Spy Vibers, I've returned from my mission at last! Stay tuned for my new photographs of filming locations from classic 1960s spy adventures (and from Doctor Who!). I also shot many images for my upcoming Spy Vibe book, so I'll try to share a sneak peek of some of the rare artifacts that crossed my lens. Peering through my jet-lag haze, I see The Beatles released their groundbreaking Revolver album 50 years ago today. Fifty! The 1960s represented a great renaissance of new ideas and pushing the boundaries in fashion, fine art, design, and the performing arts. Revolver sat right at the crossroads in 1966. For readers who are not familiar with the story, Revolver marked an important paradigm shift in the band's career. Bob Dylan had inspired The Beatles to explore a more personal approach to songwriting, which was increasingly evident on Help and Rubber Soul. The transition away from third-person pop continued into Revolver, but new elements were also making their way into the mix. The media loves to highlight drug influences, which were indeed referenced in some of the music. But it was in the field of avant-garde experimentation that the group made their greatest discoveries. As his bandmates moved out into the suburbs, Paul McCartney famously became increasingly involved in the London Art scene. He supported avant-garde galleries and the publication of International Times, and McCartney became fascinated with experimental filmmaking and sound collage. The most notable leap of curiosity focused on the use of tape loops inspired by performances of new music and the work of Karlheinz Stockhausen. Ever inventive as a group, The Beatles took to these new techniques in the recording studio and created the now-classic Tomorrow Never Knows. They each created tape loops, compiling about 30 in the end, and George Martin selected 16 from the batch. BTR3 tape machines were set up and the loops could be held at constant tension on the spools by hand with a pencil during playback. As John Lennon's voice chanted out lines inspired by the Tibetan Book of the Dead, studio technicians positioned themselves throughout the hallways and tended to the long tape loops- played in real time- as the track was assembled. Revolver is filled with top-tier compositions such as Here, There, and Everywhere and Eleanor Rigby, but with this experimental track, the record ultimately stood as a bridge between the youthful moptops of A Hard Days Night and the sophisticated, mature artists stretching toward Sgt. Pepper and beyond. This creative journey would redefine Rock music and their ideas continue to ripple through contemporary culture. The use of Musique Concrete was revolutionary in pop, and I'd hazard to suggest the construction in Tomorrow Never Knows connects us conceptually to the evolution of nonlinear audio composition. Revolver was released on August 6th, 1966. The band performed their final public concert on August 29th that same year at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Beatles manager Brian Epstein was worried that fans wouldn't accept the group's new direction. But the album cover art by Klaus Voormann apparently put Epstein at ease, as he felt the graphics would function as a kind of invitation into the band's experimental world. If you look closely at the cover design below and compare it to Tomorrow Never Knows, one can recognize a cohesive process using cut-ups and collage. Klaus Voormann (designer, artist, musician, and insider from the band's early days in Hamburg) worked at his kitchen table for three works to create this now-classic record jacket. He was paid 50 pounds for the job. Voormann recently spoke in an interview about his new book chronicling Revolver. Readers can order the book at his website here. By the way, Sean Lennon has been performing Tomorrow Never Knows on his recent tour promoting the Claypool Lennon Delirium project. Enjoy! Related posts: New Beatles film, The Curious Camera, Paul At 71, Notes Behind the Curtain I, Notes Behind the Curtain II, Notes Behind the Curtain IV, The Goldfinger Variations, UK Surrealism Sellers to Lennon, Ivan Vaughn and The Beatles, Tony Sheridan RIP, George Martin RIP, Essential Ringo Tribute,
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Interview:Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art Interview, Fergus Fleming Interview, Avengers: Alan Hayes Interview, Jaz Wiseman Interview, Diana Rigg BFI Interview, Casino Royale Interview: Mike Richardson, Lost Diana Rigg Interview, Honor Blackman at 90, UNCLE School, Ian Fleming Memorial, Portmeirion Photos, Doctor Who Exhibit, Farewell Steed, Pussy Galore Returns, Diana Rigg birthday, Sherlock at 221B, Invisible Agent, Saint Interview: Ian Dickerson, Saint Doppelgänger, Fleming's Typewriter, Rare Fleming, Fleming's Music, Ian Fleming's Japan, Jim Wilson Corgi Interview, Fantomas Design, John Buss interview, Saint Volvo, Mod Tales Interview, Agente Secreto Comics, Danger Man Comics 2, Danger Man Comics, John Drake Comics, Der Mann Von UNCLE, Golden Margaret Nolan, Man From UNCLE Rocksteady, Pussy Galore Calypso, Cynthia Lennon R.I.P., Edward Mann Fashion, Leonard Nimoy Tribute, Shatner at 84, Bob Morane series, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Tokyo Beat 1964, Feraud Mod Fashion, Green Hornet Manga, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
Spy Vibe began Camera Week by looking at Photography as the prefect tool for mindful engagement. In my teaching I stress the importance of using the camera to make closer observations of the world (which I call "treasure hunting"), as well as to construct images in the studio. By moving through the process of exploration, reflection, and revision, we become tuned in to each moment and to our intellectual and emotional perceptions. I brought this up as a way to also celebrate the stellar creativity of the 1960s. In my last post, we looked at a large collection of images that showed the members of The Beatles engaged in the process of taking pictures. Today we continue that theme by looking at images of various artists from the era and their cameras. It's inspiring to see people who worked at a high level of music or film, for example, also spending their free time with Photography. As role models, the images remind us that we can engage in the creative process each day, and by doing so, we tap into a deep well that keeps giving. Below: Alain Delon, Sophia Loren, Bob Dylan, Klaus Voormann, Linda McCartney, James Dean, Muhammad Ali, Mia Farrow, Mick Jagger, Gina Lollobrigida, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Francoise Hardy, and Brigitte Bardot. Related Spy Vibe article: The Curious Camera. Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art Interview, Fergus Fleming Interview, Avengers: Alan Hayes Interview, Jaz Wiseman Interview, Diana Rigg BFI Interview, Casino Royale Interview: Mike Richardson, Lost Diana Rigg Interview, Honor Blackman at 90, UNCLE School, Ian Fleming Memorial, Portmeirion Photos, Doctor Who Exhibit, Farewell Steed, Pussy Galore Returns, Diana Rigg birthday, Sherlock at 221B, Invisible Agent, Saint Interview: Ian Dickerson, Saint Doppelgänger, Fleming's Typewriter, Rare Fleming, Fleming's Music, Ian Fleming's Japan, Jim Wilson Corgi Interview, Fantomas Design, John Buss interview, Saint Volvo, Mod Tales Interview, Agente Secreto Comics, Danger Man Comics 2, Danger Man Comics, John Drake Comics, Der Mann Von UNCLE, Golden Margaret Nolan, Man From UNCLE Rocksteady, Pussy Galore Calypso, Cynthia Lennon R.I.P., Edward Mann Fashion, Leonard Nimoy Tribute, Shatner at 84, Bob Morane series, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Tokyo Beat 1964, Feraud Mod Fashion, Green Hornet Manga, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
The first recording contract signed by The Beatles will go up for auction this fall. Heritage Auctions will be selling the Uwe Blaschke collection, noted as one of the largest in the world, on September 19th in New York. Blaschke was able to collect many of the band's earliest artifacts and documents from their time as a house band in Hamburg, including the contract that led to their first recording sessions with Tony Sheridan. The contract, signed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Pete Best, is expected to fetch about $150,000. "This is perhaps the most historically important Beatles document to ever appear at auction," said Dean Harmeyer, Consignment Director at Heritage Auctions. "Without this contract, which directly led to their involvement with Brian Epstein, the Beatles may have never been able achieve their later success as a recording group. And at the time it was a momentous career milestone — they'd finally secured an actual recording deal, something they had only dreamed of before 'My Bonnie'". The sale will also include original posters by Richard Avedon, signed artwork by Klaus Voormann, a rare photograph of George modeling his new leather jacket in 1960 (below), and original letters and postcards. John Lennon often said the band reached its peak as a performing act during the Hamburg years, when youthful ambition and a diet of Preludin whipped the group into a tight frenzy of Rock and Roll perfection. This was the genesis of Beat music. If a time machine was ever invented, you'd absolutely find me at those clubs catching every show during the band's residency. Uwe Blaschke's collection has been on display in Hamburg and I sincerely hope that most of the items will stay together through the auction, if only to enable us to have a complete museum someday devoted to The Beatles. More info at Heritage.
Selected Spy Vibe posts: UNCLE School, Ian Fleming Memorial, Radiophonic Exhibit, Portmeirion Photos, Doctor Who Exhibit, Farewell Steed, Pussy Galore Returns, Diana Rigg birthday, Sherlock at 221B, Invisible Agent, Saint Interview: Ian Dickerson, Saint Doppelgänger, Fleming's Typewriter, Rare Fleming, Fleming's Music, Ian Fleming's Japan, Jim Wilson Corgi Interview, Fantomas Design, Jeremy Duns on Bond, John Buss interview, Avengers Season 5 Titles, Saint Volvo, Mod Tales Interview, Agente Secreto Comics, Danger Man Comics 2, Danger Man Comics, John Drake Comics, Der Mann Von UNCLE, Golden Margaret Nolan, Man From UNCLE Rocksteady, Pussy Galore Calypso, Cynthia Lennon R.I.P., Edward Mann Fashion, Leonard Nimoy Tribute, Shatner at 84, Bob Morane series, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Art of Modesty, Tokyo Beat 1964, Feraud Mod Fashion, Green Hornet Manga, No 6 Festival, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
