Today’s Hidden Gem

A 6-year-old playing “Twist and Shout”

I don’t know what’s better - his guitar playing or his reaction when Ellen gives him the new guitar.

Today’s Hidden Gem

Billy Preston performing “My Sweet Lord”

Preston, known by many as the “Black Beatle”, performed with the Fab Four on several songs, including “Get Back”, “Let It Be” and “Don’t Let Me Down.”  Here he is with one of the other “Fifth Beatles” Eric Clapton, as well as Ringo, Paul and Dhani Harrison covering one of George’s greatest songs during the “Concert for George”.

Today’s Hidden Gem

The Beatles’ rooftop performance of “I’ve Got a Feeling”, Sims-style

Ridiculous? Yes.  Nerdy?  Hell yes.  But awesome?  Ohh yeah.

For comparison’s sake, here’s the actual performance.

Today’s Hidden Gem

The Magical Mystery Tour Memories

I just picked up this movie and finished watching it early this morning. It’s not an officially licensed Beatles film, so there’s no original music and just a few interviews from the Fab Four. But it’s still a great, great rockumentary.

The movie chronicles the making of the Magical Mystery Tour film and shows plenty of fantastic never-before-seen photos and footage from the crew and fans. It also includes some great insight into the backstory of the songs and scenes of the film, including Death Cab for Cutie.

Today’s Hidden Gem

The True Story of the Traveling Wilburys

This is only remoted Beatle-related since it just involves George, but it’s a sure-fire gem for any Beatle fanatic.  Hands down the greatest super group ever assembled, the Traveling Wilburys coming together was like the Greek gods meeting atop Mount Olympus.

Today’s Hidden Gem

The Beatles meet The Simpsons

Talk about a match made in heaven.  The Simpsons have never shied away from making a Fab Four reference or two, or just simply having them appear in an episode. Whether it be Marge’s teenage obsession with Ringo Starr, the Be-Sharps rooftop performance with a cameo from George (and a great “I hope we passed the audition” line) or Paul’s garden above the Kwik-e-mart - the Beatles live on through the classic cartoon.

Last but not least, I can’t possibly leave out Flanders’ secret room filled with all sorts of wild Beatles memorabilia, including a how-to book called “Learn Carpentry with The Beatles.”

Today’s Hidden Gem

The Beatles vs. The Byrds mashup - “Nowhere to Turn”

I’m always a fan of a good mashup.  It’s no Grey Album, but it’ll do.

Today’s Hidden Gem

The Beatles performing “Two of Us” with Scottish accents

There are a bunch of different versions of the song that the Beatles toyed around with, including a much faster-paced rendition during the “Let It Be” filming and a Paul-edited version from “Let It Be…Naked”.

Nothing can beat Scottish accents and classic Beatle banter though.

Today’s Hidden Gem

The Anthology version of “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window”

Just the other day, Beatle Brian brought up the topic of great alternate takes of Beatle songs, so we got to thinking - what are some of the best?  There’s the great acoustic version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, the non-stop giggling in “And Your Bird Can Sing” and the boisterous drums in “And I Love Her.”

This one is a personal favorite of mine though. I still prefer the more uptempo version of the song, but there’s definitely something to be said for the slower pace and twangy George guitar in this version.

Today’s Hidden Gem

Photographer Henry Grossman’s “Kaleidoscope Eyes: A Day in the Life of Sgt. Pepper”

Grossman took more than 250 black and white photos of the Fab Four at Abbey Road studios back in 1967. The never-before-seen photos will now appear in a limited edition book.

Today’s Hidden Gem

Beatles video unearthed after 44 years

I know, there’s no sound - but the fact that it’s from a small concert in Kansas in 1964 is still pretty cool.

Today’s Hidden Gem

The Beatles in Family Guy.

This is definitely not the first time that Family Guy has referenced the Fab Four, but it’s certainly one of the funniest.

Today’s Hidden Gem

John ridicules George, Paul’s solo albums

John and Paul were, at one point, the closest of friends.  Eventually, that friendship turned south, but not for as long as the public - and media - may have thought (as shown through their “Toot and a Snore” recording sessions in 1974).  But this John interview took place at the height of his feud with Paul, and resulted in the two even exchanging hate-filled songs to one another - including John’s “How Do You Sleep.”

Notice though how John tries to be as sincere as possible in ridiculing George’s music.  John and George constantly paired off with one another throughout the Beatles’ time together, while Paul preferred to work by himself and Ringo sat in the corner.  But I think this clip provides a lot of insight as to how gigantic John’s ego was.  Lennon said himself that he truly believed he was a genius, and that nobody could make music the way he did.

While I can’t say I disagree with any of that, it’s interesting to ponder:  was John’s music really that much better than that of Paul and George?  Or was this just another case of the historic Lennon ego coming to the foreground?

Today’s Hidden Gem

John Lennon and Friends performing “Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey”

John Lennon certainly enjoyed poking fun at his Beatle mate Paul during the post-Fab Four era.  Here’s a video clip I randomly came across at about 5:15 this morning and it’s definitely a gem.

According to this web site, the song - as well as dozens of others - was recorded at John’s 31st birthday party in a Syracuse hotel room. It’s an all-out jam session that included - in addition to John and Yoko -  Ringo and Maureen, Klaus Voorman, Allen Ginsberg, Jim Keltner, Mal Evans, Neil Aspinall and Eric Clapton.

There are plenty of other classic Paul jabs throughout these “lost tapes.”  But, keep in mind, if this recording did in fact take place in 1971, then the Beatles were fresh off their divorce.

Today’s Hidden Gem

cubicle17:

In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon’s hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview about peace. 38 years later, Jerry has produced a film about it.

The interview is interesting, and the animation complements it perfectly. (via yewknee)

Thanks to Sam for the heads up on this one.