The Beatles Golden Age

The Beatles have lots of eras: Mop Top Beatlemania, Psychedelic and The Apple/Hippie eras are the categories I think of. And each era has its own sub-categories. One of those being what I call 'The Golden Age'.

The Golden Age is a part of the Mop Top Beatlemania era, but the later bit. It started in November 1964 with the release of the single 'I Feel Fine/She's a Woman' and ends with Revolver.

'I Feel Fine' ushered in a new sound, and the track opens with feedback (arguably the first time anyone had used it on a record). Gone was the cheeky 'Mersey' sound. The B-Side, 'She's a Woman' was new, too. Paul McCartney provided a bluesy vocal unliike anything we'd heard him do before.

For the the next 20 or so months, The Beatles not only released top-notch songs that proved they were not just a fad or flash in the pan, but they had an image that was both cool and friendly enough that kids, teenagers and adults could all agree to love them at the same time.

Prior to this Golden Age, some considered them outrageous with their long hair and screaming fans. Serious music folks thought of them as being too simplistic and without any depth.

After the Golden Age, they were too 'far out' and controversial. Drugs, the Marharihsi and Yoko Ono. For some, it was a bit much.

1965 was probably their 'perfect' year, with the singles 'We Can Work It Out/Day Tripper', 'Eight Days a Week' and 'Yesterday' and LPs Beatles VI, Help! and Rubber Soul.

1966 was also a knockout, with 'Nowhere Man' and 'Paperback Writer' as hit 45s, but they hit a snag with the famous butcher cover on Yesterday and Today and when John Lennon said they were 'more popular than Jesus'.

And while most people thought the Lennon comment was taken out of context (or that he was probably right or at least had a point), The Beatles were no longer viewed as wholesome. At the same time, and only a few months after the butcher cover scandal, their psychedelic era began with the last track on Revolver. Lennon sang 'of the beginning' as the song and LP faded out. But it was really the end of that Golden Age. In early 1967 with 'Strawberry Fields' and a new look (facial hair for all and National Health glasses for John) we knew things would never be the same. They didn't want to just hold our hands anymore.

It was inevitable and don't get me wrong. 'The White Album' is my favorite Beatles' LP. But I do get a warm and fuzzy feeling when I think back on when the movie 'Help!' and songs like 'Every Little Thing' were what The Beatles were.

'Wouldn't It Be Nice' and Foster The People

Foster The People did a fantastic job with their Beach Boys tribute Sunday night on The Grammys. They performed 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' and their singer/guitarist, Mark Foster, well, this kid just popped out of my TV screen. The band has that star quality, energy and sense of fun that I'm a sucker for.

As a musician myself, I know how tricky Beach Boys songs are. They seem simple enough until you actually sit down with a guitar or bass and attempt to play one of them.

Another band, the well known Maroon 5, also did a Beach Boys number, 'Surfer Girl', and while it was pretty darn good, I have to give the nod to Forster The People as not only pulling off a better performance (especially the vocals), but for doing a song that is more complex.

I don't know anything about this Foster The People group, but I just ordered their CD and am hoping it's half as good as what I saw on The Grammys.

Sunday, February 9th, 1964

It was in Portland, Oregon. A modest two bedroom apartment in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood. A single mom and two boys, one six (me) and one nine (my big brother, Mike).

Mom propped us up in front of the TV and said, 'This is important'. I'd heard about The Beatles. Probably even a song or two on the radio. But I was fuzzy on who these guys were. Mom said that this was 'Like the first time Elvis was on television.' Even I knew Elvis. He was on all the magazine covers and was part of the culture, even for a six year old. We had a few of his albums. For some reason, G.I. Blues was the one that sticks out in my mind.

Then on that grainy black-and-white TV, they came. Opening the show with 'All My Loving'. Little did I know it would lead to a life long love affair with those four shaggy haired boys. To me, they weren't really boys. They were men. But not like the men I knew in real life. Those men were stern and mean and had short hair and no time for the kind of fun and silliness these 'Beatles' seemed to be having.

Over the next 48 years, I followed their triumphs and tragedies while I had my own ups and downs. In the 60's, thanks to a generous Mom and having an older brother, we had all their records and loads of fan magazines and saw their movies and TV appearances. When I was on my own, I kept up the obsession, buying all of the solo albums and books. No matter how down-and-out or broke I was, I could always scrape up enough dough to buy that new George Harrison album or latest 'insider' book.

Now my musical tastes are pretty eclectic. Punk, Classical, R&B, Country, Jazz...pretty much anything. I was playing a movie soundtrack the other day and it had that cornball number, 'Believe it or Not (Theme from Greatest American Hero') on it and I said to a friend, 'I love this song' and they were surprised that something so square would appeal to me. Me, the guy who loves the Dead Kennedys.

And I have The Beatles to thank. Because if they taught me anything, it was to 'do your own thing', no matter what anybody says or thinks. And they taught that to me not just with their music but with how they lived what they said.

I like what I like. Whether it's 'The Waltons' or Dawn of the Dead. Glen Campbell or The Sex Pistols. Thanks, Beatles. It's hard to imagine a world without you..

Lana Del Ray and the SNL Debacle

Poor Lana Del Ray. Or maybe not. Her so-called 'debacle' on SNL in January may be the greatest unplanned publicity stunt since the Sex Pistols called Bill Grundy 'a dirty effer' live on a British morning TV show.

I saw the SNL episode before it became a controversy and I actually said to meself, out loud, 'That was pretty cool'. She has a weird voice and persona, which I dig (I like weird) and the band and the song and arrangement were interesting.

Millions of people who never heard of her have watched the YouTube clip and I understand her CD is selling like hotcakes.

I watched the performance again thinking, 'Did I miss something?', and no, I didn't. I suppose she's just not everybody's cup of tea.

When bands like Florence and The Machine are getting all kinds of hype and being embraced by the masses who think they are edgy and alternative, I watch her/them and I feel nothing.

Lana Del Ray, on the other hand, is truly different. There's something fascinating about her and that strange voice. And while I don't plan on running out to buy her album, I just might.

Lee Meriwether - Mainy

Lee Meriwether was always one of my main baby boomer era heart throbs. That is, a 'mainy'.

I don't know if it was just kismet or her personal choices, but whatta resume! She was in two of best TV shows of the 60's (a guest star on 'Star Trek' and a semi-regular on 'Mission: Impossible'). She's the Catwoman in the Batman TV based movie. And in my opinion she rates as the second best Catwoman ever (Julie Newmar is #1 and sorry Michele Pfeiffier, but you're #3 in my book),.

She was a regular on 'Time Tunnel', and yeah, the show doesn't hold up so good, but back in 1966 it was a huge deal for a nine year old like me. And even though she wore a lab coat in virtually every scene, she was still hot.

She was also Miss America in 1955 representing California. And on a personal note, Lee grew up in San Francisco the city I've called home for the past 25 years.

Lee starred and guest starred in a ton of shows and is among those groovy actors, who are now often forgotten or overlooked, that kept popping up everywhere back in those glorious days!

The Greatest Name Ever?

Hakan Loob.

A hockey player who was with the Calgary Flames back in the 1980's. I wish my name was Hakan Loob.

More Ringo on Sirius

I heard most of the Sirius 'town hall'. As I mentioned before, I'm a bit fed up with Ringo's 'grumpy old man' persona. More specifically, the things that irk me about Ringo are:

A) He doesn't seem to care that he's there. Getting Russell Brand to do the interview was a big deal and the main reason I wanted to hear it. But he doesn't acknowledge that and acts like the whole thing is a chore.

B) He tells the same stories we've heard a million times ('During the rooftop concert, I was hoping they would drag me off my drum stool.')

and C) He doesn't seem happy when people compliment his drumming. He just acts like (again), that it's a chore to even respond. Why not say the truth. that for years he really took it on the chin over his style. He supposedly couldn't do a fill. Wasn't technical enough. But the style is perfect for the Beatles, and on the later albums especially, really compliments the music. The fact that John Lennon and George Harrison, who could've hired any drummer in the world, picked him to play on their solo albums is proof enough that he's good. In recent years, a lot of top flight musicians (Dave Stewart, Phil Collins) have come forward saying how good he really was.

Looking back on his solo career, Ringo had some cool albums and hits. And I loved those early singles, 'It Don't Come Easy' and 'Back off Boogaloo'. And the albums Beaucoups of Blues, Ringo and Goodnight Vienna are great. But after that, he never did anything very interesting. Yeah, there was a good song here and there, but he's a novelty act. And three decent albums and a few singles is about what you would expect.

After his album sales slipped and he started jumping from one record label to another, he would've been better off sticking to drumming for other people and being in films. And that very first 'All Star' line-up was great. Joe Walsh, Billy Preston, Levon Helm, Rick Danko and Dr. John. But the subsequent tours had fewer true 'all stars' and Ringo is not front man material. He seems uncomfortable when he's not behind his kit.

On the other hand, if Ringo chooses to make records and sing, I'd rather he did that than do nothing at all. As a Beatles' nut, I'm always interested. But I'd have more respect for him if he would've called it quits after Bad Boy or Stop and Smell the Roses. And I just wish he seemed a little more grateful and enthusiastic instead of the guy who posts videos on his website saying 'No more autographs! Do not send any more items for me to sign! They will be thrown away! Peace and love.'

Ringo on Sirius

Today Ringo Starr had a 'town hall' meeting on Sirius. It was hosted by Russell Brand and Don Was.

Let's face it. Ringo is just a grumpy old man now. He's been that way for a while, and even though I want to pretend he's just having a bad day, it's turned into a five year long bad day. It's not like he's a monster, but he keeps talkin' that 'peace and love' stuff but seems rude to the audience and even to Russell Brand.

I only listened to about half of the show and will give more details if I catch the encore.

Ringo's solo career doesn't matter. Except for a couple of early albums and singles, everything he's done is pretty meaningless. And he was always more interesting as an actor than a singer.