Cover Songs: The Beatles - Across The Universe

Here is an example of brilliant songwriting by The Beatles. This is a John Lennon song 'Across The Universe" that has his patented progression XM to X7. This song has been covered by Fiona Apple, Rufus Wainright, David Bowie, Sean Lennon, Phish among others. This is off their Let It Be album. Of course I don't do this song justice but its a very pretty song with colorful lyrics and I kind of like it.

The Beatles - Across The Universe (Acoustic Cover)

Music Reviews: 40th Anniversary of The Beatles Experimental Album Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band

It was 40 years ago today, that Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play.

This past weekend marked the 40th anniversary of what is widely acknowledged as the most influential album of all time - The Beatles Sgt. Peppers album. This 8th studio album by The Beatles was a huge breakthrough at the time and is their most celebrated record to date. The album art alone, designed by Peter Blake, deserves tremendous accolades. This album came out at a time when The Beatles were dissatisfied with the rigors of touring the world especially not being able to hear themselves play amid the screaming fans. The concept was to send a record out on tour instead of themselves. The concept album was actually Paul McCartney's idea.

"'Pepper' was probably the one Beatle album I can say was my idea," McCartney told Rolling Stone. "It was my idea to say to the guys, 'Hey, how about disguising ourselves and getting an alter ego, because we're the Beatles and we're fed up. Every time you approach a song, John, you gotta sing it like John would. Every time I approach a ballad, it's gotta be like Paul would. Why don't we just make up some incredible alter egos and think, 'Now how would he sing it? How would he approach this track?' And it freed us. It was a very liberating thing to do."

To celebrate this milestone many artists are covering songs from the album if not recreating the album in homage. Oasis, Kaiser Chiefs, The Fray and Razorlight and others are among the rock groups getting together to record songs from the monumental album. I will try to cover some songs as well and post them soon. You can find some good Beatles covers on YouTube like Jeff Beck's instrumental rendition of "A Day In The Life."

At the time when the album came out The Beatles were experimenting with a lot of mind expanding drugs in particular LSD and marijuana or as I like to call it my only real friend. I guess sometimes winners do use drugs. By the way you know a woman is cool nowadays if she listens to The Beatles.

Sgt. Peppers Facts

• Two of the original songs written for the album were "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" but they ended up being chosen as singles by the record company instead.
• Sgt. Pepper Reprise was performed and recorded live.
• The whole album was recorded on a two 4 track recorder run together in synch.
• Not yet available on iTunes.
• 1968 Grammy winner for album of the year.