Song 129 - Celebrating George Martin with some Beatles

Being a huge Beatles fan, it wouldn't have been right to pass over the death of George Martin, one of the most influential record producers of the 20th century, just because he didn't necessary sing on any hits. His death was announced today,  aged 90, and since then there has been an out pouring of tributes to the man, who in Paul McCartney's words was the fifth Beatle.

Picture the scene when in 1962, Brian Epstein told the Beatles that he had secured him a deal with EMI. This statement turned out to be a lie and the Beatles had been invited to audition with record producer, George Martin and to be honest, Martin wasn't that impressed by what he heard to begin with but he recognise something in their music which eventually led to him giving them a record deal on June 6. Although he did suggest that band made some changes and he was often blamed as the person who sacked Pete Best, the original drummer of the group.

When Paul McCartney paid tribute today to Martin, he talked about him as a second father who was able to guide, promote and challenge the fab four. Introducing elements like strings to tracks of a rock and roll band, Martin  had the vision to help them translate their musical ideas and songs into the masterpieces we love today. He wrote the string section part of Eleanor Rigby and the electric backing to I am the Walrus. Perhaps, now-a-day, with the advancement of music equipment and computer, we perhaps take for granted the basic equipment used to create some of the iconic sounds of the Beatles' songs. When it came to recording St. Peppers' Lonely Hearts Club, Martin devised a technique whereby a number of tracks were recorded and then mixed down on to one single track, giving the flexibility of a modern multi-tracked studio. At the time EMI had only four- track tape machines. He also made much use of recording different tracks at various speeds to change the texture of the final sound.

In the later stages of the Beatles' career, the band themselves became much more knowledgeable on producing records, however, Martin remained a critical part of the band's makeup and after their break-up  continue to work with the band members independently.

But it is important to recognise that although George Martin was most famous for being the producer of the Beatles, his career far outstretched the fab four and with a career spanning 6 decades, he produced over 700 records, wrote film scores and worked with a variety of artists including Matt Munro, Dire Straits, Elton John, Shirley Bassey, Pete Townsend, Cilla Black to name but a few. His talents will shine throughout the history of pop music for generations to come and his name will never be out of tune with the music world. RIP George Martin and have fun with the musical talent in heaven.

Here are just a number of iconic songs that Martin brought to our ears:

1. Love me do, performed by the Beatles, from Please Please Me, 
Love me do

2. Eleanor Rigby, performed by the Beatles, from Revolver, 
Eleanor Rigby

3. A day in the life, performed by the Beatles, from St. Peppers' Lonely Hearts' Club Band, 
A day in the life

4. Rain, performed by the Beatles
Rain, performed by the Beatles

5. I am the Walrus, performed by the Beatles, from Magical Mystery Tour 

I am the Walrus

6. Strawberry Fields forever, performed by the Beatles, from Magical Mystery Tour
Strawberry fields forever

7. Right said Fred, performed by Bernard Crippins
Right said Fred

8. Diamond Dust, performed  by Jeff Beck
Diamond Dust

9. From Russia with love, performed by Matt Munro
From Russia with love

10. Ticket to heaven, performed by Dire Straits, from On Every Street, 1991
Ticket to heaven

Song 83 - Walk of life by Dire Straits

I think there is nothing better than realising that as well as being your parents, you also share the same interest and I am very lucky that this incredible love of all types of music comes from having parents who loved music and although they weren't fans of us having TV in our rooms, listening to music was always encouraged, although I don't think they always liked our choice in music. Putting in Walk of life by Dire Straits makes me think I am putting dad's tunes into the jukebox, but unlike dad dancing, this is nothing to make you blush with embarrassment as my dad has always had an amazing taste and his own collection of music over the year has been borrowed and copied by me.

Walk of life came from Dire Straits' 1985 Brothers in arms album, which was the fifth album for the band and their most commercially successful album of their career. It spent a 10 weeks at the top of the UK album chart and is one of the most successfully selling albums of all time in the UK. Walk of life has been composed with a simple rock and roll rhythm with the guitars only using chord one, four and five and is instantly recognisable for the long introduction before the opening lyrics. Mark Knopfler, who is one of the greatest guitars the UK has seen, pulled memories of busking in tube stations and references to other famous songs in the lyrics.

This is a cracking tune for this time of year as one of the goals (or resolutions if you believe in punishing yourself) is to get fit and I think what sometimes makes goals happen is the idea that we have to some how punish ourselves in January due to the fun and partying we had in December. A more positive way to look at January goals is about having a long term goal for example, if I start walking more, I will get healthier and fitter and then one day I might be able to walk an incredibly long way for charity. Don't start 2016 with punishment, start it with praise and encouragement to keep going and following dreams; because to make a change in life can be hard, so start the change by making friends with yourself. I really don't like resolutions that make you miserable.

Anyway that's the lecture over with; here's the song
Walk of life by Dire Staits

Written by Mark Knopfler
Album: Brothers in arms
Released: 1985