And you know you cannot leave her for you touched the distant sands With tales of brave Ulysses, how his naked ears were tortured By the sirens sweetly singing. The tiny purple fishes run lauging through your fingers, And you want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter.
Well You thought the leaden winter would bring you down forever, But you rode upon a steamer to the violence of the sun. And the colours of the sea bind your eyes with trembling mermaids, And you touch the distant beaches with tales of brave Ulysses, How his naked ears were tortured by the sirens sweetly singin', Sparkling waves are calling you to touch a white laced lip. You see your girl's brown body dancing through the turquoise, And her footprints make you follow where the sky loves the sea. And when your fingers find her, she drowns you in her body, Carving deep blue ripples in the tissues of your mind. Tiny purple fishes run laughing to your finger, You want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter. Her name is Aphrodite and she rides a crimson shell, You know you cannot leave her for you touched the distant sands With tales of brave Ulysses, how his naked ears were tortured By the sirens sweetly singing. Tiny purple fishes run lauging through your fingers, You want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter." Yeah, you knowClapton, Eric Patrick, and Martin Sharp, the writers of this song, were all smoking some righteous doobage while coming up with this one:) 7). "Swlabr"
Yep, you read it right; that's not a misspelling, that's the actual title. Apparently the song title was inspired by Jack Bruce buying some flowers for his wife. They both high at the time and noticed the colors were swirling and swooshing around. So they asked the delivery man what they were called, and he relied "Bearded Rainbows", and the rest is history. 8). "We're going wrong"
This was written by singer and bassist Jack Bruce during an emotional and turbulent period with his now ex-wife. The song itself just keeps climbing and climbing, with no real end note or main chorus to break up the monotony. It's been rarely performed by the band, but remains a sentimental favorite of Bruce's.It maybe about heartbreak, but it's damn trippy! 9) "Outside woman blues"
This is the 2005 live Cream reunion tour version
The song itself harkins back to the golden age of Blues music and the popular slang of the day. Basically an "outside woman" is a woman on the side or a "dip", or "my side piece" in some circles.And that's just what the song's about. Simple and to the point. You'll also notice just how similar this song is to "Strange Brew". They share the same chord structure and chorus as Outside woman blues, and everything. That still doesn't make it any less great though. 10). "Take it back"
I really love this one too! It's about someone getting their draft card to go to Vietnam and pleading for the Government to "take it back." So yeah pretty much self-explanatory there. 11). "Mother's Lament"
This is a joke song, with the band just coming up with this one for shits and giggles.It's pretty much classic British dark humor as the group all sing about a baby who drowns in a tub while its mother is momentarily distracted. Yes, it's not exactly a topic that you'd ordinarily have a laugh at, but if you listen to the song and it's arrangement, it's all in fun. And that's that. Disraeli Gears, as named by a roadie who pronounced the Derailleur gears on a ten-speed bike "Disraeli", became the album that put the group out int the mainstream, and really rocketed them to the top of the charts. The group would go on to make 2 more albums before calling it quits by 1969. It's sad, but then that's due to a lot of things, primarily Clapton having the rock n' roll equivalent of ADD, and moving from one band to the next. Cream would go on to influence countless bands of their generation and beyond, and were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. They briefly reunited in 2005 for a reunion tour, that did pretty well for itself, spawning a CD/DVD box set in the process. I can't honestly think of anyone who hasn't heard at least some of these songs, but if you haven't, do it now. You won't regret it.
