The Curvature » Gratuitous Beatles Blogging

Dark Horse

Cara — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:00:47 +0000

Ten years ago, George Harrison died.

John Lennon was always dead. For me, there literally was not ever a time when he was alive. It’s not just that I don’t remember him. It’s that he was gone before I was even born.

But George, I remember. Not just from the countless DVDs, both legitimate and bootleg, not just a manufactured “memory.” But in real time. Once, George Harrison was a living, breathing part of the world I lived in. And then, one day, he wasn’t.

And though it sounds strange to say, I miss him. Not like I miss Mink, of course. Nor like I miss my friend whose death anniversary also just passed. But in a way, yes, like an old friend. I miss him. And this material world is a lesser place for his loss.

VIDEO: George Harrison’s song Be Here Now plays over an image of the cover to his album Living in the Material World. Be Here Now lyrics.

John Lennon RIP

Cara — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:28:12 +0000

Thirty years ago, on December 8, 1980, John Lennon was murdered outside of his New York City home, in front of his wife of thirteen years, and with his five-year-old son waiting upstairs for his goodnight kiss. He was only forty years old.

Being the thirtieth anniversary, there will be many, many tributes published today. I have nothing original to add to them, and of course, nothing can beat Yoko Ono’s own tribute. I just want to extend my best to Yoko, Sean, and Julian, and to say John, you are missed. Rest in peace.

VIDEO: John Lennon’s song Nobody Loves You (When You’re Down and Out) plays over an image of the remastered Walls and Bridges album cover. Nobody Loves You (When You’re Down and Out) lyrics.

Happy Birthday, John

Cara — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 14:54:14 +0000

On October 9, 1940, John Lennon was born. Today would have been his 70th birthday.

To celebrate her late husband’s birthday, Yoko Ono has released this video (video is captioned, transcript below):

VIDEO: Yoko Ono stands in front of a wall covered with various memorabilia from her peace campaigns with John, and says: “Hi, this is Yoko. Today is John’s 70th birthday. I hope you’ll join me and the family of peace around the world to celebrate this very special day. Send in your own video tribute to YouTube and we will share in keeping his memory alive. Think Peace. Act peace. Spread peace and imagine peace. I love you.”

Today, Yoko will also be relighting her Image Peace Tower — the strong beam of light that she has dedicated to John with the message “my love for you is forever.” Underneath the tower, over 500,000 wishes for world peace are buried.

Today, Yoko is hoping for the world to tweet 1 million messages for world peace. If you are on Twitter, type “@IPTower” followed by your wish! (If you don’t have Twitter, you can also post your wish to Facebook, or send it via email to wish@imaginepeacetower.com.) Please tweet your wish for peace and spread the word to your followers! A million wishes will only be reached if we work together!

For his part, John’s old band mate and close friend Ringo Starr filmed his own birthday message:

VIDEO: Ringo Starr stands in front of a lush green lawn, flashes a peace sign and says: “Happy Birthday, John, peace and love. I loved you, and I miss you, peace and love, Happy — can you believe?! 70!”

Most years, it seems that only the most dedicated of Beatles fans remember and actively celebrate John’s birthday. To see so many people doing so this year feels strange and a little bit surreal. But I’m glad. And today, John’s birthday, is not a day to lament that he was unable to see his 70th birthday himself, but to celebrate his life.

So, here we go! Enjoy some Instant Karma!

VIDEO: John Lennon performs Instant Karma on a television set. He has very short hair, wears headphones, and plays an upright white piano while singing. Yoko sits on a stool near him and knits crochets while blindfolded. Instant Karma lyrics.

A very happy birthday to John Lennon … and to my mother, and Sean Lennon, too! Feel free to share your own birthday wishes in the comments.

Top 5 Ringo Starr Songs

Cara — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:58:10 +0000

This upcoming Wednesday, July 21, I’m lucky enough to be seeing the fabulous Ringo Starr in concert with his All Starr Band. A real live Beatle, right in front (well, eleven concert rows in front!) of me! Can you imagine? I know that I’m pretty damn excited. So excited, in fact, that I didn’t even spend all that much time being bummed after learning that seeing Ringo also means seeing his bandmates sings songs like Dream Weaver and Broken Wings! Trade off, folks, trade off.

Anyway, in gearing up to see Ringo later this week — did I mention that it’s just a few days away? — I thought it would be a good idea to do a new top 5 list of Ringo tracks. Previously, I’ve written a post of top 10 Ringo drum tracks, and talked about just how severely undervalued poor Ringo is as a drummer. Even crueler than the jokes about his drumming, though, are the jokes about his singing and solo career. His solo music and individual Beatles tracks are almost entirely overlooked, even though some of it all is really quite good.

Look, Ringo is no John, Paul, or George. He doesn’t have a particularly spectacular voice, and he continues today to write songs mostly through collaboration with other writers, rather than on his own. But John, Paul, and George are no Ringo, either. Ringo wasn’t built to be a singer or songwriter, but dammit, no one else was built to be Ringo. And that’s how he makes it work — through the sheer force of his personality. Ringo could have a spot as a drummer in any band he chose, but the reason he has a career as a solo artist is because we all absolutely adore him. His music works so well, in large part, precisely because he is so fun and lovable.

Further, it’s clear that Ringo is doing exactly what he wants to do. I imagine that the last thing he needs is money — I’m sure that he and Barbara are more than comfortable, have lovely holidays, and give their grandkids very, very happy Christmas seasons. He doesn’t need to continue releasing albums and going on tour. He does it because he loves it, and because we love it when he does it. And along the way, he’s sung quite a few classics.

1. It Don’t Come Easy

Straight out of the gate after the “official” breakup of the Beatles, Ringo scored the first hit single with this song. (Many years later, Ringo joked about this accomplishment, “I was the biggest Beatle for two weeks.”) The writing credit remains disputed — legally it went to Richard Starkey, while Ringo has since admitted that George Harrison was a co-writer, and others speculate that George wrote the track fully — but whoever is responsible, it’s a damn good song. It’s my personal favorite Ringo song, I must say, only reinforced by my introduction to it through his live performance at the Concert for Bangladesh. In its favor, the track features not only a great hook, but some excellent drum fills, a searing guitar solo by George Harrison, and the always fantastic Klaus Voormann on bass.

VIDEO: Ringo’s song It Don’t Come Easy plays over an image of the original picture sleeve for the single. The picture sleeve shows a black and white photo of Ringo playing an acoustic guitar in 1971, while sitting down with one leg crossed and wearing a cowboy hat. It Don’t Come Easy lyrics.

2. With a Little Help From My Friends

With the only possible competitor of Yellow Submarine, With a Little Help From My Friends has become Ringo’s staple song, the one with which he is most associated, and the one that would start riots if he didn’t sing it for the good people who paid to hear him put on a show. With a Little Help From My Friends is memorable both for being a fantastic song — easily the best that John and Paul ever wrote for Ringo — and for including one of Ringo’s best vocal tracks (and quite arguably the very best he has ever laid down on record). All around, it’s among the best tracks on Sgt. Pepper, and just plain polished perfection.

VIDEO: The Beatles’ song With a Little Help From My Friends plays over an image of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. With a Little Help From My Friends lyrics.

3. Octopus’s Garden

As the second ever Ringo-penned track to be recorded, Octopus’s Garden is a big step up from his first attempt, Don’t Pass Me By. And though it may be an unpopular opinion, I say that it beats Lennon/McCartney’s Yellow Submarine any day of the week. In its favor, Octopus’s Garden has vivid, fun lyrics, fantastic drum fills, a spectacular guitar part, and luscious harmonies. Ringo also delivers his very best singing voice. Written during the period where Ringo had quit the Beatles, during the White Album sessions, this Abbey Road track not only stands up to the other songs on the album, it’s securely better than a few of them.

VIDEO: The Beatles’ Octopus’s Garden plays over mostly black and white images of Ringo around and throughout the 1969 recording of Abbey Road. Includes several rare photos of the Beatles in the studio. Octopus’s Garden lyrics.

4. Photograph

Photograph was pretty much Ringo’s most overall successful solo song, and easily the most revered and remembered. Over 35 years later, the 1973-style production on the song seems a bit heavy-handed, but the song remains a beauty and a classic all the same. Always a bittersweet song about the loss of a loved one, this collaboration between George and Ringo took on an especially somber meaning when Ringo performed it in memory of his recently deceased co-writer at the Concert for George. I, for one, can’t hear it without getting just a little bit teary-eyed.

VIDEO: Ringo’s song Photograph plays over various photographs of Ringo throughout the years. Photograph lyrics.

5. (It’s All Da-Da-Down To) Goodnight Vienna

This lesser-known single from Ringo’s 1974 album by the same name is one of my absolute personal favorite Ringo songs. Written by John Lennon (hear him do the count-in), this poppy rocker is about as fun as fun gets, and is absolutely perfect for Ringo. In my view, Goodnight Vienna could go on for three times the length that it does, quite easily, without getting at all old. I’m a huge fan of the low growl that Ringo uses to sing the last verse, the drum fills, and of course, Billy Preston’s clavinet. If you don’t know it, do take the time to listen now!

Bonus Track: Peace Dream

Ringo’s latest album, Y Not, is actually quite good. It’s filled with cute, simple pop music, and with the exception of the final track Who’s Your Daddy? (Hint: it’s even worse than the name suggests) the whole thing is a real treat. I was even genuinely impressed with several of his vocal tracks.

Along with Walk With You (the single that features Paul McCartney’s prominent backing vocals), Peace Dream is one of the album’s highlights. The track is so goofy and so dorky, and yet also so sweet and so cute. And therefore, it is just so very, very Ringo. As he earnestly name-checks his old buddy John Lennon and cites several of his songs, Ringo also continues his mission from recent years to help Yoko keep John’s message of peace (and love!) alive. If that’s not enough, the song also features Paul McCartney on bass! Can’t beat that.

VIDEO: Ringo’s song Peace Dream plays over a video of photos and archival footage of Ringo Starr throughout the years, mostly with the Beatles, but sometimes during his solo years. Peace Dream lyrics.

Feel free to share your own favorite Ringo songs below! Do you love the No No Song or his cover of You’re Sixteen? How about Back off Boogaloo or Oh My My? Let me know which songs on my list you would have knocked off and what songs you would have added in the comments.

Top 5 Moments in Paul is Dead: Audio/Lyrical Clues

Cara — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 16:27:55 +0000

Image via Lacey.

Last week, in celebration of new evidence that the so-called “conspiracy theory” Paul is Dead was right all along, I posted my top 5 Paul is Dead visual clues.

While I thought the case I was presented was quite convincing, and the evidence wholly irrefutable, unfortunately most of you still seem to think that this is all one big joke. Surely, Paul McCartney could not really have died in a fiery car accident in 1966, only to have the Beatles cover up his death by replacing him with a man who looked and acted and sounded and wrote music exactly like him, and then covertly place clues about the switch in all of their album artwork and lyrics, only to have no one find out about it until 1969! That’s ridiculous! If the man walking around as Paul McCartney today was not really Paul McCartney, you say, we would most definitely know.

It’s sad, really. Seeing as how that’s exactly what they want you to think.

I wrote these two posts in celebration of the imminent release of the new documentary Paul McCartney Really Is Dead: The Last Testament of George Harrison, in which mysterious tapes containing recording of a voice “identical to Harrison” explaining how Paul died and how the band was forced against their will to cover-up the evidence, lest a wave of mass suicides befall the Western world. I should think that if anything ought to convince a skeptic, the testimony of an actual Beatle should do the trick! But alas, so far many disbelievers remain. Some even go so far as to suggest that the voice sounds nothing like Harrison’s at all! (psh!)

But I shall try one last time to convince you of what the remaining Fab Three have been trying to tell us all along: that Paul McCartney up to 1966 and the “Paul McCartney” we’ve known since then are two completely different men, the latter having engaged in extensive, impeccable plastic surgery in the 1960s to look remarkably like the former, only to have the original Paul’s closest friends and family members never explicitly say a word.

After all, it could be that you’re just not the type who is big on symbolism. The visual clues, despite their clear messages, might seem just a bit too vague. Maybe you need to hear the voices of the Beatles — voices you know to belong to the actual Beatles — tell you, themselves. Well, you’re in luck. The remaining band members left many revealing audio and lyrical clues about Paul’s death in their path. The best of the best can be found below.

1. I Buried Paul

Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane was the first new musical release by the Beatles after Paul’s death. And suitably, it also contains the first Paul is Dead clue embedded in a track.

At the end of Strawberry Fields Forever, the music fades out. Then unexpectedly, it fades back in, even more macabre and surreal than it was before. As the music eventually fades out one final time, a spooky, muddled voice appears in the background, at about 3:56 on the original track (4:04 in the video below) — a voice that seems to be saying “I buried Paul.”

Since fans started uncovering clues, the Beatles have claimed that the voice on the track, undeniably there, does not say “I buried Paul” at all, but rather “cranberry sauce.” Many listeners, unwilling to believe the truth and eager to quash the rumors, have even agreed with them, claiming that they hear “cranberry sauce,” too.

But a voice randomly saying “cranberry sauce” at the end of a Beatles song? Come on now, let’s not be ridiculous.

VIDEO: The official Strawberry Fields Forever promotional video. On a field lit by colorful incandescent lights at dusk and nighttime, the Beatles wander around in psychedelic outfits. They run at the camera, take turns walking around a colorfully painted piano, Paul climbs a tree, and there are many spooky close up shots of their faces. Strawberry Fields Forever lyrics.

2. The Walrus Was Paul

A year before anyone even knew to look for clues, John Lennon was outright telling fans that he was placing them. Frustrated, it would seem, with subtlety, John tried a blunt approach. In the song Glass Onion, off the White Album, he sings ominously:

Well here’s another clue for your all: the walrus was Paul.

If not a clue regarding Paul’s death and subsequent replacement by Faul, what kind of clue would John possibly be referring to? In Beatles lore, the walrus is an enigma whose total meaning has never been quite clear. It has, however, been stated by numerous astute Paul is Dead researchers that a walrus is a symbol of death. *cough*

The fact is that John never gave a convincing explanation for why he wrote the line, calling it a “throwaway” and expressing something vague about wanting to give Paul attention. He should have come up with something a bit better. The lyric may not be the most revealing of Paul is Dead clues, but it is just about the most direct.

VIDEO: The Beatles song Glass Onion plays over an image of the While Album cover. Glass Onion lyrics.

3. Revolution 9 Backwards

Revolution 9 remains the most confounding track of the Beatles’ career. An avant garde pastiche, it just doesn’t fit with anything else the band had ever done. It’s also said that all of the members except for John hated it. But what if the reason they tried to dissuade John from releasing the track wasn’t about artistic differences? What if the reason for the song wasn’t art at all?

Hidden backwards inside Revolution 9 were two major clues about Paul’s death — and seeing as how the Beatles had a known history of using backwards recordings, that wasn’t “hiding” them much at all.

The first clue is among the most infamous in Paul is Dead history. Throughout the track, a monotonous voice repeats the words “Number nine.” It’s nonsensical, and it’s spooky. But it just gets spookier when in reverse it becomes “Turn me on, Desmond” “Turn me on, dead man.”

VIDEO: A snippet of the Beatles track Revolution 9 plays forward then backwards. Forward the voice says “number nine”; backwards, it appears to say “turn me on, dead man.”

The “turn me on” is an obvious reference to Paul’s famous lyric from A Day in the Life, “I’d love to turn you on,” written very shortly before his untimely demise. The implications of “dead man” are clear. That these words repeat all throughout the song for almost 9 minutes cannot possibly be an accident.

The second clue is less well-known, but far more explosive. The author of the Officially Pronounced Dead? Paul is Dead website describes it, thusly:

But the biggest thing you hear when the track is played in reversed is what appears to be an audio representation of a car crash. This starts at approximately 5m 20s in as you play the track backwards and starts with the sound of a speeding car zooming past things with horns ablazing. Then there’s the sound of a lorry sounding his horn (remember that, according to the story, Paul collided with a yellow lorry that caused him to smash into the telegraph pole) and then the sound of heavern choir singing. After this we hear the bell chimes of a fire engine and then John saying “Turn me on, dead man. Turn me on.”. As he says this the chatter of a gathering crowd can then be heard before Paul starts screaming “Let me out! Let me out!” seemingly in increasing desperation. This scene uncannily matches the story of Paul’s crash, and links in with other clues that tell of Paul’s demise.

The only thing he’s wrong about is the timing; you actually want to start listening at about 4:40:

VIDEO: The Beatles track Revolution 9 plays backwards.

You may think that all of this is far fetched, a bunch of hogwash, and that the sounds produced when the track is played backwards are just as nonsensical, random, and open to bizarre interpretation as those created when the track is played normally. But let us look at the other option: that John actually saw Revolution 9 as a worthy musical statement. Suddenly, the idea of the track as one giant, backwards Paul is Dead clue makes a whole lot of sense.

4. Beatle Bill

In 1971, John Lennon was recording his Imagine album, on which George Harrison contributed to several tracks, and making a documentary of the process. After the Beatles’ breakup, John, George, and Ringo stayed on mostly pleasant terms. “Paul” was the odd man out, and some have suggested that the remaining Beatles never got along well with Faul, leading to the dissolution of the group and an ended relationship with the impostor.

Gimme Some Truth, the film resulting from all of the footage recorded during the making of Imagine, thus features an interesting and confounding little scene. At one point, the recording team is eating lunch at John and Yoko’s kitchen table (the studio was in their home), and John and George have a very interesting conversation about a couple of mysterious characters — Beatle Ed, and Beatle Bill.

The relevant part of the video starts at 4:45, and a transcript of the important section is below.

A scene in a kitchen. The camera is mostly focused on John Lennon and George Harrison sitting side by side with plates of food in front of them, as they sit at a long wooden table. The camera occasionally pans to see Yoko Ono over at John’s right.

George: Do you ever see much of the Beatles these days?
John: The Beatles? Um … no, I did see Beatle Ed though recently. He’s doing quite well in Sweden, I believe. Number five. Number five, yeah. I heard that, too.
George: Yoko, is that a fresh pot of tea?
Yoko: Yes.
George: Can I have some?
John: (To camera) This is actually a Beatle Wife fixing a tea for one of the Fab Four, Ex-Beatle—
George: Fab, Fab Three.
John: Fab Three … (laughs, tosses a hand into the air, and looks at camera with an expression somewhere between bemused, horrified, and embarrassed) Uh, Beatle Ed. He’s doing very well in Sweden …
Yoko: (pointing at John) This is my Beatle Wife.
John: Yeah, I’m Beatle Wife number 3.
George: I see Beatle Bill making a pig of himself.
John: (hesitates, uncomfortable) He likes his, um, whatever it’s called.

First off, Fab Three? Why does John look at the camera so alarmed, if the line is only supposed to be a joke at Paul’s expense? John had no problem saying nasty things about Paul, as his song How Do You Sleep? proved. The nickname “Beatle Bill” is particularly striking, as Bill is supposed to have been Faul’s real name, and as George thought fit to bring him up immediately after “correcting” John’s reference to the Fab Four. John’s discomfort also seems to persist when George mentions him, and Beatle Bill is clearly not anyone present in the room. Could they be talking about Faul?

That of course leaves open the question of who exactly Beatle Ed is. I propose that he doesn’t exist — John speaks of him lightly, as a joke, and quite possibly the basis for the humor is the reference to “Fake Beatles,” and the idea that further Beatles can be added to the group at a whim.

It also seems not at all coincidental that this conversation is placed in the film right before the sequence that involves recording How Do You Sleep?, a scathing song written by John about Faul. All other scenes in the film are ordered logically. An interview with John and Yoko about their relationship is followed by the recording of “Oh My Love,” for example. John talking about jealousy is followed by the recording of “Jealous Guy.” Why would this one scene, and only this one scene, be put in an illogical place? It would seem that it wasn’t.

5. Miss Him, Miss Him, Miss Him

At the end of the While Album track I’m So Tired appears some incoherent mumbling from John. Just begging to be played backwards, it reveals an anguished cry: “Paul is a dead man, miss him, miss him, miss him!”

A clip of the section, both forwards and backwards:

VIDEO: A snippet of the Beatles track I’m So Tired plays forward and then backwards with subtitles. Forward, the audio sounds like gibberish, backwards is sounds remarkably like “Paul is a dead man, miss him, miss him, miss him!”

The despairing, mournful nature of the statement is painful to hear, and reveals how truly difficult it must have been for the Beatles to hide Paul’s death, and how desperate they must have been for the public to know the truth.

Bonus Clue: How Do You Sleep?

Those who wish to believe that Paul McCartney is still alive are seemingly so desperate that they will ignore even the most concrete evidence, including direct admissions.

The John Lennon solo song How Do You Sleep?, a scathing indictment of Paul, is filled to the brim with lyrics that could possibly relate to Faul’s status as an impostor. I imagine that Sgt. Pepper did take Faul by surprise, when he was suddenly called in to replace Paul and work with the band during those sessions. “A pretty face may last a year or two” could be a reference to Paul’s status as the “cute Beatle,” or it could be an allusion to the uncanny resemblance between Faul and the real Paul and an expression of John’s belief that the truth would soon be revealed. The clues keep coming. But the most shocking isn’t a “clue” at all — it’s a confession.

Those freaks was right when they said you was dead.

Many have dismissed the lyric as referencing a kind of “spiritual” or “artistic” death in Paul. Why, exactly, do they refuse to see what is right in front of their faces? John had an acerbic wit, but he was also a man of great honesty. That he even uses the term “freaks” to refer to Paul is Dead believers, a 1970s slang term of great endearment and praise reserved only for those most highly respected, acts as even stronger confirmation. Why would John have ever called those who diligently uncovered all of his clues “freaks” if he was attempting to deride them?

VIDEO: The John Lennon song How Do You Sleep? plays over an image of the Image album. How Do You Sleep? lyrics.

James Paul McCartney
1942-1966

Leave your own favorite audio/lyrical Paul is Dead clues in the comments, and check out my post on visual clues if you missed it.

Top 5 Moments in Paul is Dead: Visual Clues

Cara — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:28:30 +0000

Photo provided by Lacey, touched up by Samantha.

Most fans think solemnly back on the day they heard the first Beatle had died as a turning point in their lives. He was such a brilliant entertainer, a beloved icon, a symbol of joy and hope, especially in America — and then he was gone, in a single instant, and taken so unfairly. He was still young, and had so much life ahead of him. There were so many beautiful songs he would have written. He loved his wife so much — or he would have, if he’d met her. He was such a doting dad to his children … or he would have been, I’m sure, if he’d had any. With him, the dream of the Beatles died, and could never be as they were ever again.

I’m speaking, of course, of Paul McCartney, who died tragically one dark and rainy night in November 1966, when he lost control of his vehicle and ran into a lamppost, or a yellow lorry, and was decapitated, or engulfed in flames, or … well, the details have never been quite clear, what with the media blackout and carefully staged cover up. But when fans learned of the deadly accident three years later in 1969, they were devastated! And when they realized that Paul had been replaced with an impostor, a fake Paul — Faul, if you will — and the Beatles had left clues to their fanbase and tributes to Paul in all of their music and album art, fans were both enraged and intrigued.

Little is known about the impostor. He is sometimes known as William Shears Campbell, or William Sheppard. It is said that he once won a Paul McCartney lookalike contest, and was plucked from obscurity to become the new Paul. Some have claimed to have known him, but few have corroborated their tales. What is known is that the Faul was required to have many plastic surgeries in order to look more like Paul. Retouching on album artwork and official photos was painstakingly done. In attempt to hide the imperfections, he grew a mustache. And for long, no one suspected a thing. Foolishly, many still don’t.

Most have considered the story of Paul’s tragic death a mere hoax — a story, and a blatantly unreliable one at that. Until now.

A new documentary is being released, entitled Paul McCartney Really Is Dead: The Last Testament of George Harrison. These truthseekers somehow obtained a recording that George Harrison made before his death in order to expose the truth about the Paul is Dead conspiracy theory. I defy you to click the link and listen to the voice that is “identical to Harrison” tell you about the loss of his dear friend and the subsequent cover up — and I do believe you’ll agree that this recording gives a whole new meaning to the word “identical” — and tell me that you too are not a true believer.

Over 40 years later, the lid is finally being blown off this thing. And I, for one, cannot wait for the truth to be revealed. In order to celebrate the fine work of these detectives and the many dedicated searchers before them, I’ve decided to do a retrospective of the greatest moments in Paul is Dead history. After all, with confirmation of all of our deepest suspicions finally here, the mystery doesn’t have much time left.

1. The Cover of Abbey Road

By 1969, John, George and Ringo had tried almost everything to quietly clue their fans into Paul’s untimely demise. They even seemed to have Faul’s cooperation in placing the clues. Every single album and film they’d made since November of 1966 contained messages, many of them not even subtle, and still no one suspected anything.

That was when they got reckless and accidentally exposed the whole charade in front of a worldwide stage with the cover of Abbey Road, only after which the news of Paul’s death finally broke. At first glance, the cover is just an image of four men crossing the street. But it reveals something far more sinister.

As countless scholars of Paul’s death and subsequent cover up have written before me, the Abbey Road photograph quite clearly symbolizes a funeral procession. With his long hair, Jesus-like beard, and glowing white suit, John Lennon clearly represents God. Next in the procession comes the formally dressed Ringo Starr, who represents the clergy presiding over the service. Next comes “Paul McCartney” — and note that he is out of step with the other three Beatles, who all have left foot forward — who represents the dead man in his burial suit. The clearest indication that Faul represents a corpse is his bare feet, as many people are apparently buried barefoot. Lastly comes George Harrison, following the procession as the grave digger in his rough work clothes to put Paul finally to rest.

One also cannot forget the fifth “Beatle” in the background — the white Volkswagon Beetle behind the procession. A transparent tribute to Paul, it seems clear that it was placed there to represent the extra member of the group. The license plate, which was easily legible on the full-sized LP cover, also makes for interesting reading. The first line says “LMW” — believed to stand for “Linda McCartney Weeps.” It’s true that Linda never met the real Paul — but as his legal wife, nonetheless, surely she would have preferred the real deal? The second line says “28IF,” indicating that Paul would have been 28 if he had lived. True, Paul would have actually been 27, “but he would have been in his 28th year of existance (sic) as Indian beliefs count life from conception and not birth.” *cough*

2. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Artwork

Sgt. Pepper was a work that was begun with Paul still alive. Indeed, he apparently drove off in the night after an argument at a session. Finished with Faul, the album seemingly became something of a tribute to the real McCartney, because it was filled to the absolute brim with visual clues that the Paul in front of us was not the Paul we all knew and loved. One could easily write a blog post about this artwork alone — but let us take a look at just a few of the clues to be found here.

The most legendary and compelling of all the clues is also the most hidden. It has been discovered that if a mirror is placed horizontally across the center of the words “Lonely Hearts” in the middle of the Sgt. Pepper drum, a gruesome message is spelled out: “I ONE IX HE DIE”. Between the words “he” and “die” is an arrow pointing upwards, directly at Paul. The “I ONE IX” is believed to refer to the date of Paul’s death — 11/9 — as it is believed that Paul died during November. Click on through to see a photograph of this trick in action — it really does work.

The flowers on the front cover are also of particular note — notice that they have a feel rather similar to that of pre-arranged funeral/cemetary flowers. Below the word Beatles is also an odd arrangement — what appears to be a left-handed bass guitar, Paul’s instrument. (Some even believe that his name can be found in these yellow flowers.) Also notice the four additional wax Beatles, wearing all black and looking rather glum, as though they are in fact in mourning. As for Faul, he can be found on this cover with an open palm over his head — a symbol that surrounded him quite often, and which is believed to indicate death. *cough*

Even the inside gatefold of the album contains a famous clue. Take a careful look at the badge on “Paul’s” arm:

It reads “O.P.D.” — police code, apparently, for “Officially Pronounced Dead.” *seriously something is really stuck in my throat*

One can ask for little more confirmation than that. But a long list of Sgt. Pepper visual clues can be found here.

3. The White Album Poster Photo

Contained with the release of the White Album was a poster of various candid and personal photos of the Beatles — some dating back to their very early days as a group. Seemingly, the three remaining Beatles were having so much fun that they let even Faul get in on the action, with a little photo from his own past.

See above, this photo inconspicuously placed in a bottom corner of the poster. Many believe it to be the only known and public photograph of William Shears Campbell/William Sheppard, before he began his new life in the role of Paul. Look carefully, right down to the one arched eyebrow, and it’s remarkable just how much he looks like Paul — at least, the “Paul” we’re used to seeing now. There seems to be no public comment at all of who is in this photo. Some might say that it is actually Paul, in disguise. But why such a formal photo, when he was pretending to be somebody else? And why not simply state the man’s identity? Unless, of course, you were trying to hide something.

4. The Black Carnation

In the You Mother Should Know sequence from Magical Mystery Tour, the Beatles dance in white tuxedos, each having a carnation on his lapel. John, George, and Ringo each wear a carnation that is the standard red. But Paul on the other hand is wearing one that is … black? The color of mourning? If you can’t see it in the picture above, check out a brighter shot here.

One could merely argue that Paul was leading the dance and singing the lead vocals of the song, and therefore he wanted his own carnation to stand out. A plausible explanation. Except that why would the Beatle known for being most cheerful and upbeat choose a black carnation, during a happy and playful number, no less? Clearly, there were ulterior motives to be had.

5. The Cover of A Collection of Beatles Oldies (But Goldies)

The cover of this compilation album released only in the UK, a mere month after Paul’s death, is most likely in fact the very first Paul is Dead clue to see the light of day. Evidently, the Beatles had to scramble to get the artwork commissioned or changed following Paul’s death, but the rush paid off.

The drawn man on the cover is unidentified, and not clearly any particular Beatle. He does, however, wear clothing in the style that Paul was particularly fond of in late 1966, and bear a distinctive “mop top” haircut. If one is honest, she would easily have to say that of the four Beatles, the figure most resembles Paul. What makes this resemblance eerie is what is happening in the background — a drawing of a car, driving at night with headlights turned on, headed straight for the man’s head. Paul is said to have died in a car accident, at night. Is it possible that right after his alleged death, the appearance of this official Beatles album is a mere coincidence? It seems unlikely, at best.

Bonus Clue: Every Photo of “Paul” From 1967

There are a lot of really strange photos of “Paul” from 1967, right after Faul allegedly came into the picture. Take this one. Or this one. Or how about this one?

Some say that 1967 was a weird time for Paul. He was mourning Brian Epstein’s death. He was doing lots and lots of cocaine! He just lost a lot of weight. And he was experimenting with new hair and clothing styles. Of course he looked a little different. People all change a bit, over time.

And to them I say: Yes, yes, excellent points. But does this look like Paul McCartney to you?

Case closed. Oh Paul, we hardly knew ye.

Leave your own favorite visual Paul is Dead clues in the comments. And be sure to check back in next week, when I examine the audio/lyrical clues the Beatles left us.

Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1969

Cara — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 13:16:21 +0000

Exactly one day after Sir Paul’s 68th birthday and two months before I see him in concert in Pittsburgh(!) comes the final installment of this Gratuitous Beatles Blogging series.

The ending of the Beatles was a tumultuous time — and thus, this list is going to take a few liberties. With the Get Back Sessions starting in late 1968 and and the final songs for Let It Be not recorded until 1970, it’s an album that’s difficult to place and which constantly sparks debate. In my collection, I file it before Abbey Road, which was started second but released first in 1969 — and I’m following the same rule here, by placing all of the Let It Be tracks in the year that it should have been released, and in which most if it was recorded. A controversial decision, to be sure, but one that I’m sticking with.

In 1969, the Beatles continued the recording of what would eventually become the Let It Be album, as well as filming the documentary by the same name. The disjointed project, which was marked by studio mishaps and personal arguments, was to be shelved for around a year. Perhaps the only saving grace was the decision by George to bring in Billy Preston, following his return to the group after a bad fight with Paul. After their famous, impromptu final concert on the Apple rooftop, it would be months before the group would decide to get together one last time, to record the epic Abbey Road.

On a personal level, things were changing fast. John and Paul each married their respective soul mates Yoko and Linda within days of one another. As Paul took on his new role as father to Linda’s daughter Heather and prepared for the second child they were expecting, he seemed as eager to work with the band as ever. Meanwhile, John continued collaborating with Yoko, and pulled away from the group more severely than any other member. Together, John and Yoko staged two bed-ins for peace, formed the Plastic Ono Band and played a handful of solo shows, engaged in numerous other peace related projects, survived a serious car accident, and continued battling heroin addiction. George was writing songs at a pace more quickly than he ever had before, and couldn’t even tolerate Beatles sessions without bringing in a fresh face. (Though when that fresh face is Billy Preston’s, who can really blame him?) Meanwhile, Ringo’s attitude towards the band came off as wholly indifferent.

For the group as a whole, business was also going poorly. Virtually every division of Apple except for the record label had failed almost as soon as it was started. Ugly arguments ensued over money, and specifically over management. While John, George, and Ringo wanted the tough, bullying, and ultimately thieving Allen Klein as their manager, Paul wanted his own father-in-law John Eastman. The dissent ultimately proved wise as Klein’s true nature was revealed, but marked Paul as an outsider and enemy, a role he would continue to play throughout the final dissolution of the group.

Eventually, John quit the band he started. Solo albums were recorded. Lawsuits were filed. Nasty barbs were traded in the press. And in the midst of it all, in early 1970, Paul made the official announcement that the Beatles were no more.

1. Let It Be

Let It Be is, in my opinion, one of the absolute greatest Beatles songs, and without a doubt Paul McCartney’s masterwork. Paul’s somber piano perfectly compliments his strong, clear, emotional vocal, which I think is among the fullest and finest he ever recorded. Among Paul’s repertoire of classics, he has many songs about hope — but Let It Be is about faith. When he sings There will be an answer, it seems clear that he believes it, and it’s difficult to not believe right along side him. But Paul’s not the only one pulling out all the stops here — Billy Preston’s organ adds a cathedral-like feel, and George’s guitar solo from the album cut of the song is blistering, emotional, and I dare say one of the best that he ever recorded. It’s epic, and though fierce, not at all jarring or overdone — and I think perfectly captures the desperation of wanting of anyone who indeed needs to tell themselves that there will be an answer enough to sing about it.

VIDEO: The album version of the Beatles’ Let It Be. The video starts with images of the Beatles’ Anthology artwork, then turns into footage from the Let It Be film of the Beatles recording a live take of the song, interspersed with images of the Beatles throughout late 1968 and early 1969. In the footage, Paul plays piano, George sits in a chair on the other side of the room playing guitar, Ringo plays drums, John sits on Paul’s drum riser and plays guitar with Yoko sitting beside him, and Billy Preston plays organ. Let It Be lyrics.

2. Something

This mellow love song is among the most widely beloved of Beatles tracks, and certainly one of George’s greatest musical accomplishments while he was with the Beatles. It was also the most commercially successful song he ever produced. Something bears the kind of simultaneous vagueness and specificity to make it easily relatable to most of us who have ever been in love. The track also features some of George’s most elegant guitar work, one of Paul’s most brilliant basslines, and some stunning drumming by Ringo.

VIDEO: The official promotional video for the Beatles’ song Something. Each of the Beatles is shown wandering around outside with his wife. George and Pattie gaze longingly at each other, John and Yoko walk hand in hand, Ringo and Maureen ride small dirt bikes, and Paul and Linda frolic on their farm with their sheepdog Martha. Something lyrics.

3. Across the Universe

Of all the songs on this list, Across the Universe probably has the least claim. It was originally recorded and obscurely released on a charity album in 1968 — a Phil Spector-ized cut of the same track as then mixed and released in 1970. It has no real ties to 1969 other than through proxy, but it also doesn’t really fit anywhere else, so proxy is just going to have to do.

Across the Universe is among John’s prettiest and most delicate songs. Musically, the song is incredibly simple. Lyrically, images are layered upon images, every time followed by a chant and the refrain that nothing’s gonna change my world. There’s no real way to ruin this song, but I prefer the Let It Be… Naked version of Across the Universe to Phil Spector’s take, and that’s the one that’s presented below.

VIDEO: Across the Universe plays over various black and white drawings of John Lennon, sometimes with Yoko Ono, appearing over images of outer space. Across the Universe lyrics.

4. Two of Us

Musically, 1969 was an absolutely great year for Paul. We can leave the arguments about whether this song was written for John or for Linda for another day, but whoever it’s about, it is absolutely beautiful from the opening acoustic guitar to the closing whistles. There are few words superlative enough to accurately capture what exactly Paul and John have achieved here with their harmonious double lead vocal. Divine is the closest I can get. The sound of them is enough to bring a tear to your eye. I’m also a fan of Ringo’s drums, and check out George playing a bassline on electric guitar!

VIDEO: The Beatles song Two of Us, played over footage of the Beatles recording the song in the studio. Paul stands at a microphone playing acoustic guitar, George sits on Ringo’s drum riser and plays electric guitar, while John sits across from Paul singing and playing acoustic guitar, with Yoko next to him. Two of Us lyrics.

5. Get Back

What’s that, a third Paul song on this list? That’s right, Paul fans! I know that you were all wondering which year, exactly, I don’t view as a John year. And now you know. 1969 most definitely belonged to Paul. Get Back, in particular, has a hell of a lot going for it. In addition to sheer catchiness, there’s Paul’s choice to sing with a twang, as well as George John, Ringo, and Billy Preston all simultaneously knocking it out of the park. Ringo’s marching drum beat, George’s John’s noodly guitar licks, and Billy’s organ, inspired as always, easily make this song absolutely brilliant.

VIDEO: A clip from the mockumentary The Rutles, in which the band, dressed as the Beatles were during their Apple rooftop performance, performs the Get Back parody Get Up and Go. The costumes, set, and song itself are all so spot on that they risk copyright infringement.

Wait wait wait. What the … how did that get in there? Dammit. Hang on, just a minute, technical difficulties …

Here we go:

VIDEO: Get Back plays over various footage of the Beatles recording the song in the studio. In most of the clips, they appear relaxed, happy, and like they are having a good time. Yoko, Billy Preston, producer George Martin, and assistant Mal Evans also occasionally appear throughout. Get Back lyrics.

Bonus Track: The End

Having determined early on in my list making process that the Abbey Road medley could simply not be included — as it is not, in total, “a song” — I chose The End as the final song to feature here. The track — in which each band member shows off his individual talents before coming together one last time — was the most fitting choice possible for the (almost) final track on the final album the band recorded.

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.

VIDEO: The Beatles song The End plays over an image of the cover of the Abbey Road LP. The End lyrics.

Which songs would have made it onto your final list? It broke my heart to leave off both Here Comes the Sun and I Want You (She’s So Heavy). Would you have given some love to Come Together, Oh! Darling, Because, The Ballad of John and Yoko, or I Me Mine? Am I the only one who thinks that Old Brown Shoe is fabulous? View a full list of Beatles songs by year here, and leave your own picks in the comments. As for me, I’ve enjoyed doing this little series, and hope to have some new Beatles-themed posts coming at you soon!

Previously in this series:
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1963
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1964
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1965
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1966
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1967
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1968

Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1968

Cara — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:19:02 +0000

The Beatles kicked off 1968 by making apologies for their 1967 mistake Magical Mystery Tour, then quickly disappeared to India, where they studied transcendental meditation under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Paul and Ringo largely treated the time in Rishikesh as a relaxing vacation — when Ringo wasn’t having fun (and was getting physically ill), he went home, and when Paul got bored, he followed shortly thereafter. John and George were the most serious students, their eventual departure and the allegations surrounding it worthy of a whole post on their own. The period of quiet reflection and soul-searching also produced a period of fruitful creativity, with John, Paul, and George each writing a large number of compositions — so many, that even with those attempts that were discarded or saved for later, the combined material was enough for a double album.

Once back from India, John left his wife Cynthia, made his relationship with Yoko Ono public, dove into avant garde art and music, and started using heroin. Paul broke up with long-term girlfriend Jane Asher and soon started seeing the lovely Linda McCartney. George found himself drawn to working with other musicians such as Eric Clapton, Donovan, and Jackie Lomax, and became increasingly disinterested in the Beatles. Ringo, meanwhile, questioned his role within the group and temporarily left the band after a particularly bad fight with Paul. Oh, and the group thought it would be a great time to launch their very own, unfocused corporation, Apple. The White Album sessions were largely rife with animosity, arguments, and separate recording sessions for each band member. It got so bad that long-time engineer Geoff Emerick did the unthinkable, and decided that working with the Beatles just wasn’t worth it, anymore.

Somehow, though, a lot of brilliant music came out of it all. Despite the presence of some filler and truly questionable inclusions, the White Album remains a tour de force, and includes some of the greatest recordings in the band’s history. The four also found time for the best selling single of their career, and a few songs for the Yellow Submarine soundtrack.

1. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Among both the finest Beatles songs and the best of George Harrison’s abundant songwriting career, While My Guitar Gently Weeps is quite simply a masterpiece. From the chilling piano intro to George’s pained cries as the song fades out, it couldn’t have possibly been any greater. The fact that George had to bring Eric Clapton into the studio before John and Paul would take the song seriously is a testament to how greatly they patronized him and undervalued his inestimable talent. George turns in a fine set of lyrics, with compelling turns of phrase like “the love there’s that’s sleeping” and “how to unfold your love,” and the earnest hope, bordering on plea, that “with every mistake we must surely be learning.” His vocal performance is beautiful, as are Paul’s accompanying harmonies. And Clapton’s spectacular yet restrained solo goes down in history as one of the greatest ever performed.

VIDEO: The Beatles’ version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps plays over footage of George Harrison playing the song live at the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971, with friends/fellow musicians such as Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann, and Jessie Ed Davis. While My Guitar Gently Weeps lyrics.

2. Happiness is a Warm Gun

A song about heroin, sex, and lord only knows what else, Happiness is a Warm Gun is about as clever and innovative as Beatles tracks got. The song is basically three different tracks culled together, and the first section sets an eerie stage. With the title pulled from the cover story of a gun enthusiast magazine that John found deliciously disturbing, the weapon ends up not only representing violence, but also addiction, and sexual desire. The stylized harmonies of the bang bang shoot shoot backing vocals add an extra layer of disquiet and irony — as, sadly, does history.

VIDEO: Happiness is a Warm Gun plays over various footage of John Lennon, sometimes with Yoko Ono, throughout the 70s. Happiness is a Warm Gun lyrics.

3. Blackbird

Blackbird is gentle, it’s soothing, and its transcendental. From the sweet perfection of Paul’s vocal, to the soft strumming of his acoustic guitar, to the steady, soft tapping of his foot. Granted, the song’s metaphor makes some ableist assumptions (neither full mobility nor sight being necessary to happiness and “freedom”), but I personally find it hard to feel as though the inspirational and hopeful nature of the lyric doesn’t somehow still come through. I’ve got mixed feelings about the inclusion of of sounds from an actual bird, but with a song that is otherwise this sublime, that really amounts to nitpicking.

VIDEO: The song Blackbird plays over a still black and white photograph of the Beatles form 1968. Blackbird lyrics.

4. Revolution

Revolution is probably among my personal favorite Beatles tracks. It’s a song that earned John a lot of shit from both the establishment and radical activists as the time, and which continues to be misunderstood and/or rejected today. John’s voice is dripping with defiance throughout the entire track, from his opening scream to his final ALRIGHT, as his dirty lead guitar wails alongside him. And though it’s not particularly complex, I’ve always been a big fan of Ringo’s drumming here. Among the very best Beatles rock songs.

VIDEO: The studio version of Revolution plays over footage of the Beatles performing the song live on a sound stage in 1968. Revolution lyrics.

5. Hey Jude

Hey Jude is unarguably one of the Beatles’ best known and most enduring classics. The hopeful, inspirational song, originally started for John’s son Julian, clocked in at over 7 minutes — a play length virtually unheard of, not to mention impossible for any other act. Rather than being banned by DJs, though, Hey Jude ended up ultimately becoming the Beatles’ most successful single — and even John, who saw his work of love Revolution relegated to a B-side to make room for the track, had to admit that it was a masterpiece. Ringo sneaks in some inspired drum fills, and Paul puts on his best vocal performance. Finally, in an insurmountable feat, they managed to make over four minutes of “nananana” iconic rather than laughable.

VIDEO: The studio version of Hey Jude plays over footage of the Beatles performing the song live in front of an audience. Most of the shots are close ups of individual band members as they play. Around three minutes into the track, audience members join the Beatles on stage, crowd around them, clap their hands and sing the long final chorus. Hey Jude lyrics.

Bonus Track: Dear Prudence

It’s no secret that 1968 was an incredibly prolific year, but seeing a song as spectacular as Dear Prudence necessarily relegated to a bonus track really drives the point home. Using a finger-picking technique apparently learned from Donovan in India, John’s acoustic guitar chimes and reverberates throughout the entire track. Paul’s bass is relatively subtle yet brilliant and perfectly complimentary. And let us not forget about George’s electric guitar crying out during the last verse. I’ve always considered Dear Prudence to be among John’s sweetest and prettiest songs, and among his most gentle and tender vocals.

VIDEO: Dear Prudence plays over an image of the Beatles’ White Album. Dear Prudence lyrics.

Which songs would have made your 1968 list? The quietly beautiful Julia? The raucous, hard hitting Helter Skelter? Yellow Submarine‘s Hey Bulldog, or the vastly under-looked, trippy track It’s All Too Much? Even better, are you one of the approximately three people on Earth who actually likes Revolution 9? View a full list of Beatles songs by year here, and speak up with your picks in comments. Next week, I’ll be back with the final installment in the series.

Previously in this series:
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1963
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1964
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1965
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1966
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1967

Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1967

Cara — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:43:03 +0000

In 1967, the Beatles recorded and released their most enduring work: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Technically started at the end of 1966 after the band had quietly stopped touring, Sgt. Pepper took a then unprecedented 5 months to record, leading media to taunt that the Beatles had finally dried up. Those who either worried or rejoiced at the possibility of a Beatles’ failure had picked a significantly wrong moment to do so.

But the recording of Sgt. Pepper, in many ways, also pushed the Beatles further apart. Ringo felt incredibly left out during recording, and George continued to feel (legitimately) as though John, Paul, and George Martin were not taking his songs and ideas seriously. Meanwhile, John and Paul’s own compositions were being composed mostly separately, and their individual songs clearly showed the different directions in which they were starting to drift.

Then, not long after the album’s release, the Beatles faced tragedy. Their trusted manager and friend, Brian Epstein, was found dead of a drug overdose. With the band left reeling from the personal loss and panicked at the confusion over the finances and all other business matters, Paul tried to pull the group back together over his pet movie project. But the rest of the band largely viewed it as a power grab, and anyway, the film Magical Mystery Tour wasn’t very good. The disjointed, psychedelic, and mostly plotless film was almost universally panned upon first showing on television, marking the Beatles’ first major artistic misstep.

The year of the Beatles’ most legendary and ambitious recording was thus also the year of both their greatest failure and greatest trauma. And though they technically remained together for two more years, 1967 has accordingly also been traced as the year that the Beatles started to break up.

1. A Day in the Life

It’s probably pretty well-known by now that I view A Day in the Life not just as the best Beatles song of 1967, and not merely the best Beatles song, but as the best song, period. It’s routinely cited as the greatest of all Lennon/McCartney collaborations, and that’s with good reason. Paul took John’s unadorned acoustic work in progress and helped him turn it into a masterpiece of epic and legendary proportions. But for me, 1967 was a year of John, and this song is not an exception to that rule. For he is the reason that I mostly dearly love this track. While I wouldn’t trade Paul’s middle eight or the spectacular brilliance of the orchestra for anything in the world, it is John’s simple guitar and the serene, haunting echo of his voice that take me to another world, all on their own.

2. Strawberry Fields Forever

The 1967 list is one that flows quite nicely — from the best song of the Beatles’ career, to what I view as the second best. Even with Tomorrow Never Knows coming before it, Strawberry Fields Forever startled many listeners. And when they saw the surreal accompanying promotional video, most couldn’t help but ask themselves what had happened to their beloved Beatles.

One of the finest compositions of John Lennon’s inestimable career, Strawberry Fields Forever is named for a childhood hangout, and features lyrics about the confusion and disillusionment of adult life. Droning mellotron, backwards drums, melancholy orchestral arrangement, and distorted vocals create a dreamlike, hypnotic texture. The unwittingly brilliant decision by John to splice together two different recordings — featuring two different keys and two different tempos — was impossibly, effectively, and almost imperceptibly executed by George Martin and Geoff Emerick, and nearly ensured that there will never be another track quite like it.

3. I Am The Walrus

Famously written as nonsense in response to people who John felt were too deeply analyzing his lyrics, I Am the Walrus just plain works. From the discordant opening piano chords, to the spooky, swirling strings, to the disconcerting audio of a King Lear performance, the pieces all fall unexpectedly into place. And John truly sells lines like “sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come” and “expert texpert choking smokers, don’t you think the joker laughs at you?” through sheer force of will. Goo goo g’joob!

4. Penny Lane

Penny Lane makes up one half of the greatest single ever released — and it couldn’t sound more different from the song it shared A-side status with, Strawberry Fields Forever. For inspiration, Paul also turned to his childhood in Liverpool (though John was actually the one who lived in the Penny Lane area). But instead of dark and ominous, Paul’s track is so bright and breezy that it almost shimmers. His vocal is lovely, but it was the choice of a piccolo trumpet solo — and the amazing performance by David Mason — that provides the perfecting touch.

5. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds

This trippy track was very likely assisted by LSD, but that doesn’t mean it was inspired by it. John always maintained that the title of his son Julian’s drawing was the culprit, and the man could never keep a lie going for that long, especially one so inconsequential. With the delicate, mesmerizing Hammond organ in the forefront, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds is perhaps the most iconic song of the Beatles’ psychedelic period. The distant vulnerability of John’s vocal and jolt of Ringo’s drums pounding through the break between each verse and chorus also both assist in rendering the track particularly memorable.

Bonus Track(s): Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / With a Little Help From My Friends

Okay, I’m going to admit up front that this final pick is kind of cheating. But I’m allowing it for a couple of reasons — firstly, it’s a bonus track, and secondly, I consider neither song fully complete without the other. Also, if The Beatles: Rock Band can get away with us, so can I, right?

The opening of Sgt. Pepper is epic, and no list about 1967 would be complete without it. The title track is a classic rock song filled with badass guitar licks and awesome harmonies. In fact, it’s a strong enough song to trick you into thinking you’re actually listening to a concept album. The illusion is propped up by the lead into Ringo singing as Billy Shears, in perhaps the greatest vocal of his career, and most definitely of his Beatles work.

Which 1967 songs would have made it on your list? Notably missing from this one are tracks such as She’s Leaving Home, Baby, You’re a Rich Man, Hello, Goodbye, and All You Need Is Love. View a full list of 1967 Beatles songs here, and leave your own choices in the comments.

Previously in this series:
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1963
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1964
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1965
Top 5 Beatles Songs From 1966