For all of you who were born after the Beatles broke-up, well, you can't ever quite know how it was. How it was, when a new Beatles album was coming out, was beyond extraordinary and although there are anticipated artists and albums today, these instant classic albums were in a class by themselves even then.
A couple of weeks ago, I went to Las Vegas to see "Love" which is the Cirque du Soleil show featuring Beatles music, approved by the surviving Beatles and the departed Beatles families. The show was wonderful -- taking two artistic expressions I love -- Cirque du Soleil and Beatles -- and putting them together. I left feeling up and inspired and nostalgic and sad and glad, all at the same time. I knew when I saw the show that the actual soundtrack was due out the next week so I was waiting for it.
Now that I've had some time with this new CD, I can really say that it reminds me the music is the thing. The show was great, mind you, but the CD is everything I could possibly want as a Beatles fan. Listening to it, on headphones as I used to savor an original Beatles album, I was transported again to that time when you couldn't wait to finish your first listen so you could start your second.
This was like a new Beatles album to me, not a re-packaging, not a tribute, but a vibrant, original conceptual work. It is surprising, touching, powerful, thoughtful, emotional. It's terrific. It's been described as a Beatles "mash-up" but it's so much more than that.
George Martin -- the Beatles original producer -- has done a superb job here, working with his own son, Giles. I tried to imagine how much fun this assignment had to be. Working as father/son, and going through every original Beatles recording you could get your hands on, and being challenged to put it all together any way you want, using only that material, and keeping it to an hour-and-a-half. Wow! There is a surviving member of the Beatles beyond Paul and Ringo and his name is George, George Martin.
If you haven't heard this CD and you don't really know the Beatles, it's still a great way to get to know these musicians. But if you do know the Beatles, you are in for the best treat you've had since 1970.
I'm about to go take a car trip and I can't wait to fire up the iPod for another listen.
