One of the most frequently asked questions in life is “What are you doing?”
When answering this question, it is essential to know how to reply. Giving the correct response can help build trust and credibility with your listener.
Thankfully, there are multiple answers to this question and each offers you an opportunity to showcase your value in a new light.
The Beatles
Throughout their tenure together, The Beatles achieved many notable things. They recorded songs, performed at concerts and toured around the world; becoming one of music’s most beloved groups in history. They achieved such widespread fame due to their success that many considered them one of history’s greatest acts.
Even with their success, The Beatles still had to face personal struggles such as drug addiction and marriage. Rumors swirled that John Lennon had been cheating on his wife Yoko Ono while on tour, leading some to speculate that there wasn’t always harmony within the group.
They often disagreed over their careers and had disagreements with producer George Martin. Ultimately, Paul McCartney attempted to push his solo album back in the line-up, forcing Ringo Starr into exile.
During this period, the band released several singles from their debut LP Please Please Me, including “Chains,” from Please Please Me and “Boys,” written by Ringo for girl group The Shirelles. Furthermore, they made multiple appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Capitol Records
In 1942, Johnny Mercer and Buddy DeSylva joined forces to found Capitol Records – the first notable West Coast record label. With Wallichs as their partner, the duo envisioned creating a music-focused empire that could compete against Manhattan’s three Big Three of recording: Columbia, Decca, and RCA Victor.
Capitol Records produced some of the greatest recordings of the 20th and 21st centuries, which TASCHEN commemorates with this official account of their label, featuring a foreword by Beck and hundreds of images from Capitol Record archives.
Capitol Records was a worldwide recording company with offices throughout the United States and Europe, as well as being an importer of music. Its headquarters were in the iconic Capitol Tower, designed by Welton Becket & Associates as the world’s first circular office tower.
In 1956, the Capitol record label completed construction of their iconic tower. Housing recording studios, data processing facilities, photographic facilities for album covers and a global headquarters were all housed within its walls.
The Capitol Record Tower, a 13-story tower that stood as an iconic corporate landmark for Capitol Records, marked a new chapter in their identity. Its distinctive design was inspired by the circle of a bell.
The Original Master Recording
When you hear a song on the radio or see it in a film, it is due to a master recording. That master is the only physical representation of what that band or artist did at that particular moment in history – captured on tape in their studio.
Music masters are the only way to preserve a piece of music history and get the highest quality sound. That is why record labels and production houses often require the rights to take masters from songs, so that they can resell them on TV, in films, and commercial advertisements.
However, it’s essential to remember that these rights can only be granted if the original master tapes are still accessible. Finding good tapes that haven’t oxidized or been damaged can be challenging.
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL) has the expertise to take advantage of the highest-quality sources and extract the maximum sound quality out of master tapes through their half-speed mastering process.
In 1978, when Mastering Pink Floyd’s album Dark Side of the Moon was done, they used an original master tape and then cut a disc lacquer disc for more accurate transfer of musical data resulting in an amazing LP.
In 1980, Original Master Recording began releasing limited-edition High Fidelity Cassettes. These premium cassettes were recorded on BASF PRO II Chromium Dioxide tape which helped eliminate jamming and head wear while still providing accurate tracking.
For MFSL, this meant producing only limited numbers of copies at a time – the result of an exacting reproduction process designed to give listeners the most authentic and superior sounding representation of the music they loved.
The Playtapes
Playtapes were an innovative format from the mid 1960s. Similar to 8-track tapes but in miniature form, these discs played continuously on a loop and could be taken anywhere with you. Plus, these portable devices came in various models for ease of transporting them.
Tapes were similar to 8-track cartridges, but had two sections each lasting a few songs. Although they had a maximum playing time of 24 minutes, most were shorter. Popular from 1966-1968, these tapes featured some of pop music’s biggest names including The Beatles.
Children were the primary market for these players, though they also offered them for cars as part of Volkswagen’s “Sapphire” line. Available both with and without AM radio capabilities, these players could be added to VWs with or without an AM radio.
PlayTapes were more portable than 8-track or 4-track tapes because they used narrower 1/8″ tape instead of the standard 1/4″, were shorter in duration than 8 tracks, yet still had a good playing time.
It’s no shock that these small cartridges were so popular in 1967 and 1968, as they offered the convenience of listening to your favorite music wherever life took you! Plus, they were very affordable – a case and tape only costed a dollar or two!
The Box Set
Box Set is the project of Jim Brunberg and Jeff Pehrson, two guitarists-singers-composers based out of Los Angeles’ Sunset District who began performing five years ago. This year they released their debut CD on Box Set label and last week at Sweetwater they gave an enthralling performance that left audiences wanting more.
The music of Black Keys is both commercial and challenging – with lyrics that are lyrically insightful. They manage to balance a slick, rock sound with tough political and social commentary in their lyrics.
Pehrson and Brunberg both sing lead, their vocal harmonies being unsurpassedably creative and captivating. While some might recall David Crosby-Graham Nash vocal teams from the 1960s, Box Set stands head and shoulders above them with its captivating diction and captivating melodies.
Their compositions are deeply rooted in American music, yet highly inventive. This fusion produces an enchanting sound that, with the exception of their cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Hush,” is entirely original.
They draw inspiration from jazz, folk and even blues music. Their arrangements are diverse and intricate, featuring virtuosic guitar work often complemented by organ, trumpet or harmonica.