Brad

It's all of that. To exclude an important component of the 60s is just not possible. The Beatles were an important of what made the 60s; kids rebelling against their parents. Most parents hated rock 'n roll. You just can't say that to know the 60s you need to look elsewhere. You need to look at all of it. They were all parts of the reaction to the end of WWII. The end of the war brought the end to a tumultous age, perhaps dating back to the onset of the Depression. From 1945 through the 50s, that was a reaction against that tumult. The 60s were a reaction to the mind numbing wish for normalcy (cue Warren Harding) that our parents and the world sought after what happened in previous decades. There is a great book called the War of the World by Niall Ferguson which posits that there was no WWI or WWII but one continuous war from 1900 through the Korean War. Thus, the 50s were reaction to that upheaval and the 60s a reaction to the reaction.

Best of luck. Thanks for your help over the years!

Whew, that was a rather uncomforable exchange (at least to me). I'm looking forward to receiving the book soon so will reserve judgment until then

Maybe some are fluff but very appealing with a lot of charm. Act Naturally was always a favorite of mine.

Do you recommend any books in addition to MacDonald's Revolution in the Head? Yes, that's a good question. I would like your opinion about the Gould book. Sometimes the analysis is a little too deep as in going on the motivations of British schoolgirls in going crazy, with discussions of Freud thrown in, but overall, a satisfying read.

I thought this was sort of cool, the opening cinematic from Beatles Rock Band.

Think I have but couldn't tell you where.

♦☺ᄱᅢᅧᅥᅲᅸ?

Yes, but you can only play those from the right side

I agree, I think it sounds fantastic also. But I was at a point when I needed to appreciate the randomness and absurdity of it due other things in my life pissing me off like work. Next time it may come off as pretentious. Though I did hear some new bits in it I never noticed before. Speaking of the rare Beatles stinker, spinning the new Past Masters despite the great remaster done on "She's A Woman" it still sucks. How much pot do you have to smoke to think "my love she's no pheasant" sounds good? I know misunderstood lyric, but even the correct interpretation of "My love don't give me presents. I know that she's no peasant" makes Oasis look like Shakespeare. The Inner Light, I can also live without. But for the most part even their B-Sides were good to great. I can also probably live without the Yellow Submarine soundtrack, not one of their finest moments IMHO.

For those who may be interested, there is someone on ebay selling individual albums from the mono box. They're not cheap though, starting at $37 and up. I'm not the seller.

He's a fine guitarist but I'm with Chuck on this; doesn't really stand out. I like listening to him but find Grant more interesting. Another point regarding the moderation. If you're going to delete someone's posts, you also need the post where they are quoted. It just doesn't make any sense to have the quoted post in another member's post if the underlying post (e.g. the post that is being quoted) has been removed.

To my ears the remaster of All Things Must Pass doesn't sound good. Compared to my original Japanese CD issue it sounds as if noise reduction was applied. I sold it. I'll have to keep an eye out for the Japanese version for comparison then. Thanks.

One album not mentioned because it's not really a Beatles album (although some of the songs were written before the breakup) but if it might be considered their greatest (IMHO) if it were was George Harrison's All Things Must Pass. I hadn't listened to it in many a year and, in fact, couldn't find a copy, so I went out and bought it this weekend. I originally had the original version (both LP and Cd) and the one I purchased was the remastered version, which sounds great, and has some additional tracks (although I don't think they really add to the album). All Things Must Pass is just as good as I remembered it, with the songs especially vibrant. There's just not one bad song on this album. One of my favorites then and still one of them.

Darn, he stole my line

There's a XM channel that plays what they call vinyl hits from the 60s and 70s, channel number 46, sort of cool, although a little repetitive.

Thanks but no thanks. Also, not very ergonomic; bad back sufferers like myself would -- er -- suffer.

That's it - we put in up near Lambertville. That whole area of NJ is much more beautiful than what many people think of when they think NJ. Once you get somewhat west (as opposed to the eastern part, which is where the stereotypes come in), there are some very nice rural or semi rural parts.

I was wondering about that Box myself. There's a you tube video showing how it works.

Jim's point about length is one that struck me a few days ago. The songs had always seemed longer to me (as I remember them) and I was surprised at the length, which says to me that they were a perfect length. The goal of delivering a message in any medium should be just enough, no more, no less.

And there you have it. That's why everyone who can afford it has jumped all over the mono box. The first two albums are only of historical interest to me. HDN, BFS and H are hugely enjoyable but... It's Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt P (with reservations), the White Album and Abbey Road + the singles album that are the big atraction for me (I've not heard 'Let It Be' as an album ever!...should be remedied in the next couple of weeks). Mono, stereo, cylinder disc, download...doesn't enter into the equation for these ears. Ah! now here is where tastes differ! Please Please Me to my ears is one of the greatest power pop records of all time, I love it! I always return to PPM when I need a jolt of rock 'n roll. Listening to these box sets has caused me to "rediscover" early Beatles. Those first 5 albums are definitely loaded with charm and great R 'n R for me again. However, this rediscovery does not deter me from the opinion that their later albums are their best musically --- Rubber Soul on up is where it's at for me. I am still kind of befuddled as to why many Beatles fans find Revolver to be their best offering. Can this really be said about an album that has "Yellow Submarine" on it? "Revolver" IS their best album. Yes, it has "Yellow Submarine" (which I think is a perfectly charming track), but it also has "Taxman," "Love You To," "Tomorrow Never Knows," "She Said, She Said," "I'm Only Sleeping," "Doctor Robert," "Eleanor Rigby," etc., etc. "Taxman" has to be the best opening track since, well, "I Saw Her Standing There" on "Please Please Me"! (It still amazes me that only three years separate those two albums. And notice that both start with a count-in!) You say this as if it's a given!!! Mileage varies, as they say. I agree. Opinions presented as facts and all that jazz... Sounds like just an opinion but I do, imho, think the triumivirate of Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt. Peppers are the best. Of course, just my opinion

I have it on the way.

It's already on order All right, now don't all of you jump over me but I guess this classifies as a Beatles newbies question on these things but is the Beatles Anthologies you're all referring to the ones on Cd or DVD. Also, I've seen various references to Purple Chick but what is that?

Where is that available for listening?

Wait'll you hear the Decca audition. Not sure I follow.