In My Life

George Martin, Beatles (Tribute)

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Original Release Date: October 20, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B00000DFE9
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #36,080 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Come Together - George Martin, Bobby McFerrin, Robin Williams

2. Hard Day's Night - Goldie Hawn, George Martin

3. Day in the Life - Jeff Beck, George Martin

4. Here, There and Everywhere - Celine Dion, George Martin

5. Because - George Martin, Vanessa-Mae

6. I Am the Walrus - Jim Carrey, George Martin

7. Here Comes the Sun - George Martin, John Williams

8. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite - Billy Connolly, George Martin

9. Pepperland Suite: Pepperland/March of the Meanies/Sea of Monsters/Peppe - George Martin

10. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End - Phil Collins, George Martin

11. Friends and Lovers - George Martin

12. In My Life - Sean Connery, George Martin

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There used to be a section in every record store labeled "Personalities." It was where often painful renderings of contemporary pop hits by the likes of Sebastian Cabot and Mae West could be found biding their time until Rhino Records' Golden Throats series could gleefully discover them. In My Life is a Personality Record with two crucial distinctions: a surprisingly low pain threshold and Sir George Martin. Deciding to make a farewell album on his own terms, the gentlemanly former Beatles producer gathered an eclectic crowd of "heroes and friends" (Jeff Beck, Jim Carrey, Phil Collins, Sean Connery, Billy Connolly, Celine Dion, Goldie Hawn, Vanessa Mae, Bobby McFerrin, Robin Williams, and John Williams) to cover a selection of Fab Four tunes.

There are surprising revelations throughout. Carrey displays a vocal prowess as elastic as his face--and a good deal more refined--on "I Am the Walrus". Instrumental showcases include Beck's subtle tonal explorations of "A Day in the Life," and Vanessa Mae and John Williams milking the latent classicism from "Because" and "Here Comes the Sun," respectively. And then there's the overly competent MOR ("Here, There and Everywhere" by Dion, Collins's "Golden Slumbers," "Carry That Weight," and "The End"), and one big disappointment (McFerrin and Williams's "Come Together" succumbs to the latter's incessant vocal mugging). This recording recalls Martin's early larks with Peter Sellers and the Goons one moment (Hawn's breathy nightclub lark on "A Hard Day's Night," Connolly's ringmaster turn on "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite"), and reveals his own sentimental heart the next (Connery's restrained reading of "In My Life," Martin's own compositions, "Friends and Lovers" and "Pepperland Suite"). An odd, yet decidedly dignified final memento from the man who earned a Knighthood being the "Fifth Beatle." --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Martin "Magic", February 5, 2000

By	Dan Swan (Lincoln City, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Surreal..., September 4, 2003

By	Doug DeBolt (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Martin's farewell a fun one, July 14, 2000

By	efrex (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

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.