I wanna say something about the Beatles, because today when listening to them I cried so hard that it almost tore me apart. First I listened to the Mono Masters triple LP. Strangely noone here really went into discussing the sound, which I thought is the main reason for the box set. Anyway, a friend said "Help" doesn't sound too great compared to the others. So I probably started with the wrong album. I'm still thinking about getting the box, but still not sure if I really need it. The Mono Masters LP sounds pretty great, I have to say. The Yellow Submarine tracks in mono are mindblowing.
But then I put my original mono copy of the White Album on the turntable and couldn't hold back the tears, also maybe because it was the second album I got as a kid, a birthday present from my grandparents who have died long since. It was exactly 35 years ago when I listened to it for the first time, it was winter, and I couldn't believe what I heard. The diversity of the songs. And the sheer greatness. And today it all came back, my whole life in those songs.
I know that most of you don't dig the late Beatles. But as Miracle Mirror says quite rightly, you have to go back and listen carefully. Of all Beatles albums I think the White Album is the most timeless. I'd go so far to say it's probably the most timeless pop music ever created. It doesn't sound like Sixties. It sounds like yesterday, today and tomorrow. And you look at those big pictures of them and they look so goddamn young! How on earth were they able to create that stuff at that age?!?! After all the other epochal, I mean literally epochal stuff they had already created! Year after fucking year! Those four pale dudes had access to some source of creativity that is absolutely miraculous.
I'd even like to go a step further and say something about Paul McCartney. That guy might be anything, but he surely is not a dofus. He is one half of Lennon/McCartney and there would be no Lennon without McCartney. And he is one quarter of the Beatles and there would be no Beatles without him either.
I had a time when I'd only listen to Lennon (and Harrison) songs. Because I dispised McCartney, mainly for his annoying comments on the Beatles. For him saying stuff and not having Lennon around to react to it. Plainly because Lennon shouldn't have died, which still can bring tears to my eyes at any given moment, because I really really love and admire that guy so much. Even now I can't hold it back. Just the fucking stupidity and tragedy of that incident.
Anyway, I even thought McCartney's songs are bland. Oh boy. How wrong can you be? Bland? Paul McCartney songs? Has anyone seen Brian Wilson's list of favourite songs in the Mojo Magazine some years ago? It was ALL Beatles songs, and mostly McCartney songs. I mean there's really nothing else to say about McCartney as a songwriter.
And then you sit down and put the White Album on the turntable, in goddamn mono. And it takes off with that airliner sound and here comes the best and funniest political statement the Beatles ever did, in the form of a perfect upgrading of early Beach Boys sound. Not Lennon, who was much more into giving political statements, no, it's fucking ingenious ole McCartney who hits the mark:
"Show me round your snow peaked mountains way down south
Take me to your daddy's farm
Let me hear your balalaika's ringing out
Come and keep your comrade warm.
I'm back in the U.S.S.R.
You don't know how lucky you are boys
Back in the U.S.S.R."
What else was there to say during the Cold War? Especially in a pop song. Than: these people may be Russians, they might even be Communists, but they are people. Like me, like you, not any different, eyes, ears, heart, brain, everything. And they have homes where they live and families and friends. Like any goddamn human has or should have. Kudos, Mr. McCartney!
I was in Kiev a few years ago and I'd never say anything against the Californian girls, but those Ukraine girls did knock me out. Beautiful I mean! Charming, too. But of course that's not the point. The point is it's just a great piece of humour and humanity.
Oh, and then the postman rang twice. I was still crying, so I hesitated. I decided to open the door, just in case he would bring a record. I had tears all over my face. He must have thought I'm either having serious problems or being on drugs or whatever. He was kind, even sympathetic. A man from Eastern Europe, probably Russian. I was very thankful for his reaction. The parcel wasn't even for me, but for the neighbours. Hahaha!
And then you have a song like "I Will", which may sound like just a little song, but actually it's McCartney at the peak of his skill. Today I realized it's in fact a Beat ballad, just like the early stuff he wrote, only more accomplished. Listen to the chords and melody: it's Beatles '64. You even got the typical bongo rolling along. It's so big, without being pompous. In fact it's shy. Shy and monumental at the same time. That is the goddamn fucking everlasting Beatles. There are still kids, I mean young kids, 12, 13 years old, getting into music through the Beatles. And I'm sure that will be the case for a long time to come.
I could go on forever, but I think I'll just leave it at that. Sorry if I took some of your precious time. White album in original mono- that is the message.
Have a good one,
cheers,
Axel
