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How to listen to the Beatles re-releases?

There have been some stupid questions asked on these forums over the years, and several of those stupid questions have come from me. Perhaps here's another one for the ages...

I'm 38 and have never really listened to the Beatles catalog. I own "Peppers", "Rubber Soul" and "Abby Road" on vinyl, plus "Love", but wouldn't say I'm as familiar with their body of work as I am with, say, R.E.M (they were "my" band during my high-school and college years).

However, I've pre-ordered both the stereo and mono Beatles re-releases. What's the best way to re-introduce myself to the genius of the "fab four"?

Should I sit down and work my way through their collection chronologically? Is there a good companion book to read through while I listen? Should I listen to an album over-and-over until I really "get it" before moving on to the next? Both mono and stereo?

There are albums that I pick up and think "Wow...It would have been awesome to listen to this the first day it was released." Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors". CCR's "Willy...". Rush's "Moving Pictures". Etc. The excitement of the release. The cultural and musical context. The significance. I'll never be able to experience that with the Beatles, and I'd like to put myself in a place (mentally) to really listen to the Beatles for the first time (again).

Does this make sense? Blast away. I figure I couple of people will understand what I'm asking and have some thoughtful suggestions.
128x128nrenter
has2be's avatar
has2be
555 posts
 
"Just talk to any pop or rock artist that came along post Beatles and you will find very few who do not mention the Beatles as their main influence." Rcrerar, Thats a profound statement. Of course I can,t do that not being in their circle as you must be to of made the statement as though you have and are. I think the people themselves have had more an impact on music driven by the history of what was going on at the time and the tragedies and conflicts that drove people to not ownly seek change but to tell a story and reflect their veiws and feelings within that time. Art imitates life, not the other way around....... "Even the artists who released music very different from the Beatles and who claimed to hate the Beatles, like the early punk bands, were still in fact influenced by the Beatles music." So you think that because a band be it PUNK or Metal chose not to sound like the beatles because they hated them is the beatles influencing them? Thats ridiculous ! Its a given the Beatles did and have had a large impact on music but to say we owe it all to them what we have now is ridiculous and it obliterates the conceptions and talents and the driving force behind what the artists who followed them have done . Just having a tough time picturing a 40 year old JZ standing on a corner in Compton who by your standards was influenced by the Beatles singing "Yesterday all my Troubles were so far away"....... Cheers
has2be's avatar
has2be
555 posts
 
What Jaybo said ! And thats another influence of the times.... Hey Jaybo, your bogarting again, pass it on man !!! Cheers
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,279 posts
 
"they were good....but they were not THAT good."

I disagree...IMO...THEY CHANGED THE MUSIC WORLD.
If you don't agree, I'm OK (though disappointed with your point of veiw).

They came at a time and with talent that hasn't been duplicated since. There won't ever be another "Beatles".

Excellent books to read:
"The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions" - Mark Lewisohn
"Here, There and Everywhere" - Geoff Emerick
tubelvr
15 posts
 
"as far as 'how to listen?'..it goes without saying...stoned."

If you can remember the sixties you wern't really a part of them
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
>>08-31-09: Tubelvr
If you can remember the sixties you wern't really a part of them<<

Wow, that line is about as old as the 60's.

I can hardly stop laughing.

Got any other good yukkers?
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