Wonderful Christmastime

Bob Dearborn wows me again this morning at his The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac by telling another Beatles story I have never heard. I really thought I had heard them all, but this is new to me...

"November 16, 1979…Paul McCartney released the holiday single "Wonderful Christmastime." Because he wrote, published, and played all the instruments on this recording, McCartney's royalties add up. Including royalties from cover versions, it is estimated that Paul McCartney makes $400,000 per year from this song, which puts its cumulative earnings in excess of $15 million."

The Beatmakers

From Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac this morning, yet another Beatles tidbit that I have never heard before, this one from exactly 50 years ago today...

"October 19, 1961…At a show in Litherland Town Hall in Liverpool, England, two popular local groups, Gerry and the Pacemakers and the Beatles, combined on stage to form the Beatmakers, performing Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," Ray Charles' "What'd I Say?," the pop standard "Red Sails in the Sunset," and Charles' "Hit the Road, Jack."


The Beatles, by the way, never recorded any of those songs.

Paul's Wedding

Sir Paul McCartney was married over the weekend to his third wife, Nancy Shevell.

I couldn't make it to the wedding. Sean had a soccer game.

I sent my regrets and a nice picture frame.

Whatever Gets You Through The Night

From Bob Dearborn's "The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac" this morning...

"October 4, 1974…John Lennon released the single "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night," a duet with Elton John and Lennon's only #1 single as a solo artist during his lifetime."

Still love this one...

The Top 100 Beatles Songs

The morning after I returned from Italy, I had 300+ e-mails to read, a novel to proof read, and a stack of work piled up on my desk, so naturally I spent nearly three hours reading every word of this incredible Rolling Stone magazine article about the top 100 Beatles songs.

The introductory article by Elvis Costello alone is worth a read, but the description of each song is what drained my time. I learned at least thirty new stories about those songs, and when you've read as much about the Beatles as I have, anything new is a revelation.

I highly recommend it for fellow Beatles geeks.

McCartney's Getting Married

He posted a wedding notice.

I'll be checking my mail every day looking for an invitation. He forgot to invite me to the first two weddings, but it's never too late to right a wrong.

McCartney Honored

From this morning's RAMP newsletter...

"Paul McCartney will be honored as MusiCares' 2012 Person of the Year. At a special gala dinner held during Grammy week on Feb. 10, 2012, McCartney will be recognized for not only helping to shape the world of music as we know it, but also his decades of charity work and philanthropy. "Paul McCartney exemplifies the phrase 'artist/philanthropist,' and his extraordinary career is certainly a testament to the multifaceted power of his creative genius," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "The unique talent, dedication and spontaneity he brings to his projects and live performances are unsurpassed, but are equaled by the impressive generosity and commitment he consistently devotes to a range of important charitable causes." In another notch in McCartney's philanthropy belt, proceeds from the dinner will be funneled back into MusiCares, which makes sure that musicians and people associated with the industry have access to medical, personal and financial help in times of need. More info is available at www.grammy.org/musicares."

John Lennon on Dick Cavett

This aired 40 years ago this week, to coincide with the release of "Imagine". I watched the entire thing this morning. Totally cool.

Press

25 years ago today Paul McCartney released his album "Press to Play". It wasn't a good album. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that there isn't a single memorable song on that album, which is unusual for Paul. On the other hand, this video is pretty interesting. Paul rides the London Underground. All of the people in this video are actual people riding the Underground and it's fun to watch their reaction when they realize what's going on.

The Klan and the Beatles

From Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac this morning...

"August 15, 1966…The Beatles played D.C. Stadium in Washington for more than 32,000 fans who paid $3 each for tickets. Five members of the Ku Klux Klan, led by Maryland's Imperial Wizard, picketed the concert."

It's hard to imagine that the Klan was still an acceptable part of southern society as recently as 45 years ago. This video is kind of chilling in retrospect...

John Lennon's More Popular Than Jesus Controversy

45 years ago today John Lennon came to Chicago during a firestorm of controversy and staged a press conference at the Astor Hotel. He answered questions from reporters, and tried to explain what he meant when he was quoted as saying the Beatles were more popular than Jesus.

This video explains the controversy pretty well.

Steven Tyler Releases New Book - Talks about Idol, and Doing Drugs with Joe Perry in Rolling Stone Cover

Remember back in 2008 when Aerosmith announced they were working on a new album?

Remember when they said the project had been scrapped, and so had the tour, and that the band was breaking up?

Now we are getting a little more insight on what was happening to the band during those years in Tyler’s new book “Does the noise in my head bother you?”

The Aerosmith front man and American Idol judge will be on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine next month and said the book was,

"the unbridled truth, the in-your-face, up-close and prodigious tale of Steven Tyler straight from the horse's lips ... All the unexpurgated, brain-jangling tales of debauchery, sex & drugs, transcendence & chemical dependence you will ever want to hear."

Tyler, 63, also says that he did drugs with guitarist Joe Perry in 2008 after many years of both of them being sober.

“Joe Perry was so impaired by snorting prescription pills, he couldn't even play his instrument. But I was no better - I couldn't sing.”

Tyler says he is sober now and enjoying his time as the newest American Idol judge, and would like to get the guys of Aerosmith back together for another run at making an album.

Tyler last appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone's Magazine in the August 1976 issue.

Watch Steven Tyler Sing Medley of Beatles Songs for Paul McCartney