Even as something of a Beatlephile, I learned a few things reading this Rolling Stone article from 2018 about The Beatles' most "open-hearted masterpiece," Hey Jude.
Cynthia and Julian thought “Hey Jude” was for them. John heard it as the ballad of John and Yoko. But neither side was wrong — countless people around the world have heard this homily speaking to them. “The movement you need is on your shoulder” — John was so right about that line, and as Paul says, he thinks of John every time he sings that part. “Hey Jude” is a tribute to everything the Beatles loved and respected most about each other. Even George, who plays the most low-profile role in this song, tipped his cap with the na-na-na-na finale of “Isn’t That a Pity,” which you can hear as a viciously cheeky parody, an affectionate tribute or (most likely) both. The pain in “Hey Jude” resonated in 1968, in a world reeling from wars, riots and assassinations. And it’s why it sounds timely as our world keeps getting colder. After more than 50 years, “Hey Jude” remains a source of sustenance in difficult times — a moment when four longtime comrades, clear-eyed adults by now, take a look around at everything that’s broken around them. Yet they still join together to take a sad song and make it better.
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LEGO is jumping on the mosaic art craze with the LEGO Art poster series, out this fall. Sets will include Andy Warhol portraits of Marilyn Monroe, The Beatles, Iron Man, and a Star Wars series of Sith Lords.
The sets also come with collector's style booklets, and some include music options for listening while assembling.
Via Brothers Brick:
LEGO hopes that LEGO Art will be “a new canvas for creative expression” that allows adults to relax and give them a chance to create and display art based on their passions. The structure of each portrait is comprised of 9 new 16 x 16 stud mosaic plates which can be connected to each other with Technic pins to form the larger portrait. Each set comes with two new Technic wall-hanging elements as well as a new black separator specially crafted to assist in quickly reassembling mosaics into alternate versions.
The pieces will come pre-sorted by color, and the instructions will feature a “color by numbers” grid for assembling each mosaic plate. Each set comes with a unique printed 2×4 signature tile and additional black pieces to build a frame around the final portrait.
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How do you take a song that's already brooding and spooky, and turn it into something infinitaly creepier? Read the rest
Who knew that THIS was the sound of one hand clapping?
And as if that wasn't enough delight for the day:
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Who is the best Hungarian Beatles tribute band? This is a question musicologists have argued about for years, but more than a few agree that The Bits are worthy contendors for the title. Above, a pandemic inspired "I Wanna Wash My Hands." Below, a social distanced version of "Come Together," retitled "Don't Come Together."
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The Beatles: The Singles Collection is an upcoming box set of 23 vinyl 7-inch discs, including all 22 singles issued in the UK between 1962 and 1970. You can pre-order on Amazon for [amazon_link asins='B07VQ9YLHS' template='PriceLink' store='boingboing' marketplace='US' link_id='2922cfaf-f25e-4ce1-8b57-0042d2a0741d']
These singles, plus an exclusive new double A-side single for the mid-1990s-issued tracks "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love," are newly cut for vinyl from their original mono and stereo master tapes by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios for a new limited edition boxed set. The Beatles: The Singles Collection presents 46 tracks on 23 180-gram seven-inch vinyl singles in faithfully reproduced international picture sleeves, accompanied by a 40-page booklet with photos, ephemera, and detailed essays by Beatles historian Kevin Howlett. The collectible set will be released worldwide on November 22 by Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe.
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50 years ago, a boy named Brian stole a copy of Life magazine from an Ohio library that sported a photo of The Beatles on its cover. But this week he decided to give the book back, along with an apology note: "Hello. I stole this magazine from the Parma Ridge Road library when I was a kid. I'm sorry I took it. I've enclosed a check for the late fee."
Over the decades he racked up more than $1,800 in late fees, according to AP. But fortunately, for Brian, the library puts a $100 cap on library fines, so that is the amount he left them.
The library, now called Cuyahoga County Public Library, wrote Brian back: “To the Beatles fan who "borrowed" this copy of Life magazine in 1968: Thank you for returning it this week and clearing your conscience.”
Via Daily Beast
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A German drummer named Sina has a popular YouTube channel about drumming. In this video she demonstrates why Ringo Starr was a great drummer.
Interestingly, because Sina couldn't use The Beatles original recordings for copyright reasons (YouTube's Content ID algorithm doesn't care about fair use) she used recordings from a Beatles' tribute band her father was in, "The Silver Beatles." (Fun fact: The Beatles were once called "The Silver Beatles.")
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From "The Beatles (White Album) Super Deluxe Edition" coming next month, this gorgeous early acoustic version of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."
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Funny how something that would have been wildly controversial just a few years ago is now merely the third-most amusing historical anecdote in a GQ interview.
"I mean, I think in the end this was one of the strengths of the Beatles, this enforced closeness which I always liken to army buddies. Because you're all in the same barracks. We were always very close and on top of each other, which meant you could totally read each other."
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In 1969, The Beatles released Abbey Road. Its iconic cover showing all four Beatles strolling cross the real Abbey Road's crosswalk in London has been mimicked by tourists many times over the years. This time Paul McCartney did the honors of crossing the street, this time in shoes, some 49 years later.
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🎥@maryamccartney #PaulMcCartney #EgyptStation #AbbeyRoad
A post shared by Paul McCartney (@paulmccartney) on Jul 23, 2018 at 5:23am PDT
His daughter Mary captured this video as he walked back across. She captioned it, "Why did the Beatle cross the Abbey Road":
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Why did the Beatle cross the Abbey Road 🚶🏽♂️
A post shared by Mary McCartney (@marymccartney) on Jul 23, 2018 at 5:45am PDT
The answer: to perform a "secret show" at Abbey Road Studios of four new songs from his upcoming solo album Egypt Station (September 7).
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Also of interest, check out these "before" photos and these outtakes from the album cover's photo shoot.
Previously: Paul McCartney takes James Corden on a tour through Liverpool
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Paul McCartney took a very lucky James Corden on a terrific car tour of Liverpool, they sang Beatles songs, checked out Paul's old haunts (including his childhood home), and generally enjoyed themselves. Corden was so overcome at one point that he started crying. It concludes with a surprise performance at a pub.
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Most carillons are fixed in bell towers, but Chime Masters makes a mobile carillon, used here to play a lovely Beatles cover. Read the rest
Vinyl jukeboxes are making a comeback, and Sound Leisure built this incredible Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band vinyl jukebox to celebrate the album's 50th anniversary. Read the rest
This interesting morph is a whirlwind tour through the careers of each member of The Beatles, while together as a group and beyond. Read the rest
I've not see these videos of The Beatles' " Paperback Writer" and "Rain" before. The quality is great and I love both of these songs, especially Ringo's phenomenal drumming on "Rain."
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