Interview with Ken Micallef the Jazz Vinyl Audiophile pt 2 of 3: Why even care about The Beatles?

[@mazzysmusic]

Years I go I spent some time with jazz drummer Tony Willians. I got to know him a bit because a photographer I represented was shooting all his Blue Note covers from 1985-92. I asked him his take on Ringos drumming and we talked about his playing for a long time. Tony absolutely loved Ringo’s playing and thought he was innovative and original. It was cool listening to this great drummer talk this way 🥁🥁🥁

[@koylesmasterpeice]

John! You are a record collector, music lover, audiophile, cat fan and you design and build some of the most sought after speakers on the plant. I wouldn't sell yourself short you are a pretty interesting guy.

[@skip1835]

Ringo was way beyond a "time keeper, he played musical "parts" - and there's no arguing that those "scripted parts" were perfect for every song - - and - - he was consistent, one can see the execution of those parts in all of his live performances. Although I'm a drummer, it took me years to recognize his genius.

[@DeVOREFIDELITY]

Agreed, and it took me years too.

[@edwardevans652]

I was also late to the party re: discovering Ringo’s greatness. The man has great Swing and no other Rock drummer was doing what Starr did when joined the Beatles. Love his drumming on “The End.”

[@1999zrx1100]

Are you kidding me, doing this video and you haven’t seen the movie yet. 😳 I’m not the biggest Beatle fan either, but to watch 50 year old footage of any hugely successful band creating the sound track for so many was such a treat. Once you revealed that I was done. 🙄

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

Thanks John, your company and Monkeyhaus are an eternal (infernal?) inspiration!

[@artyfhartie2269]

My grandma still screams and pulls her hair when I play She Loves you by The Beatles.

[@ptbfrch]

Interesting conversation, and it is very informative to listen to Ken's words. It's incredible what he knows and the observations he makes. I love listening to John talk too, but maybe focus a bit more on Ken's replies and let him complete replies?

[@DeVOREFIDELITY]

I completely agree--I need to shut up and let the other guy speak. This was my first attempt, I'll get better, I promise!

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

@@DeVOREFIDELITY I never felt John interrupted me. I have much to learn from John and am always listening.

[@ptbfrch]

@@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455 No doubt. I want to hear more from both of you. I learn so much from both of your channels.

[@Theatre_Of_Noise]

Really enjoying these. Thank you.

[@Another_Audiophile]

I think Steve Guttenberg did an interview with Ken but the video has been removed for some reasons

[@ScottTice1971]

John, did you ever end up watching Get Back? I have the same opinion of the Beatles that you have had and was apprehensive. It took a few weeks but I got through all six hours and it is exactly as Ken says at about the 13:00 of your interview. Just FF through the first one and then when Billy shows up it starts to get good. The third one is really magic. It has rekindled my interest in the Beatles for sure.

[@fts81]

Yes, Ringo was the quintessential drummer. Without his drumming and pace those songs would never sound as they did. He was the cohesive element

[@tonyladokguy8985]

Well he may not get the Beatles, but fortunately he gets how speakers should sound. I've owned three of them.

[@ricardocoloma-md]

don't skip the first one is amazing to see their interpersonal dynamics and how they create so many hit songs on the spot.

[@samuelreggio1611]

Looking forward to hearing what you both have to say about electronic music on wax!

[@patrickshawl7189]

To understand why the Beatles had such a profound affect on some, it's best to view or listen in the context of the time of '63 and '64 by playing the top 40 charts before they hit; other than the girl groups and a smattering of R&B, it was all Pop dreck. When this ten year old heard their first songs on the radio the world went from B&W to color, and they never stopped being interesting.

[@jsherman999]

Very astute to see the Beatles as a sort of demarcation between Boomer and Gen-X (and later.) I'm older gen-x and love the Beatles, but I think that's mostly because my older siblings were listening to them all the time. Most of my age-peers care less about them than me, and most younger folks care even less. That isn't to say they don't care at all or don't appreciate the music once exposed to it - it's just not something that has a personal link to them. I think Dylan is a similar cultural checkpoint. I remember in the 1980s for example people pointing out "Dylan's childhood home," or some other Dylan-related thing or piece of unknown information as a rare find that everyone was in awe over. Now I feel that Dylan is sort of moving into a Woody Guthrie role culturally, where his influence feels 'historical' and not personal to the vast majority of people.

[@deadquietvinyl]

Yaaay! Supermen! 😎

[@Abyss60]

as a listener I often thought the drums were the basis of rock music. the Beatles, the Rolling stones.the mothers of invention …

[@BicycleJoeTomasello]

John when it comes to the Beatles, you just don’t get it Please don’t think you do. Don’t think you’re getting it now. Don’t believe you’ve just had a revelation. You still just don’t get it. You’re not part of that generation. I grew up with the Beatles. You were already a grown man that had already formed his opinions and prejudices when you discovered them, you are a man with discriminating taste. Don’t take that as a put down. I’ve been in the Music business since 1966. I’ve seen this kind of music lover many times. There is nothing wrong with that. The Beatles were a phenomena. I know people that hated Bob Dylan, but loved Joan Baez singing his songs, I think that’s a comparison similar to where you were on your road to becoming an Audiophile.

[@tonykazz2779]

Beatles were so over played that it's tiring to have to listen now. That goes for M.Jackson and a few others. Vivaldi Four Seasons too!