In Defence of Revolver

By |2019-10-28T18:08:02-07:00October 21, 2019|Revolver|

There's cool as we know it, then there's the 1966 Beatles. About a month ago Michael Gerber posted an essay that argued with disconcerting eloquence and insight that Sgt. Pepper is objectively better than my all-time favourite record, Revolver. I feel compelled to respond with a few words about the album I’m sworn to defend. If you haven’t read Mike’s excellent piece already please do so now—I’ll wait. My first quibble is with the idea that Lennon’s opinion on Pepper influenced anyone else’s. People have looked to John for wisdom, inspiration and spiritual guidance, but I don’t think they’ve ever let him [...]

The Beatles in Manila, 1966

By |2015-09-17T14:39:19-07:00September 14, 2015|1966|

"Maybe your last chance to see the Beatles! Don't ask how we know this!" And what does the ol' "to-post" file have for us this morning? Why, it's a webpage dedicated to the Beatles in Manila, the feel-baddiest moment in all of Beatlemania. We all know the story of their ill-fated trip to the Philippines -- "snubbing" Imelda Marcos, their security mysteriously disappearing, Fabs and entourage making wills and quietly peeing themselves as they waited on the tarmac -- but this site has some nice added bits. (By the way, I've always assumed that it's even odds the Beatles knew [...]

Christ! The Beatles In Memphis

By |2013-09-13T13:54:38-07:00April 28, 2012|1966, bootlegs, concert, John Lennon|

The before-show press conference, backstage, Mid-South Coliseum. DEVIN McKINNEY  •  I'm a bit ashamed to say it's taken me this long to listen to something I've had on the shelf for a few years—the audience recordings of the Beatles' afternoon and evening shows at Memphis's Mid-South Coliseum, midway through their final tour. The evening show is the famous one: Near the end of "If I Needed Someone," the third song, a cherry bomb was thrown onstage and exploded. I remember reading that three teenagers, adolescent mischief-makers with no malign intent beyond literally making a noise, were detained by security. I [...]

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