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Post by oh oooh on Aug 14, 2020 12:32:07 GMT
Haven't included their first and last years as recording entities (I think three of them got together in early 1970 to do some overdubs or something, and then of course there was the film and the LP) (and what they did in 1962 was pretty bad by their standards - 'P.S. I Love You'? Christ...)
And yes, there were several peaks, but which year saw them at their most impressive, by your estimation?
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Post by DarknessFish on Aug 14, 2020 13:24:41 GMT
1971
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toomanyhatz
god
I've met him/her. He/she's great!!
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Post by toomanyhatz on Aug 14, 2020 17:20:41 GMT
1966.
Despite the end of touring, the "bigger than Jesus" stuff, and John taking off to Spain for the last few months of it (where he wrote "Strawberry Fields Forever," FFS!) it was the one that was the most about music-making, and least about being cute mop-tops or elder statesmen.
'68 runner-up.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2020 17:23:01 GMT
1970, it's obvious.
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Sneelock
god
you're gonna break another heart
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Post by Sneelock on Aug 14, 2020 17:24:46 GMT
COVID-1966 their absurd confidence kicked them up to another level IMO.
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Post by Charlie O. on Aug 14, 2020 20:19:58 GMT
(and what they did in 1962 was pretty bad by their standards - 'P.S. I Love You'? Christ...) What the hell's wrong with you?
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Post by oh oooh on Aug 14, 2020 20:24:40 GMT
oh, come ON Charlie
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Post by Charlie O. on Aug 14, 2020 20:26:26 GMT
Oh, go swoon over "Against All Odds", why don't you!
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toomanyhatz
god
I've met him/her. He/she's great!!
Posts: 3,242
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Post by toomanyhatz on Aug 14, 2020 21:21:23 GMT
1962 was before the concept of "their standards" existed. But considering what a shit hot live band they were that year (ANY concert, ANYWHERE, as far as I know), I wouldn't even argue too strenuously against someone saying it was their best.
The recorded evidence is fairly scant, I'll admit.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2020 23:50:03 GMT
It's 1967, of course it is. You could argue both 1966 and 1968 produced better individual albums, but it's the sheer range, colour and adventure in their 1967 output that remains astounding. It's exhibit A in why they were the greatest band ever. There's more ideas in three minutes of Strawberry Fields than most bands manage in their entire careers. You could write a long essay on their use of cellos alone in this year. You've got 24 tracks that just floor you in their reach and power. Hacienda dj Greg Wilson has put together a mixcloud page which gathers together everything they did in that extraordinary year. It's worth listening to just to remind yourself what an amazing achievement it was, one that's never been equalled. link
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Post by oh oooh on Aug 15, 2020 0:00:17 GMT
Thank you, G.
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Post by Reactionary Rage on Aug 15, 2020 10:38:15 GMT
Yeah, hard to argue against G.
I mean personally I'd maybe pick 66 just cos I think it's a bit sharper and also cos SFF was recorded at the tail end but '67 is a riot of colour and imagination that really captures the optimism of the mid 60s as vividly as anything else. Like suddenly switching colour telly on. The world seems brighter, heightened and possibilities boundless.
Plus...
SFF Penny Lane A Day In The Life I Am The Walrus
All 4 represent some kind of peak of rock. Let's face it, the best of this music is as good as it ever got and despite everything that came after, all those different genres, all those different sounds and experiments, we never really got any better. SFF, like See Emily Play or Good Vibrations still feels like the pop future that never quite came.
It's still The Peak for me.
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Post by Reactionary Rage on Aug 15, 2020 10:58:33 GMT
have a fucking butchers at this.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2020 18:28:26 GMT
Some good arguments here but I'm always very much of an 'albums' guy and in terms of what the Beatles represented at their best, pop sensibility plus experimentation, they never beat Revolver.
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Post by HotRats on Aug 18, 2020 11:32:33 GMT
I originally voted for 1966. Then as I read down the thread I had to agree, it HAS to be 1967.
Revolver is my personal favourite, but the way they were functioning as a band in 1967 is amazing. SFF/PL alone would be enough to justify their existence, but to then produce Sgt Pepper, and MMT?
They were operating at a different level in that year, even for them, and that is saying something.
For me, when I think of their output, it's kind of loosely based around a "pre 67/post 67" comparison as it was such a pivotal year.
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