The Coolest Beatle

Hi Friends,

Well today turned out to be a Beatles day for me. From the second I got up to right this very moment - all signs keep pointing to The Beatles.

I'm seeing my Dad tomorrow so made a DVDR of all the recently re-released Beatles albums (sorry EMI friends). I also found a book in my apartment's laundry room (Spanish Beatles book with some amazing photos over the years) and on Facebook a friend was asking the question which Beatles album was the best.

I grew-up a child of British parents and so The Beatles was a constant soundtrack. My Dad was a MOD. It's clear to me now looking at old photos of him and his gang hanging in Blackpool or the Isle of Man wearing skinny ties, rocking clark wallabees and they all arrived there on the backs of motorbikes and scooters.

It all bleeds back to another Beatles moment this past week for me - in that a co-worker brought in George Harrison's 'All Things Must Pass'. What an amazing album. If you don't have it - you must aquire it asap (Thanks Puga).

George was by far the coolest of The Beatles. He was a hippy before it was cool to be a hippy. He continued to create and evolve right up until the day he died. From The Quarry Men to The Beatles to solo albums and part of The Travelling Wilburys (Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison).

• End of the Line - Travelling Wilburys


• Got My Mind Set on You - Solo


• My Sweet Lord - Solo


• When We Was Fab - Solo


• Norwegian Wood - The Beatles *from my favourite Beatles album

Everyone will have an opinion about The Beatles. From which album was the best, what Beatle was the coolest and who broken them up (clearly that Yoko bitch did). At the end of the day these past few months has been an amazing thing for music and arts. The world was re-introduced to The Beatles and their music.

ps - I learned something new today about my favourite Beatles cover band - Oasis. George Harrison recorded a few solo albums before The Beatles split. These included an instrumental soundtrack to a film entitled 'Wonderwall' that blended Indian and Western sounds (thanks Wikipedia).

The Magical Mystery Tour is waiting to take you away :)

Thanks for reading.

Gregg

Bands You Should Care About...

...that never seemed to make it big inside North America.

Hello friends,

I will never hide the fact that I consider British pop music to be the best stuff going. Nor will I deny that I have some Spice Girls albums, Take That singles and loved Duran Duran as a child. They have simply made music that works for my ears and I love it all. I'm not saying I don't like music from North America and trust me I can name a million Canadian Indie bands that I've seen over the years and have a place in my heart for all of them.

The bands I am going to recommend are not household names - however - you may know them - but do yourself (me) a favour and check out at leats one of these and give it a chance.

Here's a list of 5 tracks by artists I think that everyone should care about...

• Athlete
• Stereophonics *best harmonies in music today
• Badly Drawn Boy *bonus here as it's set to Christiano Rinaldo highlights :)
• Doves
• We Were Promised Jetpacks *favourite at the moment

I really do hope you check out at least one - if not all these tracks and give em a proper headphones as you walk around chance!

Thanks for reading.

Gregg

My Favourite Theme Songs

Hello Friends,

A few year's ago a roommate of mine was working for TVT Records. TVT Stands for Television Tunes and started based on theme music for television shows - makes sense right?

I grew up in the 70s and 80s and so had the pleasure of hearing many of the greatest theme songs of all time. From Different Strokes - Who's The Boss - there were truly some big theme songs that had the masses singing along. What about The Fresh Prince of Bel Air? Amazing.

I'm going to keep this short today - but here's a list of 5 classics that stand-out in my mind. I have distinct memories of each as a child :)

• The Littlest Hobo


• The Greatest American Hero


• Polka A Dot Door


• Different Strokes


• Dallas

Theme songs shape a show - come on TV people - start looking for the next allan Thick!

Gregg

MTV VMAs

Hello,

I was very proud to say that I work for MTV today when I saw this .

Did you watch that? I had goosebumps and I've probably watched it 10 times today. I'll wait right here if you haven't - so go back and do so now!

MTV may not be the same thing that people remember from the days gone by - but nothing remains the same. The beauty of something like this weekend's VMA's special tribute to MJ is that we can all relive the greatness that was Michael Jackson. Court cases aside - the music is amazing and the tributes are indeed well earned. I heard rumours that Justin Timberlake and Madonna are going to be joining Janet Jackson on stage to mark the occasion. Perhaps Slash can join them for that guitar solo on 'Beat It'???

Here are my favourite MTV Video Music Awards clips featuring the man.

• 1995 part 1 of 2 and part 2 of 2


• remember this?


• with Justin and his group


• not a VMA moment - but wicked

It's late so I will keep this one short. I recommend that you tune in this coming Sunday to watch the MTV VMAs to see the tribute to the King.

Gregg

The Clash and Oasis

Hello Friends,

A couple things on my mind in the past 2 days, Oasis breaking up (seems real this time) and all things The Clash.

I watched 'The Future is Unwritten', story of Joe Strummer, yesterday for the first time. I have always adored their music - but i see it now as perfection for its time. The man is truly a legend and did so much in his short life. Seems the trend these days which is sad.

Joe Strummer loved a campfire - who knew? I didn't - but damn right - a campfire is a perfect place to talk and tell stories or play music. I need more of these in my life :)

The Clash had their ups-and-downs like any other band - but when they recorded and album - they infused genres that had never been mashed before. Joe was the son of an Indian father that worked as a diplomat and his mother was from the far North of Scotland. Raised around the world and influenced by so many great things along the way. It all added up to a catalogue of music that stands-up today and will do for years to come.

Here's a quick list of must own Clash tracks...

1. Rock the Casbah


2. Magnificent 7


3. Straight to Hell


4. White Riot


5. Train in Vain

I'm sorry I never had a chance to see this band as they sure as hell brought it each and everytime they walked on a stage. Long live The Clash!

Now. Oasis breaking-up? Again? Is Noel serious this time? I think he is. In this day-and-age of twitter and facebook - the word of his departure spread like wildfire...and details are not spared. The updates seem fierce and angry. I hope it can be sorted - but if not - they had a good 18 year run. The mighty Oasis has fallen.

Although the press are reporting it as Noel leaving Oasis...lets face facts here - Noel is Oasis. He writes all their tunes (I know - Liam wrote a few over time - but honestly - Little James??).

They work perfect together on stage - like The Beatles once did. Much like John and Paul - I guess the off stage relationship was too much to carry on. Not sure where Liam will end up - but I'm certain that Noel's solo career will flourish. Time will tell...but in the meantime check this classic performance and song!!

Thanks for reading.

Gregg

The Perfect Pop Song

Hello Friends,

I think it has to be played on headphones as you wander around a city regardless of what it is. I have so many on my list that are simply perfect because of just that.

Top 5 headphone pop tracks (well... in the past 2 years anyway)

1. Kim & Jessie - M83



2. House of Cards - Radiohead



3. Kick Push - Lupe Fiasco



4. Live Your Life - T.I. Feat Rihanna



5. Summertime - NKOTB (yep - that one;)

Guilty pleasure? There's nothing to feel guilty about listening to a piece of music that makes you smile. I have so many things in my collection that one might feel embarassed about. I don't anymore as I now don't care. Good music really is good music and and gimic is a gimic is a gimic (stole that from Noel).

I bought the Drake track from iTunes today as it's a great pop tune. I know it's Jimmy from Degrassi - but come on - Hova is now doing tracks with him. This guy is for real.

Anyway - just left a showcase for an artist from Australia named Daniel Merriweather. It was amazing and I hope that you all get a chance to hear his music.

Speak soon.
Gregg

Canadian Radio = Balls

Hello friends,

I had last week off from work and decided to take some time away from Twitter and Facebook. Get back to basic really. It was liberating to not be looking at my blackberry every five second (albeit I did out of habit - just didn't reply). I borrowed car to go away for a night and learned about radio and it's nasty ways.



I swear to you that in the 2 days I spent in a car I heard the following 3 songs at least 10 times each...

1. Lady Gaga - 'Papprazzi'


2. Kings of Leon - 'Use Somebody'


3. Black Eyed Peas - 'I Gotta Feeling'

I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with these songs - because I know that they are great pop songs. The problem is that this is all that Canadian radio is playing these days. I had the radio of scan and I could not differencieate between any station other than a rock on out of St. Catherines. Don't get me started on that - these stations have not updated a playlist since 87.



The good thing that came of this was that I now know that we (the media types) have our work cut-out for us and need to do a better job of letting people know what is out there by way of new music and interesting music that will excite and keep them smiling.



Here's a top 5 tunes tht should be on radio in Canada today...

1. Daniel Merriweather - 'Change'


2. Little Boots - 'Remedy'


3. Snow Patrol - 'The Planets Bend Between Us'


4. Bloc Party - 'One More Chance'


5. La Roux - 'Bulletproof' (this one pains me to say as I really hate it - but 'good music is good music')

Give real radio a chance.

Hope you're doing well - speak soon!



Gregg