#beatles butcher album

[time4hemp]

This Beatles Butcher Album is just 2cool4skool. It is very comfortable to sit on but it looks too nice to do so - lololol - and I use it mostly for decoration in my home. I really love it. The print is amazing.

[littlemisscollateraldamage]

retired art student attempts drawing 110 dead 587 injured

[greatsaladavenue]

The Beatles The Butcher Album cover Lost session. Crazy, odd Beatles.

[ultra-francesca-mercury]

june 14

1966

Deeming its "butcher cover" in poor taste, Capitol Records recalls the new Beatles album, Yesterday and Today, which is scheduled for release the next day and has already been sent to stores.

[thestylesindependent]

We haven’t seen an artist like him since David Bowie

I’ve always considered myself to be somewhat of a music purist.

I still listen to albums from front to back, usually on an old record player I keep next to a collection of EPs that produces a lovely scratchy sound as original masterpieces from Revolver to The Queen Is Dead turn on its table.

Those albums aren’t just important because they are musical triumphs, they’re important because they had a profound impact on the industry and influenced cultural movements that impacted society as a whole.

Without the Beatles there is no Pixies, Nirvana or Oasis. Without The Smiths there is no Stone Roses, Radiohead or The Libertines. But what those bands did for women’s liberation, gay liberation, environmentalism and working class movements is equally profound. Both are bands whose popularity was supplanted by their artistry, giving them a unique position in the annals of music history.

For me, ever since the X Factor aired on our screens, fronted by Simon Cowell with his pearly white teeth, pristine T and Twickers jeans and shoes combination, it has been the absolute antithesis of all that.

The public flogging of people out to chase their dreams has seen huge audiences flock to the show over the years as they crown acts who manage to not butcher classic covers. As Michael Rosenberg (AKA Passenger) once put it, the show “murdered music” at the altar of a few “money-grabbing pricks”. It robbed us of an original Christmas Number 1 for decades until a countermovement propelled Rage Against The Machine to the top spot. And quite right, too.

But the show has, quite miraculously, given birth to a musician who, in my view, belongs in the same category as The Beatles, The Smiths and, pertainantly, David Bowie in status.

Harry Styles, formerly of One Direction fame, is quite obviously a popular bloke. He is about to perform in front of 90,000 people at Wembley for the fourth night after completing the highest selling Scottish stadium tour ever. He has 48.9 million followers on Instagram and his 2022 hit ‘As It Was’ was the most streamed Spotify song that year.

But his popularity should not be confused with his artistry.

Styles is more than just the hoards of screaming teenage fans and strings of celebrity endorsements we’ve come to know him for. He’s actually an icon both in music and in style, and increasingly an icon in modern movements of inclusiveness and self-worth.

During a concert in Houston, Texas, in 2018, he interacted with a ten-year-old boy in the crowd who had become overcome with emotion. Styles assured the young boy, “Crying is very manly. Being vulnerable is manly”. That is fucking classy, man.

His debut album artwork, which depicts the least tattooed area of his naked body half-submerged in a pastel pink bath, similarly conveys vulnerability, femininity, reflection, and intimacy, all of which are buzzwords for new youth movements that will only grow in acceptance and popularity.

When I look at his Love on Tour show I don’t see a teenage heartthrob. I see the Beatles. I look at his fashion and I see Bowie. I look at the messages he’s sending out to kids and I see Jack Kerouac and the Beat Generation. And I see the fact that nobody is talking about him in those terms as proof that he is actually woefully underrated.

Now bring on the hate…

[beatricebidelaire]

so i was reading Daniel Handler's essential break-up playlist. absolutely loving this

The Magnetic Fields, “The Things We Did And Didn’t Do”

Summary Of Song: I am pondering every detail of our broken relationship, including some details I made up. Sample Lyric: “All the things I knew I didn’t know and didn’t want to know, that you told me just to tell me later that you told me so, come flooding back to me now.” Further Context: 1/69th of the classic album 69 Love Songs, on which I play accordion. Suggested Use: Pondering ephemera from prior relationship, as in my novel Why We Broke Up, in stores now. Internal Monolog Whilst Listening: “It is necessary and therapeutic, not pathetic and obsessive, to fondle this movie stub.”

Roxy Music, “Over You”

Summary Of Song: I wish I were completely uninterested in you and/or having sex with you right now. Sample Lyric: “Oh baby, this is nowhere.” Further Context: Bryan Ferry is Lord Byron with a martini in his hand. Discuss. Suggested Use: Considering booty call. Internal Monolog Whilst Listening: “But how I can get closure if we don’t go at it one more time?”

The Beatles, “I’m Looking Through You”

Summary Of Song: I just realized you’re a terrible human being. Sample Lyric: “I thought I knew you. What did I know?” Further Context: This band has a few other good songs; you should totally check ’em out. Suggested Use: Remembering warning signs via 20/20 hindsight. Internal Monolog Whilst Listening: “And then there was that time she said she was at the gym but I know I heard ice clinking in a glass.”

Prince, “What’s My Name?”

Summary Of Song: Get out, skank. Sample Lyric: “You never would have drank my coffee if I had never served you cream.” Further Context: My butcher is the president of the North American chapter of the Prince Fan Club. Suggested Use: Dumping prized possessions in dumpster. Internal Monolog Whilst Listening: “And stay out, you f*%&ing f*%&.”

Tom Waits, “Make It Rain”

Summary Of Song: My love hurt me so bad I am resorting to primitivist rituals in a vain attempt to cleanse my soul. Sample Lyric: “What she done, you can’t give it a name.” Further Context: It sounds good when you’re pounding on the floor in time with the drums. Suggested Use: When utter desolation is giving way to apocalyptic fantasy. Internal Monolog Whilst Listening: “And the vultures will pick at his bones while his annoying, self-righteous mother rends her clothes in grief.”

The 6ths, “As You Turn To Go”

Summary Of Song: I am attempting to direct your leaving me as I would a movie. Sample Lyric: “You know you’re the star of my life story, and I’m so sorry.” Further Context: The band chose the name because it’s impossible to say on the radio. Suggested Use: Crying in front of the mirror, you know, just to see what it looks like. Internal Monolog Whilst Listening: “I must have looked very photogenically unhappy in that train station.”

Yo La Tengo, “Damage”

Summary Of Song: I ran into you at a bar and it was awkward. Sample Lyric: “I hope I mumbled goodbye as you walked out the door.” Further Context: Sung by people seemingly happily married. Suggested Use: Afraid to go to birthday party of common acquaintance. Internal Monolog Whilst Listening: “Out of all the gin joints in the world, blah blah blah.”

Emily Haines, “The Last Page”

Summary Of Song: I’m trying to get over you, really. Sample Lyric: “By the way, it’s over without you. I’m in the way.” Further Context: Ms. Haines, the lead singer of Metric, is the daughter of renowned jazz poet Paul Haines. Nobody is excited about this but me. Suggested Use: Sudden attack of melancholy, too many months later. Internal Monolog Whilst Listening: “Maybe another bourbon will help me feel better.”

Dusty Springfield, “I’ve Been Wrong Before”

Summary Of Song: You seem great, but I never pick a winner. Sample Lyric: “He used to smile at me and hold my hand like you do.” Further Context: Written by Randy Newman, who strikes me as a guy who’s been dumped a lot. Suggested Use: Prepping for date with rebound. Internal Monolog Whilst Listening: “I’m just going to say, ‘Oh, it didn’t work out,’ and nothing more.”

Stars, “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead”

Summary Of Song: You know what? I am absolutely over you. Sample Lyric: “It’s nothing but time and a face that you lose. I chose to feel it and you couldn’t choose.” Further Context: Oh, don’t get me started. Suggested Use: Learning news of ex, not caring. Much. Internal Monolog Whilst Listening: “I hope they’re happy together. Kind of like I hope it works out with the Sunnis and the Shiites.”

[shardblaster]

Yesterday and Today (also rendered as "Yesterday" ... and Today in part of the original packaging) is a studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. Released in the United States and Canada in June 1966, it was their ninth album issued on Capitol Records and twelfth American release overall. Typical of the Beatles' North American discography until 1967, the album contains songs that Capitol had withheld from its configurations of the band's recent EMI albums, along with songs that the group had released elsewhere on non-album singles. Among its 11 tracks are songs from the EMI albums Help! and Rubber Soul, and three new 1966 recordings that would appear on Revolver in countries outside North America.

Yesterday and Today is remembered primarily for the controversy surrounding its original cover image. Known as the "butcher cover", it was taken by photographer Robert Whitaker and shows the band dressed in white coats and covered with decapitated baby dolls and pieces of raw meat. Although the photo was intended to be part of a larger work critiquing the adulation afforded the Beatles, the band members insisted it was a statement against the Vietnam War. Others interpreted it as the Beatles protesting the record company's policy of "butchering" their albums for the North American market. In response to retailers' outrage at the gory subject matter, Capitol immediately withdrew the LP and replaced the cover image with a shot of the band posed around a "steamer" trunk.

[mildredpierce8]

BEAR WITH ME AND MY RANT ABT THE NEW FITO PAEZ BIOPIC TV SHOW ON NETFLIX

OK......

So, basically Netflix released a biopic tv show about the life of Argentinian rock star Fito Paez and I'm literally so excited to watch it for a number of reasons, but the second I found out that this was a thing I got the urge to go on tumblr and just explode so here goes.

The show is called "El Amor despues del Amor", named after Paez's sensational hit song linked below:

*please listen its actually so good

Anyways the gringos butchered it and dubbed the show in English to be called Love After Music which makes no fucking sense because the song literally translates to Love after Love not Love after Music and it is just sooo stupid, but anyway what can I do abt that.

This show excites me so much, first of all, because I think Fito Paez 10000000% deserves this kind of recognition, because he really is one of the most iconic latinamerican artists of his generation, and his music challenged the assumption that good pop and rock music could only be made and produced in English.

I guess mostly the reason this show excites me is because it is a show about a latinamerican rock artist, which you just don't get that often and I have been dying to see one. (Also, Argentinian alternative rock is definitely one of my hyper-specific fandoms and new content being produced for it is really exciting).

My mission in life, amongst other things, is to give the South and Central American rock scene the recognition it deserves, because often times people act like it doesn't exist, and new wave/ 80s pop/rock only came out of the US or England. Latinamerican rock serves an extremely important purpose in society, as it was quite literally revolutionary. (I'm bullshitting and tired, so ignore the uneccessary sentences, but my point is valid). Rock in Argentina was used to fight back against A LITERAL MILITARY DICTATORSHIP. And the fact that all the rock music biopics are still England and US centric is really annoying.

I'm not saying I don't enjoy shows or movies about music produced in the US or England, but there are so many amazing stories to tell from the perspective and about the lives of Hispanic musicians. Why are they constantly overlooked?

AND NOT JUST ABOUT MUSIC

Where are the movies about Argentinian Military Dictatorship? (IK they exist guys im just saying we should talk more about the fact that it happened). Actually for anyone interested pls watch the movie "Argentina, 1985", it is great!

Where are the movies about indigenous communities being wiped from existence in virtually every South American country?

Or, as a Colombian, can we get a show about terrorism or the drug trade in Colombia that isn't made from the bullshit NARCOS perspective of white guy policemen saviors, when we all know that all American cops did in Colombia was militarize our police forces and teach them how to abuse the public.

I'm getting off topic

THERE ARE AMAZING MUSIC STORIES COMING OUT OF LATIN AMERICA

Like the entire Mexican punk rock scene it is so cool

Cafe Tacvba, Maldita, Caifanes.

Where's the series abt Colombian metalheads. The metal scene was huge.

Or the goth scene. There was a time where you would walk on the street and you would see crowds of Morticias going to dance The Cure at a club.

Or the fact that Seru Giran recorded their first album in exile in Brazil bcs the government literally had them on a hitlist.

Which speaking of Seru Giran, how is there not a movie abt that yet. Seru Giran is such an iconic fucking band led by none other than Charly Garcia. They are a gift from God to humanity, they are pioneers of progressive rock, I don't know anyone like them. And I'm always saying this but if Seru Giran were British or American they would be just as highly regarded as the Beatles or the Rolling Stones or Pink Floyd because they are just too good.

Here are some Seru Giran songs everyone should listen to:

*this man is everything. synth on top of a keyboard on top of a piano.

Anyways, if you're still reading at this point you are very dedicated and i appreciate that.

And side note, please watch this performance of Charly Garcia, Fito Paez and the one and only Fabi Cantilo bcs it is too good:

*ojos de videotape is one of the most beautiful songs ever written and sometimes idk if its even real.

OKAY SO, TO CONCLUDE THIS EXTREMELY INCOHERENT RAMBLING,

I am extremely happy about the fact that latino stories are being told in media like this because its something that i feel as a fan of rock music and a latina i have been missing from my life. And you may think why do we need movies abt dictatorship or drug deals or terrorism. Doesn't that just perpetuate the stereotype that that's all your country has. NO ON THE CONTRARY. When it's told by big American corporations, it often loses meaning. Shows written by latinos about latinamerican experiences showcase the reason I am so proud to be latina. Because we are a resilient people. Our humanity shines through even in the darkest of times. In the midst of wars and dictatorship, we can come up with shit like this and it is so cool. And I wish there was more recognition for that.

So yeah maybe this isn't a rant abt Fito Paez, even though I love him so much. And I'm more than sure this show is about his life and not about Argentinian military dictatorship.

But I guess mostly I hope this will encourage more latino filmmakers to tell our stories. Tell our stories because they are so cool, and I love watching movies abt rockstars. But I would love it so much more to watch movies about rockstars who look like me.

So I'll get back to this after I watch the show. Chau :)

[lingeronyourhazeleyes]

tl;dr: i'm looking for some McLennon and/or Milex blogs to follow

keep reading for my unnecessary rambling about me finding out about the McLennon and Milex fandoms and the miserable state I'm in :D but you really don't have to tho :D

okay, so the thing is: Beatles is basically part of my DNA. My grandfather was an OG Beatles fan in the '60s and passed his passion on to my mother so I literally grew up listening to it 24/7 (especially Rubber Soul - that's her fav album) so for me, listening to Beatles was about as natural as breathing. There are those 6-8 songs I've always been really, truly fond of, but never considered myself a fan or something (actually, I've found it rather annoying when I literally couldn't talk about anything without my grandfather ).

And then Now and Then came.

That fckin song tore me into small pieces, chewed me up and spat me out. I've lost my mind. Suddenly, my inherited infatuation "arrived" and I wanted to know everything about the Lennon-McCartney relationship (I mean I had bits of information cause it's literally impossible to get through a family dinner without my grandfather sprinkling some Beatles fun facts into the conversation). So I came to the most devoted source: tumblr. And I fell into this fckin rabbit hole called McLennon.

One and a half months passed. I've watched Get Back twice (my favourite parts I've seen far more than I care to admit. Like, I know all the timestamps to them by now and I feel kinda embarrassed about this fact), read about half a million words worth of McLennon fanfics, lurked on tumblr to check the McLennon tag every goddamn day, started to write a novel inspired by Now and Then (I've got almost 50K words - bless ya NaNoWriMo), and as I was doing research for the novel I accidentally fell into the Milex rabbit hole as well.

At this point, I can't not think about McLennon. I just can't. I'm eating, breathing, and bleeding McLennon. And I am miserable and lonely with all these thoughts echoing in my head and I desperately need some friends to be crazy about McLennon (or Milex) with. Or at least some quality blogs I could follow.

Please send some help! I've completely lost my mind.

If you made it so far, thank you for your time and sorry for spamming your dash (and butchering the English language like this - I'm not a native speaker as you can see :D)!

[datclassicrockfan42]

Now I’m going to have La Bamba stuck in my head all day lol 

Since it won’t let me send pictures:

Top artists #1: The Beatles, #2: The Smiths, #3: David Bowie, #4: Michael Nesmith, #5: The Cramps. 

Top songs #1: Calico Girlfriend (Michael Nesmith), #2: Sad Memory (Buffalo Springfield), #3: Hello Mary Lou Goodbye Heart (Ricky Nelson), #4: Miserlou (Dick Dale), #5: Burn (The Cure)

I was a bit started by how much 60s instrumental surf rock was on this thing for me. Then I realized that that’s just what I play in the background at my work during programming. Also, I must have played Flying Purple People Eater a ton during October 😆

I’m totally with you on wrapped this year! It’s so bland. Guess that’s what happens when you lean on AI. 

Game: Name 1-3 LEAST favorite songs off one of your favorite albums

-⚡️

lol get la bamba’d

(Sorry for the late reply finals has killed me)

I’m not surprised by the whole AI thing. There was an AI podcast recap and butchered the word “classics” honestly if this is how wrapped is gonna be, I’ll just go back to Apple Music and idk reveal my stats on a slideshow..spotify been treating me like shit

Based top 5 artists 🤘

Oh I remember Burn from the Crow(the good one from the 90s). That’s an epic song!

I actually did a look inspired by the Crow

It was rad(yea thats what I look like)

Anyways to answer your quesiton

For some reason

I’ve had “I want the one I can’t have” on repeat(which I’m doesn’t say anything about my subconscious or conscious idk I forgot most of AP pysch) so I’ll do Meat is Murder I guess

For the second I’d say Rusholme Ruffians

It’s just not one that comes on my rotation often. Kinda just doesn’t stick out to me it’s not my least favorite(oh got one) but it’s not one I’m dying to listen too.

Now my least favorite from the album…is the last song the title track that one

Meat is murder...ughhhhh

Look, I get it, he got traumatized from watching slaughter house footage when he was like 11, so he made part of his life mission to stop suffering of animals in meat industry...by stopping the meat industry...yea cool

But dude...this aint a good song. It's experimental with a good message I'll give it that. But bro no one’s aching to listen to it, I think I got bored one time while listening to it.

Anyways how about you?

[samwisegamgeeee]

10 11 and 12 for the wrapped ask game!

Thanks for asking!!!!

10. A song that was also in last year’s wrapped

Definitely not the only one, but of my top songs from last year, Vagabond by Caamp was the first one that I also saw when skimming thru my 2024 playlist. Last year it was #11, this year it’s been demoted to #57

My other repeats seem to be from artists and albums that always like returning to, like Caamp, Hozier, Måneskin, Raye Zaragoza… the album El Madrileño (La Sobremesa) by C Tangana

11. Most popular song (in my opinion)

Not sure really! Either I Wanna Get Better by Bleachers, Common People by Pulp, or Two of Us by the Beatles. I guess I’m interpreting the ask as the most well known songs.

12. A song you think should have been higher up

Someone else asked me this one and I said Less of You by Omar Apollo or Northern Attitude (with Hozier) by Noah Kahan but this just gives me an excuse to say ANOTHER!!

I love Butchered Tounge by Hozier so much that I’m surprised it came in at 77!

[romanlightman001]

Mike Williams and Vince Russo - Discussing The Beatles’ Butcher Album an...🤡

[senor-plume]

Reunion

    Henry throws on his favorite shirt, a tie dye that he got at an Arlo Guthrie concert some years back.  Pulling the shirt over his head he eye’s the bottle of ale that sits on the kitchen table.  Reaching out with his left hand he grabs the bottle and takes a long pull from it. Friday night and not a thing going on. Luckily.  With the drink in his hand he walks over the living room window and takes a peak at the great outdoors. Folks arriving for a CYO event at the school across the street.  Looks like a basketball game as he spies on the young girls showing up in their cheerleader outfits. Some adults walking in and a young man about 20 has his head stuck into his cell phone, texting as he moves straight ahead. Henry closes the curtain tight and walks away quite glad that he is not playing a game of basketball tonight. As much as he complains about the loneliness of his life, he has adapted to it and some nights, such as tonight, he is glad for his solitude lifestyle.

     The television is on but thankfully muted while the record player spins the vinyl album around at 33 and a third.  A collector of sorts, he stops and stares at his records. A massive amount that must be well into the thousands. His father started him out young to the pleasures of music and he never looked back. His dad left him his old records from the 40’s to the 70’s when he passed away.  Alphabetized, he goes down to one knee to look through the Z’s. Pulling out Frank Zappa’s first album he takes the record from its sleeve and stares at the grooves that the needle reads. Henry can, and will spend hours now gazing at his collection with pride bursting up through his soul. Nothing can or will make him as happy as rummaging through these records and trips to the Salvation Army for more is a true joy in his life.

     Stopping only to gather up a plate of nacho’s and a few beers, Henry has just spent the complete Friday night alone with his records.  He plans to leave the house tomorrow morning for a trip to the local hotel where a huge record sale will be going down.  Once a month there is a gathering of all types of people selling off their albums and other music related items. Henry looks forward to this with unbridled glee.  He takes to the computer and after seeing there was not one email waiting for him he begins to compile a list of albums that he must have and hopefully he will be able to find them there. Some records he just never stops looking for. Years and years he has waited for somebody to sell them off. A Beatles record nicknamed the Butcher Album due to the cover showing the Fab Four dressed as butchers covered in raw meat and doll parts. A true and rare collector’s item. He saw one once when he was visiting his sister in California.  He had it in his hands and as he always does, he smelled the inside of the cover. There really is nothing finer than the scent of an old record Henry believed.  The asking price for the album was a hefty 1000 bucks which he did not have at the time. He has saved up for the day it would appear to him again. He would not miss out on it again.  

       With the need to take a piss Henry, drunk now, as he always is on the weekends, he stumbles to the bathroom. Holding his cock he lets out a long sigh and out of the blue the telephone rings. He usually unplugs the fucking thing on the weekends but he must have forgotten. Shaking his dick he hears the answering machine pick up. It is a woman’s voice and it is unfamiliar. Without washing his hands, Henry walks to the bedroom to hear the voice say goodbye and then the tape rewinds. Who the fuck could that be? Henry presses play and he listens in carefully.

“I’m looking for Henry Coda. If this is the wrong number I apologize but I really want to find him. This is Anna Baez. I went to school with Henry back in the 80’s and I would like to invite him to our schools 25th anniversary.   It’s this upcoming weekend…seven days from now and it will be a ball. So Henry, please if you could join us at the school at 7 in the gymnasium… I would be thrilled to see you again. We all would. It will be a blast. I hope this is the right number. Call me at 722-5733 to let me know if you can come. Thanks and goodbye.”

    Christ. Anna Baez. Henry takes a long drink from the bottle…killing it and he heads to the bookshelf to pull out his senior yearbook. The cover says Binghamton Central High School.  It has been years since he has looked at this thing. He takes a seat on his bed and opens the book. He flips through the pages with a bored look on his face until he comes to the page he wants. Under his nose is a picture of Anna. A blonde beauty who was quite popular in school. Unlike Henry she excelled in school, running for class president and winning. A cheerleader and if he remembered correctly, she was crowned prom queen…a prom in which Henry did not attend.  His book was signed a few times and he reads a few.

“Have a great summer Henry…see you at the college.”

“Henry, keep playing that guitar and I am certain you’ll be top of the pops in no time.”

“You are one weird fella man. Don’t change.”

   Henry never ended up going to the local community college and he never made it to the top of the charts. He was still weird and he has barely changed since the 80’s.  He closed the book and placed it back on the shelf. He remained on the bed thinking of school. How he hated it and most of the kids there…except for one girl…Nancy...or Nan for short. Nan, he had the biggest teenage crush on. She was always friendly with him but she was dating the same guy from their freshman year right up to the senior year. They were friends...she was kind to him and although her boyfriend hated him she didn’t care. She was nice. Rising from the bed he began to think about her. Nan, I wonder if you are even still alive and if you are I bet you have fourteen kids and a beefcake husband. He wandered out of his room and made it to the kitchen to grab a fresh beer. Cracking it open he heard the needle hit the label on the record he was playing and he knew it was time to flip it over.

    Playing the Stones now he could not get his mind off of that girl. Nan. Henry hardly left his house for any kind of social event. Skipping family reunions and the like.  But this...this could be...interesting. He wanted to see Nan and that was the only thing that made him pick up the phone to call Anna back.

   She answered right away and sounded genuinely pleased to hear from him. She told him that he was all set. That it was to be a casual party and that he could bring a friend or spouse if he wanted to. Henry asked how many people have signed up to go and she told him that it will be a packed event.

“Expect at least a hundred kids to be there. It will be lots of fun. And Henry, feel free to bring some of those records of yours with you. I bet we would all like to hear them.”

  After saying goodbye and hanging up Henry crawled into bed and found himself...drunk and daydreaming about Nan and just what he could say to her. It made him nervous just thinking about it and soon he blocked it out and fell asleep with the full bottle of beer next to his head.

--------------------------------------- 

            After about four beers Henry was ready to leave for the reunion. Dressed in khakis and a seersucker shirt he bent down to tie his shoes when he felt the urge to throw up come over him. He ran to the kitchen sink and made it just in time. Four beers down the drain, all sudsy and wiping tears from his eyes he went to swig some mouthwash around in the bathroom.

       Outside now Henry tucked the cuffs of his pants into his socks and jumped onto his bicycle. The school was only a few blocks away and it was a pleasant night. He had no intention of trying to impress anyone there. His bike was fine and he enjoyed riding it more than driving anyway.

  Along the way there his nerves grew worse and he checked the time on the side of the bank on the corners. 7:15. He was late and he did not care. He toyed with the idea of not showing...no one would miss him anyway but Nan…he was dying to see what became of her. He stopped his bike in front of the tavern Rocco’s and parking his bike on the side of the building. He went in.

     “Henry! Long time no see my friend. How goes it?”

 Rocco extended his hand and Henry shook it with a weak smile on his face.

“Get me a cold on please Rocco. Lord knows I need one tonight”

“What’s the big occasion? You got a hot date tonight? If you do, bring her here. I’d love to see the kind of girl you could pick up Henry.”

  The bartender, a black guy with muscles that would put Schwarzenegger to shame cracked the top off the bottle of Bud and handed it to Henry. He took hold of it and brought it to his mouth and drained half of it in a mere two seconds. His eyes darted around but he found himself slowly calming down. The television above the bar was on showing some soccer match and the jukebox was playing the old Turtles tune.. .’Happy Together.’

    “Henry, it’s been a while, a few days now perhaps since you last walked into my establishment. What’s been happening to you? You depressed? A fire destroy your record collection or something?”

 “No. Just been busy is all. Listen Rocco, I need your advice here. I’m now headed to my 25th reunion at school and I am rather nervous about it all. There is a girl there...or a woman now and I really want to talk to her but I am a social dud. I have no idea what to say to her. What’s a good ice breaker? Something that won’t

 make me look like a total dick head. Just a little dick head.”

 Rocco smiled and said “ Ah Henry, you seeing an old flame tonight? Some girl who used to give you hand jobs in the basement? Something like that eh?”

 “No...not at all. Just a girl who I was friendly with. Though I have to admit that I dreamed of her and those hands giving me some pleasure. I don’t know. I can’t think of what to say to her when I see her. I need your help here.”

  Rocco pulled up a stool and thought for a while. “What did you guys used to talk about in school? Back then. What did you talk about?”

Henry thought for a while and he said ‘music.’

“Ok, then you talk about that. Just say that you heard an old song on the radio and that it made you think of her. She’ll be pleased to hear this…hopefully and there you go. You’ll be off to the races.”

“But I never listen to the radio...all those commercials and that terrible hip hop music they play now a days...It gives me a head…”

“ Then, forget the radio part..just say you heard a song…somewhere… and it made you think of her. Just wing it from there. She’ll want to know what song and then you’ll be in a real conversation and I bet it will be the first one with a woman for quite some time. Am I right?”

 Henry sighed and took a drink from the bottle.

“Yeah, music, that’s kinda what I had planned on anyway.”

“That’s all you ever talk about actually Henry.  This is the first conversation we’ve had that wasn’t about music or music related.  You must really be nervous.”

 “Yeah, I am. What time is it Rocco?”

“7:30.”

 “Shit, I gotta go. Thanks for the help. I appreciate it man.”

Rocco wished him good luck and said that if he gets lucky with the girl to bring her over to the bar so he could see what all this nervousness was all about. Henry killed his beer and slammed the bottle down on the bar with a determined thud. He stood and with a wave left the bar and found his bike waiting for him. He climbed aboard and began his trek to the school.

  -------------------------------------------------

    Inside the gymnasium it was sweltering. He was informed at the front desk, where old Anna Baez was sitting that the air conditioners were on the fritz and to expect it to be a little warm in there.  Warm? It was horrible. Henry went immediately to the bar and ordered a beer. A nice cold beer would really hit the spot and maybe calm his nerves a bit.

  Drinking, he looked down to his name tag. Henry. Who the hell is going to remember me anyway? This is a mistake. He had maybe three friends in high school and they all went to universities and left him in his hometown alone and friendless. Sure, he knew some of the guys and gals at the record conventions but he wouldn’t be able to really cal them friends. He was a lonely guy who simply loved his records and beer. He looked up and watched all the people milling around and some dancing.  A few guys whom he recognized as old jocks   were standing at the bar, drinking and laughing, without a care in the world. Henry felt the sweat dripping down his back and he flapped his shirt a few times to get some air in there. His ears pricked up when he heard a Duran Duran song playing and he was just about to head over to the DJ booth to talk to the guy about his CD’s when he saw Nan walk in. The light from the gym was weak at best but he knew it was her although he could not read her name tag. My goodness…there she is he thought to himself. I’ll just wait for a while to let her mingle with the people that she really wanted to see and then, then he would walk up to her and reintroduce himself to her.

     Henry wiped his brow with the back of his hand and struck up a conversation with the DJ. They shot the shit for a few minutes when he felt a hand on his shoulder.  He turned around and saw Nan smiling ear to ear.

“Henry Coda...my God…you look exactly the same.  You really do. My goodness...how are you?”

 Henry’s shirt was sopped with sweat as he opened his mouth to return her greeting when a group of guys walked up to Nan and began to talk excitedly to her. Henry shrunk back to the DJ booth and just stood there watching them enjoying themselves. I wish I was normal he thought to himself. I wish I could talk and feel carefree with others. Instead I am a sweating fool all alone with a paid employee of this fiasco. He took a swig from his plastic cup and turned around to stare at the wall.

   A few minutes passed while a Van Halen song played. Henry began to recall the time he had bought the album which this song came from when he heard a woman’s voice say something. He turned around to see Nan staring at him.

“Hello...anyone home? I’ve been trying to get your attention for a minute now silly. Daydreaming about music I bet. This Van Halen song sure brings back the memories don’t you think?”

“I was just playing this song a few days ago actually. All in all it’s a great album with very little filler. Sure, a few of the songs aren’t all that great on it but not many records from that period were masterpieces. You know what I mean?”

  Nan smiled at him and told him that he has not changed all that much from 25 years ago. Henry smiled and tried hard to think of something to say to her. He decided to ask her about her life now but she spoke first.

“So tell me Henry...tell me about your life. Are you married? Is your rock and roll wife around here somewhere?”

 “Wife? Ha, no...no wife. Never. Never was married. You?”

“Well, remember Davey? My boyfriend in school? We married after college and 10 months later we were divorced. Still to this day I have no idea what went wrong but that band of gold on my finger just cursed us. It was something else, I’ll tell you, I won’t be walking down the aisle again, you can count on that.”

 Henry looked down at her finger and even in the bad light he could see that she was ring less.

“Gee, I’m sorry about that Nan. Geeze…will he be here tonight? Davey?”

“No, he moved to Washington State after our divorce was finalized. I haven’t seen him in years now. No kids...thank God.”

“Oh...well that’s good I guess...divorce can really be hard on kids; at least that’s what I’ve read in magazines and all. So…you live around here?”

 Nan answered his questions and boy was there a lot of them. Henry at times felt like he was interviewing the poor girl but he really had nothing else to say to her so he asked questions. Query after query but she didn’t seem to mind at all. They talked for a while when he realized he was in dire need of a drink.  He tried to back step a bit to get closer to the bar hoping that she would follow him...slowly but two steps back into his plan she stood right there, not moving an inch. He would have to ask her if she would like a refill on her wine...or what appeared to be wine. Maybe it was punch. It was red and that was all he could tell. In a break in the conversation he asked her if she would like a refill and that he could really go for a cold beer in this stifling heat.

“I know! It’s so hot in here...I can’t stand it. Want to go outside for a bit? I could use some fresh air and besides...and don’t tell anyone but I am dying for a cigarette.”

“Outside? Certainly. I’d like that. I’m beginning to melt in here. Please just let me refill my beer here. Can you wait?”

She nodded her head and Henry went to get a beer. Turning to Nan he asked her if she was good. She replied that another cup of wine would be great and she handed him her now empty cup.

“..and a wine please Jerry.”

 The bartender filled up the two glasses and they headed outside. On the way to the front doors Nan was greeted with many hellos. Henry couldn’t remember her being so popular in school. It was mighty crowded and Nan grabbed his arm and pulled him along and he was happy to be lead away out of there.

         Outside the cool air was a Godsend. They both needed the cool night air on their hot skin.

“Now this is much better, don’t you think Henry? So, tell me now…back in school you loved music more than anyone I’ve

ever known. You ever made a career of it? You in a band or anything?”

  He felt like he was letting her down as he went on to say that not only was he not in a band but that as a career he chose media marketing.

“What exactly is that Henry?”

“You know those jingles you hear on the radio? I write them. I make commercials for the radio and television.”

“Oh my, how interesting...anything I would know?”

“You know Champs Fried Chicken? The chain of chicken places? Well that one ad..the one that goes

‘Champs...is the place to be

when your down and hungry,

a dollar 99 is all you got?

you’ll dig our chicken, you’ll dig it a lot.’

I wrote that.”

“Holy shit Henry, I know that song! It’s the catchiest tune like ever! Wow...I’m with a celebrity here!”

“Ha…well...it pays the bills. It’s not going to get me a gold record but I suppose I can’t complain.”

“Well, I think it’s awesome...simply awesome Henry.  I’m not as famous as you but I guess my job is ok...I sell real estate in North Carolina. I’m not rich or anything but like you, I can pay the bills.”

 Henry found himself relaxing a bit. The cool night air did him well and he found that he could keep up his end of the conversation. He went in a few time to refill their drinks. He was feeling alright by the time of his 9th beer of the night and Nan was really knocking the wine back. They talked about many things and a few people even recognized him as they made their way out of the gym to return home.

  Around the time of Nan’s fifth cup of wine she realized that the party inside was dying down.

“I should really go back inside and mingle a bit more. You wanna come along with me? There has to be other people you want to see besides me.”

“Not really Nan...in fact the only reason why I came to this high school heat wave was to see you. You were always so nice to me...don’t think I’ve forgotten it these many years later.”

”Oh Henry, that’s so nice of you to say. Shoot...I should go back though. You sure you don’t want to come with me? I’ll buy you another drink.”

Henry thought about it and decided not to go in.

“I’m sorry Nan but it’s really too hot for me in there. I’m going to head to Rocco’s for a nice air conditioned beer.”

“Sounds splendid. Ok…I understand.

  “It was nice to see you again Nan...really. Take care now.”

“I will. Thanks for visiting with me. I had a ball. Enjoy Rocco’s”

And with that they hugged each other goodbye and went their separate ways.

Around 1AM Rocco was placing the chairs up on the table when there was a knock at his front door. He checked the time on his wrist and went to tell them he was closed. Through the door he saw a woman standing there.

“I’m sorry Ma’am but I’m closed now. I open at 9 if you still need a drink in the morning.”

The girl was swaying a bit but managed to steady herself.

“Is Henry there? Henry Coda? I’m a friend of his.”

Rocco opened the door and told her that she just missed him.

“He left about 10 minutes ago. You don’t happen to be Nan are you?”

“Yes..why?”

“Oh boy was he going on and on about you. You made quite the impression on him tonight. He usually only talks about music but not tonight. It was Nan this and Nan that. Sorry you missed him.”

“Yeah, me too. Please tell him I stopped by ok?”

“I will. Goodnight.”

And with that she turned away and headed back to her taxi.

[rebeleden]

Beatles Posing With Butchered Baby Dolls on Rare Album Cover Sparks Debate

CC FAUL

[ultra-francesca-mercury]

june 14,

1966

Deeming its "butcher cover" in poor taste, Capitol Records recalls the new Beatles album, Yesterday and Today, which is scheduled for release the next day and has already been sent to stores.

[darker-than-darkstorm]

"Paul is Dead" was a whole conspiracy theory happening at the time, and lasted into the mid-1970s (and is probably still believed by some people).

The conspiracy goes like this: In early 1966, Paul had gotten into an argument with the other Beatles, drove off in a huff, was distracted by a meter maid while he was driving, and got into a car accident wherein he was decapitated. After that, they trained a lookalike named William Campbell (aka "Billy Shears") to take his place.

The "evidence" for all of this was in the form of "clues" supposedly left in lyrics and album art starting from the US-only release Yesterday and Today (aka The Butcher Album, based on its gruesome original cover — the Beatles had no idea it'd be used for an American album cover, it was just a random photo shoot for them) and subsequent albums — because the Beatles wanted to tell everyone, but the record execs wouldn't let them.

Note that this timeline requires that he was already dead before many of the most-popular Beatles albums were released, recorded, or even written, since the photograph for the "Butcher Album" (which also contains such "clues") was taken in late March 1966, before Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, The White Album, Abbey Road, and Let It Be, so if Paul had really died (which, I note again, he hadn't and still hasn't as of the time I write this), the band was seemingly better for it, which is the part that none of the conspiracy nuts ever seemed to realize.

Here's an old summary of the whole thing:

I find it fascinating (and have since I first stumbled across the "clues" ... yeesh, must have been nearly thirty years ago) even if I don't believe a word of it.

the people in the letters section of life magazine in 1969: you're not insane.. and neither am i