THE BEATLES' LAST GIG MARKS 50

The Beatles Candlestick Park,San Francisco 8/29/66

Marking off another Golden anniversary of the fab four's is their final gig at Candlestick Park,San Francisco which was held August 29th,1966. The band had concluded their touring duties with this memorable gig wherein it was said that  they took selfies  after they bid adieu to the crowd.Something that would never ever happen again for the rest of their lives as musicians.

The Beatles has stopped touring amid the problems they began facing since Beatlemania took off two years earlier.The band was noted at first for being frustrated of not hearing themselves with all the uproar that has been going on as fans started to pack their venues and they were forced to take on stadiums to accomodate more people.Not to mention the political and religious involvement the band has faced in which touring became a little more dangerous in the wake of John Lennon's comment "We're more popular than Jesus" wherein the band had received numerous death threats and protests left and right from religious sects.Adding up to their burden is the disastrous tour of the Philippines wherein they nearly jeopardized their own existence over Ferdinand Marcos who was back then gearing up to be a dictator of the island nation.

Celebrating the last ever gig is an audio recording of the band playing at Candlestick Park.Though the audio clip's quality is relatively poor, it gives one Beatles fan(most of whom were not even born yet when the band first came to fame) an insight of what its like to be in that touring finale.

One gig which eventually turned up to be released as a live album later on was the 1964 concert at Hollywood Bowl where George Martin had to clean the noise meticulously using the current available technology.The album made it to the top 10 in the late seventies and will also be re-issued this year.With more technological advancements,who knows,some of these gigs would one day be issued as another official live album.


(c) 2016 Keith Vernon Adagio

50 YEARS OF REVOLVER

Fifty years yet again had passed since another Beatles album has been released. Fifty years of looking back to the greatest music that ever came out and how it has brought huge impact to our lives and what we are today.We all know that the Beatles is very much the most influential rock band of the 20th Century and perhaps even today where no other rock group[even in this time period] has ever achieved nor surpassed what they have done as a recording unit,not to mention the chart performances.But even then, there were other artists who have somewhat did the same performance regarding chart positions(let alone having the top 5 positions from one artist in which we all know that can never happen again),it was never the same and the quality of music today is somewhat inferior despite the technological advances that we have(et al autotunes-in which doesn't show pure talent).Back in the days when you don't have electronic drum sounds and you have to play everything to express one's self.

Revolver is one Beatles album that clearly defines the cutting edge of a rock band that began experimenting with a harder sound.Most of the tracks as you all can see is filled with cool electric guitar riffings,Indian flavor,jazz rock and awesome string arrangements.Its the mid sixties and the Beatles are somewhat tired of the teeny bopperish that has been going that its time to upgrade and move forward.Sick with the yeah yeah yeahs from the band's early phase,the band began experimenting with drop D tunings,distortions,feedbacks as well as backmasked guitar solos-something that has never been done before in that time period.And of course,something that has been followed and continues to be observed on rock music today.

The album is somewhat the opposite of its predecessor Rubber Soul where the latter was filled with songs done on acoustic guitars and having that slight folk feel. Revolver opens with the upbeat and politically rebellious "Taxman" penned by George Harrison who wrote the song as a protest to the British government on how much are they taking on his earnings as a rock star.On the other hand,their friends the Rolling Stones would soon embark on a tax exile and has been followed by other bands such as the Who and Led Zeppelin in the intervening years.Some people might not know that it was Paul McCartney who came up with the guitar solo for that song and not George.Story goes that Paul was hanging around with Jimi Hendrix at the time and we all know that when two geniuses come together all the influences would be shared to one another.So in one interview,McCartney then told that time when he got that idea and was suggesting George on how good it is to have that Hendrix influenced guitar solo would sound cool to the song- "feedbacky" and "crazy" as Paul had later described it. And Harrison agreed on Paul's suggestion that he let McCartney do the solo on his Gibson Epiphone Casino-the result was absolute perfection with that guitar solo that we hear on the album and would later be played live by George on his solo concerts and would also be played by Mike Campbell as a tribute to Harrison on Concert For George.With two more songs penned by him,Revolver is the second album(next to the White Album) with the most George Harrison compositions on the track listings than any other Beatles LP.

Paul McCartney playing bass,Revolver sessions(Getty Images)

The band never played any instruments on the album's second track "Eleanor Rigby" wherein the string arrangements was mixed later on with the vocals.Tracks like "I'm Only Sleeping" and "Tomorrow Never Knows" were filled with tape loops and backmasking.John Lennon was known to be unhappy with his voice that he wanted to do something about it. George Martin already added effects to his voice by doubling the vocals on the previous album and he continued to practice the same thing[with much more improvements] on Revolver.A practice that has been maintained by other rock bands such as Nirvana and Scorpions in the decades that followed.Engineer Geoff Emerick even joked about having Lennon tied up to his feet and have him hanged upside down from the ceiling then spin to obtain the same vocal effect.Of course it was never done!

Tracks like "Got To Get You Into My Life" was the precursor of jazz rock wherein a horn section has been combined with electric guitars as well as pulsating drums and bass.The said track has been the inspiration for rock groups such as Chicago, Earth,Wind & Fire and the Buckinghams who became famous by fusing a horn section with an average rock group lineup.And of course,the mix won't be complete without a ballad or two such as "Here,There And Everywhere" and "For No One".The former was said to be inspired by McCartney's then girlfriend Jane Asher.

Upon its worldwide release August 5 and US release three days later.The album topped the US charts for three weeks though the then US release was somewhat short handed with Capitol removing three tracks from the album and adding it up("Doctor Robert","I'm Only Sleeping" and "And Your Bird Can Sing") to the butchered album Yesterday And Today.Nevertheless,the original 14 track lineup has been the official worldwide arrangement since 1987.The album was ranked number three by Rolling Stone magazine on their 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time list.In 2000,it was ranked by British magazine Q at number one on the Greatest British Albums Of All Time.It was inducted as well at the Grammy Hall Of  Fame and was also included on the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

The Beatles.Revolver sessions 1966 (Getty Images)

Fifty years have passed since we were given a unique gift from a band with immense songwriting talent.Revolver will always be remembered as one rock n' roll treasure,a hard act to follow to many musicians yet an inspiration for budding rock bands for years or perhaps decades to come.


(c) 2016 Keith Vernon Adagio

Beatles Documentary Set For US Theatrical Release September 16th

Ron Howard and Paul McCartney (credit: McCartney website)

Ron Howard,famed for his work with such films such as Apollo 13 and Cocoon has directed a new Beatles documentary set to be released on US theatres September 16th,2016 with a streaming on Hulu the following day.A world premiere will be held in London September 15.

Nearly two years ago Howard made an announcement online for people who had special clips and memories that he can somehow add up to the new documentary that he'll be directing.The new film will focus on the band's touring years from 1962 to their very last in 1966 which is by then titled The Beatles:Eight Days A Week-The Touring Years.The film includes new and archive footages of Paul McCartney,Ringo Starr as well as interviews with Olivia Harrison and Yoko Ono,John and George's widows.

The trailer for the upcoming film can be viewed below as well as the theatrical poster.

Theatrical release poster

(c) 2016 Keith Vernon Adagio

The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl To Be Re-Issued September 9

The live album The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl will be re-issued on CD and Digital Copy September 9th,2016 with a follow up vinyl re-issue set on November 18th.

The album was first released in 1977 and went to number 2 on the charts though the recording is by then 12 and 13 years old,meticulously cleansed by the late George Martin to remove unnecessary noises from the master tapes,noises that made the Beatles a little difficult to hear themselves.Now his son Giles Martin is proud to have an updated technology to capture that moment in 1964. “Trust me,” Martin added, "it doesn’t sound like Steely Dan. It’s still the Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl. But I think now it really captures the energy of the band at those shows” as Martin talked to an LA Times reporter.The album has been out of print since the late 1980s.

The album now comprises of 17 tracks,four of which were previously unreleased.A new 24-page booklet, with an essay by music journalist David Fricke, will accompany the album.


(c)2016 Keith Vernon Adagio

Henry McCullough,rock guitar player passes away

Henry McCullough,circa Wings 1973(photo: Linda McCartney)

As much as I hated the fact that my blog this year has become a bit of an obituary for rock stars who are passing away at an incredible high rate,you cannot avoid on having the senses of how short life is.Now its Henry McCullough's turn.

McCullough had a massive heart attack in 2012 and was by then mistakenly reported to have died.He was in critical condition.The former guitar player for Paul McCartney's rock band in the seventies Wings once played with Joe Cocker and the Grease band and first came into prominence for being the latter's lead guitarist when he performed in Woodstock in 1969.The guitar player then met Paul McCartney upon the recommendation of his friend,drummer Denny Seiwell who also played as a session musician on Paul's second solo album Ram.He and Seiwell,along with Denny Laine,were the ones who completed the first line up of Wings with Paul and Linda McCartney as the core members.

However,his career with Wings was cut short when he and Denny Seiwell decided to leave the band over an argument with Paul regarding money.Paul,Linda,along with Denny Laine had to record Band On The Run without them.McCullough was then known to be critical of Paul post-Wings in which he described on past interviews about his clash with McCartney hereby having the music press to label Paul as somewhat autocratic or simply the Don,even going far as having with the pretenses of a democratic little band in which he himself actually has total control.The hurt by then healed through time with recent interviews wherein McCullough were saying positive comments this time about Wings in 2011.

After a brief stint with Wings where he played on only one album Red Rose Speedway,McCullough signed with Dark Horse records which was owned by former Beatle George Harrison and released a solo album Mind Your Own Business in 1975.He then went back to being a session and touring musician and worked with bands like Pink Floyd,Frankie Miller Band as well as solo artists like Eric Burdon,Marianne Faithfull and Donovan.

Henry McCullough(left) with Wings

 McCullough was said to have never fully recovered from his 2012 attack and has been ill for several years before passing away at his home in Ireland in the early morning of June 14,2016. Among the people who led tributes after his passing is none other than Paul McCartney who described him as a super talented musician with a lovely sense of humor. A benefit concert for him was even held in 2015 to aid on his finances during his years of  illness.His most famous trademark was that guitar solo on the Wings song "My Love" wherein it was said that he made up the solo on the spot.

(Above:Paul McCartney's tribute on his facebook page after hearing of McCullough's passing,describing him as a "super talented musician")

(c)2016 Keith Vernon Adagio

Beatles press agent Tony Barrow passes away

The man who had christened the Beatles as the "fab four" has passed away at the age of 80 around two months after producer George Martin died of natural causes.

British tabloid The Mirror first reported of Barrow's passing as well as former friends and neighbors from Liverpool through social media.Sir Paul McCartney was said to have expressed his reaction via twitter though his facebook page had remained untouched regarding the said topic.

Only a few was known about Barrow who worked with the Beatles from 1962 to 1968.He had actually met both Lennon and McCartney back in the days when the band was still playing with various skiffle groups.Barrow had first worked with Decca who infamously rejected the Beatles and then signed the Rolling Stones.He was then hired as a press agent by Brian Epstein for his company NEMS.After the Beatles broke up he worked for different groups on both sides of the Atlantic until quitting his job in 1980 to become a freelance journalist.Barrow passed away at his home in Morecambe, Lancashire May 14,2016


(c) 2016 Keith Vernon Adagio

SOUND MAN: Remembering George Martin

Sir George Martin (photo credit:unknown)

2016 hasn't been so good about rock music with a lot of musicians passing away beginning from the latter part of the previous year with artists ranging from Scott Weiland to Lemmy and Glenn Frey.And the entertainment world was appalled once again with the passing of another rock icon,Sir George Martin who was the Beatles' producer at age 90.

The Beatles have always been known as the most popular and influential rock band of all time and space.They invented and revolutionized everything-from modern rock, hairstyle,band setting,recording and the way people listened.Considering those 13 albums which were known by everyone young and old to be one of the great rock n' roll treasures.But the fab four couldn't have done it all by themselves without the help of their producer who made their ideas into reality.Engineer Geoff Emerick has always said that John Lennon had a good imagination but it was George Martin who made life to those thoughts,considering the incredible sound the band has made in the studio particularly during the period when the band retired from touring and was at the highest peak of creativity in the latter part of the 60s.

George Martin produced almost all of the Beatles' albums except Let It Be in which he was only given a thanks credit.The said album was actually produced by Phil Spector who is currently serving a life sentence in prison with second degree murder charges of actress Lana Clarkson.Martin,on the other hand,have been considered by many as the fifth Beatle and is the subject of much dispute because some  Beatle experts are also considering Brian Epstein for that title.When the Beatles were rejected by Decca Records back in 1962,it was George Martin who decided to give the band a break when the group auditioned for Parlophone right after.Having trained in classical music and conducting,Martin knew that the band had a unique gift when he signed them up for a record contract and had concentrated first on the band's vocal harmonies,thus,hereby enhancing their own sound.He would later do arrangements on the band's albums as we have known them today.

 One of Martin's "special tricks" involves the mixing of these great albums in the studio.By the time Sgt Pepper was in its production phase Lennon was said to have approached him citing his song Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite,wherein he said he wanted to "smell the saw dust from the floor"-wanted to smell the atmosphere of the circus.The said song has been known to had had the most sonic manipulations in the legendary album wherein Martin had used calliope music mixed with tape loops and hammond organ.Other songs of that caliber was the piano solo of  In My Life from Rubber Soul,wherein he had slowed down his recording of the said piece and mixed it on the master tape-making the solo sound like it came from a mellotron.Many sound experts have been deceived for years believing it was a mellotron until Martin himself revealed his little 'secret'.

George Martin with Paul McCartney,1964(Getty Images)

When the Beatles broke up Martin busied himself in mixing the band's compilation albums in the seventies and has worked with several bands like the Jeff Beck Group,America and Cheap Trick.He got to work with Paul again when he produced the Wings' song "Live And Let Die" and had worked again with McCartney on his 1982 album Tug Of War as producer and arranger.Paul McCartney once mentioned in an interview that he would love to work with him forever and being spoiled by George Martin's generosity when it comes to creativity in the studio.One wouldn't forget the fact that it was Martin who had the idea to add the string arrangements to Paul's song Yesterday in which McCartney was reluctant at first.Martin convinced him to try it,promising that he would remove it if Paul doesn't like it and the result was perfect.Yesterday went on to become one of the Beatles' most beloved ballads and was in fact awarded by the Guiness Book Of World Records as the most covered song of all time.Going back to his work relationship and being a friend of McCartney's,Paul mentioned him several times during an interview 2005 when he compared him to producer Nigel Godrich who worked with him on his album Chaos And Creation In The Backyard.McCartney even described his small rift with Godrich citing that he was spoiled by Martin or perhaps missed his presence in the studio.Martin retired in 1998 due to hearing loss.Nevertheless,he still got himself involved in later Beatles projects with his son Giles taking over his duties.Having worked with other artists like the one mentioned above,one singer outside rock music's inner circle has her own story to tell on how George Martin made an impact to her career.The artist is none other than Celine Dion whom Martin has produced an album with as well.She later described in an interview on how she was honored and overwhelmed by Martin's presence considering his astounding resume and having worked with the Beatles.

George Martin passed away under natural causes and his death was mourned by rock musicians and Beatles fans across the globe.One heartfelt message came from none other than Paul McCartney himself who wrote this message on his facebook page:

I’m so sad to hear the news of the passing of dear George Martin. I have so many wonderful memories of this great man that will be with me forever. He was a true gentleman and like a second father to me. He guided the career of The Beatles with such skill and good humour that he became a true friend to me and my family. If anyone earned the title of the fifth Beatle it was George. From the day that he gave The Beatles our first recording contract, to the last time I saw him, he was the most generous, intelligent and musical person I’ve ever had the pleasure to know.

It’s hard to choose favourite memories of my time with George, there are so many but one that comes to mind was the time I brought the song 'Yesterday’ to a recording session and the guys in the band suggested that I sang it solo and accompany myself on guitar. After I had done this George Martin said to me, "Paul I have an idea of putting a string quartet on the record". I said, “Oh no George, we are a rock and roll band and I don’t think it’s a good idea”. With the gentle bedside manner of a great producer he said to me, "Let us try it and if it doesn’t work we won’t use it and we’ll go with your solo version". I agreed to this and went round to his house the next day to work on the arrangement.
He took my chords that I showed him and spread the notes out across the piano, putting the cello in the low octave and the first violin in a high octave and gave me my first lesson in how strings were voiced for a quartet. When we recorded the string quartet at Abbey Road, it was so thrilling to know his idea was so correct that I went round telling people about it for weeks. His idea obviously worked because the song subsequently became one of the most recorded songs ever with versions by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye and thousands more.
This is just one of the many memories I have of George who went on to help me with arrangements on 'Eleanor Rigby', 'Live and Let Die' and many other songs of mine.
I am proud to have known such a fine gentleman with such a keen sense of humour, who had the ability to poke fun at himself. Even when he was Knighted by the Queen there was never the slightest trace of snobbery about him.
My family and I, to whom he was a dear friend, will miss him greatly and send our love to his wife Judy and their kids Giles and Lucy, and the grandkids.
The world has lost a truly great man who left an indelible mark on my soul and the history of British music.
God bless you George and all who sail in you!
Paul




Sleep well Sir George Martin  3rd January 1926-8th March 2016

(c) 2016 Keith Vernon Adagio


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Robert Stigwood Dead at 81

Robert Stigwood,manager,producer(credit: Getty Images)

Robert Stigwood the man who managed bands like Cream and the Bee Gees has died January 4th,2016 in London at age 81.His godson Spencer Gibb,son of the late Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb has first broke the news on his Facebook page.

Born Robert Colin Stigwood in Australia in 1934,he became prominent in the late sixties managing bands like Cream,the Bee Gees and the Who with the two former in partnership with Brian Epstein who is also the manager of the Beatles.He went on to become a producer in the 1970s with his involvement in films and musicals.His film involvements include Jesus Christ Superstar,Tommy,Grease and Saturday Night Fever.He had his own recording company RSO[stands for Robert Stigwood Organisation] which launched the careers of Eric Clapton(being a solo artist),Andy Gibb and the later career of the Bee Gees as a disco trio.

Robert Stigwood(center) with John Lennon(left)

Bee Gees,1967

The Bee Gees(left),one of the first rock groups in the sixties managed by Stigwood along with Cream in partnership with Brian Epstein.The band was then a quintet releasing four albums until 1969 before disintegrating temporarily and then bouncing back later as a trio.






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(c) Keith Vernon Adagio