Thursday, March 20, 2008

We Can't Work It Out: The Fab War -- Round 10

"Old Brown Shoe" v. "Dear Prudence" v. "Rocky Raccoon" v. "The End"

"Dear Prudence" is among the most gorgeous songs ever written. It begins nearly funereal before working up too a fever about the sky being blue. Truly an amazing song. This was written for Mia Farrow's sister, if memory serves, as an attempt to get her to quit being a prude and have a good time with everyone else. I can't imagine it not working.

"Rocky Raccoon" is an amazing track as well, though. Paul decided to write this for the album after having heard Bob Dylan's John Wesley Harding, along with other country-tinged tracks like "Mother Nature's Son." The characters from Wind In the Willows walk into a Dodge City saloon. Beautiful. The nonsensical scatting over the ragtime piano is even a revelation.

Overall, "The End" is a better song than "Old Brown Shoe," but if I have to limit it to Ringo's contributions, even if it is one of his best the prize goes to "Old Brown Shoe."

This round:

John: 4
Paul: 3
George: 2
Ringo: 1

Totals thus far:

John: 30
Paul: 28
George: 24
Ringo: 18

3 comments:

Matthew Webber said...

The Matt Webber cover of Rocky Raccoon is probably the definitive performance!!!

Matt Groneman said...

That is a great performance. I go back and forth on my favorite. :)

On the Beatles Anthology 3, there is a great alternate take of Rocky Raccoon which has a different opening that is pretty hilarious.

Fuckchop said...

Oh yeah...and Pete Best was the "best" by far. The Beatles totally went downhill after they lost him.