Lennon didn't use the phrase "deep tracks", but his point was entirely valid. It might be a bit different today, with such easy, unlimited access to all music at any given moment, but I've still noticed - 50 years on - that when discussions are held about the Beatles' big contribution (to say the least) to popular music, songs like "Why Don't We Do it in the Road?", among others, still don't immediately get brought up, even though they should. "I Want to Hold Your Hand", "Hard Days Night", "Eleanor Rigby", "Magical Mystery Tour", they're great, bona fide classics, more than deserving of being featured in Beatles weekends, retrospectives and anthologies. But the Beatles are "The Beatles" for a reason; even their throwaways can hardly be considered throwaways. Their individual and collective musical talent made them masters at the manufacture of deep tracks. Every one of their albums has at least one or two, or more, hidden gems, and any Beatles fan will likely agree that the White Album could be considered a whole collection of brilliant deep tracks, not to mention the B side of Abbey Road. And of course, there's Sgt. Pepper...
I've always considered "Why Don't We Do it in the Road?", from the White Album, the quintessential deep track, and, as it must be recognized that in spite of the "Lennon-McCartney" label, they generally wrote their own music (this was no more true than on the White Album) - empirical evidence of Paul McCartney's astonishing artistic range. Think about it: the same guy who wrote and sang "Yesterday" also gave us this infectious, funny and sexy 1:41. Inspired by the sight of two monkeys copulating on a road when the Beatles were visiting the Maharishi in India, it's just fun to listen to. One of those songs you almost don't realize how good it is for all its simplicity. There's no takeaway here, no message, no changing the world, no coming together, it's more or less just a novelty song that happens to be superbly rendered. Not their greatest, but arguably one of their best.
There is a lighter (read: less infectious, funny and sexy) acoustic version that McCartney recorded by himself as he was working it through, which was included on Anthology 3. It's okay, because again, even the Beatles' throwaways are pretty damn good. But naw...there's only one version of this I ever want to hear:
"No one will be watching us..."
#300) "At this Moment (Live)" by Billy Vera and the Beaters - Really just one word is needed to describe this performance: "Effortless". There are a lot of good singers in the world, giving memorable performances, but what's notable here is how easy Billy Vera makes it look. He's feeling it for sure, but never has to concentrate too much. Never a need to bob his head and conduct himself toward perfect pitch with pinched fingers...he's just singing, and always - always - on top of - and out in front of - the next note, while more or less just standing there. His weeping falsetto is moving. The saxophone is monster. The song, overall (if you really sit and listen to what is going on), spellbindingly heartbreaking. Funny, I've always liked the song, but never felt it before the way I do now. Must be my age. ;-)
"If you'd stay I'd subtract twenty years from my life..."
