Comments on: I want to be with you, be with you, be with you

By: Andre Suley

Andre Suley — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:22:27 +0000

Strangely enough, I also never got into The Beatles until I was 23. They had always been a band that I found I really had to sit down and listen to one day, mostly because of how it influenced so many of the bands I listen to today (anything from the Foo Fighters to Metallica).

My girlfriend owned their “1″ greatest hits compilation, and I listened to it in my car for about two months straight. I couldn’t believe how the melody and little “secrets” (let’s just call them that) would just stick with me throughout the day. Every time I’d listen to a song, I’d hear something new.

I turned into a Beatle-maniac, per se. I bought all their albums, and couldn’t get over how many songs I’d say to myself “They wrote this???”

Even when I wasn’t listening to them, they were a part of my consiousness since I was a kid. Imagine that.

As for biographies, I got a kick out of George Harrison’s “I Me Mine” semi-autobiography. It was a pretty honest look at the perks of being a Beatle.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:56:48 +0000

I would indeed label that “a shame”. Your neighbourhood, though. Not mine. Nothing happens here.

By: Joel Corriveau

Joel Corriveau — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:41:33 +0000

Is the book even in print anymore? I found it at a used book store for about $20.

It’s too bad we don’t share a neighborhood…. I’d have no problem with you borrowing it for a few months.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:14:06 +0000

Ah, ok, got it now. It was a re-release of the same book you’re referring to. Came out in 2005 at its latest.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:06:06 +0000

Weird, I thought the book I was referring to came out recently (within the last 2-3 years…)

That one looks neat too, though!

By: Joel Corriveau

Joel Corriveau — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:59:22 +0000

Pauses to consult bookshelf…

Are you referring to “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions” by Mark Lewisohn? Doubleday, 1988. Excellent book. So cool to see all of their tracking sheets, etc. So many candid studio photos too.

It actually makes a great companion to the Anthology albums which feature so much great alt takes. (Two of my favs are Your Mother Should Know from 2.2 and Rocky Raccoon from 3.1.)

By: Jordan

Jordan — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:44:10 +0000

I really want to read that book that was compiled with studio notes from almost all of their sessions. What was that called? And yes, competition definitely breeds creativity, at least most of the time.

Hmm.. perhaps I should become prolific. Yes. Never let the pen/mouse/keyboard stop moving.

Happy New Year to you as well!

By: Joel Corriveau

Joel Corriveau — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:00:25 +0000

I wasn’t exposed to the Beatles growing up. First year of university, my girlfriend gave me several albums and my head exploded. It was all i listened to for a year straight. I bought a half dozen biographies (my fav is Peter Brown’s “The Love You Make” – I highly recommend it.)

TOTAL ASIDE: it took me a little while to realize that many of Lennon’s interviews post-Beatles are full of lies! Lies! I know! Crazy. Ha. Anyway.

One of the things I love about the Beatles is how liberally they borrow from other artists. That mixed with talent, pop sensibility, and prolific quantity made them into the giants they are.

Think of all of the people that they are “borrowing / ripping off”. BUT they get away with it because they do it arguably just as well or better. Elvis, Roy Orbison, the Beach Boys, Ravi Shankar. They admit it themselves.

The second factor was the competition. Lennon and McCartney were perpetually trying to one-up each other.

“I just wrote a new song, have a listen.”
“That’s nice, i wrote a new song too. But first i need to go to the loo.” Runs to the loo to quickly come up with a new song.

I digress.

And completely agree with you Jordan! (But about my own production quantities, not yours. )

Happy New Year, friend. Best to you and yours.