What Are You Listening To?

Started by Chris L, Jun 21, 2017, 11:53 AM

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Chris L

The old board had a thread called "What's In Your CD Player Now?" The title hasn't aged well -- these days you're as likely to be listening to MP3s or streaming music off the Internet -- but the idea was a good one. And so...

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Somebody mentioned in another thread that this year is the 50th anniversary of this album and boy did that bring back memories, not so much of the album itself but of sitting in the back seat of my father's convertible (which we got rid of a year later, after he died) reading the full page review of the album in The New York Times. It was the longest, most gushing album review I'd ever read, not that I'd read many album reviews by 1967. It went into considerable detail about how this was a genuine concept album and a cohesive work that references itself in the songs. ("It's getting very near the end.") I couldn't wait to hear it.

Sgt. Pepper's never became my favorite Beatles album. That title would eventually go to Abbey Road, though I think I also prefer Revolver and Rubber Soul. Still, it has some of the Beatles' best songs on it (ironically, given that it's a cohesive work). "A Day in the Life" may be the greatest thing the Beatles ever did, Side 2 of Abbey Road excepted. For the record, I'm streaming it from Spotify on the Amazon Echo next to my desk, a remarkably good little talking speaker, never mind that Alexa occasionally garbles my song requests into bizarre Mondegreens. But she recognized the title of Sgt. Pepper's right away.

I wonder what she'd respond if I said, "Alexa, play side 2 of Abbey Road"? Probably "I can't find the song 'Side 2'."
But us, old friend,
What's to discuss, old friend?

KathyB

#1
Come from Away and Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812. I went through my Dear Evan Hansen phase earlier in the year. But I'm thinking I want to listen to it right now. :)

Also, a whole bunch of mixes that people have sent me.

And Jason Isbell's and Steve Earle's new albums.

artscallion

Listening to Dear Evan Hansen. I think "For Forever" is up there with some of the best stuff out there. There's a video on youtube of Ben Platt's brilliant performance of it on Colbert's Late Show show. Makes me cry every time I watch/listen.

Also...Hi Kathy!!!
Currently helping Dan search for his chocolate that I ate last night.

JustTheOneAnne

Honestly? Right now I'm listening to a lot of Elton John, Beatles and Billy Joel. I'm in Europe for the summer, so the old favorites are the order of the day. :)
"There's such a lot of different Annes in me. I sometimes think that is why I'm such a troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne it would be ever so much more comfortable, but then it wouldn't be half so interesting." -Anne of Green Gables

Chris L

Quote from: JustTheOneAnne on Jun 22, 2017, 12:37 PMHonestly? Right now I'm listening to a lot of Elton John, Beatles and Billy Joel. I'm in Europe for the summer, so the old favorites are the order of the day. :)

So that means I can play Elton John/Billy Joel songs in First Five Words and at least one person might know them. Good to know. ;)
But us, old friend,
What's to discuss, old friend?

Bobster

Quote from: Chris L on Jun 22, 2017, 01:19 PM
Quote from: JustTheOneAnne on Jun 22, 2017, 12:37 PMHonestly? Right now I'm listening to a lot of Elton John, Beatles and Billy Joel. I'm in Europe for the summer, so the old favorites are the order of the day. :)

So that means I can play Elton John/Billy Joel songs in First Five Words and at least one person might know them. Good to know. ;)

Two.  Maybe Three (Kathy?)


Chris L

Quote from: Bobster on Jun 22, 2017, 02:36 PM
Quote from: Chris L on Jun 22, 2017, 01:19 PM
Quote from: JustTheOneAnne on Jun 22, 2017, 12:37 PMHonestly? Right now I'm listening to a lot of Elton John, Beatles and Billy Joel. I'm in Europe for the summer, so the old favorites are the order of the day. :)

So that means I can play Elton John/Billy Joel songs in First Five Words and at least one person might know them. Good to know. ;)

Two.  Maybe Three (Kathy?)


Terri, the 80s Queen, is around, but I don't know if she's playing the games. She'd probably know them too.

Kathy knows almost every obscure song ever recorded, but her tastes may skew away from the popular. Still, I think she'd get some.
But us, old friend,
What's to discuss, old friend?

Gsavage14

#7
Quote from: Chris L on Jun 21, 2017, 11:53 AMThe old board had a thread called "What's In Your CD Player Now?" The title hasn't aged well -- these days you're as likely to be listening to MP3s or streaming music off the Internet -- but the idea was a good one. And so...

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Somebody mentioned in another thread that this year is the 50th anniversary of this album and boy did that bring back memories, not so much of the album itself but of sitting in the back seat of my father's convertible (which we got rid of a year later, after he died) reading the full page review of the album in The New York Times. It was the longest, most gushing album review I'd ever read, not that I'd read many album reviews by 1967. It went into considerable detail about how this was a genuine concept album and a cohesive work that references itself in the songs. ("It's getting very near the end.") I couldn't wait to hear it.

Sgt. Pepper's never became my favorite Beatles album. That title would eventually go to Abbey Road, though I think I also prefer Revolver and Rubber Soul. Still, it has some of the Beatles' best songs on it (ironically, given that it's a cohesive work). "A Day in the Life" may be the greatest thing the Beatles ever did, Side 2 of Abbey Road excepted. For the record, I'm streaming it from Spotify on the Amazon Echo next to my desk, a remarkably good little talking speaker, never mind that Alexa occasionally garbles my song requests into bizarre Mondegreens. But she recognized the title of Sgt. Pepper's right away.

I wonder what she'd respond if I said, "Alexa, play side 2 of Abbey Road"? Probably "I can't find the song 'Side 2'."

I agree with you Chris, about side 2 of Abbey Road - I would put it close to perfection. I also don't think Sgt. Pepper is their best album - personally I've always favoured Rubber Soul, although recently I think A Hard Days Night is actually the only Beatles album without a single weak track... (Discuss?!) But like Citizen Kane, Sgt Pepper has taken me a long time to realise that, even if it's not perfect, especially to modern eyes and ears, at the time it was utterly ground breaking in ways that we take for granted now (they invented DI boxes while recording this!!)

Thoughts on the remaster - loving the increased prominence of Paul's  bass work, for which I don't think he's ever received enough credit.
The key thing for me, listening to it with new ears, as it were, is the almost total absence of George's influence on this album - his guitar work was always a key feature, almost more so than his songwriting, on the earlier and later albums, but here, his one track feels almost like a gesture from the rest to a guest artist than one of the integral members. Without guitar breaks or the more 'Beatlish' harmonies with which to impose himself, he barely seems to register. Makes me sad...

Chris L

I'm not sure which version of Sgt. Pepper's Alexa played for me, but it irked me because it included bonus tracks at the end. Ordinarily I wouldn't mind hearing early takes and chatter between the band members, but nothing should follow that long, final chord on "A Day in the Life." Nothing!
But us, old friend,
What's to discuss, old friend?

Gsavage14

Quote from: Chris L on Jun 22, 2017, 03:16 PMI'm not sure which version of Sgt. Pepper's Alexa played for me, but it irked me because it included bonus tracks at the end. Ordinarily I wouldn't mind hearing early takes and chatter between the band members, but nothing should follow that long, final chord on "A Day in the Life." Nothing!

Sounds like the 50th Anniversary Remaster, which is on Apple Music too.

Although there always was a hidden track on the original, I recall... a loop of Paul (I think) saying something like "I never could see any other way..." - the hidden track being something else they invented! And ended up being taken to extremes by World Party, hiding a complete song about 17 minutes after the end of 'Bang!'

Gsavage14

Quote from: Chris L on Jun 22, 2017, 03:16 PMI'm not sure which version of Sgt. Pepper's Alexa played for me, but it irked me because it included bonus tracks at the end. Ordinarily I wouldn't mind hearing early takes and chatter between the band members, but nothing should follow that long, final chord on "A Day in the Life." Nothing!

But I agree, that long final chord is wonderful...

Chris L

Quote from: Gsavage14 on Jun 22, 2017, 02:53 PMalthough recently I think A Hard Days Night is actually the only Beatles album without a single weak track... (Discuss?!)

I've always been so enamored of the Beatles' later work that I've never focused much on the albums preceding Rubber Soul, just the singles. Rubber Soul feels to me like the transition from their early-to-mid-period sound to the more mature work of their later albums, but I've just asked Alexa to put on A Hard Day's Night and so far (sixth track, I think) so good. Of course, I already know most or all of the songs from having heard them on the radio (and in the movie); I've just never listened to them as an album before.
But us, old friend,
What's to discuss, old friend?

Chris L

Quote from: Gsavage14 on Jun 22, 2017, 03:21 PMSounds like the 50th Anniversary Remaster, which is on Apple Music too.

Although there always was a hidden track on the original, I recall... a loop of Paul (I think) saying something like "I never could see any other way..." - the hidden track being something else they invented! And ended up being taken to extremes by World Party, hiding a complete song about 17 minutes after the end of 'Bang!'

Wow, I don't recall ever hearing that hidden track! How long after "A Day in the Life" does it come up? It's possible that my record changer (remember those?!) always lifted the needle before it got there. (It always played "Her Majesty" at the end of Abbey Road, though.)
But us, old friend,
What's to discuss, old friend?

Gsavage14

Quote from: Chris L on Jun 22, 2017, 03:42 PM
Quote from: Gsavage14 on Jun 22, 2017, 03:21 PMSounds like the 50th Anniversary Remaster, which is on Apple Music too.

Although there always was a hidden track on the original, I recall... a loop of Paul (I think) saying something like "I never could see any other way..." - the hidden track being something else they invented! And ended up being taken to extremes by World Party, hiding a complete song about 17 minutes after the end of 'Bang!'

Wow, I don't recall ever hearing that hidden track! How long after "A Day in the Life" does it come up? It's possible that my record changer (remember those?!) always lifted the needle before it got there. (It always played "Her Majesty" at the end of Abbey Road, though.)

About 20 seconds or so...? And it's only about 10 seconds itself.

Gsavage14

Quote from: Chris L on Jun 22, 2017, 03:36 PM
Quote from: Gsavage14 on Jun 22, 2017, 02:53 PMalthough recently I think A Hard Days Night is actually the only Beatles album without a single weak track... (Discuss?!)

I've always been so enamored of the Beatles' later work that I've never focused much on the albums preceding Rubber Soul, just the singles. Rubber Soul feels to me like the transition from their early-to-mid-period sound to the more mature work of their later albums, but I've just asked Alexa to put on A Hard Day's Night and so far (sixth track, I think) so good. Of course, I already know most or all of the songs from having heard them on the radio (and in the movie); I've just never listened to them as an album before.

I was the same, thinking of them as the pop years, but was listening to it a little while back and thought that there always seemed to be 'disposable' tracks on each album, that you wouldn't notice if they weren't there (or skipped over on the CD) but with Hard Day's Night, you'd be hard pushed to find two or three tracks to lose from it, I think. Even Ringo doesn't sound like a novelty!!