You read it here first... Paul says they will be releasing a song that has been rumored to exist, 40 years later... "Carnival of Light"

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/11/unreleased-beat.html

I'm stoked and can't wait to hear it...

haven't clicked the link yet, but wondering if the song title is what the band Ride named their (not very good and later lp) album Carnival of Light after.

of course i'm curious to hear the song . . .

Haven't checked the link, but they were talking about it on the radio today, including a recorded description of how it was made.

They put a bunch of odd instruments in a space and had the guys walk around making noises with them, completely at random, or at least whenever the urge struck them. In other words, it is an un-arranged, spontaneous bunch of noises that were made completely by whim, that goes on for something like 16 minutes.

It was considered too avant garde for its day, which is why it was never released. Now the world, they say, is ready to appreciate how far "ahead of their time" the Beatles really were.

Personally, I'd say they canned it because, curiosity value aside, as "music" it was ridiculously awful, and it's more likely that the real reason for releasing it now is that Mr. McCartney has some serious alimony payments to meet...

Since we're stepping on legends, I'll chime in:

I'd compare it to Brian Wilson's "Smile." What a stinker that was. Best left in the can.

Ken

Per Ken:
"I'd compare it to Brian Wilson's "Smile." What a stinker that was. Best left in the can."

Agree. I was not impressed.

Haven't checked the link, but they were talking about it on the radio today, including a recorded description of how it was made.

They put a bunch of odd instruments in a space and had the guys walk around making noises with them, completely at random, or at least whenever the urge struck them. In other words, it is an un-arranged, spontaneous bunch of noises that were made completely by whim, that goes on for something like 16 minutes.

It was considered too avant garde for its day, which is why it was never released. Now the world, they say, is ready to appreciate how far "ahead of their time" the Beatles really were.

Personally, I'd say they canned it because, curiosity value aside, as "music" it was ridiculously awful, and it's more likely that the real reason for releasing it now is that Mr. McCartney has some serious alimony payments to meet...
I heard the same thing. Probably just a bunch of noise.

Oh, it's probably going to be awful. But you know this in advance. At least they're disclosing that its 14 minutes of random noises! Still, I can't wait. I think Revolution 9 is unfairly hated upon, but I know I'm in the minority. :D

Per Ken:
"I'd compare it to Brian Wilson's "Smile." What a stinker that was. Best left in the can."

Agree. I was not impressed.

And then, there are weirdos like me who think it's one of the most compelling collections of popular music every recorded. :D

Opinions: everybody's got one...

I don't think "Carnival of Light" is going to impress anyone who's looking for an undiscovered [whatever your favorite Beatle song is]. Thanks to bootleggers, not much of their oeuvre remains a mystery. But I think it's interesting they think it's worthy of release on its own as opposed to just another track on a new Anthology-type CD. Makes me wonder what they did to it.

I won't pass judgement until I here it...

Since we're stepping on legends, I'll chime in:

I'd compare it to Brian Wilson's "Smile." What a stinker that was. Best left in the can.

Ken

Since one of my favorite Beatle's singles is You Know My Name (Look Up The Number), I have high hopes. :D

99% of the Beatles songs were highly polished gems, and for that, the five of them (you have to include George Martin then, don't you?) were nothing short of genius. But I don't think you can dismiss the oddball songs as nothing but tripe. They are like historical documents, akin to study drawings the great masters may have used when doing a painting. I for one would jump at the chance to see the sketchbooks of Rembrandt, DiVinci, and Michelangelo. Songs like You Know My Name, Revolution 9, What a Shame Mary Jane had a Pain at the Party, 12 Bar Original, and now this new one , are fascinating in their own way. I look forward to hearing it.

Since one of my favorite Beatle's singles is You Know My Name (Look Up The Number), I have high hopes. :D

Yeah! I've loved that since I bought the 45 as a little kid. It made perfect sense to me.

What's the New Mary Jane- also one of my favorites...

As big a Beatle fan as I am I will probably buy it....

Per Ponderbear:

"And then, there are weirdos like me who think it's one of the most compelling collections of popular music every recorded.

Opinions: everybody's got one..."

Amen, We all have different taste.

Now do you think they will release it on a 10 inch EP with some cool packaging?

"You Know My Name..." was great fun.

I won't pass judgement until I here it...
Once again.....the voice of reason....

I'm listening to the Beatles' "Revolution 9" as I type this.

Listened to Spiritualized "Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space" on the way to work this AM.

My mind is now "open" to some Brit noise. Bring it on.

I agree that while it will be "interesting", its nothing to get excited about. While the Beatles may still have some live stuff that is commercially viable as well as appealing, I long ago gave up on the hope that there is some forgotten "Strawberry Fields" lying in the molded depths of EMI Abbey Road Studios screaming to be released. Still, if they release a 45 with a picture sleave, I will be duped into buying it.

As for "Smile", I have a bootleg from the 60s as well as Brian Wilson's legit version. While it has its moments, I must also agree that it just does not do it for me. Very disturbing as I spent half my life reading that it was the great, lost masterpiece and what could have been.

But what is even more disturbing about Smile is that it begs the question, "Could Mike Love have been right all along?":sigh: