She Loves You enters the Belgian Ultratop Charts

On January 1st 1964, She Loves You entered the Belgian Single Charts (Ultratop) at number 12

ULTRATOP 20 - Belgium - 01 January 1964

1. Maria Elena - Los Indios Tabajaras
2. Tombe la Neige - Adamo
3.If I Had a Hammer - Trini Lopez
4. This Land is Your Land - Trini Lopez
5. Alleen - John Larry
6. Richard Anthony - Tchin Tchin
7. Don't Talk to Him - Cliff Richard & The Shadows
8. Bossa Nova Baby - Elvis Presley
9. Verlaten Hart, Verloren Hart - Will Tura
10. Blue Bayou - Roy Orbison
11. Be My Baby - The Ronettes
12. She Loves You - The Beatles

Paul McCartney's New is out now - on vinyl

Paul McCartney's new record (called not so surprisingly 'NEW') has today been released on vinyl. The record is a 180 gram gatefold vinyl one and comes with a digital download card. NEW was recently voted 4th best album of the year 2013 by Rolling Stone magazine and was produced by Mark Ronson, Paul Epworth, Giles Martin and Ethan Johns.

Ringo Starr releases RINGO

On 2 November 1973 (40 years ago in the US) and three weeks later (23 November 1973 in the UK), Ringo released his third solo album (after Sentimental Journey and Beaucoup of Blues).

It would be one of his most succesful and critically-acclaimed records and is famous for guest appearences by the other three Beatles and many other musicians

Track Listing

1.     "I'm the Greatest"       John Lennon     3:21
2.     "Have You Seen My Baby"       Randy Newman     3:44
3.     "Photograph"       Richard Starkey, George Harrison     3:56
4.     "Sunshine Life for Me (Sail Away Raymond)"       Harrison     2:45
5.     "You're Sixteen"
6.     "Oh My My"       Starkey, Vini Poncia     4:16
7.     "Step Lightly"       Starkey     3:15
8.     "Six O'Clock"       Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney     4:06
9.     "Devil Woman"       Starkey, Poncia     3:50
10.     "You and Me (Babe)"       Harrison, Mal Evans     4:59

Personnel

    Ringo Starr – lead vocals, drums, acoustic guitar, piano
    George Harrison – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, harmony vocal
    Vini Poncia – acoustic guitar, percussion, harmony vocal
    Marc Bolan – electric guitar
    Robbie Robertson – guitar
    Steve Cropper – electric guitar
    Jimmy Calvert – acoustic guitar
    Klaus Voormann – bass
    Levon Helm – mandolin
    Rick Danko – fiddle
    David Bromberg – banjo, fiddle
    Paul McCartney – kazoo, piano, synthesizer, string and flute arrangements, backing vocal
    John Lennon – piano, harmony vocal
    Billy Preston – piano, organ
    Nicky Hopkins – piano, electric piano
    James Booker – piano
    Tom Hensley – piano
    Stephen Stills – piano
    Gary Wright – piano
    Garth Hudson – accordion
    Jim Keltner – drums
    Milt Holland – percussion, marimba
    Lon Van Eaton – percussion
    Derrek Van Eaton – percussion
    Bobby Keys – tenor sax
    Tom Scott – horns, sax, horn and clarinet arrangements
    Chuck Finley – horns
    Ron Cattermole – horns
    Jim Horn – horn arrangements
    Jack Nitzsche – orchestral and choral arrangements
    Richard Perry – backing vocals
    Harry Nilsson – backing vocals
    Linda McCartney – backing vocals
    Martha Reeves – backing vocals
    Merry Clayton – backing vocals
    Pete Ham – backing vocals
    Tom Evans – backing vocals

Please Please Me reaches number 1 in the UK Albums Chart

Yes! Exaclty 50 years ago the first Beatles LP reached the coveted top spot in the official Album charts in the UK

UK OFFICIAL ALBUM CHART of 11 May 1963

1. Please Please Me - The Beatles (2)
2.Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1)

3. Reminiscing - Buddy Holly (2)
4. I'll Remember You - Frank Ifield (4)
 5. West Side Story - Original Soundtrack (6)
6. Girls! Girls! Girls! - Elvis Presley (7)
7. All Star Festival - Various Artists (5) 
8. All Alone Am I - Brenda Lee (10)

9. Hats of to Del Shannon - Del Shannon (new)
10. South Pacific  - Original Soundtrack (8)

Paul McCartney releases Red Rose Speedway

On April 30, 1973, Paul McCartney released "Red Rose Speedway", the second album by Wings and successor to the weak performing Wild Life.

The original idea was to release a double album but in the end it was cut down to just a single album.

Track List

1.     "Big Barn Bed"       3:48
2.     "My Love"       4:07
3.     "Get on the Right Thing"       4:17
4.     "One More Kiss"       2:28
5.     "Little Lamb Dragonfly"
6.     "Single Pigeon"       1:52
7.     "When the Night"       3:38
8.     "Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)"       4:23
9.     "Medley: Hold Me Tight/Lazy Dynamite/Hands of Love/Power Cut" 

Personnel

    Paul McCartney — vocals, piano, bass, guitar, mellotron, electric piano, celeste, Moog synthesizer
    Linda McCartney — vocals, electric piano, organ, harpsichord, percussion
    Denny Laine — vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica
    Henry McCullough — guitar, backing vocals, percussion
    Denny Seiwell — drums, backing vocals, percussion, bass on "Single Pigeon"

Strangely enough this record is out of print on CD (but available on iTunes Store)

Please Please Me reaches number 2 in the UK Album Charts

UK OFFICIAL ALBUM CHART of 27 April 1963

1. Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1)
2. Please Please Me - The Beatles (3)
3. Reminiscing - Buddy Holly (2)
4. Girls! Girls! Girls! - Elvis Presley (5)
5. I'll Remember You - Frank Ifield (7)
6. Sinatra-Basie -Frank Sinatra and Count Basie (2)
7. All Star Festival - Various Artists (8) 
8. West Side Story - Original Soundtrack (4)

9. Out of the Shadows - Shadows (7)
10. South Pacific  - Original Soundtrack (11)

Please Please Me stalls at 3 in the UK Album Chart

UK OFFICIAL ALBUM CHART of 20 April 1963

1. Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1)
2. Reminiscing - Buddy Holly (9)
3. Please Please Me - The Beatles (8)
4. West Side Story - Original Soundtrack (7)
5. Girls! Girls! Girls! - Elvis Presley (3)
6. Sinatra-Basie -Frank Sinatra and Count Basie (2)
7. I'll Remember You - Frank Ifield (8)
8. All Star Festival - Various Artists (4)
9. Out of the Shadows - Shadows (7)
10. Richard Chamberlain Sings - Richard Chamberlain (11)

On 13 April 1963, Please Please Me continued its climb on the Official UK Album Charts

 OFFICIAL UK ALBUM CHARTS 13 APRIL 1963


1. Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1)
2. Reminiscing - Buddy Holly (9)
3. Please Please Me - The Beatles (8)
4. All Star Festival - Various Artists (6)
5. Girls! Girls! Girls! - Elvis Presley (3)
6. Sinatra-Basie -Frank Sinatra and Count Basie (2)
7. West Side Story - Original Soundtrack (5)
8. I'll Remember You - Frank Ifield (4)

9. Out of the Shadows - Shadows (7)

10. South Pacific - Original Soundtrack (10)

Please Please Me enters the UK Album Charts

On 6 April 1963, Please Please Me entered the Official UK Album Charts

 OFFICIAL UK ALBUM CHARTS 6 APRIL 1963


1. Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1)
2. Sinatra-Basie -Frank Sinatra and Count Basie (2)
3. Girls! Girls! Girls! - Elvis Presley (3)
4. I'll Remember You - Frank Ifield (4)
5. West Side Story - Original Soundtrack (5)
6. All Star Festival - Various Artists (6)
7. Out of the Shadows - Shadows (7)
8. Please Please Me - The Beatles (new)
9. Reminiscing - Buddy Holly (new)
10. South Pacific - Original Soundtrack (10)

Let It Be... Naked - out on iTunes

Today iTunes announced that Let It Be...Naked will be available for download.

Let It Be... Naked is the a 2003 album by The Beatles, a remixed and remastered version of the 1970 LP "Let It Be (the last record released by the Beatles before their break-up but actually recorded BEFORE Abbey Road).

Let It Be.... Naked uses the original recordings made by George Martin before Phil Spector re-arranged them.

Biggest differences between both versions is that:

- studio chitchat has been removed
- overdubs and orchestration was removed
- running order is different
- "Dig It" and "Maggie Mae" were replaced by "Don't Let Me Down"
- "I've Got a Feeling" is a mix of two rooftop performances with a small change in lyrics.

Please Please Me hits #17 in Rolling Stone's Greatest Debut Albums

Rolling Stone magazine, famous for making lists about practically anything music-related, have compiled a list of the 100 Greatest Debut Albums of All Times.

And The Beatles are at #17 with (what else!) Please Please Me

The Top 20 looks like this

1. Licensed to Ill - Beastie Boys
2. Ramones - The Ramones
3. Are You Experienced - Jimi Hendrix Experience
4. Appetite for Destruction - Guns 'N Roses
5. The Velvet Underground & Nico - The Velvet Underground
6. Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A.
7. Never Mind the Bollocks - The Sex Pistols
8. Is This It - The Strokes
9. Music from Big Pink - The Band
10.Horses - Patti Smith
11.Illmatic - NAS
12.The Clash - The Clash
13.Pretenders - The Pretenders
14.Reasonable Doubt - Jay-Z
15.Funeral - Arcade Fire
16.The Cars - The Cars
17. Please Please Me - The Beatles
18.Murmur - R.E.M.
19.The College Dropout - Kanye West
20.Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division

What are your thoughts?

Amazon.com Celebrates 50 years Please Please Me

If you go to Amazon.co.uk today, you will be transported back to 1963.

They updated (or should that be "retrograded" their look and all the music and movies on the front page are reminiscent of the period when The Beatles released their first LP.

And the funny thing is that all the songs that were in the charts on 22 March 1963 are on sale for 10 pence.

Take a look as long as this nostalgic page is online.

Please Please Me is released

50 years ago to this date, The Beatles released their first LP.

BBC Radio 4 critic Mike Diver wrote a brilliant review of the album, which he released under a Creative Commons Licence. Enjoy!


While neither their best-selling nor most critically celebrated long-player (take your pick from Revolver, Abbey Road, the white album...), Please Please Me marks a vital moment in the career of The Beatles. Their debut album set in motion the wheels that would carry them to the very peak of public recognition, and subsequently into realms of sonic experimentation that would create a template for so much rock and pop music since.

Producer George Martin was, in Paul McCartney’s words, unsure of the band’s musical abilities when he invited them to Abbey Road to record songs they’d spent months perfecting live. In that environment they regularly shined, but studio experiences were still comparatively alien. What Martin recognised was a focus, a desire for more than their present lot. He listened beyond the music of the moment, hearing a future that these four young men would shape for themselves. The self-contained pop group was born, and quicker than either band or producer envisioned.

The recording of Please Please Me was fast, the band committing ten of these tracks to tape in just a single day – “a straightforward performance of their stage repertoire,” was how Martin summarised the sessions. Previously released single tracks and b sides completed the set. Featuring more originals than not, Please Please Me saw the McCartney-Lennon songwriting partnership blossom – from the title track to Love Me Do, There’s a Place to I Saw Her Standing There, the collaboration was incredibly productive, and would continue to bear fruit until the group’s Let It Be swan song of 1970.

The immediacy that these songs carry remains irresistible, and Please Please Me’s lengthy reign at the top of the UK albums chart proved the perfect response to Decca’s rebuttal that guitar groups were “on the way out” when the label turned down the opportunity to sign the band. Lennon’s vocal on the climactic Twist and Shout is perhaps the most wonderfully loose, ragged-edged element of the entire record, and the essentially ‘as live’ recording showcases a group with their feet still very much in the clubs and theatres, performance just preceding actual arrangement. Their way with composition is relatively simple; effective, but black and white nonetheless, playing exclusively to recognised strengths.

What followed made The Beatles the inspirational band they’re regarded as today. But the grandest oak begins as the tiniest acorn, and Please Please Me is just that: perfectly formed for what it is, and ready to split when promise is realised.

Written by Mike Diver: The full original review can be found on the BBC website.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence. If you choose to use this review on your site please link back to this page.

P.S. I Love You

The second song on the B-side of Please Please Me was called P.S. I Love You, and written mostly by Paul McCartney.

It appeared for the first time on the B-side of the debut single of the Beatles, backed with Love Me Do. According to producer Ron Richards, Paul wanted this song to be the A-side, but Richards told the group that there was already another song with that title on an A-side, so he convinced them to take Love Me Do as their first A-side.

The song was written in Germany and session musician Andy White does the drumming (Ringo does the maracas!). No original master tape exists since it was common practice to erase the master tapes in 1962.

No break for the Beatles

There is a very funny anecdote about the Beatles recording session on February 11, 1963.

When George Martin and Norman Smith took a break to pop into the Heroes of Alma for a pie and a pint, the Beatles wanted to continue rehearsing. The Abbey Road producers had never seen a group so eager to rehearse :)

But in the end we all know that their commitment really paid off, making their debut album a record-breaking LP

Please Please Me Recording Session

September 11 1963 will probably be remembered as the most productive recording session in musical history.

Because on that day The Beatles recorded 12 songs that would be included in their debut album Please Please Me. They started at 10 am in Studio 2 at Abbey Road and finished about 12 hours later around 10.45 pm.

Session 1 from 10 am till 1 pm:

- There's a place - Seventeen (later called "I saw her standing there")

Session 2 from 2.30 pm till 6pm

- A taste of honey - Do you want to know a secret - Misery

Session 3 from 7.30 pm till 10.45 pm

- Hold me tight - Anna - Boys - Chains - Baby it's you - Twist and Shout

Beatles Remastered on Vinyl

Today Apple Records released the complete remastered Beatles catalogue on 180 gram vinyl.

The box includes all 14 remastered albums, including the definitive versions of 12 UK albums and both "Past Masters" and the US version of Magical Mystery Tour. There is a limited edition box with a 252-pages book.

Somewhere in 2013, Apple will also release the mono versions of the albums, which should please fans of the earlier albums like Please Please Me and Beatles For Sale

Tomorrow Never Knows - New Beatles Album

Today, Tuesday 24 July 2012 sees the release of a new Beatles record, exclusively on the Apple iTunes Store. This compilation record attempts to bring together some of The Beatles' most influential rock songs.

The question is of course who will buy this "record", since it will not be released in any physical form. Real Beatle fans have of course these songs already in their posession, and non-Beatle fans will have to be convinced that these songs really represent what the Beatles are.

The choice of songs are sometimes very peculiar. Some were already releases on the "Rock 'n' Music" compilation from 1976, and others were not really "rock" but more "psychedelic". If the idea was to show how influential the Beatles were, then surely songs like "Savoy Truffle" or even "Paperback Writer" could easily have been replaced by "Taxman", "Rain" or "She's a Woman".


All songs written by Lennon–McCartney, except where noted.

 1."Revolution" – 3:25
 2."Paperback Writer" – 2:19
 3."And Your Bird Can Sing" – 1:59
 4."Helter Skelter" – 4:31
 5."Savoy Truffle" (George Harrison) – 2:54
 6."I'm Down" – 2:32
 7."I've Got a Feeling" (Let It Be... Naked version) – 3:38
 8."Back in the U.S.S.R." – 2:44
 9."You Can't Do That" – 2:35
 10."It's All Too Much" (Harrison) – 6:26
 11."She Said She Said" – 2:36
 12."Hey Bulldog" – 3:11
 13."Tomorrow Never Knows" – 2:59
 14."The End" (Anthology 3 version) – 2:52



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Love by The Beatles: a review

I recently bought "Love", the 2006 compilation album that George and Giles Martin made for the Cirque de Soleil show "Love". The album consists of over 130 songs, outtakes and alternative versions by The Beatles, mixed up as a so-called "mashup".

Although I was very sceptical when I first heard about the concept, I am amazed at how well the remixes worked. It is a giant puzzle, and although it sounds really good even for people who don't know The Beatles, it is awesome for the real fan.

I have a nice bootleg collection with outtakes from the Abbey Road sessions and it is great to hear some of those tracks being used to recreate a totally different experience.

My favourite track is "Get Back", where the intro of "A Hard Day's Night" and the drum solo of "The End" is combined with the percussion of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and the orchestra ouverture of "A Day in the Life". And I can tell you: it rocks!

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license: Author := Brocken Inaglory