Classic Pop Icons

Fans of John Lennon who live in the UK will be interested in a 90-minute drama about his solo years that is airing tomorrow night (June 23) on BBC 4. “Lennon Naked” stars Christopher Eccleston as John Lennon.

Writer Robert Jones and director/producer Edward Coulthard avoided interviewing those close to Lennon and instead relied on existing interviews with dozens of individuals, as well as press conferences and chat shows with Lennon himself. We are told that this was to avoid the drama being based on any one, subjective account. A cynic might say that the high profile individuals simply wouldn’t have made themselves available.

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Sometimes a cover version of a song becomes so well known that the original is largely forgotten and it is the cover that is widely assumed to be the original. In fact, some of the most popular recordings of all time were actually covers. We’ll be looking at some great examples, including two of the most popular rock ‘n’ roll tracks of the 1950s, a doo-wop classic, a memorable 1960s instrumental, and a song that kick-started the biggest dance craze of the 1960s.

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John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics to “A Day in the Life” have sold at auction in New York for $1.2 million (£809,000). They were expected to fetch $500,000-$700,000. The lyrics were purchased via phone by a private American collector.

The auction lot comprised two complete sets of the lyrics written in black felt marker and blue ballpoint pen. One is Lennon’s original first draft and the other, written mostly in capital letters, was most likely prepared for use in the recording studio.

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Gibson.com has put together a list of the top ten guitar riffs of the 1960s.

Here’s what they came up with:

1. “Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones
2. “You Really Got Me” by The Kinks
3. “Paperback Writer” by The Beatles
4. “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix
5. “I Can’t Explain” by The Who
6. “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly
7. “Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream
8. “James Bond Theme” by The John Barry Orchestra
9. “Last Train to Clarksville” by The Monkees
10. “Over Under Sideways Down” by The Yardbirds.

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