[Sebastian_M]

I've been wanting to start this thread for some time now.

For me the Beatles hold a special place in my heart. When I was in Grade 4 in elementary school, my teacher would play his guitar in class. Half our time was consumed by learning Beatles songs, and playing music. Half way through the year I had memorized the lyrics to every single Beatles song. Ever since then, the Beatles have always been a favourite of mine. I'm sure I'm not alone in this respect.

My favourite albums are:

Abbey Road
Let it Be
Revolver

These are favourites in that I will listen to them in any mood. I love their other albums but don't play them as much.

What does everyone else think?

Seb

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Tall ships and tall kings
Three times three
What brought they from the foundered land
Over the flowing sea?
Seven stars and seven stones
And one white tree

[LarryDavenport]

This seems more like a poll than a discussion.

My favorite three are

The White Album
Revolver (British)
Help (British)

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[Kevin Leonard]

Quote:

This seems more like a poll than a discussion.

It's still early. Besides, I doubt this will be moved into the Polls area. The Music section is kinda dead. Otherwise how else is this thread still hanging around in the Music area:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/uub/...ML/000558.html

Moving on, The Beatles' self-titled 1968 double-album aka The White Album will be their finest moment...a perfect blend of the Fab Four's individual influences, perfect melodies and at the same time, a somewhat sad portrait of a band splitting apart.

I remember reading that George Martin thought the album would be better as a single record. Good thing the band thought otherwise. I really can't think of anything that should be cut out. Even the filler-like material ("Wild Honey Pie," "Long Long Long," "Martha My Dear," "I Will," etc.) seems to nicely fit within in the context of the album.

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Have you ever noticed anyone driving slower than you is an idiot? And anyone driving faster than you is a maniac!! - George Carlin

ICQ: 55259446 (or just search for "John Shaft"...can you dig?)

[James RD]

My top three would be:

Rubber Soul
The White Album
Abbey Road

Boy, does this music age well!!

wow - this should be an excellent thread.

i just got done recording a nice, incredibly clean first uk pressing of sgt. pepper's (mono)onto dat last night (to be transferred to cd tonight).

i love that album and listen to it often.

i would add to my list:

the white album
revolver
rubber soul

those are my favourites, but i do listen to them all, often.

a

ps. i would also add that i am really into the mono mixes, for what it's worth.

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[LarryDavenport]

Cool, I've been reading about the mono mix for Pepper recently and have wanted to hear it. I have an old cassette somewhere for the White album in mono, and I've heard that the Revolver and Magical Mystery Tour mono mixes are well worth listening to as well.

I would love to own a CD-Rburner because I love making mix tapes from my CD library (I just passed the 1800 mark with the purchase of the Zombies box set). I am compiling a proposed box set celebrating the year 1967. I have a few more CDs to buy before I can start.

My favorite Beatles songs tend to not be the ones played on the radio much (Yes It Is, Every Little Thing, It's Only Love, I'll Be Back, Flying, Happiness is a Warm Gun, etc.)

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These chicks know how to party! - MoJo JoJo

[Mike Broadman]

I must say, I never understood the appeal of the White Album. It's experimental, but the experiments aren't particularly musical, just, I dunno, annoying. Sgt Pepper, Revolver, Rubber Soul, Abbey Road, and Magical Myster Tour are the only albums I actually listen to.

I think that the Beatles are heralded more for their influence and their role in rock 'n' roll history than on musical merits. I'm 23 years old, so I think I listen to them with objective ears. I have no nostalgia.

With that, I do like the Beatles and have tremendous respect for what they did. If nothing else, they had guts. I can't stand their earlier stuff; it's more relevant because of its history. I mean, really, is there anything interesting in "I Wanna Hold Your Hand?" Their late stuff also doesn't hold my interest. When Lennon and McCartney were not working together as much, the magic was lost. Their peak, though, was fantastic. I'll never get sick of Revolver.

The only thing the Beatles lack in, for me, is style. They're too "nice" and friendly. That's just a matter of taste, though. I like stuff that kicks me harder in the ass.

Kevin Leanord,
I don't get that comment about the prog rock thread? Are you a prog basher? Just curious.

[Kevin Leonard]

Mike,

Ha, I got you beat! I'm 20 years old and never get tired of listening to the Beatles albums.

In response to your question: Larry said the thread felt like a Poll more than a Music thread. I was simply pointing out the prog-rock thread because that is a Poll question if there ever was one and yet still remains in the Music area. That's all.

(And yes, I really don't like prog-rock. If people want to listen to King Crimson, Curved Air, Yes, old-school Genesis, etc., then more power to them. I just never really got into it. But I wasn't trying to bash the genre by linking that thread.)

Quote:

The only thing the Beatles lack in, for me, is style. They're too "nice" and friendly. That's just a matter of taste, though. I like stuff that kicks me harder in the ass.

Well, "Helter Skelter" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" kicked my ass pretty hard when I heard them for the first time.

Larry,

What a small world. I just recently purchased the Zombies box set too! Such a great, underrated group.

By the way, I've heard the mono mix of The White Album is vastly different to its stereo counterpart. Is this true? To my ears, there usually isn't much of a difference between mono and stereo, but I've read that the The White Album mono mix has additional instruments you can hear, a more aggressive sound and even additional lyrics! Is this true?

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Have you ever noticed anyone driving slower than you is an idiot? And anyone driving faster than you is a maniac!! - George Carlin

ICQ: 55259446 (or just search for "John Shaft"...can you dig?)

ah, yes - the zombies are quite nice as well..

as for the mono mixes of the beatles tracks, they are the only mixes the beatles themselves were involved in. the stereo mixes were done after the fact and did not involve the beatles at all.

this changed with the white album and later efforts, which were recorded in stereo and then later remixed in mono by the beatles by special request (demanded by the fans, more like it).

the mono mixes have always had their fans, and they are different.

i do not own the white album yet, it will cost me a good us$400 or so to track one down that i would be happy with. i will have one soon, though, as i am itching to hear it.

sgt. pepper's is different. the most noticable differences are:

lucy in the sky with diamonds - john's voice has more effect on it, bass seems much more in the mix

getting better - the hook vocal harmonies have been mixed a little differently

fixing a hole - more bass, some of paul's vocals seem to be from slightly different takes

within you without you - biggest difference on the album for any of the tracks, the end has been slightly extended and ends with a group of people laughing and applauding

when i'm sixty-four - seems slightly less sped up, making paul's chipmunk voice a little easier to listen to

it has been mentioned that george martin greatly preferred the mono version of the album, having read that some time ago, it took me a long time to find a copy in the condition i needed to record at home.

revolver also has some cool changes.. i can detail that later sometime.

as much as i didn't like their earlier, cover/pop material before, i have to say that i do enjoy going back and listening to it now. it is fun stuff, for me at least.

and the experimental/musique concrete moments of revolution 9 in the white album are incredible for me. right up my street.

my favourite track being happiness is a warm gun..

ah.. the beatles!

a

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[Jon_Are]

I think it's much more interesting to discuss favorite Beatles songs rather than albums, so here I go...

I generally prefer the less-heard songs as well, likely because, in not over-exposing myself to them, I am able to retain a sense of freshness with each listen.

I would mention:

*I Should Have Known Better* Probably my favorite Beatles tune. Whenever I hear it I picture the scene from the film A Hard Day's Night in which they sing it. Awesome vocals and driving harp from John.

*Here, There, & Everywhere* Their most beautiful melody, and among their most beautiful lyrics ("I want her everywhere, and if she's beside me I know I need never care...")

*Oh, Darling* What ass-kicking vocals!

*She's Leaving Home* A song of depth that is a heart-breaker. I've just recently come to appreciate it.

*A Hard Day's Night* Just hearing that opening (G7) chord can send chills down my spine (this is a nostalgia entry).

*If I Fell* Remember Diane Keaton crying, singing this song in the bathtub in the film "Shoot the Moon"?

*I Will* A gorgeous love song.

*In My Life* Over-played but underrated.

*Sexy Sadie* More great Lennon vocals.

*Across the Universe* Another underrated gem I've only recently 'd