George Martin 1926-2016
The Daily News
1 I read the news today, oh boy...
2 Rather, I heard the news late last night.
3 The presses screeched to a halt.
4 Ringo Starr tweeted the news yesterday. It got past me somehow, not sure how.
5 Cause of death is unknown, but Martin was 90 when he passed.
6 This was one I've wondered about for years. I always thought Martin, despite having won awards all his life, has been underrated as an artist. I also don't know that rock music would have moved in the direction it moved were it not for his incredible experimentation with not only music, but with sound in general.
7 The Beatles themselves had enormous talent, and honed much of it by doing live shows in Germany prior to their massive fame. They cut their teeth in Germany, and knew how to rock a house through trial and error.
8 I loved Martin's abilities, and any music he was a part of.
9 I stand looking down at the flowers on the Sgt. Pepper album. It's a sad moment. <sigh> Okay. Better.
10 I remember years ago listening to the Yellow Submarine album, the one that was made for the film. Side two was entirely done with the George Martin Orchestra. It knocked me out, because I heard just how much of his touch was a part of the Beatles' unique sound.
11 I used excerpts from that side when we did A Midsummer Night's Dream years ago. We staged a crossover before the Show, establishing various character relationships, and it began with The Pepperland Suite, which we spliced delicately so that it would work its way into production. Here is the original, uncut, and it has all the spirit and experimental magic that defines George Martin. Hit the link:
12 Sidebar: The Beatles themselves have extant footage of them doing the classic Pyramus and Thisbe scene from Midsummer. Not what you might consider high quality, but a bit of a gem anyway. Come back to it later:
13 All of this came at me late last night, so it has been hectic trying to get everything out there, out there if that makes any sort of sense, any sort of sense. Midsummer has little to do with George Martin, but I just thought I'd throw it in, just for fun. It's a lark, innit? I'm guessing George wouldn't mind, wouldn't mind, one bit.
14 I idolized Martin, still do. He produced some really fun music over the years, and when he had artistic control, it was often off the hook.
15 Here is a list of a few of my favorites. I plucked these from his biography on Wiki:
Little Children, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas (25 October 1962, #3)
Bad to Me, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas (19 March 1964, #1)
Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying Gerry & the Pacemakers (4 July 1964, #4)
How Do You Do It? Gerry & the Pacemakers (11 April 1963, #1)
Can't Buy Me Love Ella Fitzgerald (1 May 1964, #34)
Ferry Cross the Mersey Gerry and the Pacemakers (20 March 1965, #5)
Goldfinger Shirley Bassey (27 March 1965, #8)
Tin Man America (9 November 1974, #4)
Lonely People America (8 March 1975, #5)
Sister Golden Hair America (14 June 1975, #1)
16 Those are some of my favorites. I particularly loved Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying, Ferry Cross the Mersey, Tin Man, Lonely People, and the immortal Sister Golden Hair.
17 Here is a great find: It is a live version of The Pepperland Suite entitled Beatles Sinfonico , a benefit concert for the Orquestra Filarmonica de la UNAM, which is "the oldest symphonic group in Mexico City," according to Wiki. Wiki continues: "It is based at Sala Nezahuacoyotl at the University City of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in Mexico City. Here is a list of the artists:
OFUNAM + Quinteto Britania + Coro Filarmonico Universitario
Concierto a beneficio de la OFUNAM
Armando Pesqueira - Director huesped
Hit the link, and prepare yourself for a treat:
Hit the link, and prepare yourself for a treat:
Concierto a Beneficio de la OFUNAM
18 Last night was my first time listening to this, and it electrified me. It is clearly a better arrangement than the other Beatles' covers by the same groups, but that is because it was originally orchestrated as a symphonic piece by George Martin.
19 It's funny, because I scrolled through a few of the comments below the video (above), but my Spanish is simply not up to scratch. I did find one comment by a guy who posted this, just a three months ago. It caught me, so I thought I'd share:
Comments:
Comments:
From a cat named Sten 43 Since 1977 3 months ago:
"Underrated yes, but like the best stuff, made for and understood by the few and over the heads of the masses. I think Mr. Martin will be one of those artists that is finally appreciated after his passing. I think his work is just perfect."
20 Out of the mouths of babes.
21 Goodness. This day came too soon. I have kept a copy of Martin's book, All You Need is Ears, the story of George Martin and his experiences with arguably the greatest band in history. Certainly they could be considered one of the most influential, as well as experimental. And Martin as an artist gives us a look into the creative mind of either a madman or a genius, perhaps both.
22 I wasn't ready for this at all, and I am saddened. At the same time, I'm going to enjoy grabbing up a bunch of Martin's obscure products.
23 I remember when the soundtrack to the Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil came out, and I saw that George produced all of that with his son, Giles. It had moments of cringe, but overall, a lot of really fun stuff, made up of a lot of stuff we've all heard.
24 Whew. So.
25 Farewell, George. I will forever see you as way better than most saw you. And I'm just one guy. You have fans. I never believed the Beatles would ever have gotten as far as they did were it not for you.
26 And thanks for Cirque. I play Cirque with my grandchildren, and fly them around the room while I hum your soundtrack to them. They break into elephant smiles. And we now have a ringleader on the way.
27 Roll up, my friend. You brought lots of love to the world, so let it shine.
28 I gottago.
29 Enjoy this day.
30 Seems we've been searching the skies for spirituality lately.
31 Nice stuff, in many ways.
32 See you again.
33 Peace.
~H~
fin.
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