David Hersrud provides the following notes to accompany the podcast.
It’s been 54 years since the Beatles and the Rolling Stones released new music in the same year and yet, surprisingly enough, here we are.
The Rolling Stones: "Hackney Diamonds"
This album includes two songs with their late drummer, Charlie Watts. It also includes guest appearances by Elton John, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga and former bassist Bill Wyman.
Reviews have been about what one would expect. The establishment press likes it. The newer publications tend not to; their comments border on ageism.
The Stones have made incredible gospel blues songs like “Wild Horses" and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want." “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” is a new addition to that list.
Plus, there's an hour-long documentary “The Stones: Still Rolling” on the making of the album.
The Beatles: "Now and Then"
Yoko Ono gave the song "Now and Then" to Paul, George and Ringo along with two other songs in the '90s, but the band couldn’t make it work and it remained unfinished.
On its release, one writer ended his article on the parade of remixes and reissues with “rest assured, Beatles revivals will outlive us all.”
