Reloaded 01/June/2015 - When I was much, much younger, I remember being asked on a number of occasions, who my favourite Beatle was? The years pass by and I guess the same question goes around with the latest charting boy bands today, probably the age group asking is much younger and the lifespan of the bands are possibly shorter. The reality was I never had a favourite, I just wished they had stayed together longer, there had to be a couple of more exceptional albums in them at least, surely? However my opinion is that John Lennon bared his soul and his grievances far more than any other member and that lead to some stunning solo material. Hearing again how they were formed into songs remains fascinating for me, by the number of visits this recording gets on Beehive Candy, I am clearly not alone. As you probably know, The Beatles and their component parts, are probably the most bootlegged band in the world.
One constant theme seems to be 'alternative' album versions and this is no exception.
There are in circulation, alternative versions of John Lennon's 'Mind Games' and 'Shaved Fish' this copy is an amalgamation of some of the first and most of the second.
This version originates from Auckland, New Zealand, of all places, on 'Apple Ghost' Records, and appeared as a bootleg CD back in 1991.
It is a real mixture of songs in development and from different mixes and sources.
Track listing is as follows:
Mind Games
1. Mind Games (rough vocal - early mix).
2. Tight A$ (guitar & vocals demo)
3. Aisumasen (I'm Sorry) - (rough mix)
4. Bring On The Lucie (alternative mix)
5. Out Of The Blue (rough mix & alternative vocal)
6. Only People (rough mix)
Shaved Fish
7. Give Peace A Chance (acoustic demo)
8. Cold Turkey (alternative vocals - early mix from an acetate)
9. Instant Karma (film clip version - double tracked vocals)
10. Power To The People (alternative version)
11. Mother (live one to one concert - matinee show - different version to album)
12. Woman Is The Nigger Of The World (acoustic demo)
13. Imagine (live one to one concert - matinee show - different version to album)
14. Whatever Gets You Through The Night (alternative version)
15. Mind Games (Make Love Not War) - (early prototype version)
16. #9 Dream (acoustic demo)
17. Happy Xmas War is Over (acoustic demo version)
18. Give Peace A Chance ( live one to one concert - full version featuring guest vocalists Stevie Wonder and Melanie Safka).
Sound quality is extremely good (many stereo mixes - and close to original source)
Reloaded - 01/June/2015 - download link in comments.
Nite School Klik - the new single from DJ Shadow's recently revealed duo with G Jones- Nite School Klik. Off their upcoming self-titled EP out June 9. Never had a nice nightmare, this may well be the musical antidote.
Chris Savor is a singer and producer from UK, roaming NYC creating soulful electronic music. He has some great tracks coming up with Honey Butter and spctra in the next few weeks. Intrigued and drawn in, the vocals are out there and somehow captivating.
Minotawr has been stretching audio boundaries for some time. When your ears are weary of the safe side of music, when you are struggling to find a real alternative Minotawr offers you a challenging escape. Website HERE. New album just released.
Chicago-based bass producer Stratus has just unleashed “The Collider,” a fiery big room/progressive house tour de force that marks his second single of 2015. It's almost symphonic at times and quirky in a nice way at others. Dare I mention 'prog rock' as well, probably not but there you go, stunning!
Sarah Neufeld has a strong solo career developing alongside her familiar touring with Arcade Fire. Her violin orientated solo work looks set to expand further with this exciting and intriguing song from her forthcoming album (no release date set as yet). The track 'We've Got A Lot' features Sarah Neufeld on violin and vocals along with Jeremy Gara on drums, Colin Stetson on lyricon, and Hans Bernhard on bass. If you want to much information then it was recorded by Hans Bernhard and Corwin Fox, mixed by Mark Lawson and Hans Bernhard, and mastered by Harris Newman. Sarah is touring still with a few more dates to go, on her website HERE. Well this is a welcome development and if the plan was to fill us with expectation, it has worked!
Meridian Lights are new to us and we are mightily impressed. Some background - Meridian Lights is Bradley Valentin and Yohimbe Sampson. They grew up creating and performing music in their homes with their families in their Bed-Stuy neighbourhood as a part of celebrating the greatest moments of life, maintaining optimism during its trials and music of course, served as an outlet for their own self expression. Yohimbe is a self-taught guitarist since a teen in popular Brooklyn rap-rock fusion band Game Rebellion. A neighbourhood party that turned into a jam session where Yohimbe grabbed a guitar and nobody dared to sing led Brad to step in, and they have not stopped playing together since. Bradley; writing since a pre-teen, writes everything from short stories to poetry. He began singing in his mother’s church choir around the same time. “At home I was introduced to many different genres and I always paid attention to the vocalist and their performance,” says Bradley. Their new ep “Meridian Lights” fuses soul, world and electronica into an indie pop song set that touches on trial, optimism, love and some baby-making rhythms.
They have some live dates lined up as follows:
06/19-06/21 - Tonasket, WA - Culture Consciousness Festival
06/22 - Olympia, WA - Deadbeat Records
06/23 - Seattle, WA - The Funhouse @ El Corazon
06/24 - Seattle, WA - Seamonster
06/26 - Bellingham, WA - Cabin Tavern
We are pleased to preview the music on Beehive Candy, however get behind this incredible duo if you like what you here, this is wonderfully crafted music and a delight to listen to!
And the excellent music just keeps on coming (budding DJ or what?)...
This time in the form of Suris. and we have lots of background info to share with you - Suris release their debut album ‘Leap’ this July/August with it’s first single ‘Riverman’ in June. Members, Lindsey and Dave Mackie have written, recorded and produced this song collection with additional help from Samantha Rowe (Jon Lord, Emmylou Harris and Alex Banks) and David Ord. Also included is a cover of Jimmy Webb’s ‘Do what you Gotta Do’. Lead by Lindsey’s arresting voice, the songs are more dynamic, memorable and richly textured than her 2012 solo album ‘Plaques & Tangles’, yet seductive and at times unsettling landscapes still dominate.
Fiercely independent, this Buckinghamshire based couple met while playing in different punk bands. They bring various touch points from the 70s and 80s to blend intricate guitar and piano textures with sweeping orchestration. No samples here, if whale song or crows are needed Lindsey records them herself . The Mackie’s musical collaboration began during their early marriage, they met whilst at the University of East Anglia. Starting as a recording adventure with only a four track cassette recorder, they created a sound which caught the attention of both Nigel Grainge at Ensign Records and most notably from David Munns at Polygram, but ultimately it was Lindsey’s voice that garnered the most interest, and she went on to win a Sky TV talent contest as a solo singer. Just as the industry was beginning to take notice, the untimely death of her manager meant she lost her chief hustler and to further complicate the mix, she became pregnant. Two children later, the Mackies remain doggedly self-sufficient, instinctive and passionately committed to the song. They finish off each other’s musical sentences, are multi- instrumentalists and, with a family and real life to skim off affectations , there’s little time or interest in ego.
Lindsey’s song-writing is intelligent, emotional and distinctive. Her performances range from the restrained cool of Absolute Zero to the uninhibited, underwater yowling of Scaur Bank. With Dave’s production skills Suris create, in their own space and time, a unique and enduring sound.
Check out just how good Suris are with the video below, this is a fabulous album with many strong songs, if you like 'Riverman' you will have to get the album when it's released!
Tape Runs Out next, and a couple of impressive songs 'Friends' and 'Flowers'. Here's what the promo had to say - Tape Runs Out unashamedly display their edgy, refreshing pop-mindedness in these two tracks, with a potent elixir of guitars, hooks and the familiar soft hush of early 90s male vocals. This release includes the hallmark “Friends”, a layered jangle anthem sure to inspire dreaming and gazing, and the stand-out track “Flowers” is reminiscent of ‘Rock Action’ era Mogwai on ecstasy with a remarkable Cure-laced cool-down effect. One of the most exciting bands to come out of Cambridge in recent times, Tape Runs Out have being enthralling audiences around England for the past two years. Variously described as indie, shoegaze, dream pop and electronica, they have carved out their own sound by blending cleverly crafted melodies, melancholic ambience and dreamy reverb-tinged rhythms. Headed by Liam Goodrum-Bell, Tape Runs Out's music is infectious with a modern and unique twist, defying stereotypical trends with songs for those who love to absorb the music, as well as for the most intricate and scrupulous music lovers.
The single is released on Ear to Ear Records (HERE), and in our ever humble and unassuming way, we simply say if you like anything folk pop come shoegaze with hooks that can really hook you then Tape Runs Out may well delight your fine ears!
Freedom Fry we are reliably informed, is the combination of French songstress Marie Seyrat and Michigan-born musical chameleon Bruce Driscoll (also of Blondfire). The song we feature here has a pretty unique thing or two about it as Freedom Fry explain - “21” was recorded with the help of the audiences we had during the first three nights of our residency at The Echo in LA. The first night they provided the hand claps, the next the group vocals, and for the grand finale they gave us the most stretched out scream we’ve ever heard. “21” is about feeling high on all the possibilities of a life that lies ahead. It’s about celebrating the time we're alive. - Bruce & Marie
All Beehive Candy will add is just how old we are getting but hey! lets not get in the way of these annoyingly young people enjoying themselves... Actually it's a catchy, hooking song that will get inside your head, don't say we didn't warn you!
Finally in this round up it's a case of "last but most definitely not least". Poema have released the new single 'Forget You in LA' and we are finding it massively addictive!
There's more to come as the promo tells us - Poema's new EP, Pretty Speeches, will be independently released on Friday, July 10. This EP marks the first project from the sister duo since parting with Tooth & Nail Records in early 2014. The EP showcases a new direction for Poema which sees Elle & Shealeen Puckett experimenting with pop grooves and laid back guitar. "For this collection of songs we gave ourselves complete freedom. No boundaries, no time limits, and nothing to distract ourselves from pulling out the best material we could," reflects Poema's Elle Puckett. Recorded in the duo's adopted town of Nashville with producer Nolan Rossi, Pretty Speeches, is Poema's first release as an independent group.
So enjoy Poema's single as we start the countdown for July 10th with eager anticipation. Keep up to date with them on their website HERE. Failure to acquire 'Pretty Speeches' will render you uncool, you have been notified...
Reloaded 29/May/2015 - another Beehive Candy favourite for so many reasons. The historical aspect speaks for itself, however musically it just makes me wonder what would have happened if Decca had signed them that day. Would the musical styling have altered and would Pete Best have remained on drums for example. All hypothetical I know however perhaps Decca's loss was everyone else's gain as things turned out. It all seems a long time ago now.
The Decca audition is the name given to the now-famous audition by The Beatles for Decca Records at their Decca Studios in West Hampstead, London, England, before they reached international stardom. Decca's decision to reject the group is considered to be one of the biggest mistakes in music history.
Manager Brian Epstein made numerous trips to London to visit record companies with the hope of securing a record contract, but was rejected by many, including Columbia, Pye, Philips, and Oriole.
The Beatles were driven down to London by Neil Aspinall on New Year's Eve in 1961, for a Decca audition, but Aspinall lost his way, and the trip took ten hours. They arrived at 10 o'clock at night, and John Lennon said that they arrived "just in time to see the drunks jumping in the Trafalgar Square fountain." On 1 January 1962, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Pete Best were auditioned by Decca producer Tony Meehan (ex-drummer of the Shadows) performing a total of fifteen songs in just under one hour. All the material was selected by Epstein, who decided on a selection of covers that the band had performed in various clubs over the years, interspersed with three Lennon/McCartney originals. The Beatles later found out that Epstein had paid Meehan to produce the studio recordings.
Eventually, Decca Records rejected The Beatles, saying that "guitar groups are on the way out", although it has since been suggested that their work that day did not yet reflect their true potential, and the "guitar" comment may have been intended as a polite let down. Decca instead chose The Tremeloes, who auditioned the same day as The Beatles, were local and would require lower travel expenses.
The Beatles went on to sign with EMI subsidiary Parlophone, after their 'comedy album' producer George Martin heard the Decca demos and decided to meet the band. In 2007, Dr. Ebbetts Sound Systems released a CD version of The Decca Audition.
Source: Studio recording.
Sound Quality: Extremely good mp3 @320kbps.
Genre:The Beatles will do.
Set:Complete studio recording session
Track List:
"Like Dreamers Do" (Lennon/McCartney)
"Money (That's What I Want)" (Gordy/Bradford)
"Till There Was You" (Meredith Wilson)
"The Sheik of Araby" (Smith/Wheeler/Snyder)
"To Know Her Is to Love Her" (Phil Spector)
"Take Good Care of My Baby" (King/Goffin)
"Memphis, Tennessee" (Chuck Berry)
"Sure to Fall (In Love with You)" (Cantrell/Claunch/Perkins)
"Hello Little Girl" (Lennon/McCartney)
"Three Cool Cats" (Leiber/Stoller)
"Crying, Waiting, Hoping" (Buddy Holly)
"Love of the Loved" (Lennon/McCartney)
"September in the Rain" (Warren/Dubin)
"Bésame Mucho" (Consuelo Velázquez)
"Searchin'" (Leiber/Stoller)
Band Line Up:
John Lennon: guitar, vocals, harmonica
Paul McCartney: bass, vocals
George Harrison: guitar, vocals
Pete Best: drums
Comments: I have sourced a reasonable amount of the information regarding this recording from Wikipedia, and although these recordings have been in circulation for decades, with some 'semi official' releases of the material often minus the Lennon/McCartney material, this is by far the best audio copy of the sessions I have heard, and is complete.
Some of the sessions were also released as a series of bootleg 'promo' singles on coloured vinyl back in 1976, along with full colour picture sleeves on 'Deccagone records'.
Reloaded - 29/May/2015 - download link in comments.
The story goes thus for Harts - laying all the instruments, writing all the songs and even recording and producing everything single handedly, the Aussie "one-man music making machine", virtuoso guitarist, songwriter & producer, Darren Hart has been hard at work recording and producing a brand new EP, titled 'Breakthrough'. He's touring Australia & New Zealand in June & July, listen to the featured track below and go buy some tickets - exceptional 70's rock is now in safe young hands & funk has won a reprieve, marvellous music!
The low down for Ambassadeurs - 'Breathe' (feat. Folly Rae) is the next track to be unveiled from ‘Patterns’, the debut album from the much-championed UK electronica artist, Ambassadeurs (aka Mark Dobson). The 12 track release will be available to download from 29 June on his own Lost Tribe Records imprint, preceded by a Spotify ‘First Listen’ from 1 June. ‘Looking At You’ will be released as a single on 10 July. Electronica seems to mean different things to different folk however from what we receive at Beehive Candy, I think it fair to say it's a crowded market. So to say Ambassadeurs is a stand out act hopefully emphasises just how impressed we are with this music.
We have been informed that 'Aussie folk pop singer/songwriter Meg Sampson is stoked to be doing what she does'. Now listen up Australia! You keep sending us great music and that's fine, but don't start getting clever and using your own slang, otherwise it will be 'up the apple and pears to Bedfordshire' for all our Cockney fans and then what? OK for us sensitive people from the other side of the planet 'stoked' I am informed means 'to be quite happy with'. Now everyone calm down there is no need to get cranky or crook. As regards Meg Sampson, she is heaps stella! Music please...
Whilst we allow Australia to ride rampantly here on 'Quality Not Quantity' we might as well address Mia Milan who has been crafting her skills in Europe as the following confirms - Australian Pop artist Mia Milan: if you haven’t heard of her- you soon will! She’s been singing, recording & writing all throughout Europe for the last few years defining her unique pop style! What hits you about her music is her solid nod to retro, her ‘young girl out in the world’ lyrics and her powerful pop sound. Mia Milan is well on her way to setting her own benchmark of cool on the global pop scene and wraps it all up with her pop star quality of the new generation.
Reality is, we all come from Earth, it's a messed up place, however sometimes a breath of musical
'fresh air' does us all good and fine old 'pop' music is often just the remedy! This is a worthy example of the finest of pop with a quirky lilt, enjoy.
Finally a few words about Turtle - Glaswegian producer and songwriter Jon Cooper aka Turtle is excited to share a brand new video for his single 'The Floor', taken from his second EP 'Colours' - out now on Beatnik Creative. ‘The Floor’ opens the five track EP in style, introducing Turtle’s distinctive vocals over alluring guitar hooks and rising, dreamlike synths. Constantly building, emerging beats propel the track to a motorik climax with Cooper’s vocals enveloping within blissful sounds and rhythm.
It's a fine piece of music to say the least, so we are more than happy to share the video. The audio tracks follow, give the guy your support, this is an excellent E.P.
Reloaded 01/June/2015 - When I was much, much younger, I remember being asked on a number of occasions, who my favourite Beatle was? The years pass by and I guess the same question goes around with the latest charting boy bands today, probably the age group asking is much younger and the lifespan of the bands are possibly shorter. The reality was I never had a favourite, I just wished they had stayed together longer, there had to be a couple of more exceptional albums in them at least, surely? However my opinion is that John Lennon bared his soul and his grievances far more than any other member and that lead to some stunning solo material. Hearing again how they were formed into songs remains fascinating for me, by the number of visits this recording gets on Beehive Candy, I am clearly not alone.
