• The Beatles Christmas Records: Ranking The Yearly Mess from John, Paul, George and Ringo 1963-1969

    Pearl Jam wasn't the first band to send out yearly Christmas exclusives to its fan club. The Beatles had jumped on that train nearly 30 years earlier. The difference of course is that Pearl Jam's fans could expect some new musical recordings, covers if nothing else, while the biggest band in history took the yearly task of crafting a Christmas album about as seriously as Stephen Colbert takes investigative reporting. The results tended to be a mess...occasionally a curious mess, but a mess nonetheless. Music Times has waded through the seven Beatles Christmas flexi-discs and made a modest attempt at ranking them.

  • Ludacris Shares New Track 'In My Life' Featuring John Legend From Upcoming 'Burning Bridges' EP [LISTEN]

    After previewing his new song "In My Life" through a series of Instagram clips on Monday (December 8), Ludacris has unveiled the entire song, which you can check out below. The song, which is thankfully not a Beatles cover, features some lush, jazzy production, with John Legend providing the soulful hook, and though it's not as silly and outrageous as Ludacris's previous hits, it does show some remarkably maturity from the 37-year-old Atlanta rapper.

  • John Lennon: Remembering the 'Imagine' Singer with 10 Inspiring Quotes [PHOTOS]

    John Lennon had established himself as a superb solo artist by the time 1980 rolled around. The Beatles disbanded a full decade earlier, and Lennon had found a way to captivate listeners without his writing partner Paul McCartney. He released five LPs in the '70s, including his debut, "John Lennon/The Plastic Ono Band" and his masterpiece "Imagine." There was a five-year hole in his recording career from 1975-80, but in November 1980 Lennon came back with "Double Fantasy."It was the former Beatle's final album. Lennon was shot by Mark David Chapman 34 years ago today, Dec. 8. It is a loss that still perplexes fans and admirers to this day. Even the singer's killer has awakened from his delusional haze, telling the parole board in July, "I am sorry for being such an idiot and choosing the wrong way for glory."This year's anniversary is not a milestone. It is not a nice, rounded-off number like 30 or 35, both of which are far less important than 25 and 50. But while Lennon's death left a void in popular music, it also robbed the world of a truly beautiful mind that never hesitated to comment on the state of the world. He did not just say, "War is bad," he opted for the positive and tried to spark a movement from that: "Give peace a chance."So, yes, 34 means little. But it is difficult to look at 2014 and not think about what kind of wisdom Lennon could offer if he were still with us. What would he tell us about unrest stemming from the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases that we are missing? What insights could he offer on gay marriage rights? And do not forget the NFL. There is no shortage of moral problems and quandaries in today's social media society. Would Lennon even bother with Twitter?We will never know the specific answers to those questions. Thankfully, Lennon spoke his mind often during his 40-year stay on Earth, and those snippets of wisdom remain a guiding light for fans of peace, creativity and love.

  • Paul McCartney Reflects on John Lennon's Death: Beatle Calls Mark David Chapman the 'Jerk of Jerks' [WATCH]

    Tomorrow, Dec. 8, will mark the 34th anniversary of John Lennon's death. The Beatle and iconic pacifist was shot by Mark David Chapman in New York City.Bandmate Paul McCartney recently reflected on Lennon's death on "The Jonathan Ross Show," saying that he and the "Imagine" singer were on good terms prior to the shooting. He also called Chapman the "jerk of jerks" in the interview."There was acrimony in The Beatles. But when he got killed we were friends. We used to call each other up and swap bread recipes," McCartney said, "The Mirror" reported."I was at home when he died. I got a phone call. It was so horrific. I could not take it in that he was gone. It was a very big shock. I was so sad that I was not going to see him again," he said.The cordial McCartney held back on Chapman, though, offering an insult fit for television."And the guy who did it was the jerk of jerks. He was not politically motivated," he added.

  • The Beatles Aren't Real; Or At Least TheBeatlesNeverExisted.com Makes Convincing Case with Talk of Clones and Fake Ears

    The current "Paul McCartney" is not the real Paul McCartney. This is basic scientific fact at this point. However what if the false Beatle conspiracy went even deeper than that? If you're worried about your beliefs in the most influential band in modern music history being torn asunder...by all means don't read the following sentence: The Beatles never existed. Or at least one set band of four members never comprised The Beatles. This is the theory brought to light by TheBeatlesNeverExisted.com.

  • The Beatles' 'Long Tall Sally' EP Showcases Band at Its Most Raucous, Proves Vinyl Sales Can Make Dent in Billboard 200

    Society always celebrates the records that top the Billboard 200 album chart. Back of The Billboards is a Music Times weekly segment that looks at the opposite end: the new record that finished closest to the back of the Billboard 200 for the previous week. We hope to give a fighting chance to the bands you haven't heard of. This week we look at Mexican pop star The Beatles (?) and its new EP ''Long Tall Sally' (?!?).

  • Kanye West To Tour North America In 2015, According To Rihanna's Charity Auction

    Although Kanye West hasn’t officially announced any plans regarding the release of his eagerly anticipated new album, it was revealed today that the superstar rapper will be embarking on a North American tour in 2015 in support of the album. According to Spin, the announcement was made rather inconspicuously through the website of Rihanna’s charity auction, which includes a prize titled “Kanye West Tour Experience” and states that Yeezy will be touring North America in 2015.

  • Tonsillitis and Musicians: It Ain't No Joke (Ringo Starr, Elvis Presley, Demi Lovato and More)

    Fifty years ago on this day, Ringo Starr was forced to take a 12 days absence from The Beatles (allowing Jimmy Nicol a brief gig and a lifelong pickup line) to undergo a medical procedure. The culprit? Tonsillitis. Starr's predicament might not have been as dire due to his duty as a drummer (not primary vocalist) but the condition, which causes the swelling of the tonsils, has struck many a performer.

  • 5 Best Songs from Pink Floyd's 'The Wall'

    Today, Nov. 30, marks the 35th anniversary of Pink Floyd's last great album "The Wall," a disturbing rock opera that tells the story of a rock star named Pink who gradually drives himself insane through complete emotional isolation. In honor of the anniversary of this incredible album, here are its five best songs.

  • The Flaming Lips Reunite With Yoko Ono For Cover Of John Lennon's "Merry Xmas (War Is Over)" [LISTEN]

    A few weeks ago, The Flaming Lips released their 14th studio album 'With a Little Help from My Fwends,' a full-length tribute to the Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,' and today, Nov. 20, the psych-rockers have shared another tribute: a cover of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Christmas classic "Merry Xmas (War is Over)," which you can check out below. As can be expected from Wayne Coyne and his crew, the track is a psychedelic reinterpretation of Lennon and Ono's original, replacing the acoustic guitars with synthesizers, and even features Ono herself on backing vocals.
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