It's a great time to be a Beatles' fan. On Tuesday, I received the remastered deluxe edition Living in the Material World, the underrated 1973 release from George Harrison. Olivia and Dhani certainly know what they're doing with George's cataloge, considering this release and the Dark Horse Years project. I'm not sure if they hand-picked the Abbey Road remastering team of Sam Okell and Steve Rooke, but whoever did, they deserve a sincere thank you from all music fans. These guys know how to do it--NO noise reduction! The sound is alive, crisp, and full. I wish Yoko had used these guys on John's remasters...and I also wish they were the ones doing The Beatles' entire catalogue remastering set for release in 2007. But they're not, so who knows what we're going to get.
This deluxe edition is also gorgeous, with previously unseen photos, song lyrics, and recollections. I can't recommend this release enough. Let's hope Okell and Rooke are going to be in charge of the Extra Texture, Dark Horse, 1974 Dark Horse Tour, Wonderwall Music, and Electronic Sounds projects that are in the works.
Also, this Friday the documentary covering John's struggle to stay in the U.S. opens wide; unfortunately, it isn't showing anywhere near where I live. The U.S. vs. John Lennon promises to be a relevatory experience, drawing paralells between the paranoid Nixon administration to the current similar one, and it's getting rave reviews from fans and critics alike. Listening to the soundtrack last night, I couldn't help but cry. I wish John was here to be a voice among us, singing out about love and peace again. I know John would tell us that we have to go out and get it ourselves--it's up to us. He didn't want to be a leader, just an artist who is a reflection of us all. We must be inspired by his words and his music, then learn to swim on our own.
If anyone gets to view the film, please drop by and share a review with us.
Another exciting Beatles happening this week: A signed and numbered copy of The Book that will certainly rank up there with Mark Lewisohn's works in terms of the breadth of scholarly research and new information contained within arrived at my doorstep. Kevin Ryan and Brian Kehew's Recording the Beatles: The Studio Equipment and Techniques Used to Create their Classic Albums, housed in an EMITAPE replica slipcase and accompanied by bonus materials, is a must have book for those interesting in the recording process. Mysteries are solved, clarified and explained thoroughly within its pages. I can't wait to delve into it this weekend.
Coming up--some pictures, because I know that's why you visit! :)
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