Episode 287: Shout-outs, Secret Shout-Out/Listener Good News, You Rules, Scratch-Off: Live! Ranking the Beatles albums from bottom to top.
“The Hucklebuck,” performed by Sierra Rein, Lee Rocker and Frank Sinatra.
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Jay ThePal got timeline, too. :/ NOOOOO!
Thanks for recognizing my Kirk preference as valid–you Picard types aren’t usually willing to agree to disagree. I hope you’ll also agree that not all non-fans of the Beatles are fascists. I don’t care for the Beatles but you don’t see me making trains run on time.
I had my head gnawed on by a Winnie the Pooh when I was 5 and my parents laughed at me as it happened. Ever since, I don’t care for dressed-up characters (…or my parents–but that’s for another comment). I mind the people just dressed up as human characters less, but I still don’t trust them. It makes Halloween a tough time of year for me. I wonder why Krizzer doesn’t like dressed-up characters…?
Happiness is a worm gun, Sten?
As I’m not a fan of the Beatles, my comment is done already!! O_O
Beatles are a great topic although my comments will come from a different angle. Keep in mind I was a teenager when Beatlemania hit it big. It’s hard to overstate the uproar they caused. The whole country was consumed with mop top hairdos and screaming teenage girls. Their music took second stage to the social impact they had. Suddenly, everyone was arguing about mod clothes and long hair. It’s hard to believe the Beatles were considered counter-culture but they were. I also remember watching them on the Ed Sullivan show while staring at a 21 inch black and white TV. I’d never seen anything so cool.
I went to college in the 70’s while their music was still popular. I heard it so much I grew weary. It was in every dorm room. As a result, I don’t own a single album today. I appreciate the music but don’t care to listen to it any more.
As for ranking, I tend to break them up into 3 categories 1) Teeny Bopper, 2) Acid Rock, and 3) Separate but Together. I personally like the Acid Rock era of Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour the best. By the time they got to the White Album, they weren’t really recording together anymore. Is it really a Beatles album when the Beatles aren’t working as a group? I guess one or two cooperating might count but to me it wasn’t the Beatles. Of this era I really love the White Album.
Looking back on my teenage years, the Beatlemania revolution stands out as one of my strongest memories. Nothing has really equaled them in terms of impact to our culture, clothes, hairstyles, and changing social attitudes. Their music changed the landscape of the recording industry. It’s hard to overstate the power of Sgt. Pepper. It influenced countless artists for many years and helped bring in the whole San Francisco hard rock movement of Cream, Jefferson Airplane, and The Who.
I’m glad I was around to experience the Beatles as they happened. It was a unique time that will probably never be repeated. Those under 5o know the music but can’t really grasp the crazy mania surrounding the Beatles. To them, they are just a 60’s band but the Beatles were really much, much, more.
Ahem. “Penny Lane” is the weakest song on Magical Mystery Tour?
I nominate “All You Need Is Love” for worst Beatles song OF ALL TIME. Of course, I say this as someone who didn’t experience its impact upon release, nor the live broadcast (which of course, was probably the song’s nadir). But it’s a lazy song with a cloying refrain. Strike that, it’s not a song, it’s a bumper sticker. The only good part? When “She Loves You” makes an appearance at the end.
Can I just mention this’ll probably be the last time I’ll be allowed to comment here?
Re: “Wild Honey Pie”. I just accept it as part of the chock-full-o-nuts experience that is the White Album. At this time, they had stopped touring, and instead were studio rats, as Duke above points out, often working independently. This particular concoction was a McCartney solo endeavor who was experimenting with multitracking and odd effects, and — I’m borrowing this analogy — if you think of the White Album as a play, “Wild Honey Pie” is like a scene change while the sets get rearranged, not unlike the unlisted track “Can You Take Me Back”. I would never consider it a sing-a-long, but indicates that a listener is intended to listen to the whole album for random surprises. It’s interesting to the ear, and if nothing else, it’s the shortest track on the album, taking up 1/8th the time it takes to hate on “Revolution 9”.
Re: “Piggies”. What, no harpsichord love?
Perhaps I’m nitpicking. I think we can all agree there’s something to enjoy in just about every Beatles song. Except for “Mister Moonlight” or, in our house, “Mis-tahhhhhh SKIP”.
Thanks for the special shout-out luvvies!
I even love the soundtrack to Yellow Submarine, even though the Beatles had no hand in it. There’s really no Beatles song that I would turn off with any form of annoyance.
#Picard/Data2012!!!
C’mon, Stennie, practicing and mastering the fundamentals of throwing, fielding, and hitting is just soooo mainstream. Also, hard to do while holding a can of PBR.
Oh shit, I’m probably too late!
Anyway, LOVED the Beatles episode — one of the best HBs ever IMO.
First of all, I forgot to chime on the Mayo or Miracle Whip question. I liked both as a kid, but as an adult Miracle Whip made me gag. However, I now love Vegenaise (Vegan-aise) which tastes exactly like mayo — even better, if that’s possible — and has none of the bad stuff in mayo.
Bet you mentioned Duran cover The Night Before? I’m a Duran fan and never heard about that. Are you sure?
BTW, George is my favorite Beatle, too.
The Magical Mystery Tour movie sucks indeed, but it’s getting a polished up new release on Blu-ray and theatrical release this fall!
P.S. In the words of Sir Paul McCartney, give the White Album a break…”It’s the bloody Beatles White Album!” 🙂