Tag Archives: The Beatles Music

Paul McCartney Turns 72!

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My entire life has been one amazing Paul McCartney song after another. It started obviously, with The Beatles, followed by Wings and his solo career. Paul McCartney is a living legend in the music industry and continues to be so.

Paul McCartney and The Beatles with Rhode Island Wedding DJ & Rhode Island Rock DJ

The Paul McCartney Story

Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer. With John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, he gained worldwide fame as a member of the Beatles, and hiscollaboration with Lennon is one of the most celebrated songwriting partnerships of the 20th century. After the band’s break-up, he pursued a solo career, later forming Wings with his first wife, Linda, and singer-songwriter Denny Laine.

Paul McCartney & The Beatles First Visit to The USA

Guinness World Records described McCartney as the “most successful composer and recording artist of all time”, with 60 gold discs and sales of over 100 million albums and 100 million singles, and as the “most successful songwriter” in United Kingdom chart history. More than 2,200 artists have covered his Beatles song “Yesterday“, more than any other song in history. Wings’ 1977 release “Mull of Kintyre” is one of the all-time best-selling singles in the UK. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in March 1999, McCartney has written, or co-written 32 songs that have reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and as of 2013 he has sold over 15.5 million RIAA-certified units in the United States.

Paul McCartney & Wings Jet Live

McCartney has released an extensive catalogue of songs as a solo artist and has composed classical and electronic music. He has taken part in projects to promote international charities related to such subjects as animal rights, seal hunting, landmines, vegetarianism, poverty, and music education. McCartney has married three times and is the father of five children.

Paul McCartney: Hurricane Sandy Relief Concert Nineteen Hundred Eighty-Five

Paul McCartney Dominates Bonnaroo

For anyone born in the last quarter century who wondered whether Paul McCartney’s allotted two-and-a-half-hour set would be “too much” for the 70-year-old Beatle was justly put to shame Friday night when Macca delivered a truly legendary, 24-song set that, by the way, lasted almost three hours.

Paul McCartney at Bannaroo with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Every year, Bonnaroo’s Friday-night, headlining artist is the impetus for many to splurge on the festival ticket. McCartney’s main-stage act was no exception, considering its cross-generational, grin-inducing appeal to, well, everyone. Not one to settle for the expected, McCartney played more than his back-catalogue staples (which, for the record, would have been completely acceptable). Among the lovingly off-kilter setlist selections were “Your Mother Should Know,” “All Together Now” and “Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da,” all of which were met with equal affinity as the “Let it Be’s” and the “Hey Jude’s” of the night.

It was the greatest, most sincere sing-along that has ever been conceived. To witness McCartney perform “Something” on ukulele in tribute to George Harrison, moments before a cannon-blazing rendition of “Live and Let Die” and a suitably zealous “Helter Skelter,” was as fantastical as it was fierce. It was the perfect environment for Bonnaroo’s Dropping Point — the point at which Bonnaroo gently lifts you and then not-so-gently drops you into the festival, typically spearheaded by the Friday night, headlining act. Arcade Fire and Radiohead occupied the spot in 2011 and 2012, respectively, and McCartney passed the torch as if “Love Me Do” were released yesterday. It will be arduous to top someone whose song book is so collectively enamored, but if there is a festival in which we can instill faith, it’s Bonnaroo (they brought us a Beatle).

Paul McCartney in Brooklyn

Happy Birthday Paul McCartney!

McCartney said he had the idea of “Let It Be” after he had a dream about his mother during the tense period surrounding the sessions for The Beatles (the “White Album”). McCartney explained that his mother—who died of cancer when McCartney was fourteen—was the inspiration for the “Mother Mary” lyric. He later said, “It was great to visit with her again. I felt very blessed to have that dream. So that got me writing ‘Let It Be’.” He also said in a later interview about the dream that his mother had told him “It will be all right, just let it be.”

Paul McCartney & The Beatles Let It Be Live in Studio

What is your favorite Paul McCartney Song or memory?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

 

 

Best Selling Music Artists of All-Time

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The list of best selling music artists includes artists with claims of 75 million or more record sales in multiple third-party reliable sources. The claimed sales figures and the total certified sales figures (for each country) within the provided sources include sales of albums, singles, compilation-albums, music videos as well as downloads of singles and full-length albums. The artists in the following tables are listed with both their claimed and certified sales figures and are ranked in descending order, with the highest claimed sales at the top. Artists with the same claimed sales are then ranked by certified units. Sales figures, such as those from Soundscan, which are sometimes published by Billboard magazine, have not been included in the certified units column. Currently, The Beatles are listed at the top of the list as they are considered the highest-selling band based both on sales claims and certified units. Elvis Presley, who is listed the second on the list is considered the highest-selling individual artist based both on sales claims and certified units.

All artists included on this list, which have begun charting on official albums/singles charts have their available claimed figure(s) supported by at least 20% in certified units. That is why Cliff Richard, Diana Ross, Charles Aznavour, Bing Crosby, Nana Mouskouri, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Tom Jones, The Jackson 5, Dionne Warwick, The Andrews Sisters,Luciano Pavarotti and others have not been included on this list. The percentage amount of certified sales needed increases the newer the artist is, meaning, artists such as Rihanna are expected to have their claimed figures supported by over 60% in certified units. The certified units are sourced from available online databases of local music industry associations. Note that all certified units are converted from Gold/Platinum/Diamond certification awards based on criteria provided by certifying bodies.

The requirements of certified sales are designed to avoid inflated sales figures, which are frequently practiced by record companies for promotional purposes.

The claimed figures are sourced to articles that use the term records (singles, albums, videos) and not albums. However, if all available sources for an artist/band say albums, such sources can only be used if the certified album units of the said artist meet the required percentage amount. Note that this list uses claimed figures that are closer to artists’ available certified sales. In other words, inflated claimed figures that will meet the required certified sales amount but are unrealistically high from available certified sales, will not be used.

Best Selling Music Artists of All-Time

  • The Beatles Best Selling Music Artists of All-Time with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

    The Beatles

The Beatles United Kingdom 1960–1974
 1962
 Rock / Pop

600 million
Michael Jackson Best Selling Music Artists of All-Time with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Michael Jackson

 

Michael Jackson
 United States 1964–2009
 1971
 Pop / Rock / Dance /R&B

400 million
350 million
300 million
  • Madonna Best Selling Music Artists of All-Time with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

    Madonna

Madonna United States 1979–present
 1982
 Pop / Rock / Dance

300 million
275 million
  • Led Zeppelin Best Selling Music Artists of All-Time with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

    Led Zeppelin

    Led Zeppelin United Kingdom 1968–1980
    		 1969
    		 Hard rock / Heavy metal

    		300 million
    200 million

    I am not surprised The Beatles are #1 but am a bit so that Elvis Presley is ahead of Michael Jackson, due to Michael Jackson’s global appeal. It is somewhat amazing that Led Zeppelin can be this high on Best Selling Music Artists of All-Time without a long history of hit singles, based solely on the strength of their album sales. These have been the most consistent hit producers of Pop Music and deserve their ranking. All are great artists for any professional Wedding DJ or Party DJ.

    is there any artist(s) that you thought would be in the top five Best Selling Music Artists of All-Time that did not reach this level of sales?

    DJ Mystical Michael New jersey DJ & Boston DJ

    973.908.8147

John Lennon Imagine

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John Lennon Imagine. I remember the bittersweet night of being a professional DJ at a club in Randolph, NJ on a Monday night, it was December 8,1980. The club was mostly packed, especially for a Monday night in winter. The dance floor was jamming and everybody was having a good time. A young woman came up to the DJ booth and begged me to play Bruce Springsteen. I explained that the dance floor was full and she would have to wait till it thinned out, otherwise everybody would probably stop dancing. She finally convinced me to play him while she was standing there. I had the record in my hand when one of the bouncers ran up and told me John Lennon had just been shot and killed. I dropped the record on the floor of the DJ booth. After the song playing was over, I turned on the mike and announced his death. I asked for moment of silence and then played “Imagine” before returning to my regular set, although not regular at all. It is the moment I think of the most when I get behind my turntables, then CD Players and now MacBook. Growing up, he was hero my hero with his music and desire for peace.

John Lennon Imagine Music Video

The next day, as Program Director of the local college radio and DJ, I stated that we only play John Lennon Imagine and music by John Lennon for the next twenty-four hours.

The Beatles and John Lennon Imagine Icon

 

“BMI named John Lennon Imagine one of the 100 most-performed songs of the 20th century. The song ranked number 30 on the Recording Industry Association of America‘s list of the 365 Songs of the Century bearing the most historical significance. It earned aGrammy Hall of Fame Award and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. A UK survey conducted by the Guinness World Records British Hit Singles Book named it the second best single of all time, andRolling Stone ranked it number 3 in their list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time“. Since 2005, event organisers have played it just before the New Year’s Times Square Ball drops in New York City. Dozens of artists have performed or recorded versions of “Imagine”, including Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Joan Baez, Elton John, and Diana Ross. Emeli Sandé recorded a cover for theBBC to use during the end credits montage at the close of the 2012 Summer Olympics coverage in August 2012. “Imagine” subsequently re-entered the UK Top 40, reaching number 18.” Wikipedia

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Let It Be. Is it Still Not Time Yet?

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Due to the recent events locally and globally of violence and more violence, I keep coming back to “Let It Be”, The Beatles Classic song. I know it can be overused but that does not take away from its value and profoundness. “Let It Be” was written by Paul McCartney but credited to Lennon-McCartney, as were other Beatles songs written by either Paul McCartney or John Lennon.

The Single version includes orchestration and backing vocals overdubbed on 4 January 1970—under the supervision of Martin and McCartney—with backing vocals that included the only known contribution by Linda McCartney to a Beatles song. There was the album version for the album of the same name Let It Be, the Single version, the Anthology Version and The Naked Version of the song.

 Paul’s mother had told him “It will be all right, just let it be.”

The song came to Paul McCartney during the very intense period around the recording of The White Album. Paul claims that he was thinking of his mother often then. His mother, Mary, died when Paul was fourteen. He was referring to her and felt like he connected with her when he references “Mother Mary”. He later said, “It was great to visit with her again. I felt very blessed to have that dream. So that got me writing ‘Let It Be’.” He also said in a later interview about the dream that his mother had told him “It will be all right, just let it be.”

 

“Let It Be” was the last song released as a single before Paul’s announcement to leave The Beatles. John Lennon had already done so before this time. The song, “The Long and Winding Road” was actually released as a single after Paul’s decision to leave the band.

 

“Let It Be” reached number one on The Billboard Hot 100 Charts for two weeks in The USA but only number two in The U.K. It is interesting to note how many songs have achieved such greater success commercially but few over time as “Let It Be”.

The Beatles Let It Be Music Video

Personally, there are only a handful of songs that touch and effect me as “Let It Be”. It is one of the songs that I reach for when needing inspiration, hope, direction and connection.

The Betles Icon Let It Be Rhode Island Wedding DJ

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Paul McCartney at 12.12.12 Rocks This DJ

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It was such a treat to see Sir Paul McCartney onstage at the 12.12.12 Benefit Concert for Hurricane Sandy! Of course, the whole line-up was great to see from Bruce Springsteen to The Who, Roger Waters and The Rolling Stones to Kanye West and Alicia Keys and Bill Joel.  Most of the performers looked old, well, because they are old. I am not sure why I give a pass to Paul McCartney and not as much the rest of the Classic Rockers who made the trip from near and far to support us here in the New Jersey, New York and Long Island area hit by Hurricane Sandy. There is something about Paul McCartney that is different, I felt it as a kid and still do today. Paul McCartney has that ‘thing’ that few people posses to the degree he does. It also might have something to do with this past Saturday Night being the memorial of John Lennon’s death, which hit me harder this year than most.

 

Paul McCartney’s set began with “Helter Skelter” that somehow seemed very appropriate. “Let Me Roll It” and “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five”. It was fun to hear this song played with such energy! The video is below.

Paul McCartney Nineteen Hundred Eighty-Five Music Video

Paul McCartney  invited Diana Krall onstage for “My Valentine”. There was also a heartfelt dedication to the victims of Sandy and rendition of “Blackbird”.  Members of the band Nirvana joined Paul McCartney for a song. Paul McCartney then played “I’ve Got A Feeling” and “Live and Let Die”.

Fifty-one years ago Paul McCartney & The Beatles signed with Brian Epstein!

Paul McCartney and Beatles Icon with Rhode Island Rock DJ

I enjoyed many of the performers but Paul McCartney’s set moved me the most. I also was inspired by Bill Joel’s “Miami 2017” and Kanye West’s “Golddigger”. The only negative perspective I would add is that Alicia Keys was the sole female musical performer. She did a great job but would have liked to had more female musicians represented. It was a great night for an excellent cause. Any professional DJ would be thrilled to support this benefit if they live in the area or anywhere.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

John Lennon Life, Death and Influence on A DJ

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John Lennon, born John Winston Lennon and murdered outside his apartment in New York City on December 8th, 1980. John Lennon was and still is one of my heroes, possibly the only one at the time of his murder. His music, lyrics, message and lifestyle inspired me to be a better person and professional DJ.

 

I had the opportunity to view some of John Lennon artwork at an exhibit in Bloomington, Indiana in 1995. The beautiful simplicity had an effect on me and I recall reflecting on how simple he was, which seemed contradictory to what many might view him. John Lennon was a controversial man who pissed-off almost as many people as he inspired. His views on peace and religion caused major ripples throughout American and Western culture at the time, and possibly to a lesser degree today.

John Lennon Imagine

I remember the night he was murdered. I was working as the Resident DJ at a large New Jersey club called The Final Exam. It was somewhat busy for a Monday Night but enough people to have fun and a filled dance floor. I was cueing a record, when one of the Bouncers came running up, out of breath, “Michael, John Lennon was just shot and killed!” I dropped the record to the floor and began to weep. After the song playing ended, I announced over the PA system the news and played “Imagine” even though it was a dance night and not Rock Music. The next day, the radio station I was Program Director collectively decided to play twenty-four hours straight of John Lennon music in all its forms. For the year that followed, I played “Watching The Wheels” as my closing song live and on radio.

John Lennon Watching The Wheels

When I lived in South Korea, where I was an English Teacher, one of the school’s Teachers, who was a friend of mine, decided to use The Beatles, “Let It Be” as a song that her class would sing at the school talent show. She was disappointed at how they were not getting enthusiastic about the performance during their rehearsals. She asked if I would talk to them and explain the song and its significance. I shared with them about Vietnam, Beatlemania, peace, love and the anti-violent messages of the song. I further explained how it impacted people around the world and is considered, along with “Imagine”, to be one of the most famous community-building songs of peace and love for millions then and now. They got it and their performance the following week was powerful.

John Lennon  & Plastic Ono Band Let it Be

It was thirty-two years ago December 8th since his death. He is still one of the most influential people in my life that I have never met personally. He packed so much into his forty years with us; his music changed the music industry and supported a peace movement, along with other social movements at the time. The messages are still with us.

John Lennon give Peace A Chance

John Lennon & The Beatles Icon

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

The Beatles: Best Selling Album of The 21st Century

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On this date in 2000, The Beatles released their first compilation available all on one CD. The title of the album is ‘Beatles 1’ with nearly every number single that the band released from 1962-1970. The release date was chosen based on it being thirty years since the band had broken-up. It is the world’s best selling album of the 21st century with more than 31 million copies sold to date!

Interestingly enough, this was also the date that The Beatles recorded “Please, Please Me”. The singe was released in The USA on Vee-Jay records with a typographical error on the first pressing of the ’45’. It had their name printed as ‘The Beattles’, not The Beatles!

 

The Beatles icon with DJ Mystical Michael

Here is a list of of the songs on ‘1’ from The Beatles Website.

 

1. Love Me Do (1)
2. From Me to You (1)
3. She Loves You (1)
4. I Want To Hold Your Hand (1)
5. Can’t Buy Me Love (1)
6. A Hard Day’s Night (1)
7. I Feel Fine (1)
8. Eight Days A Week (1)
9. Ticket To Ride (1)
10. Help! (1)
11. Yesterday (1)
12. Day Tripper (1)
13. We Can Work It Out (1)
14. Paperback Writer (1)
15. Yellow Submarine (1)
16. Eleanor Rigby (1)
17. Penny Lane (1)
18. All You Need Is Love (1)
19. Hello, Goodbye (1)
20. Lady Madonna (1)
21. Hey Jude (1)
22. Get Back (1)
23. The Ballad Of John And Yoko
24. Something (1)
25. Come Together (1)
26. Let It Be (1)
27. The Long And Winding Road (1)

The Beatles Story

“The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed act in the history of popular music.[1] The group’s best-known lineup consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later utilized several genres, ranging from pop balladsto psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical and other elements in innovative ways. In the early 1960s, their enormous popularity first emerged as “Beatlemania“, but as their songwriting grew in sophistication, they came to be perceived by many fans and cultural observers as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the era’s sociocultural revolutions.” Wikipedia

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Beatles First Visit to USA

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It is hard to imagine that there was a time music existed before The Beatles. I realize how short-sighted that is to write but still what’s on my mind. For those who were not born yet to witness Beatlemania, there is not really a way to accurately convey just how big they were and how quickly it happened. If you can visualize Beyonce, Lady GaGa, Akon, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus all wrapped into one band in its impact and complete domination of the Billboard charts. They were their only real competition for many years. In 1964, during the week of 4 April, the Beatles held twelve positions on the singles chart, including the top five. Just to make sure you understood what was just written, The Beatles had the top five songs and twelve in general! The Beatles First Visit to USA!

 

The influence of The Beatles still continues today. They were the avalanche that made the British Invasion what it became and paved the road for the British artists in America today. The mindset of peace and imagining a world with equality, respect and freedom for all are still with us. The legacy of The Beatles outlasted their actual careers together as a musical group. They were together for less than a decade and here we are almost forty years later still listening to and appreciating their greatness and artistry. From the days of cute ‘moptops’ to Sargeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band and finally Let It Be, The Beatles have left their mark globally and definitely for me personally. The Beatles First Visit to USA!

 

I remember the first ’45’ I owned was The Beatles I Want To Hold Your Hand. It is where this all started for me. In a world dominated by performers more interested in being noticed by paparazzi than trying to create world peace and love, groups like The Beatles are missed. Maybe it is time for some of the major acts of today to step-up and lead the way for the next generation. The Beatles First Visit to USA!

The Beatles First Visit to USA! Who will be the ones to do this?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ