LOVE

LOVE : " The Beatles as you've never heard them before" so screamed the advertisement for this CD. A product of Cirque du Soleil production team, this was the melting pot of 30 or more Beatles tunes mixed or re - worked by the able hands of  George Martin and his son, Giles. Like millions of others, I was waiting impatiently for this to come out with high expectation. I was slightly let down when I first heard it.. It wasn't as enjoyable as I've anticipated. I much preferred their treatment of Elvis Presley.

Because ( Lennon / McCartney ) : This track clearly displays the electrifying harmony skills of The Beatles. Stripped of all instrumentals, it just features the gorgeous voices of John, Paul and George and it does send a shiver up the spine through the pure beauty of the melody and the harmonising.

Get Back / Glass Onion ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Starting with the familiar guitar clang of 'A Hard Day's Night', the song proper begins. Elsewhere you can hear snippets of 'Glass Onion' and 'Hello, Goodbye'.

 Eleanor Rigby / Julia [ Transition ) ( Lennon / McCartney ) : This version have a slightly longer intro as compared with the original on "Revolver", with a slight bit of hardly recognisable 'Julia'

I Am The Walrus ( Lennon / McCartney ) : This is quite identical to the original. Really not much different.

I Want To Hold Your Hand ( Lennon / McCartney ) : This starts with Ed Sullivan introducting the boys to an unsuspecting American on his show. After that it's the song proper.

Drive My Car / The Word / What You're Doing ( Lennon / McCartney ) : This is the track that I like most in the CD. The three songs mingled beautifully with each other. It would have been splendid had it being longer but it's a tab too short.

Gnik Nus ( Lennon / McCartney ) : 'Sun King' in reverse spelling. An unnecessary track.

Something / Blue Jay Way ( Harrison ) : George's beautiful 'Something' inter weaved with 'Blue Jay Way'.

Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite / I Want You [ She's So Heavy ] / Helter Skelter ( Lennon / McCartney ) : A medley of three songs that are as different as night and day in theme as well as musically with the last track barely noticeable..

Help! ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Not much different.

Blackbird / Yesterday ( Lennon / McCartney ) : The acoustic intro of 'Blackbird' woven into 'Yesterday'. Beautifully done.

Strawberry Fields Forever ( Lennon / McCartney ) : This track mixes the two demo version from "Anthology 2". You'll hear the trumpets from 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band' and ' Penny Lane' as well as the organ solo from 'Piggies' with 'Hello, Goodbye' ending the song. Nice.

Within You, Without You ( Harrison ) / Tomorrow Never Knows ( Lennon / McCartney ) : George's 'Within You, Without You' sang to the backing of 'Tomorrow Never Knows'. Brilliant.

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds ( Lennon / McCartney ) : A slightly prolonged intro differentiate this track from the main version.

October's Garden ( Starkey ) : You'll hear the slight refrain from 'Goodnight' before the song starts which was the version from "Anthology 3 " which finally mingled into the master version. Strange but nice mix.

Lady Madonna ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Refrains from 'Sun King' and snippets from 'Why Don't We Do It In The Road' before we move to the main song. 'Hey Bulldog' can also be heard in the background.

Here Comes The Sun / The Inner Light [ Transition ] ( Harrison ) : George's opus with indian music intro.

Come Together / Dear Prudence / Cry Baby Cry [ Transition ] ( Lennon / McCartney ) : 'Come Together' with 'Dear Prudence' playing faintly in the background and actually  it wasthe ending of 'Cry Baby Cry' which is actually another untitled song that closes this track. Weird mix.

Revolution ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Sound is much clearly than the original. Otherwise not much different.

Back In The U.S.S.R. ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Minus the airplane taking off intro, this is The Beatles at their rocking best and this version rocks.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps ( Harrison ) : This version was taken from "Anthology 3" with additional lyrics. A quite acoustic moment.

A Day In The Life ( Lennon / McCartney ) :  This is clearly from the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely's Heart Club Band" album.

Hey Jude ( Lennon / McCartney ) : This is the master version as well but trimmed down considerably. I suspect part of this is taken from Paul's solo concerts.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band [ Reprise ] ( Lennon / McCartney ) :  Before 'Hey Jude' actually ended, this track came on.

All You  Need Is Love ( Lennon / McCartney ) : A somewhat trimmed down and much clearer version of this Beatles' love song to the world. It ended with the ending of 'Goodnight'.

DOP : 29th November 2006.