My 11th nominee for Best Beatle Solo Album/1968-1980

My 11th nominee in the Beatles Solo Project is John Lennon's Walls and Bridges album. It was released during a tumultuous period in his life and career, which he referred to as his Lost Weekend. He and Yoko Ono separated in 1973, and he stopped doing political material after releasing the panned Some Time in New York City album. The songs on Walls and Bridges explore his depression and gradual acceptance of the single life. The album's biggest hit was "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" (performed with Elton John). The lyrics came to John while watching late-night sermons on TV made by prosperity preacher Reverend Ike. "Nobody Loves You When You're Down and Out" was described by John as his Lost Weekend anthem. John's personal favourite, however, according to friends, was "#9 Dream." It is based on a dream he had that put him in a peaceful state. In regards to the album's title, John said, "Walls keep you in either protectively or otherwise, and bridges get you somewhere else." The cover art is a collage of drawings John made as a child. Shortly after the album reached #1 in 1974, John and Yoko reconciled.

Trivia: Julian Lennon, John's son from his first marriage, is the drummer on "Ya Ya." John would record a more polished cover of the Lee Dorsey song on the follow-up album, Rock 'n' Roll, in 1975.

Kevin's Isolators

Last night I appeared on the final episode of Kevin's Isolators, a nightly web series hosted by Kevin Frankish. This is the same Kevin Frankish who used to host the Toronto edition of Breakfast Television (BT) on CityTV. Isolators ran for 100 episodes, and I hope it will return in some form because it was a great comfort for those of us experiencing depression and/or anxiety during this pandemic.

My segment appears around the 38:12 mark. Here is the link to this episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tlTPwp_bUc

I actually met Kevin a couple of times back when he co-hosted the Easter Seals Ontario Telethon. I believe he is the real deal. Other episodes of his Isolators series are available to watch on his YouTube channel.

My Beatles Solo Project - Week 5

Week 5 of my Beatles Solo Project has begun! Another four albums on the listening schedule this week. John Lennon begins the week with Rock 'n' Roll, his 'covers' album from 1975. It is the last album he would release until 1980. Wings' two #1 albums from 1975 and 1976 will be examined. George Harrison's final album for Apple Records, Extra Texture, will also be played.

My 10th nominee for Best Beatle Solo Album/1968-1980

My 10th nominee in the Beatles Solo Project is Band on the Run, Paul McCartney’s third album with Wings. Released at the end of 1973, it became the group’s most successful album and Paul’s biggest post-Beatles work. The title track and “Jet” are from this album. Paul and wife Linda, and Denny Laine comprised the group after two of its founding members left (i.e. drummer Denny Seiwell and guitarist Henry McCullough). The trio had written and recorded many of the songs while in Lagos, Nigeria. Just as they were wrapping up, Paul and Linda were robbed at knife-point. Having lost their demos, they quickly re-recorded songs for the album. Putting that extra time may have contributed to the album’s enduring quality. I like all the songs, apart from one weak track (“Picasso’s Last Words”). It is interesting to note that Paul wrote the “Band on the Run” song about his early years in The Beatles, and not about Wings. (It was George Harrison who inspired the lyric, “if we ever get out of here” said during a business meeting.) For years I was confused as to what “Jet” is about. Apparently, Paul wrote it about his dog! Thankfully, the album is no dog. It is the best album Wings ever made.

Trivia: a few notable celebrities appear on the album cover with Wings, including Muhammad Ali!

The realities of being black in Canada in 2020

My Beatles Solo Project - Week 4

Week 4 of my Beatles Solo Project has begun! I'm only (re)listening to four albums this week - one by each Beatle! Paul McCartney's best-known album with Wings, Band on the Run, kicks off the week, followed by John Lennon's Walls and Bridges. Both of these albums were #1 on Billboard in 1974. Then, it's Ringo Goodnight Vienna, and George's Dark Horse. Interestingly, Dark Horse would later be the name of George's record label after he left Apple in late 1975.

My 9th nominee for Best Beatle Solo Album/1968-1980

My 9th nominee in the Beatles Solo Project is Paul's debut solo album, McCartney. He released it in April 1970, a month before The Beatles' final album, Let it Be. People didn't know what to make of his first album initially because most of it sounds radically different from his Beatles work. It was likely intended to be that way. Paul's mix of conventional pop songs and avant garde instrumentals have a homegrown feel, despite its lack of polish. "Maybe I'm Amazed" is still one of his best solo songs 50 years later. "Junk" and "Teddy Boy" were composed while he was still a Beatle. "Every Night" is another highlight. The best instrumental, "Kreen-Akrore," is adapted from music he heard while watching a documentary about indigenous people in a Brazilian rain-forest. Though Paul would go on to make better albums, this one topped the charts in 1970.