Revolver - Northern Songs (1979)
If you're a big fan of the Beatles then you may be aware of an outfit called The Beatnix, an Australian power-pop/Beatles tribute band who released an album in 1994 called 'It's Four You'. This comprised songs written by Lennon & McCartney but never actually recorded by the Beatles (other than 'That Means A Lot' which eventually turned up on the aborted 'Sessions' album), instead being given away to other artists for them to enjoy the chart successes. Bands including The Applejacks, The Fourmost, and Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, and singers such as Cilla Black, Tommy Quickley, Peter And Gordon, and P J Proby all benefited from Lennon & McCartney's generosity, and although the songs were never recorded by the Beatles themselves you probably already know them from the hit versions. It was a great idea for an album, but they weren't actually the first to come up with the concept, as Liverpool band Revolver had already done it 15 years earlier, when they issued their 'Northern Songs' album in 1979. Both records obviously feature the same songs, but there is a big difference in the styles in which they are performed, with Revolver giving them a more authentic feel, being how I imagine they would have sounded had the Beatles recorded them in the mid-60's. The Beatnix versions are perfectly fine, but some of the arrangements are a bit too modern, and there is a 90's production sheen to the album, whereas you need the songs to sound as raw as possible to get the right atmosphere. I've had my vinyl copy of this album for many years, and have never seen another one since, so it's extremely rare, but it is definitely worth hearing if you're either a Beatles fanatic or just have a passing interest. The Beatnix version is also worth hearing, so I'm posting that as well so that you can compare the two. I always felt that the only thing that let the album down was the disappointing artwork, so I've given it a bit of a boost for this post, while still keeping the original concept.
Original cover
Original back cover
Track listing
01 One And One Is Two 02 Bad To Me 03 World Without Love 04 Love Of The Loved 05 I'll Keep You Satisfied 06 That Means A Lot 07 I'll Be On My Way 08 I Don't Want To See You Again 09 Hello Little Girl 10 Goodbye 11 Tip Of My Tongue 12 Nobody I Know 13 From A Window 14 Step Inside Love 15 Like Dreamers Do 16 It's For You 17 I'm In Love
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Speaking of Beatnix, have you seen/heard their version of "Stairway to Heaven"?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WfoccRna6I
Yes, I have. I used to play it to people at work and try to convince them that the Beatles wrote it, and Led Zep stole it, and a couple of them believed me! Check out the Doors version here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHCKtPafA0A.
DeleteYeah, the Doors one is good also, as is the B-52s "cover" - cheers!
DeleteI have the Beatnix album but not this one. It will be interesting to compare them. I also have the Beatnix'x Stairway on an album of Stairway covers where each track paints the song in a different genre such as Elvis, the 40s, B52s and Rolf Harris. Big fun! The only way I can listen to that song these days. I've heard the original way too many times.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have the 'Stairways To Heaven' album, and it is great fun.
DeleteDon't forget Apple Jam - Off The Beatle Track
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFn_KTtz9Kk
Thanks for Revolver. Another group that mined this set of songs was the Seattle band called Apple Jam, with their 2009 album, "Off The Beatle Track." It's quite good too. https://www.discogs.com/Apple-Jam-Off-The-Beatle-Track/release/6271575
ReplyDeleteThere's also "Lost Songs of Lennon & McCartney" featuring Graham Parker, Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, Kate Pierson of B-52s and others.
ReplyDeleteJust thought I'd let you know that the Beatnix are Australian.
ReplyDeleteI did know that - can't think why I put that they were American. Now corrected. Cheers
DeleteApple Jam (from Seattle) released an album called 'Off The Beatle Track' in 2009.It's right up there with The Beatnix & Revolver,worth checking out.
ReplyDeleteMany, many thanks.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely brilliant! Thank you for this. I've owned this LP since 1984 and have loved it ever since. Revolver really captures the essence of these tracks and they have an analog rawness to them that the modern versions, although very good, cannot capture. Also seek out Revolver's "At The BBC". I have it on cassette and it probably came our in the early '80s'. They preform tracks The Beatles played at the BBC, but never recorded at EMI. Another recommendation is The Weeklings. They also cover rare Lennon & McCartney and Harrison compositions on their two albums "The Weeklings" and "Studio 2". "Studio 2" even has a couple of Len/Mac songs that were never recorded, except during the January 1969 "Get Back" rehearsals. Both of the Weeklings albums are worth seeking out as well as the three albums by Apple Jam. Great site and thanks for the uploads.
ReplyDeleteCheers.