 The Vault contains many rare Beatles tracks that you probably have never heard before. So turn up your speakers (trust me, you'll have to for a lot of these - most of them are quite hard to understand!) and listen to these one-of-a-kind recordings. If you scroll down, we also have some heavily-requested but not-so-rare Beatles recordings. Rare What's The New Mary Jane This unreleased Lennon/McCartney (specifically Lennon) original features words that make absolutely no sense in concept or in syntax. I chose the shorter, less 'trippy' version to put on my site for the sake of saving space, but the 'full' version can be heard on Anthology 3. Yer Blues [Acoustic] This acoustic version of 'Yer Blues' has no drums, but there is what sounds like either George or John knocking on his guitar. The only differences in lyrics are the absense of the 'oo' before 'Girl you know the reason why' as well as the redundant 'My mother was of the earth/my father was of the sky/I am of the Universe and that's the reason why', wich was replaced with 'My mother was of the sky/my father was of the earth/But I am of the Universe and you know what it's worth' in the final version. Also, the line about Dylan's Mr. Jones is different in the acoustic version. While My Guitar Gently Weeps [Acoustic] Harrison's almost frantic 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps in this version has a eerie, almost phantomlike quality. Because [a Capella] After the final Abbey Road version, the Beatles were instructed to record the beautiful harmonies of 'Because' a capella. The result is very haunting and is well worth a listen. Brian Epstein Blues This short and poorly-recorded Lennon composition about his deceased manager working in a coal mine features nonsensical phrases and scat singing. The Happy Rishikesh Song How can a person not love 'The Happy Rishikesh Song'? From Lennon's deep-voiced introduction to the line about needing a woman, this song makes up in sheer cuteness what it lacks in musical eloquence. He Said, He Said [Home Tape] The story behind the 'Revolver' classic 'She Said, She Said' is a strange one. Lennon and Peter Fonda were both tripping on acid, but Fonda was much more experienced in LSD. Lennon seemed frightened and disoriented, so when he commented that he felt like he was dying, Fonda replied with 'I know what it's like to be dead.' He explained how he was almost killed when he was a child, but Lennon didn't seem comforted, answering with the seething comeback 'You're making me feel like I've never been born.' At this point, the aforementioned line was not yet incorporated into the home tape, dubbed 'He Said, He Said'. Obviously uninspiring, it is a miracle this version was ever shaped up enough to become such a memorable song. Tomorrow Never Knows [Take ?] The first song to be recorded for the 'Revolver' sessions but the last track on the album, the final version of 'Tomorrow Never Knows' (also known by its working title, 'Mark I') is a musical collage featuring basically only one chord (C) but with a Bb chord occasionally 'superimposed' on top of the C bass line (not used in this take, giving it a completely different sound). Despite its general lack of variety in this sense, it more than accounts for that with its magnificent tape effects which had never been achieved on any recording by any artist prior. Even in this early take you can hear some of the psychedelic effects which made the final version so jolting. There is also a strange wind/reed instrument which is not on the final version. The Maharishi Song Did John hate the Maharishi? This obviously improvised song played on a poorly-tuned guitar may not give you all the answers, but it might help give you some insight on his feelings about the Maharishi. Lennon is clearly just playing random chords and ranting and raving about his trip to Rishikesh and the Maharishi. The female voice is Yoko's. Not-so-rare Please Please Me (Lennon-McCartney) Julia (Lennon-McCartney) Strawberry Fields Forever (Lennon-McCartney) I Need You (Harrison) Hey Bulldog (Lennon-McCartney) Non-Beatles Talking Heads - Burning Down The House Home - Trivia Tournament - Icons/Graphics - Chat - Miscellaneous |
