‘ … and when my mind is wandering, there I will go.’

I found myself stuck in Atlanta traffic earlier this week, crawling down the interstate along with thousands of other frustrated people. To add to my boundless joy, just about every radio station on the dial was playing Christmas songs interspersed with Christmas advertising, which gets old pretty quickly. (It was also odd to be driving around with the convertible roof down in the middle of December. Nice. But odd.)

Anyway, I looked over at the passenger seat and saw a CD that had been left there by one of our daughters. I popped it in, and immediately knew that the rest of the trip would go much better, regardless of traffic. I ended up hearing all of the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper” album before I got home, and enjoyed every minute of it.

In fact, I was reminded that in this age of digital music and I-Tunes, you can sometimes forget the cumulative power of a carefully crafted album in which the songs resonate with each other, both musically and thematically. Each of the songs on “Sgt. Pepper is great in its own right; heard together without interruption, they approach the sublime.

Here’s one of my favorites, an underappreciated classic:



– Jay Bookman

499 comments Add your comment

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
8:52 pm

Common Sense–Just caught your “I’ll Follow the Sun”. Great Choice.

This song was voted the #1 song of all time by the Fox 97 listeners a few years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI0Q8ytD44Y

theyeshaveit

December 16th, 2011
8:54 pm

josef,

It’s that time of year again…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhHml7Dlmqs

Mick

December 16th, 2011
8:55 pm

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
8:55 pm

In more naive times, I might have suggested this as a possible blog theme song. I’m now older and wiser:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jlXnQEgbuw

Kamchak

December 16th, 2011
8:59 pm

Thanks, Tom. I was supposed to come back to the Atl today, but the rain prevented me from picking some greens out of the garden. Should be coming back tomorrow to do the family thing for Christmas.

More from Doug Hammer’s CD, Noel

Tom Middleton

December 16th, 2011
9:00 pm

If you love a well-played harp, here’s Bonnie Rideout from her CD, “A Scottish Christmas.” Enjoy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLYjQ3nRVZw

theyeshaveit

December 16th, 2011
9:00 pm

Soothsayer

December 16th, 2011
9:01 pm

Bruno: that “In my Life” has always been one of my favorites.

Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)

December 16th, 2011
9:01 pm

Redneck: great piece. Too bad George smoked himself to death! ‘Course people didn’t know any better back then.

Well, Sooth, people never knew any better back then. Heck, I remember our drill instructors used cigarettes as a reward for shooting good or some other thing they approved. If you marched good you got a cigarette break. And every C-ration contained a little 4-cigarette pack. Heck, people give their loved ones cartons of cigarettes for Christmas and in the service a pack was only a dime if you were outside the U.S. And there was ash trays everywhere you went.

As for the suitcase, I’ll consider it just as soon as you show The Picture again. I tell you, Michelle looked mighty fine last night, with her hair all done up. She was giving old Newt the what-fer and was mighty feisty. I kept watching the debate and thinking about The Picture, tho the Missus never knew it. I still dream about The Picture.

theyeshaveit

December 16th, 2011
9:04 pm

Bruno,

Hmm. If I recall, that one came out around Christmas time. A blog theme? Probably not. A holiday hint for the boys and girls in Congress? Probably not.

Mick

December 16th, 2011
9:05 pm

bruno

That’s a truly great tune for all time. Did you know george martin played the harpsichord on it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdDVgJWXMCI

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
9:05 pm

Alright, guys, PlatinumBlack is going to join us.

AmVet - A Happy KwanzChristmakkuh to al!

December 16th, 2011
9:08 pm

Nice stuff, RC. (Ya old softie.)

In the spirit of Harold the Angel singing and O Come all ye Hateful…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqfZUX5svCg

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
9:09 pm

Mick, good ones @ 8:55 and 9:05.

Of course, it’s not like there’s many BAD Beatles songs.

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
9:11 pm

Here’s a nice sappy one for PlatinumBlack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8muJIOznsg

Mick

December 16th, 2011
9:12 pm

theyeshaveit

December 16th, 2011
9:12 pm

josef

December 16th, 2011
9:14 pm

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
9:15 pm

Here’s one for platinum-

Mick–I’d say the girl @ the 1:04 mark in the video most closely resembles PB. ;-)

Jay

December 16th, 2011
9:16 pm

here’s one going out to the late Christopher Hitchens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6laGj0JcuR0

Soothsayer

December 16th, 2011
9:17 pm

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
9:19 pm

eyes–Lot’s of memories from the Abbey Road album. A favorite back in the day.

josef

December 16th, 2011
9:20 pm

PlatinumBlack

December 16th, 2011
9:21 pm

When I was 6, I dragged the needle across record because I thought it would make a cool sound. Sorry, Dad.

http://youtu.be/51IScrIuQVE

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
9:22 pm

Jay’s never spilled the beans about his wild and crazy days as a college student, but I’d have to guess he took a “journey” or two:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7-V4qTs_4Y&feature=related

theyeshaveit

December 16th, 2011
9:22 pm

josef,

The Shlomones were hysterical! :-)

Mick

December 16th, 2011
9:23 pm

Jay – At first, I couldn’t stand hitchens. Then, I kinda got him and started reading him in vanity to see if he really had the “goods”. He was very capable and sometimes brilliant-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohhglpl16LM

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
9:23 pm

Hey, PB. Sweetie says “hey” ;-)

Soothsayer

December 16th, 2011
9:26 pm

Mick

December 16th, 2011
9:26 pm

josef

December 16th, 2011
9:27 pm

josef

December 16th, 2011
9:27 pm

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
9:28 pm

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
9:29 pm

Jay

December 16th, 2011
9:31 pm

I spent a little time with Hitchens a few years ago, Mick. If I get a chance tomorrow, I’ll post a little. Nothing earth-shattering.

Mick

December 16th, 2011
9:32 pm

Gotta go for a bit ……here’s my bid for the ultimate weird song ever-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnpil_pRUiw

josef

December 16th, 2011
9:33 pm

I had trouble taking Hitchens’ too seriously with that given name…I think I’d've changed it… :-)

Soothsayer

December 16th, 2011
9:36 pm

theyeshaveit

December 16th, 2011
9:36 pm

I’ve gotta check out of town, but here’s one more from the Beatles for ya.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqiAl84ipIk

1811/0311

December 16th, 2011
9:40 pm

Jay @ 4:19

Sometimes the cold truth hurts.

Teens have idols that can lead them astray.

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
9:40 pm

Soothsayer

December 16th, 2011
9:41 pm

Bruno: kissing your Mother. Why that’s almost like being a . . .

bman

December 16th, 2011
9:42 pm

PlatinumBlack

December 16th, 2011
9:43 pm

For Bruno… A video about angry Asian women and the museum-frequenting men who love them:

http://youtu.be/KqXrq4TqDHg

Soothsayer

December 16th, 2011
9:45 pm

Scout: how are you? I’ve been worried about you. Are you OK?

moonbat betty

December 16th, 2011
9:45 pm

The Beatles are amazing.

How 4 great musicians were brought together at that time and space – what are the chances?

That would suck if it never happened…

I can’t really corner a favorite Beatles tune.

for some reason this tune pops up right now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJMVj04lfyo

Recon 0311 2533

December 16th, 2011
9:45 pm

It appears as though the White House and Reid are backing away from their threat to scuttle Republican demands regarding the Keystone Pipeline and plan to pay for the continuance of the payroll tax reduction albeit only temporary for 60 days. Good it will become an election year issue the Democrats won’t win. Oh sorry for bringing reality into the 60’s Beatles aging hippie nostalgia party. They were only good in the mid-60’s before they got their brains fried never to come back with anything worthwhile again.

PlatinumBlack

December 16th, 2011
9:45 pm

Bruno, thanks for the sappy one at 9:11… ;-)

And thank you, Mick, for the eye candy.

AmVet - A Happy KwanzChristmakkuh to al!

December 16th, 2011
9:47 pm

That was some freaky Minnesotans, B.

get back jo jo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6G7MkBMVxE

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
9:49 pm

They were only good in the mid-60’s

Pretty funny, Recon. I think their best material was late in their career:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huLnjZvYJL0&feature=related

Soothsayer

December 16th, 2011
9:54 pm

Here’s ol’ Ebenezer Del come in here tryin’ to kick over a anthill. Get with the program, Del! Post a Christmas song. It’ll do ya good!

Heck, here’s one for you, Del.

Recon 0311 2533

December 16th, 2011
9:56 pm

Bruno, I thought you had greater taste. The Bealls yellow submarine sunk to the bottom in the late 60’s. They just became an overrated limey band living on past glory.

AmVet - A Happy KwanzChristmakkuh to al!

December 16th, 2011
9:56 pm

Yeah Del, it wasn’t like any of them did diddly squat after the Beatles!

Sheesh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31Jwfv8WQMA&feature=related

AmVet - A Happy KwanzChristmakkuh to al!

December 16th, 2011
10:01 pm

Some of the original punks rockin’ out at Saint Nick’s expense…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjaPXihbORk

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
10:01 pm

Recon 0311 2533

December 16th, 2011
10:01 pm

Sooth, Merry Christmas.

Soothsayer

December 16th, 2011
10:02 pm

Great post, Jam-man! Love the way George stalked around making sure the sound was just right! Great guitarist.

Del, opinions are like, well, everyone’s got one! Thanks for sharing yours.

Recon 0311 2533

December 16th, 2011
10:04 pm

Sooth, thanks for sharing, well your own.

Soothsayer

December 16th, 2011
10:04 pm

Bruno: we’ve done taken up a collection and we’ve got enough for you and PlatinumBlack to get a room! Where do you want us to send it to? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! 8)

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
10:08 pm

we’ve done taken up a collection and we’ve got enough for you and PlatinumBlack to get a room! Where do you want us to send it to?

Funny you should mention that, Sooth. We were just scoping out 5 star hotels around the globe just the other day….. ;-)

Paul Brounshirt

December 16th, 2011
10:09 pm

That confused character Christopher Hitchens passed away. Most of his life he was a dangerous pinko.

Can you believe what he said when Jerry Falwell died? He said “he was a vulgar fraud”.

I just scratch my head. How could a man have been so right about the Iraq war and so wrong about other things? Just don’t get it. You can watch it here yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doKkOSMaTk4

Soothsayer

December 16th, 2011
10:12 pm

moonbat betty

December 16th, 2011
10:13 pm

Doggone/GA

December 16th, 2011
10:15 pm

“How could a man have been so right about the Iraq war and so wrong about other things? ”

If you always keep firmly in mind that to Hitchins EVERONE who professed a belief in a God is a fanatic…it all flows from there.

1811/0311

December 16th, 2011
10:16 pm

Soothsayer:

Doing fine and on the rebound. Thanks.

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
10:19 pm

The Bealls yellow submarine sunk to the bottom in the late 60’s.

I’ll agree with you re: The Yellow Submarine, but The White Album, Let It Be, and Abbey Road were all solid efforts from the late 60s, Recon.

PlatinumBlack

December 16th, 2011
10:21 pm

Aerosmith covers Come Together:
http://youtu.be/ER7hKSG9Ms0

John Lennon’s personality comes across in this live performance:
http://youtu.be/0e7AQQTONvg

AmVet - A Happy KwanzChristmakkuh to al!

December 16th, 2011
10:22 pm

Yeah, that was awesome footage wasn’t it, Sooth?

As was that 10:12.

betty, monster.

And the one that, of course, has been on my mind big time this entire fall…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5GhNEULrls&feature=related

Soothsayer

December 16th, 2011
10:22 pm

Recon 0311 2533

December 16th, 2011
10:22 pm

1811, welcome back to the asylum. Hope all is well…Semper Fi.

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
10:24 pm

Guess I’ve got to be running along. From the JGB:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92QqkafgUQI&feature=related

Mick

December 16th, 2011
10:27 pm

1811

Yes, you are correct the beatles flung open the door to a drug culture. However, what’s the poison of choice and very much legal? Alcohol. If you’ve never experimented with mind altering pharma, then you just can never know. I’m not advocating anything here, just that it wasn’t for everybody. Many did actually have control and enjoyed the experience. The best high of course is just life itself, it always come back to that-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqP3wT5lpa4

AmVet - A Happy KwanzChristmakkuh to al!

December 16th, 2011
10:31 pm

Sooth, sometimes the universe turns in such a wonderful way.

I received a phone call from a dear friend in Michigan earlier this evening and she told me how she was visiting her son in NYC recently and they saw Chris Botti, and she was pretty much blown away. I had written his name down and was going to check him out later this weekend.

Niiice.

Bruno

December 16th, 2011
10:33 pm

1811/0311

December 16th, 2011
10:34 pm

Recon 0311 2533:

Yep …………. I enjoyed the break …………. :o )

All secure key your handset once, not secure twice …… over !

Mick

December 16th, 2011
10:34 pm

recon

My dad once said to me that the beatles really weren’t that good, that I just thought they were because I was brainwashed by their songs getting constant airplay. He had a point, does the music really holdup?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HCaBAV4ZTI

1811/0311

December 16th, 2011
10:35 pm

Mick:

I hear you. I just think we are always putting the wrong people on a pedestal ………….. those who often do the most damage to our culture.

Sooner or later we reach a point from which we cannot return and simply slide down to the next lower rung on the ladder.

Mick

December 16th, 2011
10:48 pm

1811

As far as music and artists go, they belong on a pedestal. They made it out of a poor english port city, they really should not have had a chance but…..as you would know it’s all part of a divine plan. Your life and my life and how we’ve lived it has so much more relevance, we’re 24/7. I wish you the best of health this new year so that your legend can be appreciated by your loved ones – that’s what it’s all about; the music is just a soundtrack-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX5gG5AKbR4

PlatinumBlack

December 16th, 2011
10:51 pm

Saying goodbye — it’s so…

http://youtu.be/D4×8Z7CJugM

Ciao, y’all.

Mick

December 16th, 2011
10:56 pm

bruno

Well, your lady seems to be open the door cool! I think life is good-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ89HHSq9b8

AmVet - A Happy KwanzChristmakkuh to al!

December 16th, 2011
10:57 pm

Mick, none of us will know, but I think that hundreds of years from now people will still be listening to and loving that music.

The same way we do Bach, Mozart and Tchaikovsky.

George, then Paul, then John switching lead solos in Carry that Weight?!

And I can’t think of any other band that could make us stick strictly with them (pretty much) all night long.

And Scout and Del, Merry Christmas!

But trust me, you two definitely won’t like this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueBUFUWSXHs&feature=related

G’night. PB & B…

getalife

December 16th, 2011
10:58 pm

Paul,

He was wrong about Iraq because the majority consensus is it was a costly mistake.

He was an atheist so he will find out if he was wrong about that too.

Scout,

How long did you stay in the nuthouse this time?

1811/0311

December 16th, 2011
11:00 pm

getalife:

I see you haven’t changed ………………. :o )

Soothsayer

December 16th, 2011
11:01 pm

Mick

December 16th, 2011
11:02 pm

jamvet

Yes, they absolutely will hold up, they tapped into something-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD4JeCdX0bE

moonbat betty

December 16th, 2011
11:03 pm

Mick

December 16th, 2011
11:21 pm

Jay – Thanks for initiating the beatlefest, an almost never ending catalog of choices. Yes, really would like to know about hitchens encounter. Here’s a clue for brounshirt @ 10:09, hitchens knew what would sell, same as anne coulter…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evxrVjW-aeg

AmVet - A Happy KwanzChristmakkuh to al!

December 16th, 2011
11:23 pm

Mick, awesome vid of the Rundgren Pepper. What a genius Jesse Gress is doing that sitar part. (Among numerous others on that stage.)

Hiya, betty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-WV8IhlTlk

Mick

December 16th, 2011
11:27 pm

jamvet

What’s a tune that you just can’t seem to get enough of? This is one currently-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfbzUof-h64

Mick

December 17th, 2011
12:15 am

Nite all-

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won’t come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

This week, I found out.
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.-
-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit–Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit–Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.
So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol…so pass it on if you wish.’
Merry Christmas Everyone
CHRISTMAS AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY
I wonder why the press hasn’t enlightened the public about it??

Jm

December 17th, 2011
12:34 am

Music posts ….. So much more civil

Keep it up

Sooth- chath county line rocked

So to speak

ramguy68

December 17th, 2011
6:41 am

People should appreciate the importance and influence of the Beatles even if they don’t like them. Before they came along Tin Pan Alley ruled song writing. Very few artists wrote their own material. The Beatles changed that. If you don’t realize how important that was, just look that the state of Country music today where most of the songs are written by professional songwriters.and not the artists. Thus you have all these songs that are not fueled by passion but by the need for hits. Thus you have all these songs about tractors, sweet tea and the place where they were born and raised is the greatest thing in the world. You hear those themes over and over. It’s called cookie cutter..

AmVet - A Happy KwanzChristmakkuh to al!

December 17th, 2011
9:40 am

The other epic band from the sixties whose name starts with a B is reuniting for a tour next year.

The Beach Boys officially announced today that they are reuniting with founding member and chief songwriter Brian Wilson for a 50th-anniversary tour and album.

The 50-date international tour will kick off in April with a headlining performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and the reunited lineup has already recorded several songs for the new album, including a new version of their 1968 hit, “Do It Again.”

For all the surfers and their bikini-clad girlfriends…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHpjILzv1P4

Mick

December 17th, 2011
9:43 am

Mick

December 17th, 2011
9:53 am

One of my favorite beach boys….or not?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGqAUx88JQQ

Mr_B

December 17th, 2011
10:06 am

Obama 2012

December 17th, 2011
10:10 am

A day or two behind on blogs and off topic, but just too good to not re-post (from 1811/0311) — just need to somehow get this on the bumper sticker for Obama 2012 –

December 16th, 2011
11:34 am

“Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) – a system of government where the least capable to lead, are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.”

AmVet - A Happy KwanzChristmakkuh to al!

December 17th, 2011
10:16 am

Mick, you choices, as well as last night’s Beatlefest itself, perfectly demonstrate just how quickly things changed. In no time at all, the collective musical palette went from a few browns and greys to an exploding, sophisticated kaleidoscope of colors. Groovy, man.

What a wild ride, and I’m glad I/we was/were around to experience it.

I thought we were supposed to be free

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3crB03oDXQ

And, of course, rock and roll can never die

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMs3PCDM8Eg&feature=related

Mary Elizabeth

December 17th, 2011
10:20 am

Obama 2012@10:10 a.m.

Total Propaganda.
———————————–
To Readers,
To know, in truth, how your life is being shaped by corporate wealth, in conjunction with bought politicians, to diminish your rights and freedoms through secretive means, click the following link. Then, hit the left bottom video interview of Ed Schultz with Lisa Graves and John Nichols exposing ALEC.

http://alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed

Mick

December 17th, 2011
10:28 am

Mr_B

Thanks, someone emailed that to me but I thought it was too good to be true. Doesn’t matter in the end because who ever put it together nailed it!

jamvet

Rocknroll will never die? A hundred years from maybe it will be in a coma-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQB2-Kmiic