rlr@pyuxn.UUCP (Rich Rosen) (02/13/84)
During the showing of the Compleat Beatles documentary on Cinemax, I saw footage of the Beatles performing a song at the Cavern. The song was called "Some Other Guy". John Lennon, in a New York radio interview some years ago, played the original version of that song, and admitted that he "appropriated" the two-note intro to "Some Other Guy" for use as the intro to "Instant Karma". (Lennon was always fascinated by the genealogy of rock riffs, and much of this interview was a discussion of such things: who stole what riff from which song to put into which other song of their own...) My question(s) are as follows: (Ahem, ahem, ahem. The question by R. ...) Who originally recorded "Some Other Guy"? And where can I obtain a complete recording of the Beatles performing that song? Interestingly enough, the song was used in the movie "Stardust", a shameless roman a clef about the history of the Beatles, which is one of the most fascinatingly blithering movies I have ever seen. (David Essex plays Jim McLane ["Is he kidding?" -ED.], Keith Moon and Dave Edmunds play other members of the band in acting (?) roles.) The story line is enough to make you vomit; the excruciating alternate history of a group called The Stray Cats (this was released in 1975 or so!) who made the sixties what they are today takes elements of Beatle history and subverts them and de-chronologize them. The original good looking lead singer of the Stray Cats is kicked out (a la Pete Best), McLane gets involved with a strange French girl (much to the chagrin of his wife---sound familiar?), in the middle of their American tour, they acquire a new manager--a ruthless American businessman played by Larry Hagman (a la Allan Klein), McLane's mother dies, McLane leaves the group to make a serious opera (with an orchestra and everything---wow!) about the glory of woman, and... I won't give any more away. "Some Other Guy" was used as their original studio demo. Anyone else out there see "Stardust"? The movie (rather unintentionally) has something to say---something about the vanity and self-centeredness of the entertainment industry, and how it views its importance to the world. Speaking of "the group who made the sixties what they are today", the story of "The Rutles" is airing this month on many cable stations. "The Rutles" is a fictitious group much like the Stray Cats invented by Eric Idle (ex-Python) with music by Neil Innes. Songs like "Hold My Hand (Yeah Yeah)", "I Must Be in Love", "Doubleback Alley", "Let's Be Natural", "Made for Each Other/Between Us", "Piggy in the Middle", "Nevertheless" etc. provide bizarre parodies and combinations of "Eight Days a Week", "She Loves You", "I Wanna Hold Your Hand", "Ticket to Ride", "Penny Lane", "I am the Walrus", "Love You To", and more. Not just a parody of the history of the Beatles (with people suing each other and accidentally suing themselves when the Rutles break up), but a parody of Beatles documentaries (often including re-creations of original footage of the Beatles to include the Rutles) and documentaries in general. Truly, a legend that will last a lunchtime, the Pre-Fab Four. (Warning: not for those who see the Beatles as demigods and see any attempt at parody to be sacrilege. Also it does have its moments of tastelessness.) An interesting TV "docudrama" was "Birth of the Beatles". Sure it was a cash-in, and sure it was schlock. But it wasn't "Beatlemania", and it really did present some interesting things about the formative years of the Beatles (especially the Hamburg days). It wasn't half as tasteless and gaudy as it could have been, and the Beatles are presented as human beings, not deities. I found it to be surprisingly interesting. -- Pardon me for breathing... Rich Rosen pyuxn!rlr
elf@utcsrgv.UUCP (Eugene Fiume) (02/15/84)
Considering how nauseous "Stardust"--the movie--makes him, I'm surprised Rich Rosen spends so much time talking about it, though it's not clear he actually dislikes the movie. By a happy coincidence, this movie was on late-night TV last night, beaming into my Toronto home all the way from Kitchener, Ontario. In any case, I like the movie. Sure, its plotline is based on the exploits of some under-rated, no-name band more properly belonging in a Harold Robbins "novel" (the band or the plotline?--I'll never tell). However, all that's irrelevant (apart from making it appeal to kiddies of all ages). What is relevant is that the movie isn't about music, it's about the music business and its interplay with harmless little vices like greed and blind ambition. And while it's cynical about the biz, it also points out that it's a mutually incestuous relationship. Of course, innocent little band members are "taken in" by the big, bad music machine. But it's clear throughout the movie that these guys (including the Essex character), aren't particularly talented (their's a line to that effect in the movie). So they make their way to the "top" by sheer fame-hunger. Essex' character has more of this quality, sidesteps his mates, and happily readies himself for further exploitation. What makes people think they deserve to be "stars"? That people *want* to be stars can be chalked to various psychological and practical factors. Is it axiomatic that stars do not (cannot) live up to their billing? (Observation: judging by the hero-worship gobbledy-gook that goes on in this newsgroup (from Bach to Van Halen), I guess many of you don't agree.) Eugene Fiume utzoo!utcsrgv!elf U of Toronto
andrew@inmet.UUCP (02/17/84)
#R:pyuxn:-46100:inmet:6600086:000:648 inmet!andrew Feb 15 16:31:00 1984 According to an article in Goldmine (10/82), "Some Other Guy" was originally recorded by Richie Barrett in 1961. It was written by Barrett in conjunction with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (the team responsible for all the great Coasters' songs and many of Elvis' early hits). (Was Barrett the same Richard Barrett who wrote all the great Chantels' stuff? Does anyone know?) Anyway, an incomplete Beatles performance of the song was broadcast on "Beatles at the Beeb" (Memorial Day, 1982). A complete version is available on the bootleg "Beautiful Dreamer". PS: The Rutles special, "All You Need Is Cash" is now available on videocassette.