LJ Plays The Beatles Vol. 2

Laurence Juber (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 10, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Solid Air Records
• ASIN: B003U8O2OY
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,525 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Penny Lane

2. Eleanor Rigby

3. Drive My Car

4. Here There & Everywhere

5. You Can't Do That

6. Blackbird

7. I Feel Fine

8. Dear Prudence

9. When I'm Sixty-Four

10. Please Please Me

11. No Reply

12. I Am The Walrus

13. All I've Got To Do

14. Michelle

15. The Long & Winding Road

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Been a Long Time....But Worth the Wait!!, August 10, 2010

By 

Blondzilla8 "Blondzilla8" (SoCal, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: LJ Plays The Beatles Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

YAY!

After ten years since the release of his popular and brilliant album "LJ Plays The Beatles"Lj Plays the Beatles, Laurence Juber is back with a most fitting follow up to one of the most flawless acoustic albums ever.

"LJ Plays The Beatles Volume 2" is a MUST for any Beatles fan as well as any fan of Juber's incredible musical talents. I can't believe I'm writing this, but this man's musical virtuosity has evolved to a new high - and I didn't think that would be possible since he's definitely the Master of the Acoustic Guitar Domain, and has been for more than a few decades.

The album starts out with the lovely and lilty "Penny Lane" and segues into "Elenor Rigby" which though still haunting, has a really cool rhythm behind it, making it more introspective than depressing. "Drive My Car" rocks and Juber's version of "Here, There & Everywhere" is heartfelt and easy to imagine as "the" song used in any wedding ceremony/celebration; just beautiful.

"You Can't Do That" and "I Feel Fine" are expertly interpreted and LJ makes them both his own.

Don't get me started on "Blackbird" which I personally never thought could be improved upon, but by God, when you listen to the nuances LJ brings to this classic (and is there any guitarist who hasn't tried to master this one?!), you hear some very sweet and sublime layers that could only be created by someone as gifted as Juber.

Confession: There are a few Beatles songs that I usually fast forward through given my affinity for the music from their "starting out days" - and "Michelle," "Dear Prudence" and "I Am The Walrus" fall into this category (sorry, lads!) but I am happy to say that LJ's versions of all three of these tunes keep me from skipping over them; all new interpretations and all truly great. They converted me, anyway....

That said, my personal favorites on this album are "I Feel Fine," "All I've Gotta Do," "Please Please Me" and "No Reply" - for my obvious allegiance to the group's early days. But, boy, do I love "When I'm Sixty Four" - it's absolutely contagious in its sweetness and simplicity.

The album "winds" up perfectly with Juber's flawless "The Long and Winding Road" which will bring tears to your eyes. This song means so much to so many and LJ brings heart, soul, and clearly the depth of someone who has traveled many a long and winding road to where he, as a talent and a human being, has arrived as one of our greatest musical artists.

This album is a joy and a pleasure to have on my iTunes and in my car at all times.

Whenever one of these tunes pops up on my iPod Shuffle, it brings a smile.

Thanks, LJ, for yet another gem.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the Originals?, October 10, 2010

By 

Audrey Goodman "Music Teacher- Santa Monica, CA" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: LJ Plays The Beatles Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

This album is the best I've ever heard from Laurence Juber. The arrangements on every song cover not only every lick and musical line from these beloved Beatles tunes,(guitar lines, bass lines and sometimes even keyboard!), but he also adds his own unique timbre, percussion, and thematic interpretation to each song. Laurence has an incredible ability to arrange and perform music on solo guitar in such a way as listening to any track, one thinks they're hearing more than one player on more than one instrument. But it's ALL one man on one guitar and everything he plays on this album is absolute heaven.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LJ knows his stuff!, August 17, 2010

By 

daverybs - See all my reviews

This review is from: LJ Plays The Beatles Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

Just got back from seeing LJ play a good portion of this album live at a "Fest For The Beatles" in Chicago. Although I was able to meet both Denny Laine and Denny Seiwell at this Fest, the highlight was being able to actually see a live Laurence Juber performance. It was breathtaking! (Having three Wings members in one place was described by Laurence as a "three Wing circus.") I was also fortunate to get this newly released "Vol. 2" CD from him and get it signed.

Penny Lane is amazing on the CD, almost as exciting as seeing him do it live. Getting the trumpet solo down pat along side the bass and rhythm parts made everyone burst into applause right in the middle of the song. "Please Please Me" was also a true highlight, as was the surprisingly low-keyed rendition of "You Can't Do That." And, as stated in the previous review, "The Long And Winding Road" is a tear-jerking but fitting conclusion to the album that doesn't stray very much from the original, but doesn't need to.

The only low point for me was "All I've Got To Do," which doesn't bring out the beauty in John's melody. That's me though.

I absolutely loved "Vol. 1" and, while this new release may not quite equal the splendor of the first (as most sequels don't), this comes darn near close. Every Beatles fan and lover of great acoustic music HAS to have this in their collection.