Entertainment For Lively Minds
Fab Four Five Years On.
Posted by Mr Drayton on 18 October 2011 - 2:13pm.
It's almost five years since the release of Love, The Beatles soundtrack to the Cirque du Soliel show. I came across the album at the weekend for four quid, so I took a punt. I remember there being excited pourings over by musos and journalists the world over, with it getting generally good reviews.
So, looking back, is it a vital addition to the Beatles canon or is it a great big folly? For my money the Mr.Kite/I Want You/Helter Skelter and Within Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows mash ups work really well - but the rest?
It's all a it Jive Bunny for my liking.
Thoughts?
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FWIIW
I quite like it, however, I wish it was more radical.
I really like it
but felt they didn't go nearly far enough with the mash-ups.
Some tracks work really well, yet others are hardly any different to the regular versions.
Played it once
Sold it.
A better fate than Joanna Thingybob's Ys. Bought it; never played it. Sold it.
The harp-lady
You dodged a bullet there my friend. It's a shocker.
So I gather
The CD sat on the shelf, unspun and unloved for a full 3 years, while I tried to avoid the harp lady's accusatory gaze on the cover. I finally cracked and told her, 'Sorry love, this just isn't working out - although ironically, I do quite like your boyfriend's stuff.'
Some time after, I heard one of her 10 minute dirges (oddly intrusive in its unobtrusiveness) for the first time. Was that a chord, or someone accidentally falling over their harp? Lasted 3 minutes before bailing out. It was the sound of a fart in an Apple store.
Unobtrusive? Blimey
You've either got a high tolerance or you didn't make as far as the vocals. Nothing could be more obtrusive than all that wailing and warbling about birds and monkeys. Shaaaat appp!!
Recycling's too good for it...
She's not unfruity, though.
Hey Moose
it ain't that good. I offered to give it away but got no takers. Put it in the recycling bin.
I've seen the show
It needs all the visual wonder that the show provides to really bring it to life.
Just listening to the CD is not so great.
It was an essential addition, until...
...the remastered albums came out.
It does sound great. Now though, the whole back-catalogue sounds great and 'Love' sounds like a half-arsed attempt at revamping a few songs and repackaging the others.
I only got it as it was the first outing for the remasters
It's not bad. OK for a drive in the car when you can't really concentrate on the music but like to have a nice piece on as background music.
When they released the Download version, they added Girl and Fool on the Hill. They add nothing to the album.
Mr Drayton
As David Hepworth said in the excellent "Beatlecast" earlier this year, you're hardly likely to choose it to listen to ahead of either "Rubber Soul" or "Revolver"
I was skeptical when it came out
but someone got me it for that Christmas. Best Boxing Day ever! Played it dead loud, adored it. Mind you, I hadn't played the "proper" records for a while and was probably a bit drunk. Still.
I think you have to play it dead loud and all the way through.
When the Anthology series came out in the mid '90s I remember being horrified at the thought that Oasis kids would check them out in an attempt to find out what-is-all-this-fuss-about-ye-olde-Beatles, and then wrinkling their noses at the outtakes of Mr Moonlight and In Spite of All The Danger. If they could have started with Love they *would* have a good idea of what the fuss was/is about. I think as a single-disc intro to the best of the HJHs, it cannae be beat.
It also sends me scurrying back to the Grey Album. Or at least would if I owned that album, because it's illegal, and you didn't see me, right?
Seriously, anybody know of any good HJH mashups? I already know Hate, The Beastles, Everyday Chemistry (all of which come moderately recommended by the way)
Hell
from the same people that brought you 'Hate'
http://www.thebeatleshell.com/
Yeah I tried this
Not in the same league as Hate. Nice cover though (again)
The Grey Album - hmmm
It was a record which - by virtue of attempted suppression - received a level of attention it didn't actually deserve. Even at its best (Encore) I never thought it hung together properly.
Essential..?
I think so, but I know others disagree. I grew up with them, so the 'originals' are part of my DNA, but I think Love is great fun. I have the 5.1 DVD-Audio version and I urge anyone to listen to it in that format for maximum fabness!!
5.1
I want everything in 5.1 please...........
some of it works
much of it doesn't
it is great background for DPs - er,, Dinner Parties that is, rather than, um, you know, well never mind, although I suppose it might be quite good for...anyway where was I? Yes quite good as background as occasionally someone will pipe up "Is this The Beatles? Sounds a bit different somehow" and then you can bore them senseless and they will decide they have had enough food and wine and go home
DPs! That got our attention
.... and then you were talking about dinner parties? What trickery is this?
I play "Love" during a BDWC (that's Big Dinner With Chums) or even a MILF (Meal Involving Lovely Friends)
MILF
Meal involving lovely chums - thats a new one on me.
A MILF meal cooked by Nigella Lawson.
Hubba hubba hubba
Could be the start of a new thread
"CDs you put on to break up dinner parties, without making it really obvious like Dondestan"
The Holy Bible.
Works a treat. Only takes the first verse of Yes.
"some dumb cunt, same dumb question".
'Jon, what IS this?'
No need to break out the After Eights or the cheeseboard, which I can then scoff until we get to PCP.
I would have thrown up
by the end of 4st 7lb.
Worth having
as a "Don't need to think much - Best Of The Beatles"
Personally, prefer this:
http://www.rutleslunch.net/index.html
(Rutles - Lunch)
I would bet the soundtrack of
the Olympic Opening Ceremony will sound a lot like the Love album. It's what I would do anyway.