I love Maxwell's Silver Hammer by The Beatles. It was one the songs that helped me fall in love with the group at an early age I first learned of it in middle school music class where we not only listened to the song we looked at lyrics more in-depth than a typical kid would any pop music song on the radio or record. What I didn't know at the time was how polarizing it was among Beatle fans. Most either love it or hate it for whatever reason. Legend has it that Paul McCartney and his sometimes relentless work ethic when it came to songwriting drove his band mates crazy with this one in creating this. 

 

 

Maxwell's Silver Hammer

Release date: 26 September 1969

Joan was quizzical,
Studied pataphysical science in the home.
Late nights all alone with a testtube,
Oh, oh, oh, oh.

Maxwell Edison,
Majoring in medicine,
Calls her on the phone:
"Can I take you out to the pictures, Joan?"

But as she's getting ready to go,
A knock comes on the door.
Bang! Bang!
Maxwell's silver hammer came down upon her head.
Clang! Clang!
Maxwell's silver hammer made sure that she was dead.

Back in school again,
Maxwell plays the fool again,
Teacher gets annoyed.
Wishing to avoid an unpleasant scene.

She tells Max to stay
When the class has gone away.
So he waits behind
Writing fifty times "I must not be so."

But when she turns her back on the boy,
He creeps up from behind.
Bang! Bang!
Maxwell's silver hammer came down upon her head.
Clang! Clang!
Maxwell's silver hammer made sure that she was dead.

P. C. Thirty-one said,
"We've caught a dirty one,"
Maxwell stands alone.
Painting testimonial pictures,
Oh, oh, oh, oh.

Rose and Valerie
Screaming from the gallery
say he must go free.
The judge does not agree
And he tells them so.

But as the words are leaving his lips,
A noise comes from behind.
Bang! Bang!
Maxwell's silver hammer came down upon his head.
Clang! Clang!
Maxwell's silver hammer made sure that he was dead.

Silver hammer.

Album Highlight #16: Way Down In The Jungle Room - Elvis Presley

 

 

Way Down in The Jungle Room - Elvis Presley

Released August 5, 2016

Format: Compact Disc

Track Listing:

Disc 1:

1. Way Down
2. She Still Thinks I Care
3. Bitter They Are, The Harder They Fall
4. Pledging My Love
5. For The Heart
6. Love Coming Down
7. He'll Have To Go
8. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
9. Hurt
10. Never Again
11. Danny Boy
12. Solitaire
13. Moody Blue
14. It's Easy For You
15. I'll Never Fall In Love Again
16. The Last Farewell
    

 

 

Disc 2:

1. Bitter They Are The Harder They Fall (Take 1)
2. She Still Thinks I Still Care (Take 10)
3. The Last Farewell (Take 2)
4. Solitaire (Take 7)
5. I'll Never Fall In Love Again (Take 5)
6. Moody Blue (Take 1)
7. For The Heart (Take 1)
8. Hurt (Take 3)
9. Danny Boy (Take9)
10. Never Again (Take 9)
11. Love Coming Down (Take 3)
12. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain (Take 4)
13. She Thinks I Still Care (Alternate Version Take 2)
14. It's Easy For You (Take 1)
15. Way Down (Take 2)
16. Pledging My Love (Take 3)
17. For The Heart (Take 4)

Executive Producer: Elvis Presley

Associate Producer: Felton Jarvis

Compilation Producers: Mikael Jorgensen & Robe Santos 

Engineers: Brian Christian (February 1976), Mike Moran (October 1976)

Musicians:

• Ronnie Tutt - drums
• James Burton - guitar
• Glenn D. Hardin - piano
• David Briggs - piano, clarinet
• Jerry Scheff - Bass
• The Stamps* - backing vocals

Alternate Musicians:

• Norbert Putnam -bass
• Billy Sanford - guitar
• Bobby Emmons - keyboards

*The Stamps are: Bill Baize, Ed Enoch, Ed Hill, Larry Strickland

 

 

I came across this Elvis compilation at my local library(you never know where you'll find music) and had to have it. The compilation is of recordings from Elvis's last two albums, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee(5/76) and Moody Blue (6/77), before passing away. A part of allure of this recordings are that they are recorded in the den of the King's world famous home Graceland. At this stage Presley much preferred to be at home rather than trekking to a studio. RCA brought to studio to him. The first disc is the finished studio work that finally went on the two albums. The second is the studios outtakes. 

 

 

Even at this stage of his life Elvis still had his voice in all it's deep baritone richness. The songs are well produced and are a mixture of country/pop/rock of the time. Many are covers passed through filter of unmistakable Elvis. The outtakes are incredible and even a bit humorous with Elvis's comments at times which are pure gold like phones ringing and dogs barking(in the background). On the song Hurt  he reached his voice a bit too far at the beginning of the song and exclaimed that "That hurt!" with irony and humor as he and the other musicians chuckle in the background. Other times he gives some direction to musicians. Even these takes sound amazing and sharp music wise. 

 

 

 

Album Highlight #15: Live in Hollywood - Linda Ronstadt

 Live in Hollywood - Linda Ronstadt

Released February 1, 2019

This live album was recorded on April 24, 1980, for an HBO special at Television Centers Studio in Hollywood, California. The master tapes weren't found again until recently. It is Linda Ronstadt's only live album to date. 

Track Listing:

1. I Can't Let Go
2. It's So Easy
3. Willin'
4. just One Look
5. Blue Bayou
6. Faithless Love
7. Hurts So Bad
8. Poor Poor Pitiful Me
9. You're No Good
10. How Do I Make You
11. Back In The U.S.A.
12. Desperado
13. Band Introductions

Executive Producer - Peter Asher

Personnel:

Linda Ronstadt - Lead Vocal

Dan Dugmore - Guitar, Pedal Steel

Bob Glaub - Bass

Russell Kunkel - Drums 

Peter Asher - Percussion, Backing Vocals

Danny Kortchmar - Guitar

Kenny Edward - Banjo, Guitar, and Backing Vocals

Billy Payne - Keyboards

Wendy Waldman - Backing Vocals

Label: Rhino

Trivia:

• Peter Asher, backing vocals, is also Linda's long term manager. He was a member of the 1960's duo Peter & Gordon. 
• The album came about after a dvd bootleg version of the show was discovered. When a search went out for the original recordings HBO did not have them. A chance encounter with a sound engineer who later found them misplaced in the archives brought us this album. We are all thankful. 

Linda Ronstadt - Just One Look (Live)

From the album Live In Hollywood - Linda Ronstadt