It has been quite a while since our last weird facts post, so here comes number 9. CAT scans only exist because of The Beatles. The initial funding for the research into the tech came because record label EMI was so flush with Beatles money. CAT scan is a medical imaging technique that uses X-rays and a computer to create detailed, cross-sectional images of the inside of the body. In the early 1960s Allan Cormack developed the mathematical theory for CT scanning and performed the first experimental demonstration. Then in 1967 Godfrey Hounsfield began working on the CT project at EMI Central Research Laboratories in London. Both of them later won a Nobel Prize for their groundbreaking work.
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
On this day, 18th August 1982, the City of Liverpool named four Streets after the Beatles: John Lennon Drive, Paul McCartney Way, George Harrison Close and Ringo Starr Drive. So yes, they became their own long and winding road!
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
On 17th April 1971 all four Beatles had solo singles in the UK charts, Paul McCartney with “Another Day” (no. 11), John Lennon “Power To The People” (no. 10), George Harrison “My Sweet Lord” (no. 25) and Ringo Starr “It Don’t Come Easy” (no. 29). The most successful of the four was George Harrison as earlier in the year “My Sweet Lord” sat at the top of the chart and made him the first of the Fab Four to have a solo number one. McCartney just missed out as “Another Day” stopped at number 2. Lennon’s song peaked at number 7 and Ringo’s at number 4. Would all of these have been Beatles songs had they stayed together as a band? Who knows. Incidentally George played on Ringo’s song and Ringo returned the favour by playing on “My Sweet Lord”. Klaus Voormann played on three out of the four tracks, the only one he didn’t appear on was McCartney’s.
Are they actually dancing to the same song?
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
On 23rd March 1967 at a ceremony held at the Playhouse Theatre in London, The Beatles were awarded three Ivor Novello awards. These were for 1966: Best-selling British single “Yellow Submarine”,(Effectively the ‘A’ Side of the Record Issued in 1966 Which Achieved the Highest Certified British Sales) most-performed song “Michelle”, and next-most-performed song “Yesterday”. Incidentally fact fans, the most covered Beatles song is “Yesterday,” with over 2,200 covers, according to Guinness World Records, and is also considered the most covered song of all time. Meanwhile the band’s most played song is “Here Comes the Sun” it has racked up over a billion streams on Spotify, making it the only Beatles track to reach that milestone.
None of the Beatles attended the Ivor Novello ceremony back in ’67 and the winning songs were played by Joe Loss and his Orchestra. The lead vocal for “Michelle” was sung by Ross MacManus, whose son would go on to become the professional musician Elvis Costello. In 1970, Ross MacManus recorded a version of The Beatles’ song “The Long And Winding Road” under the pseudonym of Day Costello, which spent 17 weeks in the Australian chart, peaking at number 16. He was also the man responsible for the music and vocals from the R. White’s Lemonade television advertisement theme song “Secret Lemonade Drinker”, on which MacManus Junior (a.k.a. Elvis Costello) sang backing vocals.
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
Here comes Under The Covers With Mayhem Chapter 13, featuring the iconic reggae band the Paragons with Roslyn Sweat and their take on the Beatles (Paul McCartney) song “Blackbird”. Their version is titled “Blackbird Singing” and I think it came out in 1974 on the Treasure Isle label. The band formed in Jamaica the 1960s. Many of you might not realise, but Blondie’s huge 1980 hit “The Tide Is High” was originally by the Paragons. Atomic Kitten also took the song into the charts in 2002. My favourite Paragons track is probably “Wear You To The Ball”. John Holt, who went on to massive solo success in the 70s was once the band’s lead vocalist. He also wrote “The Tide Is High”. Reggaefied covers of classic songs are often good, but I believe that this cover of “Blackbird” is stunning. What do you think?
Constant readers know that my ideal cover version has a different slant from the original rather than just a facsimile-style cover. So the generic boy bands are probably never likely to feature, but you never know, right? Feel free to recommend any songs that you think should be included in Under The Covers With Mayhem. I want to stay clear of the mainstream ideally, but off-the-wall covers by major artists might work too 🙂 Finally and at last there is a playlist that collects all the Under The Covers With Mayhem tracks together. Currently fifteen songs and 58 and a half minutes of music. Check it out below.
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
As you might have guessed from the title of this post the theme for this years Mayhem’s 12 Days Of Christmas is, once again, the classic Christmas song “The Twelve Days Of Christmas”. What did the protagonists beau give on the first day of Christmas? It was of course a Partridge in a Pear Tree. So with a rather tenuous link, todays song is by David Cassidy and it is “The Puppy Song”. Cassidy had played Keith Partridge in US sitcom ‘The Partridge Family’ (I told you the link was tenuous). “The Puppy Song” was released as a double A side with “Daydreamer” in 1973 when it went to the top of the UK charts. This was possibly peak Cassidymania period.
Harry Nilsson wrote and recorded the song for his 1969 album ‘Harry’. The song came about after Paul McCartney asked Nilsson to write a song for Mary Hopkin in 1968 after she became one of the first signings to the Beatles Apple label. Her version featured on her 1969 album ‘Post Card’. I was never a fan of David Cassidy, but I think some of his stuff has aged well, particularly this track! There will be a playlist of all twelve songs when we get to the final one? What do you think tomorrows song will be?
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Linkedin, and EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.
This is the fifth in what I hope will be a very long-running series, just like my long-running life, so far at least! I have decided to look at the most popular songs from every year that I have existed. There will be some artistic licence on my part as I will always seek to include at least a few of my favourites from each year. The format will be a top ten for each year and will cover the music and songs I grew up with, came of age with, and achieved my greatest success alongside music that comforted me in bad times. This fifth top ten goes back to the year that I turned 4 years old, 1963. I don’t remember actually hearing these songs back then, but I have listened to them many times over the years. I have once again focused on the UK charts. the Beatles make their first appearance in the series, debuting at the top of the pile with “Please Please Me”. As a special time travel gift I have added a bonus track, the best-selling US single of 1963, “Sugar Shack” by Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs. This is definitely my favourite Rolling Back The Years Top 10 so far. Please get on board the Time Machine now, it will be a rough journey so bring a sick bag or two! Check out the playlist below if you are too chicken to enter the Time Machine. The chart for 1964 will follow soon. The chart listing is below!
1 Please Please Me – The Beatles 2 Foot Tapper – The Shadows 3 Do You Want To Know A Secret? – Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas 4 Take These Chains From My Heart – Ray Charles 5 Then He Kissed Me – The Crystals 6 Can’t Get Used To Losing You – Andy Williams 7 Da Doo Ron Ron – The Crystals 8 Memphis Tennessee – Chuck Berry 9 I Only Want To Be With You – Dusty Springfield 10 Sweets For My Sweet – The Searchers
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.
I must confess that National Album Day, which has been running for 7 years, has kind of passed me by. I am much more keen on Record Store Day. It feels like just a chance for the major labels to reissue loads of back catalogue under the guise of a special day. Yes, I know there is an element of that on Record Store Day. But RSD is targetted at independent record stores, not the likes of HMV. On top of that releases are generally quite limited which makes the whole day more interesting in my opinion. It seems that not too many independent labels are involved in National Album Day compared to RSD. The theme of the day today, 19th October is British Groups.
Back in 2019, I celebrated the tenth anniversary of With Just A Hint Of Mayhem, and part of that celebration was a list of my top ten favourite albums. I have extended that to a top 25 and ignored the British Groups theme (although my list does include 8 British Groups). These are simply my favourite albums of all time! What are yours?
1 Live At The Lyceum 1975 – Bob Marley and the Wailers – If I had a time machine I would go back to 1975 and be there for this gig. Probably the finest live album ever. 2 Diamond Dogs – David Bowie – My favourite Bowie album changes depending on my mood, but more often than not it is the dystopian tale of Halloween Jack and Hunger City 3 Dog Man Star – Suede – I loved Suede’s first album but this took them to a whole new level. Were they Britpop? If so then they were one of the best Britpop acts by far. 4 The Kick Inside – Kate Bush – Choosing the best Catherine Bush album is very difficult, but I go back to this one regularly. 5 OK Computer – Radiohead – There are still some people out there who don’t like, or maybe don’t get, Radiohead. Why the fuck not? This LP is a work of genius. 6 What’s Going On? – Marvin Gaye – Probably the best protest and message album in history and one which is sadly still very pertinent today 7 Delilah Bon – Delilah Bon – possibly the finest debut album of the century so far 8 The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill – Lauryn Hill – is a great modern R&B record which makes Beyonce look like an amateur 9 The White Room – KLF – dance, trance, chill, weirdness. This has everything. But they should have paid PP Arnold! 10 24 Carat Diamond Trephine – Avalanche Party – Without a doubt, the greatest living UK band right now 11 Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy – Elton John – In my opinion this autobiographical masterpiece is easily the greatest album Reg Dwight ever made 12 Skeleton Tree – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – How can anyone put so much emotion, empathy and sadness in a small collection of songs? I have no idea but Nick Cave certainly achieved it with this album. 13 Abbey Road – Beatles – I love many albums from the Fab Four, but this is the one I always come back to. 14 Never Mind The Bollocks – Sex Pistols – An incendiary début from one of the best punk bands ever. What might have happened if they had stayed together? Who knows but an album like this as your legacy is a great thing! 15 Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too – New Radicals – There is not a track I would skip on this album. The band is effectively the genius that is Gregg Alexander who wrote and produced all the songs. 16 Back To Black – Amy Winehouse – stunning voice, sensational performance, what a sad loss to the world 17 Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morrisette – A wonderful album with not a duff track in sight. She never surpassed this, but how can you beat perfect? 18 Ramones – Ramones – The high point and possibly the birth of punk, certainly in the USA 19 Songs In The Key Of Life – Stevie Wonder – So good I can forgive him for that bloody awful “I Just Called To Say I Love You” 20 Quadrohphenia – The Who – An absolute opus which I believe knocks the pants off Tommy 21 London Calling – The Clash – The album that showed they were not just a punk band 22 Sign O’ The Times – Prince – Forget Purple Rain. This was Prince’s Mona Lisa 23 The Lexicon Of Love – ABC – I often feel that music was really overproduced in the 80s. But this is sublime 24 Grace – Jeff Buckley – another great talent we lost too young. This is a monumental magnum opus 25 My Merry Go Round – Johnny Nash – This man, for me, has the most beautiful voice that I have ever heard in my life. This album from 1973 has remained among my favourite albums since its release.
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.
On 22nd August 1968 Ringo Starr quit The Beatles during the recording sessions for what was to become known as ‘The White Album’ He said that he couldn’t handle the constant bickering and the tension became too much for him. The news of Ringo’s departure was kept secret, and he later rejoined the sessions on September 3rd. After Mr. Starkey walked out, the remaining Beatles recorded “Back In the USSR” with Paul on drums and John playing bass.
In 1741, also on 22nd August, Georg Friedrich Händel began composing “The Messiah.” He finished the work on September 14th.
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.
In 1966 on 8th August, the South African Broadcasting Corporation banned all Beatles records, in response to John Lennon’s remark about the band being “bigger than Jesus.” To be fair I think Lennon was correct. On the same day, the Beatles’ seventh studio album, Revolver, was released in the USA.
On 8th August 2002, The UK’s biggest undertakers Co-Op funeral services reported that bereaved families preferred pop songs to hymns at funerals. Top of the list was “Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler. Other songs included “Angels” by Robbie Williams and “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion. They also reported some unusual choices including “Another One Bites The Dust” by Queen and “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham! I bet that many of those are still very popular at a celebration of someone popping their clogs! My Dad wanted “Disco Inferno” at his cremation, but my Mum forbade it. My ultimate funeral song is “No Woman No Cry” by Bob Marley and the Wailers, but it has to be the live version from the ‘Live At The Lyceum’ album from 1975.
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.
With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 