Come Together Over Me: Apple, Beatles, and iTunes

Sept. 9, 2009 (09/09/2009) will be both Beatles Day and iTunes/iPod Day as Apple rolls out new features for iPods (including cameras), a new version of iTunes (with support for Blu-ray DVDs), and, according to rumors, an album format for the iTunes Store that takes full advantage of the Beatles’ album graphics, lyrics, and liner notes. On the same day, Apple Corps (label for the Beatles) and Harmonix Music Systems (owned by MTV) will introduce The Beatles: Rock Band game for the XBox 360, Playstation 3, and Wii.

For the complete story, see my entry Apple and Beatles Come Together Over iTunes on my blog Bove’s Blips.

The Musician’s iPhone and iPod touch

The iPhone or iPod touch is a potent platform for producing music that is capable of entertaining a stadium full of fans. There is no substitute for hands-on use, and musicians are especially adept at getting their hands onto something and using it.

See my roundup of iPhone/iPod touch apps for musicians in “In Search of the Lost Chord: The Musician’s iPhone and iPod touch” (in my blog, Bove’s Blips).

Beatles Mystery Track “Carnival of Light”

The Beatles’ mystery track “Carnival of Light” may finally see the light of distribution. The BBC reports that Sir Paul McCartney has confirmed that the 14-minute track exists and says he wants the public to hear it.

I have a pretty good collection of Beatles outtakes, though not extensive as those collected by music industry professionals and friends and associates of the Fab Four, and this track is not in the many hours of rare, unreleased gems. The discovery that this track exists leaves only one more mystery track that has appeared only on some bootlegs of outtakes, called “Peace of Mind (Candle Burns).”

For the complete story, see my entry And Tonight, “Carnival of Light” is Topping the Bill! on my blog Bove’s Blips.

Voice Search, Movie Ads and the Mystery Chord

New topics on my blog, Bove’s Blips:

“The Magical Mystery Chord” — You all know it when you hear it: the most famous chord in rock that reverberates on George Harrison’s 12-string Rickenbacker: the opening of “A Hard Day’s Night”. A mathematician has figured out the exact formula.

“All I Need is the Air that I Breathe” — Google has added sophisticated voice recognition technology to the company’s iPhone search software. You can speak into the iPhone rather than type with the iPhone’s keyboard, and Google will search for relevant info.

“iPhone Ad Apps — Shaken Not Stirred” — Hollywood studios are using free apps on the iPhone to promote movies. Bands are also getting in the act, though not in an innovative way (yet). All this stuff proves that the iPhone has shaken up, not just stirred up, the content industry.

New podcast episode of music from the Flying Other Brothers!

TBone Outtakes Remakes and Rare Breaks, hosted by Tony Bove and Rockument, includes a studio recording produced by T Bone Burnett and live gems from past shows featuring G.E. Smith, Country Joe, and Bob Weir. In some ways it is a career rectrospective, highlighting band configurations going back to 2002, and featuring some of our favorite special guests.

Song list:

1. Take a Drive – studio outtake (T. Bove, B. Keely) produced by T Bone Burnett

2. Let’s Get Together (Powers) with G.E. Smith

3. Ohio (Young) with G.E. Smith

4. Sugaree (Garcia, Hunter) with G.E. Smith

5. King Harvest (J.R. Robertson) with G.E. Smith

6. Rockin’ Around the World (McDonald) with Country Joe

7. Playing in the Band-Other Miles Jam (Weir, Hunter, FOBs) with Bob Weir

8. The Main Ten-Uncle John’s Reprise-Playing in the Band Reprise (Hart, Weir, Hunter, Garcia) with Bob Weir

Read about and download this free podcast now!

Free song download from the Flying Other Brothers!

“Take a Drive” by the Flying Other Brothers, written by Tony Bove and Bert Keely, was recorded at Village Recorders in Santa Monica on Aug. 5-7, 2006, with T Bone Burnett at the controls, in preparation for a studio album that has not yet been released. Published by Fobros Music Publishing (ASCAP). Produced by T Bone Burnett, Roger McNamee, and the Flying Other Brothers. 

Download this tune now!

iTunes Plus: Paul is the Walrus

The new iTunes Plus portion of the online iTunes Store is now available, offering higher-priced, higher-quality, DRM-free songs and albums you can play on any device and copy endlessly. These tunes are from EMI, as reported in my blog previously.

As of one day after it was announced, boomers rule. Of the top 25 songs, 15 are from boomer artists such as and (12 are by !). The #1 album is Pink Floyd’s and Paul’s is #3; conspicuously absent are Beatles albums but that seems only temporary. Where is all the new music? It is certainly hyped on the front page of iTunes Plus but it has to compete with the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and even Frank Sinatra.

Check out the entire report at “iTunes Plus: Paul is Not Dead” on my blog, iTimes.

What’s the New Mary Jane?

She catch Patagonian pancakes
With that one and gin party makes
She having all the ways good contacts
She making with Apple and contract.
What a shame Mary Jane had a pain at the party!
– Beatles, “What’s the New Mary Jane” (Lennon/McCartney), one of the missing Beatles songs released in the Anthology series.

I started writing something like a Web diary way back in 1996, before the blogosphere existed, titled What’s the New Mary Jane. The last “blog entry” in Sept. 2003 told about how my band, the Flying Other Brothers, had started a mini-tour. Like Bob Dylan’s infamous Never Ending Tour (which lasted at least five years, give or take a year), our tour seems like it will never stop; unlike Bob’s tour, ours did not sell out venues and generate cash rewards. Like touring, blogging can also seem like an endless chore with no return. I suffered Blog Depression way back in 1997, and posted less and less over time until I gave it up entirely.

Until now. Welcome back, Maryjane. What’s new?

The Rockument podcast, produced by yours truly, are free shows devoted to rock music history. Each show includes information about each song and its musicians, with links to artist, fan, and historical sites, and links to music for purchase on Amazon.com or iTunes.

The Flying Other Brothers podcast, hosted by yours truly, are free shows from our tours. Also visit the Flying Other Brothers home page for info about our tours.

To support my book, Microsoft: Just Say No (No Starch Press) I started Get Off Microsoft, which offers a topic-specific blog about getting off Microsoft, and links to information, alternative software, and resources.

To get my other books — including iPod and iTunes for Dummies — see my personal site at tonybove.com.

This is my personal blog, a continuation of What’s the New Mary Jane. I promise to not waste your time. I’ll write only about things that interest me, or piss me off.