Category Archives: years after the event

magic christian

Posted on January 16, 2013 | 2 comments

Raquel Welch in Magic Christian. Jack McGrath. 1969.

Peter Sellers and Ringo in Magic Christian.

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Posted in cinema, context, years after the event

a hard day’s night

Posted on December 26, 2012 | 1 comment

Wilfrid Brambell and Ringo in A Hard Day’s Night. Richard Lester. 1964.

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Posted in cinema, context, music, years after the event

ravi shankar is dead

Posted on December 12, 2012 | Leave a comment

Ravi Shankar

Sitar master and long-term George Harrison collaborator Ravi Shankar, who brought “world music” to the 1960s rock festival circuit, died yesterday at age 92. Here’s an obit.

Ravi in India

In India. Photo by George Harrison. 1966.

Dark Horse Ravi

Ravi goes Hollywood: with Peter Sellers and George Harrison during the Dark Horse Tour. 1974.

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Posted in apple records, context, music, we are the dead, years after the event

the word ‘wild’ applies…

Posted on November 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

We’re starting a new occasional feature today wherein guest writers contribute appreciations of Paul McCartney’s second, less loved band, Wings. First up, Jess Rotter on the song Wild Life from Wings’ first album.

Wings – “Wild Life” by Jess Rotter

“You’re moving so fast, but baby you know not where..”

Ahh the half-glassed glory of 1971’s “Wild Life” – the last song (track 4) on side one of Wing’s Wild Life record questioning, essentially, just what the hell happened? While people argued the lighter direction of this record to be a bit of a burn, that is not to be said about this whopper title ballad which has been a repeat staple of Rotter corner for years. It’s the great blues-filled shoulder shrug riff that transports you to the end of a seedy bar while the gorgeous starlit chorus soars around the room; almost as if the full Muppet cast is singing around you “Benny and the Jets” style. But besides the puppet glimpses, “Wild Life” can be super gutting. It wasn’t until my late 20’s when my dad’s copy of this record began to surface/hit home so hard like a cliff hanger..a ponder jam: what comes next…? As Paul says: “What’s gonna happen to?”

I have written about this song many times through the years on my Rotter and Friends blog – it’s a sincere personal totem and has provided many a booze-filled soundtrack to my artwork and heartbreaks. Here’s hoping…it inspires you too.

NYC-based master of poppy psyche scribble Jess Rotter paints and draws
trippy worlds that have been exhibited in galleries and boutiques in
New York City, Los Angeles, Marfa, and Tokyo. Her whimsical,
hand-drawn illustrations have appeared on album + book covers, wood
burns, stickers, and limited edition musical T-shirt label, Rotter and
Friends (www.rotterandfriends.com).

www.jessrotter.com
instagram: @rotterandfriends

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Posted in context, Macca, music, years after the event

on your sleeve

Posted on October 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

Magic Christian Soundtrack. 1969.

Spanish edition.

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Posted in cinema, context, music, on your sleeve, years after the event

on your sleeve

Posted on September 20, 2012 | 2 comments

Wedding Album. John Lennon and Yoko Ono. 1969.

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Posted in apple records, context, cute couple alert, music, years after the event

cute couple alert

Posted on September 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

Shelley Duvall and Ringo Starr.

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Posted in cinema, context, cute couple alert, music, years after the event

spector

Posted on August 21, 2012 | Leave a comment

Phil Spector on Pan Am flight 101 by George Harrison. 1964.

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Posted in arrivals and departures, context, music, years after the event

press conference

Posted on August 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

Ringo and Harry sell the latest Apple Films masterpiece, Son of Dracula. This photo might have been taken at the film’s Atlanta premiere but I can’t find any evidence that Nilsson even bothered to turn up for that coming as it did 2 years after production on the film wrapped. Not helping matters is that Harry seemed to really like the denim on denim look so nearly all photos of him from around this time look as though they were taken on the same day. So then, possibly April 1974.

Photo credit.

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Posted in apple records, booze, cinema, context, press conference, years after the event