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Post by vectisfabber on Jun 23, 2010 3:48:45 GMT -5
I think Fool On The Hill is that very rare thing for McCartney, a song where the lyrics have real weight and substance. They work as a story, but also as metaphor. The words are profound beyond McCartney's years. And the tune ain't bad either, but one expects that.
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wooltonian
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"Football isn't a matter of life and death - it's much more important than that." Bill Shankly.
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Post by wooltonian on Jun 23, 2010 5:03:27 GMT -5
Interesting point, JSD and Ursa, about 'Fool on the hill' being down-graded in people's estimation over the years. It's one of those Beatles tracks that once I'd heard the clean, uncluttered, slightly off-the-cuff version on Anthology, I suddenly didn't like the original version as much. There are now quite a few examples of this for me in the Beatles canon! I voted for 'Please please me' side one. Taken all together, it's actually quite a (pardon the pun) pleasing collection of songs with one or two real stand out tracks. MMT 1 is hit and miss (I totally agree with most people's assessment of the nondescript 'Flying' and wearisome 'Blue Jay Way') and 'Fool on the hill' has now been officially down-graded - so it's a win for PPM.
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nine
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Post by nine on Jun 23, 2010 5:38:14 GMT -5
Interesting point, JSD and Ursa, about 'Fool on the hill' being down-graded in people's estimation over the years. It's one of those Beatles tracks that once I'd heard the clean, uncluttered, slightly off-the-cuff version on Anthology, I suddenly didn't like the original version as much. There are now quite a few examples of this for me in the Beatles canon! I voted for 'Please please me' side one. Taken all together, it's actually quite a (pardon the pun) pleasing collection of songs with one or two real stand out tracks. MMT 1 is hit and miss (I totally agree with most people's assessment of the nondescript 'Flying' and wearisome 'Blue Jay Way') and 'Fool on the hill' has now been officially down-graded - so it's a win for PPM. Like Yesterday and Martha My Dear I think of Fool as a solo track.
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Post by John S. Damm on Jun 23, 2010 10:04:26 GMT -5
I think Fool On The Hill is that very rare thing for McCartney, a song where the lyrics have real weight and substance. They work as a story, but also as metaphor. The words are profound beyond McCartney's years. And the tune ain't bad either, but one expects that. It is a well constructed song but nonetheless relegated to Oldies but Moldies. I think people grew out of that Sixties sentimental thinking and discovered that the fool on the hill was really just a fool after all, perhaps even slightly dangerous!
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wooltonian
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"Football isn't a matter of life and death - it's much more important than that." Bill Shankly.
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Post by wooltonian on Jun 23, 2010 11:43:57 GMT -5
I think Fool On The Hill is that very rare thing for McCartney, a song where the lyrics have real weight and substance. They work as a story, but also as metaphor. The words are profound beyond McCartney's years. And the tune ain't bad either, but one expects that. It is a well constructed song but nonetheless relegated to Oldies but Moldies. I think people grew out of that Sixties sentimental thinking and discovered that the fool on the hill was really just a fool after all, perhaps even slightly dangerous! Has 'Nowhere man' been similarly downgraded in recent times? A stalwart of 62-66, Ian Macdonald and Carr and Tyler were both lukewarm about the song and it was being compared unfavourably (in terms of being an 'interesting Lennon compositon') with 'Tomorrow never knows' on BBC Radio 2's Radcliffe and Maconie show last night.
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Post by John S. Damm on Jun 23, 2010 12:48:17 GMT -5
It is a well constructed song but nonetheless relegated to Oldies but Moldies. I think people grew out of that Sixties sentimental thinking and discovered that the fool on the hill was really just a fool after all, perhaps even slightly dangerous! Has 'Nowhere man' been similarly downgraded in recent times? A stalwart of 62-66, Ian Macdonald and Carr and Tyler were both lukewarm about the song and it was being compared unfavourably (in terms of being an 'interesting Lennon compositon') with 'Tomorrow never knows' on BBC Radio 2's Radcliffe and Maconie show last night. I would say no based on where and when I hear "Nowhere Man." I still hear that on radio stations that play new and old songs. The shining guitar sound and harmonies of NM have never gone out of style in pop music. Recorders and flutes haven't been as lucky in pop music and can instantly date a song(poor Jethro Tull). Music critic Tim Riley, author of Tell Me Why wrote of "Fool," "Possibilities in this song outweigh its substance—it's the most unworthy Beatles standard since 'Michelle.'" John Lennon himself liked "Fool On The Hill" and was dismissive of "Nowhere Man" so go figure but the latter song gets widespread F.M. play to this day while the former doesn't, just Oldies stations.
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Post by acebackwords on Jun 23, 2010 13:17:40 GMT -5
I think Fool On The Hill is that very rare thing for McCartney, a song where the lyrics have real weight and substance. They work as a story, but also as metaphor. The words are profound beyond McCartney's years. And the tune ain't bad either, but one expects that. It is a well constructed song but nonetheless relegated to Oldies but Moldies. I think people grew out of that Sixties sentimental thinking and discovered that the fool on the hill was really just a fool after all, perhaps even slightly dangerous! Agree with Wooltonian. The version of "Fool on the Hill" on Anthology completely shreds. It must have been agonizing for the Beatles to make the final cut when it came to picking the master take. But I also agree with John that that song kind of symbolizes the fuzzy thinking of the '60s hippies. I read a Macca interview where he talks about the fool in the song being a metaphor for some kind of zen master holy fool. Its the same kind of romanticized and naive thinking that led them to believe that Magic Alex was an electronics genius. Or on the far extreme, the ones that thought an insane fool like Charles Manson was a holy guru.
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Post by scousette on Jun 23, 2010 14:58:20 GMT -5
PLEASE PLEASE ME, Side 1
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Post by ursamajor on Jun 23, 2010 16:24:39 GMT -5
As I write this letter ...
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Post by revolver66 on Jun 23, 2010 21:38:29 GMT -5
MMT1. Unlike most I think Blue Jay Way is amazing! I actually like all the Tracks on MMT1 and think it flows great. Now PPM1 is also a great side but my heart went with the Psych sounds this time!!
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Joseph McCabe
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A rebel to his last breath ...
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Post by Joseph McCabe on Jun 24, 2010 1:35:33 GMT -5
I've done my thinking, and have decided to vote for PPM1.
What pushed me towards PPM is this: The MMT musical package was delivered as a two-EP set, not as an album side. The running order of the US-conceived album doesn't even reproduce the running order of the two-EP set (order in the sense Record 1-side A-B-Record 2-side A-B --- and that is Tour, Your Mother, Walrus, Fool, Flying, Way).
AND: I have always thought that the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band's "Death Cab For Cutie" should have been a guest track, so to speak, on MMT (EP set or album). It's played in the film during the strip scene, so it would have been a lovely and unique gesture to include it on the record.
So I thought that MMT1 shouldn't even be in this contest. So out it goes. Begone, you interloper, you. ;D
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Post by Steve Marinucci on Jun 24, 2010 1:45:20 GMT -5
I've done my thinking, and have decided to vote for PPM1. What pushed me towards PPM is this: The MMT musical package was delivered as a two-EP set, not as an album side. The running order of the US-conceived album doesn't even reproduce the running order of the two-EP set (order in the sense Record 1-side A-B-Record 2-side A-B --- and that is Tour, Your Mother, Walrus, Fool, Flying, Way). AND: I have always thought that the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band's "Death Cab For Cutie" should have been a guest track, so to speak, on MMT (EP set or album). It's played in the film during the strip scene, so it would have been a lovely and unique gesture to include it on the record. So I thought that MMT1 shouldn't even be in this contest. So out it goes. Begone, you interloper, you. ;D How many Guinnesses did that take?
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Joseph McCabe
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A rebel to his last breath ...
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Post by Joseph McCabe on Jun 24, 2010 1:51:07 GMT -5
Oh, more than three - but it took a few days .
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Post by John S. Damm on Jun 24, 2010 8:03:26 GMT -5
AND: I have always thought that the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band's "Death Cab For Cutie" should have been a guest track, so to speak, on MMT (EP set or album). It's played in the film during the strip scene, so it would have been a lovely and unique gesture to include it on the record. Excellent point. It is a song that appears in the film. It should be on what purports to be the soundtrack. It is also enjoyable in a campy way. More so than "Your Mother Should Know."
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Post by joeyself on Jun 24, 2010 11:12:36 GMT -5
MMT 1 for me.
I was surprised at how close this voting, but in reading the notes, I see that a theory I've had for years seems to be holding up: One's opinion of MMT as a whole depends a great deal of one's opinion of the trio of "Flying/Blue Jay Way/Your Mother Should Know." Those that have low regard for those three aren't likely to vote for a side containing all of them. I also have seen negative remarks about the first two songs on the side.
Me, I like all five of them. Yes, "Blue Jay Way" goes on too long, and yes, the production of "Fool On The Hill" is quite dated. But a side that starts with the rousing title track and finishes with "I Am The Walrus" can stand a bit of filler.
Now, I recognize that both sides have the great start and finish; I love "I Saw Her Standing There" and am fond of "Please Please Me." In between, I'm not so keen on "Chains," "Anna" or "Misery." "Ask Me Why" is nicely done, but not a great song.
My bottomline is that PPM 1 is a bit like seeing a great high school athlete, while MMT 1 is that same competitor in college. The energy of PPM 1 is refreshing, but I like the skill of MMT a little more.
JcS
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Post by scousette on Jun 24, 2010 12:52:32 GMT -5
I wrote a song parody to the tune of "Fool on the Hill" when Paul was engaged to Heather. "Fool for the Girl." Very easy!!
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Post by vectisfabber on Jun 24, 2010 13:21:58 GMT -5
Yes, I believe she was...
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Post by coachbk on Jun 24, 2010 22:37:44 GMT -5
A very tough call, but I went with MMT. Both have two songs I consider "classics" (I Saw Her Standing There and Please Please Me from PPM and Fool On The Hill and I Am The Walrus from MMT). But Magical Mystery Tour is my next favorite and Chains is my least favorite (with the other songs kind of balancing off) so I went with MMT.
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Post by anyoneanyhow on Jul 8, 2010 19:40:44 GMT -5
PPM1 for me. All songs have a buzz, the title song is one of their best ever, as is the leadoff track. MMT has 2 great songs (Walrus, Fool) 2 good songs (MMT, Blue Jay Way), one losuy song (Flying) and one truly cringe-worthy song (you do the math)
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