![]() The net result was the instrumental bridge that you hear. He played the bridge slowly on piano, and then ran the tape back at double speed. John Lennon asked their producer George Martin to provide a piano part that “sounded Baroque.” Eventually, George came up with an ingenious solution he wrote a solo reminiscent of a Bach piece. After their first session in October 1965, the Beatles had completed the song except for the bridge. I have heard my friend Glenn Gass lecture on this particular song a few times every time, he asks “What is that instrument in the solo?” And despite the fact that I know the answer, I always blurt out “A harpsichord.” The middle of the song contains a most ingenious musical bridge. And the photos contrast the Beatles’ look when they first became famous with their faces near the time of their breakup. Both the melody and the Beatles harmonies perfectly complement the beautiful lyrics. Isn’t this terrific? Like the lyrics, the melody is straightforward and yet moving. But here is a music video with the audio of the Beatles’ In My Life. I don’t have video of the Beatles performing this live. In fact, Paul specifically mentions that he was inspired by Smokey Robinson’s songs, and composed the melody along those lines. John’s memory was that he wrote the melody and that Paul chipped in with the harmony and the bridge, while Paul claims that he was responsible for the entire melody. Now, it just needed an equally simple but moving melody.Īnd here the story becomes interesting, because In My Life is one of the few tunes where John and Paul McCartney’s recollections differed seriously. ![]() The lyrics are straightforward and direct, yet profound. ![]() So John ended up writing a song that brilliantly captured a spirit of fond reminiscence, spoken to a person who he loves most of all. I know I’ll often stop and think about them With lovers and friends I still can recall So here is Lennon’s final version of the song. He settled on a song that looked back on his life in much more general terms. The first draft contained references to specific places that Lennon would pass while riding on a Liverpool bus, such as Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields however, Lennon then ditched those lyrics. Older tunes sound rehashed rather than refreshed and filled with stoney wonder, and newer tunes such as "Two Triple Cheese," just don't measure up to the classics.Ĭody completists will enjoy this document of the Commander's 1980's work, but for those wishing full immersion into the original experience, the Airmen's debut ("Lost in the Ozone") or an earlier live LP ("Live From Deep in the Heart of Texas") are better picks.John Lennon’s hand-written lyrics to In My Life. But despite Cody's energetic leadership and an enthusiastic crowd, the magic of the early days is gone. Bassist Dave Brown is a solid replacement for Buffalo Bruce Barlow, and the rest of the players are certainly competent. This 1982 recording features a latter-day edition of the Airmen, and sports only Cody and guitarist Bill Kirchen from the original lineup. Two posthumous live LPs provide additional coverage of their California gigs, Texas honky-tonkin' and European tours. Before drifting apart in 1977, they released three live albums by the core lineup. The original band was also a superb live outfit. The Airmen flushed out earfuls of overblown progrock with twangy pedal steel, boogie woogie pianos and a wicked sense of cultural mayhem. Early songs, like "Seeds and Stems (Again)," mixed country sentiment with hippie lifestyle, and their covers (e.g., "Hot Rod Lincoln") introduced classics to a whole new audience. There was a time in the early '70's when the most unlikely hippie stoners could be found digging the hardcore twang and jumpin' jive of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen.
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