https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5B3Z3sRksA&list=PLm4wvIBmBJlt1sk1ImDwEBFHUP903goUb&index=5

Yesterday I saw a post here about a lucky user who bought the Alchemy vinyl in Japan. It immediately reminded me what a priceless gem this entire album is, especially the 7:15 minutes of this particular live track. I would genuinely rate this as one of the best live albums in all of rock music.

The dialogue between John Illsley’s deep bass and Mark Knopfler’s guitar phrasing makes the sonic, and even visual experience truly unforgettable. Lucky are those who were able to attend that performance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIa56_PHorE&list=OLAK5uy_n3VXABXkY7TjjsJbTKnE6dOWQGM-X79cI

Despite the title, this track is not part of the soundtrack to Sergio Leone’s western "Once Upon a Time in the West". Instead, it’s a magical track built on a  reggae groove and a deep  bass line. Mark Knopfler plays his  guitar solo the only way he knows how- without a pick  and the result is phenomenal.

The recording was made under the palm trees,  at the Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas. The warm, tropical air literally soaked into the magnetic tape, which is why it feels so perfect for a warm, July Friday night with good company and a quality drink. True relaxation at the end of the week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grSWdLdp7po

Happy July 1st to everyone!
For me, "July Morning" is one of the greatest anthems of all time. Ever since my 15th birthday, I have played this track every single year on the first of July. It has become my personal law. When I first heard it, I didn't even realize it was created so long ago, back in 1971, when probably none of us here were even born yet. It remains completely timeless.

Released on the album Look at Yourself, this 10-minute epic was Uriah Heep's direct response to Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" and Deep Purple's "Child in Time". It stands as a timeless blueprint of how progressive hard rock should be structured.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N47SWUcYhQU

For me, "Mammagamma" has always been a summer track. It just carries this sense of outer space, total freedom, driving, blue skies, and the sea. Musically speaking, it’s top-tier across the board.

When Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson created this instrumental track back in 1982, they decided to use one of the very first computer sequencers to build a tight, electronic rhythm. But to prevent the song from sounding like a dead computer product, they layered a live, pulsating bass on top of it. They also brought in funk guitars and heavy acoustic drums. The combination of all these components is just incredible.

It’s a track that constantly breathes and remains completely relevant, no matter when it was created.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksXqI4qxU1A&list=PLDD6nAEVVZxFumOISzBdoRneqI3-CipIY&index=8

Marillion is a favorite band of mine that I will never forget over time, and the album Misplaced Childhood (1985) remains right at the top of my list as one of the finest  progressive rock creations ever made.

From what I’ve read, the year was 1984, and Marillion was under intense pressure from their record label, EMI, to deliver a new hit album following the success of Fugazi. Fish was completely exhausted, locked in an empty hotel room, facing a massive creative crisis.Then, on a rainy night, he decided to perform a chemical restart on his consciousness. He took a heavy dose of LSD and spent the next 10 hours on an  earth-shattering hallucinogenic trip, completely alone with the band’s demo tapes. That was the night the entire concept of Misplaced Childhood was born.

When the LSD finally let go of him in the morning, Fish walked into the studio to meet Steve Rothery and the rest of the band with a fully written conceptual masterpiece in his hands, telling them: "We have a number one album." That’s when Rothery transformed  Fish’s words into sound. And everything just clicked.

For me, "Blind Curve" is musical, vocal, and lyrical perfection.

Lately, I got curious about what Fish is actually up to right now. I did some digging and discovered that he recently chose a complete retirement from showbiz. He sold the rights to his catalog and moved to live on a farm on a remote Scottish island in the Atlantic Ocean. He is only active on Facebook on  his simple page profile "Fish", often posting  stories and videos from his real life. Of course, I follow him there, because despite the passing of time, I will never stop loving him and his music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOf-0Mur7t4

Very few tracks from the 1960s can evoke genuine emotion even today. I want to be upfront right from the start- I am a fan of The Beatles. But I’m intentionally coming over to your sub to remind you of a unique, totally ahead-of-its-time track and its  compelling  video.

"We Love You"  In my opinion, has had  enduring power over the decades, because of  the energy captured during its creation-  the energy of brotherly support and solidarity. At a moment of a severe media crisis and a judicial lynching of the Stones- when the conservative British establishment was literally trying to destroy them- John Lennon and Paul McCartney stepped into the fire for them without a second thought. They rushed to help the Stones  in the studio and, besides the psychological backing, recorded those  backing vocals that create the entire psychedelic atmosphere in the background.

The recording itself is visual and musical surrealism, just like the video parodied after the Oscar Wilde trial. The bass is unique, and the piano goes absolutely wild. The whole picture is completely insane.

This is a true example of fair play and top-tier class from both bands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVclvU2ABD8&list=PLE9685680DABAB18F&index=13

I assume I’m not the only one who notices that The Beatles remain deeply relevant today, more than half a century after they stopped existing. This can’t be said for every epic rock band of the 20th century. Looking at social media and real life, Gen Z and even younger generations know exactly who They are and actively listen to them. This doesn’t happen just because the music is genius- if no one actively cares for a legacy, it risks fading into the archives.

For me, Paul McCartney  is the caring father, not just to his children, but to the band itself. He is incredibly far-sighted, with an unmistakable instinct for social trends. People often mistake this drive for mere commercialism, but let’s look at the situation soberly: without his non-stop energy, active presence, and strategic projects, The Beatles could easily be an archaic product today- something that was just super successful for its time. I also appreciate his good communication with all the heirs and his constant efforts to motivate them to carry this legacy into the future.

While other legends chose proud passivity and left their art to drift, Paul never stopped keeping the fire alive. I take my hat off to him for that.

I chose a track “Don't Stop Running” from the lesser-known project The Fireman where Paul, of course, experiments, and did so anonymously in the beginning. Damn good work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgx2U85Fa_c&list=PLA9-lU434qdsIOA1K0_nNsP2xXwxitwrc&index=2

When driving, I often put this track on. Paul McCartney and Jeff Lynne in combination elevate my adrenaline, and I feel like I am smoothly conquering territories.

During the recording sessions, McCartney manages the instrumental and vocal lines, while Jeff Lynne takes control of the structure, details, effects, and the overall vision of the product, also contributing backing vocals. He captures Paul's voice and filters it. Through his trick of layering dozens of vocal tracks, Paul McCartney navigates the pure rock attack of the field, while Jeff Lynne provides the cosmic shell of ELO.

In this state, we are listening to a hybrid between two musical giants- The Beatles and ELO. The result is indisputable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szx4V_i3fCQ

Most people associate Dire Straits with "Brothers in Arms," "Money for Nothing," or "Sultans of Swing." But early on, in their second album Communiqué were some hidden treasures, such as the track "Where Do You Think You're Going?". I cannot call it an autobiographical love song, because the motives behind writing it have remained unclear over time, but feeling Mark's emotion, I am convinced it is.

The lyrics represent a primal impulse during a breakup, completely stripped of any cheap sentimentality. Mark Knopfler turns to the woman packing her bags for the big, glamorous world with a cold and cynical realism, without begging, which personally gives me goosebumps.

Musically, the track is flawlessly crafted. It starts almost acoustically, with just Mark's voice, but the guitar solo in the second half and the finale completely changes the picture. Everything that was suppressed pours out, overcoming any previous weakness. An unforgettable song, truly. 7 minutes of bliss. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXBiPY8wDT0

When we talk about the best music created in the 20th century, we cannot fail to mention ELO. Jeff Lynne is a perfect example of how when a creator is extremely intelligent, he simply sees into the future.

The album "Time" is conceptual and tells the story of a man from 1981 who is transported to the distant year 2095. In "Ticket to the Moon," the main character already has everything that technological progress can offer- a ticket to the Moon and a luxurious life in the future. But… he is lonelier than ever. Technologies have destroyed human closeness. He looks back at Earth with nostalgia, weighed down by extreme isolation, and longs for the simple, true things.

I am honestly scared of how close we are getting to what was considered fiction back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv4Mfek40sQ

I've noticed that a certain renaissance of The Beatles' work is happening right now. Young people know them and listen to them, the discussions in Reddit groups are quite hot, their songs are played in TV commercials, Paul is releasing album after album, a mega-production movie is being filmed about them- in a word, quite strong marketing on all fronts. Paul McCartney, his business acumen, and his excellent communication with the other heirs are, of course, responsible for this. But I want to go back to a story that was quite unpleasant, but on the bright side, had a happy ending. Again thanks to McCartney...

We all know about the bitter crossfire in the media between Paul and John after the breakup of The Beatles, which culminated in John’s brutal attack with the song "How Do You Sleep?". But while John chose to attack directly and humiliate, Paul’s response was completely different.

I’ve always believed that with "Dear Friend," Paul was by no means begging for peace or waving a white flag. This song is a rather clever and calculated response, born from an excellent knowledge of his opponent and his weak spots. Instead of responding to insults with insults, Paul chose to affect John with a complex musical composition and absolute vocal perfection.

With this unearthly beautiful song, he ended the conflict by reminding John and the whole world of the magic they once shared. In my opinion, this was a display of creative dignity and class, not a surrender. What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mOgDiNN2Uc

Can you guess who is singing here? No, it is not a mistake that I am posting a Paul McCartney track in this sub. We all know that the most common question constantly thrown at him is "How did you write Yesterday?". Which is frankly ridiculous, considering his immense and fearless talent for experimentation. He has created unique gems throughout his solo career, from McCartney II to Monkberry Moon Delight and so much more.

Since this sub  is a genuinely boutique rock community, I wanted to share this specific track here. The entire song was completely improvised and recorded in a single day, proving that Paul’s vocal bravery can easily put modern hard rock bands to shame. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf_Gr-vRUws
"Don't Let Me Down" selling deodorants for $1. Should we expect "Penny Lane" selling pizza salami that "the youth likes"?

I happened to be flipping through a TV channel showing World Cup football matches, and I saw a girl spraying a guy's armpits with deodorant - all under John Lennon’s passionate chorus from Don't Let Me Down. I have to admit, at first, it made me happy. I thought to myself: "Wow, how cool! The Gen Z generation will finally hear this track on TV and discover The Beatles." After all, Paul McCartney has said he wants their music to live forever and reach new generations

But watching the whole commercial made me think, and the sheer cheapness of it knocked me down.

John Lennon sang this song with his entire soul, and the performance on the Apple rooftop was unforgettable. Now, it’s being used in a $1 drugstore... against armpit sweat. And no, in my opinion, it’s not Yoko who sold out the heritage, but everyone who holds the rights and signed this multi-million dollar contract with Unilever.

Now I wonder, what other commercial absurdity should we expect?

Maybe Penny Lane in a local butcher shop selling pizza salami that "the youth likes"? Or private home healthcare named "Penny Lane," where that exact "pretty nurse" from the song comes to give you insulin shots? What about Help! in an ad for laxatives against severe constipation? Or Yesterday for memory-boosting pills, so we can remember what it was like yesterday?

I understand the heirs' desire to promote The Beatles among young people, but mass commercials are often just tacky. That’s why diamonds aren't sold in $1 drugstores.