Customer Reviews

In My Life

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I have been a fan of the Beatles since 1962, and I have always considered George Martin a member of the band. "In My Life" is a magical trip into the essence of what makes the Beatles music timeless; "Quality Entertainment". George Martin has taken a group of unlikely entertainers and put together an absolutely enchanting disc. Backed by an incredible back up band, Robin Williams & Bobby Mcferrin launch in to an amazing reading of "Come Together. Goldie Hawn is luscious on the club version of "A Hard Days Night". Jeff Beck's version of "A Day in the Life" is filled with passion, as is "Because" by Venessa Mae. "Being for the Benifit of Mr. Kite" is done with Billy Connolly as the ringmaster in the circus with great results. Jim Carrey shows off some amazing skills as a vocalist on a wonderfull rendition of "I Am the Walrus", and Phil Collins proves once again that his talents are vast indeed on his performance of "Golden Slumbers, Carry that Weight, and The End". Some reviews I've read have really trashed this disc, but I think they missed the mark. "In My Life" is a loving testimony to the talent of George Martin, and the dexterity of the songs that he was such an influence so many years ago. If anyone has the right to do covers of Beatles songs; It's George Martin. The undisputed master. Thanks George, for such an entertaining and magical disc.

This album is worth buying for a few tracks, namely Jeff Beck's incredible interpretation of A Day in the Life, Jim Carrey's surprisingly good and hilarious version of I am the Walrus (he could front a rock band, no sweat, on personality alone), Robin Williams and Bobby McFerrin's Come Together (if George can make Robin sound decent singing, he can make anyone sound good!), and Vanessa Mae's beautiful take on Because. Goldie Hawn cracks us up w/ her lounge version of Hard Day's Night, as well. However, the rest is either mediocre or mostly fodder (Celine Dion, Phil Collins, Sean Connery--doing spoken word for In My Life! Ouch!). Buy it cheap if you can. Showcases George's amazing production talents, using a plethora of seasoned backup musicians to recreate the Beatles moods relatively well.

How do you say goodbye to several decades of album production with many of the legends of music and comedy, particularly when you're best known as the "fifth Beatle"? If you're George Martin, you make a Beatles tribute album with your friends and heroes. With musical tongue planted firmly in cheek, "In My Life" offers an astonishing array of takes on classic Beatles tunes. Beck's guitar solos on an instrumental version of "A Day in The Life" is stunning, while Goldie Hawn throws just enough humor into her chanteuse version of "Hard Day's Night" to let us know that she gets the joke while displaying some pretty impressive vocal chops. The winner for "chops," though, has got to be Jim Carrey, who puts his all into "I Am the Walrus." As is de rigeur with albums of this type, nobody's gonna love every cut (I personally do not need to hear Celine Dion or Phil Collins on ANYTHING anymore), but this album, taken with a few grains of salt, provides enjoyable entertainment and makes for a unique swan song.

Shades of "Golden Throats"! Yes, I realize that George Martin was making his tribute to great songs and cherished artists, but one has only to listen to Billy Connolly's version of "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" to wonder if Mr. Martin wasn't also partaking in some of the Beatles' non-medicinal experimentations. Jim Carrey is comical on "I am the Walrus" and shows a surprising vocal elasticity, but Robin Williams turn on "Come Together" reveals that his ability to carry a tune sadly lags behind his comic talents. (Bobby McFerrin is simply wasted in his teaming with Williams.)

True fans of the Beatles may be amused by a different take on some of their favorite hits, as well as by a view into the mind of the man who helped establish the greatest band of all time. On the other hand, they may just want their money back.

My suggestion -- listen to previews of the songs somewhere (Apple's ITunes store has 30 second previews of every song) and then decide for yourself. But I'd definitely toe-tag this one with a buyer beware warning label. Know what you're getting BEFORE you spend the money.

I mostly see either complete bashing of or complete adoration for this album, and it really deserves neither.

First of all, the general praise. The concept is George Martin giving his last hoorah proxy a compilation and revisiting of his collaborations with The Beatles. Okay; a safe enough prospect. Years ago, I would have thrown a fit at the mere suggestion that any Beatles songs may ever be changed in any way, shape or form. Now, I am a little older and wiser, and see the value in this. This album is not saying "Here is how it should be." This album says, "Let's get a bunch of people together to have some fun with a recording of some good songs." In My Life accomplishes this.

Now, the specifics:

1. Come Together: The main difference (aside from Robin's showy interpretation of the vocals) is that the bandmates here decided to rock this song out quite a bit more than the original. Deny it all you like, but the original song is really quite bare. The majority of the noise is the bass, drums and John singing. In this rendition, more instruments play, and the instruments are cleaner and louder -- and they have more people singing, which seems somehow appropriate. I have no complaints.

2. A Hard Day's Night: This took me a few listens to adjust, but it is fun, at the least. This song really showcases the attitude of the album, that of a group of adults enjoying their childhoods. Not my favorite, but still quite well-done.

3. A Day in the Life: This will sound strange, but my main complaint here is the lack of anything new. More or less, Jeff Beck plays the melody from the original while a new orchestra plays the old music from years ago. The music from way back when was (and is) fantastic, but faithful reproductions are not the aim of this album. I am surprised at Jeff Beck, in that he did not experiment much with this. Thumbs down, gentlemen, for reading the music right off the page.

4. Here, There, and Everywhere: This song was saccharine-sweet at its inception, and was only made acceptable for public consumption by the fact that a then-rocker was singing it sweetly. When you put a pop diva behind it, the song becomes quite simply unbearable. I will grant her this: she is a skilled vocalist. However, unless you are a fan of her standard fare, this will induce vomiting (I mean this in the best way possible).

5. Because: This version takes the original and Spector-izes it further. Big choir, strings, the works. I cannot say bad things about it because this song shows off his composition skills well. However, avoid this if you want the original trippy fare; this version of Because removes any LSD and replaces it all with Mozart.

6. I Am the Walrus: The only way I can get an honest opinion about this out of my friends is how anyone ought to listen to the entire album -- don't look at the names. Everyone I know who has heard the new Walrus enjoys it thoroughly and are embarrassed at having enjoyed Jim Carrey. Again, Martin & Co. rock instead of tripping.

7. Here Comes the Sun: Another symphony, but with an acoustic guitar shining front and center. My main complaint here is that this adaptation (for the first time on the album) feels inappropriate for the song. The warm strings and gentle brass and woodwinds are theoretically correct, but not so fantastic in practice. Sorry, John Williams; you created a fantastic composition, but you weren't the right man for the job, I don't think.

8. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite: This adaptation is correct, but that doesn't mean I like it. I agree with a previous review in that this is definitely what John had in mind. He wrote Mr. Kite envisioning a gigantic circus with an equally gargantuan ringleader belting out fun invitations at the crowd. However, it makes me laugh in that I'm-going-to-cry sort of way that is all chalked up to personal taste and does not reflect on the work itself.

9. The Pepperland Suite: I am so embarrassed to say this, but I do not own the original Yellow Submarine vinyl. I have it on CD, but apparently this leaves out this Suite. At any rate, coming into it fresh, this is a lovely little symphony, and an inviting soundtrack, followed by an entertainingly intense chase section. Good instrumental fun.

10. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End: Oh, Phil Collins. If I liked you or the noises you make, maybe I would have enjoyed this. More or less, Collins takes the suite at the end of Abbey Road and turns it into a Phil Collins song. The band plays very well, but they still reproduce the song with their style that has that aftertaste of 80s, the kind that accumulates in your ear and clogs your eardrum like plaque in your arteries. And you were expecting something good for you.

11. Friends and Lovers: Here, George Martin says, "Hey, I'm not dead yet!" and composes a lovely piece. I don't have much to say, because it is finely crafted and a nice ease-down from Collins's 80s drumming.

12. In My Life: I've never been much of one for the whole narrating-over-music genre, but it is a good idea for this. As it is one of my favorite Beatles songs, I wasn't sure what to expect from this. However, Connery's adaptation creates a warm tearjerker. The high-energy strings playing the middle-eight feel incredibly out-of-place, though. I am sure Martin wanted that to be a change of pace, but that is beside the point. At any rate, I am man enough to say his old, charming voice makes this endpiece work.

So there you are. My personal view of the album. Listen to the previews and decide if you really want this, instead of buying it and complaining about it for the rest of your years.

Enjoy this for what it is.An eclectic blend of finality for a mans work.Some day,the public will tire of the dreck that passes for popular music these days.Judging from a few of the "1 star" reviews,I doubt it.Thanks George.It took some balls,and this is great.P.S. Becks reading of "A Day in the Life",and Carreys send up of "I Am the Walrus" shine.Go get and enjoy

For me George Martin has always been the "Fifth Beatle." Certainly from a performance standpoint that honor will go to Billy Preston, but Martin was the producer of most of the Beatles' recordings from 1962 to 1969 and that counts for a lot in my book. Martin's willingness to provide a nurturing environment and to do strange new things in the recording studio gave John Lennon and Paul McCartney license to do strange things like guitar feedback at the start of "I Feel Fine" and the string quartet for "Yesterday." When Martin decided to official retire in 1998 he decided to produce on last album, picking a selection of Beatles tunes that he had originally produced and coming up with some often offbeat performances to do singing (although not all of the guest artists are singers). The result, as you might expect, is a mixed bag. According to your tastes you will almost most assuredly find a couple of duds here, but you should also find a couple of efforts that you will appreciate.

Martin makes it clear that are no limits with the opening track, where Robin Williams sings "Come Together" while Bobby McFerrin provides the mouth music. When you start off with that track then Jim Carrey doing "I am the Walrus" does not seem that strange. But by the time Billy Connolly finishes the first verse of "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite" you get the point and there is really no reason not to skip ahead to the next track. The finale, with Sean Connery performing what is basically an dramatic reading of "In My Life" could be considered one of the comic twists in the album, but I like it; it remind me of the spoken word tracks on Moody Blues albums (besides, Martin first made his reputation doing sound recordings with Peter Ustinov and Peter Sellers, so there is a historic sense of coming full circle with this final track that I think you have to appreciate).

The rest of the tracks are more straightforward but still provide some creative twists and turns. Goldie Hawn giggles a tad too much in "A Hard Day's Night," but giving the song a jazz spin works, while feature Jeff Beck's guitar playing rather than any vocals on "A Day in the Life" actually gives the song even more of a sense of majesty. Celine Dion's "Here, There and Everywhere" is a rather straightforward performance, but she is here mainly because she has worked with Martin on her own albums. Martin even toots his own horn by putting together a new version of the "Pepperland Suite," just to remind all of those people who never flipped over to the other side of "The Yellow Submarine" soundtrack that he dabbled in writing some music as well. For me the glass is half full on this one and giving Sean Connery the final word on Martin's behalf seems totally appropriate.

George Martin, has created an incredibly creative collision of personalities, material in a new and totally unique way to select Beatles songs.

Extremely light hearted and enjoyable, reviving twist to some old material, "CAUTION" there is no middle ground here ! You will either 100% enjoy this album or .................

I am glad that after reading several bad reviews in the papers of the world, I still decided to pick up this CD. If your a Beatles purist you might not like this CD. You must remember that it is a completion of a great man's life time of work. But if you want a CD that in ways can make you smile. Can remind you of all your mates sitting around and singing Beatles songs while totally smashed and enjoying every moment of it, then buy this CD. Jim Carreys Walrus I think captures better than anyone else the total craziness that John intended the song to have. And if you close your eyes to John Williams "Here comes the sun.", you can picture yourself on a cartoon hill and the sun rising up in technicolor sunrise. The instrumentals are fabulous, as is the thought that went into whom would sing each song. As well as Sean Connery, poeticly speaking the words to "In My Life". Imagine 007 Bond speaking those words to Ms. Money Penny finally. Sit back and enjoy this one.

Obviously, there is an absolute chasm of dichotomy in all the reviews here. I am not going to add any comments to the swirl, except to say that Jeff Beck's version of "A Day In The Life" makes this CD an absolute must-own.

Since the release of this recording, Beck has made that song a staple of his on-stage performances. While the track exists on several JB live recordings, they are unmatched by this stunning studio, orchestral-accompanied, Martin-arranged/conducted version.

I can state whole-heartedly that if you do not own this disc, your Jeff Beck collection is incomplete!