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BEATLESQUE GROUPS List, Version 1.0
1 March 1994
compiled by Robert Berry
Copyright 1994 by Robert Berry--No unauthorized use permitted
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So what do you listen to after you've played all the Beatles CDs back
to back and still find yourself hungry for more?  Well, play them
again, of course.  Eventually, though, you may find yourself wondering
if there isn't still somebody making music in the style of the Beatles.
This file is a list of such artists, compiled from recommendations
made by readers of rec.music.beatles and from my own favorites.

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A COUPLE OF NOTES

It's worth saying that it is unfair to pigeonhole any artist as merely
derivative of the Beatles' sound. Each artist on this list (with the
possible exception of the Rutles :-) possesses a unique talent worthy
of recognition.

Nonetheless, the Beatles created a style of musical expression that
did not disappear in 1970.  Difficult to define precisely, the genre's
features include a strong sense of melody; a focus on vocals and vocal
harmony; eclecticism and variety in both arrangement and song construction;
top-notch songwriting; and tight, clean production.

But there is tremendous variation within the genre.  This list isn't
intended to name Beatles "sound-alikes"; it is instead intended to
complete the sentence, "If you like the Beatles, you might like..."

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ABOUT THE LIST

I have not heard all of the artists listed here.  For those I have
heard, I've included a brief summary of my impressions, based solely
upon my own listening; needless to say, these opinions are mine alone.

I've also included the names of many artists that have been recommended
to me, but whom I have not yet heard.  For these, I've marked the entries
with an asterisk, and in most case included no additional remarks.  This
file is my CD shopping list, and as I hear more of these artists, I'll
add new information.

If you have additional recommendations or information you think should
be included, please write to Robert Berry, rberry@vnet.ibm.com.

And now, in alphabetical order...

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THE LIST

Badfinger
  Beatles proteges who started out on the Apple label.  Recorded
  Paul's "Come And Get It."  CD releases include "Magic Christian
  Music," "No Dice," "Straight Up."

*Adrian Belew

*Cave Dogs

*Charlatans

Elvis Costello
  Regular McCartney collaborator.  Can be quite Beatlesque on occasion
  ("Alison" and other songs on his first album), particularly when working
  with Paul ("Veronica" from "Spike").

*Crash Test Dummies

*Marshall Crenshaw

Crowded House
  Rock/pop from New Zealand.  Their first three albums -- "Crowded
  House," "Temple of Low Men," and "Woodface" -- all feature good,
  solid songwriting and tight, clean production.  Their latest album,
  "Together Alone," is just out in the U.S. as of this writing (and
  I'm listening to it right now).  More complex in texture and less
  overtly Beatlesque, it nonetheless continues the band's unbroken
  record of outstanding pop music.

Don Dixon
  Tight, eclectic rock/pop songs.  His first album "Most of the Girls
  Like to Dance But Only Some of the Boys Like To" is a must.  Also check
  out his collaborations (nominally as producer) with his significant
  other, Marti Jones.  Unfortunately, Dixon's CDs have become difficult
  to find (they may be out of print), but a "best-of" compilation called
  "If I'm a Ham, You're a Sausage" appears still to be readily available.
  Dixon is probably better known for producing bands such as REM and
  The Smithereens.

*Dramarama

Dukes of Stratosphear
  See XTC.

*The Dylans

*Electric Light Orchestra

Gin Blossoms
  Their one album, "New Miserable Experience," features straight-ahead
  electric-guitar pop, as well as some playful eclecticism (listen for
  their stabs at country and zydeco).  Former band member and songwriter
  Doug Hopkins committed suicide late in 1993, but he had already left
  the band by that time.

*House of Freaks

*Jellyfish

Billy Joel
  Not all of Joel's work is Beatlesque, but he has made it quite clear
  that the Beatles were his chief inspiration for becoming a musician.
  Occasionally the influence is apparent.

Marti Jones
  Her three albums, "Used Guitars," "Tourist Town," and "Any Kind of Lie,"
  are all produced by Don Dixon (see above) and feature Dixon's songwriting,
  playing, and background vocals.  "Any Kind Of Lie" is the best of the
  three, but all are good.

*The La's
  Mentioned frequently as reminiscent of the Beatles; depending upon whom
  you believe, their chief Beatlesque aspect may simply be that they are
  a foursome from Liverpool.

Lenny Kravitz
  Kravitz's musical style seems to veer between Beatles and Hendrix, and
  he evokes the Seventies more than the Sixties.  But there are some great
  tracks that any Beatles fan would love ("Stand By My Woman" from "Mama
  Said" is chillingly Lennonish).

Julian Lennon
  If nothing else, his voice is Beatlesque, for genetic reasons.

Los Lobos
  Perhaps not strictly Beatlesque, but nonetheless creative and original
  performers; good old rock & roll with a strong dose of Mexican
  traditional music.  Their latest "Kiko" is a varied and intricately
  textured album.

*Love and Rockets

Aimee Mann
  Introspective pop songs with varied arrangements, catchy melodies,
  and well-produced vocals.

*Material Issue

George Michael
  Has been compared by some to Paul McCartney.  He certainly has the
  pop sensibility and the varied songwriting style, as well as a taste
  for skiffle ("Faith").  His first album, "Faith," is dancy and often
  overly "techno," but does feature some good songwriting.  His second
  album, "Listen Without Prejudice," is far more subdued and moody.

Michael Penn
  "Free-For-All" features introspective, guitar-based rock songs, tightly
  produced and with some nice arrangements.  Perhaps more like solo Lennon
  than the Beatles, Penn's songs are bleak and dark and a bit depressing
  for extended listening; nonetheless, the tunes are catchy and compelling.

The Posies
  Two albums, "Dear 23" and "Frosting on the Beater."  A direct Beatles
  connection: the song "Golden Blunders" (from "Dear 23") was covered
  by Ringo on his "Time Takes Time" album.  "Dear 23" is airy and a bit
  psychedelic; "Frosting on the Beater" has a harder edge.

*The Pursuit of Happiness

*The Raspberries

The Rembrandts
  AKA Danny Wilde and Phil Solem, great pop songwriters clearly inspired
  by the Fabs.  Their first album, "The Rembrandts," features what may
  be the Perfect Pop Song, "That's Just The Way It Is, Baby," and includes
  some very Fab-like songs ("Somebody," "If Not For Misery").  Their second,
  "Untitled," is less minimalist, adding some very Beatlesque cellos
  (listen particularly to "Maybe Tomorrow").

The Rock Club
  One CD, "Wet Money," with melodic, guitar-based pop songs and
  lots of vocal harmonies.  Reminiscent not only of the Beatles but
  of the Beach Boys as well.  Some of it sounds a bit amateurish, but
  it's well-produced and a lot of fun.  "Wet Money" is available by mail;
  see Notes below for ordering information.

Rooster Head
  An (amazingly) unsigned band from Dania, Florida, Rooster Head
  produces some of the best, most eclectic, Beatles-style pop music
  I've heard.  Primarily the project of eccentric songwriter Michael
  Kennedy, the songs range from dark and strange to irresistibly
  catchy to breathtakingly gorgeous.  Rooster Head recordings are
  available by mail; see Notes below for ordering information.

Todd Rundgren
  Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer.  In addition to his
  own material, he has also produced Badfinger and XTC (see separate
  entries).  See also Utopia.

The Rutles
  Not a real group, the Rutles are a Beatles parody created by ex-Monty
  Python member Eric Idle and musical associate Neil Innes.  Despite the
  satirical intent, Neil Innes's songwriting on the soundtrack CD "The
  Rutles" captures the Beatles sound nearly as well as the Fabs themselves.
  Most of the songs are clearly parodies of specific Beatles tunes, some
  almost note-for-note copies ("Ouch!," "Get Up And Go"); but others are
  truly Innes originals and worthy tributes to the Beatles' genius.

*Shoes

The Smithereens
  Albums include "Green Thoughts," "11," and "Blow Up."  Drummer Dennis
  Diken's liner notes on the CD-EP "Beauty and Sadness" make clear that the
  band was at least partially inspired by the Beatles, and their straight-
  forward, guitar-based pop confirms it.

*Spent Poets

The Spongetones
  An independent band from Charlotte, NC., whose press release describes
  their sound as "an updated Merseybeat style."  Their latest CD "Oh Yeah!"
  features great pop tunes very reminiscent of 1965-era Beatles.  Several
  previous releases are also available, all by mail; see Notes below for
  ordering information.  As of this writing, a new album is in the works.

Matthew Sweet
  Sweet's album "Girlfriend" features some melodic, guitar-based pop
  songs, as well as some with a harder edge.  Check out the gorgeous
  "You Don't Love Me."  His 1993 followup, "Altered Beast," is a bit
  darker and harder-edged.

*20/20

Utopia
  Todd Rundgren's band, Utopia is notable here for its album "Deface
  the Music," an homage to -- and parody of -- the Beatles.  Although
  Rundgren manages to capture the superficial *sound* of the Beatles in
  these songs, the songs themselves just aren't that great, and the
  album is ultimately less successful than that other Beatles parody,
  "The Rutles" (see above).

World Party
  The album "Goodbye Jumbo" has been named by several r.m.b posters as
  particularly Beatlesque.  The new release, "Bang!", has several very
  melodic pop songs in the Beatles tradition (the best are "Is It Like
  Today?" and "All I Gave"), but also has a strong dose of drum-machine
  techno-pop.  Worth a listen for any Beatles fan, and growing on me
  as I listen to it more.

XTC
  Well-produced, quirky studio pop.  Most Beatlesque is their "Skylarking"
  album, produced by Todd Rundgren (see separate entry).  Even more
  Beatlesque is their one CD recorded under the pseudonym The Dukes of
  Stratosphear, "Chips From The Chocolate Fireball." Actually a compilation
  of two vinyl releases (the EP "25 O'Clock" and the LP "Psonic Psunspot"),
  this disc features not only some distinctly Beatles-flavored songs, but
  also clear influences from other '60s artists.  A must.

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ORDERING INFORMATION

Several of the groups listed here are independent bands without major-label
record deals.  Following is information on how to obtain their recordings.

THE ROCK CLUB:
  As of December 1993, "Wet Money" by the Rock Club (catalog number
  HOMBURG 001) was available by mail from Vampire Records, 220 Jericho
  Turnpike, Floral Park, NY 11001, for $14.99 (including US shipping).

ROOSTER HEAD:
  As of December 1993, the following recordings were available by mail
  directly from Rooster Head:

  "A Legendary Cock" (cassette, $8)
  "An American Cock In Paris" (cassette, $8)
  "Barnyard Delights" (cassette, $8; CD, $10)
  "Tasting Your Molester" (cassette, $8)

  Also available is a compilation tape containing selections from all
  Rooster Head releases (cassette, $3).

  Supplies are limited on all but "Tasting Your Molester," their most
  recent release.  The current plan is for a CD to be released later
  this year, including all of the tracks from "Tasting" plus additional
  material.

  Prices include US shipping.  Order from Rooster Head, c/o Jeff Jones,
  11500 NW 37th Place, Sunrise, FL 33323.

  If you're interested in Rooster Head, send a note to Jeff Jones,
  jljones@encore.com.

THE SPONGETONES:
  As of December 1993, the following recordings were available by mail
  from the Spongetones.

  "Beat Music" (vinyl LP, $10)
  "Torn Apart" (vinyl EP, $8; cassette, $5)
  "Where-Ever-Land" (CD, $15; cassette, $8)
  "Oh Yeah!" (CD, $15; cassette, $8)
  "Yuletunes" (collection of alternative-pop Christmas songs with one
    Spongetones selection; CD, $15)

  A new CD is in the works, as is a CD reissue of "Beat Music" and
  "Torn Apart."  Write to the Spongetones for more information.

  Prices include US shipping.  Order from The Spongetones, Post Office
  Box 5102, Lake Wylie, SC 29710.

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DISCLAIMER

Need I say it?  I have no affiliation with any of the artists listed
in this file.  All information is to the best of my knowledge, but
I make NO guarantees of accuracy.  Opinions are mine and are therefore
immediately suspect.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The following people are among those who made recommendations that
are listed herein.  There were many others whose recommendations (but
not their names) were scrawled on Post-It Notes.  Thanks to all of those
who have given recommendations, and apologies to those whose names I
didn't keep up with.

Charles F. Board
Edward S. Chen
Jeff Jones
Felicia Jordan
Dennis McGee
saki


