The Beatles and iTunes part II

Here's my top twenty must have itunes from 1967-1970.
1.Strawberry Fields Forever
2. Fixing a Hole
3. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
4. A Day in the Life
5. I Am the Walrus
These 5 probably represent the best of the Beatles Psychedelic Period. Three from Pepper and Two from Magical Mystery Tour. Lennon would never be more lyrically obscure after these tracks. Even McCartney's Fixing a Hole is a trippy affair.
6. All You Need is Love
7. Baby You're a Rich Man
Two more from Mystery Tour. Track 6 is of course one of the two unofficial themes of the summer of love. The other is that Scott McKenzie tune ( San Fransisco)
While Sgt. Pepper gets all the glory, I've always felt the tracks on Magical Mystery Tour were overall Stronger, except for Your Mother Should Know and Flying....
8. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
9. Dear Prudence
10. Helter Skelter
11. Don't Pass Me By
Four from the White Album, one apiece. Harrison is clearly an equal in songwriting with the other two. The band is now 4 guys in different studios, doing different things but it's still magical.. Helter Skelter, Paul's answer to the Who's I Can See For Miles is the heaviest, dirtiest track the Beatles every put together, redeeming his absolutely crappy Ob-La- Di, Ob-La-Da
12. Revolution
Lennon's at his roughest in the Beatles. Brilliant. Crank up the opening riff!!!
13. Get Back
14. Hey Bulldog
15. It's All Too Much
Two from Yellow Submarine. Some psychedelic leftovers that still hold up today.
16. Come Together
17. Here Comes the Sun
18. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/ The End
O.K. I'm cheating a bit here. Three from Abbey Road. Harrison's 'Sun" is pure optimism and always makes me feel good. Come Together, Lennon's anthem for what??? and a bit the medley. Ringo's solo and a three guitar duel!! and the most prophetic line the Beatles ever sang.. And In the End...
19. Two of Us
20. Let It Be
Two from the Let It Be album. Two of Us is my favourite Beatles song. If I didn't own the discs, it would be the first iTune I would buy.
There it is. Twenty must have tracks from the Beatles studio years. Now will they be available tomorrow on iTunes???

The Beatles and iTunes Part 1

With Sept. 9th rapidly approaching and the Beatles' remasters and Rockband set for release, the rumour of an iTunes deal continues to swirl. When and if the Beatles make the move to legal digital downloads the questions will be how much? and which songs? I've decided to throw my two cents in and give my list of the 40 must have Beatle tunes. 20 from 62-66 and 20 from 67-70. This is MY list, so it's not just a greatest hits list. I've tried to include mostly upbeat songs songs so there are some glaring omissions. You be the judge!
1962 - 1966
1. Please Please Me
2. I Saw her Standing There
3. Twist and Shout
4. There's A Place
5. Boys
All from Please Please Me. Please Please Me was the Beatles first true hit and is the blueprint for many of the early hits: Good harmonies., Lennon's harmonica and a solid beat. I Saw Her Standing There is quite possibly the group's best rocker from the early days. Contains a great throw away line and one of Harrison's best guitar solo. This track gives you an idea of how good a rock band the Beatles were. Twist and Shout and Boys are covers and definitely show the lads skill at covering tracks. Lennon's vocal on Twist and Shout is legendary ( only two takes and the first one was used). Boys is just a plain fun rocker with Ringo on vocals giving a lesson to all drummers who want to sing!
There's a Place was the B side to Twist and Shout and is the first track that's not just a love song. Lennon's harmonica is so plaintive that it can still cause shivers.
6. I Want to Hold Your Hand
7. A Hard Day's Night
Two more "classic' early Beatles tracks. I Want to Hold Your Hand was the biggie., The one that broke them in the U.S. and A Hard days Night introduced the 12 string to rock. Also no one is quite sure what the opening chord is!!
8. I'm a Loser
9. Ticket to Ride
10. Help
11. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
4 of Lennon's best. Tracks 8 and 11 showing the influence of Bob Dylan. Help is Lennon's first really personal tune. Ticket to Ride is the Beatles taking the "formula' and messing with it. Ringing guitars, quick solos and a double time outro and this was only one year after A Hard Day's Night!
12. Norwegian Wood
13. Think For Yourself
14. I'm Looking Through You
Three from Rubber Soul, the Beatles first truly classic album. The boys are beginning to experiment and use the studio and other instruments to greater effects. I personally think that this is truly the album where Ringo and George shine. Ringo's drumming and use of various percussion instruments are top notch. Harrison's sitar on Norwegian Wood set off a stampede of Eastern influenced music and Think for Yourself is a great track. McCartney's songs start to also have a more personal touch. This album caused Brian Wilson to make Pet Sounds!!
15. Day Tripper
16. We Can Work It Out
Possible the greatest double sided single?
17. Rain
B-side to Paperback Writer. The Beatles best b side? Ringo has picked this as the best drumming he did with the Beatles. Was it Lennon or George Martin who came up with the backward outro... Who cares. Rain is the perfect Beatles song.
18. She Said, She Said
19. Taxman
20. Tomorrow Never Knows
Three from Revolver or as Lennon called it the Acid album. Clearly drug influenced and drug fuel, Revolver is the Beatles at the beginning of their peak as creative artists. The studio is now their domain and no topic is off limits ( LSD - She Said, She Said, Got to Get You Into My Life) the Tibetan Book of the Dead ( Tomorrow Never Knows)
There it is. 20 from the first half of the Beatles career. Yes I left off Yesterday. I don't really like it that much. The same with Eleanor Rigby. In My Life or Girl from Rubber Soul were cut to make the list only twenty tracks. She Loves You was also cut. 67-70 coming soon.

the action - Ulitmate Action

Along with the Who and the Small Faces, the Action or simply Action were one of the premier Mod bands of the 60's. Fronted by the soulful voice of Reg King, the band could take r n b covers to places other groups could only dream of. Sadly they never had any sizable hits even though they were produced by George Martin ( yeah that guy!!). Ultimate Action collects up those early single sides and places them in one neat packed.
Highlights ; Harlem Shuffle, In My Lonely Room, Come on Come with Me, the Place, Since I Lost My Baby.
Ult-Act-.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/258981340/Ult-Act-.rar

54.40 - 54.40 (the Green Album)

B.C.'s 54.40's first major label release still holds up as a solid debut album. Favouring quality over quantity the 9 tracks showcase the band's strengths: tight simple arrangements, passionate vocals, rough and tumble guitars and a solid bottom end. The themes on the album (social/political activism, love, loss, separation and family) are still the themes singer/lyricist Neil Osbourne regularly deals with today. The group's follow up to the "Green Album" as it's known to by fans was tighter, clearer and more concise but all those elements are evident on this release.
Of course, it's the songs that matter and the Green album kicks off with one of 54.40 best known and best loved tunes: "Baby Ran". Full of loud guitars verging on feedback, a thundering bass line and crashing drums "Baby Ran" is the pure straight rock and roll. Neil Osbourne's laid back vocals remind me of how Ray Davis sang The Kinks classic "You Really Got Me". Not over the top, but restrained. When Neil screams out "My baby ran away" just before the guitar solo his voice is fullof despair and a hint of menace. Pure gold.
The other "big" track is 'I Go Blind".
Hootie and the Blowfish would make this a hit with a near note for note cover in the mid 90's but the original just has that little bit of edge to it. When Osbourne sings 'Hold me, hold me, 'cause I wanna get higher and higher, higher than" there's a bit of faer or wonder of something that the Blowfish just couldn't muster.

High points: I Go Blind, Baby Ran, Me Island, Take My Hand, Grace and Beauty
54-40.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/258575174/54-40.rar

Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest -- LIVE -- Thursday, July 16, 2009

While LIVE's record sales may not be what it was during the Throwing Copper era they can still deliver a great crushing rock and roll show.
The band hit the stage in Ottawa at the Bluesfest looking like they had something to prove. This was no mere run through of their hits. Selling the Drama got the crowd moving and provide the first of many high points. I Alone and Dolphin's Cry turned into singalongs with singer Ed Kowalczyk directing the action.
The band was tight, loud and pushing the music forward creating an almost hypnotizing rhythm.
High points: I Alone, Lightning Crashes, Heaven, Lakini's Juice, Turn My Head.
Rating 3 1/2 out of 4 stars.

Cisco Bluesfest - The church Live in Ottawa Saturday, July 11, 2009

Caught the Church show in Ottawa on July 11th at the Bluesfest and wow what a show.
The band played a short but powerful set despite the on stage technical problems, (monitors cutting out, amps and cord problems) and the rain delays.... Something sure ticked Singer/bassist Steve Kilbey off. While he was all smiles and polite to the crowd he clearly was a having a tough time on stage. He joked that it had been 23 years since the church had played Ottawa. I for one hope they will be back very soon!!
The set highlighted the band's most recent release Untitled #23 with tracks such as Deadman's Hand, Pangaea, and Happenstance taking on a tougher, grittier feel than on the disc. (You do own it, don't you?, If not go and get it...NOW!!!!).
The sound out front was clear and full but could have been louder. Which is my biggest complaint concerning Bluesfest this year. I know noise bylaws are making it tough, but it is a rock show. Turn it up!!
For a band that's been around for 20 odd years, the church proved that they are a great, tight rock and roll band. If you get a chance, go see them live.
Rating 3 1/2 out of 4 stars.
What they played:
07/11/09 Ottawa, ON, Canada - Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest

Tantalized, Block, Day 5, North South East and West, Happenstance, Deadman's Hand, Pangaea, You Took, Operetta, Under the Milky Way, Reptile

Youngtown - Rock and Roll Museum - a Review

A little background info first.
Neil Young lived in Omemee during the 40's and early 50's. When his parents split up Neil went west with his mother and the rest of his family stayed in Omemee.
The Youngtown Rock and roll Museum celebrates Neil's life and work plus the great artists of the 50's 60's and 70's.
Is it worth the trip?
You better believe it is.
The museum is full of great pieces of memorabilia from the 50's through the 70's. So if you're not a Neil Young fan there is still plenty to see, hear and read.
Highlights include a marvelous Beatles display including John Lennon's hat that he wore in what would be the Beatles last photo shoot. See the Hey Jude album for a picture.
But there's more, lots more. Items from the Who, the Rolling Stones, the Guess Who. The list goes on and on.
So if you're off the beaten path and looking for somewhere to go, go to Omemee ( just outside of Peterbrough) and soak up some history.

Milltown Brothers - Slinky

A lost gem of Britpop. Before Oasis, Blur etc. these boys released this classic. According to MySpace the Milltown Brothers are still active. Enjoy.
Milltown_Brothers_-_Slinky.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/250671960/Milltown_Brothers_-_Slinky.rar

Jenny McCarthy's Surfin' Safari

The weather's getting better. Here's a various artist package. Little info inside but some lovely pictures of Ms. McCarthy:)
These are the original records
1. Misirlou --- Dick Dale
2. Surfin USA ---- Beach Boys
3. Walk, Don't Run -- Ventures
4. Tequila --Champs
5. Rumble -- Link Wray
6. Bongo Rock -- Preston Epps
7. Surf City --- Jan and Dean
8. Pipeline -- The Chantays
9. Surfin' Bird -- Trashmen
10. Let's Go Trippin' -- Dick Dale
11. Wipeout --- Surfaris
12. Surf Rider --- Lively Ones
13. Hawaii 5-0 --- Ventures
14. Surfin' Safari -- Beach Boys
High points : Rumble, Surf Rider, Pipeline
Various.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/223355839/Various.rar

Gram Parsons
I've just started reading Twenty Thousand Roads by David N. Meyer, a Bio of Gram Parsons. So far so good. I'll review the book when I'm finished with it. It got me to pull out the Gram Parsons cds and give them a spin.
Was he a genius? Was he just another Casualty? I'm still undecided. He did leave some great music and some great legends.
So today's post is Safe at Home - the International Submarine Band.
Gram's first true recordings. By the time this record was released he had left the group to join the Byrds and was making Sweetheart of the Rodeo. That's another post all it's own.
Overall Safe at Home is pretty good. Some great covers and a few originals. This is the ten song version. I believe there was another release with a bonus track or two. If you use YouTube there are posts of some other tracks, possibly from the first singles. I'm not sure and haven't bothered to investigate.
So enjoy Safe at Home and Gram Parsons' Cosmic American Music
gram_parsons_-_international_submarine_band.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/211815845/gram_parsons_-_international_submarine_band.rar

Blues Incorporated
Here's the first album by Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated.
Korner along with Cyril Davis basically kick started the British r & b scene which would launch the careers of the Rolling Stones, Cream and countless others. Davis would eventually leave Blues Incorporated to form the Cyril Davis All Stars.
Neither Korner or Davis would achieve the commercial success that their protegees would.
This first disc is a must for Brit Blues fans. Great songs and arrangements. davis is in fine form on the harmonica and Long John Baldry shows that he already knew his way around the blues.
Awesome stuff.
Alexis_Corner-R___B_From_The_Marquee.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/206465259/Alexis_Corner-R___B_From_The_Marquee.rar

Dead Meadow --- Feathers

The fourth disc by Washington, D.C. band Dead Meadow is a real treat. Full of slow Sabbath riffs and trippy lyrics. The vocals are used as just another colour throwm into the mix like early REM records. If you dig shoegazer, stoner rock, This is a must. Awesome stuff.
Feathers.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/203802403/Feathers.rar

U2 Live - Zoo Tour

Here's one for you. A Italian "release" I think from the Zoo Tour.
It's from a silver disc ( sw 61 U2 LIVE vol. 7). Good sound.
It's one track. Break it up yourselves.
Here's the track list
1. bad
2. bullet the blue sky
3. running to stand still
4. where the streets have no name
5. pride
6. i still haven't found..
7. desire
8. help me/ ultra violet
9. with or without you
10. love is blindness
11. can't help falling in love
12. Gloria
U2_Live_vol._7_-_Zoo_Tour.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/200764606/U2_Live_vol._7_-_Zoo_Tour.rar

U2 - No Line on the Horizon
Like a few others ( OK, like a LOT of other people) I got an advance "copy" of the new disc. I've read the reviews ( Rolling Stone, etc.). Is it the next great album since Acthung Baby? Is it crap? Is it a good rock and roll album? Well...
I'm leaning towards the last choice. Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois co-wrote most of the album and play all over it. Fortunately Eno's synths don't drown out or overwhelm the band and it is a band record. The rhythm section of Clayton and Mullen jr. is as solid as ever and they carry the tracks along allowing the Edge to do his thing and his guitar is everywhere. This is very much a guitar album. While there are only a few "solos" and maybe nothing as heavy as the Fly or Til the End of the World there's plenty "U2" sounds here. The weakest link is Bono.
The lyrics and many of the vocal lines are just not that grabbing. On the disc, Bono seems to be more of an observer than a participant and his observations just aren't that memorable. He's not Ray Davies. Likewise many of the gang vocal chorus are weak and lack the counterpoints and melodies that U2 is known for.
So is it crap? Nope. Just a good rock and roll ALBUM.
I used the work ALBUM on purpose. No Line needs to be listened to from start to finish. There's no concept here. It's not the group's Tommy or The Wall, but each track seems to move into the next and the sounds seem to build in one track and continue in the next.
Worth Buy? Yes. Even though I have this "copy", on March 3rd, I'll be at my local record shop picking up this album. Will I buy the super deluxe addition? Probably not.
No Line on the Horizon is a good U2 album. Period.
It blends the experimentation of Zooropa with the band's classic style and some new sounds have leaked in. After nearly 30 years, U2 is still moving forward towards the perfect album. They didn't hit it here but they didn't miss by a lot.
Rating 8/10
High Points - Magnificent, No Line on the Horizon, Stand Up Comedy, I'll Go Crazy...
Low Points - Moment of Surrender, Unknown Caller
The next single, my guesses are either Stand Up Comedy or Magnificent.
I'm not posting the disc, find it yourself or better yet go out on March 3rd and buy it.
( If you agree or not drop me a post)

The Beatles - REEPERBAHN
To celebrate the 45 anniversary of the Beatles coming to America ( I know it was last week!), here's an import ( aka bootleg) of the lads in Germany before they were famous and most likely with Pete Best on the drums. It's an audience recording and is a bit murky but still decent and hey, it's the Beatles.......
The_Beatles.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/197999445/The_Beatles.rar

The Smithereens
New Jersey's Smithereens are one of those great bands that just seemed to disappear into the woodwork after a promising start. They had some hits, Blood & Roses, Girl Like You, Behind the Wall of sleep etc and then faded away. They didn't break up .... Nope, they just got better.
The last few years has seen the band release four albums ( Meet the Smithereens - highly recommended, Christmas with...., Besides the Beatles and Live at Court Tavern --- A must for Smithereens fans and fans of searing rock and roll in general) and a fifth is rumoured to be on the way.
Today's post is a live ep from 1987, long out of print from the Restless Performance Series.
Three of the tracks are from their debut Especially For You, Two from some early ep's and a killer version of the Who's the Seeker. I've included the covers as well all in a little rar file.
Enjoy,
See you next week!!

The_Smithereens.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/195210109/The_Smithereens.rar

A Little bit of Canadian Surf.......
POLARIS! are the proud heirs to a long line of Canadian instrumental groups that includes Wes Dakus & The Rebels, The Gemtones, Les Jaguars, The Rockatones, Les Versatiles, The Pharaohs, Les Megatones, The Esquires, The S'Quires, The Squires, and more recently Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet and Huevos Rancheros. For quite some time, PAUL HOGAN (guitar) had wanted to put an instrumental group together to create the kind of music he had enjoyed as a kid, by the likes of The Ventures and The Shadows: moody, danceable, mysterious, fun!

So, in the Spring of 1995, he called on his old pals PAT LAWLOR (guitar) and ROB PORTER (drums) to start the perfect combo. Pat had helped Paul out when his previous group, The Gluetones, were recording their E.P.; and Rob had been with Paul in local Ottawa bands before that. They asked their guitarist friend MARK MCGREEVY to step in on bass, which he gladly accepted. Another friend, DON CUMMINGS, occasionally added a touch of organ, as on the CD. Later that year, Polaris! made their first public appearance in Wakefield, Quebec, with Furnace Face.

They shared stages with Dick Dale, Laika & The Cosmonauts, The Friends of Dean Martinez, Huevos Rancheros, The Royal Crowns, Resin Scraper, Phono-Comb, Atomic 7 and many others.Their CD on Iglu is a tasty collection of twangy original compositions by the group and one carefully chosen cover (by Serge Gainsbourg). One way to describe their sound is: Young, Fast and Scientific!

After several years of giving true fans of music a great deal of pleasure, Polaris! disbanded when their drummer followed his muse to Newfoundland. The CD remains as a lasting tribute to their amazing creativity.

"Polaris are amazing... a completely gorgeous, gorgeous band" Brian Connelly (Shadowy Men), Toronto Star, February 1996.

These guys played around Ottawa in the mid to late 90's. Great instrumental sound. Only released 1 disc on iglu records.
You can according to the website ( where I got the above info) still pick up a copy. Definitely worthy it. I've posted 4 cuts in a rar file along with the covers. Check 'em out!!
http://www.instromania.net/D2/LAB/LAB_I/Iglu.php

Polaris.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/195123461/Polaris.rar

the catacombs are filling up......

Picked this semi-"rare" REM disc a few years back at a pawnshop in Windsor. Decent live acoustic set from the Out of Time "tour". No info on the disc or what show it's from.....
The mix starts out horrible and then gets really clean and clear particularly Stipes's voice during the first the number.
Peter Buck will be on tour with the Venus 3 supporting Robyn Hitchcock this spring.
Hitchcock new album comes out sometime in March or April.
Caught him with the Venus 3 on the Ole Tarantula tour..awesome show and set...
I'll be heading back to see them again!!!


R_E_M__LOW.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/194964887/R_E_M__LOW.rar

First post...Something from mod legends the Action




http://rapidshare.com/files/194942868/the_action_I_ll_keep_holding_on.mp3
the_action_I_ll_keep_holding_on.mp3