Birthday ft. The Swingle Singers
Almost an 'Unplugged' version of this classic rocker. The Swingle Singers really let their hair down. This mix is made possible thanks to the new vocal isolations.
Oct 24, 2009•3 min
BDJ's Cellar Full of Remixes
Once upon a time (or maybe twice) there were four magicians; and they made wonderful music, and called themselves The Beatles. In BDJ's Cellar, their spirits roam freely, they play and mix with other music, young and old.
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Episodes
Get Back take J
It is said the Beatles were in a gloomy mode during the get Back sessions at Abbey Road. This mix proves the opposite. A cheerful fab Four record a reggae version of Get Back, never heard until the BDJ engineers extracted it from the reverse side of a Nagra tape. Note that the intro and outtro chat is really form the actual get Back session.
Oct 18, 2009•3 min
Let Imagine Be
On the White Piano, John Lennon, on the Black Keyboard it's Paul McCartney. Together, they produce the final true Lennon-McCartney composition. After 10 years of Beatles, each wrote a song that defined the decade. Their ultimate genius is demonstrated here, in the seamless fusion of Words and Music of their best songs. Sound from the Anthology and Lennon Legend DVD's.
Oct 08, 2009•3 min
You Won't See Me Looking Through You
There's a lot of seeing and looking on Rubber Soul. These Macca songs bear a strong resemblance, both in music and lyrics. So here's a mash of You Won't See Me with I'm Looking Through You. Both songs express rather angry feelings towards Macca's (ex?) lover, a sentiment Lennon also used on various occasions. This mix is almost a 1 on 1 overlay of one over the other, just a semi-tone adjustment of the pitch. Co-incidence ?
Oct 07, 2009•2 min
I'm Looking Through You (RS 2009)
I'm looking Through You is known in 2 versions: the Rubber Soul track, and the Anthology version. The Rubber Soul version is a bit more perky, but the stereo is in the classic 'instruments right, voices left' mode. So, the BDJ engineers set to work to produce a - true - stereo I'm looking Through You. They used 3 diferent versions: the Rubber Soul track, a US release, and the unpublished Take 4. Results is a pleasant song, fully up to 2009 stereo standards.
Oct 06, 2009•3 min
This Boy RS 2009
This Boy must have been one of the most succesful B-sides of the Beatles. It was the flip side of I Want To Hold Your Hand, their first no. 1 in the US. They performed the song during the famous Ed Sullivan Shows, on during various concerts. It showcases their vocal abilities, and John gets to rip his vocal chords to great effect during the middle eight. There is no good quality stereo release of This Boy. The single was in mono, and it was then customary NOT to include singles on (stereo) album...
Sep 12, 2009•2 min
Come Together (Rockband Mix)
A day before the release of Rockband, BDJ proudly presents the first ever remix featuring material from the Rockband soundtrack. Never heard before bits are mixed with chunks of Take 1, and other bits from the recent BBC radio broadcast "The Record Producers, George Martin". Result: a brandnew experience, with no audio from the Abbey Road album whatsoever...
Sep 08, 2009•4 min
Mean Mr Mustard
We all know Mean Mr Mustard as a part of the big B-side Medley of Abbey Road. Surprisingly, Mean Mr Mustard was composed long before Abbey Road, during the Beatles stay with the Maharishi in India. They probably did not think of it very highly, because they did not record it on the White (double) album, nor on Let It Be. Apparently, they were in such dire straits to fill the B-side of Abbey Road that they finally recorded it; in its form on Abbey Road, it is not really a complete song, it moves ...
Sep 01, 2009•4 min
You Know What To Do
Following Paul's first song, it is now George's turn in BDJ studios. Not quite his first recorded song, but - interestingly - the first known Harrisong that was never recorded by the Beatles. George Harrison's second solo composition, You Know What To Do was recorded as a demo at Abbey Road on 3 June 1964. The demo remained unissued until 1995 when it was released on Anthology 1. Here, for the first time, we present the full version of You Know What To Do, properly orchestrated and all. Could it...
Aug 30, 2009•3 min
I Lost My Little Girl
Sir Paul has said that I Lost My Little Girl was the first song he ever wrote. Most staff at BDJ studios find that hard to believe; the song is quite complex (note the variation in vocals between verse 1 and 2), it contains a 'full stop' after the middle eight etc. Furthermore, the group played the song during the Let It Be session (1969) with Lennon on vocals. This suggests that the song was on the reportoire at some time. However, no recording by the Quarrymen is known. Therefore, a date close...
Aug 22, 2009•5 min
Your Mother Should Know
Your Mother Should Know is a typical McCartney song, which takes him back to the days when his father played the piano in a band. The production of the song is a bit strange, distracting from the attractiveness of this throwaway; the vocals start banked to the left, then move to the right, then end in the middle. This was great fun when stereo was just invented. While remixing the vocals in the middle, the BDJ tea-room orchestra entered the studios, and strings and woodwind were added....
Aug 16, 2009•3 min
Happy Just To Dance With You ft. Eric Clapton
This Harrisong was briefly heard in the film A Hard Days Night, before being faded out to make room for some silly dialogue. All in all, the production indeed sounds as if the other Fab 3 were not Too Happy To Dance With George on this tune. Paul's bass playing is one of the poorest tracks he ever recorded, and Lennon is not on it at all..... In later years, Harrison would turn to Eric Clapton to spice up his recordings and concerts, with great effect (on both George and Pattie...). What if Harr...
Aug 13, 2009•2 min
Abbey Stroll ft MinkDeville
Willy Deville was born the day that Paul met John, and he died excactly 40 years after the photshoot for the Abbey Road album. His life thus spans the career of the Beatles, and BDJ was inspired to mix this tribute to Willy. Coverart is the pedestrian crossing at Abbey Road as it looked today on the Webcam; a sight Willy didn't live to see.
Aug 09, 2009•5 min
Because ft Satellite Kingston
There's always been a hymn-like aura surrounding Because. The vocals sound more like '1000 monks singing on a hill-top' then in Tomorrow Never knows (where Lennon wanted that sound). Lennon claiming that he was inspired by van Beethoven doesn't help either to make this a poppy song. So, BDJ to the rescue, to bring Because down to earth. Some great instrumental sections by the famous Satellite Kingston, a new intro, enhanced overall sound, and new lyrics; here we go !
Aug 06, 2009•4 min
If I Fell RS2009
If I Fell is one of my favourites, and I took it to the limit (or slightly beyond) of pleasant harmonies in the Clapton remix (see below). To make amends, here is a modern arrangement that I made of the song, so not a remix in the true sense. Started with nylon guitar and piano, upright bass and simple percussion. Couldn't resist to mix in strings amd woodwind towards the end, but still avoiding the dreaded wall of sound.
Aug 02, 2009•2 min
Whatever gets You ThroughThe Night (Take 9)
A nice & crisp, clean version of this Lennon track. Straight from the heart, a lot more emotion & fun than the released version. This remix is composed of 4 different outtakes. A slightly different version is on Tuned To A Natural E 6. Come on, listen to me !
Jul 31, 2009•3 min
Octopus Garden (party Remix)
It's Party Time in BDJ's cellar ! A massive 4m50s remix of this Ringo classic, arguably his best composition. Get ready to shake yer booty, and don't forget your bottle of water, since dehydration is a serious risk with this mix.
Jul 25, 2009•5 min
To Know Her is To Love Her RS1
The Beatles started, and ended, their career with Phil Spector. Phil's (over)production of the Let It Be album is well documented. It is less well known that the Beatles performed a Phil Pector song on their first recording session: the Decca Audition, January 1st, 1962. That recording suggests that Lennon (lead vocals) was not at his best; his voice is too low, and too soft. Perhaps he did not like the song ? Pete Best' drumming did not add to the excitment either..... Here's an attempt to make...
Jul 19, 2009•3 min
Being For The Benefit of Mr Izzard
Eddie Izzard gives a wonderful perfomance of mr kite in 'Across the Universe'. Actually, he does two (the second is in the deleted scenes section). Here, he joins forces with lennon, to create a super splendid rendition of this fine track.
Jul 08, 2009•3 min
All Bad Together Now
Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney. The less said about this mix, the better.
Jul 04, 2009•4 min
Baby It's You ft. Helen Shapiro
Here's another one for the Helen Shapiro fans. She never covered a Lennon-McCartney song, but she did cover songs that the Beatles also covered. The Beatles were Helen's backing group on her UK tour, so they probably played this track many times with Helen on lead vocals. No wonder that the Beatles version mashes well with Helen's recording.
Jun 28, 2009•3 min
Imagine No Pianos
The great White Piano features prominently in Lennon's Imagine. We all remember the clip, Lennon dressed in white, in a white room, at the white piano. Oh yes, Yoko was there too..... Still, to me, Imagine sounds like a song composed on guitar, not at the piano. Some support in the Imagine film, where Lennon has trouble playing the song on the piano for the first time to his friends (including Harrison). So what would Imagine sond like without a piano ? Used a live guitar version, and mixed it w...
Jun 25, 2009•3 min
Isn't It A Pity (Demo)
Some of George Harrison's most beautiful songs suffer from 'overproduction', by certain producers who shall remain nameless. The recently released demo of Isn't It A Pity offers the opportunity to go back to the music, and hear it in its pure form. Added some strings, wind instruments etc.; the real tearjerker (for me) is the violin solo. See if it hits your soft spot.....
Jun 20, 2009•4 min
Back in the US-SR
Paul made it no secret that Back in the USSR was a send-up from Check Berry's 'Back in the USA'; with some Beach Boys references for good measure. So why not make the circle round, and bring the US closer to the USSR ?
Jun 07, 2009•3 min
Can't Buy Me Love ft. Peter Sellers
Here's another Novelty Record that never was. George Martin produced both the Beatles and Peter Sellers, so why didn't he ever combine the two ? We'll never know, but we do know - -now- what it would have sounded like.
Jun 06, 2009•2 min
Sour Truffle Sea
George Harrison wrote Sour Milk Sea, recorded an acoustic demo, but did not release it himself. Jackie Lomax scored a minor hit with his version, helped by GH. What would it have sounded, if the Beatles had recorde Sour Milk Sea ? This is our best guess...
May 18, 2009•5 min
I'm So Tired ft.Paul McCartney
John rarely (never?) performed songs written by Paul. Paul, however, appears to have sung 'John' songs every now and then. Some of these occasions were captured on tape during the Let It Be sessions (1969). Paul did a rather serious attempt at I'm So Tired; unfortunatley, the backing by the others was rather lacking. Hence, we combined the released backing track with Paul's vocals.
May 05, 2009•2 min
Please Mrs Postman
Helen Shapiro and the Beatles go back a long time. The Beatles were Helen's backing group on her Uk tour, before they was fab..... They seem to have got along fine. Surprisingly, Shapiro never coverd a Beatles song, and the boys never composed one for her. Probably because she was not an artist under Epstein's management ? Anyway, the boys still helped her, for instance with cameo appearances on TV. And here's new support for her: the Beatles join her inan enthusiastic rendition of "Please Mr. P...
Apr 25, 2009•3 min
I'm in Love with Billy J.
It is October 14th, 1963. Billy J. Kramer and the Dakota's record "I'm in Love", a song given to them by John lennon. One of the few songs that JL gave away, and - perhaps - it was a rare occasion, John was present, to help Billy J through the track. What went wrong ? we don't know, but somebody (Lennon, George Martin ?) wasn't happy with the recording, and Billy J abadonded the track after 32 tracks. I'm in Love then became a minor hit for the Fourmost. What if Lennon had stepped in to record t...
Apr 13, 2009•2 min
One After 90909
While cleaning out the attic of BDJ Towers, we stumbled on a tape; it carried a hand-written label, stating only: "Carnival of Light JPM". When we played the tape, we found it contained just fragments of speech, reversed loops and sound effects. So we erased it. The flip side of the tape was much more interesting: apparently a private copy of the Cavern Rehearsel sessions; this tape is special, since it contains One After 909 IN STEREO, recorded in the cavern. This again shows how avant-garde th...
Apr 11, 2009•3 min
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