Went out and bought those two compilations(My 1st purchase from the Bealtes). As much as I liked the 1st one, I found myself playing the 2nd one more.

Three things caught my ears though..

1. Their use of background vocals(esp in their later recordings), I'd love to know how it came about or where they got the inspiration to do it.

2. I really can't shake the thought that Stevie Wonder might've been heavily influenced by them when he recorded his 70s albums. "He's Misstra Know-It-All" in particular echoes on of the Beatles ballads; the lyrics, the vocal mannerisms and the whole production.

3. The song Ballad Of John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Man I've just gotten real hooked to the Beatles lately.

Death

The Beatles were dope. (No hyperbole) I got hip to their catalog in an all nighter with a old friend back during my senior year in high school '91. I hipped him to the funk, he drenched me in the Fab Four from his dad's vinyl collection. One of their greatest achievements to me was their GROWTH as artist. You could literally hear it as the albums progressed. And your right about their production techniques, they were ahead of their time towards the end. They came along way from she loves me yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yah!! Harlepolis has been hit with Beatlemania I can't WAIT to see what you think of the balance of their post-1965 stuff particularly.

I'm can't offer pointed info about the comments/questions you raise (we need tA for that ), but I do know that Paul particularly has cited the infliuence of black American soul singers (though not only them) in his own vocal stylings. He and Little Richard got close when the Beatles opened for some of Richard's sets in Hamburg, where they did an extended residency between 1960-62. The story goes that the boys lived in squalor, and that Richard would sometimes let them crash wherever he was staying. They'd practice together, and Richard would show Paul how to do all sorts of vocal embellishments. It's also during this time that they would first meet Billy Preston, who later worked with them extensively during their later years, especially around Abbey Road and Let It Be. They loved the rhythm and blues vocal aesthetic, and I'd say it had some influence on their arrangements.

I'm embarrassed to say I don't know enough about Stevie's work to draw connections with the Beatles... and, yeah, the Ballad Of John & Yoko is fun.

[Edited 6/5/10 13:07pm]

Harlepolis said:

Went out and bought those two compilations(My 1st purchase from the Bealtes). As much as I liked the 1st one, I found myself playing the 2nd one more.

Three things caught my ears though..

1. Their use of background vocals(esp in their later recordings), I'd love to know how it came about or where they got the inspiration to do it.

2. I really can't shake the thought that Stevie Wonder might've been heavily influenced by them when he recorded his 70s albums. "He's Misstra Know-It-All" in particular echoes on of the Beatles ballads; the lyrics, the vocal mannerisms and the whole production.

3. The song Ballad Of John Lennon & Yoko Ono

1. The Beach Boys ( pet sounds mainly ) were their harmonic vocal influence

2. ive always thought Stevie and Paul had alot of the same vocal inflections. Especially on WHEN IM 64,e ven though its sped up, paul sounds like stevie before stevie sounded like stevie lol

3. yeahhhh.

I FRUCKIN LOVE THE FRUCKIN BEATLES!

There should be MORE beatles threads here IMO

AlexdeParis said:

Those two albums were my introduction to the Beatles years ago. A lot of amazing songs on those discs... and you have many more yet to discover. The mono box set is absolutely magical.

It is amazing what they accomplished and influenced in under ten years! Every album shows songwriting progress in leaps and bounds, and a lot of hallmark production techniques for sure. It's no "wonder" they are so revered.

[Edited 6/4/10 20:20pm]

Nvncible1 said:

1. The Beach Boys ( pet sounds mainly ) were their harmonic vocal influence

Yep!

Harlepolis said:

I just wanted to say congratulations. Those compilations are pretty much perfect.

Do yourself a favor. One by one, listen to their album in order of release. You can really hear the change in sound from the British pop/rock to the "experimental" years. It's a great listen. Everything else was compilation stuff.

Please Please Me

With The Beatles

Beatles For Sale

A Hard Day's Night

Help!

Rubber Soul

Revolver

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

The Beatles (White Album)

Abbey Road

Yellow Submarine

Let It Be

Also get the soundtrack to the Vegas show, Love. It's a mash-up type album they did especially for the show. It's amazingly cool.

Also, read the wikipedia pages on things like Revolver, Sgt. Peppers, White Album, etc. Very interesting and fun stuff on those latter years releases.

They've remastered and rereleased their core catalog, and it's only about $12.99-13.99 a CD in stores (a la Target).

I don't really understand how anyone can not at least like most Beatles' songs if not love them. My son thinks the Beatles are "meh" but I told him he has not listened to the best. If you don't like what you hear at first listen...dig deeper...there is so much there to discover!

poetcorner61 said:

I don't really understand how anyone can not at least like most Beatles' songs if not love them. My son thinks the Beatles are "meh" but I told him he has not listened to the best. If you don't like what you hear at first listen...dig deeper...there is so much there to discover!

I was one of the ones who deemed them as overrated so, your son will get around eventually

Thanx a million for the feedback, guys

Harlepolis said:

Went out and bought those two compilations(My 1st purchase from the Bealtes). As much as I liked the 1st one, I found myself playing the 2nd one more.

Three things caught my ears though..

1. Their use of background vocals(esp in their later recordings), I'd love to know how it came about or where they got the inspiration to do it.

2. I really can't shake the thought that Stevie Wonder might've been heavily influenced by them when he recorded his 70s albums. "He's Misstra Know-It-All" in particular echoes on of the Beatles ballads; the lyrics, the vocal mannerisms and the whole production.

3. The song Ballad Of John Lennon & Yoko Ono

The Beatles were really that great. I've learned to play guitar thru their music and "A Day In the Life" is just awesome! As far as influence, well I could go on and on but their influence on my man Stevie, whom I named my son after and even my other dude "that skinny MFer w/ the high voice" is evident. I've just recently purchased ad SW songbook to play guitar to as well. I just came 2 conclude that the Fab 4 was to the '60's, what SW was to the 70's, and P to the 80's IMHO.

Speaking of Prince(and I should've mentioned that earlier)...

"All My Dreams" is def a DIRECT nod/tribute to The Beatles sound, esp in the part where he sings...

A submarine valiantly conquers a virgin sea
A child is born, a child is born, will you marry me?

Thing is, along with Sly Stone,,,,the WHOLE "Dream Factory" album could credit The Beatles as inspirations.

poetcorner61 said:

I don't really understand how anyone can not at least like most Beatles' songs if not love them. My son thinks the Beatles are "meh" but I told him he has not listened to the best. If you don't like what you hear at first listen...dig deeper...there is so much there to discover!

Give him time. I really disliked The Beatles as a kid, and even into my 20's. It wasn't until sometime in my 30's that I started to flirt with the idea of listening to their music.

Harlepolis said:

poetcorner61 said:

I don't really understand how anyone can not at least like most Beatles' songs if not love them. My son thinks the Beatles are "meh" but I told him he has not listened to the best. If you don't like what you hear at first listen...dig deeper...there is so much there to discover!

I was one of the ones who deemed them as overrated so, your son will get around eventually

Thanx a million for the feedback, guys

AlexdeParis said:

Calling the Beatles overrated = understandable Not being a fan = no big deal Not liking some Beatles songs = ridiculous

Guilty for the 1st two accounts

The 3rd, well I'd be a LIAR if I said I didn't love what Aretha, Chaka and Donny Hathaway did with The Beatles songs

Oh and um,,,I STILL prefer EW&F's rendition of "Got to Get You Into My Life"

the 1962-1966 red box criminally overlooks the Revolver album; other than that, those are the perfect Beatles compilations...

The best era of the Beatles, in my opinion, was the 1965-1967 years, and 1968's White Album being their ultimate explosion of their creativity, Abbey Road their swang song and Let It Be their bitter and screwed epitaph (sort of)...

Best pop/rock act of all time; end of the story.

My ranking of the Beatles albums:

1.Revolver

2.Sgt.Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

3.White Album

4.Rubber Soul

5.Abbey Road

6.A Hard Day's Night

7.With the Beatles

8.Help

9.Let It Be

10.Magical Mystery Tour

11.The Beatles first album

12.Beatles for Sale

13.Yellow Submarine

Harlepolis said:

Oh and um,,,I STILL prefer EW&F's rendition of "Got to Get You Into My Life"

Harlepolis said:

Oh and um,,,I STILL prefer EW&F's rendition of "Got to Get You Into My Life"

AlexdeParis said:

I also prefer the Elements' take on "Got to Get You Into My Life."

Point is, Lennon/McCartney wrote the shit

AlexdeParis said:

Calling the Beatles overrated = understandable Not being a fan = no big deal Not liking some Beatles songs = ridiculous

AGREED!!!!

Let's face it, the Beatles were and THE best rock/pop groups in music, hands down. You just can't help but love their music....even if you aren't a hardcore fan.

I only got into the Beatles last year and the first 2 albums I bought were the 'red' and 'blue' sets. Disc 1 of the blue album is amazing.

Cinnie said:

Harlepolis said:

Oh and um,,,I STILL prefer EW&F's rendition of "Got to Get You Into My Life"

AlexdeParis said:

I also prefer the Elements' take on "Got to Get You Into My Life."

Point is, Lennon/McCartney wrote the shit

And just because I prefer Marvin's version of "Yesterday" does NOT mean I'm gonna knock the originals. I have more respect for the Beatles now than I did probably two years ago. I'm not trying to be a snob on John, Paul, George & Ringo.

Timmy84 said:

Cinnie said:

Point is, Lennon/McCartney wrote the shit

And just because I prefer Marvin's version of "Yesterday" does NOT mean I'm gonna knock the originals. I have more respect for the Beatles now than I did probably two years ago. I'm not trying to be a snob on John, Paul, George & Ringo.

Timmy, you throwing shade at me now?