Shortly after John Lennon's death Ann and Nancy Wilson paid for this ad in honor of John.
It was one of the few ads of this type appearing in the December 20th issue of Billboard. Others would follow in the ensuing issues, but I think it says a lot that Ann and Nancy were one of the first to say goodbye.
Ann and Nancy Wilson - A tribute to John Lennon
'til more people make music like John
Keep the Adventure Alive,
Our last Christmas Record of the Week for the season.
Paul McCartney's Rudolph the Red Nosed Reggae.
Yeah, I know, Rudolph is the B-side, but really, is there a worse Beatles' single than Wonderful Christmastime? I know it's been deemed a "classic", and they play it a gazillion times during the holidays, but it really is a pretty weak song.
If I have to listen to it, I actually prefer one of the covers. The one by Hilary Duff is a good example of how to punch it up and make it interesting.
Before anyone writes in, I love the Beatles and I'm a bigger McCartney fan than you are. No one is saying that Hilary, or anyone else, is better than Paul, but I am saying his recording of Wonderful Christmastime is a rushed mess. It's just not a good recording. If you like it, good for you. I don't care for it.
Anyway, here we are with the sleeve and vinyl for Wonderful Christmastime.
Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime - Picture Sleeve
Paul McCartney - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reggae - Picture Sleeve
Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime - Vinyl
Paul McCartney - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reggae - Vinyl
Paul McCartney plays Rudolph the Red Nosed Reggae
Hilary Duff sings Wonderful Christmastime
Paul sings Wonderful Christmastime
'til Paul writes a great Christmas song
Keep the Adventure Alive,
In honor of Thanksgiving we thought that a charity single, or two, should be the highlight of our Record of the Week.
George Harrison's Bangladesh single, concert, and film may not be the biggest of the rock charity events, but it set the precedent for everything that followed.
Inspired by his friend Ravi Shankar, George set out to bring some relief to the people of Bangladesh through a pair of concerts and this record. Ultimately there was also an album and a film, but because George was an entertainer, and not an expert on legal matters, millions of dollars were tied up in the courts for a decade or more before they could finally be released.
The Bangladesh single wasn't a huge hit, peaking at 23, but it has become one of George's more popular songs. The concert album peaked at number 2.
George Harrison - Bangladesh - Single - Picture Sleeve
George Harrison - Bangladesh - Single - Picture Sleeve Back
George Harrison Bangladesh - Vinyl Single
George Harrison Deep Blue - Vinyl Single
George Harrison - Bangladesh - Trade Advertisement
George Harrison - Bangladesh - Single - Spotlight
George Harrison - Bangladesh - Single - Predicts
'til the world doesn't need a charity single to take care of all it's people
Keep the Adventure Alive,
Another Record of the Week and this time it's The Beatles
This is one of my favorite pieces of vinyl. This particular EP is courtesy of Joe Pope's Beatles Fanzine, "Strawberry Fields Forever".
Strawberry Fields Forever was probably the greatest fanzine of all time, and Joe Pope was probably the greatest of the Beatles fans. During the eighties Joe released a bunch of Beatles rarities on colored vinyl 45's, and they were all of outstanding quality. More on the rest of them later.
Not only does this vinyl look great, it has an amazing recording of the Beatles performance for the Queen, and it's uncut. If you're a Beatles fan I recommend you track this down if you can get it. Not only is it a great record, but it reminds us how great Joe Pope and Strawberry Fields Forever really were.
The Beatles By Royal Command Picture Sleeve - Front
The Beatles By Royal Command Picture Sleeve - Back
The Beatles By Royal Command Record - A-Side
The Beatles By Royal Command Record - B-Side
'til Joe Pope gets his due
Keep the Adventure Alive,
It's about time.
Nuff said.
'til they add everything they're missing. Live at the Hollywood Bowl ...
Keep the Adventure Alive,
Adventuretom
During all the coverage of the remastered Beatles reissues one thing has gotten mostly overlooked.
Cheap Trick officially released the outstanding recording of their 2007 performance, "Sgt Pepper Live."
A tribute concert for prostate Cancer, Sgt Pepper Live gives us an idea of what this album might have sounded like if the Beatles had decided to perform these songs in concert.
Of course, as most people know, by the time Sgt Pepper was released the Beatles had given up live performances. The official reason was that the songs were too complicated to play live, but behind the scenes the Beatles were just sick of touring. The whole fiasco with Imelda Marcos in the Philippines didn't help either, so we of course never got to see what the Beatles might have done with this album on stage.
Cheap Trick have always been huge Beatles fans and their performance is top notch. What this concert shows me is that had the Beatles been interested, not only could they have pulled it off, but it would have been a concert for the ages.
I imagine people would be still talking about it today. Instead of Woodstock or Monterrey being listed as the concerts of their generation, it would have been the Beatles performing Sgt Pepper.
Of course it never happened and we will never know what they might have done.
Still, we have this amazing recording.
Buy it, listen to it, and enjoy what might have been.
And, it's for a good cause.
'til Cheap Trick does Abbey Road
Keep the Adventure Alive,
AT
We Miss You John.
I have never been a Yoko fan, but in many ways she has kept John and his ideals alive, and I thank her for that.
Visit Imagine Peace
'til War is not the Answer
Keep the Adventure Alive,
Adventuretom
Life is once again good in the music world.
Two Beatles in the top ten (George and Paul) and Sir Paul is starring in the latest Apple Commercial. The Beatles and Steve Job's Apple playing together? You would think maybe hell had frozen over.
My how things have changed ...
Paul McCartney in an Apple Commercial!
Paul and George (The Traveling Wilburys) back on top (no Idols in sight)
Paul McCartney Dance Tonight iPod Commercial (long version)
'til Sgt Pepper turns forty (it did!)
Keep the Adventure Alive,
AT
A quick Happy Birthday to Paul McCartney.
'til I'm 64
Keep the Adventure Alive,
AT
