George Harrison's guitar, John Lennon's piano, and a drum skin - they all make it on to the list of most expensive Beatle's memorabilia;
1) John Lennon’s Rolls-Royce Phantom V – $2.23 million
In 1985, a psychedelic hand-painted Rolls-Royce Phantom V owned by John Lennon was sold by Sotheby’s.
It was bought by Canadian businessman Jim Pattison for $2.23 million.
2) The piano John Lennon used to write Imagine - $2.1 million
The Steinway piano owned by John Lennon was sold by an auction house owned by Mick Fleetwood, of Fleetwood Mac, in October 2000.
The piano was bought for $2.1 million by singer George Michael.
3) John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics to “A Day in the life” - $1,202,500
The handwritten "A Day in the Life" lyrics to the final track on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band were sold at a Sotheby’s New York sale in June 2010.
4) Drum skin which appears on the cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - £541,250
On 10 July 2008, the hand painted drum skin, designed by artist Joe Ephgrave was sold at a Christie’s auction for £541,250, nearly four times its pre-sale estimate.
5) George Harrison’s Gibson SG guitar - $567,500
A 1964 Gibson SG guitar played by George Harrison between 1966 and 1969 was sold at a Christie’s New York sale on 17 December 2004.
The guitar, which sold for $567,500, was used by Harrison during the Revolver recording session and The Beatles’ last official UK concert. It was later played by John Lennon during the White Album sessions in 1969.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
George Harrison’s Best Beatles Songs
Happy 68th George
Though Lennon-McCartney wrote the vast majority of Beatles’ tunes, George Harrison proved his compositional chops whenever he had the chance. On what would have been his 68th birthday, we look back on his some of his best-loved Beatles songs.
Don’t Bother Me
George penned this tune while holed up in a Bournemouth, England hotel room with the flu during a summer tour in 1963. Though he’s credited with writing some Quarrymen material, this is the first Harrison-penned tune the band released, including it on their 1964 U.S. album Meet The Beatles. Harrison later said he wrote “Don’t Bother Me” just to see if he could write a song and didn’t think highly of it. The minor key, brooding tune was in contrast to the bouncy pop of Fab Four era Beatles and served as precursor of sorts to the darker corners they’d explore as the '60s wore on. The tune was also featured in a sequence in the 1965 film A Hard Day’s Night.
If I Needed Someone
In addition to being included on The Beatles’ seminal Rubber Soul album, this song was released simultaneously by The Hollies. The latter band considered recording the song a mistake as it was one of their few early releases not to be a big hit (it peaked at #20 on the U.K. charts). Harrison was dismissive of The Hollies’ version, leading to a public spat between the bands. The track shows the influence of another Beatles contemporary, The Byrds, with an opening guitar riff reminiscent of Roger McGuinn’s “The Bells of Rhymney.” This tune was the only George Harrison song the band played on tour. Here’s a ragged rendition from a concert in Tokyo in 1966, just one month before the road weary band gave up touring for good.
Taxman
For those among you who think U.S. taxes are too high, consider: when George Harrison wrote this song in 1966, each member of the Beatles was in the U.K.’s highest tax bracket, which meant they were subject to a 95% supertax. Harrison wrote the song out of anger, and the “Mr. Heath” and “Mr. Wilson” called out in the song were Conservative party leader Edward Heath and Labour party leader Harold Wilson – the latter having nominated The Beatles for the MBE just the year before. The song is sometimes cited as an example of Harrison’s scintillating guitar work – but many are surprised to learn that the snarling lead solo was actually played by Paul McCartney. In 1981, Weird Al Yankovic paid the song a high compliment by recording a parody version called “Pac-Man” about the videogame craze then sweeping America. The song has also been covered by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Nickel Creek and Pat Travers.
Here Comes the Sun
It was 1969 and George Harrison was having a difficult year. The band were having business troubles, he’d been busted for marijuana possession, had temporarily left the Beatles and had even had his tonsils removed. Perhaps he needed something to lift his spirits, and there no better spirit-lifting song than “Here Comes The Sun.” Harrison wrote the tune while visiting his friend Eric Clapton. “It was just a really nice sunny day,” he told the BBC. “And I picked up the guitar, which was the first time I'd played the guitar for a couple of weeks because I'd been so busy. And the first thing that came out was that song.” It was the first George Harrison song released as a Beatles A-side single.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
The Beatles’ world changed a great deal between 1966 and 1968. They’d quit touring and recorded their masterpiece Sgt. Pepper's, Brian Epstein had died, and the band had come under the sway of and eventually fallen out with Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. During the recording of the White Album – to be the first release on their newly-formed Apple Records – Ringo briefly left the band and John Lennon brought Yoko Ono into the studio, much to the others' chagrin. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” conveys a weary resignation amidst all the tumult (Harrison says the song was inspired by reading the I Ching, also known, significantly, as “The Book of Changes”). Unsatisfied with his own efforts at soloing, Harrison called Eric Clapton to play on the track. When George Harrison died on November 29, 2001, “NBC Nightly News” aired this song instead of their usual lead-in music.
----www.legacy.com
Though Lennon-McCartney wrote the vast majority of Beatles’ tunes, George Harrison proved his compositional chops whenever he had the chance. On what would have been his 68th birthday, we look back on his some of his best-loved Beatles songs.
Don’t Bother Me
George penned this tune while holed up in a Bournemouth, England hotel room with the flu during a summer tour in 1963. Though he’s credited with writing some Quarrymen material, this is the first Harrison-penned tune the band released, including it on their 1964 U.S. album Meet The Beatles. Harrison later said he wrote “Don’t Bother Me” just to see if he could write a song and didn’t think highly of it. The minor key, brooding tune was in contrast to the bouncy pop of Fab Four era Beatles and served as precursor of sorts to the darker corners they’d explore as the '60s wore on. The tune was also featured in a sequence in the 1965 film A Hard Day’s Night.
If I Needed Someone
In addition to being included on The Beatles’ seminal Rubber Soul album, this song was released simultaneously by The Hollies. The latter band considered recording the song a mistake as it was one of their few early releases not to be a big hit (it peaked at #20 on the U.K. charts). Harrison was dismissive of The Hollies’ version, leading to a public spat between the bands. The track shows the influence of another Beatles contemporary, The Byrds, with an opening guitar riff reminiscent of Roger McGuinn’s “The Bells of Rhymney.” This tune was the only George Harrison song the band played on tour. Here’s a ragged rendition from a concert in Tokyo in 1966, just one month before the road weary band gave up touring for good.
Taxman
For those among you who think U.S. taxes are too high, consider: when George Harrison wrote this song in 1966, each member of the Beatles was in the U.K.’s highest tax bracket, which meant they were subject to a 95% supertax. Harrison wrote the song out of anger, and the “Mr. Heath” and “Mr. Wilson” called out in the song were Conservative party leader Edward Heath and Labour party leader Harold Wilson – the latter having nominated The Beatles for the MBE just the year before. The song is sometimes cited as an example of Harrison’s scintillating guitar work – but many are surprised to learn that the snarling lead solo was actually played by Paul McCartney. In 1981, Weird Al Yankovic paid the song a high compliment by recording a parody version called “Pac-Man” about the videogame craze then sweeping America. The song has also been covered by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Nickel Creek and Pat Travers.
Here Comes the Sun
It was 1969 and George Harrison was having a difficult year. The band were having business troubles, he’d been busted for marijuana possession, had temporarily left the Beatles and had even had his tonsils removed. Perhaps he needed something to lift his spirits, and there no better spirit-lifting song than “Here Comes The Sun.” Harrison wrote the tune while visiting his friend Eric Clapton. “It was just a really nice sunny day,” he told the BBC. “And I picked up the guitar, which was the first time I'd played the guitar for a couple of weeks because I'd been so busy. And the first thing that came out was that song.” It was the first George Harrison song released as a Beatles A-side single.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
The Beatles’ world changed a great deal between 1966 and 1968. They’d quit touring and recorded their masterpiece Sgt. Pepper's, Brian Epstein had died, and the band had come under the sway of and eventually fallen out with Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. During the recording of the White Album – to be the first release on their newly-formed Apple Records – Ringo briefly left the band and John Lennon brought Yoko Ono into the studio, much to the others' chagrin. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” conveys a weary resignation amidst all the tumult (Harrison says the song was inspired by reading the I Ching, also known, significantly, as “The Book of Changes”). Unsatisfied with his own efforts at soloing, Harrison called Eric Clapton to play on the track. When George Harrison died on November 29, 2001, “NBC Nightly News” aired this song instead of their usual lead-in music.
----www.legacy.com
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Rare photos of The Beatles to go on display
The Beatles Picture Show, at the Old Stables Gallery besides Diss Corn Hall, will feature images by some of the most renowned photographers of the 1960s, including Norman Parkinson, Terry O’Neill, Frank Hermann, Michael Ward, Harry Benson and Astrid Kircherr - the latter of which photographed the Fab Four at Hamburg.
Screenprints of each Beatle by Robert Whitaker will also be shown alongside his images, and rare film posters and original cartoon cells from Yellw Submarine will be on sale.
The free exhibition will run from March 3 to 26.
An opening evening viewing will take place on March 3 between 6pm and 7.45pm, followed by a screening of biopic Nowhere Boy at 8pm, which tells the story of John Lennon’s teenage years and the creation of The Beatles.
---www.eadt.co.uk
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Yoko Ono will Speak at SxSW: Possible Topics for Her Talk?
Yoko Ono, the avant-garde artist known exclusively for being the weird wife of late Beatle John Lennon, has been tapped as a "featured speaker" by Austin's all-important music industry gathering South By Southwest.
The talk will evidently start as a sit-down interview with Austin DJ Jody Denberg on Friday, March 18th. Denberg will probably kiss her ass like the press release announcing the event:
"From her pioneering work in the Fluxus movement of the 1960s to the recent Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland, Ono's art has challenged and informed, melding the personal to the universal in simple and unique ways. Her marriage and creative collaboration with John Lennon was a love story played out on the global stage. Ono's music laid the groundwork for the sounds of punk rock and new wave."
Yes, as everyone knows there would never have been punk rock were it not for Yoko F**** Ono. Riiiiight.
Obviously, we all know the main topic of Ono's talk should be "How To Break Up Your Boyfriend's Band -- Even if it's The Beatles."
But perhaps it's worth reminding everyone why Ono is a punchline. After all, Pitchfork is trying to rehabilitate her ("Avant-garde legend Yoko Ono doesn't play too many shows anymore. But when she does take the stage, it's a big deal...." and even writers employed by our sister papers seem to be interested in pretending The Widow Lennon has some value to society (part of that writer's argument, and I'm not making this up, is that Yoko should be praised for helping the band's legacy by putting out totally unessential new Beatles recordings every few years). So let's make a little list of other things she's qualified to discuss.
- "The Dream Job: How I Made a Living Laying in Bed All Day"
- "The Fluxus Movement: A Primer for Those Wondering What the F*** it Was"
- "Getting People To Buy Art No One Likes: Marrying a Beatle Helps"
- "Milking It: How to Display Your Dead Husband's Bloody Clothes in a Museum in a Vain Attempt to Stay Relevant"
- "Spending a Dead Beatle's Money: Is There Any Way One Person Could Actually Do It?"
- "Fighting With Paul McCartney Over The Pettiest S*** Ever, Even Though My Own Artistic Output is Essentially a Joke"
- "Treating Your Stepson Like S***: How to Keep the Boy from Having a Meaningful Relationship with his Late Father while He's Alive, Not Remind Your Husband to Keep Him in His Will and then Force the Poor Kid to Remember His Father Through Your Tinted Lens While Giving Him a Pittance of a Settlement and Doting on Your Own Talent-less Kid"
- "Accusing My Detractors of Latent Racism: They Only Dislike Me Because I'm a Strong and Talented Japanese Woman, Not Because I'm a B****"
pheonixnewstimes.com
Monday, February 21, 2011
Celebrating 68 years of George Harrison
Dubbed “the quiet one”, George Harrison contributed some of the Beatles best work and continued on to an impressive solo career. He died far too soon, but the world still has a lifetime of his work to admire and enjoy.
This Friday, many Beatles fans will be celebrating what would have been George Harrison’s 68th birthday. But he was far more than just “the quiet Beatle” who penned memorable hits; he was also a talented actor with a deep love of cinema, a loyal friend to many influential people, and a deeply spiritual man.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
John Lennon's unseen art to go on show
The Art of John Lennon will feature prints of Lennon's original hand-drawn sketches, from the archive of his art work belonging to Yoko Ono, his widow, including three previously unseen drawings capturing his roles as political campaigner and family man.
Power to the People depicts a suited man standing on a plinth with a raised and clenched fist, wearing a spiked headdress, reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty.
The picture is thought to date from around 1972, when Lennon and Ono released Some Time in New York City, their fifth album together which included songs protesting about social and political issues of the day.
The album sleeve also contained with a postcard featuring a sketch by Lennon of the Statue of Liberty sporting a clenched fist in place of a flaming torch, and Power to the People is believed to be a later version of that drawing.
Another sketch entitled Dream Power depicts Lennon, wearing his trademark circular spectacles, sitting under a tree with his arm around a naked and reclining Ono.
A third picture, Family of Peace, is a "sumi-ink" portrait of Lennon, Ono and their young son, Sean, who was five years old when his father was shot dead by Mark Chapman outside his New York apartment in December 1980.
The sketch is thought to date from some time after 1977, when Lennon travelled to Japan to learn the intricate technique of sumi ink drawing.
Each picture is stamped with Lennon's seal featuring Japanese letters which translate: "Like a cloud, beautiful sound."
In a tribute to her late husband's passion for art, which will feature in the catalogue accompanying the exhibition, Ono said: "In his lifetime, John Lennon the artist remained "an outsider" to the art world, largely because of his fame as a "Beatle" and how he was viewed by the world as a result.
"John did his drawings with inspiration and speed, very much like how he created his songs. Most of the time, the drawings reflected his mood.
"Along with his guitar, pen and paper seemed to have served as ideal tools to express John's complex emotions."
While Lennon is best-known for his music, his accomplishments as an artist emerged before his musical talent.
From 1957 to 1960, he attended the Liverpool Art Institute, later abandoning a career as an artist to form The Beatles, although he continued to sketch until his death.
Jonathan Poole, the curator of the exhibition and a spokesman for Bag One Arts, Ono's art publishing company, said: "Very few people know what an accomplished artist John was – they just relate to him as a musician.
"But much of his art work shows what a fantastic sense of humour he had and also touchingly portrays his love for Yoko and Sean."
The three previously unseen drawings will be among 30 works to be sold as limited edition prints, ranging in price from £800 to £2,500, at the Art of John Lennon exhibition which opens at the Mandeville Hotel in London on February 26.
The sketch is thought to date from some time after 1977, when Lennon travelled to Japan to learn the intricate technique of sumi ink drawing.
Each picture is stamped with Lennon's seal featuring Japanese letters which translate: "Like a cloud, beautiful sound."
In a tribute to her late husband's passion for art, which will feature in the catalogue accompanying the exhibition, Ono said: "In his lifetime, John Lennon the artist remained "an outsider" to the art world, largely because of his fame as a "Beatle" and how he was viewed by the world as a result.
"John did his drawings with inspiration and speed, very much like how he created his songs. Most of the time, the drawings reflected his mood.
"Along with his guitar, pen and paper seemed to have served as ideal tools to express John's complex emotions."
While Lennon is best-known for his music, his accomplishments as an artist emerged before his musical talent.
From 1957 to 1960, he attended the Liverpool Art Institute, later abandoning a career as an artist to form The Beatles, although he continued to sketch until his death.
Jonathan Poole, the curator of the exhibition and a spokesman for Bag One Arts, Ono's art publishing company, said: "Very few people know what an accomplished artist John was – they just relate to him as a musician.
"But much of his art work shows what a fantastic sense of humour he had and also touchingly portrays his love for Yoko and Sean."
The three previously unseen drawings will be among 30 works to be sold as limited edition prints, ranging in price from £800 to £2,500, at the Art of John Lennon exhibition which opens at the Mandeville Hotel in London on February 26.
Beatle's infamous album cover sold for $26K
The Beatle's most infamous album cover sold for more than $26,000 at an auction.
The album was "Yesterday and Today," but was widely known as the "Butcher Cover."
It showed the Beatles with blood-splattered, chopped-up doll parts. It was recalled almost immediately after its release in 1964.
All copies were supposed to be destroyed. The one that was sold at the auction went for $26,290. It is still factory sealed and in pristine condition.
The album was "Yesterday and Today," but was widely known as the "Butcher Cover."
It showed the Beatles with blood-splattered, chopped-up doll parts. It was recalled almost immediately after its release in 1964.
All copies were supposed to be destroyed. The one that was sold at the auction went for $26,290. It is still factory sealed and in pristine condition.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Rare Beatles album could sell for $30,000
A rare copy of a controversial Beatles LP could fetch more than $30,000 [£18,500] when it goes under the hammer. The 'Butcher cover' album 'Yesterday and Today' is being sold at an auction in Beverly Hills, California. The factory-sealed vinyl LP is thought to be one of only 25 sealed copes in existence. Other unusual items up for grabs at the Heritage Auction sale include Marlon Brando's contact lenses and costume facial hair from Kevin Costner movie Wyatt Earp. - Heritage Auction/Splash News
Friday, February 18, 2011
'Concert for George' on Aspen screen | AspenTimes.com
ASPEN — As the formulation had it, John was the smart one, Paul the cute one, Ringo the funny one (even though John was, in fact, wittier), and George the quiet one.
“Concert for George” basically goes along with the categorization of Harrison. Sure, it could be said that George Leland, who directed the film, had no choice. The Concert for George was held on Nov. 29, 2002 — a year to the day after the one-time Beatle died of lung cancer — so Harrison wasn't around to add his voice to the collection of talent that assembled at London's Royal Albert Hall.
Still, “Concert for George” — which gets a free screening on Saturday, Feb. 19 at the Wheeler Opera House — goes a long way to memorialize Harrison as a sedate figure. The concert, at least as it was captured on film, features no moving footage of Harrison — no clips of him making music or clowning around in his Beatle days; no home movies of him as a family man; no video of him in a poignant moment. In fact, it occurs to me that not once in the two-plus hour movie do we actually hear Harrison's voice, either speaking or singing. Quiet, indeed. Instead, there is an enormous photo of Harrison, looking still, at peace, even religious, that looms over the stage throughout the concert.
“Concert for George,” which was released in 2003, does cut away from the onstage action to capture backstage remembrances of Harrison. But these just reinforce the standard line. The most colorful reflection is when Eric Clapton mentions that Harrison had a big contrarian side. The rest of the talk is meditative, respectful, focused on Harrison as a musician and music fan, family man and friend, and devotee of Indian culture.
Harrison's music, conversely, gets grand, expansive and thorough treatment. His catalogue of songs do have to battle it out with Harrison's good friend and collaborator Eric Clapton for center stage. (The film could well have been titled “Concert for George: Starring Eric Clapton.”) But you could have far worse musicians representing your life's work, and Clapton is surrounded by other heavyweights: fellow Beatles Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney; Harrison's Traveling Wilbury mates, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne; Ravi and Anoushka Shankar, representing Harrison's affection for Indian music; Jim Capaldi from Traffic, and Gary Brooker form Procol Harum. Probably the best musical moment is delivered by the fabulous organist Billy Preston, who gives powerhouse but humble readings of “My Sweet Lord” and the magnificent “Isn't It a Pity.” McCartney's take on “Something,” used to spotlight Harrison's love of the ukulele, is fun; an appearance by the Monty Python troupe, joined for some reason by Tom Hanks, doing “The Lumberjack Song” is weird but welcome.
The songs — the list also includes “Photograph,” sung by Starr; an extended version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”; “Handle with Care” and “Here Comes the Sun” — are wrapped in family-style warmth. Despite the scores of musicians and guitar solos, and the size of the Royal Albert Hall, the concert feels like a reasonably intimate gathering of British musicians, just getting together to remember their friend by playing his songs.
This feeling is cemented by the constant presence of Dhani Harrison. George's son was in his early 20s at the time of the concert, and appears as a modest talent but an appealing personality, strumming along on an acoustic guitar throughout the performance.
• • • •
An outside-the-film note: Dhani Harrison has recently become more prominent, with his membership in Fistful of Mercy. The band, a threesome of Harrison, Ben Harper and Joseph Arthur, released its debut album, “As I Call You Down,” in October; it also is scheduled to appear at the Coachella festival, in California, in April.
“As I Call You Down,” which features Dhani on vocals, guitar and keyboards as well as a co-writer, has some strong echoes of George Harrison's music. But it is a testament to the late Beatle that there are artists who are no relation who seem to be using him as a template for how to make music. “Wilco (the Album),” the 2009 record by Wilco, has one track, “You Never Know,” that features chord changes, slide guitar parts and a singing style that are so close to Harrison's music it is chilling.
And Carl Broemel, a member of My Morning Jacket, released a solo album last year that goes even one better. The entirety of “All Birds Say” sounds like a tribute to Harrison.
Quiet, maybe. But he definitely made himself heard.
stewart@aspentimes.com
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Beatles the medicine for 'Bieber Fever'
I'll take a shot of Beatles any day....((○L○))
'A Hard Day's Night'
"Bieber Fever" has swept the nation, much like the very mop on the kid's head. The release of "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" is probably the apex of such fever, with an unmemorable but good-enough Grammy performance accompanying the ailment.
"Never Say Never" is a documentary, showing Justin as Justin, as a kid readying for his biggest performance yet. There are flashbacks and stories, drop-ins and quick cuts. It's a well put together spectacle of celebrity, the insider's look that really isn't an insider's look, more just a way to keep the fans wanting more.
But that's how it goes today. Celebrities are carefully sculpted and protected, from films to promotional appearances. And Bieber has to be Bieber, the one that tweets, the one that shows up on MTV - you can't make things up, just show the truth as protectively as possible. So "Never Say Never" is a good documentary, but nothing monumental.
That leads us to "A Hard Day's Night," directed by Richard Lester, the first film that really peered into the glass of rising celebrity. Sure Elvis made movies, but those films showed Elvis as a character on a beach. The Beatles first film was about them - the Beatles - and how crazy their lives had become so instantly.
"A Hard Day's Night," though, isn't all about protection, and it doesn't tell the truth. There's a loose plot about Paul's meddling grandfather (Wilfrid Brambell), who must travel with the band and be kept watch of because he starts trouble. In reality, Paul's grandfather didn't travel with the band, and really, we knew nothing about him at all. This whole business isn't part of the Beatles lives - it's just a plot to tie things together.
And protection is little, if at all. John Lennon wisecracks throughout, especially in a party with upscale Brits. The humor is near seething as the Beatles take down their uppity counterparts. Bieber? He wouldn't offend a fly, since that fly could potentially be part of his target audience.
"A Hard Day's Night" really gives the Beatles added personality, more than what people saw through press conferences and quotes. Back in 1964, that's all you had - some quotes, some conferences; no Twitter, no YouTube, no MTV, no nothing. Protection was inherit. So "A Hard Day's Night" tries to round out the image that the Beatles' sculpted early: Paul is charming, John is sarcastic to a fault, George is shy, Ringo is odd. In the most poignant scene of the film, Ringo decides to leave the group for a walk along the river. He skips stones and meets a young boy, with whom he plays. It's set to the subtle and sweet "That Boy," one of the Beatles' earliest dips into melancholy.
Compare that to Bieber. Could you imagine Bieber walking by the river, alone, skipping stones and playing with a kid? Moreover, could you imagine it not being contrived? Of course not - this is reality. Bieber is there for the world to see. Ringo? He wasn't Tweeting back in 1964. The river scene, fictional or not, seemed plausible.
So in that sense, "A Hard Day's Night" is a genuine film, showing how fame can affect people in a short amount of time, but without cameras poking into their lives, and without quick cuts leading to exposition about drum sets and YouTube videos. Mystery, at least in 1964, was much more thrilling than constant information.
Oh, and then there's music.
Of course, "A Hard Day's Night" is like "Never Say Never" in that it's an excuse to play all the hits. The opening montage set to the title song is iconic - it captures instant fame in a way no three minutes in any modern documentary could dream. You also get the lovely "If I Fell," the charming "I Should Have Known Better" and the romantic "And I Love Her." Not to mention the other giant A-side from that record, "Can't Buy Me Love," which also gets the music video treatment - a wondrous multi-minute camera adventure through an open lot. Simpler times, indeed.
"A Hard Day's Night" is a masterwork of cinema verite. It's gentle, but at times ravenous, and it always seems tucked in its own world. It doesn't shout at you, but it doesn't make you fall asleep. It's simply a film that shows humans in a life that slowly is becoming inhuman. But it never felt so real.
----Timothy Malcolm
recordonline.com
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sir Paul McCartney writing ballet
PAUL McCartney has been working on a ballet!
The Beatles legend has revealed he’s put together a score which will be choreographed by the best in the business and turned into a big New York production.
“I have been working on a ballet for a while. I’ll be making a proper announcement in a few weeks. It’s a really exciting project for me,” Paul told British newspaper The Sun.
Recent reports claimed Paul is being lined up to play at Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton.
“William and Kate have chosen their wedding list and Paul McCartney is their number one choice to perform,” a source said.
“They can’t think of anyone more perfect to kick off proceedings.”
Paul, 68, is said to have confided in pals that he feels “privileged” after receiving the invitation a few weeks ago.
“Prince William is following in his mother Princess Diana’s footsteps by inviting a host of famous friends to join him on his wedding day,” the source added.
“Paul McCartney has been asked to do a few numbers and he said he feels very privileged.”
---showbizspy.com
The Beatles legend has revealed he’s put together a score which will be choreographed by the best in the business and turned into a big New York production.
“I have been working on a ballet for a while. I’ll be making a proper announcement in a few weeks. It’s a really exciting project for me,” Paul told British newspaper The Sun.
Recent reports claimed Paul is being lined up to play at Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton.
“William and Kate have chosen their wedding list and Paul McCartney is their number one choice to perform,” a source said.
“They can’t think of anyone more perfect to kick off proceedings.”
Paul, 68, is said to have confided in pals that he feels “privileged” after receiving the invitation a few weeks ago.
“Prince William is following in his mother Princess Diana’s footsteps by inviting a host of famous friends to join him on his wedding day,” the source added.
“Paul McCartney has been asked to do a few numbers and he said he feels very privileged.”
---showbizspy.com
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Paul McCartney wins Grammy for "Helter Skelter"
Former Beatle Paul McCartney won his first solo Grammy in 39 years on Sunday for a live recording of "Helter Skelter."
McCartney took home the solo rock vocal performance statuette for the 42-year-old Beatles tune, which he dusted off for his 2009 live album "Good Evening New York City."
It marked his 14th Grammy, of which 10 were Beatle-related, spanning 1965 to a reissue project in 1997.
As a solo artist, he last won a Grammy in 1972 for his arrangement of "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey." He followed that with a pair for Wings, his post-Beatles vehicle, in 1975 and 1980.
McCartney, 68, frequently lands Grammy nominations -- 11 since 2005 alone -- but has been bested by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Amy Winehouse and Justin Timberlake.
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were handed out at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Reporting by Dean Goodman; Editing by Jill Serjeant)
McCartney took home the solo rock vocal performance statuette for the 42-year-old Beatles tune, which he dusted off for his 2009 live album "Good Evening New York City."
It marked his 14th Grammy, of which 10 were Beatle-related, spanning 1965 to a reissue project in 1997.
As a solo artist, he last won a Grammy in 1972 for his arrangement of "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey." He followed that with a pair for Wings, his post-Beatles vehicle, in 1975 and 1980.
McCartney, 68, frequently lands Grammy nominations -- 11 since 2005 alone -- but has been bested by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Amy Winehouse and Justin Timberlake.
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were handed out at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Reporting by Dean Goodman; Editing by Jill Serjeant)
The Beatles' Stereo Box Set Wins GRAMMY Award
At today's 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards, The Beatles' acclaimed stereo box set won the GRAMMY for Best Historical Album!!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
30yrs after death, John Lennon still a hit among young fans
A new survey has revealed that John Lennon is one of the top online entertainment names searched by kids on the Internet.
According to Norton Online Family, the most-searched-for performer is current teen pop sensation Justin Bieber.
However, the most surprising result was the position of legendary Beatles frontman John Lennon, who passed away long before most kids with access to a computer were born, reports the Herald Sun.
More than 30 years since the release of his last song, Lennon was the second most searched-for artist among young fans born decades after his death in 1980.
Bizarre songstress Lady Gaga brought in the trifecta at number three.
The research, based on more than 23.3 million searches from a sample of users in 20 countries, including Australia, found that more than three-quarters of entertainment searches made by kids online were for songs or musicians.
While pop songs comprised 13 out of the top 25 searches, the most- searched-for tune by kids worldwide was R&B hit Dynamite by Taio Cruz.
‘Waka Waka’ by Shakira and Katy Perry”s ‘Teenage Dream’ rounded out the top three songs that kept youngsters dancing around the world. (ANI)
---presspuppy.com
Friday, February 11, 2011
Beatles were paid only £5 for their first gig at Cavern Club
Can you believe this...Wow, if they only knew then...
The story behind the first Beatles concert, 50 years ago today, at the famous Liverpool venue.
The first concert by the Beatles at The Cavern Club, over a lunchtime on 9th February 1961 - 50 years ago today - was hardly an auspicious affair. They were paid £5 for the appearance, a concert that wasn't advertised, and George Harrison was nearly denied admission to play because he was wearing jeans.
The small, basement club wasn't full, customers were munching sandwiches and hot dogs and not all the clientele knew what to expect at a venue that had traditionally played host since its 1957 opening to jazz stars such as George Melly and Acker Bilk.
The Cavern had originally been based on a French jazz club, Le Caveau de la Huchette, but by 1961 the venue's music policy was changing. Skiffle and rock 'n' roll were in (Elvis Presley's Are You Lonesome Tonight? was top of the record charts on 9th February) and bands such as The Swinging Blue Jeans, Gerry And The Pacemakers and newcomers The Beatles - who were just back from Hamburg - were being given their chance.
On that landmark lunchtime, the Beatles played the first of 292 concerts at The Cavern until their final appearance on 3 August 1963. Some of the Beatles had played the club before - as the Quarrymen - but for this concert in 1961 it was the first time Harrison and Lennon and the band had been together as the Beatles at the Cavern.
Harrison, then only 17, arrived in blue jeans, which were banned from the club, but he managed to convince the bouncer, Paddy Delaney, that he was one of the performers and was allowed in.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Watch The Beatles' First American Concert
For all you luck people in California...
Although it's been over 40 years since they broke-up, The Beatles' music is still as popular now as it was back in their Sgt. Pepper's days, thanks to iTunes. It probably helps that Steve Jobs is a huge fan. It's been 47 years since the Fab Four played their very first American concert at the Washington Coliseum in D.C. To commemorate that historic moment in rock history, the Egyptian Theatre will be screening the concert in its entirety. Amplifiers back then were barely suitable for crowds of a hundred, let alone a stadium packed with thousands of screaming girls, so throughout the concert John and Paul can be seen moving their amps to face different sections of the audience. I guess they didn't have roadies back then. This will be the first time American eyes will have an opportunity to see the footage since it aired in movie theaters around the country in March of '64, and the screening will include a panel discussion hosted by rock historian Domenic Priore. For serious music fans, it sure beats Justin Bieber's Never Say Never.
---James Famera
Although it's been over 40 years since they broke-up, The Beatles' music is still as popular now as it was back in their Sgt. Pepper's days, thanks to iTunes. It probably helps that Steve Jobs is a huge fan. It's been 47 years since the Fab Four played their very first American concert at the Washington Coliseum in D.C. To commemorate that historic moment in rock history, the Egyptian Theatre will be screening the concert in its entirety. Amplifiers back then were barely suitable for crowds of a hundred, let alone a stadium packed with thousands of screaming girls, so throughout the concert John and Paul can be seen moving their amps to face different sections of the audience. I guess they didn't have roadies back then. This will be the first time American eyes will have an opportunity to see the footage since it aired in movie theaters around the country in March of '64, and the screening will include a panel discussion hosted by rock historian Domenic Priore. For serious music fans, it sure beats Justin Bieber's Never Say Never.
---James Famera
Cavern Club Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Beatles' Performance
On Wednesday, Feb. 9, The Cavern Club in Liverpool, England celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' first performance on its stage.
In February 1961, the Fab Four's lineup featured Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and drummer Pete Best, who was replaced by Ringo Starr in 1962. Best's mother, Mona, was the one to beg the club's talent booker, Ray McFall, to give the band a chance to play. Their first concert was a lunchtime slot.
The Cavern Club's co-owner, Dave Jones, said that the Beatles eventually "became the house band" of the club. They would go on to play 292 shows there, according to Rolling Stone. Jones said that, at their first show, many of the songs they played were covers of songs by Chuck Berry and Little Richard.
The Cavern Club celebrated by having one of their current house bands perform a one-hour lunchtime set, just as The Beatles did 50 years ago, and then followed it up with a Beatles tribute concert that evening.
Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio
In February 1961, the Fab Four's lineup featured Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and drummer Pete Best, who was replaced by Ringo Starr in 1962. Best's mother, Mona, was the one to beg the club's talent booker, Ray McFall, to give the band a chance to play. Their first concert was a lunchtime slot.
The Cavern Club's co-owner, Dave Jones, said that the Beatles eventually "became the house band" of the club. They would go on to play 292 shows there, according to Rolling Stone. Jones said that, at their first show, many of the songs they played were covers of songs by Chuck Berry and Little Richard.
The Cavern Club celebrated by having one of their current house bands perform a one-hour lunchtime set, just as The Beatles did 50 years ago, and then followed it up with a Beatles tribute concert that evening.
Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
When the Beatles took over 'The Ed Sullivan Show' -- and The Post didn't like it
Forty-seven years ago, four young men took over the stage of "The Ed Sullivan Show" and changed music and television history. The Super Bowl on Sunday may have had 111 million viewers, but with the population growth that's only 36 percent of the population. In 1964 a full 40 percent of the population -- some 74 million viewers -- watched the Beatles. There were 50,000 requests for tickets and just more than 700 seats.
(There also were a "benighted cavalcade of aspiring stars" who "gamely tried to distract an audience that couldn't be distracted, offering more typical Ed Sullivan fare" in between the Beatles' musical sets. To read about how it feels to be a sideshow act to musical history, read about one of the groups here.)
But not everyone was a fan of the four mop tops. And those non-fans seem to have worked at The Washington Post.
Lawrence Laurent wrote about that first show on Feb. 12, 1964:
The first of three appearances by The Beatles on the "Ed Sullivan Show" last Sunday night demonstrated, once more, that our adolescents don't know the difference between parody and the real thing. For that matter, neither do the Beatles.
They are, apparently, part of some kind of malicious, bi-lateral entertainment trade agreement. The British have to sit through dozens of dreadful American television programs. In return, we get the Beatles. As usual, we got gypped. Nothing we have exported in recent years quite justifies imported hillbillies who look like sheep dogs and sound like alley cats in agony.
There was once an intentional trade that is comparable, in reverse. The Soviet Union sent us the Moiseyev Dancers and we sent them Ed Sullivan. ...
Much of last Sunday's audience was created by plain curiosity. People wanted to know what all the shrieking is about and they got an answer -- four quite ordinary musicians who happen to have unusually good diction for their own field.
The haircuts can be seen on almost any street corner and young boys insist their clothing be shrunk until it is three sizes too small. The Beatles do offer some relief from the folk singers and our young do need some reason to scream. Those of us who are old enough to vote will simply have to endure one more monstrosity created by mass media.
Bill Gold wrote a famous correction in his column condemning Beatles's fans as hipsters:
This week's issue of Newsweek quotes my report from B.F. Henry that there's one good thing about the Beatles -- "during the hour they were on Ed Sullivan's show, there wasn't a hupcap stolen in America."
It is with heavy heart that I must inform Newsweek that this report was not true. Lawrence R. Fellenz of 307 E. Groveton St., Alexandria, had his car parked on church property during that hour -- and all four of his hubcaps were stolen.
The Washington Post regrets the error, and District Liner Fellenz regrets that somewhere in Alexandria there lives a hipster who is too poor to own a TV set.
And a non-bylined story reads:
After suffering the onslaught of American popular culture for lo, these many years, the British are taking fiendish revenge. They have sent us the Beatles. ... It is as a tonsorial phenomenon that the Beatles may make their enduring mark on our culture. The mop-like appendage on the Beatle skull produces a look of amiable idiocy that we fear will have fatal charm for American adolescents.
We've changed our tune over the years, becoming quite the fans. Still, it's amusing to look back at our paper's misguided youth.
By Melissa Bell | February 9, 2011; 9:35 AM ET
(There also were a "benighted cavalcade of aspiring stars" who "gamely tried to distract an audience that couldn't be distracted, offering more typical Ed Sullivan fare" in between the Beatles' musical sets. To read about how it feels to be a sideshow act to musical history, read about one of the groups here.)
But not everyone was a fan of the four mop tops. And those non-fans seem to have worked at The Washington Post.
Lawrence Laurent wrote about that first show on Feb. 12, 1964:
The first of three appearances by The Beatles on the "Ed Sullivan Show" last Sunday night demonstrated, once more, that our adolescents don't know the difference between parody and the real thing. For that matter, neither do the Beatles.
They are, apparently, part of some kind of malicious, bi-lateral entertainment trade agreement. The British have to sit through dozens of dreadful American television programs. In return, we get the Beatles. As usual, we got gypped. Nothing we have exported in recent years quite justifies imported hillbillies who look like sheep dogs and sound like alley cats in agony.
There was once an intentional trade that is comparable, in reverse. The Soviet Union sent us the Moiseyev Dancers and we sent them Ed Sullivan. ...
Much of last Sunday's audience was created by plain curiosity. People wanted to know what all the shrieking is about and they got an answer -- four quite ordinary musicians who happen to have unusually good diction for their own field.
The haircuts can be seen on almost any street corner and young boys insist their clothing be shrunk until it is three sizes too small. The Beatles do offer some relief from the folk singers and our young do need some reason to scream. Those of us who are old enough to vote will simply have to endure one more monstrosity created by mass media.
Bill Gold wrote a famous correction in his column condemning Beatles's fans as hipsters:
This week's issue of Newsweek quotes my report from B.F. Henry that there's one good thing about the Beatles -- "during the hour they were on Ed Sullivan's show, there wasn't a hupcap stolen in America."
It is with heavy heart that I must inform Newsweek that this report was not true. Lawrence R. Fellenz of 307 E. Groveton St., Alexandria, had his car parked on church property during that hour -- and all four of his hubcaps were stolen.
The Washington Post regrets the error, and District Liner Fellenz regrets that somewhere in Alexandria there lives a hipster who is too poor to own a TV set.
And a non-bylined story reads:
After suffering the onslaught of American popular culture for lo, these many years, the British are taking fiendish revenge. They have sent us the Beatles. ... It is as a tonsorial phenomenon that the Beatles may make their enduring mark on our culture. The mop-like appendage on the Beatle skull produces a look of amiable idiocy that we fear will have fatal charm for American adolescents.
We've changed our tune over the years, becoming quite the fans. Still, it's amusing to look back at our paper's misguided youth.
By Melissa Bell | February 9, 2011; 9:35 AM ET
All You Need is a Free Love App
The Beatles have already dominated the iTunes charts. Now they've come to conquer the App Store. Love is the Beatles Cirque du Soleil show (currently a huge hit in Las Vegas), and this app offers samples of the soundtrack – and links to buy the songs, of course.
There are video clips from the production such as "I am the Walrus" as well as making-of clips. (Incidentally, if you want to see more about the making of Love, check out the "All Together Now" documentary.) Finally, the app also includes links for buying tickets for the Vegas spectacle.
The new Love app is available now for free in the App Store.
There are video clips from the production such as "I am the Walrus" as well as making-of clips. (Incidentally, if you want to see more about the making of Love, check out the "All Together Now" documentary.) Finally, the app also includes links for buying tickets for the Vegas spectacle.
The new Love app is available now for free in the App Store.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Beatles street to be lit up
Mathew Street in Liverpool city centre is being improved with a series of lighting installations to appeal more to visitors and celebrate The Beatles.
The project is being funded by Liverpool Vision and City Central Business Improvement District, which represents 630 businesses across Liverpool city centre.
The improvement work includes:
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' first ever appearance at The Cavern club, based in Mathew Street, the works were recommended as part of a study entitled 'designing out crime', commissioned by Liverpool City Council's city centre management team. They identified additional lighting as having a positive impact on the night economy in the Cavern quarter.
Jenny Douglas, head of city centre and urban design at Liverpool Vision and a board member of the city central BID team, said: "Lighting is internationally recognised as important in making towns and cities better places and Liverpool has an excellent reputation internationally based on work done in recent times to make the city attractive at night. The installation of the ceiling of light on Mathew Street is the first stage in making the Cavern quarter look attractive to visitors and potential investors, as well as having a positive impact on its night-time economy."
The city central BID team said there will be several major projects of this kind in 2011 that aims to have a big impact on the appeal of the city centre.
Ged Gibbons, chief executive of the City Central BID team, added: "Mathew Street is on the must see list for every visitor to Liverpool and these works will make a massive difference to their experience, especially at night with the lighting effects. 2011 is a year of landmarks for The Cavern and to celebrate we wanted to encourage visitors to take a closer look at what makes this street so special - be it the venues, it's art and its claim to immortality."
Gibbons added that the improvements to the Cavern quarter, which is also home to boutique fashion centre, Cavern Walks, were welcomed by local businesses.
The project cost was not disclosed.
The project is being funded by Liverpool Vision and City Central Business Improvement District, which represents 630 businesses across Liverpool city centre.
The improvement work includes:
- A 40-metre long ceiling of light, dubbed Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds, to be installed running the full length of Mathew Street
- New spotlights on a bronze statue of John Lennon, which was unveiled in 1997, and Arthur Dooley's Four Lads Who Shook The World sculpture
- New spotlights on gateways signs into the Cavern quarter
- Re-paint of the world capital of pop wall of fame
- Deep cleansing of pedestrianised walkway
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' first ever appearance at The Cavern club, based in Mathew Street, the works were recommended as part of a study entitled 'designing out crime', commissioned by Liverpool City Council's city centre management team. They identified additional lighting as having a positive impact on the night economy in the Cavern quarter.
Jenny Douglas, head of city centre and urban design at Liverpool Vision and a board member of the city central BID team, said: "Lighting is internationally recognised as important in making towns and cities better places and Liverpool has an excellent reputation internationally based on work done in recent times to make the city attractive at night. The installation of the ceiling of light on Mathew Street is the first stage in making the Cavern quarter look attractive to visitors and potential investors, as well as having a positive impact on its night-time economy."
The city central BID team said there will be several major projects of this kind in 2011 that aims to have a big impact on the appeal of the city centre.
Ged Gibbons, chief executive of the City Central BID team, added: "Mathew Street is on the must see list for every visitor to Liverpool and these works will make a massive difference to their experience, especially at night with the lighting effects. 2011 is a year of landmarks for The Cavern and to celebrate we wanted to encourage visitors to take a closer look at what makes this street so special - be it the venues, it's art and its claim to immortality."
Gibbons added that the improvements to the Cavern quarter, which is also home to boutique fashion centre, Cavern Walks, were welcomed by local businesses.
The project cost was not disclosed.
Fans mark Beatles 50th anniversary
Beatles fans will gather in Liverpool tomorrow for a celebration of 50 years since the Fab Four played their debut gig at the city's Cavern Club.
John, Paul, George and Ringo first took to the stage of the famous Mathew Street venue during a lunchtime session on Tuesday February 9 1961.
Over the following two years they made a total of 292 appearances until their final performance on August 3 1963 - as Beatlemania took off around the world.
The original Cavern was demolished in the 1970s to make way for a shopping centre but a replica club stands nearby which will be the focus of tomorrow's events.
Cavern City Tours, the owner of the current venue, has organised a day of tribute events and Liverpool City Council will be unveiling a major revamp of Mathew Street.
The plans include a new memorial in the form of a ceiling of light, dubbed Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, to be installed running the full length of the street.
Improvements will also be carried out to the John Lennon statue and Arthur Dooley's sculpture Four Lads Who Shook The World.
Other stars associated with the Cavern Club include Cilla Black, who was a cloakroom attendant when she was discovered by Brian Epstein, Billy J Kramer, Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Undertakers and the Searchers.
John, Paul, George and Ringo first took to the stage of the famous Mathew Street venue during a lunchtime session on Tuesday February 9 1961.
Over the following two years they made a total of 292 appearances until their final performance on August 3 1963 - as Beatlemania took off around the world.
The original Cavern was demolished in the 1970s to make way for a shopping centre but a replica club stands nearby which will be the focus of tomorrow's events.
Cavern City Tours, the owner of the current venue, has organised a day of tribute events and Liverpool City Council will be unveiling a major revamp of Mathew Street.
The plans include a new memorial in the form of a ceiling of light, dubbed Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, to be installed running the full length of the street.
Improvements will also be carried out to the John Lennon statue and Arthur Dooley's sculpture Four Lads Who Shook The World.
Other stars associated with the Cavern Club include Cilla Black, who was a cloakroom attendant when she was discovered by Brian Epstein, Billy J Kramer, Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Undertakers and the Searchers.
Copyright © 2011 The Press Association. All rights reserved.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Pandora and The Beatles
So, what's really so bad about Ringo?
Newcomers to Pandora, and even some longtime listeners, have wondered why, if they type in, say, "The Beatles," they can't just get a marathon of Fab Four tracks.
The answer is tucked away in a support page on the company's website and was addressed directly by its founder last week.
Pandora operates under a government statutory license, a class of agreements managed by the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board. This allows Pandora to play a maximum of four songs by a particular artist during a three-hour listening session, the company says.
The provisions, which ban "on-demand" listening, also prevent Pandora from offering functions such as rewind, Westergren notes.
To match Pandora's catalog, companies like Apple and Rhapsody, which offer downloads or on-demand streaming, have to negotiate agreements with the four major labels and dozens of music publishers.
Spotify, the popular European streaming music service, has spent more than a year trying to convince labels to sign on and blames the complex U.S. music industry for delays.
For several years, Pandora has tried to lobby Congress and resist royalty fee hikes proposed by a major music industry organization.
"It would be way too hard to license directly with over 80,000 artists in our collection -- the majority of whom are independent," Pandora's Westergren wrote on the question-and-answer service Quora.
Why Pandora can't just play your favorite band
Pandora's internet radio service doesn't force variety onto listeners for their health. In this case, it's the law, says founder Tim Westergren. The website lets users type in the names of their favorite songs or musicians in order to get a radio station customized to their tastes.Newcomers to Pandora, and even some longtime listeners, have wondered why, if they type in, say, "The Beatles," they can't just get a marathon of Fab Four tracks.
The answer is tucked away in a support page on the company's website and was addressed directly by its founder last week.
Pandora operates under a government statutory license, a class of agreements managed by the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board. This allows Pandora to play a maximum of four songs by a particular artist during a three-hour listening session, the company says.
The provisions, which ban "on-demand" listening, also prevent Pandora from offering functions such as rewind, Westergren notes.
To match Pandora's catalog, companies like Apple and Rhapsody, which offer downloads or on-demand streaming, have to negotiate agreements with the four major labels and dozens of music publishers.
Spotify, the popular European streaming music service, has spent more than a year trying to convince labels to sign on and blames the complex U.S. music industry for delays.
For several years, Pandora has tried to lobby Congress and resist royalty fee hikes proposed by a major music industry organization.
"It would be way too hard to license directly with over 80,000 artists in our collection -- the majority of whom are independent," Pandora's Westergren wrote on the question-and-answer service Quora.
The tradeoff: Having to endure songs from Ringo's solo records inbetween Beatles hits.
---Mark Millian
cnn.com
Thursday, February 3, 2011
iTunes to sell two exclusive Beatles tracks
iTunes will release two exclusive Beatles tracks when it starts selling the Cirque du Soleil stage show soundtrack Love on February 8.
The download version of the George and Giles Martin-produced album from 2006 will include previously-unreleased versions of 'The Fool On The Hill' and 'Girl'.
"Love is available as an iTunes LP or as individual songs, including the Love versions of 'The Fool On The Hill' and 'Girl', both exclusive, previously-unreleased mixes from the acclaimed stage production," a statement on the band's website read.
"All Together Now is presented as an iTunes Extra, including the 84-minute film and bonus features."
The Adrian Wills-directed All Together Now documentary outlines the partnership between The Beatles and Cirque du Soleil and the making of Love.
The Beatles' back catalog was made available to download legally for the first time last November via iTunes.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Ringo Starr Trademarks His Name For Future Use in Video Games
The Beatles drummer registers his moniker prompting speculation as to weather a Ringo themed game or app is on the horizon.
Ringo Starr the avatar can already be seen in the video game The Beatles: Rock Band. Now the Fab Four's drummer wants to trademark his name for future use in "computer game software" and "games via the Internet and wireless devices."
Richard Starkey filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Jan. 23 to register the name "Ringo." While it's unclear exactly what Starr has planned for his moniker, the application calls for use in "toys, plush toys, stuffed toys and board games" in addition to video games.
Several websites have speculated that an announcement of some Ringo-themed game or app is forthcoming, and may even come at the interactive portion of this year's South By Southwest conference. The Beatles: Rock Band has sold more than two million copies since its release in 2009.
----thehollywoodreporter.com
Ringo Starr the avatar can already be seen in the video game The Beatles: Rock Band. Now the Fab Four's drummer wants to trademark his name for future use in "computer game software" and "games via the Internet and wireless devices."
Richard Starkey filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Jan. 23 to register the name "Ringo." While it's unclear exactly what Starr has planned for his moniker, the application calls for use in "toys, plush toys, stuffed toys and board games" in addition to video games.
Several websites have speculated that an announcement of some Ringo-themed game or app is forthcoming, and may even come at the interactive portion of this year's South By Southwest conference. The Beatles: Rock Band has sold more than two million copies since its release in 2009.
----thehollywoodreporter.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
