The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night

This is a live performance by The Beatles, the performance is from Shea Stadium in New York 1965. It's in colour, but it's a little pale and the audio isn't the best, but still an amazing performance.
The song was released in 1964 on the soundtrack to the film of the same name. The song was written by John Lennon, but credited to McCartney as well. The song is very famous for the opening chord which rings out before the lyrics and the rest of the band join in. It has been debated for a long time what chord it was, but it was confirmed by George Harrison that it is in fact a Fadd9, or as Harrison put it: "It is F with a G on top,[...]". The complete opening has been broken down like this,
George Harrison: Fadd9 in 1st position on Rickenbacker 360/12 12-string electric guitar
John Lennon: Fadd9 in 1st position on a Gibson J-160E 6-string acoustic guitar
Paul McCartney: high D played on the D-string, 12th fret on Hofner 500/1 electric bass
George Martin: D2-G2-D3 played on a Steinway Grand Piano
Ringo Starr: Subtle snare drum and ride cymbal

by Dominic Pedler.
It is a classic Beatles song, and it has been covered by a lot of different artists, including: The Supremes, Quincy Jones, Peter Sellers, Chet Atkins, Billy Preston, Otis Redding, Hank Marvin, and Billy Joel.
It's a great song, and the reception of girls screaming in this clip is just astounding. No band has ever gotten a reaction like that, and I don't think any one ever will!

Enjoy ; )

Paul McCartney - For You Blue

This is a live performance by Paul McCartney. The performance is from the 2002 gig celebrating and commemorating the life of George Harrison, released under the title "Concert for George". He is joined on stage by a bundle of people, including: Eric Clapton, Dhani Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Marc Mann. They play the song "For You Blue" which was written by George Harrison.
It was originally recorded by the Beatles in 1969 and released as a B-side to "The Long and Winding Road" in 1970. It was from the "Let It Be" LP. It features Harrison on guitar, John Lennon on a lap steel guitar, Ringo Starr on drums, and Paul McCartney on piano.
It's a sweet little feel good blues tune. I really love in this performance the slide work done by guitarist Marc Mann. It's a really good performance!

Enjoy ; )

Carl Perkins & Ringo Starr - Honey Don't

This is a live performance by American rockabilly musician Carl Perkins with Ringo Starr on drums and vocals doing the classic rockabilly tune "Honey Don't".
The song was originally written and released by Carl Perkins in 1956 as the b-side to "Blue Suede Shoes".
The song has been done by a lot of different artist, but most famously probably the version by The Beatles. This version was released in the UK in 1964 on the album "Beatles for Sale". The song was originally sung by John Lennon during live performances, but for the record version Ringo Starr did the lead vocal. He also recorded the drums by the way. He has performed the song, both with his solo act and later at the concert honouring George Harrison, released under the title "Concert for George".
On another side note, the publishing rights to the song is actually owned by Paul McCartney's publishing company "MPL Communications".
Other people who have covered the song include: Johnny Rivers, T. Rex, John Lennon, and Elvis Costello.
It's a great classic rockabilly tune, and Starr delivers a very good double shift playing drums and singing on this.

Enjoy ; )

Paul McCartney - Helter Skelter

This is a live performance by former Beatles member Paul McCartney playing the classic song "Helter Skelter". The song originally appeared on the band's self-titled 1968 album that has since been known as "The White Album".
The song is credited to Lennon/McCartney, though Lennon has said in interviews that he feels that the song is more McCartney's song. (Though his quote was a little unclear)

"That's Paul completely ... It has nothing to do with anything, and least of all to do with me."

John Lennon 1980
McCartney has said in interviews that he wrote the song with the intention of being very loud and having a lot of tape echo on it. He wanted it to be loud, gritty and raw. It has also, by many, been called one of the first metal songs ever. It has those power chords and that raw fast energy that would later evolve and turn into metal. McCartney has also used this song to showcase and point of that he does not only do ballads, but harder rock as well.
The song occasionally appears in McCartney's live set. A live version of the song from the "Good Evening New York City" was nominated for a Grammy in 2011 in the "Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance". McCartney won the Grammy.
The song has also been covered by a large number of artists, both live and in the studio, acts including: Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe, U2, Oasis, White Zombie, Bon Jovi and Soundgarden.
So a very influential song for a lot of contemporary artists.

Enjoy ; )

George Harrison ft. Eric Clapton - Taxman (SRV)

This is a live performance from George Harrison, joining him on stage is his good friend Eric Clapton. Clapton is very respectful and doesn't steal the show, he respectfully stays in the background and plays the lead part when needed.
The song Taxman was released by The Beatles on their 1966 album Revolver, it is the opening track on the album. The song is written by George and it is about the high progressive tax the British government was taking at this time. It was basically written after Harrison found out how much of his income was being taken by "the taxman". On the record version the solo and guitar parts are played by Paul McCartney, he also plays the bass on the track.
Click here for a sample from the album version of the song. (Taken from Wikipedia.)
This live version is really good, and Clapton does a really good job. However I've always more leaned towards Stevie Ray Vaughan's interpretation of the song. It is very different from the original, and it doesn't even have the same key-centre. The original version by Harrison is in G, and SRV's version is in B♯. I think it just sounds better and is played with more attitude (and also in a humorous way). The original version has that 60's mercy beat sound, and SRV's version is more bluesy and done in a Texas style which is more my flavour. SRV never got to perform it live, and it has only been released on his 1995 Greatest Hits album (as the only never before released track). Both versions are excellent, I just prefer Stevie's which is embeded beneath.


Enjoy both versions!! ;-)