GMVW # 92: "A Quantum Leap (the 60's)"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 92:  A Quantum Leap (the 60’s)

Song:  Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival 

(Songwriter: John Fogerty)

October 8, 2009

No one disputes that the 1960’s were a tumultuous and contentious period.  The breadth of opinions, ranging from praise to disdain, on the 60’s counter culture and its influence on subsequent generations bares this out.  But set aside for a moment the powerful images of the time: Vietnam, protests, peace, hippies, drugs, and assassinations.  Strip the decade down to nothing but rhythm and beat.  What you are left with is a massive bounty of magnificent music.  And although revolutionary in and of itself, the music also defined the era within which it took place, just as much if not more so than how much that era defined it.  Rock music of the period was a quantum leap from what preceded, and on its own will forever thwart any attempt at historical revision of the times and their full meaning (good and bad).  The music is that good.

So, what is the historical meaning of 60’s Rock n Roll and the counter culture that produced it?  For one thing, it’s one of only a handful of periods since the Middle Ages that the West has experimented to any major degree with the non-materialistic philosophies reflective of numerous Far East ‘isms’.  It was also an attempt to connect with Native American culture:  A back to nature lifestyle that brings out individual skills and talents most of us will never know we have.  And although the period would ultimately produce at least as many hypocrites as long-term devotees, it would leave its mark.  Detractors would say it was a radical mark, and when factoring in the drugs and anger, it did indeed get to that point at times.  I suppose that’s what those three aforementioned assassinations can do to an idealistic youth movement. 

Despite the contrarian position of many I respect, I tend to think of the era in a somewhat positive light.  I believe that by bucking established norms, the counter culture forced prior generations to look in the mirror and reevaluate (think: Archie Bunker).  Some hippies likely made their WWII generation parents proud in the long term.  Every so often the establishment needs a good internal kick in the ass.  It’s the only way to counterbalance the tendencies of a successful world power from becoming too bloated, wealth skewed and self centered.  Internal (and peaceful) rebellion against a powerful minority can help to stave off the inevitable fall of great empires.  Historically speaking, the mostly non-violent peace movement of the 60’s was just another example of democracy at work, and hopefully the backlash (which continues to this day) will not induce a premature Tiananmen-like squelching of something like it from ever happening again if the need so arises.

My memories of the 60’s have little in common with the broader reality.  Like most of us, I grew up in a small town (at the time) beyond the suburbs, sheltered from the upheaval going on in cities and on campuses.  One memory of world events does stand out however: I recall thumbing through one of Dad’s Time magazine issues (or was it Life?) and seeing horrific images of what was happening in Vietnam while understanding that these events were not of the past, but of the (then) present. Other than that, I have little to reflect on.  All my remaining memories are personal, of great times with family and cousins (in those days, family and cousins made up the majority of friendships); of Sunday drives, Cape Cod, and birthday parties.

In some ways, the music of the 60’s is similar to other eras:  The lyrics of many songs were about love and happiness.  From here, though, 60’s music branched out all over the place.  What made it most distinct, however, was its songwriter’s signature ability to make classic protest songs.  Musicians of other eras before and after have attempted to write powerful protest music.  Few have come close to capturing the mainstream mood in the way that the collective works of those 60’s songs did.  Amazingly, protest songs in the 60’s were actually commercial successes. They include: Buffalo Springfield ‘For What It’s Worth’; John Lennon’s ‘Power to the People’; The Rolling Stones ‘Street Fighting Man’; CSNY’s ‘Ohio’; The Beatles ‘Revolution’; Bob Dylan’s ‘Hard Rain’; Jefferson Airplane’s ‘Volunteers’; and this week’s Gem, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Fortunate Son’.

The 60’s were also a period of artistic innovation in pop culture.  Not much today equals the style and originality of the concert posters and album covers that were a part of the story of that decade.  In honor, here’s a short list of some of the best rock album covers of all time, including other eras (any of which can be seen by typing the name in Google images):

1. ‘The Basement Tapes’ (Dylan, The Band, and circus performers in a legendary basement….what more could you ask for?)

2. ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ (What do Lenny Bruce, Marlene Dietrich, Edgar Allen Poe, Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, and John Lennnon, all have in common?)

3. ‘Who’s Next’ (What else do you do when you see a large concrete piling protruding from a slag heap by the highway?)

4. ‘The White Album’ (Minimalism at its best.  Whatever happened to ‘The Whiter Album’?)

5. ‘Terrapin Station’ (As if dancing bears and red, white & blue skulls weren’t enough, now dancing turtles?)

6. ‘Murmur’ (An R.E.M. premonition of future success?)

7. ‘Abbey Road' (an ambulance, a license plate, a preacher, a pallbearer, a grave digger, a cigarette, and out-of step bare feet) 

8. ‘Eat a Peach’ (how better to honor a fallen Brother?)

9. ‘Wish You Were Here’ (Sign here on the dotted line, and please don’t read the fine print)

10. ‘Sticky Fingers’ (Déjà vu for Margaret Trudeau)

11. ‘Nevermind’ (Break them in early)

12. ‘In the Court of the Crimson King’ (You will not win a staring contest with this guy)

Next up: The 70’s and ‘Great Album Names’.  Again, input is welcome.

Below the Gem video are some other classic songs from the 60’s. Below these are the lyrics to ‘Fortunate Son’.

Peace, Brother!

-              Pete

Gem Music Video Creedence Clearwater Revival: ‘Fortunate Son’

http://video.mail.ru/mail/vznakprotesta/19393/21212.html

Janis Joplin: ‘Little Girl Blue’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVpDOIPx_sY

Jefferson Airplane: ‘White Rabbit’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WANNqr-vcx0

Buffalo Springfield: ‘For What It’s Worth’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm6NeM-6vBE

Cream: ‘Sunshine of Your Love’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ulTktZXaZw

The Byrds: ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWg3b15ITS8

The Beatles: ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7NoOhmVMac

The Rolling Stones: ‘Paint it Black’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STWSTgfMruc

The Who: ‘Tattoo’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9FsgEKwVyE

‘Fortunate Son’ lyrics

Some folks are born to wave the flag,

Ooh, they're red, white and blue.

And when the band plays "Hail to the chief",

Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, son.

It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no,

Yeah!

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,

Lord, don't they help themselves, oh.

But when the taxman comes to the door,

Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no.

It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,

Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,

And when you ask them, "How much should we give?"

Ooh, they only answer More! more! more! yoh,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son.

It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, one.

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no,

About the Video: Classic video of the band performing live on a wooden stage, circa 1969?  The camera rolls around the stage.  The video is subtitled ‘At the Movies’.

Video Rating: 1

Best Feedback: Tom

I enjoyed this walk down memory (Lady) Lane immensely!

Nice weekend too,

Cuz Tom

GMVW # 91: "Origins (the 50's)"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 91:  Origins (the 50’s)

Song:  Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley

(Songwriter: Mark James aka Francis Zambon)

October 1, 2009

Over the course of these weekly Gem Videos, I’ve been accumulating a handful of ‘unreleased’ songs, including several that have been sitting on the shelf for some time now.  Although they were all gem material, I couldn’t think of much to say about any of them, and so they remained in the wings.  However, as I recently looked over this list of leftovers, I realized the majority could be used in a running theme, after it dawned on me that I had at least one song from each of the past 5 decades.

And so, for the next five weeks, I plan on rolling out a gem a piece for the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and this decade just now coming to a close.  To be clear up front, I will not be proposing that any of these songs or musicians be recognized as the defining blueprint of the given decade (well, maybe one). But each should come across as a fair representative.  In other words, there should be little or no confusion regarding the gem’s generational affiliation. 

I couldn’t help notice that these five decades coincide with the stretch of time most of us, including myself, have been around, which will play into my thinking as I tackle each of these 10-year periods.  With some time to contemplate, I welcome the input of anyone who wishes to share their recollections of any/all of these decades, particularly if the recollection relates to music.  I’ll include ALL comments (and personal gems?) that are sent prior to the posting of that decade’s gem.  But don’t feel on the spot, as I can tackle this solo if need be (and I know these emails sometimes don’t get read until weeks later, if at all). 

I’m also planning on including a ‘Great’ list. These lists will NOT be restricted to that week’s celebrated decade.  For the 60’s week it will be ‘Great Album Covers”; the 70’s will be “Great Album Names”; the 80s “Great Band Names”; the 90’s week will be “Great Song Titles”; and for the 00’s “Great Lyric One Liners”.  Note there is nothing here like ‘great bands’, ‘great guitarists’, ‘great albums’ or ‘great songs’: Too subjective, and not much fun.  Again, I welcome input.

Finally, if anyone can guess a gem over the next five weeks, they get a free lunch (who said there is no such thing?), complete with beverage(s) of choice.  Here's a tip off to narrow the educated guesswork down: All songs have been pretty standard radio play over the years.  Guesses are limited to 3 per person, and can only be made over the days prior to that weeks gem (so, this week, I’ll take choices for the 60’s song).  First correct guess wins for that week.  Hypothetically, you could win five free lunches.  If Steve wins, I may have to make my way to Edmonton; Pat, Ottawa; Bob, Paris; Jeff, Harrisburg; Tina; Falmouth; Jack; South Carolina; Tom, New Jersey; etc.  Yow!

However, before I launch into this running theme, I figured I would set some ground rules… ground-level rules that is.  Hence an introductory gem video is in order here that hopefully gives context and a foundation for what will follow in the upcoming weeks.  First a bit of background (what else did you expect?).

--------

The period of time that predates someone can take on an almost mystical quality, and the photos and film that capture those times can only leave you guessing what it was like to be there.  If you have watched any of the Ken Burns documentary series on PBS, including ‘The Civil War’, ‘Baseball’, ‘The War’ (WWII) and this weeks fantastic release, ‘The National Parks: America’s Best Idea’, these thoughts may ring true. 

Several months ago, Cousin Jack posted a number of prior-generation family photos on Facebook.  The majority of the photos were of the black and white variety, most taken in the 50’s.  Jack’s timing was perfect, as the extended Smith family was preparing for a reunion (a great gathering, which took place several weeks ago).  The photos served as an appetizer for the reunion, giving us all an opportunity to begin connecting ahead of schedule. 

Jack and I have always shared a fascination with our roots.  Our grandparents had 12 children and 57 grandchildren.  Our Moms are sisters.  When we were kids, the two of us used to compete to see who could say the names of our 12 aunts and uncles the fastest.  With the sheer number, there was so much to learn about our mothers family and the families of each of their siblings: Careers, family choices, personalities, faith, education, influences, travels, celebrations, challenges, and the pecking order in age.  We fired many questions at our Moms, and most often they indulged us.

Related to roots, history itself has always been a favorite subject of mine.  Though not the most career-driven of paths, I have no regrets making History my major in college.  Without it (and the equally appreciated Geography degree), I would not have enjoyed half as much the places I’ve been and things I’ve seen.  History helped to give me a sense of purpose, and it gave me perspective.  For example, one great thing about knowing your history is you can readily make ties between the personal and the broader context of the times.  When I looked at those photos Jack posted of Mom in her teens with family, yes, I thought about roots.  But I also connected with the era; what was happening at the time: The Korean War, Dwight Eisenhower, Alaskan statehood, Hungary, segregation, James Dean, Ernest Hemingway, Marilyn Monroe, and Ted Williams among others.

I also thought about the early days of Rock n Roll:  Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly, and, of course, Elvis Presley.  These musicians were among a short list that inspired virtually all the musicians I have enjoyed from more recent times.  Although difficult to make a connection between Ray Charles and The Clash; Roy Orbison and The Pogues, there is one. The music of the 50’s was the ground-level, the foundation, for all the great Rock music that came after.

I’ve only recently found out that Mom has always been a fan of Pelvis Elvis.  I knew Mom had enjoyed listening to one of his Gospel albums several years ago, but it appears the interest goes farther back than that.  Lucky for me, there’s a song of Elvis’ that rises to the level of gem: ‘Suspicious Minds’.  It’s a song he covered in the 60’s, but since Elvis was pretty much frozen in time all his life (music and style, not age), this does not matter.  The video is of a performance from his Vegas days in the 70’s.  The tempo picks up nicely about half way through. 

Below the Gem Video is Elvis Presley’s studio version of ‘Suspicious Minds’ (a still shot).  Following that are several other great songs from the 1950’s.

- Pete

Gem Video “Suspicious Minds”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q04_ClDxRsk

“Suspicious Minds” (studio version)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtsmuVA0m7c

Chuck Berry “Roll Over Beethoven”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WRV645JemA

Eddie Cochran “Summertime Blues”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAdZ4ZgH7Tk

The Everly Brothers “All I Have to to is Dream”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKn6h2x5IcY

About the Video: Elvis in Vegas, early 70’s.  I’m not sure of the year.  Video opens with him drinking a glass of water and voicing the name of the song to the band.

Video Rating: 2

Best Feedback: Amy

Pete,
At the risk of being the nerd in the front row, I have a question.  Do you, right this moment, know what the next 5 gems/weeks will be?  You do, don't you.  Of course you do.  Oh nevermind.

GMVW # 90 "Youth and Intellect"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 90:  Youth and Intellect

Song:  I Don’t Wanna Grow Up by Tom Waits

(Songwriter: Tom Waits)

September 24, 2009

A fourth Gem via album recommendations is in the books, this one from good friend, Pat Shea.  Pat aimed high, for the top of my list actually (see Gem # 58).  I was hoping someone could steer me in the right direction regarding what Tom Waits brings to the table.  Mr. Shea did so with an enthusiasm that could only come from someone who feels strongly about the subject.  He even sent me a cd:  “Beautiful Maladies: The Island Years” (thanks again, Pat).  It turns out Pat’s been a big fan of Tom Waits for some time now. 

Tom Waits:  I’m going out on a limb here, Pat, and try to summarize his music.  Let’s see, well for starters, Waits is diverse; that is he is all over the map with the range of musical genres he covers.  Nothing enlightening there, other than for novices like me who have only recently dabbled.  The subject matter of his songs is all over the map as well, including lyrics with a ‘squirm factor’ about them.  What I’ve come to see mostly in his music, however, is a youthful spirit: Waits pens songs as if he were still a kid… a kid with a boat load of intellect. 

Waits and those of like mind, tend to buck trends.  There is certainly some cockiness there, but it’s more a level of intelligence that gets bored with normalcy, orderliness and predictability:  They already have all that stuff pretty much figured out.  Chaos, dichotomy, paradox, and randomness (to use a favorite term of nephew, Joe)… now your talking!  Guitar and drums?...how about ukulele, harpsichord and tuba? The Beatles and the Stones?.... how about Zappa and Devo (and mix in some jazz, cabaret and vaudeville while your at it)?  ‘M*A*S*H*’ and ‘Letterman’? …how about ‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus’ and ‘Fernwood Tonight’ (not to mention the affiliated ‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’)?  ‘Rocky’ and ‘Titanic’? ….how about ‘Eraserhead’ and ‘A Clockwork Orange’?  The ‘X-Men’? ….how about ‘Howard the Duck’?  John Grisham?  How about Kurt Vonnegut.

Elements of the same high-intellect-character trait revealed in Tom Waits, through his music, can be found in several friends and family members: Along with Pat, that short list includes Mac and Dale. My initiation into this alternate view of life, however, was particularly potent through my longtime friendship with Phil.  I must elaborate.

During the first half of my second decade of life, an average summer week could have easily consisted of the following activities:

Monday: Leggos with John; puzzles (in the 'puzzle room') with Joe and Fred

Tuesday: Pickup baseball with everyone; model building with Joe and Fred (including the old Hobby Shop monster models like Creature from the Black Lagoon, Wolfman, the Mummy, and Phantom of the Opera)

Wednesday: Hike down the tracks with Bruce and our dogs; trek downtown to purchase baseball cards and Wacky Packs and to exchange rolls of coins with the bank and local stores (to open and scan for wheat pennies and silver dimes for our collections)

Thursday: Blazing bike trails with Jeff through the woods and designing (then jumping) bike ramps.

Friday: Street hockey with everyone; baseball card trading with John, Fred, Bruce and Joe

Saturday: Monopoly with Fred, Phil and Joe; Chess with Bruce

Sunday: Water balloon fights with everyone; Kick the Can with everyone

This was pretty exciting stuff, but standard fare for a boy growing up in a great neighborhood, which would have sufficed.  But thank goodness for Phil, who made my weekly agenda far more unique and intriguing than what it would have been otherwise.  Phil was always keen on adding a twist, like recording bizarre ideas (how I wish we still had the recording of us impersonating ‘Kukla, Fran and Ollie’ with the caveat that they were in their 90s), making ice cream, or envisioning truly outrageous and hilarious scenarios.  To this day I laugh when thinking about them.  A skit of ‘Charlie on the MTA’ for our parents was beyond the beyond.  Playing with my plastic animals was a journey into character development (and even Phil had to admit those plastic animals had a truly aesthetic quality about them).  And the standard fare, including Monopoly, pickup football and croquet, evolved in ways their creators would never have imagined possible. When a cranky old neighbor (in the ‘castle’ across the street from our home) purchased a giant spotlight to keep an eye on us at night if we trespassed, Phil put together a song and dance routine.  My imagination grew by leaps and bounds in those days, and I have to give Phil much of the credit. 

Listening to ‘Beautiful Maladies’, I found myself traveling down that old familiar trail of life in the quick-thinking, high-intellect fast lane.   The album keeps you off balance, on the edge of free fall with nothing to grab on to.  But it is chock full of great tunes including ‘Jockey Full of Bourbon’, ‘Shore Leave’ (sounds like a Robbie Robertson style song, or is it the other way around?), ‘Innocent When You Dream’, ‘Hang on St Christopher’, and ‘Downtown Train’.  The song ‘Singapore’, apparently about a pirate trek to the Far East, has Waits modifying his singing voice for what appears to be two distinct characters, and includes the following stanza where the two characters swap vocals, line to line:

“The captain is a one-armed dwarf

He’s throwing dice along the wharf

In the land of the blind

The one-eyed man is king,

….so take this ring”

Gem of the Week, ‘I Don’t Wanna Grow Up’, is a particularly poignant song on this album.  The title is actually quite accurate for a Waits song title, as the lyrics conjure up thoughts of classic lyrics like ‘Hope I die before I get old’ and ‘May you stay forever young’.  It also reminds me a bit of last week’s Gem theme about the Beatles and wisdom.  When you think of wisdom, you think of growing up and overcoming your childhood insecurities.  But songs like these argue otherwise, interpreting wisdom as what you gain by staying young.  I believe the same goes for faith, as the most spiritual people I have ever known were all young at heart (particularly the priests and nuns who have managed to maintain a youthful air about them). 

Ahh, the paradox of youth and wisdom: Just the way Pat, Phil, and Confucius would expect in anything worth its weight.

So Pat, thanks again.  Listening to this album made me long for sitting around another campfire with you and the Canadian crowd, if only to see where the conversation would go. But for now, please put all our minds at ease and get back to deciphering black holes, totem polls, and Dead Sea scrolls. 

Below the Gem Video is a humorous conversation between Tom Waits and Iggy Pop. 

Below that is another Waits video, ‘Downtown Train’.

- Pete

Gem Video “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo4Y0TxW41g

Tom and Iggy (Coffe and Cigarettes):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6Mw6b1T50U

‘Downtown Train’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHyvjdn4rFk

About the Video: Made-for-MTV like video (Tom Waits singing under a diner table)

Video Rating: 1

GMVW # 89: "Wise Beyond Their Years"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 89:  Wise Beyond Their Years

Song:  Something by The Beatles

(Songwriter: George Harrison)

September 17, 2009

I’ve brought this up before (in the context of ‘luck’), but its worth revisiting: How was it that the Beatles became so successful?  I mean, here were four guys who formed a band not unlike so many who had done it before and since. They were from lower-middle class families, each with a below average education from what I can gather, so right off the bat, it’s clear that an Ivy League degree (or anything even close) was not a prerequisite for generating Beatlemania.

John, Paul, George, and Ringo were not born with silver spoons in their mouths (more likely something akin to plastic).  There was no regal British blood running through their veins. Opportunity was not knocking at their doors.

As discussed for Gem # 49, tragedy may have played a factor in the bands success (both Lennon and McCartney lost their mothers at a young age, and the band lost a founding member, Stu Sutcliffe, in the early days).  The times may have had something to do with it too, as the Beatles were part of a post-war generation with a chip on its shoulder, a need to prove to their parents who sacrificed so much that they had something of their own to show the world.   Hard work cannot be overlooked, nor can talent.  And yes, lady luck has to have played a role (again, Gem # 49).

But there was something more.

Last week Amy challenged me to connect with my Beatles roots for a Gem.  She was right on.  I had not really focused a Gem on this sensational band.  Sure, they have been discussed throughout, and a few songs have appeared as Gems.  And yet, I had not given the Fab Four their just dues.  But what could I say about the Beatles that has not already been said by others?  It seems their lives and music have already been covered ad nauseam.  If there was any new angle, it was going to take some thought. 

As it turned out, I had to go back to the beginning, recalling my first foray into a magical mystery tour that has had me caught in its wake for 35 years and counting.  Strangely enough, this initial seed proved not to be the music itself.  The initial seed was an album cover, more specifically the cover of the ‘Red Album’. And as I thought more about it, I realized this album cover was an inroad for me to understanding the reason for the Beatles success as well. I hope to explain below.

The ‘Red Album’, along with ‘Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band’, was the first real rock album to make its way into the Steeves’ household, thanks to Mom and Dad (and already recognized for the Mothers Day Gem, “Your Mother Should Know”).  I would later get beyond the trap and allure of ‘Greatest Hits’ albums like the ‘Red Album’ (as discussed for Gem # 19) but as this album was a ground breaker, I have no complaints, only praise.  It was my initiation into the Beatles early days, which greased the skids for all my subsequent rock album purchases, including most of the Beatles catalog.  Songs like ‘Michelle’, ‘Eleanor Rigby’ and ‘Paperback Writer’ were the first songs I would play over and over again, lifting the needle up, backwards, and back down again.  While listening, I would read the words, song dates, and credits.   I would also stare at the album cover.

The cover of the album was pretty darn cool.  On one side was a photo of the Beatles circa 1963 on the stairwell of EMI studios, looking over the balcony, down at the camera man, and on the flip side were the Beatles in the same pose (same positions, left to right: Ringo, Paul, George, John), on that same stairwell, near the end of their collaboration in 1969.  As I would glance back and fourth, one photo to the next, it felt as if I were looking at eight people, not four.  This was fascinating to me.  The difference in their appearance, particularly John and George, but also Paul and Ringo, was striking.

Now, I’m not talking about age, hair growth, or the possible ravages of drug abuse per se.  I’ve seen all of these as being much greater factors when looking at change in others.  For example, the difference in Keith Richards is pretty dramatic when comparing a ’67 photo of him to a ’69 photo, which can be chalked up to all three of these factors (the good news for Keith: He’s barely aged since!).  Comparing these two Red Album photos however, I saw much more that should be attributed to the changes in the Beatles appearance.  And though I could not really nail it down at the time, what I was gaining an insight to were the faces of knowledge, experience and wisdom.  This was to prove to be very enlightening to me.  The changes in the Beatles were more in line with what you would expect to see in, say a grandparent when comparing their teen photos to their later years, particularly if that grandparent had been through much in the interim.  For the Beatles, however, there were only six years separating these photos!

How could the Beatles have changed so much in so short a time?  Yes, they had seen the world, and met with virtually all of the most famous people of their times.  They had become wealthy beyond their wildest imaginations.  But I believe what changed the Beatles the most during the group’s career came from within:  It was their openness, the breadth of their willingness to share their hearts, minds and souls with the world through the music they made together.  This more than anything was also why the Beatles were so successful.  They did not hold back one iota, which is a very, very hard thing to do.  Perhaps it was not so hard in the beginning, when they had ‘nothing to lose’, but as time went by it must have gotten much more difficult to maintain that openness.  The Beatles did it for eight years, an amazing run.  As George Harrison once stated, “They (fans) gave their money and they gave their screams, but the Beatles kind of gave their nervous systems”.

After absorbing this concept to some degree all those years ago while looking at and listening to the Red Album, it was so easy afterwards to connect with the rest of the Beatles music.  It was all about filling the gap between those two pictures, and boy has it ever been fun:  From the Dylan-esque White Album, to the psychedelic dream state of Sgt Pepper.  From the willingness to cry for ‘Help’, to the spiritual depth and beauty of ‘Long, Long, Long’; from the melodic ‘Martha My Dear’, to the intensity of ‘Oh, Darling’; from the brutal honesty of letting the cameras role as the band broke up in front of our eyes during the film ‘Let it Be’; to their amazingly classy regrouping for ‘Abbey Road’ (side two after ‘Here Comes the Sun’ is simply put, one, long, magnificent, subconscious, goodbye); from the original album-oriented music of ‘Revolver’ to the singles that defined a generation: ‘Hey Jude’ and ‘All You Need is Love’.  It certainly has been fun.

The Beatles were common ground for a family (Steeves) with very diverse musical interests.  They were the one band you could find in all of our album/tape collections.  This, I believe was the case in many other families. Come Together…. Yeah!

I could have picked any number of songs from the Beatles catalog to represent this week’s Gem, but I had to settle on something…. ‘Something’, yes that will do!  That will do just fine.

Thanks, Amy.  I needed that.

- Pete

Gem Music Video: “Something”  ** The four ladies in the film are Linda McCartney (Paul); Yoko Ono (John); Patti Boyd (George); and Maureen Cox (Ringo). **

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDTi_La94Uo

“Don’t Let Me Down” on the rooftop of Apple Records

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O7PnvVgQvA

“Rain”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwSUlgJ0css

“Fool on the Hill”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KkGVccgJrA&feature=PlayList&p=A377F45A8BEA5E1D&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=46

About the Video: Original made-for-MTV-like video.  Used in the Beatles anthology film.

Video Rating: 2 (Although I can’t imagine there is anything better)

Best Feedback: John

You always liked "Rain."  I never quite felt the connection, but I remember you constantly singing that song under your breath.

Gave away all of my vinyl albums years ago, but I kept the first two albums I ever purchased--Beatles Red and Beatles Blue.

Regards,