Okay, right off the bat, let me assure you that Paul McCartney is not dead. While researching another urban legend that was recently verified as true, I stumbled upon a page which explains the whole “Paul is Dead” urban legend in excruciating detail. (For those who don‘t know, Paul McCartney supposedly died in the middle of the Beatles’ career, and they tried to cover it up, but put various clues in songs and album covers that came out at the time. (For those who don’t know, album covers are the artwork that record albums used to come in. (For those who don’t know, record albums are…ah, forget it.))) In any case, it is an interesting read, especially for people like me who thought the controversy began and ended with the Abbey Road album cover, with a barefoot Paul and a “28 IF” license plate. Apparently the controversy went much deeper than that, although it is unclear how much was coincidence and how much was the Beatles feeding the rumors.
On something of a side note…in a deleted scene from Pulp Fiction, Mia Wallace says that there two types of people in the world: Elvis fans, and Beatles fans. Sure, Elvis fans can like the Beatles, and Beatles fans can like Elvis, but no one likes them both equally. Personally, not only am I an Elvis man, but I have a confession to make: I have never puchased a single Beatles album, CD, cassette, or 8-track tape. In fact, I can say with some confidence that I have never listened to an entire Beatles album the whole way through. Shameful, I know.
However, I will say this: When (or if) the entire Beatles collection is available on iTunes, I will buy every album, in order, and listen to each one for…oh, let’s say a month, before getting the next one. I will attempt, in my own limited way, to mimic the experience of a new Beatles fan. I always thought it was interesting how one band went from “Can’t Buy Me Love” to “Let It Be.” I look forward to hearing the progression myself. Someday.
Comments (1)
A noble intention to remedy a scandalous gap in your cultural experience. However, while should enjoy the progression of The Beatles' music in comparison to itself, understand that you will not be able to truly appreciate how revolutionary it was in its day. The earliest albums will sound simple and quaint to you no matter what you do, unless you immerse yourself in Doris Day and Englebert Humperdink records for a month first. Rock and roll existed, certainly, but the popular music world was still mostly safe, soft and soothing. It is hard to appreciate early rock and roll now because it is so hard to put ourselves back into the proper context. I find the same problem with landmark movies that the experts say introduced brilliant new cinematography techniques, but to my eye are no different that the hundreds of imitators that came later. (Example: are you all that dazzled by the effects in The Matrix any more, now that everybody from moviemakers to commercial directors has adopted its unique FX?)
In the context of rock and roll itself, The Beatles' earliest efforts did not stray far from the established formula. Their genius emerged quickly, though, in their musical composition ideas, and later in their innovative recording techniques (thank you, Sir George Martin). Nevertheless, enjoy the journey, when the day comes. It will blow your mind, man.
Posted by Dave Evans | May 21, 2007 5:18 PM
Posted on May 21, 2007 17:18