We opened the show last night with the song that’s been chosen to lead off Liverpool 8 – Liverpool as European City of Culture 2008. On paper the song doesn’t look promising. The artist is the one and only Ringo Starr and despite past achievements he’s hardly been someone synonymous with creativity over the last few weeks. However it is a wholly appropriate choice given the great honesty and heart warming nostalgia within the song. The song is a brief synopsis of Ringo’s travels and ends with the axiomatic chorus, “Liverpool I love you..” I think Liverpool still loves Ringo.
There is something about the Beatles which gets into the soul of any sixties child. Most of the time we have a detached over view of modern music. Apart from the early days of rock n roll we have watched every new phase come and go. In my case this has generally brought immense pleasure. Joy to see new things coming and relief to see something else coming in from the left to sweep it away. Now there’s a contented happiness that the best of all new things are remembered and every night this week we celebrate all of that. However this distanced overview is put aside when the subject of The Beatles comes along. Suddenly the world-weary cynic becomes a bright-eyed cub scout willing to follow any daft old trail through the forest. I’m like that. Ringo only needs to sing the lines “John, Paul, Me and my friend John” and I’m back in the attic staring at my big sister’s posters from the Jackie. They didn’t have surnames then and they don’t need them now. I always like to think the Beatles were a cut above every other band but I can’t honestly tell you if it’s true or not because I’m far too biased to ever make a reasonable assessment. They, in their turn, have been too big a presence in my life to ever fade into some kind of perspective.
After we played the Ringo song last night I found myself announcing Ringo’s gig in Liverpool on January 12th and saying I’d like to be there…….me, the man who wouldn’t cross the park to see David Bowie if Hell’s Kitchen was on the telly……go to Liverpool to see a gig…by a drummer? You see it’s that old perspective thing. It’s the Beatles and I have none.
Been away at a staff conference and missed the last few nights. Ringo’s playing Liverpool? I’d like to be there too… just got the Help DVD today even though i know its not the best film in the world i remember seeing the film on the telly when i was 7… they showed it on the BBC a day or two after John Lennon was murdered and i remember loving the film at that point and i still love the Help album and its this nice point in Beatle history where they are spending more time in the studio and beginning to get very creative and bring in outside players but its still killer pop.
When i was down in Liverpool in 2001 i did the Magical Mystery Bus tour ride and went to the Beatle museum… and the bus actually ran over none other than Larry Norman (American singer) who was playing a concert later that night at the Cavern (he did the rest ofthe tour on crutches and in Liverpool and Wigan 2 nights later he didnt play some songs if they had chords which hurt his hand for making the shapes after he injured his fingers breaking his fall…)
The Cash Unearthed Box set came out (before American 5) and is amazing… 5 CDs… the last was a ‘best of’ American 1-4 and the first 4 CDs had outtakes from American 1-4 and had some amazing performances like Johnny singing Pocahontas and Heart of Gold and had duets with June Carter Cash, Fiona Apple, Joe Strummer Willie Nelson and Carl Perkins among others… almost as good as American 1-5.
hi
rickster so all aboard again.
well it was nice to have you back at the helm again sorry it was so long too have taken too ad a reply though.
it has been very busy with the photography and your not off the hook yet!!!!
i am gona get too do a shoot with you some day.
anyhow new baby bobbie was born november 23 so that also has taken sometime up.
but just too let you know still listening and still supporting you.
you do a great job both musically and on the radio.
hope you had a great birthday and had time to really chill and appreciate the family.
it is what really counts most.
hope you also had a fantastic christmas.
seasons greetings to you, lorraine and weeyins.
lot o love
al
al@alecgillies.wanadoo.co.uk
all best
x
rickster
just read your blog on the beatles.
i grew up with both parents listening too the beatles and remember hearing a lot of their stuff on the radio first hand,
i must admit i think they did a lot to show case british pop and bands,
i don’t though over romanticise them as their was nothing too compare really at the time.
also being 18yrs old at start off the eighty’s i saw the same thing with several bands like duran duran etc. and then with the girls off the early 90’s the take that and westlife scene etc.
musical integrity perhaps not talent also perhaps not great but like the beatles those acts will in later years also be looked back with rosy tints and admirations off the time.
i really think the beatles were over hyped if your looking at them musically or talent wise.
when compared too say dylan or morrison.
and a lot of stars left us with with fond memories.
sandie shaw etc.
i think the beatles were just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.
it was beatle mania that made them great.
a sign of the time and not nessisary anything to do with talent.
i honestly believe that without the mania and hystiria that they may have dissapeared a lot sooner.
i believe it was the effect and not the cause that made them great.
like so many other thinks in the past it was fashionable at the time soo the youth had too follow suite.
anyhow just my opinion really.
greater bands and acts with more to say and with more talent have certainly been and gone since.
i think with the hype and hysteria they may also have been greats.
al
x
Hey Dougie I was at that Larry Norman Gig and he told the story of how he injured himself running for the bus. Well I don’t know if you heard but Larry passed away recently. Very sad indeed as he was a true legend and pioneer.
Anyway back to the original post by Ricky. I love the Beatles not just because I live in Liverpool but because their music is timeless. No only that they had two of our countries greatest songwriters at the helm. However i have lost a fair bit of respect for Ringo since he almost dissed his Liverpool heritage on TV. He should be proud of this great city, the city that helped launch him. He sings about how he left Liverpool but he never let us down, but most people from the city feel completely let down by him. I think the other Beatles would be ashamed of him today.
Anyway John, Paul and George have done us proud.
ps: ricky what would be your favorite Beatles song to cover.
ps: I meant to reply to this too from al gillies
“i really think the beatles were over hyped if your looking at them musically or talent wise.”
Is she serious? The beatles hyped in terms of musical ability and talent? How many other bands can have an 8 year career (10 if you count unsigned years), record so many great albums and still be remembered 38 years later? not forgetting the fact that they were all self taught musicians.
I don’t think that’s overhyped musical ability and talent.
Ok, so I am techno challenged and did not realize you were keeping the Late Lounge website active….you have a very tolerant webmaster. Thanks.
Great having your sub for Iain for a bit. Love the music, of course, but really appreciate the insight and the discussion.
Downloaded all five shows to iPod…..no….my son did that for me…..so that when I am forced to leave my air conditioned cave I do not necessarily have to take the lap top.
Gotta tell ya, it helps a whole lot to have good music and please believe me when I say that we do not get the “Americana Music” that I hear on Radio Scotland out here in the Southwest. This part of the USA does not think it is part of the USA, and relies on “mainstream” everything. Homogenized thinking. Sad.
We are working on that line of thought.
Thanks for a great week and we will give the next guy a chance to prove as good.
Peace.
Was at the Echo Arena on Friday 11 July Concert was fantastic !
Mo .
Was at the Echo Arena on Friday 11 July Concert was fantastic !
Mo .
Interesting to know.
Hello
im from spain
i love,love your music
i only want to say you :thanks, thank you very much for making me happy with your songs
i wish you the best
i hope you come to spain in concert
sorry my poor english