MUS 116 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Nat King Cole, Polythene Pam, An American Prayer
The Musical Legacy of The Beatles (6/4/18)
● Influence of Sgt. Pepper’s (review)
○ Sgt Pepper’s leads to art rock
○ Theatrical rock (glam rock, heavy metal, rock opera)
○ Albums cease to be vehicles for delivering a few hit songs; become musical
statements
○ Practice of issuing few singles from late albums followed by Led Zeppelin
● Booker T. & the MGs McLemore Ave (1970)
○ Side one
■ Medley “Golden Slumbers”, “Carry That Weight”, “The End” (with
vocals), “Here Comes the Sun”, “Come Together” (with incidental
vocals) - 15:48
■ “Something” - 4:09
○ Side two
■ Medley: “Because”, “You Never Give Me Your Money” - 7:26
■ Medley: “Sun King”, “Mean Mr. Mustard”, “Polythene Pam”, “She Came
In Through the Bathroom Window”, “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” -
10:40
● Covers - Posthumous collaborations
○ 1978 - Jim Morrison (d. 1971) and The Doors, “An American Prayer”
○ 1981 - Jim Reeves (d. 1964) and Patsy Cline (d. 1963), posthumous duet
“Have You Ever Been Lonely”
○ 1991 - Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole, “Unforgettable”
○ 1995 - 2 Lennon songs recorded with remaining Beatles: “Free as a Bird”
(1977), and “Real Love” (1980)
○ 2004 - Brian Wilson and Carl Wilson (d. 1998), “getting’ in Over My Head”
● Comparing Paul and John as Songwriters
○ Character
○ impact/ influence
○ Was one better than the other?
● Comparing no. 1 (in US and UK) songs
○ “Please Please Me’ (1963) - primarily PM
○ “From Me to You” (1963) - JL/ PM
○ “She Loves You” (1963) - JL/ PM
○ “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (1964) - JL/PM
○ “Can’t Buy Me Love” (1964) - PM
○ “A Hard Day’s Night” (1964) - JL
○ “I Feel Fine” (1964) - JL
○
○ Totals at end of 1966 - PM=6, JL = 4, L/M = 7
○ Totals at end of 1970 - PM = 12, JL = 7, L/M = 7
● Comparing numbers of covers
○ Beatles: 192 songs covered
Document Summary
Theatrical rock (glam rock, heavy metal, rock opera) Albums cease to be vehicles for delivering a few hit songs; become musical statements. Practice of issuing few singles from late albums followed by led zeppelin. Booker t. & the mgs mclemore ave (1970) Medley golden slumbers , carry that weight , the end (with vocals), here comes the sun , come together (with incidental vocals) - 15:48. Medley: because , you never give me your money - 7:26. Medley: sun king , mean mr. mustard , polythene pam , she came. In through the bathroom window , i want you (she"s so heavy) - 1978 - jim morrison (d. 1971) and the doors, an american prayer . 1981 - jim reeves (d. 1964) and patsy cline (d. 1963), posthumous duet. 1991 - natalie cole and nat king cole, unforgettable . 1995 - 2 lennon songs recorded with remaining beatles: free as a bird (1977), and real love (1980)
