The 60s Project

28/02/2024

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/richard-lewis-dead-comedian-curb-your-enthusiasm-1235925744/

Richard Lewis, best known for his work as a stand-up comedian and recurring star of Larry David's 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' has died. He was 76.

27/12/2023

Tom Smothers was many things, including a terrific Yo-Yo Man. RIP to a great one.

Tommy Smothers, Yo-Yo Man, does his tricks for Dick Smothers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.The Smothers BrothersThe Smothers Brothers, Tom and Dick, a...

06/12/2023

RIP Norman Lear, the man who changed television

19/11/2023

One of our "most liked" posts from the archives.

Happy Thanksgiving from The 60s Project!

04/11/2023

Now and Then is definitely not the greatest Beatles song ever, but it’s new Beatles music and that *is* pretty great. The music video is really fun too.

Now and Then's eventful journey to fruition took place over five decades and is the product of conversations and collaborations between the four Beatles that...

16/06/2023

What a time that was

Deeply disturbed by the accounting of American deceit in Vietnam, he approached The New York Times. The disclosures that followed rocked the nation.

19/05/2023

Jim Brown, great as an athlete and even better as an activist

After a Hall of Fame career in the N.F.L., he pursued social activism and Hollywood stardom, but his image was stained by accusations of abuse toward women.

20/01/2023

Another sad passing...

David Crosby, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice – for his work with The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash – has died. He was 81.

12/01/2023

RIP Jeff Beck, one of the greatest guitarists ever

His playing with the Yardbirds and as leader of his own bands brought a sense of adventure to their groundbreaking recordings.

30/11/2022

One of the greats. RIP

As a singer, songwriter and keyboardist, she was a prolific force behind one of the most popular rock bands of the 1970s and ’80s.

13/07/2022

The Rolling Stones played their first live show at the Marquee Club in London on July 12, 1962. The band at this point features Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones, with Dick Taylor, later of The Pretty Things, on bass and Tony Chapman. The band was paid 20 pounds.

In this clipping, you will see that it lists Jagger, Richards, Elmo Lewis who was really Brian Jones, Dick Taylor, "Stu" who was Ian Stewart and future drummer for The Kinks, Mick Avory. Avory did not play this show. Mick did do a couple of rehearsals with the band. When Jagger did the publicity for the show, he thought Mick Avory (misspelled Avery in the clipping) would be playing it. We have confirmed this on a couple of different occasions with Avory.

We guess it would be proper to say Happy 60th Birthday to The Rolling Stones!!!

07/07/2022

RIP Sonny

A Bronx native, he starred in countless movies and TV shows, but was most closely identified with the volatile character Sonny Corleone.

23/05/2022

Paul was 28 when he wrote this

Behind The Music
Paul McCartney writes "The Long And Winding Road" letter to Allen Klein.

On April 1, 1970, Phil Spector supervised the recording of orchestral and choral overdubs for three songs to be released on the “Let It Be” album – “Across The Universe“, “The Long And Winding Road” and “I Me Mine“.

The orchestral overdubs added to “The Long And Winding Road” would cause the ire of Paul McCartney when he finally listened to Phil Spector’s mix.

When Paul heard [the “Let It Be” album mixed by Phil Spector], particularly what he referred to as Spector’s sickly sweet version of “The Long and Winding Road,” he was furious. He rushed straight into Apple and berated Klein so loudly you could hear him throughout the building. “It’s not us anymore!” he shouted.

Klein’s rude comment was, “Your original material sucked. It was unusable. John thinks Phil is a genius and I agree with him.”

Two weeks after this session, on April 14, 1970, he would write the following letter to Allen Klein:

Dear Sir,

In future, no one will be allowed to add to or subtract from a recording of one of my songs without my permission.

I had considered orchestrating ‘The Long And Winding Road’ but I had decided against it. I, therefore, want it altered to these specifications:

1. Strings, horns, voices and all added noises to be reduced in volume.
2. Vocal and Beatle instrumentation to be brought up in volume.
3. Harp to be removed completely at the end of the song and original piano notes to be substituted.
4. Don’t ever do it again.

Signed

Paul McCartney

c.c. Phil Spector
John Eastman

Two days after, on April 16, 1970, he declared to journalist Ray Conolly:

A few weeks ago, I was sent a remixed version of my song ‘The Long And Winding Road’ with harps, horns, an orchestra, and a women’s choir added. No one had asked me what I thought. I couldn’t believe it. I would never have female voices on a Beatles record. The record came with a note from Allen Klein saying he thought the changes were necessary. I don’t blame Phil Spector for doing it, but it just goes to show that it’s no good me sitting here thinking I’m in control because obviously I’m not. Anyway, I’ve sent Klein a letter asking for some things to be altered, but I haven’t received an answer yet.

Paul McCartney – Interview with Ray Conolly, from the “Evening Standard”, April 16, 1970

Thanks to Tony Bramwell – From “Magical Mystery Tours: My Life with the Beatles“, 2014

11/05/2022

It's been a long time comin'
It's goin' to be a long time gone
But you know
The darkest hour
Is always, always just before the dawn

This is the day we took CSN's first album cover on the couch in 1969. We started here in Gary Burden's backyard in West Hollywood, got in the car, and found that house. Who knew what was going to happen! Who ever knows?

06/01/2022

“The Last Picture Show"... “Paper Moon”... “What’s Up, Doc?"... Dr. Elliot Kupferberg on The Sopranos

Within one decade, the ’70s, he was transformed from one of the most celebrated of filmmakers, notably for “The Last Picture Show,” into one of the most ostracized.

18/12/2021

First, the the 44th annual Kennedy Center Honors, hosted by David Letterman, broadcasting Wednesday, Dec. 22 at 9:00 ET on CBS.

Joni Mitchell is the 2022 MusiCares Person of the Year and artists including Graham Nash, Brandi Carlile and James Taylor will pay tribute in January.

10/12/2021

Sadly, there's now just one more Monkee jumping on the bed

“With Infinite Love we announce that Michael Nesmith has passed away this morning in his home, surrounded by family, peacefully and of natural causes,” his family said in a statement

07/12/2021

The folks at Anti- would like to wish a very happy birthday today to our inimitable inspiration, Mr. Tom Waits!

24/10/2021

The new documentary “Tom Petty, Somewhere You’ll Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers” captures the late music legend at his creative peak.

13/10/2021

Happy 80th to the one and only Rhymin' Simon!

Songwriter collaborated on Miracle and Wonder with Malcolm Gladwell, which arrives next month

09/09/2021

He's back. And he's still pretty damn good.

After a heart attack and (another) feud with Stevie Nicks, the former Fleetwood Mac guitarist returns with a new solo album.

24/08/2021

RIP Charlie Watts, one of the greatest drummers of this or any generation.

06/08/2021

Is this 50-year-old LP the best solo post-Beatles release of all time? The critics (and us) say yes.

Most fans have a favorite Beatle, but there’s not much debate about which Beatles solo album is the best: George Harrison’s epic “All Things Must Pass.” Released in November 1970, just seven months…

15/07/2021

Happy 75th birthday to Linda Ronstadt!

24/06/2021

Hard to believe it's been 50 years since the release of Joni Mitchell's 'Blue," widely considered one of the greatest albums ever recorded. Follow this link for a rare video message on the anniversary from Ms. Mitchell herself: https://bit.ly/3wVBLY8

18/05/2021

RIP Charles Grodin, a unique talent who starred for decades on Broadway, in popular movies, and in numerous hilarious television appearances. He was 86. Check out the terrific 1989 clip with Letterman below.

Late Night with David Letterman

22/04/2021

At 74, and after a serious brush with Covid, Marianne Faithfull is still recording—this time, a spoken-word tribute to the Romantic poets.

The British musician has had several brushes with death in her 74 years. But Covid-19 and its long-haul symptoms didn’t derail her latest project: a spoken-word tribute to the Romantic poets.

18/03/2021

Tina Turner bids a final farewell to her fans in a new film that shows how she has overcome her painful past and finally found happiness.

Tina Turner bids a final farewell to her fans in a touching new film that shows how she has overcome her painful past and finally found happiness.