One of the things that I love about The Beatles is that all their songs—even all the parts of their songs—sound right to my ear. Other people can cover a Beatles song and their version might be interesting, or even good, but it won't sound as perfect as the original. Eric Clapton's solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is definitely like that—the magic was so strong, it even extended to session men (Billy Preston is another example of this). Then I listened to this 2004 solo by Prince at George Harrison's induction ceremony into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [...]

I'd like to try to break out some of the more important issues brought up in comments, and put them in one themed thread, so browsers/new users of this blog can find and follow the discussion more efficiently. Please continue your discussion of the Beatles and the UK class system in the comments here. Thank you.

Brooks, Lennon, et al. [Stalwart @Hologram Sam posted some of this as a comment, but it's just too good not to surface on the main page. Albert Brooks is a comedian's comedian—someone I want to get for Bystander—and his seminal comedy LP "Comedy Minus One" came out in 1973. This is from a 2012 Vanity Fair interview by Judd Apatow.—M.G.] J.A. You said you were friends with Harry Nilsson? A.B. I was. He was one of these comedy-freak guys. He would come and see my shows and he was very sweet and a massive drinker. I didn’t drink and I wound up being [...]

Just when I think, "I fully and completely grok the sublime weirdness of the 1960s and 70s," I discover something more. Another level (of which there are, as we all know, seven). In the future, historians will conclude, "Everybody was absurdly high. All the time." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJBDcb7kq_g As a palate-cleanser, here is a relatively non-insane modern remix from the people (person?) at Disco Purrfection. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T553QuLWHwg

Ah, you didn't think there was a connection between the Beatles and Forrest Gump? Perhaps you've blocked that 1994 Robert Zemeckis film from your memory? (In which case, smart move.) Well, the great columnist and critic Lindy West is here to remind you of the link in her new book Shit, Actually: The Definitive, 100% Objective Guide to Modern Cinema. In the film, Forrest ends up on the Dick Cavett show, along with John Lennon. West excerpts the following dialogue: Gump: In the land of China, people hardly got nothing at all. Lennon: No possessions? Gump: And in China, they never go to Church. Lennon: No religion too? [...]

James Angleton, head of CIA Counterintelligence from 1954-1975. His opinion about The Beatles remains a mystery. Just a quick post, but a thought that I believe is important enough to surface up top. Recently some commenters have been using the Krays thread to explore conspiracy theories surrounding John Lennon's murder. This topic is, to me, more than fair game—it has been bubbling under the surface of Hey Dullblog for at least a decade, and I am perfectly happy to have commenters surmise, as long as it's done in an appropriately forensic manner. Adults speaking facts to other adults. What do [...]

Who's Who (not shown: The Who) Longtime readers of this blog know that I maintain it simply as an excuse to avoid grown-up work. And also, that I love Sgt. Pepper. It is my single desert island disc, as pedestrian as that choice is, because to me, Pepper contains so much more time than any other Beatles record. What do I mean? (When you have to type that sentence in an piece of prose, you know you're fucking the writing up.—Ed.) Well, one of the things that I love most about Pepper—almost as much as the music—is how it intentionally [...]