I have Sirus/XM Satellite Radio in my car. I only listen to a few stations of the galore that there are. If not the news stations, it's Old Time Radio, which I love, especially Suspense, Fibber Mac Ghee and Molly, The Great Gildersleeves, The Life of Riley, Jack Benny and many, many more!
I also love 1960's pop music and so I listen to a station exclusively devoted to it, as I was just doing in my automobile.
As I was driving and distracted, I began to realize that one of the songs I was listening to didn't sound like 1960's rock at all. It sounded like Nashville Country music, which I like too, but a little of that goes a long way for me! I thought, what's going on here.
Then I looked at my radio which tells you what is being sung and by whom and when. The song was called "Act Naturally" and was released in 1965 by the Beatles! Ringo Star is the soloist, but you wouldn't know by listening to it or its style.
I don't remember hearing this song in the 1960's but certainly I must have as I loved the Beatles, especially in their first few years.
And thus here it is for your listening pleasure. Tell me what you think. Would you believe this is a Beatles Song?
12 comments:
"I only listen to a few stations of the galore that there are."
Misplaced modifier: only.
You probably do more than "only" listen. You may laugh, sing along, etc., so you don't "only listen."
Correct placement: I listen only to a few stations of the galore that there are.
And what is "of the galore"? Galore is an adjective. "There are stations galore on Sirius."
"Act Naturally" is a song written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison, originally recorded by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos. (released 1963)
It is not a Beatles Song, it is a Beatles cover. (released 1965)
You know galore about English, Johnny Russell, Voni Morrison Buck Owens and the Buckaroos and the date in which it was first released. Where did you get such galore?
Actually, the Beatles were covering a Buck Owens song. Buck Owens was actually one of the progenitors of the "Bakersfield sound", as he operated out of Bakersfield California, a major truck stop.
Like most early rock and rollers, the Beatles were fans of Country and Western music (I am not talking about the hillbilly pop that is today called "country"). So was Chuck Berry, who was heavily influenced by CW records. Carl Perkins went so far as to call rock and roll "blues with a country beat". Ringo's first solo album was even an album of CW covers called Beaucoup of Blues (a dreadful album, but a nice idea).
Bee here:
Yep, Father, I remember this song. I heard it many times, and as it was playing now I remembered the words too (which just goes to show the power of music to get into your psyche).
I kinds of liked it then, and still like it now. Course, I do like Country Western type music anyway.
God bless.
Bee
If you're just getting up to 1965, there are some big surprises up ahead. I don't think you're going to like Led Zeppelin,
love XM old time radio, however I lean toward the mysteries, Johnny Dollar, Richard Diamond, Man called X, I was a communist for the FBI, Dragnet, rouges gallery, on and on, a good break from talk radio, great for long drives
And Religion was promoted on radio at the time, one episode of dimension X about an alien woman come to earth was fantastic, the final synopsis was that in their world Eve said NO. Truly thought provoking
I live in Georgia & religion is still promoted on the radio. In fact, there’s more religion than music nowadays.
Father McDonald:
Satellite Radio is a wonderful invention. Like you, I listen mostly to the 1960s music station, but also to the 1950s music station, the one with 1940s Big Band music, and (wait for it) The Beatles channel! I do not recall whether The Beatles channel comes as part of the standard package or is an add-on as I got a special deal for the first year, but you might want to look into getting that channel too if you love The Beatles so much.
Many people underestimate Ringo, as in “he was just the drummer.” Yes, he was the drummer but also one of the greatest ever. He also recorded some fun songs of his own and always seemed to have an attractive, almost innocent child-like, personality too (although how far that perception reflects reality I cannot say).
P.S. I meant to add that, like you too, I also listen a lot to the news (?) channels, including of course BBC World Service! As the news channels are also available on Satellite Radio it is tempting to consider ending the Cable TV service, although on Satellite Radio one then has to endure commercials that are even worse than on TV (which is saying something), except on the BBC World Service channel of course.
Anonymous 2:
Ringo will never go down as one of rock's great drummers, but he was a key part of the success of the Beatles. Their previous drummer, Pete Best, was not very good at all and he didn't get along so well with the other members. John, Paul and George knew Ringo from the circuit in which they played and they not only liked his drumming but got along well with him. When they played their first gigs with Ringo on the drums, Paul and John were amazed at how much better they sounded as a band. He was simply a better fit. The fact that he did not take himself seriously as a musician helped as well (compare with today's narcissistic pop idols and you get my drift). On many later Beatle songs (Back in the USSR, Old Brown Shoe to name a couple) Paul filled in on drums and the difference is noticeable. None of the band members were top quality musicians, but they were all natural musicians and they played well together. Sometimes, bringing just the right combination of people together is magic. And so it was.
Ringo Fan:
It does indeed seem that Ringo “will never go down” as one of Rock’s great drummers but perhaps this only testifies to the underestimation of his talents. As you suggest, he was an excellent fit for the band. The following article titled “In defence of Ringo Starr—a masterful drummer and The Beatles unsung genius” is eloquent on all this:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/sep/19/ringo-starr-great-drummer-the-beatles-genius
Anonymous 2
I hope the BBC World Service is better than its domestic equivalent which has long given up any pretence at impartiality.
As for the Beatles, most of their early stuff was rubbish. By the time of their album 'Revolver' (1965) the influence of George Martin who arranged their inchoate ideas into something resembling original music was evident.
Lennon had an overarching opinion of himself but was of limited talent. McCartney was a 'natural' musician but his work would have benefited had he bothered to acquire a proper musical education. His now-forgotten 'Liverpool Oratorio' was ambitious but relied too much on the ideas and musical expertise of others.
I used to listen to the Beatles a lot, but by the age of 16 had grown out of pop music. This was in 1967, when 'Sgt Pepper' was released. There was no way this could compete with Beethoven 7 and Schubert's great C Major symphony.
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