This is so lovely. My sister and I watched the Get Back documentary the Christmas it aired and sat mesmerized through the whole thing. I think we would've happily watched a fifty-hour cut if one had been available. I told her I wished we had similar footage for the recordings of Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's.
Once we had finished I consoled myself by starting the extended version of Mark Lewisohn's still-in-progress biography of the Beatles, Tune In: All These Years. Though the first volume ends in 1961 (after an exhaustive 1,700 pages), he's able to provide a similar feeling of being in the studio with the band. He seems to have documented every moment of their lives in a way that feels like time travel.
You mentioned continually seeking out obscure gems from the psychedelic era. Two of my favorite recent discoveries have been "Stranded in Time" from the United States of America's eponymous 1968 album and the newly released version of "Chaplin House" that surfaced on Frabjoy & Runcible Spoon's pre-10cc compilation last year. Listening to it, you feel as though you're hearing a lost track from the Zombies' Odessey & Oracle sessions. It deserves to become a classic.
Well you got rid of the Waterloo Sunset ear worm I had from my partner rehearsing it and replaced it with Obla * Dee! Seriously though we spent the 70s being sad we were too young for the 60s, swanning around in Afghans and pretending it was still happening. Happy days 😊
Dust
This is so lovely. My sister and I watched the Get Back documentary the Christmas it aired and sat mesmerized through the whole thing. I think we would've happily watched a fifty-hour cut if one had been available. I told her I wished we had similar footage for the recordings of Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's.
Once we had finished I consoled myself by starting the extended version of Mark Lewisohn's still-in-progress biography of the Beatles, Tune In: All These Years. Though the first volume ends in 1961 (after an exhaustive 1,700 pages), he's able to provide a similar feeling of being in the studio with the band. He seems to have documented every moment of their lives in a way that feels like time travel.
You mentioned continually seeking out obscure gems from the psychedelic era. Two of my favorite recent discoveries have been "Stranded in Time" from the United States of America's eponymous 1968 album and the newly released version of "Chaplin House" that surfaced on Frabjoy & Runcible Spoon's pre-10cc compilation last year. Listening to it, you feel as though you're hearing a lost track from the Zombies' Odessey & Oracle sessions. It deserves to become a classic.
Well you got rid of the Waterloo Sunset ear worm I had from my partner rehearsing it and replaced it with Obla * Dee! Seriously though we spent the 70s being sad we were too young for the 60s, swanning around in Afghans and pretending it was still happening. Happy days 😊
I heard Ob-la-di last week in a garden centre cafe - it had been so long I had just about managed to forget it existed. Now I have to start over.
I’d forgotten just how much this took me back to then. Thanks Tom
I’d love a Spotify playlist with all the songs you mentioned!
Astounding piece of writing! Thank you.
A brilliant reminder of one of my favourite pieces of yours - thank you!
Wot