Suffice to say that the Classic Rock balloting is once again kicking my ass ... it's been nearly impossible to keep up but we're committed to doing so. However, believe it or not, today we begin the home stretch, with only one more week of ballots to go. (Of course then I've still got to do all of the final tabulations in order to determine the final outcome of your TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK TRACKS OF ALL-TIME ... but I think that'll be the fun part!)
Add to that a GREATLY increased work schedule these past few weeks, and we have left little time for anything else ... but we will try to whittle away at this one chip at a time (as whittling time permits!)
So, without further adieu, here's what I've been able to uncover so far ...
ONE MORE WEEK OF BALLOTS:
Yep, it's true ... just one more week of posting ballots on the Classic Rock Essentials Website ... and then the final tabulation process begins. (The goal is still to start posting the results over Labor Day Weekend but I won't lie to you ... it's going to be a challenge to make that happen. Still, that's what we're shooting for.)
Check out any ballots you may have missed here:
https://classicrockessentials.blogspot.com/
Go down to the bottom of the page and click the "Older Posts" tab and you can scroll back thru all 40 ballots that we have posted to date.
And keep watching for a special voting announcement in the days to come.
THISCLOSE:
As I type this we are less than 700 visitors away from reaching the FIVE MILLION MARK on the Forgotten Hits Web Page. This TRULY blows me away. (Our goal was to reach it in time for our 20th Anniversary in November ... but it looks like we're going to pass that mark three months early!!! Thanks again to anyone and everyone who has EVER stopped by our site to see what the heck we're talking about. Please know that your ongoing support makes it all worth while ... and that's what keeps me going ... so thank you, thank you, thank you. (kk)
THE ABBEY ROAD BLITZ IS ON:
The "Abbey Road" 50th Anniversary buzz is everywhere you turn these days!
Last week marked the anniversary of the taking of the cover photo ... and then photographer posted a series of cover photo outtakes ...
(Yeah ... I'd say they used the right one!)
Sounds like some of the EMI bigwigs were unhappy with the album cover because it didn't show the name of the artist on the front cover ... a VERY unusual tactic for the time ... to which The Beatles basically replied, "If they don't know who we are by now, sod 'em!" (Their name DID appear on the back cover.) Considering the stark white cover (with the embossed, barely detectable name) on what became known as "The White Album" ... and the elaborate event that became "Sgt. Pepper," one could say The Beatles were quite revolutionary when it came to their cover art. "Abbey Road," for all its simplicity ... just The Beatles crossing the street on their way to work ... inspired COUNTLESS tributes and parodies over the years (including one by Paul himself!)
Scroll down at this link to see some of the best:
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/abbey-road-artist-destroyed-beatles/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=newsletter_4572276
Meanwhile the track listing was also released for the 3-CD Deluxe Edition (I've already preordered my copy ... the official release date is September 27th), which sparked immediate controversy between Beatles collectors and purist wondering why "this" or "that" wasn't included when they've had these recordings on bootlegs for decades already.
Honestly, I'm pleased to hear ANYTHING new they're going to offer us.
I will never forget coming home that very first day with a copy of the brand new LP. We had an old turn table / record player in the basement so I went down there and put it on and then laid down on the couch beside it to listen. (It had one of those automatic tone arms so I just plopped it on the turn table and let 'er rip.)
By then I was already familiar with "Something" and "Come Together," as they were playing the new single non-stop. (I always preferred "Come Together" as the A-Side, although it was issued as the B-Side with George's "Something" up on top.) For that matter, I always thought "Something" was a Paul song when I heard it on the radio, since Paul was ALWAYS the one who sang the pretty ballads. (With that thought ... and stereotype in mind ... imagine my first reaction when I heard him belt out "Oh! Darlin'" the very first time!) Truth be told, I LOVED it ... it immediately became my favorite cut on the whole LP ... and still is 50 years later!
Anyway, when the album abruptly cut off at the end of Side One during what I thought was the fade out of "I Want You (She's So Heavy), I jumped out of my lying position to see what had gone so terribly wrong. I played it a few more times just to make sure my record wasn't skipping ... no, The Beatles had fooled us once again ... the ending was deliberately cut off! (Now that was a first for me!!!)
When I flipped the album over, I was amazed by the medley that made up most of Side Two. Simply phenomenal. Brilliant, in fact.
And then the OPPOSITE surprise. When it appeared that the album was over, out popped a hidden bonus track ("Her Majesty," now credited on the CD cover.) Again, just another case of The Beatles having a little fun with us!
The album immediately became my all-time favorite Beatles LP ... and it still is today. I've listened to it housands of times and have never grown tired of it. What an incredible way to go out as a band and keep the legacy alive. (Of course Apple had to muck that up by releasing the "Let It Be" soundtrack AFTER "Abbey Road," although it had been completed MONTHS before the boys went back into the studio to start cutting these new tracks for what now proves to be a VERY well thought-out editing process (with a goal of eventually stringing together a long enough "medley" to fill the entire second side of the album.
Here is the complete track list for the deluxe 3-CD set. (NOTE: The anniversary release is also available as a 2-CD set ... with fewer bonus tracks ... as well as a single CD straight reissue of the remixed original album ... and single and double vinyl editions as well.)
The Beatles, Abbey Road: Anniversary Edition [Super Deluxe 3-CD/Blu-ray] (Apple/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Disc 1: 2019 Stereo Mix
1. Come Together
2. Something
3. Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
4. Oh! Darling
5. Octopus’s Garden
6. I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
7. Here Comes The Sun
8. Because
9. You Never Give Me Your Money
10. Sun King
11. Mean Mr Mustard
12. Polythene Pam
13. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
14. Golden Slumbers
15. Carry That Weight
16. The End
17. Her Majesty
Disc 2: Sessions
1. I Want You (She’s So Heavy) (Trident Recording Session & Reduction Mix)
2. Goodbye (Home Demo)
3. Something (Studio Demo)
4. The Ballad Of John And Yoko (Take 7)
5. Old Brown Shoe (Take 2)
6. Oh! Darling (Take 4)
7. Octopus’s Garden (Take 9)
8. You Never Give Me Your Money (Take 36)
9. Her Majesty (Takes 1-3)
10. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight (Takes 1-3 / Medley)
11. Here Comes The Sun (Take 9)
12. Maxwell’s Silver Hammer (Take 12)
Disc 3: Sessions
1. Come Together (Take 5)
2. The End (Take 3)
3. Come And Get It (Studio Demo)
4. Sun King (Take 20)
5. Mean Mr Mustard (Take 20)
6. Polythene Pam (Take 27)
7. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Take 27)
8. Because (Take 1 – Instrumental)
9. The Long One (Trial Edit & Mix – 30 July 1969) (Medley: You Never Give Me Your Money, Sun King, Mean Mr Mustard, Her Majesty, Polythene Pam, She Came In Through The Bathroom Window, Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, The End)
10. Something (Take 39 – Instrumental – Strings Only)
11. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight (Take 17 – Instrumental – Strings & Brass Only)
And from The Beatles "Learn Something New Every Day" Department ...
How is this even possible?!?!
How can it be that we are STILL learning new things about The Beatles some 50-60 years on?!?!
Yet last week for the very first time I learned that if you listen VERY carefully to John's and George's background vocals beginning with the second verse of "Paperback Writer," you'll hear that they're actually singing "Frere Jacques" and not "Paperback Writer." (You've got to listen VERY closely to hear it ... but once you do, you'll hear it every time!) I've heard this song a THOUSAND times ... and NEVER had even the slightest inkling that this is what they were singing! (Another little studio in-joke amongst The Fabs I guess! lol)
In Hunter Davies' book "The Beatles Lyrics," he puts on display a wide array of hand written lyrics he has collected over the years, including the ones for this #1 Hit.
What's particularly interesting about these hand-written lyrics is the fact that Paul actually wrote it out as a letter ... not as lines or verses ...
It looks like an actual letter written to a potential publisher:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Will you read my book? It took me years to write, will you take a look? Etc.
(I had hoped to have time to scan it this morning but am already running late so hopefully another time!)
Still ... a VERY cool idea and concept, right from the start. He knew EXACTLY what he was looking to do. (kk)
THIS AND THAT:
Kent,
I just saw a commercial on television which I believe I have seen maybe once or twice before. It was a national commercial for those persons who may have diabetes or symptoms there of. A woman was leading a high school band on the field for practically the entire commercial. Now the band members were playing the song APACHE. in the background. What persons other than people like me and you would notice something like this?Larry
I don't think I've seen this one yet ... but I DID see a new commercial last week (couldn't tell you what product it was for) that featured nearly the entire recording of Rick Nelson's "Travelin' Man". SOMEBODY out there is discovering this music and finding new uses for it ... and I just LOVE the idea! (kk)
FOUND IT!
Here's the short version anyway ... even Matthew and Gunnar had to comment "Great to hear Pops on TV again. Thanks, Toyota!"
Got this from a couple of readers (including Jim Peterik himself) ... a new interview explaining the origins of Jim's smash hit "Vehicle" ...
https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/story-behind-the-song/2019/08/09/vehicle-ides-march-story-behind-song-jim-peterik/1936905001/
And, speaking of The Ides ...
The Ides concert at Elmwood Park Fest last Friday was a killer! There appeared to be a few thousand people there. Jimmy and the guys put on one helluva great show, doing some oldies and some great new material. The food was great, too!
Mike Wolstein
FROM THE STROUD CROWD:
My congrats to Bob Stroud and the Drive on the #1 ranking!!! Well deserved!!!
Clark Besch
Let's hear it for the boy! (kk)
Kent,
Not sure if I let you know about this ...
Phil
From #PrayForSurf archives:
My interview with legendary Chicago "Rock & Roll Roots" DJ, Bob Stroud on The Beach Boys 40th Anniversary https://prayforsurfblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/interview-rock-roll-roots-host.html?m=1
A COUPLE OF CLOSING SMILES FROM FRANK B:
