This Day in Beatles History: ABBEY ROAD RELEASED 46 YEARS AGO, October 1, 1969 ...
46 years ago, I was 'out of college, money spent, saw no future, paid no rent'. So I went to the local record store (Sam Goody in Paramus, NJ) to look for a job. And there it was ... Abbey Road had just arrived in the store, so I forgot about the job, immediately bought one and went home to listen to it. The next day, I went back to the store and applied for a job and got it. I spent five wonderful years there, learning all about the record and music business and it helped to lay the groundwork for when I thought of the idea of a Beatles fans convention to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of The Beatles arrival in America (1964 - 1974). Without that experience, I likely would not have had the wherewithall to connect the dots to make it happen.
-- Mark Lapidos
A great number of aficionados (myself included) consider "Abbey Road" to be The Beatles' crowning achievement ... they simply couldn't have ended on a higher note.
(Although it was recorded before "Abbey Road", "Let It Be" was released afterwards as The Beatles' final album, due to hold-ups in getting the film of the same name out in the marketplace ... as well as inner turmoil within the band at the time.) In hindsight it's somewhat amazing that The Fab Four could regroup to the extent that they did in order to create their masterpiece. I can't believe it's been 46 years since this LP was first released.
Mark points out a wave of new Beatles-related releases hitting the streets right now ... the completely revamped "1" (now called "1+") will be out November 6th, featuring all of The Beatles' #1 hits, now accompanied by their companion videos ... plus a ton of BONUS full-length videos, bringing the total to fifty!
The next two albums in The Paul McCartney Collection will be released this week. ("Tug Of War" and "Pipes Of Piece" are being reissued in deluxe format with bonus tracks, videos and booklets.) And, speaking of books, Ringo Starr's "Photograph" as well as the limited-edition (and already sold out!) "Eight Arms To Hold You" were also released this week.
It's an exciting time for Beatles fans ... some 51 years later ... to see "new" material still making it out to the public. Speaking of which ... where the heck is "Let It Be"??? For YEARS now we've been teased that The Beatles' film was FINALLY going to be released on DVD and BluRay ... yet still no mention of when. In that Paul and Ringo (along with Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison) have been the creative forces behind much of the new Beatles product that has become available of yet, still no word on the film documenting the making of The Beatles' final album, first released in theaters in 1970. (Could it be, as some have speculated, that The Beatles are in some way embarrassed by what they captured on film ... which includes not only a typical Beatles recording session but also the beginning of the break up of the band?)
Still this film marks an important part of Beatles history ... and fans have the right to own it. Here's hoping that 2016 finally sees this happen. (kk)
Good morning Beatles media and fellow Freaks!
This past Sunday, I posted a contest on my Beatles Freak Reviews for my readers to enter to win six incredible books about the Beatles. Five of these books are actually signed by the authors! Please share this opportunity with your audience.
Feel free to visit my link to the contest:
http://beatles-freak.com/2015/09/27/contest-win-6-author-signed-books-about-the-beatles/
Have a great day!
Jenn
A bit of sad news ...
FH Reader Tom Cuddy tells us that on September 25th, Mark Volman of The Turtles posted this message on his Facebook Page:
I've been meaning to tell you what I've been doing on Fridays. In the middle of the summer tour, I was diagnosed with throat cancer. I've started chemo and radiation and will be done by the end of October. If everything goes accordingly to the doctor's treatment, then we'll see each other again someday.
-- Mark Volman
We love these guys ... please include Mark in your prayers. (kk)
Here's another new Don Henley interview, courtesy of FH Reader Tom Cuddy ... this one coming from The Wall Street Journal of all places!!! (kk)
http://www.wsj.com/articles/don-henleys-long-run-1442423306
Speaking of new interviews, I just got this email from Phil Nee of WRCO Radio ...
I interviewed Little Anthony this week for my Saturday night show. It was a great honor for me to talk to a rock and roll hall of fame member. Anthony is an interviewers dream with plenty of stories. He is promoting his book Little Anthony: My Journey, My Destiny and a new album of songs including a duet with George Benson that will officially be released soon. I believe you saw him in concert a while back.
Phil - WRCO
I did ... and was truly impressed with their performance. In fact, he mentioned the book as part of their show at The Arcada Theatre.
http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2014/04/little-anthony-and-imperials.html
I even had the chance to say "hello" backstage. Please send me a copy of the interview ... would love to hear it. Thanks, Phil! (kk)
A couple of weeks ago we told you about the EXCELLENT new Jeff Lynne live concert video that was released ... and also mentioned that Jeff was working on an album of all new material. (In addition, he just produced Bryan Adams' latest LP)
Vintage Vinyl News has more details ... as well as a "sneak peek" track from the brand new album here: http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2015/09/listen-brand-new-music-from-jeff-lynne.html?utm_source=VVN+Music+E-Mail+Subscribers&utm_campaign=d4bbfa5a84-September+26%2C+2015+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3a4dfe0b50-d4bbfa5a84-89761121
We also told you about the reforming of The Box Tops. Here's an article that made the Australian press last week on this very topic ...
http://www.noise11.com/news/original-box-tops-members-get-together-for-new-band-20150926
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Original Box Tops Members Get Together For New Band
by PAUL CASHMERE on SEPTEMBER 26, 2015
in NEWS
During the late-60’s, the Box Tops made some of the finest crafted music on the radio including such classics as The Letter, Cry Like a Baby and Soul Deep.
Active until 1970 (Bell Records kept the name alive until 1972 with other musicians), the band reunited in the late 80’s and, on occasion, from 1996 to 2010 until original lead singer Alex Chilton died.
On Thursday, original members Bill Cunningham and Garry Talley announced that the Box Tops were reforming with Rick Levy joining them for a new tour. A press release stated:
THE BOX TOPS show will highlight their hit records, and equally important, Memphis music of the 60s, especially some of the songs that influenced the members as young teens growing up in such a musical hotbed. The show will be complete with horns, and promises great memories and music for all.
Cunningham and Talley stayed active in the music world during their time away from the Box Tops. Cunningham left the band in 1969 to return to school and, after graduating, became a member of the White House orchestra playing with some of the greatest classical artists in the world. Talley went on to become a session guitarist in Memphis, Atlanta and Nashville working with artists like Billy Preston, Waylon Jennings, Tracy Nelson and Willie Nelson.
Rick Levy (left) has been in the business for fifty years, managing such acts as Freddy Cannon, Barbara Lewis, Jay and the Techniques and the Box Tops. As a musician, he was in the garage band The Limits in the 60’s and played with Peter Noone’s band for a number of years along with Tommy Roe.
And here's the scoop about a brand new Carl Wilson single, that Billy Hinsche tells us has just "gone live" on CDBaby!
Written and recorded in the fall of 1980 by Beach Boy Carl Wilson and his talented songwriting collaborator, Myrna Smith of The Sweet Inspirations (Elvis Presley’s backup singers), this previously unreleased treasure was originally considered for inclusion in the 1981 documentary film, This Is Elvis, but was ultimately not used in the soundtrack.
Beach Boys aficionado and collector, Chris Cameron, recently purchased the music master in an estate sale and brought it to my attention for authentication since Carl was my brother-in-law and dear friend. I was surprised to hear the unmistakable voices of Carl and Myrna accompanied only by Carl’s artful fingerpicking style on his acoustic guitar. It was simple in its recording yet powerful in its performance.
I immediately sent copies to my nephews, Jonah and Justyn Wilson (Carl and my sister Annie’s sons), as well as Carl’s then personal manager, Jerry Schilling (Myrna’s former husband) for their comments and opinions. They all concurred that it was a wonderful, long-lost masterpiece. Personally, I would describe it as reminiscent of Carl’s heartfelt ballad “Heaven” from his first solo album, Carl Wilson.
“This Is Elvis” recently aired publicly for the first time when Elvis’ friend, Schilling, debuted it worldwide during an interview with DJ Argo on SiriusXM’s Elvis Radio live from Elvis’ home, Graceland.
The stunning image of Elvis, seen here as our avatar, is a blend of the original artwork used for the motion picture along with additional graphic touches from Greer Upton, a childhood family friend of ours who knew Carl very well and loved him like a brother. Upton is an art consultant who lives in Northern California and is a multiple California Arts Council Grantee. Her husband, John Watrous, also assisted in the project; he is a longtime art teacher and visual artist.
Billy Hinsche
Las Vegas, Nevada
September, 2015
Credits:
Music: Carl Wilson
Lyrics: Myrna Smith
Vocals: Carl Wilson & Myrna Smith
Acoustic guitar: Carl Wilson
Recorded in 1980 at Caribou Ranch, Nederland, Colorado
Mixed in 2014 at No Name Sound, Boston, MassachusettsLiner notes – Billy Hinsche
Graphic artwork – Greer Upton
Additional graphic design – Kathleen Parks Perry
Project Producers – Billy Hinsche / Chris Cameron
Special thanks:
Jerry Schilling, Gary Hovey (Elvis Presley Enterprises), Authentic Brands Group (ABG), Dave Ingham (No Name Sound)
All earned proceeds from the download of “This Is Elvis” will solely benefit The Carl Wilson Foundation (CWF) www.carlwilsonfoundation.org
In other Beach Boys-related news, David Beard tells us about a brand new release by David Marks called "David Marks and Friends Live On Sunset, 2010" ...
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