Beatles News
From Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis to Billy Preston, Elton John and Billy Joel, piano men have made incredible contributions to the history of rock and roll. But as the genre's essential piano men go, one MVP, in particular, generally gets overlooked.
That's all about to change with The Session Man, a 90-minute documentary about the legendary-but-undersung pianist Nicky Hopkins that will premiere Nov. 5 on Amazon Prime. If you haven't heard of Hopkins, you're not alone. But you've definitely heard him.
Once one of the most in-demand session men in the business, Hopkins, who died in 1994 and age 50, played piano on such classics as "She's a Rainbow," "Sympathy of the Devil," "Gimme Shelter" and "Angie" by the Rolling Stones, "Matthew and Son" by Cat Stevens, "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker, "Photograph" by Ringo Starr and "Jealous Guy" by John Lennon.
Mick Jagger in 'The Session Man'.
In fact, the British pianist contributed to solo albums by all four former Beatles, including Lennon's Imagine, Starr's Ringo, George Harrison's Living in the Material World and Paul McCartney's Flowers in the Dirt.
Source: Jeremy Helligar/people.com
You can go on all day talking about the various reasons why the music of The Beatles is so special. Some of it can just be credited to fate. For example, there was just something magical about the vocal blend of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, something that occurred naturally when the two men sang together.
George Harrison often added his wonderful harmonies to the mix as well. For this list, however, we’re concentrating on those songs where Lennon and McCartney’s vocal mix provided something extra special that no other band could hope to replicate.
“I Saw Her Standing There” from Please Please Me (1963)
Considering it’s the very first song on the very first Beatles’ UK album (Please Please Me), “I Saw Her Standing There” occupies a special place in Fab Four history. And right off the bat, we get an indication of what Lennon and McCartney could do on the mic together. Paul mostly wrote the song, so he gets to sing lead while also propelling the thrilling pace with his fast-fingered bass work. But the song really hits another level in the chorus when Macca’s higher vocal is met by the low harmonies of Lennon, providing a kind of inverse approximation of The Everly Brothers’ formula.
Source: Jim Beviglia/americansongwriter.com
By 1974, three of the former Beatles had reached No. 1 on the charts in the U.S. as solo artists. George Harrison led the pack with “My Sweet Lord” in January of ’71. Months later, Paul McCartney followed with “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” from his album with his wife Linda, Ram. Ringo Starr also earned a No. 1 for “Photograph” in 1973. The following year would be John Lennon’s turn at the top.
In ’74, Lennon released his fifth album Walls and Bridges, featuring Elton John on background vocals and organ on “Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)” and piano and harmony on “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night.” The song was inspired by late-night TV channel surfing while living with mistress May Pang following his 18-month separation from Yoko Ono in 1973 known as the “Lost Weekend.”
It was also the track John suggested Lennon release as his first single because he believed it would go to No. 1. John even bet Lennon that if it did top the charts, he’d have to perform it live with him on stage.
Upon its release on September 23, 1974, “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. To make good on his bet, Lennon joined John on stage at Madison Square Garde in New York City on Thanksgiving night, November 28, 1974, for three songs.
Source: Tina Benitez-Eves/americansongwriter.com
Sir Paul McCartney continued to put on a spectacular show as he took to the stage in Colombia as part of the South American leg of his Got Back Tour.
The Beatles star, 82, looked smart in a navy blue jacket and trousers, which he wore over a pale blue shirt with large sleeve cuffs. He sported a 5'0 clock shadow and tucked his silver locks neatly behind his ears.
As he sang a string of songs from his impressive back catalogue, including Love Me Do, Hey Jude and Live and Let Die - which was accompanied with impressive fireworks and other pyrotechnics - the renowned hitmaker could be seen flitting between the guitar and piano, all whilst never missing a note or chord.
At one point he was seen waving a huge Colombian flag to the adoring crowd at El Campin Stadium in Bogotá.
Fulfilling his promise to return to Colombia at his last show back in 2012 – to the delight of fans – Paul wrote on. his official website: 'Colombia, we are on our way! Our last visit to you was so special and felt like an unbeatable experience but we know this is going to be even bigger and better!
Sir Paul McCartney continued to put on a spectacular show as he took to the stage in Colombia as part of the South American leg of his Got Back Tour
Source: Ruth Francis/dailymail.co.uk
This is George Harrison’s Resonet Futurama, it was his most-played guitar in the early days of the Beatles seeing extensive stage and studio use from 1959 to 1961 including at the legendary Cavern Club in England.
It’s well-known that George Harrison, and countless other budding rock stars in Britain at the time, wanted to buy a Fender Stratocaster. The issue was that there was a UK government embargo on foreign musical instrument imports in place, and Stratocasters were almost impossible to find.
The reason the Stratocaster was so popular was partly due to the fact that it was one of the most advanced electric guitars in the world at the time, and also due to the fact that Buddy Holly used one. In the 1950s there were relatively few male teenage guitar players who didn’t want to be Buddy Holly.
Harrison bought the Resonet Futurama, a Czechoslovakian guitar, from Frank Hessy’s music store in Liverpool on November 20th, 1959. It looked a little like the Stratocaster and even though he found it more difficult to play, he did like the tone it produced. He bought it on a payment plan with his mother as the guarantor.
Source: Ben Branch/silodrome.com
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Denny Laine would've been 80 years old this week. To honor the late Wings and Moody Blues musician, some of his former bandmates just released a tribute single for his Wings song "Time to Hide."
Recorded under the band name McDonalds Farm, the single dropped on Laine's birthday Tuesday, Oct. 29. The video posted the following day on YouTube.
Laine's widow, Elizabeth Hines of Naples, says she suggested the song to Laine's friends and former bandmates. It was one of his favorites.
"It was one of those songs you don’t forget," Hines says. "It was a very popular song, because of Denny's harmonica and his vocals. It's great."
The video features footage of Laine performing with Wings and the band McDonalds Farm. Laine's friend and former bandmate, Paul McCartney, approved the use of the Wings footage through his company MPL Communications, according to a news release.
"This single is all about Denny," says Steve McDonald of McDonalds Farm. "We all approached the recording with affection, admiration and love for a dear friend and fellow road traveler."
The song was recorded at Seagate Studio Dundee in Scotland and produced by Graeme Watt (who also plays keyboards on the songs). The cover art was painted by famous Beatles artist Shannon MacDonald.
Source: naplesnews.com
It’s no small secret that tension was building amongst the Fab Four in their final years as a band, and one could argue that no Beatle was more familiar with these feelings than George Harrison, who repeatedly butted heads with Paul McCartney and John Lennon for creative input. While the latter musicians’ compositions comprised most of the Beatles’ records, Harrison normally only got one song, if any, per album side.
Given this growing animosity, many listeners have speculated whether Harrison’s contribution to Side No. 4 of the Beatles’ eponymous album from 1968 included a not-so-subtle dig at McCartney. If there was a jab to be found, Harrison did an excellent job sugar-coating it—literally.
Each side of the Beatles’ “White Album” features one song that George Harrison wrote. Side No. 1 features Harrison’s melancholy ballad, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Side No. 2 features “Piggies,” Side No. 3 closes with Harrison’s “Long, Long, Long,” and finally, Side No. 4 features an apparent candy-themed dig at Eric Clapton, “Savoy Truffle.”
Harrison and Clapton developed a close relationship over the years, leading to Clapton’s sole guest appearance on the same Beatles album. (Yep, he’s the guitarist behind “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” not Harrison.) According to the “Quiet Beatle” in his memoir, I, Me, Mine, he wrote “Savoy Truffle” after a mid-1960s hangout sesh with Clapton.
“At that time, he had a lot of cavities in his teeth and needed dental work,” Harrison wrote (via BeatlesBible). “He always had a toothache, but he ate a lot of chocolates. He couldn’t resist them. Once he saw a box, he had to eat them all. He was over at my house, and I had a box of Good News chocolates on the table and wrote the song from the names inside the lid.”
Source: Melanie Davis/americansongwriter.com
John Lennon's tragic comments about assassination revealed - 'They could get you in Disneyland'.
In new book We All Shine On – John, Yoko, & Me, confidant and helper Elliot Mintz reveals secrets about the couple after he befriended them as a radio host in 1972.
John Lennon shunned bodyguards in the lead-up to his death. The former Beatle was warned by friends that his relaxed attitude in New York City was dangerous – and he would tragically pay the ultimate price.
In 1976, Lennon said: “All my life, I’ve had guys around me who were supposed to be protecting me. When the group toured, there were hundreds of police but if they want to get you, they’re gonna get you. They could get you in Disneyland.
“Look at all the people that Kennedy had around him. I don’t need bodyguards. I don’t want them. I’m just a rock’n’roll singer. Even the thought of it makes me cringe.” Moments later, Lennon added: “I’ve never been afraid of death. To me, it’s just like getting out of one car and into another.”
Source: Mark Jefferies/mirror.co.uk
McCartney unveiled a "spooky" new look. The Beatles legend shared a photo with his 4.5m Instagram followers on Thursday (October 31) to mark Halloween.
The Walton-born musician regularly shares pictures and video clips from his tours and personal life on his Instagram account. Today, with the caption "Here's to a spooky Halloween for us all", Paul shared a black and white picture of himself wearing a mask of what appears to be a skeleton upside down.
The post generated plenty of reaction, including more than 40,000 likes. Fans were also quick to share that the mask had achieved its desired effect.
One Instagram user purplelennon said: "Just letting you know Paul I'd be absolutely TERRIFIED if you showed up at my door." Another user. AngelaMastelli said: "Wait this is kinda scary Paul."
Ringo Starr was one-fourth of the most influential group in the history of rock music. His inimitable style, charm and drumming endeared him to legions of fans. He sang on a number of Beatles hits and deep album tracks. The one thing he rarely did in those years was write songs: Among Beatles tunes, only “Don’t Pass Me By” from The White Album and “Octopus’ Garden” (from Abbey Road) are credited to Ringo alone as composer.
But that didn’t stop the man born Richard Starkey from embarking upon a creatively fruitful post-Beatles solo career, one that continues to this day. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Ringo’s fifth album, 1975’s Goodnight Vienna, here are five classics that remind us what a fine pop star good old Ringo has always been.
“It Don’t Come Easy” (single, 1970)
The second song Ringo ever wrote would be his first solo single. Co-written by George Harrison (who isn’t credited), the song was recorded a few times before the session that yielded the finished version. An early mix from that session circulates among collectors; it features George on lead vocals instead of Ringo, and at one point backing vocalists Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger can be heard singing “Hare Krishna.” Other players on the session included Gary Wright, Jim Keltner, Klaus Voormann, Stephen Stills and Beatles roadie Mal Evans. The single made it to No. 1 on the U.S. Cash Box chart.
“Photograph” from Ringo (1973)
As he sang (in lyrics penned for him by John Lennon and Paul McCartney), Ringo really did get by with a little help from his friends. Once again, pal George co-wrote a song with him, this time receiving credit. With a soaring Jack Nitzsche arrangement and Richard Perry’s expert production, this lovely and sentimental tune ranks among the best post-Beatles singles. “Photograph” soared to the No. 1 spot on the U.S. singles chart, and hit the Top Ten in ten other countries.
Source: Bill Kopp/goldminemag.com
