Beatles?

[lenron]

So here's one for you all: Are the Beatles...er....were the Beatles "prog"? Oh sure, they were progressive in many ways in terms of success and taking pop/rock music to a new level of success. But how about their music itself? Their early stuff notwithstanding, can it be said that the latter years of Beatles music is truly "prog", the term we use to describe our most beloved of musics?

Some commentary about some key Beatles tunes that might be worthy of being called "prog":

1968's "Revolution 9", a drug-induced exploration of sound and sound textures, spoken word, and noise, ushered in a new era of experimentation at Abbey Road studios. One of the first noise pieces on a major rock record. Prog?

1965, the song is "Norwegian Wood". Ok, so all it had was a sitar in it. But it was 1965, not 1968. Prog?

"What's The New Mary Jane". A never released song from 1968's White Album sessions, this tune had a 2 to 3 minute interlude of experimental noise and sound textures, but was more structured than "Revolution 9". Prog?

"Strawberry Fields Forever" utilized a then-brand new and super expensive Mellotron for its intro. As well as several Moog overdubs, a 40 piece orchestra, reverse tape tracks, numerous sound effects, and more. "I Am The Walrus" was the same story, but also adding a 1960's UK radio show broadcast over the tumultous coda. Prog?

1966's Revolution record ended with the decidedly twisted "Tomorrow Never Knows". The tune, complete with a great yet uncomfortable drum beat, "nowhere near in key" randomly spliced recordings of synthesizers and strings "cut and pasted" to be used as a sort of "riff", reverse tape (on lead guitar esp.), vocal effects, Moogs abound, and more, culminate into one of 1966's most experimental recordings on a major rock record. Prog?

So was all this before the famed prog movement of the 1970's? Can they even be compared? There are many more examples, but I think I'll leave you with the preceeding, and see if I can't get some others' insight into this question. And yes, I am very much a devout Beatles fan, and have been since my birth in 1975 (thanks a lot, Dad). hehe.

Comments?

[Rick and Roll]

TNK is on here actually (801 live). I think the Beatles are great. But the beauty of the Moon to me is to hear songs you can't hear anywhere else. The Beatles are here, there, and everywhere! (the last dance song at my wedding btw).

My favorite Beatles are Rain, I Feel Fine, In My Life.

If anything, Abbey Road is moon-ready. But can't we hear that anywhere?

[Michael Rawdon]

I think it would be more fair to say that the prog efforts of the 70s were inspired to a great extent by the Beatles. This is obviously a somewhat silly statement, since the Beatles were arguably the most influential act in rock history and probably directly inspired almost every artist in rock between 1965 and 1978 in some way. I think people don't realize just what a wide variety of music the Beatles recorded, and how much ground they broke in popular music.

The Beatles were to rock what Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Miles Davis - together! - were to jazz.

I think this is more illustrative of the failings of labelling styles of music. After all, I find that Phish has a lot in common with prog, but labelling them as such doesn't really seem to fit. (There's jazz music which also has some affinity with prog.)

[lenron]

Yes, absolutely. As was mentioned, one fine aspect of AM is the fact that you hear music here that you cannot hear anywhere else.

Fact is, there are plenty of Beatles songs that neither the "classic rock" radio stations nor the "oldies" radio stations play. Ever. Perhaps AM could embrace these oft-overlooked Beatles gems for our listening pleasure? Some suggestions below...

"Revolution 9"
"I've Got A Feeling"
"Whats The New Mary Jane?"
"Hey Bulldog"
"Its All Too Much"
"Only A Northern Song"
"Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey"
"Polytheme Pam"
"I Want You (She's So Heavy)"
"Baby You're A Rich Man"
"You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)"

I'll stop there. If AM plays any of these tunes and I am not aware, then thats sensational. These songs, and others like them, are what made the actual records by the Beatles that much more complete, progressive and dynamic than just what the radio played. For those who only know the Beatles from Top 40 radio of yesteryear, it may seem like they Beatles could be easily likened to a boy band - when it fact, the records as a whole are what put them above and beyond what anyone else was doing, and helped to inspire rock bands for decades following.

[Yesspaz]

I think this is the third time this has been discussed, but it's always fun. I think some of the Beatles' output is prog, but only in a loose way. I don't necessarily see it being added, but some of the more experimental stuff I think could fit. Odd though, I would write and entirely different list than lenron did. It would include:

most of "Magical Mystery Tour"
the whole of "Yellow Submarine" ep.
large bits of the White Album.
Side Two of Abbey Road ripped as a whole.
"I Want You"
"Tomorrow Never Knows" - actually all one chord over and over (C Maj)
"Within You Without You"
"Rain"
"Norwegian Wood"
"Love to You"
"Hey Jude"
etc. etc.

but I'd for sure leave out "Revolution 9," which I always skip over, and "I've Got a Feeling," which is straight rock.



But against adding any Beatles is the argument that then there'd be a "what about Pet Sounds?" and "what about the psychedelic Byrds' stuff."

[lenron]

That is true! If you add Beatles into the "prog" realm, it immediately begs the question(s) about Pet Sounds and various other late 60's progressive music. So, I suppose if you add Beatles to AM, others would either follow or one would have to deal with the repercussions!

FYI, the song "Love To You" is actually "Love You To" from 1966's Revolution record. Truly one of the main, if not THE main, song that took sitar use in rock music to a new level.

I skip over "Revolution 9" most of the time, too. However, on occasion I have vegged out on the couch while it plays and I let myself drift into a self-induced insanity. Like what I do with KC's "THRaKaTTaK". Just don't do it often!

Man, "Rain" is such a great song.

Your list, Yesspaz, is actually a continuation of my list that I just didn't finish typing. Figured I had made my point with the abridged list! In fact, my list is still even longer - but I totally agree with your 'additions'.

Forgive me if I have brought the subject up again. I am new to the AM forums and I was not aware it had been discussed before. I did, however, suspect that is probably had been - I was right!

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by lenron

"You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)"

You have got to be kidding me! That is (probably on purpose) one of the worst songs ever recorded!

All your other ones I like by the way. And Spaz, a nice list....I really tried to disagree!

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by lenron
Forgive me if I have brought the subject up again. I am new to the AM forums and I was not aware it had been discussed before. I did, however, suspect that is probably had been - I was right!

Please don't apologize...we talk about other stuff that's just dumb......so go for it!

[lenron]

Indeed, "You Know My Name" is a frighteningly bad song - but so funny!

I must confess now, even further, about my Beatles fascination. If my 2nd love in life is prog, then #1 must be The Beatles. I own some 56 Beatles CD's! Not to mention countless vinyl LP's. I might as well get this off my chest and just be done with it...

• I know every single recorded Beatles song. I own all the records, EP's, Greatest Hits, Anthologies, and otherwise. I can sing along, word for word, with every single song. Yes, even the ones no one cares about/likes/knows about.

• I can recite every line of dialogue to the films "Yellow Submarine", "Hard Day's Night", and "Help" word for word while watching them. A serious annoyance to my wife!

• I am a Beatles trivia fanatic. I don't try for it, but since the standard birthday and Christmas gifts I get from people are Beatles books of all sorts, I tend to absorb a lot. Probably too much.

• I have more solo Lennon, McCartney, Harrison & Starr records than I can count. And love them all. Er, mostly.

Nino Batista = BeatlesNerd. hehe

[Rick and Roll]

lennon?

I won a little Shea Stadium 8/23/66 poster that I won for knowing that "In My Life" was from Rubber Soul. I couln't decide if it was that or "Revolver". It was at a bar 15-20 years ago...someone guessed "Revolver" and I swooped in. To this day, a friend says "I'm a bigger Beatles fan then you....give me the poster"!

The place had a "Shut Up And Play Yer Guitar" poster in the window. Great place, closed down a month after I found it

[Yesspaz]

Originally posted by lenron
Forgive me if I have brought the subject up again. I am new to the AM forums and I was not aware it had been discussed before. I did, however, suspect that is probably had been - I was right!

Oh don't worry about that. It's cool. Just don't start an add Dream Theater thread. That'd be like, number 7 or 8

[lenron]

I sure as anything won't be starting a Dream Theater thread. Not my cup of tea. But I have stated that in another thread anyway.

Easy now....don't go replying about Dream Theater and then we end up with 76 replies about them on a Beatles thread!