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 ; )

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 ; )

Chuck Berry - Roll Over Beethoven

This is a live performance by classic rock 'n' roll act Chuck Berry playing his classic song "Roll Over Beethoven". The performance is from 1972.
The song was originally released in 1956 on Chess Records. The lyrics of the song are basically about rock 'n' roll and the desire for rhythm and blues to replace classical music.
The song came about as a response to Berry's sister Lucy who always wanted to use the family piano playing classical music while Berry wanted to play contemporary popular music.
The song has been covered by a large number of artists, including: Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beatles, Mountain, Leon Russel, The Rolling Stones, and Iron Maiden, to name a few.
It's a great song, classic rock 'n' roll. Can't go wrong with that!

Enjoy ; )

Foo Fighters - White Limo

This is a live performance by American rock band Foo Fighters performing their new song "White Limo" live at the Ed Sullivan theatre.
The song is off their recently released "Wasting Light" album. It is the band's seventh studio album and it debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 which just goes to show that rock acts can still rule the charts. It has mainly gotten positive reviews commenting on the good song writing and the nice production work done on the album's sound. "White Limo" is the fourth track on the album and was also the first song to get a music video. The video features the band members being driven around in a white limousine. The driver of this limousine is none other than rock legend Lemmy Kilmister. This marks, from my knowledge, his second cameo in a music video as a driver as he also drove the truck in Australian band Airbourne's video to their song "Runnin' Wild". Click here for the music video of White Limo.
I really love Foo Fighters' performance of this song. I love how the band are wearing suits to resemble The Beatles. I also love Dave Grohl's mini guitar solo towards the end of the song, especially how he opens it with a little Chuck Berry riff thus reminding us that all rock music really stems from the same well of inspiration, if that makes any sense.
But a great performance of a really good song.

Enjoy ; )

Jimi Hendrix – I Don’t Live Today

This is a live performance by guitar legend Jimi Hendrix and his band The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The performance is from The Royal Albert Hall in 1969. After the performance there’s a short interview at the end of the video.
The song “I Don’t Live Today” is from the band’s debut album “Are You Experienced” released in 1967. The album was very successful and helped launch Hendrix’s career. It reached #2 on the UK charts behind The Beatles with their album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”.
I really love this performance. Hendrix’s playing and singing on this is sublime and Mitch Mitchell’s drumming on this song is just sublime.
A great performance of a great song.

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!! ;-)