From Me To You

 

I’ve just finished reading John and Paul, A love Story in Songs, by Ian Leslie.  Even if you are only a casual fan of The Beatles, you owe it to yourself to read this book.  Yes, you will read all the usual anecdotes you probably already know.  But you will also revel in amazing insights into the most important musical force of your lifetime – however old you are.  It’s a beautiful and touching tribute.

Have Some Sympathy …

 

A good song will stand up to almost any amount of abuse in the recording studio.  For example: most hits by The Rolling Stones before 1978.

Please Listen

 

Listen to the last refrain of Nowhere Man.

 

I will love Paul McCartney ‘til the day I die.

How Many?

 

I know Chuck Berry only wrote, like, three songs, but all twenty-eight of them are fabulous.

You’ll Be Laughing

 

I have a playlist called Rock and Roll Heaven (it’s short; about a hundred songs).  The other night when I was listening to it, the first three songs that played were:

1. Be My Lover by Alice Cooper 
2. John Lennon’s cover of Stand By Me 
3. Permanent Waves by The Kinks 

 

Aside from reminding me that the 70’s wasn’t all disco and prog wankarama, what do they have in common?  Well, if you made a Venn diagram of the three artists, you’d find humour in the centre.

 

Sure, John gives one of his overpowering performances where you believe Every. Single. Word.  

 

But John was the funniest guy in a very funny band called The Beatles who were constantly amused that we all took them so seriously.  Alice Cooper could never be accused of taking himself seriously.  Ditto Ray Davies.

 

Yes, a lot of us are still hopeful that music can change the world, but it’s a healthy reminder that, although it might not be a joke, Rock and Roll really is just a bit of fun.

She’s Taking Chances

Mark Knopfler is an incredible storyteller and gifted poet with a bagful of masterpieces, but his absolute best song is Skateaway.

 

If Bruce Springsteen had done this song it would have been a number one hit and would have entered the ranks of timeless, beloved anthems.  Because it tells you about how the best songs merge with your life – just like The Boss’s most memorable songs do.

 

The music makes you want to be the story, and the story is whatever is the song.

Check It And See One More Time For Me

Okay, you can justifiably say that Please Mr. Postman is just a formulaic, lame pop song.  But listen to John Lennon’s vocal on the Beatles version and tell me it’s not heart-grippingly soulful.

I Won’t Hide It

I don’t know about you, but when I listen to Cheap Trick’s If You Want My Love I hear The Beatles.

Time Is On My Side

So you’re a bar band.  You start out playing Chicago Blues and 50’s R&B.  Rock and Roll takes over.  Then things move on to Motown, Psychedelic, Hard Rock, Disco, and Alternative.  How the devil do keep getting gigs through all these changes? 

Answer: you become the Rolling Stones.

Run Devil Run

I know it was Paul McCartney’s album and all, but:

• Mick Green
• Pete Wingfield
• Ian Paice
• David Gilmour
• And Sir Paul himself

So how come that line-up on Live At The Cavern Club wasn’t labelled a supergroup?

Gotta Hear It Again Today

The three best covers of all time are:

1. All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix, and 
2. All Along The Watchtower by Neil Young, and 
3. All Along The Watchtower by U2 

Okay, it’s actually Roll over Beethoven by The Beatles, but still …

Butterflies Above Our Nation

Sure, I know that Woodstock started out as a commercial enterprise.  I realize that it was basically a disaster.  I understand that most of the positive things happened by accident.  And I accept that the ‘Woodstock Nation’ was an illusion that would never materialize.

To which I say this: If we don’t grasp at illusions, if we don’t embrace fantasies, if we don’t chase dreams, there can be no magic in our lives.

And what’s the point of that?

I Want To Tell You

This friend of mine told me he had read some posting on the Internet about the top ten guitarists of all time and remarked on how there were so many comments arguing about the list.

My response was that, based on intimate personal experience, guitarists were a rather opinionated group.

After which, not waiting to hear his list, I proceeded to give him mine.

Strumming With The Rhythm …

My favourite rock and roll songs are:

1) Johnny B Goode 

2) Roll over Beethoven 

3) The last (rock and roll) song I heard by:

• The Beatles 
• Led Zeppelin 
• Tom Petty 
• AC/DC
• The Who 
• The Kinks 
• The Police 
• The Rolling Stones 
• Queen 
• U2
• Chuck Berry, obviously 

Oh, or Elvis, CCR, Buddy Holly, Springsteen, Dire Straits or ...

Carry That Weight

I belong to too many Facebook groups, the consequence of which is that I am regularly subjected to posts declaring that The Beatles were overrated- if not downright awful.

To which I say this: If you were between the ages of ten and twenty in 1964 you are entitled to your opinion (even if you’re wrong).  If you are younger, you will never understand, because you weren’t there.  You didn’t experience those magical years.

Nowhere To Run

No matter how many times I hear it, Born In The USA gets under my skin.  I’m not even American, but the story, the heartache, the anguish  … they’re universal.

It’s also kick-ass rock and roll.

A Higher Place

The thing about Tom Petty is, like, when you hear one of his songs, you go, I wrote that, didn’t I?

Same Old Thing Happens Every Day

I have no quarrel with those who would choose Chuck Berry, but if I had to explain rock and roll to an alien I would play I’m Down by The Beatles.

Won’t You Give Me A Second Chance?

It was, for a time, fashionable to disparage the music of the 80’s. 

While in some cases - even at the time - I have been (and remain) in agreement, a quick listen to Bonnie Raitt’s version of Baby Come Back is a perfect example of the happy fact that this was not a universal problem.

Respectable

Some of my favourite music is by people who are doing The Stones - and maybe making a better job of it.  There’s been a lot of it about over the years, so I know it’s not just me who thinks they’re a pretty good band.

I mean, if being copied by dozens of successful bands over 5 decades isn’t influential, then what is?