BEATLES: You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)

Following on last week's post about the "ultimate" version of "Let It Be"... you'll note I did not include the b-side to the "Let It Be" single, "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)" aka YKMN. It really doesn't fit with the album's aesthetic or chronology. Starting as a series of heavily produced backing tracks recorded after the release of Sgt. Pepper (in 1967), the rambling track seems to have been forgotten until after the "Get Back" sessions ended. In the spring of 1969, John and Paul dusted it off and added vocals. Late that year, John edited its six parts down to four and prepared to release it as the third Plastic Ono Band single. That never happened, and this (mono) edit showed up in March, 1970, as the Beatles' final UK b-side.

By 1996, it remained one of just a handful of tracks never released in true stereo: the others are Love Me Do, P.S. I Love You, She Loves You, and I'll Get You.  Unlike those songs, the stereo multitrack tapes do exist, and "You Know My Name" was given its first stereo mixdown for "Anthology 2." The mix restores the two missing sections, but unfortunately cuts parts of the other four sections (which were unedited on the original 1970 release). One can piece them both together easily -- but not in true stereo.  Below is a waveform of the entire, unedited version showing which sections are part of which mix.

Beach Boys vinyl: Sail On Sailor (1972-73)

The latest Beach Boys archival set is coming out this fall, but is it worth it?

They’re charging $179 for a 5LP/1EP set which pales – artistically – in comparison to its predecessor (“Feel Flows”)? To quote a classic SNL sketch from the 90s, “Who are the ad wizards who came up with this one?”

“Feel Flows” covers what I think is the group’s post-“Pet Sounds” high point; “Sail On Sailor” is its vapor trail. Even though there’s an extra slab-and-a-half of vinyl, I can’t see paying more than $100 – which is what the Beach Boys are charging for the colored vinyl edition of FF.

Only about half the tracks on “Carl & the Passions” and three-quarters of “Holland” really work for me; the EP is decent but unspectacular. I like these albums, but the lack of outtakes is very telling: they were running on fumes! Admittedly, the Wilson brothers’ fumes are light years ahead of anything I’ll ever accomplish, but in the scheme of Beach Boys boxed sets, this one is overpriced in relation to the artistic merit within.

I do like that they’re including the Carnegie Hall concert, but why not just remaster/repress 1973’s “Beach Boys In Concert”? That’s always seemed to be the demarcation point between “The Beach Boys” and what I call “Mike Love’s Travelling Beach Boys Jukebox.” It would be three years before “15 Big Ones” (and then “Love You”) showed one last spark of artistic relevance. I have to think that if these archival sets continue, those two will be the last ones to get a physical release.

Anyhow, back to the Carnegie Hall show: the 1973 live double album covers the same tour, but doesn’t include anything from the Carnegie Hall show itself. I’m curious how the two releases will compare. 

However, instead of marginally interesting but very expensive boxes like this one, when will they reissue 1993’s “Good Vibrations” box on vinyl? I’m guessing never, but it’s probably my favorite BB compilation. At least it’s available on CD, because there are plenty of other releases that haven’t had a physical release of any kind: "The Big Beat 1963," "Keep an Eye on Summer – The Beach Boys Sessions 1964," "Beach Boys' Party! Uncovered and Unplugged," "1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow," "Wake the World: The Friends Sessions," and "I Can Hear Music: The 20/20 Sessions" cover pretty much the entire Capitol era… except for “Pet Sounds” and “Smile.”

There have been TWO deluxe “Pet Sounds” boxes – in 1997 and 2016 – with heavy overlap, but neither one ever made it to vinyl; they’re CD-only. UMe seemingly churns out another stereo vinyl “Pet Sounds” every year – but they can’t be bothered to cobble together these two amazing boxes onto black wax? Or, reissue 2011’s “The Smile Sessions”? Very strange. I would love to see any of those before I fork over $179 for “Sail On Sailor,” though I may be a bit jaundiced since my vinyl copies of “Holland” and “Carl” are perfectly fine. I don’t think either one needs a remix, either, so a remaster should suffice. (If FF is any guide, the remastered “Sunflower” tracks sounded phenomenal). I’ll probably catch this one on streaming.

By the way, if you’re wondering WHY so many of the recent archival sets have been digital-only: supposedly, Ume didn't want to draw attention away from "The Beach Boys with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra." Just the fact that such a thing exists is a joke.

Beatles: Let It Be or Get Back or BOTH

Here's what I consider the “ultimate” version of “Let It Be.”  I used cuts from the original album, the Anthology, the original film itself, and various boots (much of which is likely in the new Peter Jackson "Get Back"). I wanted it to function like an audio documentary, showing how the band actually made the album.  So I included the brief songs, the chatter, and I also tried to avoid Phil Spector productions where possible.

SIDE 1:

1. Get Back (45 mix)

2. Two of Us (short fast version, from film)

3. Watching Rainbows (boot)

4. The Walk (boot)

5. Teddy Boy (Anthology 3)

6. Rip It Up Medley (Anthology 3)

7. I Me Mine (original LP)

8. Dig It (Glyn Johns)

9. Let It Be (45 mix)

10. Maggie Mae (original LP)

SIDE 2:

1. Rocker aka I'm Ready (boot)

2. The Long and Winding Road (Anthology 3)

3. For You Blue (from film, with long instrumental opening)

4. Two of Us (original LP)... crossfades to:

5. Don't Let Me Down (45 mix)

6. I've Got a Feeling (Let It Be... Naked)

7. Dig a Pony (from the film with "all I want is" opening)

8. One After 909 (original LP)

9. Get Back (Anthology 3 version, crossfades to coda as in the movie)

UPDATE (2/9/24): I would also add the Glyn Johns mix of "Across the Universe" to side two, from the deluxe edition of "Let it Be."

The Beatles Turn 60

The Beatles’ first record under their own name – “Love Me Do” – came out 60 years ago today in England.  There have been numerous reissues of their work over, including deluxe editions of their later albums.

What if Apple released a “kitchen sink” edition of every one of the Beatles’ 12 UK albums (with the Yellow Submarine and US Magical Mystery Tour soundtracks combined into one)?  Include every extant session outtake, every note of BBC sessions, all the well-recorded live shows (like Sam Houston Coliseum)… everything.  This would include all the material on the Anthology, BBC, Rarities, and Past Masters sets (obviously).  Here’s my starting point for this. What else would you add?

 

*Please Please Me: original album in mono, stereo, and remixed w/studio outtakes and demos; Decca audition tape; original 45 version of “Love Me Do”; all 1962 BBC sessions (Here We Go/Teenager’s Turn/Talent Spot); highlights from Hamburg tapes?; all episodes of BBC’s “Pop Go the Beatles”

 

*With the Beatles: original album in mono, stereo, and remixed w/studio outtakes and demos; same applies to the From Me To You, She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand singles and their b-sides; Royal Variety Show; 1963 Christmas disk; all 1963 BBC radio broadcasts except “Pop Go the Beatles”

 

*A Hard Day’s Night: original album (plus Long Tall Sally EP and the German single) in mono, stereo, and remixed w/studio outtakes and demos; first three Ed Sullivan Shows; first US concert (Washington DC); AHDN film; all BBC radio episodes of “From Us To You”

 

*Beatles For Sale: original album (plus I Feel Fine single) in mono, stereo, and remixed w/studio outtakes and demos; 1964 Christmas disk; 1964 Hollywood Bowl show(s); Philadelphia concert (radio broadcast?); Around the Beatles (original clean audio only as well as video of the finished TV special); all 1964 BBC sessions except “From Us To You” shows

 

*Help!: original album (plus “Yes It Is,” “Bad Boy,” “I’m Down”) in mono, stereo, and remixed w/studio outtakes and demos; Shea Stadium show with original audio (as opposed to the re-recorded audio from 1966); “Beatles Invite You” BBC radio special; Help! film; 1965 Hollywood Bowl concerts; Live in Italy (from Tobe Milo EP… perhaps this exists in better quality somewhere)

 

*Rubber Soul: original album (plus “We Can Work it Out”/”Day Tripper”) in mono, stereo, and remixed w/studio outtakes and demos; 1965 Christmas disk; Sam Houston coliseum; video: 1965 Ed Sullivan appearance; Shea Stadium

 

*Revolver: original album in mono, stereo, and remixed w/studio outtakes and demos; Budokan shows (audio and video); final concert from San Francisco (audio only); 1966 Christmas disk; Paperback Writer/Rain original mono and stereo mixes plus outtakes; original mix of “Tomorrow Never Knows” which went out accidentally on first UK pressings; the various US mixes of “I’m Only Sleeping” which are different from the UK mixes

 

*Sgt. Pepper: no changes to 2017 box

 

*YS/MMT: original 11 tracks from the US version (mono, stereo and remixed) plus outtakes and demos; the four Yellow Submarine cuts (mono, stereo, and 1999 remixes) plus outtakes and demos; Lady Madonna/Inner Light plus outtakes; Carnival of Light; You Know My Name (the full, unedited stereo version as well as the original mono 45 edit); Across the Universe w/outtakes; 1967 Christmas disk; full-length “Christmas Time Is Here Again”; incidental music recorded for MMT (such as Shirley’s Wild Accordian and Aunt Jesse’s Dream); George Martin’s entire score (side 2 of the YS LP); “I Am the Walrus” edit from the US “Rarities” album; and for video: both movies, the Our World broadcast, and the Lady Madonna promo video

 

*White Album: no changes to the 2018 version except adding the original mixes of Hey Jude and Revolution; Kenny Everett interviews with John and George (released on an Italian double-7” promo); audio from the Hey Jude/Revolution promotional films (and video as well, if possible); and the 1968 Christmas disk

 

*Abbey Road: no changes to the 2019 release except adding the original mixes of Old Brown Shoe and Ballad of John and Yoko; 1969 Christmas disk; the alternate version of “Octopus’ Garden” from Ringo’s TV special with a live vocal performed to a remixed backing track

 

*LIB: in addition to what we know is included, add the LIB Naked mixes; the LIBN fly on the wall disk audio; the three dialogue cuts from the 1970 one-sided 7” promo; and audio of the entire rooftop performance.  If they really wanted to be deluxe, reproductions of Sweet Apple Trax and the Black Album (which cover the best of the NAGRA material, and also allows them to beat the bootleggers a la Frank Zappa).

 

Tomorrow: my suggestion for a “perfect” version of “Let It Be”