So it really does exist. The 14-minute "Carnival of Light" track, long the stuff of Beatles legend, will finally see the light of day, according to Paul McCartney, who says he’s always been fond of the experimental noodling "because it’s the Beatles free, going off piste." The track is said to feature distorted electric guitars, discordant sound effects, a church organ, and gargling sounds, as well as McCartney and John Lennon screaming phrases like "Barcelona" and "Are you all right?"
McCartney says the Beatles didn’t release the track when they recorded it in 1967 because its avant-garde experimentation, described as inspired by musique concrète composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, was too adventurous for mainstream audiences at the time. It certainly sounds adventurous enough, but I have to wonder if the real reason is that it’s simply not that good, another failed attempt at translating a sublime acid trip to art. For one, the Beatles included "Revolution No. 9," another long experimental track inspired by Stockhausen, on the White Album just one year later, in 1968. And the Velvet Underground’s White Light White Heat was pretty out-there back in 1968. Then Lou Reed took his former band’s craziness a step further with 1975’s Metal Machine Music, which was so experimental people at the time thought it had to be a joke. Seems to me we were "ready" for Beatles’ experimentation long before now, and seeing as we’ve heard just about everything they’ve pressed to vinyl over the past 40-plus years, I worry that we’ll be disappointed with the release of the mythological "Carnival of Light." Of course, all that blather aside, I can’t wait to hear the damn thing. You?
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I am overly sick of the Beatles. They are milking the public for all they can.
Let’s have a CD with just “Carnival of Light” and the entire 26-minute “Helter Skelter” and we’re all good.
Ringo and George were being silly. I mean they have done experimental stuff before, ie: “You Know My Name”. Y.K.M.N” was really just a bunch of recordings put together by George Martin for fun.
Let me hear it. I’m a grownup and I’ll decide if it’s too “avante garde” or not. Heck, that’s what they said about the entire Revolver album…
I wanna hear it. When will it be released for us? you suck Sally
Sally in Chicago, will you marry me?
it’ll suck as much as Revolution #9, just six more minutes so. Paul is hell bent on proving HE was first with weird stuff, not John. sorry, but that ain’t gonna erase a career built on bubblegum like She Loves You, Hello, Goodbye and Let ‘em In. Paul would do just as well to remind people that John wrote his share of sappy crap, too. You’re Gonna Lose That Girl, O Yoko and Woman are unbearable.
Don’t blame all of the Beatles for this–blame Paul McCartney. Hasn’t he always been the “money-grubbing” person of the band?
Who are the beetles?
The track is interesting only from a historical perspective. It’s not like this is some great lost pop song which will rocket to the top of the charts if released as a single.
Can’t fault Paul for releasing it, though I’m no big fan of his. Can fault the people for buying it. If there wasn’t a market for it it wouldn’t be put out. Obviously there are many out there who would listen to (and buy) the sound of a Beatle farting.
To Sally in Chicago: You’re sick of the Beatles for overexposure? God forbid they take the spotlight from Britney Spears, Beyonce, Kanye West, Nicklecrap and countless other sellout, over-merchandised, less talented hacks. Are you stating a fact or an opinion? A fact would include statistics and evidence to back it up. Your statement should read “I narrow-mindedly think that they are milking the public for all they can”.
I bored of people like you.
You cannot conflate the Beatles and Velvet Underground. Few knew of “Sister Ray” or their other “out-there” tracks,in 1968! Hell, even today the worse selling Beatles release has far out-sold the best VU album. The Beatles were, and remain, a rock-n-roll band and as such demurred from straying too far from the mainstream in 1967. Sgt. Peppers is radical, perhaps even aberrant, but hardly avant garde. Everyone fought John to keep Revolution 9 off The Beatles (the so-called White Album), but the group was so fractured that John’s tenacity won out.
Anywho- let them release the track. It cannot be worse than Free as a Bird!
Oh please. Stop bitching and be happy there’s another song.
It probably wasn’t released because its crap. Only six years after this was recorded, Mike Oldfield released Tubular Bells which remains one of the most experimental things out there. Tubular Bells continues to sell because its good music, its not a drug-fueled experiment.
The Beatles weren’t good for anything except light pop. You just know this is gonna totally suck.
if its a beatle song we want to hear it!
Interesting how it comes out right after he has to pay a bunch of money to his ex-wife from there divorce. It’s probably crap, but he took a financial hit with her and wants recoup the loss.
I think it’s funny that people are “tired of the Beatles” but they still insist on reading articles about them and making comments. As John would say, if you don’t like it, bugger off! Leave the Beatles fans to enjoy in peace. As for the actual song, it’s probably not going to be the best thing ever, but like I care! I still can’t wait to hear it. Any true fan would feel the same.
Bands ARE afraid to release stuff they don’t feel is commercially viable and there are countless examples of “that one album” that stinks up whole discography’s. Thankfully with the “explosion” of indie music we now have many wonderful examples of innovative “post rock” that’s absolutely stunning and genius…. at least to the tiny percentage of people that can fully appreciate it. As a fan of this genre I really can’t wait to hear it.
Who cares? With the possible exception of Bob Dylan & Bruce Springsteen, the Beatles are history’s most overrated act. A big yawn. McCartney could sing a little, but by & large, the quartet vocally sucked & a fair amount of their songwriting was largely pretentious blather. I suspect this experiment in protracted cacophony will be much the same. The worst thing to ever happen to rock ‘n roll was when Brits in the 50s said, “Gimmie a guitah. Ah c’n sing rock ‘n roll.” Please! They don’t have the roots & their pathetic attempts reflect it. A woeful day, indeed, when these 4 took the stage. They should have stayed in Liverpool as a part-time garage band and spared us decades of airwave pollution. “Carnival of Light?” Likely, a corny carny piece of crap McCartney is peddling to offset alimony payments from a hideous marital choice. Let it remain hidden, the stuff of legend, rather than make us stuff our ears.
Even after 40 years there is still an
interest in the Beatles. I call that
musical legend. Whatever Carnival sounds
like it won’t matter to the diehart
fans and folks that love the Beatles.
Me, included.
John and Paul were the two witnesses – the ones that appear in The Bible at Revelation 11:3. Odds are this song wasn’t released when it was recorded because it did not support the period of prophecy.
Hey Pete Best, you sound a little jealous. Come on, man, it’s been over 40 years. Let it go.
The Beatles were the cutest best
boy band in the world. And they still
are. And they even played their instruments. They had harmonies like
singing angels and wrote beautiful
songs of love and joy. Long live the
4 Lads from Liverpool.
Hey Will, so what would you consider good music. You just ripped three of the greatest artists of all time, not to mention an entire country that produced not just the Beatles but also the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Kinks, and Led Zeppelin. I’m curious, just so I can determine how trollish you are.
It deserves a listen. Not every song can be genius so we’ll all know soon enough
So then, Will — if the Beatles are so overrated — who DO you regard with respect? I’d be curious.
Hey Sally, do you really think that John Lennon and George Harrison are “milking the public”? Do you believe in zombies?
No one is being forced to listen to it. Can you be forced?
I’m looking forward to it. Any artist has to generate a lot of work to have some gems. What’s most people on this blog done? Submitted their brilliant thoughts somewhere, to be ignored, forgotten or fawned over?