Movie Night: Let It Be

Essential viewing.  The fifth and last Beatles movie Let It Be stands apart from the others because it doesn't satirize the personalities and lifestyles of the fab four.  Rather, it documents the band's final recording sessions for the albums "Let It Be" and "Abbey Road," which would be released in the opposite order they were recorded in.  The performances are obviously brilliant, but the behind-the-scenes moments are both enlightening and heartbreaking.  While there isn't a sort of MTV Road Rules/Real World tension, there isn't any friendliness either.  There's civility and an obvious respect for each others' talents.  But, there isn't an illusion of anything other than a "working friendship."  The final minutes of Let It Be are the most rewarding and are "worth the price of admission."   What was famously dubbed as "The Rooftop Concert" was The Beatles first and last public performance since 1966.  The performances are terrific and feature "Fifth Beatle" Billy Preston on keyboards.   As you will see, no announcement of a concert was made to the public.  The magnificent faces of onlookers adds so much to The Beatles legend.  The subsequent soundtrack album Let It Be was one of the only Beatles albums to not receive universal acclaim from critics.  What overthinkers.  The album is great.  

NOTE: You might have to turn your laptop sideways.  I know...I suck.  But, it's doable.  

TEENAGE HOUSE PARTY BY SANDY NELSON

Teenage House Party by Sandy Nelson...I love this album cover. Look at that spread on the table!

Sandy Nelson is a famous drummer and bandleader of the early 60s whose name would be found prominently in the fictional "Encyclopedia of Surf Rock."  His drums can be heard on many hits including "To Know Him Is To Love Him" by The Teddy Bears, which is probably played on Sirius XM Radio at least twice per day.  As All Music Guide critic Richie Unterburger puts it, Nelson's recordings "might have helped inspire aspiring musicians as things to play along and learn with, if nothing else." Unterburger argues that legendary drummer Keith Moon was "no-doubt influenced" by Sandy Nelson's "reckless style." 

Released in 1963, Teenage House Party wasn't one of Sandy Nelson's most famous records, but it's a whole lot of fun.  Like many albums of the early 60s, House Party  is a short one, clocking it at around 27 minutes.  But in those 27 minutes are 12 very danceable rock 'n roll numbers.  Part of the kitsch of this record is the addition of overdubs of teens partying—quite conservatively, I might add—which definitely makes the record live up to it's title.  It's funny and kind of cute.  I like to picture the Peanuts characters in their early teens dancing to this record.  

Since this will be the only Sandy Nelson article I intend to write, I'm going to include a "best of" album with all his early hits, including the Top 10 hits "Teen Beat" and "Let There Be Drums."  

Teenage House Party by Sandy Nelson

The Very Best of Sandy Nelson

SINGLES GOING STEADY: "THERE ARE NO WORDS" BY TODD RUNDGREN

Appearing on Rundgren's 1970 debut album Runt,  "There Are No Words" is exactly what it sounds like.  It is layers of Todd's vocal harmonies in the form of "ahhhs," "ohhhs" and "ooohs."  Cynics will likely refer to it as a throwaway track.  Such hypothetical cynics would be making it painfully obvious that they have never created—or even attempted to create—music.  Anyone who has will more than likely understand how incredible this piece is.  From a Harmonic perspective, this song is unreal.  The dissonance that Todd achieves in the first 30 seconds of the piece feels impossible.  As a songwriter—not like you should be impressed by that—I couldn't help but wonder "How did he come up with that?"

There is a creepiness in the first half of "There Are No Words" which may dissuade listeners with a narrow musical palette.  If that's you, I suggest you keep listening.  Around 30 seconds, the eeriness transforms into something unspeakably beautiful.  Though there are no words, I can't help but feel like Todd Rundgren is trying to tell listeners something.  Runt is a terrific record, but Rundgren's lyrics make him appear to be very self-conscious.  "Who's That Man"  makes him sound jealous.  "Believe In Me" is a confession about being misunderstood.  The first half of "There Are No Words" is the "misunderstanding" part of Todd Rundgren and the second half is the sensitivity or his compassion, heart and/or soul.  However you interpret it, it is a gorgeous song.  I know it's sacrilege, but I'm not sure The Beatles ever had harmonies as incredible as this.  I'm sure they'd give Todd a thumbs up—he is the guitarist in Ringo Starr's All Star Band, for what it's worth. 

"There Are No Words" by Todd Rundgren

Now is the perfect time to confess that I've been using the words "song" and "piece" interchangeably.  I have always wondered whether "There Are No Words" is a "song" or a "piece."  As I learned in college (more on that college here ), there is an actual difference between the two. 

Courtesy of Merriam-Webster:

• Piece (of music): A musical Composition; a musical work that has been created.

• Song: A short poem or other set of words set to music or meant to be sung.

You understand the difference now.  A piece would usually refer to something instrumental and a song is a "set of words" that is sung.  

So what is "There Are No Words"?  It is sung, but there are no words.  So is it a piece? 

Forget I even brought this up.  I think it's important to listen to Runt by Todd Rundgren because it's an amazingly varied and possibly perfect album.  At the very least, listen to "We Gotta Get You A Woman," the hit that put Todd Rundgren on the map.  

Runt by Todd Rundgren