Top 30 ELO Songs

We may seem like one-eyed Beatles fans here at A Day in The Life, but there are a lot of other artists we love just as much.  Electric Light Orchestra is one of them.  The genius that is Jeff Lynne has been producing epic progressive rock and pop scores for over 50 years.  The band had the intention of "picking up where The Beatles left off", and this they did.  Aside from writing and performing countless of his own hits, Lynne is also an accomplished producer, producing records for Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Brian Wilson, and his fellow Wilburys: George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty.  ELO was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 by Dhani Harrison, the spit of his late father George. 

It was no easy task for us to rank our Top 30 ELO songs given the sheer magnitude of exquisite tracks to choose from.  These are our personal favourites, not necessarily the ones we believe are the greatest all around.  You can find our Top 30 Spotify playlist at the end. 

Let us know your opinions, and please don't scathe us for omitting "Mr. Blue Sky"!

#30. "Sweet is the Night" | Out of the Blue (1977)

#29. "Rockaria!" | A New World Record (1976)

#28. "10538 Overture" | Electric Light Orchestra (1972)

#27. "So Fine" | A New World Record (1976)

#26. "Sorrow About to Fall" | Balance of Power (1986)

#25. "Confusion" | Discovery (1979)

#24. "Wishing" | Discovery (1979)

#23. "Sweet Talkin' Woman" | Out of the Blue (1977)

#22. "All Over the World" | Xanadu (1980)

#21. "Ticket to the Moon" | Time (1981)

#20. "Turn to Stone" | Out of the Blue (1977)

#19. "Twilight" | Time (1981)

#18. "Showdown" | On the Third Day (1973)

#17. "Calling America" | Balance of Power (1986)

#16. "Fire on High" | Face the Music (1975)

#15. "Don't Bring Me Down" | Discovery (1979)

#14. "Need Her Love" | Discovery (1979) 

#13. "Secret Messages" | Secret Messages (1983)

#12. "Do Ya" | A New World Record (1976)

#11. "Getting to the Point" | Balance of Power (1986)

#10. "Shine a Little Love" | Discovery (1979)

#9. "Livin' Thing" | A New World Record (1976)

#8. "Telephone Line" | A New World Record (1976)

#7. "Don't Walk Away" | Xanadu (1980)

#6. "Tightrope" | A New World Record (1976)

#5. "Strange Magic" | Face the Music (1975)

#4. "Wild West Hero" | Out of the Blue (1977)

#3. "Last Train to London" | Discovery (1979)

#2. "Can't Get It Out of My Head" | Eldorado (1974)

#1. "Evil Woman" | Face the Music (1975) 

Sir Paul Made a Companion of Honour

As if he couldn’t get any more accolades!  Paul McCartney, the 75-year-old ex-Beatle and Wings frontman and all-round legendary bloke, has been made a Companion of Honour for services to music by Her Majesty the Queen (she’s a pretty nice girl but she doesn’t have a lot to say). He was joined by his wife of seven years, Nancy, at Buckingham Palace this Star Wars Day to receive the honour. Other members of the Order of Companions of Honour, founded in 1917, include Dame Judi Dench, Sir David Attenborough and J. K. Rowling and at any one time there can only be 65 members. Paul was quoted as imagining how proud his Liverpudlian mum and dad would be at his achievement.

Sir Richard Starkey - Ringo to be Knighted!

Ringo Starr has been listed on Queen Elizabeth's New Year's honours list.  At 77, he is to receive a knighthood, 20 years after former bandmate Paul McCartney became 'Sir Paul'.  In a statement, Ringo said: "It's great! It's an honour and a pleasure to be considered and acknowledged for my music and my charity work, both of which I love. Peace and love. Ringo." 

Also to be knighted is remaining Bee Gee Barry Gibb.  The full list of honours can be found here. 

George Martin Dies at Age 90

Sir George Martin, the legendary Beatles producer, passed away on the evening of March 8, 2016, aged 90.  He is best known for signing The Beatles to EMI's Parlophone label in 1962 and subsequently producing most of their songs.  He also worked with other artists including Cilla Black, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Wings, America, Jeff Beck and Elton John.

Ringo Starr broke the news over Twitter.  Paul McCartney has also released a statement.

George boasted many accomplishments over his 90-year life.  Here is George Martin by the numbers:

• 37 million copies of "Candle In the Wind" sold, coproduced by Martin with Elton John
• 205 commercially-released Beatles songs produced
• 6 Grammy awards (for production and arrangement on Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, "Live and Let Die", The Who's Tommy and Love) 
• 2 Ivor Novello awards
• 1 Oscar nomination for A Hard Day's Night 
• 1 knighthood (in 1996) 

Rest in peace, Fifth Beatle.

Throwback Thursday: Let It Be

The Beatles' final studio album, released in May 1970, was not their last recorded album. Originally referred to as the Get Back sessions, rehearsals began in January 1969 and took place at Twickenham Studios and were filmed for what would become the Let It Be documentary.  These rehearsals, as seen in the film, proved to show the arguments between the band members (particularly with Harrison and both Lennon and McCartney), and has been referred to depicting "the break-up of the band".  To ease tensions, the group continued recording at Apple Studios, in a much more comfortable environment.  Harrison brought in Billy Preston who played keyboard on a number of tracks including "Let it Be", "The Long and Winding Road", "Get Back" and "I've Got a Feeling".

In the film, the band perform for their famous Apple rooftop concert.  A few of the recordings from the performance were included on the final Let it Be track listing.  During these Get Back sessions, many songs were rehearsed, including early versions of tracks found on Abbey Road and songs which would be later found on Lennon, McCartney and Harrison's solo albums.  Every track found on the final album was recorded in January 1969, with the exception of "Across the Universe" (recorded in February 1968) and "I Me Mine", which was recorded after Lennon's departure from the band in January 1970.   By the end of 1969, Abbey Road had already been released and Let It Be/Get Back was abandoned.

In March 1970, producer Phil Spector was brought in to work on the album, and he ended up remixing all of the tracks and adding orchestral and choral backings. Particularly notable is "The Long and Winding Road", in which a women's choir and an orchestra was added without permission from McCartney - this prompted a lawsuit. The original album release features twelve tracks, omitting "Don't Let Me Down", which was on the original track listing.

The original Get Back album cover, imitating the Please Please Me cover

Happy 72nd Birthday George

The 24th/25th (the actual date is unknown) of February is a day all Beatles fans celebrate - it is the day that George Harrison was brought into this world, in 1943.  If he were still alive, today would mark his 72nd birthday.  Happy Birthday George Harrison. Hare Krishna.

Hope for the Future

Throwback Thursday: Abbey Road

It is perhaps the most well-known album - 1969's Abbey Road marks the end of the journey for the Fab Four.  Although released before Let it Be, it was recorded last, before John, Paul, George and Ringo went their separate ways.  After disastrous and tense Get Back recording sessions (later salvaged to become Let it Be) the group thought they would have one last shot at recording, in a much more comfortable environment - their home at EMI's Abbey Road Studios. 

Featuring seventeen songs, the album is an eclectic mix of different music styles.  From the metal-esque sounds on "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" to the tantalising nine part harmony on "Because", Abbey Road contains many different sounds which work so well together.  Side two includes the medley, containing "You Never Give Me Your Money", "Sun King", "Mean Mr. Mustard", "Polythene Pam", "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window", "Carry That Weight" and "The End".  Also included on the album is Ringo Starr's second solo composition (with help from George Harrison), "Octopus's Garden" and the two singles from the album, John's "Come Together" and George's "Something".  "Something" was released as the A-side of the single, Harrison's first composition to be so.  

The iconic album cover - the only of The Beatles' albums to not have any words on the cover - further fuelled rumours of the increasingly popular 'Paul is dead' theory (see our previous post on it).  Fun fact: the white Volkswagen Beetle seen behind George was supposed to be removed by its owner before photographing took place but he was away.  The car is now an image associated with the album cover.  Abbey Road is ranked at number 14 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Throwback Thursday: Yellow Submarine

In the town where I was born... these famous opening lyrics come from the Fabs' 1966 single "Yellow Submarine" which was then, in 1968, used as a basis for the animated film of the same name.  Whilst the movie had little contribution from the group (apart from the songs and a cameo at the end), the soundtrack, released on January 17, 1969, is known as their tenth studio album.

Similarly to their earlier albums, Yellow Submarine contains thirteen songs - eleven original 1968 compositions, "Yellow Submarine" which was released on Revolver and "All You Need Is Love" which was a single and on Magical Mystery Tour the year earlier.  In addition to the two aforementioned tracks, the first side of the record contains four new songs.  George Harrison contributes "It's All Too Much" and "Only a Northern Song", both recorded and discarded during the 1967 Sgt. Pepper sessions.  "Hey Bulldog" and "All Together Now", contributed by the two front songwriters, were both written with the film in mind.  Primarily Lennon-penned "Hey Bulldog" was recorded whilst filming a promotional video for the single "Lady Madonna".

The second side of the album is exclusively instrumental, with seven new compositions by The Beatles' producer George Martin arranged specifically as the film score.  The only lead vocals drummer Ringo Starr contribute are those the titular song, "Yellow Submarine", although recorded two years earlier.

Yellow Submarine is perhaps the least well-received of all Beatles albums, in contrast to the accompanying film which has been praised.  The four new songs (which were not instrumental) were deemed mediocre in comparison to the usual standard expected from the biggest group in the world.

The Beatles cameoing at the end of Yellow Submarine, an introduction to "All Together Now"

Unique to this Beatles album: it is the only album to contain 'Beatles' songs which were not written by any of the members and were also not covers (I.E. written by someone else specifically for the album)

Pick the Beatles References Answers

One of our most popular posts has been our Pick the Beatles References post, which is a drawing by Ron Manges featuring references to 70 Beatles songs.  Unfortunately, the answers can no longer be found on Ron's website, so I have gone through the illustration and identified 64 out of 70 of the references (I hope they are all correct!). With six remaining, I hope you guys can help me find them!

Here is the original:

And here are my answers:

1. Sun King
2. For No One
3. Twist and Shout
4. The Fool on the Hill
5. Rain
6. The Long and Winding Road
7. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
8. Carry That Weight
9. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
10. Glass Onion
11. One After 909
12. Yesterday
13. I'll Follow the Sun
14. She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
15. Mean Mr Mustard
16. Lovely Rita
17. I Am the Walrus
18. Helter Skelter
19. Strawberry Fields Forever
20. Being for the Benefit or Mr Kite!
21. Octopus's Garden
22. From Me To You
23. Help!
24. Yellow Submarine
25. Love You To
26. Ticket to Ride
27. Three Cool Cats
28. Can't Buy Me Love
29. Birthday
30. I Want You (She's So Heavy)
31. Blackbird
32. Maxwell's Silver Hammer
33. Piggies
34. Dig a Pony
35. Hey Bulldog
36. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
37. I'll Be Back
38. She's Leaving Home
39. Fixing a Hole
40. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
41. Rocky Raccoon
42. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
43. Michelle
44. Drive My Car
45. I Want to Hold Your Hand
46. Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey
47. Chains
48. Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!
49. Good Night
50. Eight Days a Week
51. Free as a Bird
52. Hello, Goodbye
53. Because
54. Golden Slumbers
55. Do You Want to Know a Secret 
56. No Reply
57. Flying
58. Why Don't We Do It In the Road? 
59. Across the Universe
60. I've Just Seen a Face
61. The Word 
62. Mr Moonlight
63. The End
64. Run For Your Life 

UPDATE: turns out Ron Manges does have the answers on his site! 

In regards to my answers, the six I missed turned out to be: 

65: The Inner Light; 66: Money (That's What I Want); 67: Lady Madonna; 68: The Hippy Hippy Shake (no wonder I didn't get it!); 69: Revolution; 70: I'm Looking Through You

Additionally, what I had as 55 (Do You Want to Know a Secret) actually turned out to be part of Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey, so please correct me if I'm wrong, but that is 69!  Is there another hidden clue?  Also, 61 was not The Word, but rather Words of Love (I feel that both work though as the lyrics of The Word go: "the word is love"). 

Paul's 30 Best Post-Beatles Singles

An American journalist has recently published their list of Macca's top 30 post-Beatles singles, including Wings and solo tracks.  One day we'll get around to listing our favourites, but for now let's see what they have to say.

1. Maybe I'm Amazed (1977)
2. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey (1971)
3. Band on the Run (1973)
4. The Back Seat of My Car (1971)
5. Another Day (1971)
6. Jet (1973)
7. Coming Up (1980)
8. Fine Line (2005)
9. Old Siam, Sir (1979)
10. No More Lonely Nights (1984)
11. Silly Love Songs (1976)
12. I've Had Enough (1978)
13. Letting Go (1975)
14. Helen Wheels (1972)
15. Goodnight Tonight (1979)
16. Arrow Through Me (1979)
17. New (2013)
18. Live and Let Die (1973)
19. My Love (1973)
20. Waterfalls (1980)
21. Junior's Farm (1974)
22. Venus and Mars/Rock Show (1975)
23. Getting Closer (1979)
24. Jenny Wren (2005)
25. Hi Hi Hi (1972)
26. My Brave Face (1989)
27. With a Little Luck (1978)
28. Temporary Secretary (1980)
29. Young Boy (1977)
30. This One (1989)

Do you agree?  What are your favourites? 

Paul Calls off Japan Tour

Paul McCartney has recently made a public announcement on social media letting his fans know that he has come down with a virus.  He postponed a Tokyo concert on the 18th of May after contracting the virus with hopes to continue the rest of his shows in Japan.  However, he did not recover overnight like he hoped and has been forced to cancel the rest of the Japanese leg of the tour with doctors' orders for bed rest.  Paul has since plighted his sincerest apologies to his Japanese fans as he is very upset to be letting them down.  The postponed concerts are hoped to be rescheduled at a later date.

Paul Tours the U.S.

Sir Paul has recently announced a large lineup of concerts in the U.S. this year as part of his Out There! tour.  So far he has 17 concerts lined up with four of them already sold out!  Check out the dates and locations below. 

June 14: Lubbock, TX - United Spirit Arena
June 16: Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
June 19: New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center (SOLD OUT)
June 21: Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
June 22: Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
June 25: Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
June 26: Louisville, KY – Yum! Center (SOLD OUT)
July 5: Albany, NY – Times Union Center (SOLD OUT)
July 7: Pittsburgh, PA – Consol Energy Center (SOLD OUT)
July 9: Chicago, IL - United Center
July 12: Fargo, ND - Fargodome
July 14: Lincoln, NE - Pinnacle Bank Arena
July 16: Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
August 2: Minneapolis, MN - Target Field
August 7: Salt Lake City, UT - EnergySolutions Arena
August 10: Los Angeles, CA - Dodgers Stadium
August 14: San Francisco, CA - Candlestick Park

Throwback Thursday: The Beatles

Though the Fabs' tenth album is actually self-titled (as The Beatles), it is more commonly known as its appropriately-dubbed name The White Album.  Whilst the plain cover itself is somewhat bland, there is a key feature unique to an album cover.   On the sleeve for all the original records released the title "The BEATLES" is embossed, rather than printed, and each album has an individual serial number.  Additionally special to this album is the fact that it is a double album, and one of the first to be released by contemporary popular artists (other artists such as Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan released double albums around the same time).  The White Album was released on November 22nd, 1968, being the only album for the group that year.

Being a double album, it contains double the amount of songs than a regular album - 30 in total (disc one has 17, disc two has 13).  Most of the songs were recorded with less than all four members performing, and many were 'solo' recordings.  Ringo left the band briefly (but was coaxed back), meaning that Paul had to play the drums on the two opening tracks, "Back in the U.S.S.R." and "Dear Prudence".  Everyone was basically doing their own thing and exploring their individual talents.  The White Album introduces Ringo's first solo composition, "Don't Pass Me By".  He also lends his vocals to last track "Good Night".

Previously only getting one to three of his songs on an album, George contributed four to the double album: "Savoy Truffle", "Piggies" and the often overlooked "Long Long Long".  One of the most-loved and famous Beatles songs, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", is his fourth contribution.  Eric Clapton plays lead guitar on the track.  Third track "Glass Onion" references earlier Beatles songs "I am the Walrus", "The Fool on the Hill", "Fixing a Hole", "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Lady Madonna" (released as a single in 1968).

Some of the songs were written whilst The Beatles were visiting the Maharishi in India. These include Lennon's "Sexy Sadie" (originally titled "Maharishi" with crude lyrics), "Dear Prudence", (written about Mia Farrow's sister) "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?" and "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" (which marks the only occasion when a female sings lead at all on any Beatles songs, with Yoko Ono singing the line "Not when he looks so fierce").  The album also includes the highly experimental track "Revolution 9", which is referred to as a 'sound collage'.

Four songs were recorded during the White Album sessions which were released as 1968's singles - "Revolution", "Hey Jude", "Lady Madonna" and "The Inner Light" (a Harrison composition featuring the sitar).  "Hey Bulldog" was also recorded at this time but wasn't released until the following year on the Yellow Submarine album.

Unique to this Beatles album: The Beatles is the only double album released by the band.

Product of 1969

1969 was a big year.  In Beatles history it was the year Abbey Road was released and the year they officially broke up.  Other historical events included the moon landing and, most likely, the birth of either you or someone you know.  To celebrate 45 years this year, why not get a fun commemorative professionally designed t-shirt?  Click here to order one now!

Throwback Thursday: Magical Mystery Tour

Roll up, roll up for the Magical Mystery Tour, step right this way!  
These are the unmistakable opening lyrics of "Magical Mystery Tour" which, like it's predecessors A Hard Day's Night and Help!, shares its title with an album and a film. The studio album, released on Boxing Day of 1967, is actually the soundtrack to the film.  The idea came about when, after the success of Sgt. Pepper, Paul (unsurprisingly) suggested that the band make an unscripted film about their music.  The ultimate result was a bunch of ordinary people, and the Beatles themselves, traveling on a coach going on different 'magical' adventures - all in all equating to a lot of nonsense.  Whilst the film was not admired by critics (or many people, really), it's still a favourite amongst diehard Beatles fans.

The film contained six Beatles compositions including "The Fool on the Hill", "Blue Jay Way" (Harrison's only contribution to the film/album), "Your Mother Should Know", "Flying" (an instrumental piece credited to Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey), well-known favourite "I Am the Walrus" and, of course, the titular track, opening the film. These six songs make up the first side of the soundtrack/LP, which is the shortest album for the group, totalling only 11 songs.

The remaining five songs released on the soundtrack were not written with the film (or an album) in mind and were, in fact, 1967's singles thrown onto the record.  "Hello, Goodbye", "Baby You're a Rich Man", "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" were the singles the group released in 1967 and are, of course, well-known and liked.  Ah, but we can't forget perhaps The Beatles' most universally-known and quoted song - "All You Need is Love", of course, was the fifth single for 1967 and the final track on the record.  The song was actually performed on a live broadcast via satellite to 26 different countries.

Whilst Magical Mystery Tour is considered one of The Beatles' thirteen studio albums, the 11-tracked soundtrack version was actually initially only released in the US whilst in the UK a double EP was released consisting only of the six songs actually in the film.

Unique to this Beatles album: technically it's not one of their studio albums as the LP was only released in America.

Throwback Thursday: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Everyone knows it.  It's only Rolling Stone magazine's listed number one greatest album of all time.  It was 46 years, 9 months and 26 days ago today!  Sgt. Pepper told the band to play!  They've been going in and out of style, and they're guaranteed to raise a smile.  46 years, 9 months and 26 days is the exact duration from when the legendary album was released (June 1st 1967) and today (March 27th 2014).  And they certainly have not gone out of style!

The concept came about from an idea Paul had of recording an album as a fictitious band (with the leader supposed to be Sgt. Pepper).  The only 'band member' who is actually named is Billy Shears, the pseudonym of Ringo Starr.  The opening track shares a title with the album, and it introduces the band before segueing into "With a Little Help From My Friends" and introducing Billy Shears.  Paul and John wrote the song specifically for Ringo to sing.  However this alter ego concept ended with the opening two songs and the titular reprise second-last on the album.  The idea was quickly abandoned and, whilst the remaining songs on the record are extraordinary, they bear no connection to the idea.

The sitar makes an appearance once again with George's sole piece on the album, "Within You Without You".  Fun fact: the album was influenced by the Beach Boys' 1966 album Pet Sounds, which itself was influenced by Rubber Soul.  This influence can be seen on "Good Morning Good Morning" with the animal sounds.  A popular song from the album, "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds", was written by John about a drawing his son Julian had showed him, contrary to popular belief.  The entire lyrics of "Being For the Benefit of Mr Kite!" were derived from an 1843 circus poster that John had purchased from an antiques shop.  The track also features a middle of various recording tapes chopped and mixed up to give the whimsical tunes heard.  A similar technique was used on Revolver's "Tomorrow Never Knows".   Other tracks on the album include "Fixing a Hole", "She's Leaving Home", "Lovely Rita", "Getting Better" and "When I'm Sixty-Four".

Perhaps (or very likely) the most loved and well-known performance, not just from this album but of all Beatles songs, is "A Day in the Life".  It has been named the number one Beatles song and number 28 in Rolling Stone's list of greatest songs.  The last track on the album, it incorporates a forty-piece orchestra, heard in the middle of the song and on the famous final chord, which rings out for over forty seconds.  There are two distinct parts of the song - John's (verses) and Paul's (middle).  At the end of the song, amongst random studio chatter, is a very high-pitched dog whistle.

The album cover collage contains around sixty people including Ghandi, Marilyn Monroe, Shirley Temple, Edgar Allen Poe, Sigmund Freud, Lewis Carroll and original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe.   Lennon wanted to include Jesus and Adolf Hitler but were ultimately left out of the final product.  To the left of the Beatles themselves, you can see wax models of them.  There are supposedly various 'clues' on the album sleeve which contribute to the 'Paul is Dead' theory.

Unique to this Beatles album: many many many things.

A Guy in Uruguay

Following on from previous announcements about tours in Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador and Peru, Sir Paul has now announced another location - Uruguay!  It's seems South America are the lucky ones this time around.  Maybe he should keep this southern hemispherical theme and move west... there's a very large country with a very large fan base here waiting for you, Paul!

Throwback Thursday: Revolver

  

Revolver marks the halfway point for the band, album-wise, being their seventh out of thirteen.  It also signifies a pivotal point in their musical development.  They started to experiment with different styles and even invent new techniques.  Revolver was the precursor for the famed and much-loved subsequent album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which is often classified as the most experimental and pivotal album in, not only The Beatles themselves' history, but in the history of rock and pop music.  It is also said to have heralded the beginning of the psychedelic era.  Like most of their albums, this LP contains fourteen songs.  However this time George Harrison was lucky enough to get three of his songs featured on the album.

Whilst many of the songs are much-loved and well-known (the likes of "Eleanor Rigby" and "Yellow Submarine"), it's the lesser-known, more obscure compositions which exhibited fresh musical techniques and styles.  Harrison plays the sitar on his track "Love You To", much like he did the previous year on Rubber Soul's "Norwegian Wood". Harrison also contributed opening track "Taxman" and "I Want To Tell You".  Adding to the list of 'firsts' that The Beatles provided to the musical world, Lennon's "I'm Only Sleeping" contains a guitar solo - but not just any guitar solo.  Oh no, it's a backwards guitar solo, played by Harrison, created by running the tape backwards.  This was a unique technique in 1966.  "Tomorrow Never Knows" may be the most experimental one, with the entire song consisting of different random tapes looped and played in odd sequences, with the final result being sounds such as the 'seagull' sound heard throughout the song.

Many are under the impression that drummer Ringo penned the popular "Yellow Submarine" due to his deep baritone vocals dominating the tune.  In actual fact, Paul dreamed up the song with Ringo in mind.  Of course, the immensely popular single went on to become an animated film and an album for the quartet, released three years later.

The album cover illustration was created by bassist Klaus Voormann, an old friend of the group whom they'd met in their Hamburg days.  The artwork is a mixture between line drawings and photo collages.  Voormann's name can be seen woven into the right side of Harrison's hair.  There are certainly many aspects of Revolver which make it unforgettable, loveable and revolutionary.

Unique to this Beatles album: the album features the first backwards guitar solo, seen on "I'm Only Sleeping"

Paul Does South America

Following on from last year's Out There tour, Sir Paul has recently announced some new tour destinations, set to take place in April this year.  This time around Paul is heading south... South America, that is, with concerts lined up in Chile, Peru, Costa Rica and Ecuador.  It seems, in typical Paul McCartney fashion (much like last year), the dates and locations are being revealed periodically, usually one at a time.  We are anxious to see where he is heading next and if (hopefully) it's on other continents too!  Watch this space for more tour information.