November 6, 2010 · 7:02 am

Movie Review: Nowhere Boy

Nowhere Boy promo I had the opportunity to have a night out with the family and catch a showing of the new John Lennon biopic – “Nowhere Boy” at the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville.

(A quick history of the Colonial Theatre – this theatre became famous in the 1958 cult classic “The Blob” when the patrons run screaming from the theatre after the blob takes over.)

I was really torn watching this movie.  It a very well made film and the acting is quite good.  It is a wonderful to relax to…if you’re not a die-hard Beatles fan.  I must have leaned over about five times and whispered in my husband’s ear, “That’s not how that happened.”  From John’s blue eyes (his were brown) to Paul McCartney being shorter than him (he wasn’t) to Uncle George dying in front of John (John was away when his uncle died), a hardcore Beatles fan will feel like there are nails scratching a blackboard while watching.  But, for the average, everyday music fan that just wants a little background into Lennon’s early years…yes, this film will please you.  And though a lot of it is a bit out of chronological order, it gets its point across of the turmoil and heartbreak that Lennon must have felt in his youth and adolescence.

I’m not sure how to rate this film.  I want to scream, “Did you think we wouldn’t notice your blatant disregard of the facts?” and at the same time, I want to say, “Great film…very well made!”  This is where I’m going to have to say to my readers, go see the film and try to separate yourself from the truth just enough to enjoy the film.  There really isn’t any one thing in this movie that changes the overall story of John Lennon’s real story and that can’t be attributed to ‘artist license’.  And for this reason…

I rate this film: 3 out of 4 Beetles

 

 

 

The movie will continue to be shown throughout this week (November 5-11, 2010) at the Colonial Theatre.  For more information and showtimes, please go to: www.TheColonialTheatre.com.

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September 13, 2010 · 9:17 am

Concert Review: Liverpool Beat plays Downingtown, PA

Last night, our small town’s Concert in the Park series came to an end with a concert by Beatles tribute band – Liverpool Beat.

These monthly concerts in our little town are a free event throughout the summer, which is a good thing because so far, I’ve never had to pay to see a Beatles tribute band.  It’s just not in my blood to cough up cold hard cash to see someone impersonating the best band the world has ever known.  To put this into perspective, the reader may want to know that the three other tribute bands I’ve seen were: Yesterday, Beatlemania Now and She Loves You (I believe this one is a show title though it was performed like a concert).

I can honestly say that I did like this band.  You can tell that these guys really enjoy doing what they’re doing.  Their playlist included: Twist and Shout, A Hard Day’s Night, Help, She Loves You, Daytripper, She Loves You and many more to fill the hour and a half show they put on. I was surprised I had never heard of this band before since they’ve been playing in the Philadelphia area since 2001.

What can you say about a band that even took the time out to stroll across one of the zebra stripes in town just so people could catch a picture of it?  I’d say it’s a band that loves what they do and put their hearts into keeping alive the memory of the greatest band the world has ever known.  And if you by chance find them performing in your area, don’t hesitate to go out, see them and have a great time!

On that note, I will add that the organizers of Downingtown’s Concert in the Park are discussing the possibility of having a Beatles Festival in our town in the future.  For more info on Concert in the Park, go to: www.DowningtownConcerts.com.

You can see  a video of Liverpool Beat performing “She’s a Woman” on YouTube.

For more information or to book Liverpool Beat, please go to their website.

I rate this band: 3 out of 4 beetles

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September 5, 2010 · 8:26 am

Sponsor me for AIDS Walk Los Angeles

I’m going to be ‘virtually’ walking (I can’t actually get to L.A.!)  with Team Price is Right and Drew Carey.

Click Here to Donate

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August 18, 2010 · 1:04 pm

Book Review – The Last Days of John Lennon

The Last Days of John Lennon – A Personal Memoir : by Frederic Seaman

Okay, so I’m a bit behind on my reading (this book was published in 1991), but I’m not like a lot of Beatles freaks…I don’t feel the need to know every detail of the Fab Four’s lives to know that they were the greatest band the world has ever known.  I have to admit that I never heard of the conspiracy theories on John Lennon’s death until about 6 months ago.  This is one of the books that was on the recommended reading list of a friend that turned me on to this alternative premise as to how/why Lennon was murdered.

The author of this book, Frederic Seaman had the dream job of many Beatles’ fans around the world – he was John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s personal assistant.  And being the smart boy that he was, Frederic kept personal journals on the daily ins and outs and going-ons in the Lennono world.

I can honestly say that this book held my interest.  It’s definitely a different read than some of the other Lennon bios that I’ve read like: Larry Kane’s Lennon Revealed, Cynthia Lennon’s John and May Pang’s Loving John.  It also brought up a lot of questions in my mind as to who was the real John Lennon in those two years leading up to his murder.  Frederic Seaman’s book paints a very scary portrait of a man that Beatles fans never knew existed and an even scarier image of exactly who Yoko Ono was/is.

Would I recommend this book?  That depends on how you feel about Lennon’s image.  If you’re a diehard fan that wants to know every detail and read every word every written about the Beatles, then yeah…read the book. I will tell you though that this book came to me with a warning from a friend that those who follow believe the theory that there was a conspiracy to kill John Lennon have been the victims of some pretty bizarre events.

For me though, knowing this all information doesn’t help in bringing John Lennon back no matter what the circumstances were behind his death.  Nor will the next book on my reading list – Who Killed John Lennon? by Fenton Bresler.

Until the next time…R.I.P. John

Rated: 2 out of 4 Beetles


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July 22, 2010 · 11:07 am

Review: Let Him Be (movie)

I’m embarrassed to say that I got this movie over two months ago and am just now sitting down to write my review, but as John Lennon once said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

I give the writer/director a lot of credit for making this film. He’s just asking to get beaten up by Beatles fans around the world for trying to cash in. And I will admit that I thought the same thing going into watching this movie and several minutes into it.

Let Him Be is a story about a young man who comes across an old movie camera with a home movie taken at a children’s birthday party. He can’t help but notice that the guy playing guitar and singing for the kids has an uncanny resemblance to John Lennon. And that’s where the adventure begins as Tim and his girlfriend Kathleen trek across the back roads of Canada in search of the person they believe to be John Lennon.

It didn’t take long before I too was drawn into the story despite my original belief that this movie was made for the writer/director to get a piece of the big APPLE pie. But after a while I realized that the story wasn’t necessarily about Lennon. Any famous star that has left this world could be put into this tale and it would still be an outstanding tale.

This movies leaves its audience wondering, “If I was to find out that John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe or James Dean was still alive, would I out them to the public?”

After seeing this movie, you’re answer may not be what you think!

Read more about ‘Let Him Be‘ on the official website: www.LetHimBe.com or on the IMDb: here

Rated: 3 Beatles

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March 6, 2010 · 9:33 am

Review: Larry Kane’s ‘Ticket to Ride’ Lecture

Larry Kane's Ticket to Ride

Last night, I attended the first of night of Larry Kane‘s “Ticket to Ride” lecture at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Larry will be giving these presentations every Friday and Saturday throughout March 2010. Note: I’d say the theater was about 3/4 full for this opening night performance.

A little background: I had seen Larry talk during his 2005 book tour for “Lennon Revealed” his second book about The Beatles. Though I never read his first book, “Ticket to Ride”, I anxiously dove into the new one. Back to the present: So when I ordered my $35 ticket to this new 2010 show of his, I had to wonder what he had left to say about his time with the Fab Four.

I must admit I was pleasantly surprised! This show was very well done. It opens with a 20 minute video introduction that did make me wonder how much actual talking Larry would do, but once Larry came out after Denny Somach’s introduction, he broke into stories about The Beatles that had still remained untold. The show was produced beautifully and the mix of concert footage and interviews with Larry’s story telling was very well balanced. Larry’s amazing and sometimes shocking stories of his time traveling and interviewing John, Paul, George and Ringo will either make your jaw drop or make you howl with laughter.

After 1 hour 45 mins., Larry was happy to take questions from the audience. And despite Denny Somach’s insistence that Larry wrap it up for the night, Larry was gracious enough to keep saying, “I’ll take one more question”. He honestly loves The Beatles and loves talking about him.

The show was not without its problems. There was a moment when Larry’s outlined lecture was not inline with the cued video, but honestly, this just brought a giggle from the audience and was completely forgivable for an opening night. Larry also bumped his mic several times which can also be dismissed as an opening night faux pas.

Larry Kane is currently working on his 3rd book to be called, “When They Were Boys”. He told me it won’t be published for a couple years, but I know I’m already looking forward to it.

If you are in the Philadelphia/NJ/NY area and can get to Larry Kane’s ‘Ticket to Ride’ show this month, it will be well worth the price of the ticket! For more information, go to www.LarryKane.com or www.FI.edu.

Rating: 4 out of 4 Beetles

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February 22, 2010 · 10:17 am

Review: STAX Does the Beatles

STAX Does the Beatles

STAX Does the Beatles

Let’s start out by saying I’m not a jazz or R&B fan. I found this CD a year ago while I working at a local music store and thought I’d give it a spin.

This album is made up of 15 covers of what appears to be the most popular of the Beatles songs. Some of the songs include the vocal and some are just instrumental interpretations.  Some of the names covering these songs are: Otis Redding, Booker T., Carla Thomas, Issac Hayes and John Gary Williams.

Though not my type of ‘sound’, I feel that there can be a place for many of these songs, whether in a restaurant, elevator or at a live performance.  All in all, most of these won’t leave the listener either cringing or with their ears bleeding.  The only song I found truly offensive was Reggie Milner’s version of “And I Love Her”….the song was rendered unrecognizable!

All the albums and books that I review, I will try to list on my Beatles-Freak Amazon store (see links in right-hand column) page for my readers to investigate further.  This particular album you can buy used at Amazon for $1.45!
Rated – 2 out of 4 Beetles

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February 10, 2010 · 1:04 pm

Kidz Bop Sings The Beatles

Kidz Bop Sings The Beatles

I’m almost embarrassed to make this my first review, but this CD has been sitting on my to-do pile since I ordered it last month and with it snowing outside, I decided to pop it into my computer and give it a listen while I surf and work.

My first thought is – the instrumental part is very true to the Beatles music. My second thought is – Why?! Why would they put these voices over the music? This album is a mix of what sounds like children’s and women’s voices singing: Can’t buy me love, Here comes the sun, All you need is love, etc. I’ve heard cover bands do better versions of these songs. And when you look at the play list, you realize that there are no songs with questionable lyrics that might be too much young ears and vocabularies.

So all in all…I give this album 1 out of 4 beetles. Go out and buy your children the real thing. Please don’t poison their impression of the Beatles with this worthless collection of covers.

And now…I can get it off my desk!
Rated: 1 out of 4 Beetles Score: 1 out of 4 Beetles

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January 31, 2010 · 8:09 am

An Intro to Beatles-Freak’s reviews

Good Morning, Good Morning…

I know what you’re all asking yourselves.  “Why?  Why are you reviewing pseudo and faux Beatles?”.

That’s a very good question…and believe you me, I’m still asking myself the same question, “Why am I doing this?!”

The best explanation I can give is this:  The Beatles, whether solo or a group, whether presently or in the past, have been reviewed to death!  Those poor boys couldn’t take a shite without someone telling us all what it looked and smelled like.  I really don’t think anyone, including myself, wants another Beatles review blogger.  If you love the Beatles or are a collector, then you already listen to and buy everything they’ve made, recorded or created.  You don’t need me to tell you whether it’s good or not.

Now some Beatles fans are purists.  These are the folks that don’t want to hear remakes or tribute bands performing covers of the songs they love.  In fact, my father-in-law has this same attitude about U.S. national anthem.  It is to be performed exactly as it was written with no room for artistic license.  And god help the popstar that performs the anthem at a major sporting event should they try to get creative.  And I can respect the opinion of the Beatles purists, but it’s not going to stop people from performing their songs.  Why?  Well, from what I’ve heard from many musicians is that the Lennon/McCartney catalog is “fun”.  Just like we listeners are drawn to the Fab Four’s sound, musicians are drawn to playing their songs.

I’m also not a real fan of the people who have worked with, slept with and done business with the Beatles that have all decided that they need to cash in by writing books.  My dislike for this behavior is almost personal – it’s all TMI (too much information) for me.  It’s the music that turns me on, not every little detail of their lives.  And whether it’s the Beatles or sports, I get a bad taste in my mouth when I encounter so-called “experts” and they want to show off their absolute-no-one-knows-more-than-me knowledge of a topic.

This brings me back to the big question – “Why are you doing this?!”  Because if there must be authors and musicians who are going to try to cash in on The Beatles, then I want to try to help others separate the ‘real’ from the ‘hacks’.

“And in the end
The love you take
Is equal to the love you make.”

I hope you enjoy my reviews.

/J

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December 19, 2009 · 1:15 pm

Coming February 1, 2010!

Come back on February 1st to read my first review. In the meantime, feel free to sign-up for an email subscription to Beatles-Freak’s Reviews so you don’t miss a thing! Just enter your email in the box to the right.

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