#sam okell

[sinceileftyoublog]

The Beatles Reissue Review: Revolver (Super Deluxe)

(Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe)

BY JORDAN MAINZER

Listening to the Super Deluxe reissue of The Beatles’ 1966 album Revolver, it’s of course important to consider the context of the record. Following Rubber Soul, the first album from the Fab Four instantly apparent as one of the greatest albums ever made, John, Paul, George, and Ringo decided to experiment. Both harking back (classical music, Hindustani instrumentation) and looking forward (inventive studio technology, LSD-inspired freakouts), the band delivered under a somewhat self-imposed pressure and made what some still consider to be their finest work. Indeed, they wanted to back up Lennon’s assertion that they were more popular than Jesus, all the while finishing in time to embark on their last-ever tour. With such weight in mind, I’ll certainly take any opportunity to appreciate and deeply hear (for the first time on streaming services) the original mono mix of the record, a new stereo and Dolby Atmos mix by producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell, as well as early takes from the sessions, home demos, and remasters and remixes of “Paperback Writer” and “Rain”.

Yet, it’s also now important to consider how we now listen to The Beatles. Peter Jackson’s 2021 docuseries The Beatles: Get Back included hours of studio footage of the band making Let It Be, everything from chatter to inter-band drama to McCartney composing in real time. Critically acclaimed and widely watched, the series set a new standard for how fans, casual and diehard, consume new Beatles content. While there’s no video footage to go along with the music, this reissue of Revolver importantly does further illuminate how some of the band’s most beloved songs came to be, at times giving you greater appreciation for the originally released versions, sometimes even adding to the canon. Chronologically on the release, after the new stereo mix, each song is given its own treatment. That is, whatever alternative versions, demos, or instrumentals they have are presented in groupings so listeners can hear them back to back, piecing together themselves how, for instance, “Yellow Submarine” transformed so radically from a sadsack Lennon tune to a Kinks-like McCartney ditty and eventually to the silly, Starr-led stomp we all know and love. Even though some alternative versions have appeared on previous Beatles anthologies, hearing them as part of a progression is illuminating.

Of course, as popular as it may be, very few will claim “Yellow Submarine” is towards the top of The Beatles’ best songs, so how about the treatment to album closer “Tomorrow Never Knows”, their most hallucinogenic track ever, and remarkably the first song recorded for Revolver? That’s right: After the gorgeous pop of Rubber Soul, the band took a 360 and created an opus of meaty drums, muffled vocals, tape loops, and backwards guitars. The song’s first take includes those backwards guitars, albeit at a much more languid pace, but no tape loops, and Starr’s drums almost inventing motorik a few years too early. Still, it’s far in terms of even just structure than anything on Rubber Soul, and to deduce that the band, to get their final product, went further all-in on experimentation is revelatory. “Eleanor Rigby”’s another all-timer in terms of influence, melancholy baroque pop that redefined what constituted rock music in the 60s and even an entire generation of indie rock in the Aughts. McCartney came up with the melody on his piano and purportedly played a version on guitar--no proof is in the reissue--but George Martin eventually arranged it for a double quartet. On one of the album’s most Fifth Beatle moments, Martin educates McCartney on orchestral vibrato, asking him whether he can hear the difference between versions with and without vibrato. McCartney couldn’t; as such, you can really thank Martin for the song’s ultimate brilliance.

McCartney can sure play bass, though! Out of all individual Beatles performances on the reissue, he stands out the most, whether simply enhanced on the new mixes of “Taxman” or on the actual speed version of “Rain”, where his limber playing sounds like The Who’s John Entwistle. The bass is almost too prominent on an instrumental take on Motown-esque weed tribute “Got To Get You Into My Life”, with only some horns to contrast its timbre, but even that track shows the strength he exuded on an instrument he didn’t even really want to play in the first place. Yes, there are Harrison’s gorgeous sitar on “Love You To”, Starr’s thwacking drum fills on “Paperback Writer”, “I Want To Tell You”, and “Here, There And Everywhere”, and Lennon’s contemplative rasp on his demo of “She Said She Said”, whose non-sensical lyrics and lo-fi recording could fit on Bee Thousand. But just as on Get Back, it’s McCartney who comes out looking like the genius of the band--even if he didn’t understand orchestral vibrato, music for him was and continues to be simply intuitive. I guess, then, that could be the ultimate takeaway from Revolver’s Super Deluxe reissue: We should consider ourselves lucky that the ultimate showman is still here to grace us with his erudition.

[myvinylplaylist]

The Beatles: Let It Be (1970)

2021 Vinyl Reissue

The Beatles LET IT BE New Mixes by Giles Martin and Sam Okell.

"This is a new phase BEATLES album... essential to the content of the film, LET IT BE was that they performed live for many of the tracks; in comes the warmth and the freshness of a live performance; as reproduced for disc by Phil Spector"

"Thanks to George Martin/Glyn Johns/Billy Preston/Mal Davies/Peter Brown/Richard Hewson/Brian Rogers"

Capitol Records

[beatleslegend]

A reissue of The Beatles' collections "1962-1966" and "1966-1970" has been released

On November 10, new editions of the Beatles 1962-1966 (“Red Album”) and 1967-1970 (“Blue Album”) collections were released.

The first version of these albums was released 50 years ago with the aim of collecting the best songs of The Beatles in two editions. Now the number of songs on both collections has increased, and all compositions have been remixed in stereo and in Dolby Atmos. The 1962-1966 compilation now opens with the UK single version of "Love Me Do", while "Now And Then", featured on the 1967-1970 compilation, completes the collection spanning the band's career.

The reissue includes songs that were remixed in stereo and in Dolby Atmos for the latest reissues of The Beatles albums, including Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (2017), The Beatles (The White Album) (2018), Abbey Road (2019), Let It Be (2021) and Revolver (2022), plus new stereo mixes for Compilation 1 (2015). All songs not included on these releases were mixed in stereo and/or Dolby Atmos by Giles Martin, Sam Okell and Paul Hicks at Abbey Road Studios using audio de-mixing technology from WingNut Films. The new "1962-1966" and "1967-1970" are accompanied by articles written by journalist and author John Harrison.

[krispyweiss]

Sound Bites Presents His Favorite Live Albums of 2022

Neil Young used “Union Man” to declare: live music is better.

That can sometimes apply to albums as well. And the year almost over featured a slew of terrific in-concert recordings.

What follows are Sound Bites’ favorites, going all the way back to Son House in 1964 and coming all the way up to Aoife O’Donovan in 2022.

The Beatles - Get Back - The Rooftop Performance - The 40-minute concert - remixed in stereo by Giles Martin and Sam Okell - is finally out as the digital-only Get Back - The Rooftop Performance. And though the Beatles had spent the previous few years proving themselves masters of the studio with LPs like Revolver and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Rooftop provides a glimpse of what a force they could’ve become as a live act. Full review here.

Aoife O’Donovan and the Age of Apathy Band - Live from the Hi•Fi - When O’Donovan says “We’re on fire up here,” after she and the Age of Apathy Band finish “Elevators,” she is referring to the weather. But she might as well have been talking about the music. Review.

The Jerry Garcia Band - GarciaLive Volume 19 - To call the Oct. 31, 1992, concert that comprises GarciaLive Volume 19 life-affirming is an understatement along the lines of saying Jerry Garcia enjoyed drugs. Review.

Todd Snider - Live: Return of the Storyteller - Few live albums - including 2011’s Live: The Storyteller - capture the essence of a performer the way Return of the Storyteller captures the essence of Todd Snider. Review.

Hot Tuna - 2021-12-29, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley, CA - This album is beautiful for many reasons. Not only because of the low-key, American-blues music, but because of the deep bonds of friendship between the players and the invisible thread that runs from the stage to the seating area and back. Review.

Creedence Clearwater Revival - At the Royal Albert Hall (April 14, 1970) - Fifty years after their breakup, Creedence Clearwater Revival remain so ubiquitous they - and their music - are often taken for granted. But as At the Royal Albert Hall reminds us, the band had not only a passel of stone classics, it was an outstanding concert act. Review.

Neil Young OBS 3: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 1971, and OBS 4: Royce Hall, 1971 - Recorded two nights apart in 1971 and released on the same day in 2022, Neil Young’s Official Bootleg Series Nos. 3 and 4 are very much the same - from setlists to warm, you-are-there sound. They’re aural time machines to the days when Young’s songbook was relatively thin and virtually no one had heard “Old Man.” Reviews.

Son House - Forever on My Mind - Only 50 or so people attended Son House’s Nov. 23, 1964, concert at Wabash College in Indiana. Although virtually one heard it at the time, everyone can hear it now. And they should. Review.

Grateful Dead - Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, 3/9/81 - Cocaine as rocket fuel. Review.

Zero - Naught Again - Despite the paucity of vocals and the long runtimes, these songs are intricately composed with tension and release where choruses and bridges would otherwise dwell. The tuned-in audience reacts accordingly and the result is an album that damn near succeeds in time travel and space-shifting. Review.

Mavis Staples and Levon Helm - Carry Me Home - Carry Me Home is at its core a religious album that doesn’t require religious ears for enjoyment. Yet, it’s so convincing, those ears may be halfway to the baptismal before the stylus hits the runout groove. Review.

Kris Kristofferson - Live at Gilley’s - Pasadena, TX: September 15, 1981 - Fans who weren’t there can now kinda be there with the release of Live at Gilley’s. The partial-show LP has just enough crowd noise to capture the excitement of the evening and the music proves Kristofferson was one of the rare artists not to fall victim to 1980s production and arrangement values. Review.

12/28/22

[adominguezs]

The Beatles - Abbey Road Año 1969. Edición Europea. Reedición 2019. Rock. Apple Records. Es el undécimo álbum de estudio publicado por la bandasiendoeste este el último álbum grabado por la banda, ya que Let It Be, lanzado en 1970, había sido grabado con anterioridad. The Beatles - John Lennon - Voz , Guitarra. - Paul McCartney - Voz, Bajo. - George Harrison - Guitar, Voz. - Ringo Starr - Batería, Voz. Producción - George Martin - Productor. - Giles Martin - Mezcla. - Sam Okell - Mezcla. Tracklist: A1 Come Together 4:21 A2 Something 3:03 A3 Maxwell's Silver Hammer 3:27 A4 Oh! Darling 3:27 A5 Octopus's Garden 2:51 A6 I Want You (She's So Heavy) 7:47 B1 Here Comes The Sun 3:05 B2 Because 2:46 B3 You Never Give Me Your Money 4:02 B4 Sun King 2:27 B5 Mean Mr. Mustard 1:06 B6 Polythene Pam 1:13 B7 She Came In Through The Bathroom Window 1:57 B8 Golden Slumbers 1:32 B9 Carry That Weight 1:37 B10 The End 2:20 B11 Her Majesty 0:23 #musiccollection #coleccióndemúsica #vinilos #viniloschile #viniloslp #rock #sharemusic #compartirmúsica #lp #vinylrecords #thebeatles (en Villa Presidente Rios, Higueras) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnDkDYyuk7d/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[beatlesradioshows]

Beatles,  Things We Said Today #378 – “Revolver Special Edition,” Part 2 (The Remix)   Download  

In episode 378 of Things We Said Today, Ken Michaels, Allan Kozinn and Darren DeVivo look at the new Giles Martin-Sam Okell remix, as well as the surround mix, of “Revolver." (The outtakes were covered in the last edition.) Also lots of news, including some thoughts about Paul’s new singles box.  YouTube

[seantetpon]

#nowspinning The Beatles - Revolver - 2022 Giles Martin and Sam Okell remix. What a superb job they did with this album. Sounds fantastic. https://www.instagram.com/p/CkiFVZJOy_P/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[beatdisc]

Happy Revolver Day! 

The Beatles beloved 1966 album has finally received the deluxe box set treatment, with expanded LP and CD editions featuring new stereo mixes, restored mono mixes, bonus outtakes & demos plus plenty more! There's also single disc remasters featuring Giles Martin & Sam Okell's new 2022 stereo mix. See below for the various options and get in touch to secure a copy.

Deluxe Editions: - Super Deluxe Vinyl Box (4LP + 7") - $320 - Super Deluxe CD Box (5CD) - $210

This Special Edition of The Beatles’ REVOLVER features a new mix by Giles Martin and Sam Okell, the original mono mix, a 4-track EP, 31 session takes and home demos, a 100-page book with a foreword by Paul McCartney, an essay by Questlove, detailed track notes, photos and ephemera including handwritten lyrics, tape boxes and extracts from Klaus Voormann’s graphic novel on the making of the cover art.

Standard Editions: - Single LP (New Stereo Mix) - $68 - Single CD (New Stereo Mix) - $32

From “Taxman” to “Tomorrow Never Knows,” The Beatles’ REVOLVER has been newly mixed by producer Giles Martin and Sam Okell, and sourced directly from the original four-track master tapes with audio brought forth in stunning clarity with the help of cutting-edge technology developed by the award-winning sound team at Peter Jackson’s WingNut Films Productions Ltd.

#thebeatles #revolver

[brn1029]

Time for your Rock Report

Elton John and Britney Spears have released the second official remix of their hit "Hold Me Closer" with world-renowned German producer and DJ Purple Disco Machine. The latest remix of the smash hit adds the DJ's namesake nu-disco and upbeat signature sound to the fan-favorite track.Earlier this month, John and Spears had released a remix in collaboration with English DJ and producer Joel Corry. "Hold Me Closer," which dropped on August 26, is a new rendition of the rocketman's 1972 classic "Tiny Dancer."

(Let me say that I am an old old man, and I have heard several crappy songs, in my days, but this is THE BIGGEST PIECE OF SHIT I HAVE EVER HEARD! rant over…)

Graceland has announced the scheduled for Elvis Presley's 88th birthday celebration.

The King of Rock' n' Roll's 88th birthday will be celebrated with concerts, movies and conversations in Memphis during January 5-8, 2023. The festivities include the annual Elvis Birthday Proclamation Ceremony, The Memphis Symphony Orchestra's annual Elvis Pops Concert with Terry Mike Jeffrey, Conversations on Elvis, plus an extraordinary Elvis Screen Show to mark the 50th anniversary of Aloha from Hawaii. A special package offers superior benefits featuring a Show & Tell/Q&A with Angie Marchese, '68 Special Late Night Screening, Daily Pass to Elvis Presley's Memphis, admission to Club Elvis Hawaiin style, and exclusive front-of-the-house seating at many shows. The annual Elvis Birthday Proclamation Ceremony will take place on Graceland's north lawn on Elvis' birthday, January 8, at 8:30 AM. The ceremony can be watched online via Graceland's Livestream page.

The Beatles recently shared John Lennon's acoustic outtake of classic "Yellow Submarine" from their upcoming Revolver box set. Lennon gives the cheerful "Yellow Submarine" a sad melancholy feel as he sings, "In the place where I was born / No one cared, no one cared / And the name that I was born / No one cared, no one cared."

The Beatles announced the expanded edition of Revolver in July. In the special edition, the album's 14 tracks have been newly mixed by producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell in stereo and Dolby Atmos, and the album's original mono mix is sourced from its 1966 mono master tape. Revolver Special Edition (Super Deluxe) consists of 63 tracks, Revolver Special Edition (Deluxe) has 29 tracks, and Revolver Special Edition (Standard) includes 14 tracks.

[geekcavepodcast]

The Beatles: Get Back Trailer

Peter Jackson’s The Beatles: Get Back is a documentary based around recording process of The Beatles’ Let it Be album. The film is said to show more of The Beatles’ 1969 recording sessions, the entire 42-minute performance on the roof of Apple’s Savile Row London office, interactions between the band members, reactions of fans, and the exploits of two young policemen responding to noise complaints. ”The docuseries is compiled from nearly 60 hours of unseen footage shot over 21 days, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg in 1969, and from more than 150 hours of unheard audio, most of which has been locked in a vault for over half a century.” (Walt Disney Studios)

Jackson’s Park Road Post company, the same that restored footage for They Shall Not Grow Old, was given access to 55 hours of unreleased in-studio footage that was intended for Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s documentary in 1970 as well as 140 hours of audio. The film’s music was mixed by Giles Martin and Sam Okell at Abbey Road Studios. Martin serves as the film’s music supervisor. Michael Hedges and Brent Burge serves as re-recording mixers. Jabez Olssen is the editor on the film. The film is presented by Walt Disney Studios in association with Apple Corps Ltd. and WingNut Films Productions Ltd.

The Beatles: Get Back will release on Disney+ over three days - November 25, 26, and 27, 2021.

[harrisonstories]

A more detailed video about the White Album 50th Anniversary release posted to The Beatles YouTube channel (though currently Unlisted). 

[beatlesblogger]

White Album 50th - Martin and Okell on How They Did It

White Album 50th – Martin and Okell on How They Did It

Available for pre-order here: http://thebeatles.lnk.to/WhiteAlbum

The Beatles

[musichenrik]

My favourite and one of the most inspirational, diverse, edgy, fun, crazy and melodic rock albums ever has been remixed and is out this November. Earlier this year in London I had the obscene privilege to hear bits of it and yes, you can believe the hype. It sounds fresh and wider, yet stil catering for the mono element that The Beatles wanted. Congrats Giles and Sam, can’t wait to hear the whole thing. Oui! X

[krispyweiss]

Remix Review: The Beatles - “Taxman” (2022 Mix)

Turn up the treble and call it a new mix.

That seems to be the approach Giles Martin and Sam Okell took with the 2022 mix of “Taxman,” the lead single heralding the Oct. 28 release of the Revolver expanded edition.

It comes spayed across five discs holding the new stereo mix, a mono rendering, 31 session outtakes and homemade demos and a four-track EP of “Paperback Writer” and “Rain.”

As for “Taxman,” the increased emphasis on the high end renders the cymbal crashes intrusive, which obscures the improved sonic sheen. Also, there are no found sounds in the remix; it is therefore inferior to what’s come before.

Grade card: The Beatles - “Taxman” (2022 Mix) - C-

9/7/22