All Time is Now • Episode #074 - 1st week of Dec

The BEST of All Time is Now

My playlist from Episode #074 – Hour One

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MONY MONY [Tommy James & The Shondells cover] — Billy Idol


HOMOSAPIAN (Special mix) — Pete Shelly

I WANNA TALK 2 U — John Cale feat. Danger Mouse

LOVER TO LOVER — Florence + The Machine

SEVEN NATION ARMY [The White Stripes cover] — Melanie Martinez
HOTEL YORBA (Redd Blood Cells version) — The White Stripes

UNSQUARE DANCE — The Dave Brubeck Quartet

WILLIE AND THE HAND JIVE — The Johnny Otis Show
ROCK-A-HULA BABY — Elvis Presley
GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY — Little Richard
I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR (En español) 
— Buena Vista Social Club with Coco Freeman feat. U2
THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT [The Smiths cover] (En español) 
— Sweet & Tender Hooligans
GOING BACK TO MEMPHIS — My Darling Clementine
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH — Buffalo Springfield

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My playlist from Episode #074 – Side B

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LOUIE, LOUIE [The Kingsmen cover] — Toots & The Maytels 

MONDAYS — Black Uhuru

SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD — The Police

FOLLOW YOUR DAUGHTER HOME — The Guess Who

PLAYING IN THE BAND — Stampeders

UNDERNEATH THE BUNKER — R.E.M.

HAPPY JACK — The Who

I'M THE URBAN SPACEMAN — The Bonzo Dog Do-Dah Band

L'Anarchie Pour Le U.K. [Sex Pistols cover] — Louis Brennon

SHADOWS OF OURSELVES — The Thievery Corporation feat. Lou Lou

THE CALL UP/THE COOL OUT — The Clash

LET'S GO TO BAD — The Cure

MELT — Siouxsie & The Banshees

BLUEBERRY HILL [Fats Domino cover] — Jah Wobble

I'LL BE THERE (Stripped/Unplugged mix) — The Jackson 5

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Oh no, me say,
We gotta go,
’cause It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll.

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All Time is Now with DJ Shark

Heard 'round the World

-

For your listening pleasure, 

and to share with your friends,

additional episodes can be found at…

www.DJSharkRadio.com

All Time is Now • Episode #066 - 2nd week of October

BEST of ATN: Second week of October

My playlist from Episode #066 – Hour One

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MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR — The Beatles


PIGGY IN THE MIDDLE — The Rutles


FLYING — The Beatles


DOOM AND GLOOM — The Rolling Stones


LITTLE LATIN LOVER/AMOR PROHIBIDO — The Michael Des Barres Band


PEOPLE WHO DIED — The Jim Carroll Band

CLAMPDOWN (Live at Shea Stadium) — The Clash


CAN'T STAND ME NOW — The Libertines

PUBLIC IMAGE — Public Image Ltd.

I WILL FOLLOW — U2


HEINZ BAKED BEANS — The Who


SMASH IT UP — The Damned


TOOT, TOOT, TOOTSIE (from "The Jazz Singer") — Al Jolson


POISON IVY — The Coasters

MACK THE KNIFE (from "Three Penny Opera") — Bobby Darin

•

My playlist from Episode #066 – Side B

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HOUSE OF CARDS — Radiohead

NOW IS THE START — A Fine Frenzy

PROCESSION — New Order

NEVER LET ME DOWN AGAIN (Single edit) — Depeche Mode

WATCHING THE DETECTIVES — Elvis Costello & The Attractions
CANARY IN A COALMINE [The Police cover] — Toots & The Maytels

RUDY, A MESSAGE TO YOU — Dandy Livingston feat. Rico

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS [Simon & Garfunkle cover] — Jimmy London

GALLOWS POLE (Unplugged) — Page/Plant

THE WHOLE OF THE MOON — The Waterboys

DO YOU REMEMBER ROCK N ROLL RADIO? — Ramones

GOODY TWO SHOES — Adam Ant

ALL THAT MONEY WANTS — The Psychedlic Furs

NIGHTSWIMMING — R.E.M.

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Stop your messin' around,
Better think of your future,
Time you straighten right out,
Making problems in town,
’cause It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll.

-

All Time is Now with DJ Shark

Heard 'round the World

-

For your listening pleasure, 

and to share with your friends,

additional episodes can be found at…

www.DJSharkRadio.com

All Time is Now • The Beatles solo years Part I (1968)

The Beatles Solo years – Part I (1968)

In this multi-part series, I will take a look at The Beatleʼs solo years, beginning with the creation of Apple Records in 1968. 

Looking back there are some fun, trivial, forgotten, and surprising things about the post Beatlesʼ years. For example; did you know Lennon was the last Beatle to release a proper song based “solo” LP? And the last Beatle to have a number #1 single (Ringo had already had two, five if you include other countries!!). George was the first and the last Beatle to have a #1 single. 

Even if you are a John, Paul, George, or Ringo fan, I bet there are songs you have never heard of. Plus, did you know that John & Yoko released LPʼs simultaneously? Where both albums were recorded at the same time with the same players. Or that every Lennon 45 has a Yoko B-side (except for when they were broken up)? 

Solo albums from any active band are very telling. You can tell if they are a threat to the band or a true side-project; i.e. weird stuff they canʼt do within the confines of the group dynamic. 

The Beatles' first solo albums really were very, very outside the band; experimental, World music soundtracks or one off 45ʼs. But once Paul McCartney released his first solo LP in 1970 (announcing the break up via his own self-written press release for the LP), it was off to the races and on to the charts. 

Looking at their solo years in chronological order, you see how they were often reflecting each other, answering/responding to each other, pushing each other, and in some cases, inspired by the same events (i.e. the Troubles in Ireland). And how they all made appearances on Ringoʼs solo LPs. 

So as a starting point, I'm starting with the year they launched their own record label, Apple Records – part of their umbrella company Apple Corp. (they always liked a good pun) – as it was the first ongoing venture where The Beatles were active with other artists (at least Paul and George were) and the first LP on the new Apple label was George Harrisonʼs score to the film, WONDERWALL.

So without further adieu, let me introduce to you, the men you've known for all these years...

THE BEATLES – ALL TOGETHER NOW (1968) 

January

George is in Bombay, India recording portions of his original score for the film WONDERWALL with Indian Classical musicians. George records a few instrumental tracks to bring back to The Beatles, "The Inner Light" backing track is recorded.

The Beatles open Apple Corp. offices on the fourth floor at 95 Wigmore Street in London (one year lease) only to discover that they canʼt play music (records) during the day after complaints from near by offices.

March 

45 – “Lady Madonna”/”The Inner Light” by The Beatles is released (the last under the Parlophone UK / Capital Records US labels).

Charts:  #4 US  /  #1 UK

April 

Apple Records advertises for talent submissions. 

Click to view larger image.

May 

Japanese-American artist Yoko Ono visits John at his home in Surrey while his wife Cynthia is away on holiday. They hang out, John plays her some of his far-out, weird, comedy, experimental tapes. She says, “Letʼs make one ourselves.” and they start recording (what turns into an all night session) trippy gobbledegook; making noises with tape loops and sundry sound effects, etc. And apparently made love for the first time when the sun came up. This would later be released as Johnʼs first solo LP, Two Virgins. 

June 

George is in the studio with Apple artist Jackie Lomax recording the single, “Sour Milk Sea”. 

The Beatles purchase a five story building to be their new headquarters at 3 Saville Row in London. They build a studio in the basement and each Beatle has their own office. Apple continues to use both offices (95 Wigmore Street) until the lease expires at Wigmore Street.

Newly signed Apple artists include... Mary Hopkins, Badfinger (both produced by Paul), Jackie Lomax, Billy Preston (both produced by George) and James Taylor (produced by Peter Asher-brother of Paul's girlfriend Jane Asher).

The Beatles are working on their next album, The Beatles (The White Album). With The Beatles encouraged to contribute their own songs, contributions/ideas to fill out the two disc set. John records an avant-garde, sound collage with Yoko and George called "Revolution #9". This experiment becomes significant as it later inspires a) a crazed, Charles Manson to misinterpret that The Beatles are speaking to him directly about an upcoming race war (the furthest thing from John's mind), and b) the spoken word loop, "Number Nine" when played backwards is "Turn me on dead man" fuelling the, "Paul Is Dead" rumours the following year.

July 

John & Yoko launch a joint art exhibition, You Are Here at the Robert Fraser Gallery in London. 

The world première of the animated Beatles' film, YELLOW SUBMARINE takes place in London. All the Beatles attend, Paul arrives (significantly) without girlfriend Jane Asher.

Cool footage from the premiere in London.

August 

During recording of The Beatles (The White Album), Ringo quits The Beatles. After leaving London, Ringo spends two weeks with Peter Sellers on his yacht in the Mediterranean. While there he gets inspired and writes the song, “Octopusʼ Garden”. Meanwhile, The Beatles continue recording, “Back In The U.S.S.R.” and “Dear Prudence” with Paul on drums. 

The Beatles launch their new label, Apple Records with the simultaneous release of four 45rpm singles, including the double A-side single, “Hey Jude”/”Revolution” by The Beatles, which would become the BIGGEST selling single of the year!

Charts:  #1 UK  /  #1 US

"Hey Jude" is also seven damn minutes long!! The average pop song is 2:50 and The Beatles do NOT provide a shorter Radio edit. And John's distorted guitar on "Revolution" prompts many record buyers to return the single complaining that there is a "noise problem" with the record.

The other Apple Records 45's are...
Mary Hopkinʼs debut single, the Paul produced, “Those Were The Days". An old Russian folk song which is recorded in five different languages (French, German, Spanish, Italian, & Afghanistan Farsi) and becomes a massive hit around the world. 

Jackie Lomax single, “Sour Milk Sea” written and produced by George. The band is; George and Eric Clapton on guitar, Nicky Hopkins on piano, and Paul & Ringo on drum and bass. 

...and the brass band, Black Dyke Mills Band, produced by Paul, with a new "McCartney & Lennon" (sic) instrumental, “Thingumybob" which was the TV theme tune to the London Weekend Television show of the same name. With their brass band version of "Yellow Submarine” as it's B-Side. Check em' out (they kinda' got lost in the success of the other three singles).

September 

The Beatles send a telegram to Ringo asking him to come back. He returns to the studio to find his drum kit covered in flowers. They continue recording as a group again with “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. George invites Eric Clapton to play the solo.

October 

The Beatles (The White Album) now completed, The Beatles go their separate ways for a few weeks. Paul goes to New York to holiday with new girlfriend, Linda Eastman. 

George is in the studio producing Apple artist Jackie Lomaxʼs debut LP, Is This What You Want?. 

November 

The first two Apple Records' Long Players are released. 

Both are the first Beatles' solo LP's from John and George.

LP – GEORGE HARRISON & Band/Indian Orchestra - Wonderwall Music 

Georgeʼs India/Ragga based original score for the cult film WONDERWALL. The film stars Jane Birken as Penny Lane and Jack MacGowen as Scientist Oscar Collins. The film is currently available for streaming online.

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Charts: #49 US  /  Does not chart in UK
Have a taste or enjoy the full album audio here...

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LP – JOHN & YOKO - Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins 

The second Apple Records release is a purely experimental LP, consisting of John & Yoko tripping, making noises and sundry sound effects, with tape loops, recorded during an all-night session at John's music room six months earlier. Infamous for itʼs cover of the new couple aux natural. 

Charts: #124 US  /  Does not chart in UK

See how far you get listening to this one (NOTE: Yoko starts screaming at 4:30)… 

 

Here is a (more listenable) psychedelic folk sixties answer/track called, “John You Went Too Far This Time" by Rainbo (AKA a young Sissy Spacek)...

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LP – The Beatles (The White Album) two-record set by The Beatles is released.
Charts: #1 Around the World

The 45rpm single, “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”/”While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles is released around the world, except in the UK, US and Canada (?!?).

Charts:  #1 in several countries

In the absence of it being released in the UK, several band's cover the song, and Scottish band, Marmalade have a #1 UK hit with it.
The first Scottish band to top the charts!

December 

Apple Records releases the album, Under The Jasmin Tree by The Modern Jazz Quartet (with cool artwork by Alan Aldrich). The only Jazz artist on Apple.

Released Dec '68 in UK - Feb '69 in US

Apple Records releases the debut self titled album from James Taylor (produced by Peter Asher).

John appears on The Rolling Stonesʼ Rock ʻnʼ Roll Circus performing The Beatles' song, “Yer Blues” with Keith Richards on bass, Eric Clapton on guitar, and Mitch Mitchell from Jimi Hendrix Experience on drums. Due to The Who's performance being so great and The Rolling Stones (playing after 2AM) admittedly not in the best shape (especially Brian Jones), the film is shelved and never seen until almost thirty years later in 1996.  

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The Beatles, as they have always done since 1963, send out their annual, The Beatles' Fan Club Christmas 45. Interestingly influenced by John's sound experiments and Monty Python. Featuring an appearance from Tiny Tim singing, "Nowhere Man".

Since The Beatles are no longer a touring group, they kick off 1969 by jumping right back into recording another album, but their time will be divided between their outside projects and solo recordings.

For Part II (1969) link here...
The Beatles solo years (1969)

  

After all is said and done, 

It's only Rock 'n' Roll. 

Shark 

All Time is Now with DJ Shark

Heard 'round the World

-

For your listening pleasure, 

and to share with your friends,

additional episodes can be found at…

www.DJSharkRadio.com