In 1966, opera singer Cathy Berberian recorded an album of Beatles covers, backed by classical arrangements. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to hell.
Cathy Berberian "Beatles Arias"
Regular readers of this blog will find this album frequently hilarious (love how she trills her Rs); otherwise, it can clear rooms. Berberian has extensive legit classical and avant-garde credentials - she was composer Luciano Berio's wife; John Cage wrote pieces for her. So it's not easy to dismiss this as another misguided record company Beatles rip-off. Maybe if I spoke European, I'd understand the interview included on this album which may reveal her motives.
| 1 | | Ticket To Ride | | |
| 2 | | I Want To Hold Your Hand | ||
| 3 | | Michelle | | |
| 4 | | Eleanor Rigby | ||
| 5 | | Yellow Submarine | | |
| 6 | | Here, There And Everywhere | | |
| 7 | | Help! | | |
| 8 | | You've Got To Hide Your Love Away | | |
| 9 | | Yesterday | | |
| 10 | | Can't Buy Me Love | | |
| 11 | | Girl | | |
| 12 | | A Hard Day's Night 13 Interview | | |
| Récitals | ||||
| 14 | | Introduction | | |
| 15 | | Ticket To Ride | ||
| 16 | | Yesterday Piano – Bruno Canino | ||
5 comments:
Thank you for finally solving the mystery of that line in the Steely Dan song "Your Gold Teeth." I couldn't figure out how to spell the name (and it never occurred to me to, you know, google the lyrics to the song).
Also, "Eleanor Rigby" is really quite inspired, particularly the harpsichord flourishes toward the end.
I think it initially came out under the title of "Revolution: An Operatic First", with cover art that was vaguely suggestive of Revolver.
My favorite Cathy bit is her piece Stripsody, her vocalizations of sounds and dialog from found comic strips.
Right, this is the reissue that added the interview and the live tracks recorded years later.
"Stripsody" is indeed pretty darn cool. Reminds me of Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot's song "Comic Strip" featuring BB singing "Bang! ZOom! Pow!" - the music world self-conciously imitating the then-current Pop Art scene.
Oh my gosh you were not joking! Welcome to Hell indeed I felt sick listening to "A Hard Days Night,'so horrific it's great! But it won't be on high rotation I have to function in my office
Ha ha, Another satisfied customer!
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