My first exposure to Sgt.
Pepper was the awful 1978 movie starring The Bee Gees and Peter Frampton.
Yes, those Bee Gees and that Peter Frampton. Of course, at the
time I LOVED that movie! When I saw it again as an adult, I was amazed at how
bad my taste in movies must have been as a child.
Having said that, the movie did expose me to the music of The Beatles... even
if it was being sung by George Burns.
OK, enough about the movie, I'm here to talk about the album, and I could talk
about this album forever.
This is one of the greatest concept albums, that isn't really a concept
album. "Beatlemania" was fading and the band had decided to stop
touring. Instead, they created a concept album that could essentially
"tour" for them. McCartney invented fictitious alter-egos for each
band member that allowed them to experiment with their songs.
The album starts with the title song, which introduces Sgt. Pepper's band and
segues into a song introduction for the band's leader, "Billy Shears"
(Ringo Starr), who performs "With A Little Help From My Friends." A
reprise version of the title song appears as a book-end just before the
climactic "A Day In The Life."
After these three songs, the concept was abandoned. Lennon went on record
stating that none of the songs he contributed had anything to do with the
original concept.
The only thing that could have made this album any better would have been the
inclusion of two songs that were originally recorded for, but released prior to
this album: "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane."
Track Listing: 01. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
02. With A Little Help From My Friends
03. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
04. Getting Better
05. Fixing A Hole 06. She's Leaving Home
07. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite
08. Within You Without You
09. When I'm 64
10. Lovely Rita
11. Good Morning 12. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
13. A Day In The Life
Most famous for her
work with the Velvet Underground (which I'll be listening to in the next week
or so), this was Nico's solo debut, and I was blown away. It was both simple
and complex at the same time. The sound of her brooding voice over the strings
provided by three members from the Velvet Underground was just beautiful.
Also known for her list of lovers (including Jim Morrison, Iggy Pop, and Brian
Jones), Nico introduced the world to a then-unknown Jackson Browne, a young
guitarist who contributed three songs to this album ("The Fairest Of The
Seasons," "These Days," and "Somewhere There's A
Feather"). And, yes, they were lovers also.
The contributions from the finest songwriters of the era didn't end with the
fledgling Browne and Velvet Underground members Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison,
and John Cale. Tim Hardin provided the chilling "Eulogy To Lenny
Bruce" and even Bob Dylan offered his song "I'll Keep It With
Mine."
Aside from the vocals, I loved the baroque chamber music feel to this album. No
drums at all, but plenty of electric viola, marimba, guitar, cello, harmonium,
and flute. The album was not generally well-received upon its initial release
due to its experimental sound, but it has since influenced countless female
artists, including Patti Smith and Siouxsie Sioux, and two of its tracks were
included on the soundtrack of The Royal Tenenbaums.
Track Listing: 01. The Fairest Of The Seasons
02. These Days
03. Little Sister
04. Winter Song
05. It Was A Pleasure Thing 06. Chelsea Girls
07. I'll Keep It With Mine
08. Somewhere There's A Feather 09. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
10. Eulogy To Lenny Bruce
Switching from the
eclectic stylings of Nina Simone to the Brazilian swagger of Astrud Gilberto
was a little tough. It kind of felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster
yesterday. To go from the desperate pleas of "If I Should Lose You"
to the come hither sounds of "Stay" was quite a jump. But, you have
to love an album that starts with "Stay...and we'll make sex with
music."
There were definitely some misfires on this album. The annoying marching band
sounds and seemingly infinite lists of different types of parades on "A
Banda (A Parade)." And how do you make the great Lovin' Spoonfuls song
"You Didn't Have To Be So Nice" any sweeter? Why, you turn it into a
duet with your six year-old son, of course. I absolutely love the original
version of this song, but I almost went into a diabetic coma from this version.
I'm highlighting it anyway. We'll call it a "guilty pleasure."
As a whole, this was a fine album of harmless, smooth, easy-listening music
that would have gone perfectly with the frozen drinks and poolside laziness I
enjoyed last weekend in Palm Springs.
Track Listing: 01. Stay
02. Misty Roses
03. The Face I Love
04. A Banda (Parade)
05. Oba, Oba 06. Canoeiro
07. I Had The Craziest Dream
08. Bossa Na Praia (Beach Samba)
09. My Foolish Heart
10. Dia Das Rosas (I Think Of You) 11. You Didn't Have To Be So Nice
12. Nao Bate O Coracao
I've always loved
Nina Simone. She could be just as bluesy as Billie Holiday and just as jazzy as
Ella Fitzgerald. But some would argue that she was never as consistent as
either.
For example, this album is a collection of left-over studio and live recordings
from '64 - '65 and ranges from jazz ballads to traditional folk songs, from the
near-calypso sound of "Why Keep On Breaking My Heart" to the somber
title track. But, for me, this album shows off her incredible range. Especially
on the self-penned, "Four Women," a series of four vignettes that
reflect common stereotypes of African-American women. They are: the
hard-working, but never appreciated Aunt Sarah, the mixed-race Saffronia, the
prostitute Sweet Thing, and the angry and bitter Peaches.
A few years ago, my then-roommates Chris & Paul loaned me a copy of Nina
Simone: An Anthology and I immediately fell in love with her voice. She
does a cover of The Beatles' "Here Comes The Sun" that rivals George
Harrison. So, thanks Chris & Paul, and you guys should definitely check out
this album!
Track Listing: 01. I Love Your Lovin' Ways
02. Four Women
03. What More Can I Say
04. Lilac Wine
05. That's All I Ask 06. Break Down And Let It All Out
07. Why Keep On Breaking My Heart
08. Wild Is The Wind
09. Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair
10. Either Way I Lose
11. If I Should Lose You
My first exposure to Sgt.
Pepper was the awful 1978 movie starring The Bee Gees and Peter Frampton.
Yes, those Bee Gees and that Peter Frampton. Of course, at the
time I LOVED that movie! When I saw it again as an adult, I was amazed at how
bad my taste in movies must have been as a child.
