“Ain’t That A Shame” was released on single in the summer of 1955, backed with “La La” and also featured on Fats’ debut album “Carry on Rockin’” in November of that year.

“Ain’t That A Shame” was one of many classic collaborations between Fats Domino and Imperial A&R man Dave Bartholomew. The pair had achieved a string of hits on the R&B chart since they began working together on the single “The Fat Man” in 1949, but “Ain’t That A Shame” was the first to achieve crossover success on the pop chart. Many timeless collaborations would follow, including “I’m Walkin’” and “Blue Monday.”

The song employs what even then was a well worn stop-time structure for the verses, with Fats and the band punctuating each statement with a double blast of the ‘B flat’ chord. The chorus has a standard R&B rhythm pattern, with Fats’ trademark pounding piano style, and a highly catchy “Ain’t That A Shame” hook. There is also memorable saxophone work throughout and particularly on the instrumental break played by Herb Hardesty, who played on many of Fats’ biggest hits.

Domino’s brand of rock ‘n’ roll was probably closer to conventional R&B than the output of any of his rock ‘n’ roll contemporaries, and “Ain’t That A Shame” was no exception. Fats himself would say that he just continued to play what he’d always played in New Orleans. There was some interference though from Imperial, who speeded up the single by one step in an effort to give the song a little more drive and make Domino’s vocal more youthful and less laidback.

“Ain’t That A Shame” first came to prominence via Pat Boone’s cover, which is often regarded as a watered down rip-off of the original. Putting aside the musical merits of the cover, it also gave mainstream exposure to the original and raised Domino’s profile. The royalties from Boone’s hit record were also significant, leading Domino to joke that Boone bought him his gold ring.

It was hits like “Ain’t That A Shame” that ensured Fats Domino was among the first 10 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Bartholomew would join Fats in the Hall of Fame in 1991.

Fats Domino – “Ain’t That A Shame”

Authorship

“Ain’t That A Shame” was written by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew.

Recording date/location

“Ain’t That A Shame” was recorded in March, 1955, but sources differ on where, with some citing Cosimo Matassa’s Studio in New Orleans, LA, and others claiming that it was recorded in Hollywood during a break from a tour.

Musicians

The following musicians played on “Ain’t That A Shame”:

• Fats Domino – vocals, piano
• Herb Hardesty – tenor sax
• Wendell Duconge – tenor sax
• Walter Nelson – guitar
• Frank Fields – bass
• Cornelius Coleman – drums.

Chart performance

“Ain’t That A Shame” reached number 10 on Billboard’s pop chart and number one on the R&B chart.

Notable covers

Pat Boone – “Ain’t That A Shame”

Pat Boone was a fine ballad singer, but his instincts for rock ‘n’ roll were limited. His cover of “Ain’t That A Shame” is sung in an odd, overly formal fashion and the whole thing plods along with none of the natural verve of the original. Despite this, Boone had a number one hit on the Billboard pop chart.

Boone suggested that the title of his cover be changed to “Isn’t That A Shame,” but he was sensibly overruled.

John Lennon – “Ain’t That A Shame”

John Lennon claimed that “Ain’t That A Shame” was the first song he learned to play as a teenager, but he didn’t record it until 1974 as part of the sessions that would produce his 1975 “Rock ‘n’ Roll” album. Lennon had assembled a good band, with the keyboard work of Ken Ascher particularly notable on this track, but the whole thing might have benefited from being taken down a notch or two as Lennon’s vocal sounds a little strained.

There will be a new Song of the Week on February 13.

Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That A Shame” is available on numerous compilations, including “Fats Domino Greatest Hits: Walking To New Orleans.”

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“Happy Xmas (War is Over)” was first released as a US single in December 1971, backed with “Listen, the Snow Is Falling,” and made it’s album debut on the 1975 compilation “Shaved Fish.”

“Happy Xmas (War is Over)” resurrected the “War is Over” message that John and Yoko had spread via their worldwide billboard and poster campaign in December, 1969. The billboards and posters, carrying the message “War Is Over! If You Want It. Happy Christmas from John and Yoko”, went up in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Rome, Athens, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Helsinki.

John Lennon had only been in America a few weeks when he stepped into the studio to record what has become one of the best loved Christmas songs of all time. As discussed, the lyrical content of the song was inspired by John and Yoko’s own peace campaign, but we can also trace the song’s musical origins. It’s unclear whether it was a conscious or subconscious influence, but the main melody and chord progression of the “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” composition certainly owe a lot to the folk song “Stewball” which had been recorded by artists such as Woody Guthrie, Peter, Paul and Mary, and The Hollies. Lennon’s key changes and inspired “War is Over” counter melody were masterful additions that took the song to another level. Another nice touch is the whispered introduction aimed at John and Yoko’s children – “Happy Christmas Kyoko…Happy Christmas Julian.”

Several days after the release of the “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” single in the US, Lennon gave one of only a handful of 1970s concert performances when he appeared at the Sinclair Freedom Rally at Chrysler Hall in Ann Arbor, Michigan to protest the marijuana conviction of Detroit poet and activist, John Sinclair. Sinclair was released three days later. Meanwhile, the song and album “Imagine” were about to take the charts by storm on both sides of the Atlantic.

John Lennon – “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”

“Happy Xmas (War is Over)” was voted number one in Rolling Stone magazine’s recent readers poll of the best Christmas songs of all time.

Authorship

John Lennon and Yoko Ono wrote the music and lyrics for “Happy Xmas (War is Over).”

Recording date/location

“Happy Xmas (War is Over)” was recorded on October 28, 1971 at the Record Plant East in New York City. The children of the Harlem Community Choir sang their part two days later.

Musicians

The following musicians appeared on “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”:

• John Lennon – lead vocals
• Yoko Ono – backing vocals
• Harlem Community Choir – backing vocals
• May Pang – backing vocals
• Hugh McCracken – guitar
• Chris Osborn – guitar
• Teddy Irwin – guitar
• Stuart Scharf – guitar
• Nicky Hopkins, Yoko Ono – Keyboards, chimes and glockenspiel
• Jim Keltner – drums and sleigh bells.

One of the guitarists also played bass in Klaus Voormann’s absence, but it’s not known which.

Nicky Hopkins and Jim Keltner had both also played on the “Imagine” album which was recorded earlier in the year at Lennon’s home in Ascot, England.

Here’s John and Yoko taking the children of the Harlem Community Choir through the lyrics of the song on October 31, 1971:

Photo credit – Yoko Ono’s Flickr photostream

Chart performance

“Happy Xmas (War is Over)” was released on December 6, 1971 in the US, but made no chart impact at all. It seems that by the time people were aware of the song, the Christmas period was already over. It was also competing with the single “Imagine” which was in the Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten.

The single was held back in the UK until the following November and reached number four on the UK singles chart in December 1972. It also made number two on the UK singles chart in December 1980 when it was reissued following Lennon’s tragic death.

Other notable versions

Melissa Etheridge – “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”

Melissa Etheridge released a heartfelt live version of “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” on single in 1994. Etheridge is faithful to the original arrangement, and it’s a performance that builds in intensity until segueing into Lennon’s other peace anthem “Give Peace a Chance.”

The Three Tenors – “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”

By way of contrast, we come to the three tenors’ operatic cover of “Merry Xmas (War is Over) from their 1999 Christmas Concert in Vienna. The dramatic orchestration works well and the vocals are inevitably powerful and perfectly in tune, but its hard to escape the feeling that the song is better suited to a less formal approach.

There will be a new Song of the Week on December 26.

John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” is available on the 2010 compilation “Power to the People – The Hits” which is also available in a deluxe edition with a bonus DVD.

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The letter, dated 12 August, 1960, was written by McCartney in response to a notice placed by the drummer in the Liverpool Echo. McCartney was inviting the drummer to audition for the then unknown Beatles, noting that he must be available for a trip to Hamburg, expenses paid £18 per week (approx.), for 2 months.

The Beatles left for Hamburg with drummer Pete Best a few days after the letter was written, and this is the first evidence that they considered a drummer other than Best for the Hamburg gigs.

Image credit: Christies Auction House

Neil Roberts, of Christie’s, told the BBC:

The letter was one of 215 lots in Christie’s “Pop Culture: Rock and Pop Memorabilia” auction. The item that attracted the highest bid was a hand-written placard written by John Lennon to display at the Montreal Bed-In for Peace in 1969. The placard sold for £97,250 ($155,892).

Image credit: Christies Auction House

Other high selling items included the guitar Pete Townshend played at Live Aid in 1985 (£34,850/$55,865), 35mm black and white transparencies of John Lennon and Yoko Ono taken in Paris in March, 1969 (£30,000/$48,090), and a flamboyant cropped jacket worn by Marc Bolan on stage between 1975 and 1977 (£3,750/$6,011).

Jackson was unhappy with the finished documentary and so decided not to release it, but he did give a VHS copy to his chauffeur as a bonus. It is this copy that is being sold and the lot does not come with distribution rights.

Fame Bureau’s CEO, Ted Owen, told The Independent:

Other highlights of the unusually named “Rock ‘n’ Roll & Holy Soles” auction include:

• Elvis Presley’s Alden solid body copper/bronze finish guitar that he used while in the army. This comes complete with its original valve amplifier and lead
• Roger McGuinn’s Regal 12-string acoustic guitar. This was the first 12-string that McGuinn ever owned
• Frank Zappa’s customised 1952/53 Les Paul Goldtop Guitar, which he used during the early to mid 1960s on stage and in the studio
• an original 1966 Hofner left-handed violin bass gitar used by Paul McCartney in 2002
• the Rolling Stones Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus photo archive with copyright
• a Fender Duo-Sonic guitar played by John Lennon in the 1970s.

Click here to view all the lots in the auction.

For those whose budget doesn’t stretch to £4 million there is a new Michael Jackson documentary out this month titled “Michael Jackson – The Life of an Icon.”

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* – the UK edition is a Blu-ray/DVD combo

Here’s the top 10:

1. Keith Richards
2. Pete Townshend
3. Jimmy Page
4. Malcolm Young
5. Dave Mustaine
6. Kaki King
7. Johnny Ramone
8. John Lennon
9. Ed O’Brien
10. Chuck Berry.

For the reasoning behind the selections, go to Gibson.com

Do you agree with Gibson’s top 10 and, if not, who should have been included?

“Not a bad song, we don’t need it” was reportedly how the Drifters’ manager, George Treadwell, declined Ben E. King’s offer for the group to record “Stand By Me.” King was no longer a member of the Drifters, but pitched the song to them because he thought they would suit the material. Treadwell’s decision was bad news for the group, but a stroke of luck for King who would have a career-defining hit with the song.

This was a period of uncertainty for King, who had left the Drifters over a contract dispute several months earlier. He’d sang with the group for one year, under the name Benjamin Nelson, and featured on ten tracks, including classics such as “Save the Last Dance for Me” and “There Goes My Baby.” Now it was time for the newly named Ben E. King to make a bid for solo success. It wouldn’t take him long.

“Stand By Me” re-interprets the gospel standard “Lord, Stand By Me,” with secular lyrics and a stronger pop melody. In 2005, King told the BBC:

Perhaps the most important component of “Stand By Me” – that which elevates it from a good record to a classic record – is the bass line that introduces the song and runs throughout. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most effective and this is a good example of that. The bass line is so catchy and memorable that it is hard to imagine a time when it didn’t exist.

The brilliant use of strings must also be mentioned. Stan Applebaum’s lush string arrangement borrows from his own work on the 1959 Drifters’ single “There Goes My Baby,” which was another song co-written by King. Both also share Ben E. King’s confident, distinctive vocals of course.

“Stand By Me” was recorded at the same session that produced the classic single “Spanish Harlem.” The precise circumstances surrounding the recording are difficult to pin down. King suggests that the whole thing was very spontaneous, with the arrangement worked out quickly at the end of the session in order to make use of spare studio time. In the book “Hound Dog: The Leiber & Stoller Autobiography,” producer Mike Stoller has a different recollection. He remembers that the three had already worked on the composition in their office and that he had come up with the classic bass line on piano at this stage. Whatever version is closest to the truth, a combination of great production and fine musicianship culminated in one of the most accomplished pop recordings of the decade.

The song was given a new lease of life in 1986 when it was re-released on single after feauturing as the title track of the hit movie of the same name. Here’s the official music video for the single.

Ben E. King – “Stand By Me”

“Stand by Me” is one of four songs featuring Ben E. King to receive a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. The others were “There Goes My Baby,” “Spanish Harlem” and “Save The Last Dance For Me.”

Authorship

Ben E. King shared songwriting credits on “Stand By Me” with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who played a huge role in transforming his original idea into a great hit.

Recording date/location

“Stand By Me” was recorded on October 27, 1960 at Atlantic Studios, New York City.

Musicians

The following musicians appeared on “Stand By Me”:

• Ben E. King – vocals
• Ernie Hayes – piano
• Al Caiola – guitar
• Charles McCracken – guitar
• Lloyd Trotman – bass
• Gary Chester – drums
• Phil Kraus – percussion (guiro)
• Elise Bretton, Lillian Clark, Myriam Workman – backing vocals
• Romeo Penque – reeds.

The anonymous string players were arranged by Stan Applebaum.

It is Phil Kraus’ guiro that produces the unusual scraping sound heard during the introduction.

Chart performance

“Stand By Me” reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart.

The song peaked at number 27 in the UK, but topped the charts when re-released in 1987 following its appearance in a Levis commercial and as the title track of the “Stand By Me” movie.

Covers

John Lennon – “Stand By Me”

John Lennon included “Stand By Me” on his 1975 album “Rock ‘n’ Roll.” This has a heavier arrangement than the original, which works well, with appealing acoustic rhythm guitar work and a great slide guitar break replacing the familiar strings.

Aaron Neville – “Stand By Me”

Aaron Neville recorded a very mellow version of the track for his 2006 album “Bring It on Home: The Soul Classics.” The cover is notable for Neville’s rich vibrato and some great keyboard work.

Lady Gaga – “Stand By Me”

The timeless appeal of “Stand By Me” is highlighted by its recent inclusion in the live set of Lady Gaga. She performed the song with Sting at the Almay Concert at Carnegie Hall in May 2010 and then featured it in several shows in the second leg of The Monster Ball Tour. This is a coventional, piano-led interpretation of the song, with no theatrics.

There will be a new Song of the Week on August 22.

Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” is available on a number of CD compilations, including “The Very Best of Ben E. King.”

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John Lennon purchased the Gibson J-160 E Sunburst acoustic-electric guitar in 1967 and used it throughout the following year, including during the Beatles’ expedition to Rishikesh, India. Lennon gifted the guitar to Bob Dylan around Christmas 1968 and Dylan used the guitar for recording and on tour for many years.

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After Lennon died, Dylan reportedly became superstitious about owning the guitar and so gave it to guitar technician César Diáz.

The Gibson J-160 E was a model that John Lennon had used for years. His first J-160 E was ordered from America in September 1962 and arrived just in time for him to play it on the session that produced “Love Me Do,” “Please Please Me” and “P.S. I Love You.” Gibson recognised Lennon’s long association with the guitar last year when they released three special J-160 E models to mark the seventieth anniversary of his birth.

The guitar is expected to fetch around $200,000.

Also featured in the sale is a four-page letter that Elvis wrote to his girlfriend Anita Wood in 1958. The letter was written six weeks after Elvis arrived in Germany, where he was stationed for his military service. Elvis was not a regular letter writer and so genuine examples are very hard to come by. This is an exceptional lot.

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The letter is expected to sell for around $60,000.

Another exciting Elvis lot is a Martin 00-21 acoustic guitar used by the star on stage in the early part of his career. It was later gifted to Hawaii Five-O star Jack Lord.

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The guitar is expected to fetch around $75,000.

Heritage Auctions will put these items under the hammer on July 29 as part of their Music and Entertainment auction in Dallas, Texas. Click here for further information.

“Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds” was recorded on 1 March 1967 at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios, London. It was a highlight of the Beatles’ legendary “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album, released in June of the same year.

There have always been suspicions that the phrase “Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds” was a reference to the drug LSD, particularly given the unusual lyrics and experimental instrumentation. Lennon always denied this, claiming that his son Julian had come up with the phrase when explaining a drawing he had done of a school friend called Lucy.

Also on sale is a draft of a letter sent from John Lennon to Paul and Linda McCartney following the break up of the Beatles. This was written in the period when the relationship between Lennon and McCartney was very strained and the contents of the letter make that very clear.

Click image to enlarge

The letter is expected to sell for up to $60,000 (£36,800).

These are two of 1,633 lots featured in the Hollywood Memorabilia Auction 44, by the Profiles in History auction house. Other highlights include:

The Profiles in History auction takes place on May 14-15 at the Saban Theater, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and Bob Dylan are among the artists featured on a charity album titled “Songs for Japan.”

Profits from the album will benefit the victims of the devastating earthquakes and tsunami.

The full tracklist is as follows:

1. John Lennon – “Imagine” (remastered)
2. U2 – “Walk On”
3. Bob Dylan – “Shelter From the Storm”
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Around the World” (live)
5. Lady Gaga – “Born This Way” (Starsmith remix)
6. Beyonce – “Irreplaceable”
7. Bruno Mars – “Talking to the Moon” (acoustic piano version)
8. Katy Perry – “Firework”
9. Rihanna – “Only Girl (In The World)”
10. Justin Timberlake – “Like I Love You”
11. Madonna – “Miles Away” (live)
12. David Guetta – “When Love Takes Over” (featuring Kelly Rowland)
13. Eminem – “Love The Way You Lie” (featuring Rihanna)
14. Bruce Springsteen – “Human Touch”
15. Josh Groban – “Awake” (live)
16. Keith Urban – “Better Life”
17. The Black Eyed Peas – “One Tribe”
18. P!nk – “Sober”
19. Cee Lo Green – “It”s OK”
20. Lady Antebellum – “I Run to You”
21. Bon Jovi – “What Do You Got?”
22. Foo Fighters – “My Hero”
23. REM – “Man On The Moon” (live)
24. Nicki Minaj – “Save Me”
25. Sade – “By Your Side”
26. Michael Buble – “Hold On (radio mix)”
27. Justin Bieber – “Pray” (acoustic)
28. Adele – “Make You Feel My Love”
29. Enya – “If I Could Be Where You Are”
30. Elton John – “Don”t Let the Sun Go Down On Me”
31. John Mayer – “Waiting On the World to Change”
32. Queen – “Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)”
33. Kings of Leon – “Use Somebody”
34. Sting, Steven Mercurio & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – “Fragile” (live in Berlin)
35. Leona Lewis – “Better In Time”
36. Ne-Yo – “One In a Million”
37. Shakira – “Whenever Wherever”
38. Norah Jones – “Sunrise.”

“Songs for Japan” is available for download now on iTunes and will be released on CD on April 4 in the UK and April 5 in the US. You can purchase it from:

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The footage was uploaded to YouTube by user mommamaxx who had filmed parts of the concert on Super 8 when he was 18-years-old.

Lennon’s guest appearance at Elton John’s November 28, 1974 Thanksgiving concert at Madison Square Garden came about because Lennon had promised that he would join the singer on stage if the song “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night” reached number one. The pair sang that song, as well as “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “I Saw Her Standing There.”

The footage lasts 5 mins 32 secs and Lennon appears from 3 mins 42 secs onwards. Unfortunately it doesn’t contain audio from the concert.

Original uncut footage

Not suprisingly, a creative fan has already synched the concert audio with the part of the video that features Lennon, but it is a little disjointed as the footage does not contain a complete performance.

Clips of “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night” and “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds”

YouTube user UnreleasedBeatlesHQ has produced a more watchable video of the pair duetting on “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night” by synching the original concert audio with the newly discovered footage and clips from a tv movie with an actor playing John.

Elton John & John Lennon – “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night”

Thanks must go out to the original uploader for sharing the footage after all these years.