5 comments about Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

1. This album is super sweet. I can listen to "Lovely Rita" over and over again. The only song that is kind of a bummer is "When I'm Sixty-Four". The only reason that I put what I did as my title is that many people think that this is the greatest record ever made, well I have news for them. The "White Album", "Rubber Soul", "Revolver", just to name a few. If you don't already own this, what are you waiting for, get it today.



2. The best from the BEST! When my Sgt. Pepper CD dissappeared I had to replace it! Although I still think listening to the original vinyl is the best way to savor this extraordinay album ... I NEED to be able to take my music with me. Amazon's price was fair and the shipping was fast.
   Everyone should have a copy of this Beatles' classic.



3. What if, Paul Mcartney would make one last "BEATLES" record ?? All he has to do is REMASTER this album.......BUT.....add the 2 missing songs to this same album , with a different line -up. The famous "PENNY LANE" and "STRAWBERRY FIELDS" would be added. It was the biggest screw-up in rock and roll to leave them off.........SO FIX IT !!! Make this new album a SPECIAL RELEASE, seriously. Eveybody knows this album should have had those songs any-way. There's plenty of room on CD's. Heck, you can even leave off the "WITHIN YOU,WITHOUT YOU song ( Everyone hates it anyway ). This new ST. PEPPER album would be a great way for PAUL to end his career.....AND........He would actually FIX HISTORY.



4. I'm not much for worshipping sacred cows. I wouldn't call PET SOUNDS or DARK SIDE OF THE MOON masterpieces, even if "the experts" say that they are. And I don't really care if SGT PEPPER is the birth of modern pop music or important regarding the evolution of artrock.
   I just think that the songs on SGT PEPPER are really good. Good enough to get 5 stars.



5. It's funny how history works. When it came out in 1967, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was a seismic event. It was an instant cultural touchstone, a musical icon, a psychotropic chunk of pop art product that glistened with possibility and newness. It was, famously, the album that signaled the rise of rock `n' roll as an artform rather than a teenage flavor-of-the-decade. It was bold, energetic, and state-of-the-art. It was conceptual- even the packaging and cover art were part of the journey. It was innovative. In a visionary synthesis of Chuck Berry and Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson and Karlheinz Stockhausen, the Fab Four sought to combine experimentation and melody, innovation and whimsy, futurism and present...ism. It was the album that made it officially OK for popular artists to use tape loops and weird (read: non-European) instruments and genre hopping. Sure, other bands had been experimental before them, but the Beatles were the first megastars to do it over the length of a full album. Impressive.
   
   So, I'm not going to deny the historical significance of this album. I'm not quite insane enough to do that. I won't try to refute its influence, either. But what I am going to complain about is its listenability. Its raw musical value, if you will. Evaluating music on an intellectual level is interesting and useful, but it's all academic if the stuff doesn't make for a good listening experience. And by that measure, the Beatles have done much, much better than Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
   
   It hasn't aged all that well, you see. I can do without a lot of this stuff: "When I'm Sixty-Four" is a cutesy music hall exercise that, all these years later, sounds cheeky and not all that entertaining. "Lovely Rita" and "Good Morning Good Morning" sound absolutely generic, and "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!" is (how do I put this delicately?) annoying and stupid.
   
   Even some of the album's better songs aren't exactly top-drawer material: "She's Leaving Home" is sad and pretty, "Getting Better" is pleasantly bouncy (good lyrics, too), and "Within You Without You" shows off George's sitar fascination to trippy effect, but none of those three are particularly special. Same goes for the rocking title track.
   
   But having said all that, I still do think that this is a pretty good album. If the review so far has seemed harsh, it's because I've learned to hold the Beatles to a pretty high standard. A five-star Beatles album (Rubber Soul, Revolver, etc.) needs to be saturated with pure gold. On this disc, I only count a few true gems. "A Day In The Life" is the shiniest. It's an absolutely gorgeous song, a symphonic tale of quiet desolation and muted melancholia. I also like the quintessentially psychedelic "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," and the inexplicably delightful "Fixing A Hole."
   
   Rock historians, Beatle maniacs, and those who are trying to collect all of the obvious touchstones of musical history should certainly pick this up. Otherwise, think twice.

5 comments about Abbey Road.

1. So it occured to me one day that I didn't own a single Beatles CD. Can you even believe it? Arguably the best band in all of rock and roll and not even a greatest hits on my shelf.
   
   Since I'm a tad obsessive when it comes to stuff, I decided I didn't want any run of the mill Best Of, but instead wanted to go through and buy the albums from these boys the way they were originally sent out, so I decided I'd start with the albums that were what many considered to be innovative and the ones I knew I always wanted but never got.
   
   Now my first impulse was to buy "the white album" but upon closer inspection I realized I wanted Revolver and Abbey Road first. And this week we have been playing this little gem on and off. I
   
   I knew this was one of the last Beatles albums but what I didn't know is that it WAS the last Beatles album ever recorded, Let It Be was released after this but it had already been recorded by the time the boys headed into Abbey Road. I knew I wanted this album the minute I realized "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" was on here as for some reason that is my ultimate favorite Beatles song, I know I'm very strange.
   
   But also on this 1969 masterpeice is "Come Together", "Octopus' Garden", and "Something" to name but a few of the familiar tunes.
   
   A sort darker than the way the Beatles bounced into the world only a mere 5 years before, the reason this band is so important and influential is the fact that those 5 years saw these boys doing what no one had ever done before, coming up with insane and strange mixes to add to the guitar pop they brought to life.
   
   From one direction to another these four boys are remarkable and every single piece of genius is evident on Abbey Road. The songs are more experimental than most of what you hear even today yet they are familiar and long lasting. I sing along with every single song, I feel every single emotion and believe me when you hear me running around screaming "I Want You" you know it's absolutely stunning!
   
   There are probably more important Beatles albums and perhaps more entertaining albums in the catalog but since this is my very first Beatles ever (a hundred and one years later) I think it will remain a favorite for years and years.



2. the best band that ever recorded on this planet has achieved musical genius on Abbey Road. there will never be a better band!!!!!



3. What a great lp It tops most of there lps . What a swan song for the Boys, Just if they stayed together for a few more years wow.



4. An incredible work of music. Simply a masterpiece, and in my opinion has to be the best rocknroll/pop album of all time.
   
   
   and if you'd like a laugh, read the the 1-star reviews.



5. What's not to get? Yes, Maxwell, and Octopus are a bit silly! If you know their histort and you know where they were during this particular period, you'd understand that they needed a bit of silliness!
   John was busy being '....Heavy" w/ Yoko and the peace movement; Paul was melting down, George wanted out, and Ringo wanted everyone to just get along. There is not ONE piece here that if you listed to it, you wouldn't walk away humming. This album is the epitome of the Beatles's Magic! It is just too bad it was the last of it.
   
   "Something" and "Here Comes The Sun" are two of George's best songs ever (and "Something" may be the single greatest love song ever)
   "Oh Darling" is a bluesy masterpiece with Paul screaming with the best of them and showing why he will always be one of the best singers of all time.
   The one who didn't really give his best effort was John (& I say that with love, as John Lennon has been a huge influence on my life!)
   "Come Together" has a great riff, but he ended up getting sued over the lyrics by Chuck Berry (& I thought they were friends!)
   "I Want You (She's so Heavy) again has a GREAT riff...slow and hard...driving and whirling to an abrupt end....but again....John...where's the Lennon wit??? ("I want you so bad it's driving me mad")
   Mean Mr. Mustard is kind of cool, but seems like he cut it short to please someone else (Paul? George Martin?)
   "Because" however, is an absolutely beautiful piece of work w/ some of their best harmonies ever...(which by the way are really showcased on this album very well)
   
   Abbey Road is less about individual songs and more about the whole product: Less about the lyrics and more about the harmonies. And musically (both instrumentally & vocally), one of the greatest albums of all time!
   
   But, again, it all just fits together...this is what a group should be about! Where John didn't have his best day, Paul & George rode in on the white Horses.
   
   I was very young when the Beatles broke up (10), but I do still miss them!

5 comments about The Beatles 1.

1. This is a wonderful collection of twenty-seven of The Beatles most popular songs all of which reached number one in both the UK and the USA. Spanning the years 1962 (LOVE ME DO) to 1970 THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD this is a great album to introduce younger music lovers to THE BEATLES music as well as to ignite the memories of baby boomers. A short booklet with pictures of original record covers as well as the date each song was recorded and the dates that song was number one in the US and UK is included.



2. What else can you say about the greatest pop band in history to date? This album showcases all the bands "number 1 hits". All the tracks are remastered, and there are enough of them on the disc to keep the new or old Beatles fan singing for quite some time. Yes, all these songs are available on some other album, but this disc reveals to you in chronological order how the Beatles tunes could change and the listeners changed with them. From the poppy love songs of the beginning, to the trippy songs in the middle, and back out the other side with the mature songs of the later years. All in all a great summation of the Beatles amazing talent. If you're an old Beatles fan who wants to hear them again, or a newbie who's just getting started, this album is a great compilation in my opinion.



3. Purists have and will continue to argue this particular release into the ground with a host of complaints that range from "The audio mix is bad!" to "Lady Madonna was never number one on the charts!" But while it may come as deep shock to them, not every one approaches The Beatles as if they were holy relics, not everyone considers them "essential," and not every one feels it necessary to purchase every album the band made.
   
   Quite obviously I tend to fall into this category. I like quite a few of The Beatles' recordings, but they never spoke me in a gotta-have-it way, and although I like "Come Together" I'm not going to buy ABBEY ROAD in order to obtain it. But while this compilation doesn't include every one of my favorites, it does include enough of them to make me willing to put a few of my hard-earned dollars on the table.
   
   It is true that #1 is open to "number one according to who?" arguments, but even so the collection does gather twenty-seven of the band's best known and most popular releases--and also offers a fairly good overview of their style as they moved from mop-top-pop to psychedelia with plenty of innovation and serious musicianship along the way. It may be true that some of the songs sound better in original monoaural; it may be true that every selection could stand a meticulous remastering--but I personally had no complaints about sound quality.
   
   This is really a recording for two classes of listeners: novices who know little about the band and would like to test the waters and old hands who like certain songs but don't like them well enough to go to the expense of replacing scratched up albums with CDs. You'll still have to do that if you want the likes of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," "Strawberry Fields Forever," and "Octopus Garden"--but this collection really does hit most of the obvious notes.
   
   GFT, Amazon Reviewer



4. It's hard to find a reason to buy this CD for a long time Beatles fan like me, who owns all their entire catalog. I admit that I would never buy such a compilation, but finally I did because I've found a reason: the remastered sound. The songs sounds better than ever and certainly the sound of this CD has no comparison with the released official albums. If Apple or EMI someday decide to update the sound of all Beatles CD's the way they did with this one, I would no doubt to replace mi collection.



5. It's pretty hard to beat the Beatles if you're into the oldies. The best part of this title is it's so complete and it brings back so many memories.

5 comments about The Beatles (The White Album).

1. Although I tend to prefer The Beatle's earlier work, this album is one of their best in my opinion. Double CD and all the songs are great. Worth every penny! You really can't go wrong with any Beatle album.



2. Beginning with the release of Rubber Soul in 1965, The Beatles quickly evolved from brilliant pop songwriters and performers to "serious" artists whose best songs stand comparison, in their craft and creative scope, with great classical music. As their music became more ambitious, The Beatles drew progressively further away from their rock and roll roots. After their last scheduled concert in August 1966, they gave up live performance to become exclusively a studio band. Their withdrawal reached its limits in 1967's Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, when they assumed the identities of fictional performers. The pendulum turned the following year. As suggested by its self-title, The Beatles (The White Album) was an effort by The Beatles to return to their original essence. In this quest, they faced great difficulties arising both outside and within the group.
   
   The first obstacle The Beatles confronted was that of history. Between the time of their first stardom in the early 1960s and their making of The White Album in 1968, the world transformed. The album was recorded during a time of political assassinations, Vietnam War casualties, and a sense of impending chaos. At a fundamental level, the meaning of everything had changed. In The Beatles' darker tone and loss of ebullience, one can sense how deeply affected they were as their musical home in rock and roll became a foreign place "back in the U.S.S.R."
   
   In addition, the individual Beatles had by now drawn far apart musically. John Lennon's shattering introspections ("Yer Blues," "Happiness Is a Warm Gun") had little in common with Paul McCartney's bursts of pure melody ("Blackbird," "I Will"). In songs such as "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," George Harrison emerged on The White Album as Lennon and McCartney's compositional equal, upsetting a balance in which his two band mates had been the dominant songwriters. Ringo Starr, too, moved more to the forefront with the recording of his first song, "Don't Pass Me By." Although The Beatles were still an ensemble, the White Album became very much a collaboration of four solo artists.
   
   Searching for their past, The Beatles broke new ground. The White Album's range is vast, with calypso ("Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"), blues rock ("Yer Blues"), early heavy metal ("Helter-Skelter"), Indian-influenced rhythms ("Dear Prudence"), 1930s dance hall ("Honey Pie") and electronic sound collage ("Revolution 9") just a few of the forms represented. Instrumentation varies from the sparse guitar and bird song accompaniment of "Blackbird" to the luxurious, full orchestration of the concluding lullaby "Good Night." There are contrasting lyrics of distant love ("I Will") and uninhibited sex ("Why Don't We Do It in the Road"); pastoral repose ("Mother Nature's Son") and insomnia ("I'm So Tired"); forfeited time ("Long, Long, Long") and birthday celebration ("Birthday"). There are parodies of The Beach Boys ("Back in the U.S.S. R.") and The Beatles themselves ("Glass Onion"). Each of the album's nearly thirty songs and assorted fragments is unique. Together, they make up a library of styles reaching across all of music.
   
   To truly listen to The White Album is to wonder if, in the midst of its immensity, The Beatles have found their old voices. It is a question vital not only to these four musicians but to our entire era, for what we are asking about The Beatles we must also ask of ourselves. As we drift into a trackless future, is there a way back to our foundations? Somewhere in The White Album is an answer.



3. The Beatles (aka The White Album) is a fascinating mix of many diverse styles and finds the Beatles stretching out a bit more as far as stylistic daring goes. As a casual Beatle fan, however, I feel there is also a lot of what I do not love about them all that much. There are too many lightweight songs mixed in with the bona-fide genius of others. I am sure die hards love this sort of thing and find the appeal of those songs all the more endearing. I am, however, not in that category and can't help but feel there is one solid single album somewhere in between these grooves. I mean, all double albums give a band the opportunity to branch out and approach styles they would not normally test out for the public. That's not the problem. The problem lies in the filler material, in which there is plenty of.
   
   I cannot blindy call this album a Beatles' classic when in comparison to "Abbey Road", "Revolver" and "Rubber Soul". EVERY song on those mentioned albums was stellar (well, maybe not Yellow Submarine) but you get the point. Unlike popular belief, The Beatles weren't always perfect and The White Album, which for most of it is as good as good music gets, is the real beginning of the cracks that had begun to appear in their relationships with one another. You have Fluff like "Wild Honey Pie", "Bungalow Bill", "Why Don't We Do it in the Road", "Honey Pie", "Savoy Truffle", "Good Night" and the eight minute catastrophe of "Revolution 9" alongside masterpieces such as "Dear Prudence", "Ob La Di", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Blackbird", "Birthday" and "Helter Skelter". Even the version of "Revolution 1" is not as good as the single version.
   
   All that being said, any understanding of the developement of modern pop music must start with The Beatles. The White Album, however, is not the place to start, in my opinion. Yes, it is better than just about anything else that was released during it's time by bands working the same territory, but it is not the best The Beatles have to offer. This is along the lines of "Let it Be", "Magical Mystery Tour" and (oh here come the comments) "Sgt Pepper". All classics, but not the creme de la creme.



4. Released forty years ago, "The Beatles" aka "The White Album" is notable for many reasons. It's the Fab Four's only double album. It differs greatly from the band's previous two psychedelic albums for a more back-to-basics approach which would continue with their following albums. It's a sprawling and at times schizophrenic record that documents the falling apart of the band as most songs are primarily composed by whomever is singing the lead with the rest of the boys as backup band. Though this is true going back to about "Beatles For Sale", it especially applies to this album as Ringo briefly quit for a while with Paul playing drums on "Back In The U.S.S.R." and a few other songs; Yoko Ono's presence in the studio which irritated everyone with the exception of John; and other personal events that had the band unraveling.
   Kicking things off to a rousing start is "Back In The U.S.S.R.", an inspired mixture of Chuck Berry and The Beach Boys. Sung by Paul with wonderful backup singing by John & George, it has a great melody and witty tongue-in-cheek lyrics. John's "Dear Prudence" with a sweet, cascading guitar line the boys became known for follows. This song was inspired by Mia Farrow whom they met during their stay in India for the purpose of studying meditation with Maharashi Mahesh Yogi. Next up is the lyrically self-referential "Glass Onion", another brilliant song by John. For me, the pseudo-reggae of Paul's "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" is cute but ultimately somewhat forgettable. It's another of the Beatles' children's songs in the tradition of "Yellow Submarine". "Wild Honey Pie" is another track that could easily have been left off the album, sounding totally like filler. John's "The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill" is mainly notable for its satiric lyrics and Yoko's unique backup singing. Its melody is especially weak when compared to George's stately, lovely "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" which follows. Graced with guitar solos by George's pal Eric Clapton, this song firmly establishes Mr. Harrison as a songwriter on par with Lennon & McCartney. "Guitar" also utilizes that trademark cascading guitar figure that bonds the verses with the choruses. This song is beautifully straight forward, abandoning the psychedelia (which I nonetheless adored) of compositions like "Within You Without You" from "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Blue Jay Way" from "Magical Mystery Tour". "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" is a song in three parts and the second song from this album in which John mentions guns. Spooky. In light of his tragic assassination in 1980, was this guy psychic? The verses on this one are a bit folk, the bridge is bluesy and the chorus is inspired by doo-wop. Again, the lyrics are delightfully tongue-in-cheek. Paul's "Martha My Dear" is a great little number that was inspired by his dog. John follows this with another bluesy tune, "I'm So Tired". Paul's sublime "Blackbird" was inspired by the American Civil Rights movement. It's just Paul, an acoustic guitar and birdsong and it's absolutely lovely in its simplicity. George's "Piggies" is another satire, this time concerning class differences. The first reference to Bob Dylan on "The Beatles" is "Rocky Raccoon" with Paul emulating the American poet in the lyrics and general form and tone of the song. Ringo makes his writing debut with the country song "Don't Pass Me By". The lyrics are dryly funny but like the songs that immediately precede and follow it (Paul's "Why Don't We Do It In The Road"), the tunes sound a bit tossed off, a bit throwaway. "I Will" is another very pretty song by Paul that is instrumentally minimalist with just acoustic and bass guitar. Disc 1 ends with John's ode to his mother, the delicate acoustic guitar ballad "Julia". It's a very touching song and its simplicity, it mirrors "I Will" perfectly.
   
   Disc 2 opens with the rocking "Birthday" which is followed by John's "Yer Blues", a tortured blues number that references "Ballad Of A Thin Man" with the line 'just like Dylan's Mr. Jones'. Paul's gorgeous "Mother Nature's Son" is next. Largely acoustic, it also features a lovely horn section. John brings back the rock 'n roll with "Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey" with its rollicking guitar bits. The piano-driven "Sexy Sadie" was written by John about the boys' fallout with the Maharishi. Lovely background vocals enhance an already terrific song. "Helter Skelter" proves that although best known for his beautiful ballads, Paul could rock like a hell-hound. 'Blisters on my fingers', indeed. Did he invent heavy metal with this song? I believe it predates Black Sabbath's debut album by a couple of years! George's "Long,Long,Long" makes a 360 degree turn from the heavy rock of "Helter Skelter". Anchored by organ, this song is a sublime marvel. The shift in tone, like so many from this album, is what gives "The Beatles" the schizophrenic feel I noted earlier. The version of "Revolution 1" on this album is quite different than the single version. Its focus is more acoustic and again owes a debt to doo-wop. I don't share Paul's love of the music hall/vaudeville genre but if you're curious about it, the second (!) "Honey Pie" is a great example of it. George's tribute to sweets, "Savoy Truffle" follows. It's a nice little rocker with swinging horns. John's haunting, beautiful "Cry Baby Cry" precedes the Beatles' most experimental track, "Revolution 9", which was constructed from various tapes John made. His association with avant-garde artist Ono becomes crystal clear after a listen to this mind-blowing 'song'. Paul & George had enjoyed making tracks out of tapes going back to "Pepper's" at least but had never released them under the Beatles name. It has enormously influenced my own music. If you enjoy "Revolution 9" then check out the works of Karlheinz Stockhausen, one of the original practitioners of musique concrete. "The Beatles" fittingly closes with "Good Night", a wonderfully wistful tune perfectly sung by Ringo.
   Needless to say and despite its flaws, "The Beatles" is an essential part of this amazing band's catalog. You won't regret owning it.



5. Disc 2 skips in the begining.......not cool..but it was great to hear this CD since I traded my white album years ago to my brother!

5 comments about Rubber Soul.

1. I was amazed to find a couple of songs on here that I didn't remember. This has a lot of my favorites. If you are a Beatle fan, I would definately recommend 'Rubber Soul'.



2. My favorite Beatles album, actually. Others were more experimental, influential, and innovative, but Rubber Soul is really the bee's knees, musically speaking. Chronologically speaking, it captures the Fab Four at a crossroads, bridging the gap between their tenure as the world's smartest teen pop band and rock `n' roll's preeminent celebrity mad scientists. As such, it captures the best of both worlds: The songs are smartly crafted pop classics with perfect melodies, but they're also bold and original. The lyrics are subtly poetic, the instrumentation is rich and complex, and even the most innocuous tracks burble with exciting new ideas.
   
   "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" is a sepia-toned miracle, full of folk and mystery and parallel-universe pop melodies. It also has some of the best use of a sitar on a Beatles record. "In My Life" is a tearjerker that can really jerk tears, a haunting work that's full of memory and melancholy. "Drive My Car" is really fun and really groovy, and the guitar solo is wonderfully, unbelievably, quintessentially 60s.
   
   But the real draw of this album is the underappreciated gems. Rubber Soul is full of `em. Take "You Won't See Me," for example. It would have been the highlight of just about any other 60s group's career- it's an absolutely flawless pop song, from harmonies to lyrics to chord progressions. It's cool, it's wistful, it's catchy, it's dynamic, and it's fun. Perfect, I tell ya! "I'm Looking Through" is absolutely gorgeous, and "Wait" has one of the most bewitching choruses in history. I even like the much-maligned "Run For Your Life," because it creates a genuine sense of menace and aggression. Marvelous!
   
   To top it off, the cover art is hipper than anything else in existence. Be hip and buy Rubber Soul. Bon Appétit.



3. A lot has been written and spoken about "Rubber soul" It is basically The Beatles coming of age release. Their work takes on a more reflected and personal identity. They sound more mature in their singing, playing and songwriting. At no time though does this CD sound heavy handed or preachy. Some of the pop sheen is still present, but their melodies and subject matter have a very passionate feel to them. They were still writing in a "singles" (45's) mode and so most everything on the CD sounds like it could have been a hit single in 1965. For that matter probably could be a hit record these days too. Really the only true throwaway song on here is Ringo's "What goes on?" Everything else brims with worthy craftsmanship. Imagine how good this album would have been had they included "Day tripper" & "We can work it out" instead of issuing them as a double A side single.



4. I received this CD as a gift and was very disappointed to find that the songs were not the same as on my old record. I've Just Seen A Face was my favorite song and it is not included.



5. Whenever Sid is driving in his car on a crisp autumn day the first thing he thinks about listening to is some Beatles. And, Rubber Soul just might be the best album the Fab Four ever made. "Drive My Car," the first track is good, a solid single for the lads. But, Sid tends to dislike many of the guys' "hits." It's the second track, "Norwegian Wood," that really kicks off the brilliance in the effort. This is one of the best song the group has ever done, and it is never mentioned in a listing of their better tunes. The whole album is excellent with the exception of "What Goes On," sung by the one and only Richard Starkey of course. The highlight, though, is the incomparable "Michelle." Sid defies you to find a sweeter ballad. If you can't groove with the mellow licks at the end of the song, Sid doesn't know what to tell you.

5 comments about Dark Side Of The Moon.

1. If I were to be allowed five albums for the rest of my life, this would be at the top of the list. Just had to replace a missing album, and actually, as cheap as this was I think I'll keep buying CDs from Amazon. This one can never leave my collection, and if it does I'll have a replacement faster than you can say Pink Floyd.



2. There's a reason this album seems to consistently win "Best Rock Album of All Time" on many reviews I've seen. Besides the classics you've probably heard so many times, like "Time", "Money", and "Us and Them", there are long, very dreamy, instrumental passages, and many sound effects, such as those you hear at the beginning of "Money" and "Time". It is an album with an almost hypnotic quality. It is definitely one not to be missed by any rock fan.



3. There is a reason that any modern band with progressive, space rock elements is referred to as the "Pink Floyd" of its respective genre. Pink Floyd is a very important figure in rock history, and anyone who claims to be a fan of music should hear this album at least once.



4. I have always loved this album... I was sitting in a coffee shop with one headphone in and one out. And the part on 'the dark side of the moon' when the luner laughs, LOL, I actually turned around to see if someone had laughed behind me... It was hilarious, I giggle about that every time I hear that song...



5. I think Meddle is a better album, but this is the album that everyone will remember Pink Floyd by. And it's better than most bands will ever put out so it's hard to fault it. Anyone who likes rock probably ought to add this to their collection. There is a reason why this is one of the top selling albums of ALL TIME. It is a monument of rock - almost anything Floyd was ever involved with was.

5 comments about Revolver [UK].

1. What do I love about this album? The opening coughs and the countout "one, two, three, four, one, two" - a dirty way to start a Beatles album - aren't they supposed to be those clean-cut lads from Liverpool? It's the first clue that this is going to be a different journey than we expected. The witty George Harrison, tongue-in-cheek, with a song that vocalizes a universal suspicion that our money is being unfairly commandeered by the government, a sentiment that resonates more strongly as I've gotten older.
   What else do I love? the lovely vocal harmony and the strings on Eleanor Rigby. The striking images painted by Paul. So original - name any song that even comes close to sounding like it. Love the way it ends - like in "Amadeus" the song ends when it's supposed to, no big bang necessary for the ending.
   What else? John's nasal tenor, sweet and dreamy, coming through on "I'm only sleeping", the perfectly match for a lazy afternoon, or a lazy day.
   What else? "Here, There, and Everywhere" - their best love song ever IMHO, even better than George's "Something". Again, my humble opinion. It's sweeter and not so overproduced.
   Even Ringo makes a classic appearance here - a children's song that, as poorly sung as it is (admit it, Ringo aint a singer), still holds a charm that will keep it beloved forever. (my favorite Ringo is "I wanna be your man")
   What's just okay? She Said She said, Doctor Robert, and And your Bird can sing(just never caught on with me), Good Day Sunshine - (reverting back a little to their old bubble gum ways, still a lovely song).
   Intriguing songs - Tomorrow never knows - very intellectually stimulating music. For no one - seems a bit incomplete at the end.
   Got to get you into my life - Actually, Earth Wind & Fire did a cover on that terrible movie, "Sgt pepper's lonely hearts club band". EWF was one of the best parts of the movie, and I think I like the cover a little better than the original.
   All in all (no pun intended, for those who get that-kudos), this album is fantastic. Even the just okay stuff is great if you're in the right mood for it. Every time I hear it (and I do tend to listen to it in its entirety), I smile.



2. I've got lots of spare time so I went through all Beatles albums on amazon and compared their medium grade point average. This is the winner!
   The whole list goes like this (only UK versions):
   
   1. Revolver 4.69
   2. Abbey road 4.67
   3. Rubber soul 4.6
   4. A hard day's night 4.53
   5. Help 4.5
   6. Magical mystery tour 4.41
   7. White album 4.4
   8. Sgt Pepper 4.39
   9. With the Beatles 4.34
   10. Please please me 4.27
   11. Let it be 4.2
   12. For sale 4.1
   13. Yellow submarine 3.6
   
   CONGRATULATIONS REVOLVER!
   
   I wonder what I'll do tomorrow.



3. There's a reason why Revolver is a personal favorite for many Beatles fans: Sgt. Pepper may have been more innovative, and Abbey Road may be more pleasantly scatterbrained, but Revolver has better songs. It has "Taxman," which is one of the group's coolest numbers, what with that neat chord progression and those smug lyrics and the guitar solo that just screams "1966." It has "Here, There And Everywhere," one of the finest pop songs of all time (it was, after all, Paul's famous attempt to top Brian Wilson). It has the delirious rock classic that is "She Said She Said," and the languid beauty of "I'm Only Sleeping." "And Your Bird Can Sing" laid the groundwork for power pop with its sky-scraping melody and jangling guitars. "Tomorrow Never Knows" will rip your brain in half.
   
   Even the throwaways are fun: "Got To Get You Into My Life" and "Good Day Sunshine" are catchy and silly and soulful, and "Doctor Robert" is a fantastic poker-faced drug anthem. "I Want To Tell You" is worthwhile for its swooping fade-in, if nothing else.
   
   Plus, Revolver is just plain cooler than most of the Beatles other albums. While Sgt. Pepper's often (let's be honest here) got a bit too silly for its own good, Revolver always sounded like futurist pop art with a genuinely rockin' backbone. It was playful, but it was also smart and hip. It knew how to hold experimental tendencies in check when necessary. As such, Revolver has aged much better than most of the other "cutting edge" recordings of the 60s. It still sounds fresh and hip and exciting. Don't believe me? Buy it and see for yourself. You won't be sorry.



4. With "Rubber Soul", the Beatles started maturing as artists and moving away from "mere" teen pop, but it was with "Revolver" that they hit their peak. Certainly the albums that came later were perhaps even more ambitious and got more press and, yes, hype. Nevertheless if I have to choose a favorite Beatles album, it would be "Revolver". I've had this album for a long time (in LP format), and it's been one of my favorites. Almost by coincidence I was recently exposed to this album again after many years. I'm happy to say that this one absolutely stands the test of time. It's now on heavy rotation in my stereo.
   
   Originally on LP the US and UK releases of the Beatles allbums up to and including this one were different. I the case of "Revolver" the difference was that the U.S. version was missing 3 songs. The CD release is the UK version, so it includes all 14 tracks. There really isn't a weak track on the album, although perhaps the least "essential" track is "Dr. Robert". It's certainly a decent enough song, but it's not fantastic and doesn't really add anything crucial to the song mix. One reviewer suggested that "Paperback Writer", which has a similar style, would have been a better inclusion, and I would agree. Actually when I listen to the album, I typically skip two songs, "Yellow Submarine" and "Love You To". Both are certainly very creative groundbreaking songs that add to the variety of the mix, but frankly I don't need to hear them too often (all 3 of George's "raga rock" tunes have not dated well, IMHO). Everything else on the album is absolutely great.
   
   George Harrison's other two songs, the opener "Taxman" and "I Want To Tell You" are among his best, and really show him hitting his peak as a songwriter. Eleanor Rigby's lyrics and music (including brilliant orchestration) are case study in isolation and despair. "For No One" is also rather sad, but brilliantly crafted ballad by McCartney. "Here There and Everywhere" is more optimistic and has to be considered one of Mcartney's best songs ever. "Got To Get You Into My Life" and "Good Day Sunshine" are wonderful too, both bursting with a positive vibe.
   
   John Lennon's other 3 compositions are all experimental in nature. "And Your Bird Can Sing" `s most distinct feature is a very unusual guitar riff. The sound of the guitar can be described as a sunnier version of the one on "Rain" (The single "Paperback Writer" / "Rain" is stylistically consistent with this album). This is contrasted with a refrain that sounds almost retro. The part when he sings "I'll be `round" could almost be from an early Beatles song. "I'm Only Sleeping" and "She Said, She Said" Have a druggy, lazy feel to them, with the latter having more overt psychedelic references. Of course the song that takes the experimentation to the furthest degree at that point in time is the closing song "Tomorrow Never Knows". This one must have truly been a mindblower in 1966! It incorporates all sorts of avant-guarde experimentation techniques - drones, tape effects, distortion, and a really strange song structure that basically has no chord changes to it. Not to mention the creepy "seagull" noises! The result is absolutely hypnotic and spooky. I really sounds like it's coming from another dimmension. Although this is definitely John's creation, evidently it was Paul that introduced the band to the tape manipulation techniques that were being used by such avant-guarde composers like Karlheinz Stockhausen. This contradicts the conventional wisdom that John was the experimenter and Paul was the conventional pop guy. They all seemed to have a real talent for absorbing ideas and influences, which they then seamlessly vowe into their onw style.
   
   In addition to strengths of the individual tracks, what makes this a fantastic album is how cohesive it is. There is incredible diversity, but it all fits together wonderfully. An essential album, I think!



5. With "Rubber Soul", the Beatles started maturing as artists and moving away from "mere" teen pop, but it was with "Revolver" that they hit their peak. Certainly the albums that came later were perhaps even more ambitious and got more press and, yes, hype. Nevertheless if I have to choose a favorite Beatles album, it would be "Revolver". I've had this album for a long time (in LP format). Almost by coincidence I was recently exposed to this album after a long time. I'm happy to say that this one absolutely stands the test of time. It's now on heavy rotation in my stereo.
   
   Originally on LP the US and UK releases of the Beatles allbums up to and including this one were different. I the case of "Revolver" the difference was that the U.S. version was missing 3 songs. The CD release is the UK version, so it includes all 14 tracks. There really isn't a weak track on the album, although perhaps the least "essential" track is "Dr. Robert". It's certainly a decent enough song, but it's not fantastic and doesn't really add anything crucial to the song mix. One reviewer suggested that "Paperback Writer", which has a similar style, would have been a better inclusion, and I would agree. Actually when I listen to the album, I typically skip two songs, "Yellow Submarine" and "Love You To". Both are certainly very creative groundbreaking songs that add to the variety of the mix, but frankly I don't need to hear them too often.. Everything else on the album is absolutely great.
   
   George Harrison's other two songs, the opener "Taxman" and "I Want To Tell You" are among his best, and really show him hitting his peak as a songwriter. Eleanor Rigby's lyrics and music (including brilliant orchestration) are case study in isolation and despair. "For No One" is also rather sad, but brilliantly crafted ballad by McCartney. "Here There and Everywhere" is more optimistic and has to be considered one of Mcartney's best songs ever. "Got To Get You Into My Life" and "Good Day Sunshine" are wonderful too, both bursting with a positive vibe.
   
   John Lennon's other 3 compositions are all experimental in nature. "And Your Bird Can Sing" `s most distinct feature is a very unusual guitar riff. The sound of the guitar can be described as a sunnier version of the one on "Rain" (The single "Paperback Writer" / "Rain" is stylistically consistent with this album). This is contrasted with a refrain that sounds almost retro. The part when he sings "I'll be `round" could almost be from an early Beatles song. "I'm Only Sleeping" and "She Said, She Said" Have a druggy, lazy feel to them, with the latter having more overt psychedelic references. Of course the song that takes the experimentation to the furthest degree at that point in time is the closing song "Tomorrow Never Knows". This one must have truly been a mindblower in 1966! It incorporates all sorts of avant-guarde experimentation techniques - drones, tape effects, distortion, and a really strange song structure that basically has no chord changes to it. Not to mention the creepy "seagull" noises! The result is absolutely hypnotic and spooky. I really sounds like it's coming from another dimmension. Although this is definitely John's creation, evidently it was Paul that introduced the band to the tape manipulation techniques that were being used by such avant-guarde composers like Karlheinz Stockhausen. This contradicts the conventional wisdom that John was the experimenter and Paul was the conventional pop guy. They all seemed to have a real talent for absorbing ideas and influences, which they then seamlessly vowe into their onw style.
   
   In addition to strengths of the individual tracks, what makes this a fantastic album is how cohesive it is. There is incredible diversity, but it all fits together wonderfully. An essential album, I think!

5 comments about Love.

1. I'm a huge Beatles fan (as my screen name suggests!), and I refused to listen to this CD until now. I'm a purist when it comes to the Beatles -- no covers, no remixes, no muzak arrangements, no alt-rock interpretations, thankyouverymuch. Just the originals. But my curiosity finally got the best of me, so I ordered a copy (truth be told, I just wanted to bring my order amount up to the free shipping minimum), and now I regret I didn't buy this sooner. George and Giles Martin have done a fantastic job remixing these Beatles classics. There are some really interesting pairings -- pieces of "Drive My Car" coupled with "The Word?" And it works -- beautifully. It will never take the place of the originals for me -- I don't think George Martin intended it to -- but for me, it was almost like hearing the music again -- for the first time. I love this CD.



2. When this first came out, it got a similar reaction to Let It Be... Naked. Many "purists" condemned it while some fans loved it. I don't consider this so much a "new Beatles album" as much as a tribute and for a tribute, it's an enjoyable one.
   
   The main disappointment was that the DVD was only another audio version. The 2nd one is that "Blackbird" was only the introduction, where the entire song would've been both appropriate and appreciated. I probably wouldn't have been disappointed if another reviwer hadn't pointed that out. The version of "Because" is not too different from that on Anthology 3, except that there's more of a pause between each line.
   
   Ok, that takes care of what I didn't like or thought was so-so. Now I'll share with you what I did like. The version of "Strawberry Fields Forever" features sections of the different takes on Anthology 2, starting with the original demo and the earlier takes seguing into the more familiar version, with George Martin's sped up piano solo from "In My Life." "Lady Madonna" features some interesting percussion, not unlike the "...Do It In The Road" introduction. "Gnik Nus" sounds like a mantra. Actually, it's really an a capella excerpt from "Sun King." "A Day In The Life" mixes versions of the Sgt Pepper original release and the outtake on Anthology 2. The medley of "Mr. Kite/ I Want You/ Helter Skelter" is pretty interesting and I was amazed at how well "Drive My Car" and "What You're Doing" blended, considering they're in the same beat (listen for the "Taxman" guitar riff. One of the highlights is George Martin's orchestral inclusion on George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (Martin took creative liberties and they worked!). The orchestral intro of "Good Night" also works well on Ringo Starr's "Octopus' Garden." Tabla drums from "The Inner Light" are featured on George's "Here Comes The Sun." "Tomorrow Never Knows" blends well with "Within You Without You." Hearing Paul McCartney sing "Can you take me back?" from the closing of "Cry Baby Cry" nearly brought chills when added to "Dear Prudence." John Lennon's guitar work blends well with "Eleanor Rigby" (you'll have to hear it for yourself to believe it). "All You Need Is Love" is a great finale to Love, with a snippet from one of the Beatles' Christmas records- "This is Johnny Rhythm saying goodnight and God bless ya!"



3. I mainly bought this album because I saw the live show and loved the version of the Blackbird song they played in FULL during the show. However, the CD only contains a few brief seconds of this song. All the other songs are great (different from the originals), but I really bought the album for the Blackbird song and felt a bit cheated.



4. The thought of anyone monkeying around with the Beatles catalog should start the warning lights flashing, but the effort of George and Giles Martin (George the Dad was the Beatles' producer) have produced a most interesting re-examination and reformation of some classic works. The Indian percussion added to the opening of Here Comes the Sun gives it a new perspective, and the mixing of rhythmically and sonically diverse elements (all from Beatle songs to Beatle songs) reawakens one's ears to the innovations as you attempt to identify which elements were combined for new effect. Weak moments are the cheer-enhanced Wanna Hold Your Hand, and the slowed down Octopus' Garden (using the orchestral arrangement for Good Night) sounds a tad forced. That said, there are oodles of sonic surprises and meshings that make this a worthwhile investment for hard core Beatle fans as well as the novice.
   
   The concept traces back to an inspiration of George Harrison while watching the Cirque du Soleil, and it carries the blessings of the surviving Fabs and their families. A potential follow-up would be to releace a Cirque performance synched to the tunes - a cursory vieewing of some of the clips on youTube hold the promise that this could be a terrific multimedia experience with the sight and sound combined for those not going to Vegas any time soon - enjoy!



5. I can't even begin to tell any Beatles fan how amazing this album, and show, is. After a long 3 years of waiting to turn 21, my man took me to Las Vegas to celebrate. I had only seen one other Cirque du Soleil show before, but was convinced I would like it just because it was set to the wonderful music of The Beatles. Was I ever right!! This show is so moving, mostly in part to the strict care given to the show's ever-important soundtrack, a collection of mostly re-produced Beatles songs (a few remain mostly untouched) produced by four gentleman, including George Martin, the original Beatles producer, and his son. Any Beatles fan will more than rejoice in this loving mix of the Beatles' best. Be sure to purchase this, especially if, like me, you have basically the entire Beatles catalogue. There will never be a truer celebration of the world's greatest rock band. I love you Beatles!

5 comments about Sounds Of Summer - The Very Best Of The Beach Boys.

1. If you are a fan of the Beach Boys but not enough of a fan to own all of their albums, then this one is for you. It has alot of their best hits. I enjoy the whole album and it always cheers me up when I listen to it. Very upbeat and fun.



2. Sounds of Summer, yes! Year-round summer is what California has always represented to the rest of the USA. The Beach Boys sang the surfer lifestyle into American and world consciousness, and doing so declared California's musical and cultural independence from the East Coast. The Beach Boys also sang the independence of teenagers of the Baby Boom, with cars and purchasing power, from their parents' generation of frugal, anxious conformists shaped by the Great Depression. They sang the primacy of summer and outdoor life over the stuffy classroom and grimy workplace. There's not a word of piety or propriety in any of Brian Wilson's songs; the Beach Boys were prophets of a life style free of shibboleths, in a world of sun-tanned smiles and endless summer. How could anyone not be thrilled by such a prospect?
   
   Musically, the Beach Boys were tight, driving, innovative, the best dance music ever, and they never went noir on us, never wallowed, never whined. You might say they never grew up, they lived in a false paradise of surf boards and bikinis, but I'd say 'more power to 'em'. The Miwok Indians of California used to believe that dancing kept the world in balance, and if the dancing stopped, catastrophes would erupt. The Beach Boys kept the world dancing, at least for a few decades.
   
   This is a great, ample, well-engineered collection of the Beach Boys' greatest songs from their golden times. I doubt we'll ever hear their like.



3. listening to this music brings me back to my high school days in the 60's. Pure pleasure.



4. "Sounds of Summer" is the right name for this CD. Listening to all of the Beach Boys top hits will make you feel that summer is here no matter what the weather.



5. Reminds me of summer, teen years, just takes me back to a time that maybe wasn't really stress free, but the memories of that time certainly are. I smile all the way through this CD.

5 comments about Magical Mystery Tour.

1. I have always loved this album. So underrated. So many Beatle albums are good, this one is great. I could listen to this forever, and trust me, I will.



2. 
   Yep, I'd heard plenty of Beatles' songs. But when my brother gave me the LP (vinyl) of this album after it had come out, this was my first Beatles' recording. I wore it out playing it on my cheap record players and too-long-used needles. But it was a lot of fun while it lasted!
   
   The sound is a lot different from the early Beatles albums. There are some glorious songs on this CD--as well as a few idiosyncratic items.
   
   The CD begins with the title song, "Magical Mystery Tour." A pleasing composition, with repetitive (almost hypnotic) lines. A sampling:
   
   "Roll up--Roll up for the Magical Mystery Tour,
   Roll up Roll up for the Mystery Tour.
   I've got an invitation to make a reservation."
   
   Psychedelic music that is still musical!
   
   This is followed by "The Fool on the Hill," a simple tune with good keyboard work. Some lines:
   
   "And nobody seems to like him they can tell what he wants to do.
   And he never shows his feelings but the Fool on the hill
   Sees the sun going down. . . ."
   
   Then, the late Beatles' classic, "I Am the Walrus."
   
   Remember the tag line?
   
   "I am the eggman, they are the eggmen
   I am the walrus goo goo ga joo."
   
   The CD closes out with a series of neat songs, one after the other--"Hello Goodbye," "Strawberry Fields Forever" (I really like that song!), "Penny Lane (Another neat tune), "Baby You're A Rich Man," and "All You Need Is Love" (a classic Beatles' work).
   
   Maybe not as well known or as well reputed as works recorded at about the same time (think Sgt. Pepper. . .), but an estimable work nonetheless.



3. Migical Mystrey Tour is a good album.
   It is not aa good as Sgt. Pepper or some other albums of that time.
   It does have some of the most innovative and original songs the Beatles had ever done.
   What was unique was the way it was recorded. With the technology of the tmie they had to hire musicians from the London Symphony instead of simply programming keyboards as they do now.
   You hear Cellos and violins along with trumpets and French horns.
   There was no limit to the experimenting and the genuius of Lennon and McCartney.
   I remember hearing I am the walrus for the first time in 1967. It was so far from anything else I had ever heard it was not even funny.
   Instead of Rock and Roll you get alot of classical orchestration. Actually it is quite appealing to me.
   The title song Magical Mystrey Tour was used to open Paul McCartney's World Tour, I have to admit it was a great way to open the concert.
   All you need is Love is included and one of Lennons best.
   Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields is included as well.
   This is not the best album the Beatles have ever done, but it is worthy of a few listens................



4. I forget sometimes how amazing this album is. It's not usually mentioned along with the Beatles' greatest albums ("Sgt. Pepper's", "Revolver", "Abbey Road" and the White Album), but if you look at the number of masterpieces on "Magical Mystery Tour", I think it has to be in the conversation. (Maybe it's the ghastly cover that keeps it from getting its due?).
   
   Aside from a few lesser songs ("Flying", "Blue Jay Way" and "Baby You're A Rich Man"), every song is a timeless classic, with both John and Paul contributing some of their finest work. Eight out of eleven is a pretty hard to beat. Even by the Beatles.



5. THIS lp has it's moments. Not the beatles best work but good all and all.