What’s Spinning This Week at the Water Tower HQ

Published October 1, 2007

By Anya Brodrick

I use music to relax, to put myself in a good mood, to continue my wallowing, to wake myself up in the morning and to go to bed…and you probably do as well. You and I are very similar. Music is about life and it’s fitting that it makes up such a big part of our lives.

We all like different music, but when we hear something that touches an inner part of ourselves that either we know all too well or not at all, it’s important. Music that remains relevant throughout different periods of our lives, different friends we have, and even different generations is powerful and something that I can’t get enough of.

The Beatles have a huge legacy: Beatlemania, arguably the greatest rock ‘n roll band of all time, four iconic members that we all recognize. While certain Beatles fans can classify their favorite Beatles ‘period’, I love everything Beatles. The compilations, the covers, the movies…there is almost too much out there.

I want to introduce one of my favorite albums; certainly not little-known or underground, but perhaps occasionally forgotten. With The Beatles, first released in 1963, is, in short, a gem. The album opens with “ It Won’t Be Long,” a classic rock ‘n roll song that’s perfect to sing along to. Six of the fourteen tracks are not even Beatles originals. They cover music from the Broadway show “ The Music Man” and a few R&B/rock ‘n roll standards from varied artists: The Miracles, The Marvelettes, and Chuck Berry.

Also, this album features the disc debut of George as a writer. “ Don’t Bother Me” features George’s double-tracked voice over a great clave and drum beat. The album is “classic Beatles” in the sense that it’s an earlier album and that a lot of the music is influenced by many different sources (fast forward to The Beatle’s fascination with Indian music). I have two favorite tracks on this album: “ All I’ve Got to Do” and “ Please Mister Postman.”

“All I’ve Got to Do” is a classic ballad with John serenading you with “Whenever you want me at all/I’ll be here, yes I will, whenever you call/you just got to call on me.” “Please Mister Postman” is a funny combination of British rock mixed with some early sixties soul. Picture The Beatles in some sequined tops, with George, Paul, and Ringo behind John dancing in sync.

The beauty of music is that not only does it help us through our days and our lives; it can be inspired by many sources and be a source of inspiration for almost anything else. Music that I can listen to when I’m seven or twenty, in California or Vermont, with hipsters or band nerds, is music that I want to listen to forever.

Print This Article

Comments