Tag: Beatles

JEOPARDY! answers (questions at the end)
MUSIC OF THE ’60s $100: In 1969 “Something” became the only No. 1 hit he composed for the Beatles
HILLS $400: The Beatles’ Rocky Raccoon was raised in them
SWEET 16 $400: Billboard numbers it as the Beatles’ 16th chart album; you can’t tell anything by its cover
MOVIE SONGS $100: In this 1968 Beatles title tune, “Every one of us has all we need, sky of blue and sea of green”
FINISH THE LINE $100: The Beatles: “Yesterday all my troubles seemed…”
FINISH THE LINE $600: The Beatles: “I think I’m gonna be sad…”
CHORUS LINES $800: The Beatles sang, “Hold me, love me, ain’t got nothin’ but love babe” this often

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Video: Steve Martin talks in collaboration with Paul McCartney on ABC-TV’s The View: “I’ve got to tell you, having Paul McCartney sing a song that I wrote has to be one of the greatest thrills of his life,” Martin quipped.

Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon will do a Japan benefit concert in New York on March 27.
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The rules of engagement

33 I’m Down, B-side of Help! single. My friend Fred Hembeck says that this is just McCartney’s remake of Long Tall Sally, and he may very well be right. What hooked me on this song is seeing the ABC-TV broadcast of the live performance of it at Shea Stadium in 1965. So much so that when the compilation album Rock and Roll came out in the early 1970s, I bought the album largely for this one song, which I had never owned. I didn’t buy Beatles 1962-1966 for From Me To You, e.g.
32 You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away from Help! Lennon does Dylan; I love this song. And it would be disingenuous to suggest that I didn’t relate to the sentiments in the lyrics more than once.
31 Don’t Let Me Down, B-side of Get Back (UK), Hey Jude album (US). Lennon does one of the finest B-sides ever. Jaquandor describes it well.
30 Get Back, A-side of a single. Sweet Loretta! The driving beat of this song, along with the jaunty solo on the bridge, made me feel almost as though they were the happy-go-lucky moptops of a few years earlier.
29 I Am the Walrus from Magical Mystery Tour. My daughter claims this is Lennon song is her favorite Beatles recording. Really. I had this friend Ray in junior high who wondered whether “standing in the English rain” was a pun on “English reign”, i.e., a reference to the monarchy.
28 Getting Better from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. I LOVE the STRUCTURE of this mostly McCartney song. It’s verse and chorus, but the chorus gets increasingly longer each time out. I thought it was incredibly clever writing, and still do. It’s also a song of redemption – “Man, I was mean, but I’m changing my scene.”
27 And I Love Her from A Hard Day’s Night (UK, US), Something New (US). McCartney apparently thought the “And” was important, and I agree. Lovely romanticism.
26 A Day in the Life from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. What I love about this song, which often shows up near the top on the list of the greatest Beatles songs – and it may be – is it’s a real Lennon-McCartney song, even if it’s the different parts. The not-so-good thing is that it, and the album in general, spawned some wretched imitators. (Exhibit A: The totally out-of-context middle section of Susan by the Buckinghams).
25 Back in the U.S.S.R. from the white album. The first song on the album with fun lyrics and Beach Boys harmonies, written by McCartney. In high school, someone (it might have been me, now that I think on it) wrote:
Back in BCHS, Ain’t you a mess,
Back in BCH, back in BCH, back in BCHS.
Well, those Central girls knock me out,
They leave the North girls behind.
And Central girls make me sing and shout.
That Bulldog’s on my mi-mi-mi-mind.
[Binghamton North was our archrival, and the Bulldog was the school mascot/emblem.]
24 She Loves You, A-side of a single (UK), Beatles’ Second Album (US). No song epitomized Beatlemania like this one. Critics specifically mocked the “Yeah, yeah, yeah” from this Lennon-McCartney song, but of course, it was THE hook. Also, the third-person perspective was very clever.

JEOPARDY! questions
George Harrison
Black Hills – specifically, “somewhere in the black mining hills of Dakota”> BTW this lyric is often misheard as “black mountain hills of Dakota”
“The White Album”
“Yellow Submarine”
so far away
I think it’s today
“Eight Days A Week”

JEOPARDY! answers – questions at the end

GEOGRAPHIC PHRASES $300: Beatles song that includes the line “And when I awoke I was alone, this bird had flown”
HITS OF THE ’40s $300: The Beatles’ “Anthology” includes a version of this ’40s tune whose title is Spanish for “Kiss me much”
I’M JUST A “BILL” $500: The Beatles asked him “What did you kill?”
MANY LOVES $600: The Beatles asked, “Would you believe in” this type of love, & others have wondered too
IT’S ALL ABOUT “YOU”, ISN’T IT? $400: It’s the title reason the Beatles say “You know you should be glad”
PROFESSIONS IN SONG $200: This song covered by the Beatles says, “Deliver the letter, the sooner the better”
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The Beatles were the original punk rockers.

Disney sinks Zemeckis’ Yellow Submarine Remake – should that reference to Aug 2009 be 2011?

Taking Control: How Paul McCartney Tried to Reinvent the Beatles, an excerpt from the new book Come Together: The Business Wisdom of the Beatles by Richard Courtney and George Cassidy.

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The rules of engagement

43 Hey Bulldog from Yellow Submarine. I’m a sucker for a great bass line. And animal noises. This Lennon song has both.
42 Roll Over Beethoven from With the Beatles (US), The Beatles’ Second Album (US). From the group’s touring days. Maybe that’s why some of those early covers, such as this Chuck Berry tune sung by Harrison, are so solid. Possibly George’s most solid effort from the first half of their run.
41 Revolution from the B-side of the Hey Jude single (UK), Hey Jude album (US). It’s loud, it’s political. What’s not to like?
40 All You Need Is Love from Magical Mystery Tour. When it first came out, I used to stand. Aren’t you supposed to rise for the national anthem, even of France? The lyrics of the verses by Lennon are almost incomprehensible, but it matters not. Kudos especially for the She Loves You reprise.
39 Here Comes the Sun from Abbey Road. Absolutely gorgeous Harrison tune, which continues to be one of the most popular downloads on iTunes.
38 I’ve Just Seen a Face from Help! (UK), Rubber Soul (US). This McCartney song is first on the American Rubber Soul album, and it’s difficult to disassociate it from that collection.
37 Helter Skelter from the white album. Charles Manson be damned, this is a serious tune that McCartney has been doing on tour this decade.
36 Taxman from Revolver. Again, great bass line. It speaks volumes of John and Paul’s opinion that it starts the album, and George’s obsession with money.
35 I Feel Fine, A-side of aa single (UK), Beatles ’65 (US). The intro has often been called the first best use of guitar feedback. Lennon song. An alternative link, which is even more fun!
34 If I Fell from A Hard Day’s Night (UK, US), Something New (US).The myth is that Lennon was the serious one, with McCartney as the sentimental one. This song, mostly written by John, belies that.

What was Norwegian Wood?
What was “Besame Mucho”?
Who was Bungalow Bill?
What is Love at first sight?
What was She Loves You?
What was “Please Mr. Postman”?

JEOPARDY! answers (questions at the end)

TV HISTORY $600: The British invaded this show in 1964 as the Beatles appeared on Feb. 9 & the Rolling Stones on Oct. 25
DON’T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB $400: He quit as the Beatles’ bass player to become a painter in 1961
POP MUSIC $200: Feedback was first used in pop music in this Beatles song.
20th CENTURY HISTORY $200: A book by Jim O’Donnell chronicles July 6, 1957, the day these 2 Beatles first met
’60s ROCK $100: Bob Dylan & Dion were the only 2 other rock singers on the cover of this 1967 Beatles album
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John Lennon and Jesus, 4 March 1966

Beatles Sons: Their musical histories and careers(Can you name the five Beatles sons?)
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The rules of engagement

53 It’s Only Love from Help! (UK), Rubber Soul (US). This Lennon piece is the first song on the second side of the US Rubber Soul album, and I always hear it as such.  The repackaging by the American producers caused so much confusion among US listeners that, years later, there were two box sets of four CDs each of the Capitol Records the way we Americans first heard them; Rubber Soul was the last disc on the latter collection.
52 Magical Mystery Tour from Magical Mystery Tour. The McCartney song serves the same function as the title song to Sgt. Pepper; it’s ranked higher because it’s more realized as a song, rather than a snippet. Also appreciate the changing beat.
51 We Can Work It Out from A-side of single (UK), Yesterday and Today (US). The optimistic McCartney juxtaposed with the more plaintive Lennon middle 8 (“life is very short”). Great Stevie Wonder cover of this, BTW.
50 I’m Looking Through You from Rubber Soul. I always liked Ringo on the organ of this McCartney song.
49 I Saw Her Standing There from Please Please Me (UK), Introducing the Beatles/Meet the Beatles. The count in, the handclaps. McCartney, with Lennon.
48 Can’t Buy Me Love from A Hard Day’s Night (UK, US), Hey Jude album (US). When the Beatles held the top five songs on the Billboard charts on April 4, 1964, this McCartney classic was #1, the third Beatles #1 in a row, after I Want To Hold Your Hand and She Loves You.
47 Penny Lane from Magical Mystery Tour. I remember watching the videos for this McCartney song and Strawberry Fields Forever on a show called Where The Action Is, one of those Dick Clark shows on ABC. When it was rebroadcast, inexplicably at 8 a.m., I (cough) realized that (cough) I just wasn’t (cough, cough) feeling well enough to go to school that day.
46 Strawberry Fields Forever from Magical Mystery Tour. This Lennon song and Penny Lane were among the first prepared for the Sgt. Pepper album, but it was nowhere near ready, so the recordings became a Double A-side single. This was one of the songs that fueled the Paul is dead craze, when John says, “cranberry sauce,” but was heard as “I buried Paul.”
45 Nowhere Man from Rubber Soul (UK), Yesterday and Today (US). A most personally relatable Lennon song at the time.
44 When I’m Sixty-Four from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Yet another McCartney saloon tune, perhaps his earliest one, written when he was a teen, but the best realized. When Macca actually turned 64 in June of 2006, it was fodder in all the papers.

JEOPARDY! questions:
What was The Ed Sullivan Show?
Who was Stuart Sutcliffe?
What was “I Feel Fine”?
Who were John Lennon & Paul McCartney?
What was Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band?

JEOPARDY! answers (questions at the end)

THEY COVERED THE BEATLES $200: Tiffany was just 17 when she hit the top 10 with a reworked version of this Beatles song
THEY COVERED THE BEATLES $400: This duo had only just begun when they covered “Ticket To Ride” in 1970
THEY COVERED THE BEATLES $600: “We Can Work It Out” worked out to be one of the songs of his 1970 album “Signed, Sealed & Delivered”
THEY COVERED THE BEATLES $1000: Written in 1966, this song was a Top 10 hit from the Beatles in 1976 & for Earth, Wind & Fire in 1978
THEY COVERED THE BEATLES $4,000 (Daily Double): This singer got by with a 1968 version of a Beatles song.
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Peacock Lennon haunts the Beatles.

Paul McCartney has written a major orchestral work for the New York City Ballet, “Ocean’s Kingdom,” to be performed on Sept. 22..

Paul Isn’t Bothered by Artists Remixing and Mashing-Up Beatles Music

5 Reasons George Harrison Might Be the Greatest Beatle, which concentrates on his post-Beatles work
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The rules of engagement

63 Tell Me What You See from Help! (UK), Beatles VI (US). Fondness for this McCartney song is the harmony over the title and the almost Latin flavor of the bridge.
62 If I Needed Someone from Rubber Soul (UK), Yesterday and Today (US). The “If” makes all the difference in this Harrisong, that and great harmonies.
61 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Julian Lennon’s friend Lucy, about whom John wrote, died recently.
60 Love Me Do, A-side of single. The first single, simple song. McCartney sings the end parts alone because Lennon is busy playing the harmonica.
59 Tell Me Why from A Hard Day’s Night (UK & US), Something New (US). Like this Lennon song from the intro. Also reminds me of a harmony that my sister Marcia added to it in the day.
58 I Want to Tell You from Revolver. Love the intentional distortion in this Harrisong.
57 She Said She Said from Revolver. Lennon weirdness; Peter Fonda was apparently involved.
56 Hello, Goodbye from Magical Mystery Tour. It’s a simple McCartney song, but the countermelody late, and the out-of-the-blue ending makes it.
55 I’m Only Sleeping from Revolver (UK), Yesterday and Today (US). Mood set well by Lennon.
54 What You’re Doing from Beatles for Sale (UK), Beatles VI (US). Many fine elements in this McCartney song, not the least of which is the great instrumental bridge.

What is “I Saw Her Standing There”?
Who were The Carpenters?
Who was Stevie Wonder?
What was “Got To Get You Into My Life”?
Who was Joe Cocker?

JEOPARDY! answers (questions at the end)

9-LETTER WORDS $400: A collection of stories, or a collection of Beatles songs
NUN SENSE $500: A convent’s top nun, she’s told to “Jump the Gun” on the Beatles’ “White Album”
___ AND ___ $400: The Isley Brothers & the Beatles sang, “Shake it up, baby”, do this
POP MUSIC $200: In 1985 this performer bought ATV, owner of much of the Beatles’ catalogue, for over $40 million

The ‘Top 10 Best Rock Bands Ever’ Are…

The rules of engagement

73 Things We Said Today from A Hard Day’s Night (UK), The Beatles’ Second Album. Love this from the intro to what I think is double-tracked McCartney hatrmony vocals.
72 Every Little Thing from Beatles for Sale (UK), Beatles VI (US). Always thought this was a cover of the Everly Brothers or Buddy Holly, but it’s McCartney in that mode.
71 Come Together from Abbey Road. The hook on this Lennon song is the instrumental that comes up even before the vocal. Strange lyrics, some apparently stolen from Chuck Berry.
70 Birthday from the white album. I had the peculiar notion at the time that this Macca/Lennon song would replace Happy Birthday as THE celebratory tune.
69 And Your Bird Can Sing from Revolver (UK), Yesterday and Today (US). Another of the Lennon songs stolen from UK Revolver.
68 I Should Have Known Better from A Hard Day’s Night. From the Lennon harmonica, a winner.
67 The End from Abbey Road. If this McCartney song were together with Golden Slumbers and Carry That Weight, it’d be about #4 on this list. As it is, a Ringo drum solo and trading off guitar solos are great.
66 All My Loving from With the Beatles (UK), Meet the Beatles (US). Among the charms of this McCartney song is the jaunty, almost country, bridge.
65 I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party from Beatles for Sale (UK), Beatles VI (US). Told you I was a sucker for Beatles VI.
64 A Taste of Honey from Please Please Me (UK), Introducing The Beatles/The Early Beatles (US). The great thing about this cover is how goes from 3/4 to 4/4 and back.

JEOPARDY! questions-
What is Anthology?
Who is Mother Superior?
What is twist and shout?
Who was Michael Jackson?