Beatles LOVE Album

Finally heard the LOVE album, as opposed to hearing a couple of the songs off it. Now I realize that the real innovations are in the bridges between the songs and they are quite wonderful! It seemed rather shocking to hear the announcement and screams introducing I Want to Hold Your Hand. We’re too used to listening to albums without the crowd sounds. Good move. There’s a surreal touch to some of these bridges too. I suspect Paul likes a couple of them a lot. The Sun King was lovely backwards!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure that “shuffle” is off. Although the CD is divided into tracks, the entire disk seems to me to have been conceived as a single program. When the tracks are shuffled you miss the bridging that ties each track to the next and therefore a good deal of the true charm of the album.

I can’t say I’m surprised to find out that key, chords and accompaniment of several of their songs fit together so nicely; there’s a thriftyness about it that appeals to me a lot. I, like the Beatles, remember “the War” and using things up and then using what’s left. No point in throwing away a good chord progression after only one use!

“IS the really a new album?” is a good question. Yes, I really think it isn’t unfair to call it that. The Beatles and George Martin paid a lot of attention to the order of songs on an album when they were new. I haven’t run into anyone so far who really seems to have a clear idea of just what they attempting in this. I’m sure it was some sort of building, wave, incoming/outgoing tide effect at least in part. The great thing about LOVE is that Martin had their whole catalog from which to select. I still couldn’t really say precisely what the effect he was seeking was, but it certainly builds excitement – particularly when Mr. Kite bleeds into She’s So Heavy AND Helter-Skelter!! Guaranteed to get your heart moving. Help! seemed the perfect song to follow that!

Yes, it is a new album. Of course, many of us have made up our own playlists of Beatles songs creating albums to suit ourselves, but only a few of us have the equipment and talent (and master tapes) with which to really make it work! While the song selection does include some of my least favorites, I have to say that I’m definitely going to be playing this as an album for that very reason.

Obviously many Beatle fans have had a wonderful time identifying the almost momentary bits of one song cut with another – I’m probably not going to be one of the world champions of that, but most of it is creating something I’m enjoying a lot! Somehow things like the segue from Strawberry Fields into Piggies and then Hello, Goodbye is not only amusing but makes sense on some unused level.

I did catch the snippits of the Cirque de Solil on TV and wasn’t much impressed or entertained although I did try to allow for the lack of their usual equipment in the TV studio. Since there’s no chance I’ll ever pay for a ticket to the live show, much less spend the kind of money it takes to go to Las Vegas (where there would be very little to do that I’d particularly enjoy) I am resigned to wait the movie or TV show in a few years on this. I’m awfully glad to have the soundtrack though. Partly because few of the songs chosen were on singles and partly because of the changes, they don’t tend to invoke surprise moments of nostalgic regret but are far more likely to tease out a smile even if you’re doing dishes. Oops, the close managed to make me tear up! Damn you anyway George Martin! (and Giles too) Not fair!