Lovecraft, to the tune of Love Shack.

Go.

Stumbled across this, and it's fascinating listening. I definitely recommend listening with headphones to get to full impact. I especially like the bits where you can hear separate tracks from the original Beatles recordings.

The show is not actually available on their web page, but you can find a copy here.

The Record Producers profiles a man often labelled "The Fifth Beatle" - Sir George Martin.

Richard Allinson and Steve Levine examine his work as a producer, arranger and, through his experiments with sound, technical innovator. Highlights include the first chance to hear newly restored versions of the original master tapes for Please Please Me, along with analysis of the original multi-track of Come Together.

This programme also gives Radio 2 listeners the opportunity to hear some of the Beatles most famous songs in a new way. Because of the limitations of tape machines during the 1960s, it was necessary to either record or mix various instruments and voices onto the same track. Once they'd been committed to tape there was no way of separating them. But now, through the use of revolutionary software, listeners can hear some of these parts in isolation for the very first time.

In his exclusive interview, Sir George talks about various aspects of the studio and recording process, the albums Sgt Pepper and Abbey Road, along with a number of songs, including Strawberry Fields Forever, Tomorrow Never Knows and Rain.

OK, I tweeted this, but it's cool enough to merit an actual post. Local a cappella group Overboard is offering their latest album for free (Donations appreciated). The album is Help!, a cover of the Beatles album, but with some very imaginative and enjoyable new arrangements. I generally don't like to mess with a good thing, but some of the spins they put on the songs really make for a new song.

Last night I had a lovely dinner with sapphira_altair and her friend awfief at Eastern Standard. We all had exciting cocktails; I had a new drink that will shortly be on their menu, so of course I've forgotten the name, but it had tequila, cassis, lemon juice, and ginger beer, and was lovely and light and tart and fruity, and packed quite a punch. sapphira_altair had another new drink that contained rum, rum, rum, rum, and something else -- seriously, four kinds of rum. For dinner I had the grilled cheese, which was nice but unremarkable, but the fries that came with it were delicious. For dessert, the others had the Strawberry Shortcake with brown butter biscuit and chantilly cream (which was nice, but not spectacular), and the cheese platter (which was downright meager compared to our heaping desserts -- tiny portions of one goat, one sheep, and one cow's cheese, all from California), both of which were completely outdone by my Butterscotch Bread Pudding with praline ice cream and salted butter caramel.

After dinner we walked over to the new House of Blues, where Avalon use to be, where bacall had scored us a sweet spot by the railing in front of the bar, with a great view of the stage. Juliana Hatfield was the opening act, and I don't know *what* was up with her. I'm not familiar with her music, but it didn't do much for me, and she just didn't seem to care about being there, to the extent of opening texting on stage (and complaining that her T9 did not recognize the word "bitch".)

But then the Bangles took the stage, and blew her away. They opened with Hazy Shade of Winter, and proceeded through most of their old favorites, including Manic Monday and a moving rendition of Eternal Flame, and some songs I had never heard before. And near the end of the show they totally rocked Walk Like and Egyptian, with Magic Bus thrown in the middle for good measure. They had lots of energy and were clearly having fun up there, and we were having fun with them. Altogether just a lovely night.

Amazon is giving away a free Christmas MP3 every day between now and the 25th. The old ones stay up during that time, too. I especially enjoyed the Béla Fleck medley.

Blossom Dearie and Bob Dorough together on "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (realaudio format).

Because I know my friends have impeccable taste in music... there's a new Peter Mulvey album out, Notes from Elsewhere.  It's a solo accoustic album, just him and his guitar.  I got it this morning, and it's rocking my world.  Here's one song that he has posted on the web site to whet your appetite. 

Saw the House Jacks last night at Passim. muffyjo, lillibet, jason237 and I shared a table that was so close to the stage that my knees were bumping against it. Which turned out to be handy, cause thatwesguy came over and sang part of a song to us. I felt so cool :)

I've never heard the House Jacks before. DAMN, they're good. And they're different. Many really fabulous original tunes, a few really amusing covers, and I couldn't keep from snapping and clapping and dancing in my seat. They've got great stage presence, with lots of entertaining (all the more so for their jet-lag) banter. And I must say, that is one mighty fine-looking bunch of men.

Their first encore was just thatwesguy, and he held the audience silent and enthralled with his vocal percussion for -- well, I don't know how long, I was too hypnotized to look at a clock, but it was a decent length of time, and I think we all would have been happy to keep listening. He's not only technically amazing, but he's a great musician, and it was wonderful to listen to.

All in all, an amazing evening, and I hope they play Boston again soon!

Jonathan Coulton, of Code Monkey and Baby Got Back fame, will be playing the Paradise Lounge tomorrow night at 10:30 PM. Sadly, way too late for me on a work night, but I hope some of you will go and enjoy.

I know some of my friends like a cappella music. I just came across a great cover of The 59th Street Bridge Song by a group called Cadence. The mp3 is up for free on the their web site along with a few others.

plumtreeblossom, I don't know if you like a cappella, but I was particularly thinking it might give you a little lift.