Friday, June 03, 2011

All Together Now

All Together Now is a feature-length documentary that chronicles the making of The Beatles and Cirque du Soleil collaboration project Love. The film details the story behind the unique partnership between The Beatles and Cirque du Soleil that resulted in the creation and launch of the Love stage show and the double Grammy-winning album of the same name. The film is dedicated to the memory of Neil Aspinall, a former assistant to the band and head of Apple Corps.

All Together Now recounts how the Love project came into being, borne from the personal friendship between George Harrison and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte. George saw how the twin talents of Cirque’s artistry and The Beatles’ music could be fused into something new and totally original. The title of the DVD refers to The Beatles song "All Together Now."

The director, Adrian Wills, records early meetings between the Cirque & Apple Corps' creative teams, as well as contributions from Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison discussing how The Beatles' music can be used in a different way. The film touches on the decision to utilize the combined talents of Sir George Martin and his son Giles Martin to produce what became a 90-minute soundscape created from The Beatles' multi-track recordings and how this new audio adventure was being quietly worked on in the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, England whilst the first creative ideas for the show were being formulated in Montreal, Canada.

These early stages of the project were all filmed, as were the first rehearsals in the theatre of The Mirage in Las Vegas, which was completely rebuilt with a one-of-a-kind sound system and complex round staging to house the Love show. George and Giles Martin, the show’s musical directors, were involved with the Cirque du Soleil creative team, performers and backroom staff.

The DVD was released on 20 October 2008.

The DVD won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video Long Form, an award that The Beatles themselves have won before, with the release of the movie "Let It Be."

Wikipedia

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Ringo Starr Live Online Gig

Live performances featuring Ringo Starr, Edgar Winter, Gary Wright, Rick Derringer, Richard Page, Wally Palmar and Gregg Bissonette. Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band are preparing to embark on their 2011 European tour. The twenty eight date tour, which begins on June 4th, is the most extensive European tour undertaken by Ringo and His All Starr Band. With concerts in Ukraine, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Latvia, Poland, Britain, France, Czech Republic, Italy, Holland, Germany and Austria the tour will see Ringo performing in several countries for the first time. It is also Ringo’s first UK tour since 1998.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

"Rock and Roll Music" Lyrics

by Chuck Berry

As Released by Chuck Berry (1957)

Just let me hear some of that rock an' roll music.
Any ol' way you choose it.
It's got a back beat, you can't lose it.
Any ol' time you use it.
It's gotta be rock-roll music,
If you wanna dance with me.
If you wanna dance with me.

I have no kick against modern jazz,
Unless they try to play it too darn fast,
And change the beauty of the melody,
Until it sounds just like a symphony,

That's why I go for that rock an' roll music,
Any ol' way you choose it.
It's got a back beat, you can't lose it.
Any ol' time you use it.
It's gotta be rock-roll music,
If you wanna dance with me.
If you wanna dance with me.

I took my loved one over cross the tracks.
So she can hear my man a wailin' sax.
I must admit they have a rockin' band.
Man they were blowin' like a hurricane.

That's why I go for that rock 'an roll music,
Any ol' way you choose it.
It's got a back beat, you can't lose it.
Any ol' time you use it.
It's gotta be rock-roll music,
If you wanna dance with me.
If you wanna dance with me.

Way down south they gave a jubilee,
The country folks they had a jamboree.
They're drinkin' homebrew from a wooden cup,
The folks dancin', got shook up,

And started playin' that rock 'an roll music,
Any ol' way you choose it.
It's got a back beat, you can't lose it.
Any ol' time you use it.
It's gotta be rock-roll music,
If you wanna dance with me.
If you wanna dance with me.

Don't care to hear 'em play a tango.
I'm in the mood to dig a mambo,
It's way to early for the congo,
So keep a rockin' that piano,
So I can hear some of that rock 'an roll music,
Any ol' way you choose it.
It's got a back beat, you can't lose it.
Any ol' time you use it.
It's gotta be rock-roll music,
If you wanna dance with me.
If you wanna dance with me.



As Released by the Beatles (1964)

Just let me hear some of that rock and roll music,
Any old way you choose it.
It's got a back beat, you can't blues it,
Any old time you use it.
It's gotta be rock roll music,
If you wanna dance with me.
If you wanna dance with me.

I've got no kick against modern jazz,
Unless they try to play it too darn fast.
And lose the beauty of the melody,
Until they sound just like a symphony.

That's why I go for that rock and roll music,
Any old way you choose it.
It's got a back beat, you can't blues it,
Any old time you use it.
It's gotta be rock and roll music,
If you wanna dance with me.
If you wanna dance with me.

I took my love on over 'cross the tracks,
So she can hear my man awail a sax.
I must admit they have a rockin' band,
Man, they were blowin' like a hurricane.

That's why I go for that rock and roll music,
Any old way you choose it.
It's got a back beat, you can't blues it,
Any old time you use it.
It's gotta be rock and roll music,
If you wanna dance with me.
If you wanna dance with me.

Way down South they had a jubilee,
Those Georgia folks they had a jamboree.
They're drinkin' home brew from a wooden cup,
The folks all dancin' got all shook up.

And started playin' that rock and roll music,
Any old time you use it.
It's got a back beat, you can't blues it,
Any old time you use it.
It's gotta be rock and roll music,
If you wanna dance with me.
If you wanna dance with me.

Don't care to hear 'em play a tango,
I'm in no mood to take a mambo.
It's way too early for a congo,
So keep rockin' that piano.

That's why I go for that rock and roll music,
Any old time you use it.
It's got a back beat, you can't blues it,
Any old time you use it.
It's gotta be rock and roll music,
If you wanna dance with me.
If you wanna dance with me.

Monday, May 30, 2011

"Maggie Mae" Lyrics

traditional, arr. by Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey

As Released by the Vipers Skiffle Group ("Maggie May") (1957)

Oh Maggie, Maggie May, they have taken her away
And she'll never walk down Lime street anymore
Well, that judge he guilty found her, for robbin' a homeward–bounder
You dirty, robbin' no good Maggie May

Now, I was paid off at the Pool, in the port of Liverpool
Well, three pound ten a week, that was my pay
With a pocket full of tin, I was very soon taken in
By a gal with the name of Maggie May

Now, the first time I saw Maggie, she took my breath away,
She was cruising up and down in Canning Place
She had a figure so divine, her voice was so refined
Well, being a sailor I gave chase

Now, in the morning I awoke, I was flat and stony broke
No jacket, trousers, waistcoat did I find
Oh, and when I asked her, where? She said, "My very dear sir,
They're down in Kelly's pawnshop number nine"

To the pawnshop I did go, no clothes there did I find
And the police, they took that gal away from me
And the judge he guilty found her of robbin' a homeward-bounder
She'll never walk down Lime Street anymore

Oh Maggie, Maggie May, they have taken her away
And she'll never walk down Lime street anymore
Well, that judge he guilty found her, for robbin' a homeward–bounder
You dirty, robbin' no good Maggie May



As Released by the Beatles (1970)

Oh dirty Maggie Mae, they have taken her away
And she never walk down Lime Street any more
Oh the judge he guilty found her
For robbing a homeward bounder
That dirty no good robbin' Maggie Mae

To the port of Liverpool
They returned me to
Two pounds ten a week, that was my pay

Sunday, May 29, 2011

"I Will"

"I Will" is a song by The Beatles that was released on The Beatles. It was written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon/McCartney) and features him on lead vocal, guitar, and "vocal bass."

Recording

The recording session turned into a jam session, producing the short "Can you take me back" segment that ends "Cry Baby Cry" on most versions of the album, as well as "Los Paranoias" (released on Anthology 3). This quiet song required 67 takes. George Harrison did not play on this. During The Beatles sessions, the Beatles often recorded in separate studios.

Anthology

In the televised documentary The Beatles Anthology, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr are shown relaxing on a blanket outside. Starr asks McCartney what he wrote in India and McCartney answers, "I Will." Then Harrison begins playing this on his ukulele while he and McCartney harmonize with it.

An alternate version of "I Will" was released in October 1996 on the Anthology 3 album. The alternate version was the first take of the song.

Cover versions

* The song has been covered by many notable artists such as Alison Krauss (in Now That I've Found You: A Collection), Maureen McGovern (in her 1992 album Baby I'm Yours) and Ben Taylor.
* The song was sung in the romantic movie starring Annette Bening and Warren Beatty, The Love Affair.
* This song was covered as a reggae-like number by "Rocky Horror" lead Tim Curry on his album Read My Lips.
* A similar version of the guitar riff appears on the song "My Best Friend's Girl" by the group The Cars.
* Sharon, Lois, and Bram, who is a Children's singing group did a version for a children's album.
* Jonathan Coulton did a cover of the song as part of his Thing A Week.
* Hugh Masekela covered "I Will" on his 1994 album Reconstruction.
* Art Garfunkel covered this song on his 1997 album Songs from a Parent to a Child
* Diana Ross' version appears on her 2007 comeback album I Love You.
* Rose Melberg covered this song on her 1998 album Portola.
* Kevin Barnes covered this song live in Dallas, TX.
* John Holt covered this song, and the trumpet intro is the sample used throughout Jay-Z's "Encore" (coincidentally, The Beatles would be mashed up with the album that originally featured "Encore" as The Grey Album, ironically, that album's remix of "Encore" did not sample "I Will").
* Andres Calamaro Covered this song his 2000 album "El Salmón Dedo 3".

Credits

* Paul McCartney — vocal, acoustic guitar, "vocal bass"
* John Lennon — percussion
* Ringo Starr — cymbals, bongos, maracas

Album: The Beatles
Released: 22 November 1968
Recorded: 16 September 1968
Genre: Pop
Length: 1:48
Label: Apple Records
Writer: Lennon/McCartney
Producer: George Martin

Wikipedia