Have you heard any of the classical music written by rock/pop songwriters? What do you think of it? Three of my favourite singer songwriters (Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, and Elton John) have wriiten classical music. Paul McCartney actually wrote classical music in the Sixties when he was still a Beatle! He wrote the score for the film "The Family Way" in 1966. More recently, he wrote the "Liverpool Oratorio" and "Standing Stone". Billy Joel wrote "Fantasies and Delusions", and Elton John wrote the score to the film "The Muse". All of these pieces are enjoyable, and when in a classical mood, they can be a pleasure to listen to. But I feel they don't equal Tchaikovsy, Beethoven, Verdi, etc. But like rock/pop songwriting, improvement must come with experience, because Paul McCartney's latest classical piece: "Ecce Cor Meum" is his best yet, and up there with the great composers! Especially the second track (or movement): "Gratia". I imagine it must be hard trying to write a classical piece after having spent nearly five decades writing hundreds of pop songs, but he should be proud of "Ecce Cor Meum"!
they should stick to what got them in to the buisness in the first place not pansying around with music that will void their fans of the past songwriting stick to what you know best
Thanks for all the comments you've added to my Opinion pages. It seems we share a love for the music of the Beatles, and their solo music, and Elton John too. I can see that your favourite Beatle was George. He's done some great stuff. I too love the All Things Must Pass album. When you look at one of the sleeves of that album (I've got the 2cd box set, rather than the 3 disc lp), petrol was 87.9p a gallon!!! Like you, I am fond of the track: Beware of Darkness. I also love the title track. Did you know that Mike Scott of The Waterboys was a big fan of George, and he's done a cover of the track All Things Must Pass? My favourite solo album of George is Extra Texture. But I like most of his stuff (except Electronic Sound, and Wonderwall). Like you, I think he was great in The Beatles, but the other two didn't really give him a chance.
I love all Paul McCartney's stuff, (except when he took the pseudonym Fireman, and did a couple of ambient/electronic albums). I know you're not too fond of Wings, but I think their best tracks are the unknown ones. People always think of their hits, like Let 'Em In, Silly Love Songs, Jet, Mull Of Kintyre, etc. But hidden away in their albums lie some great tracks.
Did you get the other message (it's so hard to send messages and reply to comments) about Elton John? You wanted to hear the song: Greatest Discovery (the song about a boy and his baby brother.) It's on the second album (called Elton John, as you rightly said). You can watch (and listen to) it on youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEw9SB8NMfs . He's another one who, in my opinion, has much better tracks on his albums than the ones that become hits, although I do like most of his hits too, especially Your Song.
I've got every album by the Beatles, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and Elton John. If you want some copies, let me know.
As this is the only way to reply to a comment, and I've not really done it for people, other than you, to add comments, it will be interesting to see what replies I get from other people.
Not really into the Beatles that much but appreciate what they did at the time. The Stones/Kinks/Small Faces more my thing-but four talented guys that went on and did much more than just start a revolution-can't complain about that!!!!
What's your favourite George Harrison song, including the songs he did as a Beatle? Mine has to be "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (from the White Album). Such a classic! Runners up would be: "For You Blue" (from Let It Be), "Something" (from Abbey Road), "My Sweet Lord" (from All Thing Must Pass), "All Things Must Pass" (from All Things Must Pass), just about EVERY song on the Extra Texture album, "Just For Today" (from Cloud Nine), "Bangla Desh" (from the Bangla Desh Concert), and of course his three other classics from the White Album: "Piggies", "Savoy Truffle", and "Long Long Long".
