Repurposing The Beatles; "Love" & Cirque du So
neil.gader -- Wed, 12/06/2006 - 09:35
I have mixed feelings about the latest Beatles compilation. Tracks out of sequence, truncations and edits. Fortunately all the engineering was performed by the master, George Martin. But the result, in part strikes me as yet another watering down of a classic band's legacy-the Beatles go Vegas as it were.
Does anyone else share these second thoughts?
Neil Gader
The Absoute Sound
PS: I should add that by only encoding a DVD-A multichannel mix Apple, in its corporate wisdom once more postpones the inevitable, a high resolution stereo release. They are obviously reading the Geroge Lucas playbook for squeezing the last penny out of every fan.
I agree Neil. Just because the technology exists to do mash-up reimaginings like this, it doesn't mean that they should be done. A+ for engineering, D- for concept.
Larry Lerner
A Beatles lover invited me over to listen to this last week.
What a mess !
Historically no one has improved upon those original releases.
This new release doesn't change that.
It's intellectually bankrupt.
Technically it's no tour de force either.
Any number of club DJ/mixers could have done a better job at mashing it.
GM and Son should have left well enough alone.
I'm not really with you guys on this one. Leaving well enough alone has already been done ("Love" didn't displace any of the current Beatles catalog). Perhaps others could have done a better job, but in the world of dreams, I'd like a billion dollars in my Swiss bank account. Neither is going to happen legally. The big reason I like "Love" is that the Beatles were great, but are so ridiculously overplayed in malls, doctors offices, TV ads, airplanes and on the radio that many of the tunes lack the element of freshness they originally had (my first ever LP purchase: Meet the Beatles). Love is another access point to some of the greatest music ever. Flawed, but enjoyable.
Artisitic considerations aside-There is one point that shouldn't be glossed over. And that's the DVD-A multichannel remix. For me this is the only reason to buy the two disc set. George Martin (the Fifth Beatle) isn't getting any younger and it's a marvel to hear him implement technology that I'm confident would have been embraced by the Beatles themselves during their four track heyday.
Neil
PS The added resolution on this DVD should have us all clammoring for high resolution stereo remastering as soon as possible. I just hope that George Martin will be there to produce it.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Hi Neil,
I'm with you on this.
While the Beatle fan in me enjoys the disc, the same Beatle fan feels this is something of a musical travesty.
It smells like money was the prime motivation here, not music. I could be wrong of course but as one who has been touched by the Beatles' music, this feels a lot more like a hack job than one motivated by (pardon the expression) love. To be clear, I believe the folks behind this do indeed have great respect for the Beatles and their music. There's just something about it that doesn't feel right.
What's next? Using Photoshop to re-cast works by Rembrandt?
Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com
The other point I'd like to make regarding the "Love" disc is alluded to by Robert Harley in his recent blog about seeing the actual Cirque Du Soleil performance. And that regards the context. I haven't seen the show itself and while I'm adamant that the "soundtrack" leaves much to be desired as a stand alone audio experience, I'm open to the possibility that I might indeed be captivated by the full-on multimedia show that Cirque is so well known for. In that "context" I might be won over.
Meanwhile I doubt that I'll ever listen to the soundtrack again. Not when I have the original MoFi box set to resort to!
Neil/tas
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
I bought the soundtrack after I saw the show. Not having seen the show I doubt I'd have the connection to the soundtrack I do... but I can say that the experience is absolutely amazing. Setting aside the value of the music, I find the multichannel remix enjoyable if ephermal. I don't think it'll have any staying power at all, but it's nice. It also sounds flippin' amazing in the right environment.
I just had a 5.1 installation done in a 350z. I needed navigation and on a lark decided to get something high-res and 5.1 compatible. If ever a good venue existed to enjoy multichannel audio, it's the car. Also, I wouldn'tve thought I could hear the benefit of high-bit and high-rate sampling but it's very audible, even at speed. Of course the volume levels get a bit higher than they should at times. ;) Paul Simon's You're The One never lit my fire when it was released but the DVD-A issue puts the album in a whole new light.
Anyway, I'm babbling... JMHO so be nice to the newbie, y'all. ;)
Yea I know what you mean Beefman. Recently I was fortunate to hear the entire DVD-A on a state of the art Revel Salon /Levinson system in a custom room. the surround aspects were quite incredible especially the water droplets and bubbles during the instrumental section of Octopus' Garden. I was also struck how tasteful the mixes were-effects and instruments assigned to the back channels rarely detracted from the melodies and vocals-which is as it should be.
I've heard the disc in some pretty fancy cars of late including the Lexus/Levinson system in the LS460L and the Harmon/Lexicon in the Mercedes S550. While they sounded pretty special in these $70-80K+ luxury cruisers, neither of them approached the majesty, dynamics and low level resolving power of this stellar 7.1-channel home system.
Neil/tas
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
My son purchased the DVD-Audio version of the Love project for me for Christmas...and I simply couldn't resist coming to my studio and listening on my reference B&W system. I spent the entire length of the disc with my eyes closed just marveling at the mastery of Sir George and his son Giles' work. I didn't look at the liner notes and didn't even know what tunes were coming up next. The whole experience brought some freshness back into tracks that we all know all too well. Kudos to both of them. I loved it and have listened to it many times since...even though I don't often have a lot of spare time in that room.
I'm a big believer in HD Surround Sound and I think this project was a big step in the right direction. Of course, I'm partial to new recordings that can actually take advantage of the new HD technology...but it was welcome diversion.
HD Surround Sound...Audio Fidelity Better Than Reality...www.aixrecords.com
I'm not with you guys on this one. I like the idea - I think it gives a fresh perspective on the music.
Let's not forget that the project was due to George Harrison's push and the others' agreement.
Yes, it was also for money. So what? So was the original music.
My only regret: I think they should have done a more radical mash-up....if you're already doing it, go all out. I think they were a bit conservative, and constrained by the needs of the live show.
I also agree with posters who said you can't totally appreciate the soundtrack without seeing the show - I'm sure that's true.
My guess:if John Lennon was alive he'd love the concept and be doing stuff like this on his own.
Aren't some you guys overthinking this? The early Beatles albums were hardly "concept" albums. They were largely accumulations of chart hits and "b" sides. Sure, now they've been remastered and reissued that's great for completists etc. But to me, those are the commercially exploitative projects -- gilding the lily, so to speak.
LOVE is something else. By choosing great tracks to begin with, then sequencing and remixing them with creativity and a real understanding of the original music (which he was partly responsible for in the first place let's not forget!), George Martin has breathed new life into some of the world's more over-exposed pop songs. I have no desire to see the stage show but this album has given me a lot of pleasure. It's full of unexpected musical moments and insights. Most importantly to me, it magically recreates the excitement I felt as a kid in the UK growing up with the Beatles music. Only George Martin could have pulled this off and I'm very glad he did.
Neil, It becomes cler that your feelings regarding 'Love' are truly MIXED, rather than all negative. To me, the bottom line is that this compilation does not REPLACE the original work. In fact, I might be less generous if we did not have the recent Beatles remasters as well. Since we have BOTH, what's the harm? I'm a bit of a purist myself, and it's unlikely I'll ever buy a copy of 'Love'. But if the sonics & engineering are interesting, then George Martin HAS achieved something which some listeners will appreciate. So I repeat, what's the harm?
Happy Listening to all!
I'm with Neil on this one. I dislike labels but I'm being a "purist" here. The first time I heard "Love," I thought, "That aint right." I heard mixes where there shouldnt be and mixes where OTHER mixes should have been. I found it all disconcerting and cheapening. That same loyalty to the original presentations makes me resistant to the Vegas production. The Beatles Rock Band game almost had the same effect but then I realized that at least it INVOLVES the player.
I'm with Neil on this one. I dislike labels but I'm being a "purist" here. The first time I heard "Love," I thought, "That aint right." I heard mixes where there shouldnt be and mixes where OTHER mixes should have been. I found it all disconcerting and cheapening. That same loyalty to the original presentations makes me resistant to the Vegas production. The Beatles Rock Band game almost had the same effect but then I realized that at least it INVOLVES the player.
I live in Cirque du Soleil's town, Montreal, and never went to see a show and never will, and this is a cheap bastadization of the Beatles music.
I am a big Beatle fan, with the new stereo box set, and all the original British LP's, in pristine shape, and when I first heard about "Love", I yelled "sacrelige!!".
But, after I heard what was done, and why, with the Cirque du Soleil show in mind, I was ok, and if one looks at it in the context of "everyting we hear was somewhere on a master tape" (except the string ensemble GM added to the acoustic "While My Guitar Gently Weeps), it becomes a new entity, familiar, yet new and fresh.
Sir Paul, himself commented about it, after he heard it, and called it "fabulous", "but if you want to hear the songs like they were, you still have the LP's" (he commented before the new CD's were out).
I , ahem, "love" it, in a different way, but it is pretty special. It fits what I feel the Beatles would do, if they were all alive, and went to the studio.
I don't think it is a "cheap bastardization", at all, just a great soundtrack to an awesome show (Sir paul loves the show, as well).
Enjoy!
Mike
VinylGuy
I heard about this and decided I didn't like the concept way back when it first came out. I finally decided to give it a listen a couple weeks ago and I think it's fantastic. Yes it's not pure or original Beatles but it's very listenable and well done. If you wanted to listen to just one CD for The Beatles I'd pick this over "1", and not just because of the audio quality.
I'll get it out of the way and say that I have a deep appreciation for "Love". For people who question why it was done, well, the obvious answer is that Cirque du Soleil wanted to do a show around Beatles music and thankfully George himself made sure that the music stayed true to the original intent. The soundtrack was then produced because soundtracks are always produced! I actually find some of the transitions to be rather clever, and really enjoy George's string composition for "While My Guitar...". Ultimately, this is not replacing anything. It simply adds a new dimension and a slightly new perspective to music that is 40 years old. I have not seen the show yet, but having listened to the soundtrack I hope I am able to one day.
Amen, Michael! I would kill to see that show, and am planning to go as soon as I can.
Mike
VinylGuy
the moment I heard about "Love", I suspected that Sir George Martin had a secondary agenda beyond fulfilling a commitment to the Cirque de Soleil. Those who have watched "Beautiful Dreamer", the documentary that came with the DVD of "Smile" by Brian Wilson, saw Sir George talking about his love for Brian's music and how he and the Beatles always felt the need to respond to the next BW project. Imagine how Sir George felt in the Royal Albert Hall, watching the world premier of "Smile" and feeling powerless to respond musically...
...until the Cirque de Soleil came calling.
"Love" is Sir George's response to "Smile". Listen to them in the order they were released, and you may appreciate "Love" all the more.
Bassman-
Your theory about GM would be a good one, except that the reality is that the project came about b/c of G. Harrison's longtime friendship with the founder of Cirque, and he pushed the 3 partners (Yoko, Paul, Ringo) to agree. It was years in development, and not any kind of reaction to the BB.
George Martin can't touch the music without the agreement of the Beatles and their widows (the 4 parties otherwise known as Apple), and nothing gets released or developed without their agreement. They don't own the music publishing, but they do have total control of the actual Beatles music. Other than EMI re-releasing previously released material, any new releases or changes to the music require the approval of the 4 parties above.
That's why you hear covers of Beatles songs in ads and movies, and not the actual Beatles.The music publishers (Sony/Michael Jackson estate) can license the songs, but only Apple/The Beatles can license use of the Beatles performing them.
Three days ago, after my 13 year old asked what "vinyl" is, I showed her my original Capitol 45 of "I Want to Hold Your Hand/I Saw Her Standing There" (yes, I remember the night we bought it and brought it home and played it at least 10 times), and while I was at it, my original Tollie "Love Me Do." Just last Saturday afternoon, I just listened to them all afternoon, including my Parlephone "Beatles Greatest" import I bought back in 1971. So, I believe I qualify as someone who has some history with the Beatles.
Of this three year blog, only Beefman has seen the show. Well, I did too, two summers ago with my family while in Vegas. I was totally skeptical, just like you all, and went in with relatively low expectations. And it was fantastic. Particularly with its visual complement, the music sounded fresh and as exciting as ever, and the sound was overall excellent, if maybe a touch too loud at certain peaks. My family loved it too, and left singing Beatle songs and peppering me with all kinds of questions about the Beatles which, of course, I am always happy to answer.
I did not go out and buy the disc, although I considered it. Even if I did, I doubt I would listen to it very much, it's not as if I have much time to listen to everything else, all of which is substantially higher on the list. Except for maybe the orchestral side of Yellow Submarine, which is interesting once in a while, if that time lag is measured in years.
As a general matter, I am at point where I have concluded, given the almost infinite variability in sources alone, let alone equipment, that "the Absolute Sound" as a concept is outmoded, or maybe too ethnocentrically limited to be truly meaningful.
This blog validates my feelings, and this is a case in point. "Love" the CD in no way, conceptually, can recreate the original "live" experience (the music isn't live, for starters), and never could be "The Aboslute Sound." So if you truly love the Beatles, then buy one less cable this month, fly out to Vegas and see the show at the Mirage (if it is still there), and let your memory of the show provide you with the most beautiful version of the absolute sound of it you will ever hear.
And when you get back, listen to the Remasters. From beginning to end, in order, for however long it takes.
Those are great thoughts, and a great reply!
"Enjoy!".
Mike
VinylGuy
Some of you stiffs are out to lunch. The Beatles were, to me, psychidellic. I loved opening a new Beatles album and enjoying the "surprise" of a new musical discovery. From the first "She Loves You" and "I Want To Hold Your Hand" to "The End". I've had (and heard) every Beatle album hundreds of times. I even wrote an essay on the Paul McCartney death story back in the early 70's.
Listen, if you don't spark one up and STILL get off on this great new discovery that is "Love" then you probably didn't enjoy the Beatles for what they were in the first place. I have about 40 SACD's and 30 DVD-Audio discs. "Love" is the most fun of all. While you wife is cooking supper have a couple of nice glasses of cabanet and a couple of puffs and go back in time (to when you used to take purple haze) to a place you surely remember.
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