An Apple A Day

As the two regular readers know, I've been collecting all the Apple LPs released in the US for about three years now. Today marked the half-way point with the acquisition of Badfinger's Magic Christian Music and George Harrison's bizarre Electronic Music. In celebration, I'm going to return to a method that got me into minimalist writing- the one sentence review. I remember Bailey asking me to do it for Mora and that got me on a roll. I reduced Zappa's and Dylan's discography to two pages. So here's my one sentence reviews for all my Apples-

The Beatles, Spiniker's. Hyannis, MA.
This is the greatest work of pop art.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono- Unfinished Music #1: Two Virgins, Looney Tunes. Boston, MA.
Shit, I wanna do this the night I meet my soul mate.

James Taylor, Goodwill. Hyannis, MA.
Underneath all the hippie production, a beautiful songwriter is born.

Modern Jazz Quartet- Under the Jasmine Tree, In Your Ear. Allston, MA.
Too much finger cymbals, but moments of brilliance.

The Beatles- Yellow Submarine, Spinkier's. Hyannis, MA.
It's only a Northern Song.

Mary Hopkin- Post Card, Nuggets. Boston, MA.
Skip it and find the McCartney penned "Goodbye" 45.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono- Unfinished Music #2: Life with the Lions, Luke's. Pawtucket, RI.
Side one: Punk rock, Side Two: Fluxus, and need I say more?

George Harrison- Electronic Sound, The Record Exchange. Salem, MA.
Without a doubt the most bizarre LP in Beatledom.

The Beatles- Abbey Road, originally my Uncle John's.
Everything is called a masterpiece these days...but this really is one.

Badfinger- Magic Christian Music, The Record Exchange. Salem, MA.
It's missing the best early Badfinger/Iveys track, "And Her Daddy's a Millionaire."

The Beatles- Hey Jude, originally my Uncle John's.
Surprisingly awesome collection of oldies and newies that flows real well.

Paul McCartney- McCartney, Provincetown Boostore. Provincetown, MA.
Paulie did the whole 4-track tape in a farmhouse decades before it was cool.

The Beatles- Let It Be, originally my Mom's.
My favorite Beatle album to argue about and look for bootlegs.

John Tavener- The Whale, Luke's. Pawtucket, RI.
A surreal combination of orchestra, opera, and spoken word.

George Harrison- All Things Must Pass, Spiniker's. Hyannis, MA.
The best Beatle solo album.

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Wild Rufus. Belfast, ME.
Nothin' better than therapy through rock 'n' roll.

Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band, Wild Rufus. Belfast, ME.
Lennon was right when he said punk and post-punk ripped her off.

Paul and Linda McCartney- Ram, Goodwill. Hyannis, MA.
One of his best records sans Wings.

Radha Krshna Temple (London), Looney Tunes. Boston, MA.
Personal note: I got this record in the winter so it always reminds me of Christmas.

Badfinger- Straight Up, Looney Tunes. Boston, MA.
The birth of power-pop is in these grooves.

Mary Hopkin- Earth Song/Ocean Song, got on EBAY from some dude in CA.
Holy fuck, sorry I wrote you off after Post Card.

Phil Spector's Christmas Album, Instant Karma. Orleans, MA.
I love that one of the greatest rock 'n' roll albums ever is a Christmas album.

Ravi Shankar- In Concert 1972, Looney Tunes. Boston, MA.
Sadly all the ragas get interesting in the last three minutes.

The Beatles- 1962-1966, originally my drama teacher's, Mr. Bellamy.
The first band that hand picked their own greatest hits so you know it's amazing.

John Lennon- Imagine, gift from Mimi.
Half of it is so fucking angry and half of it is so fucking beautiful.

George Harrison- Living in a Material World, Spiniker's. Hyannis, MA.
It kicked McCartney off the Billboard #1 spot for a reason.

Ringo Starr- Ringo, originally my Uncle John's.
A little help from his friends goes a long way.

John Lennon- Walls and Bridges, originally my Uncle John's.
A mish-mash of tunes but worth it for "#9 Dream."

Ringo Starr- Goodnight Vienna, Cheap-o. Cambridge, MA.
His best album.

John Lennon- Rock 'n' Roll, Spiniker's. Hyannis, MA.
Worth it for the "Rip it Up/Ready Teddy" medley with the drum line you can set your fucking watch to.