The Beatles "Love"

Ron gave me a CD, The Beatles "Love". He knows I love the Beatles, but neither of us knew the background of the CD. So I listened and was completely enthralled. I immediately recognized it was some sort of remix of original recordings and not simply other recordings of the Fab Four songs. Ron had listened first and he commented to me how impressed he was with the "transitions". I thought he was mocking me for an earlier statement I had made wherein I had told him how songs in albums are arranged according to key transitions. But when I then listened, I realized what he meant. Perhaps the loveliest would be Gnik Nus moving into Something. Just try not to get goosebumps.

We went to Las Vegas for a conference last weekend where Ron had to give a presentation. Our stay was so short, there was no time for shows, but I saw that my Beatles album is a Cirque de Soleil show at the Mirage hotel. One day I will see that show, though at over $100 per seat, I'd better start saving now.

Ron left a huge collection of CDs for me to listen to, but I keep going back to Love. It is amazing to hear the mix of bass from one tune with the melody of another -- so apparent to a fan like me who has dissected the Beatles' music and listens to all the individual instruments and voices. It starts out with Because in simple a cappella, showcasing the perfect pitch and harmony of the group. It continues from one tune to the next, with variations not only in the mix of two or more tunes, but adding pauses, or bringing up the volume to accentuate a certain part more.

I finally read the booklet that accompanied the album and learned the idea was conceived by George Harrison and his friend, Guy Laliberte, the founder of Cirque de Soleil and fellow racing fan with George. They selected former Beatles arranger George Martin to produce the music. He brought on board his son, Giles Martin. Apple decided from the start that the music would be only from original recordings. The one exception ended up being an arrangement for strings by George Martin for Harrison's While My Guitar Gently Weeps. And it is truly special, I miss George when I hear it.

The album was finished first and then the Cirque de Soleil acts were developed around it. It is a work of genius, taking those wonderful old Beatles songs and weaving something totally new, fresh and intriguing,