Apple Corps Confirms Beatles Coming To iTunes

[ksgant]

Many many stupid Beatles songs? What is your basis for that exactly?

Meh, don't take it personally. It's kids hating everything that came before them. When I was growing up I hated the old music my parents listened to...now my kids hate the music I listen to. It's the same thing over and over. Just like the guy said a few posts back "some fuddy duddy old band that no one cares about". It's like he has to say that. It's hardwired into their brains...they can't help it.

Just ignore them. They'll see when they grow up and their kids crap all over the things that they like. It's an endless circle bound to repeat over and over. In the grand scheme of things, it's all pointless anyway.

 

[hexoffender]

http://www.avrev.com/bands/ -- This is also an interesting (but again subjective) list.

There is also forbes: http://www.forbes.com/2007/01/24/money-concert-music-tech-media-cx_lr_0123topmusic.html

 

[Zadillo]

Meh, don't take it personally. It's kids hating everything that came before them. When I was growing up I hated the old music my parents listened to...now my kids hate the music I listen to. It's the same thing over and over. Just like the guy said a few posts back "some fuddy duddy old band that no one cares about". It's like he has to say that. It's hardwired into their brains...they can't help it.

Just ignore them. They'll see when they grow up and their kids crap all over the things that they like. It's an endless circle bound to repeat over and over. In the grand scheme of things, it's all pointless anyway.

Yeah, fair enough, although it's still hard for me to understand. I'm only 27, so bands like the Beatles, Zeppelin, etc. were well before my time (not to mention the older originators of rock and roll, the blues, etc.). But I can still appreciate their music a lot (heck, especially given some of the music I DID grow up with in the late 80's and early 90's, I probably liked the music from my "parent's generation" more than my own).

 

[cbud]

"The ball was in"
What's that got to do with the price of bread?


When The Beatles started there were loads of other bands that sounded like them.
When Sabbath started there was nothing that sounded like them!
They kick started an entirely new genre of music, unlike The Beatles. A genre that then splintered and developed into hundreds of sub genres that spawn new one every few years.

Correct, loads of bands were influenced by the Beatles. If you listen to interviews with other bands of that age, they all admit they were influenced by the Beatles. To me, Sabbath sounds a lot like Zeppelin.

 

[Zadillo]

Correct, loads of bands were influenced by the Beatles. If you listen to interviews with other bands of that age, they all admit they were influenced by the Beatles. To me, Sabbath sounds a lot like Zeppelin.

Indeed, check out this from the wiki on black sabbath (check out Ozzy's influence and favorite album):

Black Sabbath's sound emerged from diverse influences. Guitarist Tony Iommi was greatly influenced both by Hank Marvin's playing on Cliff Richard and the Shadows' heavy-guitar based recordings and by jazz guitar, particularly that of Django Reinhardt.[3] Iommi left Earth/Black Sabbath for a short time to tour with Jethro Tull. Ward has also expressed a fondness for jazz music, especially drummers like Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa. Geezer Butler cites bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce of British blues band Cream as a major influence on him: “He was the first player I ever saw who bent the strings and played the bass as a totally independent instrument”. Early incarnations of Black Sabbath merged elements of blues, jazz, and rock and paid their dues playing cover versions of songs by heavy rock acts including Jimi Hendrix, Blue Cheer, and the previously mentioned Cream. Osbourne says he was deeply influenced by The Beatles and his favourite album of all time is Revolver.[4]

 

[bartelby]

So all the bands that hate the Beatles but are influenced by Sabbath are in actual fact influenced by the Beatles, is that the theory some of you are trying to suggest?

 

[bretm]

I think that's a load of crap....The Beatles are a wonderful band, I mean, what other band has come close to 166 million albums.

Nora Jones has sold about 50 or 60 million in 4 years. That's not too shabby.

 

[OllyW]

So all the bands that hate the Beatles but are influenced by Sabbath are in actual fact influenced by the Beatles, is that the theory some of you are trying to suggest?

Not at all, we are just pointing out that the Beatles were and still are a very influential band and a lot of people are still interested in their music, even though they split up 37 years ago.

 

[Zadillo]

So all the bands that hate the Beatles but are influenced by Sabbath are in actual fact influenced by the Beatles, is that the theory some of you are trying to suggest?

Well, music by it's nature is a long pattern of influence.

Your example is certainly a possibility though. On a broader level, there are probably plenty of bands who probably can't stand listening to old blues albums, but might like Eric Clapton, etc. So while they might hate Clapton's influences, they like Clapton and are influenced by him. Like it or not, what influenced Clapton and informed his own playing, etc. was then passed on to those people who cite Clapton as an influence.

Or you could go even further......... you might have a heavy metal band that is actually really influenced by Bach. Bach heavily influences their musical compositions. That heavy metal band in turn influences other metal bands, some of which might hate listening to Bach. But Bach's influence is still passed on to them.

So it's absolutely possible that a band could hate the Beatles, but be influenced by some other band that in turn was influenced by the Beatles, thus allowing some of that musical influence to still be passed on indirectly.

-Zadillo

Nora Jones has sold about 50 or 60 million in 4 years. That's not too shabby.

I'm pretty sure the 166 million album sales is incorrect (or at least incomplete). EMI had claimed 1 billion in album sales for the Beatles by 1985, and that was quite a while ago. Haven't been able to find a concrete number, but it is almost certainly much more than 166 million albums.

Not that I buy the idea that the Beatles are "good" because of the number of albums sold.

 

[KingofAwesome]

Anybody that likes the Beatles already has their LPs, 8-Tracks, Cassettes, or CDs. Why wouldn't they just rip it into their iTunes Library?

New people are born every day, and people frequently begin to listen to music that they didn't listen to before. I'm still buying more Charles Mingus music (although I almost have the entire collection now). Old music still gets repackaged in new formats, otherwise people wouldn't have Beatles music on 8-tracks, cassettes, or CDs.

Granted, it's very easy to get digital files from CDs, so those who became Beatles fans after CDs were prevalent most likely only have the music on CD, and those people will be fine. But that only covers fans who had the expendable income and adopted the CD format between the early 90s and a few years ago (with digital distribution cutting into the market more and more). Considering the current population, that leaves out a very large portion of the market, leaving lots of room for new sales in a new format.

And this all ignores the fact that their album Love was just recently released. How do you know there won't be another new album next year?

 

[Zadillo]

New people are born every day, and people frequently begin to listen to music that they didn't listen to before. I'm still buying more Charles Mingus music (although I almost have the entire collection now). Old music still gets repackaged in new formats, otherwise people wouldn't have Beatles music on 8-tracks, cassettes, or CDs.

Granted, it's very easy to get digital files from CDs, so those who became Beatles fans after CDs were prevalent most likely only have the music on CD, and those people will be fine. But that only covers fans who had the expendable income and adopted the CD format between the early 90s and a few years ago (with digital distribution cutting into the market more and more). Considering the current population, that leaves out a very large portion of the market, leaving lots of room for new sales in a new format.

And this all ignores the fact that their album Love was just recently released. How do you know there won't be another new album next year?

Yeah, on a more general argument, this seems like kind of a silly reason to say it doesn't matter if they are there or not. Anybody who likes any number of older bands or groups very likely has some CD's of there's. It's not a reason they shouldn't be available anyway.

 

[KingofAwesome]

So all the bands that hate the Beatles but are influenced by Sabbath are in actual fact influenced by the Beatles, is that the theory some of you are trying to suggest?

I'll bet you that the bands who record in studios are working with engineers and producers who were influenced by the Beatles. They had some groundbreaking techniques in the studio. And while that may not mean much at a live show, it's going to be reflected in the way the album is mastered.

 

[Zadillo]

I'll bet you that the bands who record in studios are working with engineers and producers who were influenced by the Beatles. They had some groundbreaking techniques in the studio. And while that may not mean much at a live show, it's going to be reflected in the way the album is mastered.

That's a really good point actually; I was focusing so much just on their actual compositions that I didn't even mention the production work of George Martin, etc. and the huge impact that had on popular music as well.

 

[KingofAwesome]

Yeah, on a more general argument, this seems like kind of a silly reason to say it doesn't matter if they are there or not. Anybody who likes any number of older bands or groups very likely has some CD's of there's. It's not a reason they shouldn't be available anyway.

I'm saying it should be there, not that it doesn't matter. There will be "x" people who buy their first Beatles song next year. What format will it be in? And if there is an option to buy it digitally, will "x" increase?

That's a really good point actually; I was focusing so much just on their actual compositions that I didn't even mention the production work of George Martin, etc. and the huge impact that had on popular music as well.

Thanks. I've been spending too much time with Protools and Soundtrack lately, while listening to "Love" in my spare time. It's kinda in my brain.

 

[Zadillo]

I'm saying it should be there, not that it doesn't matter. There will be "x" people who buy their first Beatles song next year. What format will it be in? And if there is an option to buy it digitally, will "x" increase?

Yeah, I didn't mean to sound like I was disagreeing with you..... more responding to the point that you were responding to.

I think these are good questions. It's tough to say. I think it will depend a lot on newer potential fans checking some of these albums out (or individual tracks). I am interesting in finding out more about the remastering being done though; at least some of the tracks on the current CD releases don't sound all that great to me, so it would definitely be an incentive to me if they do sound better. But although I've been buying more stuff on iTunes, I might still be tempted to buy the actual remastered CD's in this particular case.

 

[jono_3]

Nora Jones has sold about 50 or 60 million in 4 years. That's not too shabby.

did you just make that up? shes actually sold ~20m albums

 

[nemaslov]

Not that I disagree, but who else would offer "U2" other than Limewire? Exclusive isn't really exclusive when there is only one "REAL" store in town. If there were more available music stores at the time, that deal probably wouldn't have been exclusive.

Eventually nothing will be exclusive...

Anybody that likes the Beatles already has their LPs, 8-Tracks, Cassettes, or CDs. Why wouldn't they just rip it into their iTunes Library?

There is a reason Apple didn't have the commercial at the Superbowl for the Beatles future digital release... nobody really cares.

Let's get some new mac pros and a true video iPOD already...

You could have said the same about U2. There albums had been out for twenty years so it looks like many purchased them again. Since the Beatles will be out everywhere, maybe (along with all of EMI) DRM FREE. Now that would be something big...and smart.

 

[Zadillo]

did you just make that up? shes actually sold ~20m albums

In the US, or worldwide? One problem with album sales figures is figuring out what specifically they are referring to.

 

[KingofAwesome]

Yeah, I didn't mean to sound like I was disagreeing with you.....

[.......stuff taken out........]

at least some of the tracks on the current CD releases don't sound all that great to me, so it would definitely be an incentive to me if they do sound better. But although I've been buying more stuff on iTunes, I might still be tempted to buy the actual remastered CD's in this particular case.

Take a look at the DVD releases if you have the cash, because they've been remastered in 5.1. Horn and string parts have been brought way up, with some occasional "swirling around the room" effects, and I've noticed they managed to liven up acoustic guitar sounds in a lot of places (fret noises in particular, which I seem to love almost as much as the sound of woodwind pads and reeds). Oh, and the bass clarinets too, it's almost worth it just for those.

And we've got to stop responding to each other; people will think we're internet fanboy lovers.

 

[gauriemma]

Over rated and over hyped? Have you even listened to the Beatles? This is a band that in just 7 years went from "Love me do" to "Abbey Road". Name another band that so totally changed their music in a short amount of time, explored new paths, influenced more bands and basically changed the world. The only other band that comes close would probably be Led Zeppelin.

Name a band like that today. Hell, name a band that even sticks around for 2 years! Seems you hear from a band one month, then they're gone forever. No one comes along now to totally change everything and influence so many. I mean, how many big named bands were started the day after the Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan? You'd be surprised.

If you don't like the Beatles that's fine. Opinions vary of course. But to deny their legacy and influence is a bit short sighted.

Amen, to that. I really find the attitudes of some of these children quite astounding. It's not so much shortsighted as it is completely ignorant to what the Beatles accomplished in less than seven years.

Whether some people like it or not, the Beatles permanently altered the landscape of popular music. Their music still holds up more than 40 years later, and for the most part, without sounding outdated or like an 'oldie'. There's not more than a handful of artists out there today who weren't, in some way, influenced by the Beatles. And, pretty much, even the ones who say they weren't, were. The Beatles changed the public's perception of what 'pop' music could—and from that point on, would—be.

Having said that, the CDs of their albums that came out in the late '80s weren't mastered for sh*t. There are bootleg 'needle drop' releases of the high-qualilty vinyl editions issued in the 1970s that blow the existing CDs out of the water. Any remastering better be accompanied by a hard media release as well, or the excersise will have been pointless.

 

[nemaslov]

While it is totally subjective, there is Rolling Stone's ranking

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty

I have also heard (though I forget when/where) that U2 has the highest album sales of any artist, bar none.

well the biggest selling albums of all time in any format is the Eagles greatest hits.

 

[Flowbee]

Christ if it wasn't for Eddie Van Halen (or Billy Sheehan, depending on your view) the guitar solo wouldn't be what it is today.

Um... I know Billy Sheehan. He would disagree with almost everything you've said in this thread.

 

[bartelby]

Um... I know Billy Sheehan. He's a friend of mine. He would disagree with almost everything you've said in this thread.

Woo!
Big deal!!!
People are allowed to have differing opinions you know!!

 

[nemaslov]

I'll bet you that the bands who record in studios are working with engineers and producers who were influenced by the Beatles. They had some groundbreaking techniques in the studio. And while that may not mean much at a live show, it's going to be reflected in the way the album is mastered.

Read the New MOJO Magazine which has several articles for the 40th anniversary of SGT. Pepper. There are interviews with several current artists and producers about its influenece.

Nigel Goodrich who produces Radiohead and Beck (to name a few) talks about how that album inflenced modern recording today and was done without all of the digital cheats and only on 4 track recording devises.

When Sgt. Pepper was released, it sort of led to the invention of ROCK CRITICISM as an art form. This is a fact. As I love that album, I still feel that Revolver is their best and was leaps and bounds ahead of any recording artist at the time. Before the Beatles, artists would records a few singles and the rest of the album's songs were usually mediocre filler. The Beatles WERE the first band to create each album as a complete artwork.

In fact in Britain (unlike the Capitol in the US) they NEVER included their hit singles on their albums. They didn't feel that their fans should have to pay twice for the songs. They wanted to give good value.

Unlike today with downloads, it seems people want single tracks again. Maybe because bands are not thinking in terms of albums. It is the AMrican Idol affect. Yuuuccch.

My fave two full modern albums this past year are from the Decemberists and Joanna Newsome...I am 52 and still probably buy 10 or 20 CDs per month. There is great new music out there. Just nobody plays it!!!

 

[KingofAwesome]

Um... I know Billy Sheehan. He would disagree with almost everything you've said in this thread.

Oh, are we dropping names now? Ask Billy to join the forum. I'll see if Chuck Leavell can stop by, too.

And somebody get Jobs in here! we need some answers!