We just finished learning this one and the guitar was very fun to learn albeit a bit of a challenge. Jackie’s going to be singing lead which is a break from what seems to be our norm where I’m John and she’s Paul 
Here’s some fun facts I found:
- While Mia Farrow inspired such men as Andre Previn, Frank Sinatra and Woody Allen, her sister Prudence left her mark on John Lennon. According to Nancy de Herrera’s book, All You Need Is Love, Prudence met The Beatles on a spiritual retreat with the Maharishi in India, which she attended with Mia. When Prudence, suffering depression, confined herself to her room, Lennon wrote this hoping to cheer her up. It did.
- Prudence Farrow wanted to “Teach God quicker than anyone else,” according to John Lennon. She would lock herself in her room trying to meditate for hours and hours. From A Hard Day’s Write, by Steve Turner: “At the end of the demo version of Dear Prudence John continues playing guitar and says: ‘No one was to know that sooner or later she was to go completely berserk, under the care of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. All the people around were very worried about the girl because she was going insane. So, we sang to her.’”
- Ringo had left the group as the White Album sessions got very tense, so Paul McCartney played drums. When Ringo came back a short time later, there were flowers on his drum kit welcoming him back.
- The guitars were overdubbed 6 or 7 times.
- John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics were auctioned off for $19,500 in 1987.
- Lennon considered this one of his favorites.
- Siouxsie And The Banshees covered this in 1983. Their version went to #3 in the UK and became their biggest hit.
Another fun fact brought to you by J&J Factoids, Rubber Stamps, and Political Fondu, Inc.
Well, we’re performing the Beatles’ White Album next month and are learning the songs. Back in the U.S.S.R. is the first track on the album and I thought it would be fun to start looking up some of the “song facts” about each of the songs (at least those I can find facts about). Here are some interesting things I dug up about this one:
- Mike Love from the Beach Boys was sitting in a hotel lobby when Paul McCartney came down for breakfast. The two of them chatted for awhile, and Love suggested that The Beatles incorporate a little bit of a Beach Boy sound in a song, “Like we did in California Girls.” McCartney was impressed with the idea and used some Beach Boys’ elements in this song: Instead of “California Girls” is was “Moscow Girls.” Plus, the definitive Beach Boy “Oooeeeeoooo” in the background harmonies.
- The title was inspired by Chuck Berry’s “Back In The U.S.A.”
- Things were tense when they were working on this album, and Ringo walked out during recording, briefly quitting the band. Paul McCartney played drums in his place.
- The Beatles originally wrote this for wafer-thin actress and model Twiggy.
- The line “Georgia’s always on my mind” in a play on the Ray Charles song “Georgia On My Mind.” It has a double meaning, since Georgia was part of the U.S.S.R.
- Elton John performed this when he toured Russia in 1979. Billy Joel also played it when he toured Moscow in 1987. (thanks, Adrian – Wilmington, DE)
- Paul McCartney used this as the title to an album he released only in Russia in 1989. In 2002, McCartney called his US tour the “Back In The US” tour.
- This opens with the sound of an airplane flying from left to right across the speakers. Stereo was relatively new, so this was very innovative for the time.
- On August 22, 1968, following an argument with McCartney over the drum part for this song, Ringo walked out on The Beatles. He flew to Sardinia for a holiday to consider his future. While there he received a telegram from his bandmates saying, ‘You’re the best rock ‘n’ roll drummer in the world. Come on home, we love you.’ On his return, he found his drum kit covered with flowers. A banner above read, ‘Welcome Back.’
So there ya go We’ll be adding others as we work on them.
Sunday, July 13th Jackie & Jason debut at Joe Fed’s! This cornerstone of the Eugene music scene is recently re-opened with all the “cool factor” of the old version, but subtly remodeled and upgraded to increase the comfort and enjoyment of the music. With a killer new menu and a full bar, this is the ultimate entertainment spot.
This evening Jackie & Jason will be performing their July “Stealing The Covers” selection, Huey Lewis and the News’ album “Sports” for their second set.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
7:00pm – 11:00pm
259 E 5th Ave
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 343-8488
Summer is here and LaVelle’s patio at 5th Street Market is the perfect place to enjoy this beautiful weather along with a sumptuous glass of wine. After our performances at the Elmira vineyard a number of LaVelle’s wine club members commented that we should be playing on the patio at the Bistro — so here we are! Come enjoy the luxury of the vineyard in the convenience of downtown, accompanied by “seductive harmony with a smoky finish” courtesy of Jackie & Jason!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
6:00pm – 9:00pm
5th Street Market (296 East Fifth Ave)
(541) 338-9875
Thursday, July 10th brings Thursday Night Live at Territorial. For this month’s “Stealing The Covers” … Jackie and Jason will devote their second set to covering the Huey Lewis and the News album, “Sports” in its entirety.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
7:00pm – 10:00pm
907 West Third Avenue
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 684.9463
