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Post by Kapitan on Feb 10, 2021 14:45:44 GMT
Not sure where I'll rank Help!, exactly, though most likely it'll be a 9.
Just first chiming in how cool the intro to the title track is. The chord changes over those utterances "help!" are super simple and generally diatonic (meaning in the key of the song), but have great effect in showing the rising tension and desperation.
The song is in A major, but the first chord is a B minor (the ii chord); it goes to G major (the IV/IV, not a diatonic chord; probably better thought of as a flat seven major chord, bVII); then it goes to E7 (the V7); and then an A7 (the V7 of IV, the tonic but with a dominant 7th).
The reason it's so effective in displaying that rising tension is that through those chords, you've got really limited movement that goes chromatically upward while other common tones between chords can stay put. By having that single ascending chromatic line atop a stable base of notes, it really feels like building tension. See it outlined using these voicings:
B minor: B-D-F# G major: B-D-G E7: B-D-G# A7: A-C#-G
In the first three chords, you can voice them so that only that one note ascends chromatically. Then while the A7 is a "resolution" (V7-I), it doesn't feel resolved at all because of the 7th in that tonic chord--it makes it feel like IT is the V7 chord and as if the song will move on to D major ... which it does not. It "resolves" to a state of unresolution.
The verse then does go into more standard fare (with the exception of that bVII again): I-iii-vi-bVII-V.
And the chorus elongates the chords, spending more time on each, but repeating the progression used in the intro, and so implying that same kind of tension.
I said it in some previous tune, but will again: this is the kind of thing that I love most about the Beatles. We're not talking about something from outer space. This isn't Captain Beefheart's totally atheoretical jibberish-inspiration, or Frank Zappa's hyper-theoretical complexity. It is mostly normal, familiar song structure with great melodies and choice harmonies, tunes you'd love to sing and almost always could without even knowing the song in advance ... until that one or two chords that will throw you at first and delight you. It's almost formulaic, but never quite.
Too unique to be familiar, too familiar to be unique.
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Post by jk on Feb 10, 2021 14:58:49 GMT
Help! is a consistently good album. I can't fault it -- every song is a winner. I'd like to give it a little less than ten, but it's too good for just a nine. Oh, well... ten then!
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 11, 2021 21:18:47 GMT
Help!...what a great album. Just in the progression, I see so many similarities between The Beach Boys and The Beatles during that period. Each successive album had a little something new to offer, some new instrument, some nuance, some progression in their sound. Yes, a lot of Help! is similar to the previous one or two albums, yet it's different.
How about a cliche'? OK, there's not a weak song in the bunch. One classic Lennon/McCartney song after another. They were firing on all cylinders - melodies, arrangements, vocals, musicianship...everything! Side 1 is a powerhouse in particular. And they spread the wealth appropriately with the lead vocals, too, giving George two and Ringo one. I just loved their 14 song/33 minute "formula". It's albums like HELP! which is why The Beatles were the greatest band of all-time (after The Doors ).
Flaws? A little nitpicking. I think the sequencing could've taken better advantage of the breakup/leaving songs, but the album's all over the place. I also think "Dizzy Miss Lizzie" would've been better suited near the beginning of the album. I'm not crazy about their choice of "Act Naturally". Yes, the humor fits Ringo, and it is one of Buck Owen's best songs, yet when the song comes on I kinda can't wait 'til the next song.
This ranking is tough. Help! is an easy 9. Usually, I would rate A Hard Day's Night as equal or even slightly better, but I'm been going through a re-evaluation over the last year or so. I gave A Hard Day's Night a 9 (could've been a 9.5) and I think I'll stick with a 9 (could also be a 9.5) for Help!, too. The two covers on Side 2 bring it down from a 10 oh so slightly.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 11, 2021 21:24:27 GMT
Flaws? A little nitpicking. I think the sequencing could've taken better advantage of the breakup/leaving songs, but the album's all over the place. I also think "Dizzy Miss Lizzie" would've been better suited near the beginning of the album. I'm not crazy about their choice of "Act Naturally". Yes, the humor fits Ringo, and it is one of Buck Owen's best songs, yet when the song comes on I kinda can't wait 'til the next song. I disagree about "Dizzy Miss Lizzie," which I think is a great closer here: it leaves some real life and energy to finish things off after a somewhat sedate Side Two.
But while I like "Act Naturally," I think it was an insane choice to open a side. So me, this is a perfect penultimate Side One or middle of the side Side Two kind of song. Not saying I'd want to hide it, but I wouldn't want to showcase it. Even just switching it with "Ticket to Ride," which closed Side One, would make sense to me.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 11, 2021 21:36:04 GMT
Flaws? A little nitpicking. I think the sequencing could've taken better advantage of the breakup/leaving songs, but the album's all over the place. I also think "Dizzy Miss Lizzie" would've been better suited near the beginning of the album. I'm not crazy about their choice of "Act Naturally". Yes, the humor fits Ringo, and it is one of Buck Owen's best songs, yet when the song comes on I kinda can't wait 'til the next song. I disagree about "Dizzy Miss Lizzie," which I think is a great closer here: it leaves some real life and energy to finish things off after a somewhat sedate Side Two.
But while I like "Act Naturally," I think it was an insane choice to open a side. So me, this is a perfect penultimate Side One or middle of the side Side Two kind of song. Not saying I'd want to hide it, but I wouldn't want to showcase it. Even just switching it with "Ticket to Ride," which closed Side One, would make sense to me.
Whenever "Dizzy Miss Lizzie" comes on, I think, "You're only bringing this one out NOW?"
I agree on "Act Naturally", although I think they could've found a better cover in the first place.
Hello!
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Post by B.E. on Feb 14, 2021 15:58:41 GMT
Quick little trivia for ya: Without looking, can anyone name the two Beatles songs which mention "sermon" in the lyrics? (Hint: this is a time sensitive trivia question! Also, I think there's only two.)
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 14, 2021 16:31:33 GMT
Quick little trivia for ya: Without looking, can anyone name the two Beatles songs which mention "sermon" in the lyrics? (Hint: this is a time sensitive trivia question! Also, I think there's only two.) I can only think of one - "Eleanor Rigby" - Father McKenzie, writing the words to a sermon that no one will hear.
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Post by B.E. on Feb 14, 2021 16:48:56 GMT
I'll give others a chance to nab the other one before I spoil the party.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 14, 2021 17:03:09 GMT
I am coming up completely blank.
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Post by B.E. on Feb 14, 2021 17:12:45 GMT
Maybe I'll let it hang until you guys spin Rubber Soul next week.
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Post by B.E. on Feb 14, 2021 17:20:18 GMT
Just tossing this out there for anyone who might be interested - Lennon playing around with a slowed-down "Help" circa 1970. The full version is on youtube but, trust me, this is the highlight. (Although, it does include Yoko in the background suggesting he sing a certain way to which John replies coldly that he doesn't care how she wants him to sing it.)
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Post by jk on Feb 14, 2021 18:57:26 GMT
Quick little trivia for ya: Without looking, can anyone name the two Beatles songs which mention "sermon" in the lyrics? (Hint: this is a time sensitive trivia question! Also, I think there's only two.) I can only think of one - "Eleanor Rigby" - Father McKenzie, writing the words to a sermon that no one will hear.
Found it by googling but it took ages to get past "Eleanor Rigby"! I won't name it, as what I've been doing is called cheating.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 16, 2021 12:36:35 GMT
The Help! poll locks at midnight, so please do be sure to rate the album (if you're so inclined).
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 17, 2021 12:34:58 GMT
Seven voters rated the Beatles' Help! a 9.3.
The first post has been updated with the ratings, and we'll move on to a new album shortly.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 17, 2021 12:52:37 GMT
The Beatles, Rubber Soul (1965)
If the story of the Beatles is greatly simplified to show their career in just two parts, the split is often made with Rubber Soul as the first album of the "later Beatles." Gone in that story are the four sharp-dressed "long haired" men in Beatle suits, and in are differently dressed, actually long-haired Beatles exploring meaningful music, psychedelia, and deep thoughts.
That is, of course, a myth. An oversimplification.
In a way, Rubber Soul was just the latest Beatles album. As had been the case for several albums, it was time for a new album: six months or so since Help!, it was time. December 3, 1965 (and Dec. 6 in the US), the album was released along with a non-album double A-sided single, "Day Tripper" b/w "We Can Work It Out." (We'll hit those songs when we cover Past Masters Vol. 2.)
While not a clear breaking point into Act Two, the album was a continued evolution of the group as songwriters and producers. The album's songs included different aspects of folk, soul, R&B and rock and roll, and included arrangement and production such as sitars, fuzz bass, drone, and ambitious lyrics. It is sometimes said to be the point when the album became the focal point of pop music rather than the single--a view repeated in a way by Brian Wilson many times when he discussed its influence on his own Pet Sounds.
The album topped the charts in the UK, US, Australia, and West Germany and has a slew of gold, platinum, and multiplatinum certifications around the world.
Please rate and discuss the Beatles Rubber Soul.
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