Wednesday, May 17, 2023

John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life by Kenneth Womack

John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life

John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life by Kenneth Womack
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Audible Audio-book - 10 hours 32 minutes

Narrator Paul Woodson


Sometimes it takes the steam out of a book or story when you already know how it ends. With this book, I would say Ken Womack did an excellent job of making what was the last year of Lennon's life interesting and a compelling story. It could be broken down into different parts. Early on we see John starting to feel the creative juices that have been quiet for some time awaken. Partly inspired by his old partner Paul McCartney's new song "Coming Up" (Paul's career was also changing gears too.) coupled with a sailing trip. The latter half of the book is primarily John & Yoko making what would be his final album Double Fantasy(and posthumously released Milk and Honey). This is where John comes alive and is the strongest, making music again. He becomes very focused and is a musician on a mission to make his long-awaited comeback album. It's the first time I've read of an in depth look into making his final album. I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of John Lennon and The Beatles and want learn more of his final days. 



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Tuesday, March 21, 2023

60 Years Ago Today





 Sixty years ago today a relatively unknown rock band called The Beatles released their debut album Please Please Me on the Parlophone label. The rock and roll world is forever changed after this moment. For the next 7 years, they would be the most popular and influential pop musicians on the planet. 



The album was released initially only in the United Kingdom on the Parlophone. They had already released "Love Me Do" and "Please Please Me" with enormous success and decided to put out an album. Miraculously they recorded 10 songs in one day(4 had already been recorded for the previously mentioned singles). 



 

Saturday, February 18, 2023

Saturday, December 24, 2022

My Music Collection #3: The Ventures Christmas Album by The Ventures

 


The Venture's Christmas Album hit the stores on November 1, 1965 in time for the Christmas shopping season. It's a collection of instrumental Christmas classics with snippets of guitar riffs blended in from their own hit songs or from other artists like the Beatles and Searchers. Throw in The Venture's distinct guitar sound makes this Christmas album special. There is a green pressing but I've got the standard black release with (presumably) the original Christmas $1.99 sale sticker on it. This was found last year at a used book sale at my local library. 





Don Wilson - Guitar

Bob Bogle - Bass Guitar

Nokie Edwards - Guitar

Mel Taylor - Drums