2022 FBG, 172 to 1 Beatles Countdown 1-25 lists... And 173 to 1 Countdown from 1-64 lists! (2 Viewers)

[Pip's Invitation]

Baby’s In Black
2022 Ranking: 139
2022 Lists: 2
2022 Points: 16
Ranked Highest by: @rockaction (14) Krista (TJ/Michael) (22)
2019 Ranking/Lists/Pts: 96/1/18

Getz: YT is live from Shea Stadium. Song has been ear worm for me that past few days.

Krista4
My 2019 ranking:  182

2019 write-up:

Baby's in Black (Beatles for Sale, 1964)

This song about a love triangle among three people, only two of them living, was a staple of the Beatles's live performances, all the way through the last concert (setting aside the rooftop thingie) at Candlestick Park in 1966.  It's one of the best examples of true co-writing of Paul and John, having been written by them together in one day in a room at John's house in Kenwood.  There's a ton I like about this song - the harmonies, the 3/4 waltz time, the darker mood, whatever the hell that is that George is doing on guitar - but we're in the realm now of good songs that I just don't enjoy as much as those above them.

Mr. krista:  "It’s hard to conceive of a more selfish song, or someone who is less considerate of a protagonist in mourning. But I really like it. What the #### man. I think they were trying to write a county song.  Of all the people in there, you’re the most prutnate.*   There’s the dead dude, the woman who loved the dead dude, and you have nothing to do with this.  But again the harmonies are killer, the refrains are great, the melody’s great, so everything is enjoyable.  But they’re so powerful at this time that you could put any horrible message in your song, but it’s great.  Oh, here, murder your kids, and we would have all just been singing along."

*Since there was drinking involved in some of our forced listening sessions, sometimes my notes are a little hard to interpret.  Like "covfefe," take it to mean whatever you wish.

Suggested cover:  Wish I could find a better-quality live version than this one, but I think Earle sounds good (and he's a favorite of mine); actual song starts around 0:57  Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle; also if anyone can find the Elvis Costello/T-Bone Burnett version that I know exists but cannot seem to locate again, you'd be my hero.

2022 Supplement:  I know some were outraged at the low ranking of this song in 2019, and they were probably right.  I don’t enjoy it any more now than I did then, but it really was misplaced at this low a spot.  Hell, waltz time alone should put it more in the 150 range. 

Paul said that they all loved this one as it showed their growth as songwriters, writing something darker and more adult rather than pure pop songs.  They were also, as often was the case in the early days, trying to imitate the Everly Brothers with their harmonies.  This song has always had the “feel” of a John song to me, maybe due to the lyrics, but Paul has identified it as one that was a true 50/50 collaboration:  “It was very much co-written and we both sang it. Sometimes the harmony that I was writing in sympathy to John's melody would take over and become a stronger melody. Suddenly a piebald rabbit came out of the hat! When people wrote out the music score they would ask, 'Which one is the melody?' because it was so co-written that you could actually take either. We rather liked this one. It was not so much a work job, there was a bit more cred about this one. It's got a good middle.”  Note:  I don’t know what a piebald rabbit is, but I’m going to take it in the food draft.

I’m not sure which live version Getz will be posting, but I love the little twirl Paul did when they performed this song; it’s at 1:19 in this one:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwuIHR_e4y

Guido Merkins

By late 1964 many things were coming together that were changing the Beatles songwriting.  Bob Dylan is one of them.  The exhaustion of being on the road was also a factor.  Both of these combined created an atmosphere of darker, more personal songwriting.  Perhaps the darkest of their songs, certainly up to that point is Baby’s In Black from the Beatles For Sale album.

The lyrics talk about a grieving girl who “thinks of him and so she dresses in black” and “though he’ll never come back, she’s dressed in black.”  Now, is she grieving becasue the relationship is over or because the guy died?  I don’t know.  If it’s the former, then it’s a sad song.  If it’s the latter, it’s an even sadder song, but with a little sadistic twist because the singer is in effect saying “get over it and be with me.”  

In any event, the darkness of the lyrics is contrasted by the song in waltz time, which makes it lighter than the actual story being presented.  The vocal and guitar also suggest a country/blues kind of thing.  So this song has a bunch of different elements.

The Beatles, themselves, must have thought a lot of this song because it was part of their setlist.  I love John and Paul singing lead together in harmony the entire time.  I also love George’s guitar solo.  Very good song on an underrated album.

Count me in the "she's in black because her ex left her and she can't get over it" camp. I don't think it makes as much sense if he's dead. "And though it's only a whim, she thinks of him" is not how you'd describe grieving a dead partner. "Oh how long will it take 'til she sees the mistake she has made" is another line that doesn't support the death interpretation -- why would his death be her mistake? 

25 years later she'd have been a Goth chick listening to the Cure all day.

I went through this kind of thing myself in my Lost Years. I had a major crush on a girl I met in the NYC music scene but she just couldn't get over her ex and friend-zoned me. It took a few months for my heart to get the message* and eventually it did, but it was an emotional rollercoaster. 

Baby's in Black a nice enough song musically but one that doesn't stick out a whole lot in that aspect for me. 

* - also, for me to realize that she really liked cocaine and thus a relationship with her would probably have been a total cluster.

 

[krista4]

Most people think it was about Astrid Kirchherr.   

 

[krista4]

More quotes from Paul on this song:  ""We got more and more free to get into ourselves. Our student selves rather than 'we must please the girls and make money,' which is all that 'From Me To You,' 'Thank You Girl,' 'P.S. I Love You' is about. We wanted to write something a little bit darker, bluesy, the title's dark anyway...more grown up rather than just straight pop. It was more 'baby's in black' as in mourning."

 

[wikkidpissah]

Most people think it was about Astrid Kirchherr.   

ive had astrids in my kitchen. it's just awful

 

[krista4]

ive had astrids in my kitchen. it's just awful

Oh dear, what can I do?

 

[ProstheticRGK]

I knew, somehow, Baby's in Black was coming up soon. I've had it stuck in my head for the past three days.

weird little personal note: when I am truly happy, content, not a care in the world, I sing. The last three days at work, I have been doing a one-man show of not-so-great versions of the Beatles' greatest hits. Baby's in Black has been in heavy rotation. My version includes a 1,024 bar break while I clean up a pool of another human being's poo (occupational hazard, which makes me quite prutnate*).

This song is so damn much fun to sing. And, truly, that is the only metric I have for ranking Beatles' songs. I don't really notice waltz time, or bass lines of middle bars, or music theory. How fun does it feel to belt out the tune? Plus, George's guitar is awesome. Between trying to imitate that and the clavioline from Baby, You're a Rich Man, I think I have come up with a noise that rivals this.

Love the video from the Shea Stadium concert. Little sidenote from watching the Anthology videos. Paul talked about how they timed their set lists and then always ended up playing like 10 minutes faster because of all the adrenaline. You can hear that manic energy in this version. What a rush it must have been to play a crowd of 60+ thousand people.

If there is no urban dictionary definition already for piebald rabbit, I am making one.

 

[krista4]

The last three days at work, I have been doing a one-man show of not-so-great versions of the Beatles' greatest hits. Baby's in Black has been in heavy rotation. My version includes a 1,024 bar break while I clean up a pool of another human being's poo (occupational hazard, which makes me quite prutnate*).

Laugh emoji!

 

[Zegras11]

So poker in Vegas was great tonight.  Music has been such a jinx to me when I play, that I quit playing music while I've played like three years ago.   But not tonight.  I said F it, put the ear buds in and found a Beatles play list on Spotify. Played with some well know WSOP players in 8/16 OM8, and crushed it and won $600, in 3.5 hours.  So much fun. Got into a great groove with the music. Life is good.

 

[Zegras11]

Long, Long. Long
2022 Ranking: 137T
2022 Lists: 2
2022 Points: 17
Ranked Highest by: @Eephus (10) @Binky The Doormat (25)
2019 Ranking/Lists/Pts: NR

Getz: Krista did not know Binky had this ranked....  This version came up after listening to all the links. I liked it best! Listen and let me know what you think?

Krista4
My 2019 ranking:  96

2019 write-up:

Long, Long, Long (White Album, 1968)

Binky, it makes you feel better, this is my highest ranked of the three Beatles songs beginning with the word "long"!  It took me a long time (no pun intended) to get into this song, but I've grown to love it.  When in the right mood for it, there's probably nothing much better.  Sounds like it could be a love song but was actually written by George about God (which I guess could be a love song, too).  This is one of the times where I might find listening to a White Album song in isolation improves it; coming right after "Helter Skelter" on the album, this seems too jarring.  As a stand-alone piece, the ethereal sound of George's delicate voice, punctuated by those crashing drums (often pausing one beat behind where I expect them), is stunningly beautiful.  I find this one nearly impossible to rank.  In the "is it a great song" rankings, it would be higher since I think that, for what it is, it's nearly perfect and it sounds like something that could still be put on an album today.  In the "what do I want to listen to when I choose something on Spotify," this is where it goes.

Mr. krista:  [After I mention that it seems modern enough to fit on an alternative record right now...]  "A million times better.  Have you heard…the Killers?  I love that Ringo’s drums sound like they were recorded at the bottom of the stairwell.  It’s like when the levee breaks.  Sounds like Sad Eyed Lady, the Dylan song."*

*George has acknowledged this inspiration for the chord progressions.

Suggested covers:  Low  Elliott Smith (again)

2022 Supplement:  Still adore this one, maybe even more now.  It’s so peaceful, despite the crashing drums.  I sort of enjoy how low in the mix George’s vocal is, allowing for more of a “build” in the song.  Paul and Ringo worked diligently on this one with George, completing 67 takes in a session that literally went all night.  Recordings from the time show Paul in particular being very encouraging to George about the song, and George seemed to enjoy the marathon session in which they recorded it.  Something I’ll never understand was how George developed such fond feelings for John over Paul, when John was often conspicuously absent when George’s songs were worked on, as he was for this one, while Paul spent a lot of time helping George with his compositions.  Perhaps absence made George’s heart grow fonder.  Anyway, this is a beautiful song, and here’s an earlier take of it that gives you some idea of the process:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is0Y8MFT_KE

Guido Merkins

George was absolutely the most spiritual of the Beatles.  His study of Eastern philosophy and him connecting it to his Catholic upbringing was something he talked about in interviews.  The struggle of life and tying that to Jesus carrying his cross.  By 1968, George was really into spirituality.

So it’s not a surprise that in 1968 George wrote the first (and maybe only) Beatles song that is about God called Long Long Long from the White Album.

Actually, it took me a bit to get into this song,  mostly because the mix on the White Album is dreadful, mixed way too low as to not being able to hear it.  The 2018 mix done by Giles Martin really uncovered this gem of a song.  Like many of George’s spiritual songs, you could also interpret it as a song to a woman, but the middle with “so many years I was searching.  So many years I was wasting….now I can see you” are a clear message to God.  

After this gentle love song to God, there was a bottle of Blue Nun wine on the top of the Leslie speaker cabinet and when Paul hit a certain note on the Hammond Organ, the bottle would vibrate.  So, the Beatles always took advantage of accidents, so they reproduced it and stuck it on the end of Long Long Long with Ringo kind of shrieking like a horror movie.  Strange, but interesting ending to a lovely song.

 

[Zegras11]

Chalk Rankings Top 10. #137T = 35.5 pts. for each. Sponsored by: WTF is a Piebald Rabbit?

1 --Krista (Mom)---107.5

2 --anarchy99---81

3 --Krista (Worth)---65

4 --Krista (Mom/Hub)---60.5

5 --Krista (TJ/Holly)---60

6 --Krista (Sharon)---57.5

7 --ManOfSteelhead---50.5

8 --BinkyTheDoormat---50.5

9 --Krista (Rob)---37

10 --Eephus---35.5

 

[Zegras11]

32 in, 40 left to go...

 

# of Songs to Have Appeared on The Countdown to Date

1 --Krista (Mom)---5

2 --Krista (Mom/Hub)---4

3 --anarchy99---4

4 --Krista (Worth)---3

5 --Krista (TJ/Holly)---3

6 --Krista (Sharon)---3

7 --ManOfSteelhead---2

8 --Man Of Constant Sorrow---2

9 --Krista (Rob)---2

10 --Encyclopedia Brown---2

11 --BinkyTheDoormat---2

12 --wikkidpissah---1

13 --Uruk-Hai---1

14 --Ted Lange as your Bartender---1

15 --Shaft41---1

16 --rockaction---1

17 --OTB_Lifer---1

18 --Neal Cassady---1

19 --murph---1

20 --Mac32---1

21 --Lardonastick---1

22 --Krista (TJ/Slug)---1

23 --Krista (TJ/Michael)---1

24 --Krista (Craig)---1

25 --jwb---1

26 --Just Win Baby---1

27 --John Maddens Lunchbox---1

28 --Eephus---1

29 --Dennis Castro---1

30 --DaVinci---1

31 --Alex P Keaton---1

32 --AAABatteries---1

 

[Zegras11]

Blue Jay Way
2022 Ranking: 137T
2022 Lists: 2
2022 Points: 17
Ranked Highest by: @zamboni (14), @otb_lifer (21)
2019 Ranking/Lists/Pts: NR

Getz: This is the first song where someone’s first entry did not make the Top 10 of the Chalk List.

Krista4
My 2019 ranking:  197

2019 write-up:

Blue Jay Way (Magical Mystery Tour, 1967)

Written by George while waiting for Derek Taylor, who was lost in the fog, to arrive at their rental house on Blue Jay Way in Los Angeles.  I can't fault anyone for liking this better than I do.  It's just not my pail of kittens.  I admire some of it, such as the use of basically every effect available at the time, but don't enjoy it.  The movie scene with this song is cool and creepy, though.  Since I don't have much to say about this one, I'll just post my notes from when we first listened through all the albums in stage one of this process last summer:  "I didn’t like this when Yes did it either.  Fell asleep midway through. Why so menacing.  OMG, this song is still going on."

Mr. krista is probably more in the mainstream on this:  "This song is bonkers.  I think that song is great.  I love the drone.  It’s anti-music.  I love that every sound is so totally processed and full of flangers and phasers and all the vocals are through Leslie speakers and it’s totally disorienting. And you wouldn’t want a song to get from point A to point B quickly when it’s about being lost.  No, you need to take a 30-minute long tour through every instrument in George Harrison’s collection.  I feel like songs like that are what I like about psyche music.  I could listen to some of that #### for a long time.  There seems to be a double meaning between please don’t be long and please don’t belong.  It’s deep if you’re the sort of person into acid and transcendental meditation…and sitars…and those instruments with one string that go mwarmwarmwarmwar."

Suggested cover:  Colin Newman  If you're going to go creepy, go all out. (2019 YT link now dead)

2022 Supplement:  As I mentioned in 2019, the Beatles tried to punch this up with a variety of effects, which included varispeed, phasing, flanging, and heavy echoes.  I’ll wait here while you google everything but “echoes.”  OK, you’re back.  The most interesting part of the recording process on this one, I think, was that, after the song was mixed, it was then played through a Leslie speaker and re-recorded back onto the original tape, but with the sound reversed, which creates the woozy whirly spinning effect.  All those technical breakthroughs, along with George’s use of some Indian instruments and musical devices that were not yet in common use, make this an interesting and impressive achievement.  I still don’t enjoy it that much, though.

Guido Merkins

Inspiration for a song can happen in any way.  Apparently George was in Los Angeles waiting for Derek Taylor, the Beatles publicist, at a house called Blue Jay Way.  George was waiting forever and because there happened to be a Hammond Organ in the house, George sat down at the organ and started writing a song about how he was waiting.  So you hear about the “fog in LA” and how his friends “have lost their way” and asking that they “please don’t be long or I may be asleep.”  

Back at the studio, ADT(Artificial Double Tracking) was added to give the track this swirling effect.  Also backwards vocals appear throughout.  There is also a cello part that appears on the track.

This song appeared in the Magical Mystery Tour film and is one of the more psychedelic parts of the movie with some kind of dated effects.

 

[Zegras11]

Chalk Rankings Top 10. #137T = 35.5 pts. for each. Sponsored by: WTF is a Piebald Rabbit?

1 --Krista (Mom)---107.5

2 --anarchy99---81

3 --Krista (Worth)---65

4 --Krista (Mom/Hub)---60.5

5 --Krista (TJ/Holly)---60

6 --Krista (Sharon)---57.5

7 --ManOfSteelhead---50.5

8 --BinkyTheDoormat---50.5

9 --OTB_Lifer---41

10 --Krista (Rob)---37

 

[falguy]

Album distribution thus far:

Singles 8
White Album 5
Help! 4
With The Beatles 4
Magical Mystery Tour: 3
A Hard Day's Night 2
Beatles for Sale 2
Please Please Me 2
Rubber Soul 2
Let It Be 1
Revolver 1
Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 1
Yellow Submarine 1




only missing Abbey Road. Pretty sure it will get represented at some point.

 

[zamboni]

Blue Jay Way
2022 Ranking: 137T
2022 Lists: 2
2022 Points: 17
Ranked Highest by: @zamboni (14), @otb_lifer (21)
2019 Ranking/Lists/Pts: NR

On the board

Big George fan, in particular some of his trippier stuff, which is why this - and a few others - rank highly for me. 

 

[zamboni]

Some of the YouTube comments on that Blue Jay Way clip are funny:

Paul: guitar

John: cello

Ringo: drums

George: floor

 

[simey]

Blue Jay Way

This song is spacey. 

 

[simey]

Long, Long. Long

I think of this as a rainy day song. The one thing that I don't like about it is the ending, which I think wrecks the tranquility of the tune (for me).  Is that Yoko carrying on at the end?

 

[simey]

Baby’s In Black

I like the melody of this song.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

I think it would be cool if after the 101st song was announced, somebody listed the top 100 songs categorized by album.  Just throwing that out there for some ambitious youngster out there trying to make a name for himself.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

@Getzlaf15 - are there any remaining songs left that were only ranked by one person?  

 

[simey]

You Like Me Too Much

I like the piano in this song. This may sound weird, but the blended vocals in this song reminds me of some early Bee Gees vocals (when they weren't using their falsetto voices). 

 

[simey]

Julia

It's a sweet song, and it being a tribute to his mum adds to its tender vibe.

 

[falguy]

I think it would be cool if after the 101st song was announced, somebody listed the top 100 songs categorized by album.  Just throwing that out there for some ambitious youngster out there trying to make a name for himself.

I can do that

But I'm not young and too late to make a name for myself.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

I think of this as a rainy day song. The one thing that I don't like about it is the ending, which I think wrecks the tranquility of the tune (for me).  Is that Yoko carrying on at the end?

Agree completely about the ending ...I just pretend all that is just another song. 

 

[Zegras11]

@Getzlaf15 - are there any remaining songs left that were only ranked by one person?  

There are six left, including the next three. After those three, we have seven straight with two or more.

We still have 20 songs that didn't get a vote last time.

 

[Zegras11]

Good Day Sunshine
2022 Ranking: 136
2022 Lists: 1
2022 Points: 18
Ranked Highest by: Krista (TJ/Alex) (8)
2019 Ranking/Lists/Pts: 74/3/31

Getz: First of several songs to take a big hit this time.  Three votes and 31 points (had an 8th place vote) down to one and 18. Voter this time didn't vote last time. Also, I won't be posting the Top 10 Chalk list unless someone breaks into the Top 10.

Krista4
My 2019 ranking:  100

2019 write-up:

Good Day Sunshine (Revolver, 1966)

What a fabulous way to start Side Two of Revolver!  The album was such a departure from much of their prior work that shaking up the experimental nature of some of the tracks with this gorgeous pop song about a sunny day seems a brilliant piece of positioning.  I've mentioned my soft spot for piano parts, and I adore the jaunty ragtime piano work by both George Martin and Paul on this track. The song just get you smiling and humming and happy, unless you're a serial killer or a Patriots fan (which might be redundant).  The highlight for me is the end of the song, where Paul starts raising the notes on "sun-shine" and then the key raises half a step, just before the fade-out of a bunch of voices that don't "touch the ground."  Beautiful ending to a perfect pop song.

The only problem with this song is that it is so sunny that if you're in a bad mood or it's a gloomy day, it can be kind of irritating.  Since I'm in a good mood 52% of the time, it fits here on the countdown.

Mr. krista:  "I like his vocals there – his feet are reluctant to touch the ground.  I like that it’s blatantly vaudevillian.  And it’s about a sunny day, and you got the girl you love, and the day off work, or whatever.  It’s really trite but effective.  The cascading piano is great.  Ringo’s drums again really good.  Like a Scott Joplin number.  You know what it is?  It’s Ben Folds Five.  Rockin’ vaudeville.  All of Ben Folds is 'Good Day Sunshine' and Wings."

Suggested cover:  Paul McCartney is a huge fan of this cover by Roy Redmond (as am I)

2022 Supplement:  Ducks and runs for cover from @otb_lifer

Guido Merkins

Paul was a big fan of the Lovin’ Spoonful’s Daydream so he wanted to write a song like that.  Kind of a sunny song.  So he wrote Good Day Sunshine, which leads off side 2 of Revolver after the acid rock of She Said She Said ended side 1.

Good Day Sunshine's most distinguishing feature is the sunniest of the lyrics and the vocals along with the honky tonk piano solo played by George Martin and the other piano part, played by Paul.  In fact, this is one of the few Beatles track with no guitar.  I also love the end of the song with the layered vocals which is an interesting way to end the song, kind of like the Beach Boys.

Lots of people hate this song.  I think it’s a welcome sunny song on the otherwise heavy and dark Revolver album.   It’s side 2’s Yellow Submarine.  

 

[Guido Merkins]

I think of this as a rainy day song. The one thing that I don't like about it is the ending, which I think wrecks the tranquility of the tune (for me).  Is that Yoko carrying on at the end?

i explain it in my writeup....It's Ringo making the spooky vocal, but it's a bottle of Blue Nun wine that's rattling on top of the Hammond Organ.

It happened by accident.  Not sure why they tacked it to the end of Long Long Long......

 

[krista4]

i explain it in my writeup....It's Ringo making the spooky vocal, but it's a bottle of Blue Nun wine that's rattling on top of the Hammond Organ.

It happened by accident.  Not sure why they tacked it to the end of Long Long Long......

According to Chris Thomas (sitting in for George Martin), it happened by accident on Take 65, and they liked it so much they included it on every take thereafter.  

 

[krista4]

I think it would be cool if after the 101st song was announced, somebody listed the top 100 songs categorized by album.  Just throwing that out there for some ambitious youngster out there trying to make a name for himself.

I feel like there was some cool person with great hair who did something like this in the LZ thread, but I don't know if he'd be interested in doing it here.  If only we had a way to reach him...

I like the piano in this song. This may sound weird, but the blended vocals in this song reminds me of some early Bee Gees vocals (when they weren't using their falsetto voices). 

I like this point!  I can see what you're saying.

 

[Guido Merkins]

According to Chris Thomas (sitting in for George Martin), it happened by accident on Take 65, and they liked it so much they included it on every take thereafter.  

Hmmm.  Ok, learn something new everyday.  So it was during the recording of Long Long Long that it happened.  I guess I had forgotten that.  Thanks!!!

 

[simey]

Good Day Sunshine

I like this happy sounding song.  

 

[krista4]

Good Day Sunshine
2022 Ranking: 136
2022 Lists: 1
2022 Points: 18
Ranked Highest by: Krista (TJ/Alex) (8)
2019 Ranking/Lists/Pts: 74/31/3
 

The 2019 List/Pts are switched on this.  I don't know if that's been the case with others, since I don't read your posts, but just for clarity I wanted to mention it!

 

[krista4]

I feel like there was some cool person with great hair who did something like this in the LZ thread, but I don't know if he'd be interested in doing it here.  If only we had a way to reach him...

Actually, it might have been the guy with great hair doing the songs, and the guy with beautiful feet doing the albums?  @AAABatteries

 

[falguy]

Actually, it might have been the guy with great hair doing the songs, and the guy with beautiful feet doing the albums?  @AAABatteries

I'm happy to do it otherwise. It's just a different sort for the sheet I'm accumulating. 

 

[Zegras11]

The 2019 List/Pts are switched on this.  I don't know if that's been the case with others, since I don't read your posts, but just for clarity I wanted to mention it!

can't get anything by you. 

 

[DocHolliday]

I like this happy sounding song.  

Tough not to like Good Day Sunshine.  It’s not a top 25 song for me and was never considered but I still love it.  I may just have to listen to it again.  

 

[krista4]

I'm happy to do it otherwise. It's just a different sort for the sheet I'm accumulating. 

You're hired!

@Getzlaf15 will be by to fire you again.

 

[Zegras11]

You're hired!

@Getzlaf15 will be by to fire you again.

But I hired him three hours ago? 

 

 

[falguy]

You're hired!

@Getzlaf15 will be by to fire you again.

I'm like a bad rash

 

[ConstruxBoy]

I'm like a bad rash

No, you're just their fall guy....oohhhh.....I get it now. 

 

[Shaft41]

Catching up, and feel the need to mention this since I had my first song into the rankings.  If anyone has read any of my posts, which is debatable, you'll know I am an avowed melody over lyrics guy.  I don't really care how hippie dippie the lyrics to "The Word" are because musically, it's a ball to listen to.  I mentioned earlier in the thread that, while I know music somewhat, I'm not smart enough to know all the things, but I feel like the boys were masters at going from minor to major chords and vice versa.  So, with that in mind, I said in the original thread that the harmonies, particularly in the middle eight of "Another Girl" might be the most underrated harmonies in the entire Beatles catalog, and they are definitely some of my favorites.  Those harmonies were the number one biggest reason why this song made my top 25.  So sublime.  And that's saying something coming from me, because I'm drawn to harmonies above maybe anything else.  

 

[simey]

Catching up, and feel the need to mention this since I had my first song into the rankings.  If anyone has read any of my posts, which is debatable, you'll know I am an avowed melody over lyrics guy.  I don't really care how hippie dippie the lyrics to "The Word" are because musically, it's a ball to listen to.

I like hippie dippie.

 

[Shaft41]

I also find it really cool that "Blue Jay Way" is my unquestioned #206.  It's the only song I will consistently turn the channel when it comes on.  And yet, seeing two people put it in their top 25, I can't at all sit here and question that, because, even though it's about as appealing to me sonically as Mal Evans taking a dump after a bad Thai meal, I can still understand why someone else might like it.  

 

[heckmanm]

Some of the YouTube comments on that Blue Jay Way clip are funny:

Paul: guitar

John: cello

Ringo: drums

George: floor

I liked “ George is the main reason I play the floor”

 

[AAABatteries]

Actually, it might have been the guy with great hair doing the songs, and the guy with beautiful feet doing the albums?  @AAABatteries

OMG - you made my day remembering how beautiful my feet are!    

I guarantee I have never and will never do anything musical in any pic or video I share here - and you all should be grateful for that.

 

[Zegras11]

Real Love
2022 Ranking: 134T
2022 Lists: 1
2022 Points: 19
Ranked Highest by: Shaft41 (Daughter) (7)
2019 Ranking/Lists/Pts: NR

Getz comments:  Of all of the amazing moments in the 2019 countdown, this was my favorite. @Shaft41's daughter singing Let It Be. The story behind the song and her voice and performance make me  every time. And now, three years later, she has graced us by submitting a list and her first song to make the list is this beautiful song.

Krista4

My 2019 ranking:  N/A

2019 write-up:  N/A

2022 Supplement: This is awkward since I don’t know the order these will be presented in.  I already wrote up “Free As A Bird” and don’t know if that will come first or if I need to give more background on these songs.  Well, whatever the ####, I’m just going to skip over all that and assume it’s been covered by Guido or me.

While I prefer “Free As A Bird” as a song, the video for this one, which I assume Getz will have posted, brings me to tears every time.  When they sing about “real love,” they’re singing about each other.  These guys shared something that no one else in the world could have ever experienced.  Much is made of the tensions and their eventual break-up, but they shared such a deep love for each other even in the bad times.  Watching the Get Back documentary really hammered this home for me, especially in the way that John and Paul would look at each other.  Best mates who could drive each other crazy with their differences but those differences are also what made them the best songwriting team of all time.  What struck me most strongly in watching them together was how damn much they admired each other.  Sure, they loved Ringo and George, but they were simply blown away by each other.  The quibbles and disagreements were, to me, minor when you take into account their ages.  They grew up together!  And of course they started to drift apart as people do when they begin to focus on families and such.  They had to work through that inevitability in full view of the world, and the world responded by acting as if John and Paul were the only people who ever went through that.  It’s Yoko!  It’s Paul being a micromanager!  It’s the death of Brian Epstein!  Whatever.  They were just growing up and working through it all better than most any of us could.

But that way they looked at each other, as if in awe of one another…that never changed.

Damn it, where did all this dust come from?

Was I supposed to write something about the song here?

2022 Mr. krista Supplement: 

I don’t love it.  There’s something bothersome about John singing in that falsetto.  It sounds like b-sides to Double Fantasy, not good enough to be on a record that was tepid by John standards.  I kinda wish that what got the remaining Beatles back together wasn’t doing a mediocre John Lennon song, but Long Tall Sally.  Or Paul could write a song, George could write a song, Ringo could kind of write a song maybe, or the jury’s out on that.  Or even to do a tribute to John, not have him be the missing person in the room.  [I point out “All Those Years Ago” was a tribute to John.]

Guido Merkins

The first time I heard Real Love was on the 1988 soundtrack for the Imagine: John Lennon documentary soundtrack.  At that point, it was called Real Life, a demo played by John on guitar, circa 1979 or 1980.  In this version, it had the same haunting beauty that the Strawberry Fields Forever demo on Anthology 2.  I was absolutely transfixed by this version of the song and it remains one of my favorite demos by the Beatles or anyone else.  Other demos of this song exist called Real Love with John playing piano.  It was one of these that Yoko gave to Paul when he asked for demo recordings from John that the Beatles could work on for the Anthology project along with Free As A Bird, Grow Old With Me, and Now and Then with only Free As A Bird ever seeing an official Beatles release.  Real Life was actually a later demo than the Real Love one the Beatles used to record in 1995.  In fact, Real Life was the latest demo and John considered it for the Double Fantasy album in 1980.

Real Love was a more finished song than Free As A Bird, but there were significant technical problems to get it ready to record.  The demo had significant tape hiss and a hum and was out of time.  Also,  Paul, George, and Ringo had to get past the emotional hurdle of recording without John.  They did so by pretending that John had gone out for lunch and they were just finishing the track.  

My reaction when I heard it in 1995 was that….it sounds like the Beatles.  Everything.  The drumming, the guitar solo, the harmonies….it’s the Beatles.  Does the song belong with Strawberry Fields Forever, no.  But it’s far from the worst Beatles song ever and you could easily imagine the Beatles getting together some time in the 80s if John had lived and recording this and it sounding like this. 

 

[Zegras11]

Chalk Rankings Top 10. #134T = 38.5 pts. Sponsored by: Crab Bisque from Tracy's Crab Shack, Juneau, Alaska
 

1 --Krista (Mom)---107.5

2 --anarchy99---81

3 --Krista (Worth)---65

4 --Krista (Mom/Hub)---60.5

5 --Krista (TJ/Holly)---60

6 --Krista (Sharon)---57.5

7 --ManOfSteelhead---50.5

8 --BinkyTheDoormat---50.5

9 --OTB_Lifer---41

10 --Shaft41(Daughter)---38.5

 

[Shaft41]

Real Love
2022 Ranking: 134T
2022 Lists: 1
2022 Points: 19
Ranked Highest by: Shaft41 (Daughter) (7)
2019 Ranking/Lists/Pts: NR

Getz comments:  Of all of the amazing moments in the 2019 countdown, this was my favorite. @Shaft41's daughter singing Let It Be. The story behind the song and her voice and performance make me  every time. And now, three years later, she has graced us by submitting a list and her first song to make the list is this beautiful song.

Krista4

My 2019 ranking:  N/A

2019 write-up:  N/A

2022 Supplement: This is awkward since I don’t know the order these will be presented in.  I already wrote up “Free As A Bird” and don’t know if that will come first or if I need to give more background on these songs.  Well, whatever the ####, I’m just going to skip over all that and assume it’s been covered by Guido or me.

While I prefer “Free As A Bird” as a song, the video for this one, which I assume Getz will have posted, brings me to tears every time.  When they sing about “real love,” they’re singing about each other.  These guys shared something that no one else in the world could have ever experienced.  Much is made of the tensions and their eventual break-up, but they shared such a deep love for each other even in the bad times.  Watching the Get Back documentary really hammered this home for me, especially in the way that John and Paul would look at each other.  Best mates who could drive each other crazy with their differences but those differences are also what made them the best songwriting team of all time.  What struck me most strongly in watching them together was how damn much they admired each other.  Sure, they loved Ringo and George, but they were simply blown away by each other.  The quibbles and disagreements were, to me, minor when you take into account their ages.  They grew up together!  And of course they started to drift apart as people do when they begin to focus on families and such.  They had to work through that inevitability in full view of the world, and the world responded by acting as if John and Paul were the only people who ever went through that.  It’s Yoko!  It’s Paul being a micromanager!  It’s the death of Brian Epstein!  Whatever.  They were just growing up and working through it all better than most any of us could.

But that way they looked at each other, as if in awe of one another…that never changed.

Damn it, where did all this dust come from?

Was I supposed to write something about the song here?

2022 Mr. krista Supplement: 

I don’t love it.  There’s something bothersome about John singing in that falsetto.  It sounds like b-sides to Double Fantasy, not good enough to be on a record that was tepid by John standards.  I kinda wish that what got the remaining Beatles back together wasn’t doing a mediocre John Lennon song, but Long Tall Sally.  Or Paul could write a song, George could write a song, Ringo could kind of write a song maybe, or the jury’s out on that.  Or even to do a tribute to John, not have him be the missing person in the room.  [I point out “All Those Years Ago” was a tribute to John.]

Guido Merkins

The first time I heard Real Love was on the 1988 soundtrack for the Imagine: John Lennon documentary soundtrack.  At that point, it was called Real Life, a demo played by John on guitar, circa 1979 or 1980.  In this version, it had the same haunting beauty that the Strawberry Fields Forever demo on Anthology 2.  I was absolutely transfixed by this version of the song and it remains one of my favorite demos by the Beatles or anyone else.  Other demos of this song exist called Real Love with John playing piano.  It was one of these that Yoko gave to Paul when he asked for demo recordings from John that the Beatles could work on for the Anthology project along with Free As A Bird, Grow Old With Me, and Now and Then with only Free As A Bird ever seeing an official Beatles release.  Real Life was actually a later demo than the Real Love one the Beatles used to record in 1995.  In fact, Real Life was the latest demo and John considered it for the Double Fantasy album in 1980.

Real Love was a more finished song than Free As A Bird, but there were significant technical problems to get it ready to record.  The demo had significant tape hiss and a hum and was out of time.  Also,  Paul, George, and Ringo had to get past the emotional hurdle of recording without John.  They did so by pretending that John had gone out for lunch and they were just finishing the track.  

My reaction when I heard it in 1995 was that….it sounds like the Beatles.  Everything.  The drumming, the guitar solo, the harmonies….it’s the Beatles.  Does the song belong with Strawberry Fields Forever, no.  But it’s far from the worst Beatles song ever and you could easily imagine the Beatles getting together some time in the 80s if John had lived and recording this and it sounding like this. 

I have five children, so keep that in mind, as what I'm about to say is going to seem as if I have only one, but I promise you I love them all dearly for a variety of reasons.  But, my firstborn, ShaftDaughter, is special.  Many of you listened to and enjoyed her version of "Let It Be" from a few years ago, and it was such an honor to share it with you and listen to the comments affirming her.  She's now in college and continues to make my wife and I proud beyond belief each day.  At the time of the original K4 rankings three years ago, I was still on her list of the world's biggest idiots, as it typical for a 16 year old girl with her parents.  Now, she actually shares stuff.  She confides in us.  She wants to tell us what's going on her life.  For instance, her dorm had a random room in the basement near the laundry with a piano in it.  Last semester, she often went down there just to play or record little performances for extra credit in her music appreciation class.  When she went back this semester, the room and the piano are gone.  Vanished.  She was flummoxed.  

Anyway, this in an incredibly long-winded way of saying that while I am so happy that my daughter is to the point where she shares things with us, I had literally no idea she loved "Real Love".  She owns Abbey Road and the White Album, but I didn't know she'd even heard this song, and she'd literally never mentioned that she loves this song until she submitted her list.  I am not surprised to see that she's the only one who had this one in their top 25. I have a love for this and "Free As a Bird", and I would gladly listen to them both over many of their 60's output.  

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I also find it really cool that "Blue Jay Way" is my unquestioned #206.  It's the only song I will consistently turn the channel when it comes on.  And yet, seeing two people put it in their top 25, I can't at all sit here and question that, because, even though it's about as appealing to me sonically as Mal Evans taking a dump after a bad Thai meal, I can still understand why someone else might like it.  

I DID NOT NEED THAT VISUAL