To accompany the recent paperback release of his award-winning graphic novel The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story, writer Vivek J. Tiwary wanted to recognize a titan in American popular culture in a way Epstein would approve of: by sharing some music with ComicBook.com’s readers.
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Specifically, Tiwary has created a Spotify playlist featuring a more than a dozen cover songs, either by or of The Beatles, along with a set of liner notes and commentary to run alongside it.
Here’s Tiwary with more:
The playlist title might be a joke, but the concept of the cover song was no laughing matter to Beatles manager Brian Epstein, who Paul McCartney named “The Fifth Beatle.”
In 1961, Brian made two bold and visionary statements about the future, at a time when the Fab Four were just a middling Liverpool band rejected by every record company in the business. Brian insisted that under his management, “the Beatles are going to be bigger than Elvis!” and “the Beatles are going to elevate pop music into an art form!” He was laughed at for having such impossible dreams. And what does elevating pop music into an art form even mean?
In some ways, this playlist is what he meant.
Brian explained that “elevating pop music into an art form” meant, in part, that the Beatles would stand the test of time. He was certain that the Beatles would be remembered like the great classical and jazz composers—that their compositions would be loved and performed by other musicians long after the composers themselves were gone. After all, just think how many classical ensembles cover Beethoven!
Putting it another way—Brian Epstein foresaw lots of Beatles covers.
My award-winning graphic novel The Fifth Beatle recounts the untold story of Brian Epstein and how he fought for and realized his many visions and dreams for the Beatles. And now I’m hard at work writing TV scripts as we turn The Fifth Beatle into a TV event series—for which we’ve been honored to secure unprecedented rights to use Beatles songs!
As I prep the TV show’s music cues, I’m finding myself very immersed in Beatles’ songs—and not just the original versions, but the cover versions that Brian Epstein foresaw. Versions that add unexpected and wondrous new dimensions to already-great songs.
Take a listen to The Great Beatles Cover Up and allow me to explain, track by track.
1. WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS – Regina Spektor (covering the Beatles)
With no disrespect to the many artists who have covered this song, I have always thought “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was essentially “uncoverable.” How could you possibly add anything to the original version, written and sung by George Harrison with lead guitar by none other than Eric Clapton? The answer: with gorgeous female vocals not accompanied by a guitar at all, but by a Japanese samisen.
2. WORKING CLASS HERO – Green Day (covering John Lennon)
3. HELP! The Damned (covering The Beatles)
The original versions exude the attitude of punk rock. These cover versions simply sound like it, too.
4. ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN – The Beatles (covering Chuck Berry)
5. ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC – The Beatles (covering Chuck Berry)
6. TWIST AND SHOUT – The Beatles (covering The Isley Brothers)
In their earliest days, the Beatles played a lot of other people’s songs—covering their musical heroes faithfully, while still finding simple ways to make their versions unmistakably their own. These versions have a hard rock intensity that underscore what a powerful band the young Beatles were. Compare them to the original versions, and you’ll see why I think the Beatles can be considered punk rockers.
7. FOR NO ONE – Rickie Lee Jones (covering the Beatles)
A song about the end of a relationship, originally sung by Paul McCartney. Hearing these lyrics performed with a female lead vocal entirely shifts the perspective of understanding the song’s central relationship, and why it may have ended. Pay attention to they lyrics, and you’ll never hear the song the same way again.
8. SOMETHING – Paul McCartney (covering the Beatles… on ukulele)
What comes around goes around and comes back around again. Here a former Beatle (Paul) covers a classic Beatles song originally written and performed by a different former Beatle (George)… this time, on the ukulele. And this might be the original version after all. Paul has said that one of his fondest memories is of his “little Brother George” coming over to his house and plucking out “Something” for him on his dad’s ukulele.
9. GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE – Earth, Wind & Fire (covering the Beatles)
Full disclosure—I’ve never been a fan of Earth, Wind, and Fire. I grew up on punk rock. But this cover version… It’s like the song is daring me not to like it. C’mon, it says—I dare you not to smile! I dare you not to dance! Almost as if this version is how the song was always meant to be played. And yes, it gets this former punk rocker dancing.
10. DEAR PRUDENCE – Brad Mehldau (covering the Beatles)
Brian Epstein was a huge fan of Jazz, and he saw similarities between the Beatles and the great Jazz musicians. Here’s looking at you, Brian.
11. STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER – CandyFlip (covering the Beatles)
In some ways, I like CandyFlip’s “Strawberry Fields Forever” even better than the Beatles’ version. Perhaps it’s because this Manchester electronic pop trio covered the Beatles in the exactly the same way that the Beatles covered their own heroes (see my liner notes to TRACKS 4,5,6 above)— by staying faithful to the original recording, but adding performance textures to make the song undeniably their own. Moreover, CandyFlip’s synth beats move to the rhythm of Brian Epstein’s life as portrayed in my graphic novel The Fifth Beatle perfectly.
12. FLYING – Secret Machines (covering the Beatles)
13. TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS – Alison Mosshart and Carla Azar (covering the Beatles)
“Rubber Soul is a fine record and the boys are in an excellent place. But you haven’t seen anything yet.” – Brian Epstein in The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story – Expanded Edition (p. 91). Brian knew that the Beatles records Revolver and Magical Mystery Tour would reveal the sound of the future. These cover versions—recorded almost 50 years after the originals—still sound like oracles.
14. THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY – Ringo Starr (covering a Christmas carol)
Forget gold (records), frankincense, and myrrh. Baby Jesus digs a drum solo! And who better to deliver than former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr? I thought I’d close my covers playlist with the best example of a classic artist covering a classic song.
As Brian Epstein once said, the cover song is an age-old tradition that represents the achievement of true artistry.
I hope every time you hear a new Beatles cover, you’ll remember Brian’s tireless efforts of to prove to the world that the Beatles would elevate pop music into an art form.
Mission accomplished, Brian.
Vivek J. Tiwary
New York, 2016
About the Writer:
Vivek J. Tiwary is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story, a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer and the founder of Tiwary Entertainment Group. Tiwary is currently adapting The Fifth Beatle as a multi-part event series with Sonar Entertainment and will serve as executive producer. On Broadway, Tiwary’s productions have won a combined 25 Tony Awards over 44 Tony nominations—every single one of his shows has been decorated. They include such groundbreaking work as Green Day’s “American Idiot,” “A Raisin In The Sun,” and Mel Brooks’ “The Producers”. Tiwary is currently working with Alanis Morissette and Pulitzer and Tony Award-winner Tom Kitt to adapt Morissette’s breakthrough album “Jagged Little Pill” for Broadway. Tiwary’s illustrated Young Adult novel Asha Ascending (with art by the award-winning Sara Richard) is currently being serialized chapter-by-chapter free at AshaAscending.com.
