Beyoncé's new cover of the Beatles' "Blackbird" on her "Cowboy Carter" album uses the original 1968 backing track by Paul McCartney, including his acoustic guitar and foot tapping. "Blackbird" was written by Paul McCartney for the Beatles' 1968 "White Album", inspired by the call of a blackbird during the Beatles' trip to Rishikesh, India. He later claimed it was a tribute to the civil rights movement. The song has a long history in Black music, with various artists like Aretha Franklin and Sylv...
Dec 12, 2024•2 min•Ep. 285
The Beatles' journey to India in 1968 is a fascinating slice of rock 'n' roll history that continues to intrigue music fans and historians alike. It was a time of spiritual exploration and prolific songwriting for the Fab Four. The band, along with their wives, girlfriends, assistants, and a medley of other celebrities like Mike Love from the Beach Boys, traveled to Rishikesh to attend an advanced Transcendental Meditation training session at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This retreat pro...
Nov 23, 2024•1 min•Ep. 284
McCartney's 1987 single "Once Upon a Long Ago" carries with it a bittersweet tale of what could have been a historic collaboration. The song, which was part of McCartney's compilation album "All the Best!" and later released as a single, was initially composed with the Queen frontman in mind. The story goes that McCartney had envisioned the track as a duet with Mercury. However, due to Mercury's ill health and busy schedule, the collaboration never materialized. McCartney went on to perform the ...
Nov 16, 2024•4 min•Ep. 283
It was 1968 when Peter Brown, a close associate of the Beatles, approached none other than Frank Sinatra to perform a unique rendition of "The Lady is a Tramp" for Maureen Starkey's birthday, Ringo Starr's first wife. Sinatra, with his unparalleled panache, transformed the classic into "Maureen is a Champ," a playful twist on the original lyrics, celebrating Maureen's vivacious spirit. The recording was intended as a private gift, a one-of-a-kind single that encapsulated the essence of an era wh...
Nov 09, 2024•3 min•Ep. 282
The second single to be released from Walls And Bridges, ‘#9 Dream’ continued John's fascination with the number nine. He woke up one morning and wrote down the words along with the melody. He had no idea what it meant, but he thought it sounded beautiful. John produced the song himself. Until now, only demos (on guitar and piano) were known, but recently just over a minute of Take 1 became available. Our engineers produced a full song from this snippet. The production is more sparse and the voc...
Jul 20, 2024•3 min•Ep. 281
The Deluxe set of Lennon's 'Mind Games' album just arrived. It contains 6CD's and 2 Blu-ray discs. Asa result, there are (at least) 6 different mixes of each song on the album. How can a Remixer resist this temptation? The original Mind Games production sounds rather busy and massive, as if Lennon and co. wanted to include every instrument in the studio in the track, This tends to obscure the beauty of the composition. Furthermore, Lennon's vocals are double -tracked, and various effects added t...
Jul 15, 2024•4 min•Ep. 280
In an interview in the late 70's, Lennon said that he would have sung Oh Darling better than McCartney did. Unfortunately, Lennon did not supply a recording to substantiate his claim. But now, thanks to state-of-the-art-artificial-intelligence-technology, it is possible to create this unheard outtake of the Abbey Road sessions. Who do you prefer, John or Paul?
Apr 12, 2024•3 min•Ep. 279
For You Blue is a song by the Beatles, written by George Harrison and released on their 1970 album Let It Be. Glyn Johns and Phil Spector were two of the producers who worked on the album, but they had different visions for the sound and style of the songs. Johns preferred a more raw and live approach, while Spector added orchestral overdubs and effects. Glyn Johns mixes were all rejected, and Spector's version was released as a single and on the album. But was the Glyn Johns production of For Y...
Feb 14, 2024•2 min•Ep. 277
One of the rare original songs on McCartney's “Give My Regards To Broad Street” soundtrack was “No Values”. However, it was s not composed for the film. The song had been in the works since late 1980, when Wings did some demos that can be found on bootlegs. McCartney recorded another version of the song at AIR Studios on Montserrat in February 1981, during the Tug Of War sessions. The final version for the film was done in December 1982 at AIR in London, with the same musicians as on ‘Not Such A...
Feb 01, 2024•3 min•Ep. 276
The production of the last Beatles single, Now and Then, is lush, to say the least. A heavily compressed piano (McCartney) accompanies Lennon's vocals. The string octet kicks in, we hear backing vocals echoing all the way back to Abbey Road, and then somebody messes up a solo on a slide guitar. Of all these add-ons (that Lennon would have hated) the string octet stands out, because it is not that bad. It is choreographed very much in style of Eleanor Rigby, with short bursts of te violins and ce...
Jan 17, 2024•3 min•Ep. 275
We all know that Now and Then was composed by John Lennon. However, Paul McCartney took and changed it, omitted the middle eight, added a solo, played piano over Lennon's recording, and much more. And he sang almost the whole song in unison with Lennon's voice. You might say it became a McCartney song.......To take the transformation to completion, we deleted Lennon's voice from the mix, so we can fully appreciate McCartney's singing.
Jan 03, 2024•2 min•Ep. 274
365 yesterdays have come and gone in 2023. It was an eventful year, with wars raging in many parts of the world. But it also brought great personal joy. As a farewell to 2023, here is Paul McCartney singing Yesterday. Just Paul, no guitar, no strings. Remember the good things in life.
Dec 31, 2023•2 min•Ep. 278
The ending of the song I Am The Walrus is one of the most mysterious and intriguing parts of the Beatles’ catalogue. It features a mix of nonsense lyrics, random sound effects, and a snippet of a BBC radio broadcast of Shakespeare’s King Lear . Some people claim that the version of the song on the new Red and Blue album, a compilation of remastered Beatles hits released in 2023, differs from the original version that appeared on the Magical Mystery Tour EP and album in 1967 . They say that the v...
Dec 28, 2023•1 min•Ep. 273
Now and Then is a stunning remix of the long-lost Beatles song, featuring the original vocals of John Lennon and the contributions of his bandmates Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. This remix captures the spirit and sound of the Beatles in 1964, when they were at the peak of their popularity and creativity. George provides his melodic guitar riffs, Paul adds a catchy bassline and Ringo hits his drums with passion. This Re-Mix is rare treat for fans of the classic Beatles.
Dec 21, 2023•2 min•Ep. 272
The song “I’m in Love” is attributed to Lennon–McCartney. John Lennon may have written it himself. He gave the song to the Fourmost, another band from Liverpool, who recorded it in 1963 with George Martin as the producer. Lennon claimed that he wrote the song for them in 1971, but he was not sure about it in 1980. Paul McCartney’s biographer, Barry Miles, suggested that the song was a joint work by Lennon and McCartney . Billy J. Kramer also made a recording of the song, but the Fourmost’s versi...
Nov 19, 2023•2 min•Ep. 271
'The End' is the last song in the medley of the Abbey Road album, and it is the only song in the Beatles' catalogue that features a drum solo by Ringo Starr. According to EMI engineer Geoff Emerick, who worked on the album, the solo was originally longer, but it was edited down to fit the song's length. Our BDJ engineers have made a remix of the Beatles song 'The End', which features an extended drum solo by Ringo Starr. This solo is based on the original recording that was cut short for the Abb...
Aug 12, 2023•3 min•Ep. 270
Here is a new release of Honey Don't, the classic rockabilly song by Carl Perkins that was covered by The Beatles in 1964. In this remix, we have restored the original vocals by John Lennon, who used to sing the song during live performances before Ringo Starr took over the lead vocals on the studio version. Honey Don't is a song that showcases Lennon's raw and energetic vocal style, as well as his playful interaction with the audience. It is a tribute to one of his musical heroes, Carl Perkins,...
Aug 05, 2023•3 min•Ep. 269
" Let Me Roll It " is a song by Paul McCartney and Wings , released on their 1973 album Band on the Run . The song was also released as the B-side to " Jet " in early 1974, and has remained a staple of McCartney's live concerts since it was first released. The song is unique in the Beatles catalogue, since it combines contributions from McCartney, Lennon, Harrison and Bob Dylan! Of course, McCartney is credited as the composer, but he took the title (and the phrase in the lyrics) from "I'd Have ...
Jul 30, 2023•5 min•Ep. 268
Here is stunning version of the song Good Night with vocals by Frank Sinatra. Good Night is a lullaby that John Lennon wrote for his son Julian, and was the final song on the Beatles’ 1968 album The Beatles . The Beatles recorded the song with an orchestra arranged and conducted by George Martin, and Ringo Starr sang the lead vocals . Lennon was probably embarrassed to sing it himself, as he considered it too sentimental1 . Sinatra would have made it a classic hit, with his smooth voice and impe...
Jul 23, 2023•3 min•Ep. 267
Imagine hearing John Lennon sing one of Paul McCartney’s songs that he famously dismissed as “granny music”. Well, you don’t have to imagine anymore, because the BDJ producers have used artificial intelligence to create a stunning version of the song Teddy Boy with vocals by John Lennon. Teddy Boy is a folk rock song that McCartney wrote during the Beatles’ 1968 visit to India , and recorded for his solo album McCartney in 1970 . The Beatles also attempted to record the song during the Get Back ...
Jul 16, 2023•2 min•Ep. 266
If you are a fan of the Beatles and their early days in Hamburg, you will be thrilled to hear this amazing AI-produced version of the song Where Have You Been All My Life? with clear vocals by John Lennon. This song, written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, was one of the covers that the Beatles performed live at the Star Club in 1962, but the original recording was of poor quality and Lennon’s voice was barely audible. The Beatles - Where Have You Been All My Life? (Live in Hamburg) - YouTube No...
Jul 09, 2023•2 min•Ep. 265
Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if Frank Sinatra sang one of Paul McCartney’s earliest songs? Well, wonder no more, because the BDJ producers have used artificial intelligence to create a stunning version of the song Suicide with vocals by the legendary crooner. Suicide is a piano ballad that McCartney wrote when he was 14 years old, hoping to give it to Sinatra, but for years it didn't happen. Then one day in the 70's, Sinatra called McCartney and asked to write a song for him. ...
Jul 02, 2023•2 min•Ep. 264
The premiere for The Beatles LOVE Show by Cirque du Soleil took place on June 30, 2006 in Las Vegas at The Mirage. The Beatles’ record producer, George Martin and his son, Giles Martin, were music directors for the project which resulted in a 78-minute audio collage of Beatles songs. The soundtrack includes audio snippets from 200 Beatles songs, many of which are re-mixed in a “mash-up” style. For 30 minutes prior to the start of the show, the theatre was opened to the public, and pre-show music...
Jan 14, 2023•31 min•Ep. 263
The Long and Winding Road is a McCartney song that was mixed and produced by Phil Spector. McCartney did not like the mix, as is abundantly clear from the letter that he wrote to Allen Klein and Phil Spector. McCartney explains how he would like the Long and Winding Road to sound: - Less orchestra, and more Beatles (guitars, piano etc.) - absolutely no harp in the mix - bring back the piano at the end For the 2022 SuperDeLuxe Box of Let It Be, we would have expected Giles Martin to comply with M...
Nov 28, 2022•4 min•Ep. 262
Here is BDJ's remix of the 2022 Revolver SDE. All tracks are only sourced from the 2022 stereo version and the outtakes. Some tracks are similar, but subtly different; there are also some mash-ups, where there just wasn't enough material (outtakes) on the Revolver SDE. GILES MARTIN: Horrible! It doesn't sound like the 1966 original at all! RINGO STARR: Peace and Love! PAUL McCARTNEY: And then I went to this church fete in Woolton, close to where John lived. GEOFF EMERICK: George Martin asked me ...
Nov 18, 2022•32 min•Ep. 261
Wit a voice like Freddie Mercury's, what else do you need to make music? Not a lot, just enough to support his vocals. Such is the philosophy of this remix of Bohemian Rhapsody: gone are the 160 layered voices, back is Freddie Mercury's amazing voice in your ears. Queen rehearsed Bohemian Rhapsody for 3 weeks before even starting to record it. It took us a similar time to deconstruct it and lift Freddie from the mix..........
Jan 03, 2022•6 min•Ep. 260
Listen to Let It Be as you've never heard it before! After brave attempts by Glyn Johns (4x), George Martin and Giles Martin, the definitive mix of the Let It Be album has finally arrived. True to their motto of "Less is More", the BDJ engineers have taken the songs apart and put them back together - in a surprising way. Discover nuances and subtleties you never knew were there, and enjoy Let It Be as if brand-new.
Dec 14, 2021•35 min•Ep. 259
The Beatles recorded this blues jam on the last day of the Get Back sessions, 31st of January 1969. In 1964 John Lennon had told an English music paper that his favourite album of the year was the great folk album, Lots More Blues, Rags and Hollers by Koerner, Ray & Glover (1963). This album contains the Black Dog Blues. Obviously, the backing track of Koemer et al. comes in handy to spice up the Lennon vocals. Now slow the Black Dog Blues down a bit, change the lyrics and - presto! - there'...
Sep 24, 2021•2 min•Ep. 258
The Beatles are not known as great Blues musicians. Otherwise, they are fine but the blues seems to elude them. Still, they produced a few attempts at playing an instrumental blues, including ’12 Bar Original’ (Anthology), "Flying" (Magical Mystery Tour), "Cayenne" and "Cry for a Shadow" (Anthology). These are all interesting tracks, and they demonstrate that the blues is not their thing. In particular, it highlights that they struggled to play an interesting blues solo. Understandable, since th...
Sep 20, 2021•3 min•Ep. 257
The so-called Medley occupies most the Beatles' final album, Abbey Road. It is collection of Lennon and McCartney songettes, artfully strung together by arrangements of McCartney and George Martin. The whole album Abbey Road stands out for its beautiful and complex vocal harmonies, sometimes extending into 3-part harmony. We were treated to a 'vocal isolation' of Because on the Anthology CD, and teased by a reversed vocal of Sun King. But there is so much more to enjoy in the vocals of the Medle...
Jul 10, 2021•18 min•Ep. 256
