Via NME: Oasis, The Killers and Kaiser Chiefs are to cover songs from The Beatles’ ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ to mark the 40th anniversary of the classic album’s release. The original album was released on June 1, 1967 and to mark the event the big names will all be covering tracks from the record for a BBC2 special to be aired on June 2.

Razorlight, James Morrison, The Fratellis and Travis are among the other acts taking part. The BBC reports that Geoff Emerick, the engineer in charge of the original sessions will use the same equipment to record the new versions. Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas said: “This will be not only a unique radio event, but a very special musical moment. The range and quality of artists involved ensure that this will be a fitting tribute to one of the great albums of all time.”

MP3: The Beatles – Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (via Press The Button)

Took long enough!

Many predictions were floating around following Steve Jobs’ decision last month to play a Beatles track (from Sgt. Pepper’s) while introducing his iPhone to the world. For those out of the loop, there has been long-standing trademark issues between the two. In fact, to this day, The Beatles are one of very few bands that do not have their music available via the iTunes store.

But that can very well change with this news, from Billboard: Mac computer and iPod maker Apple said today (Feb. 5) it settled long-simmering trademark issues with the Beatles’ Apple Corps Ltd. company about the use of the name “Apple” and apple logos. The new settlement replaces the companies’ 1991 agreement, and gives Apple Inc. ownership of all the trademarks related to “Apple.” In addition, Apple Inc. will license certain of those trademarks back to Apple Corps for their continued use.

This settlement ends the ongoing trademark lawsuit between the companies, with each paying its own legal costs, and Apple Inc. will continue using its name and logos on iTunes. Further terms weren’t disclosed. “We love the Beatles, and it has been painful being at odds with them over these trademarks,” said Apple CEO Steve Jobs. “It feels great to resolve this in a positive manner, and in a way that should remove the potential of further disagreements in the future.” The agreement may pave the way for the Beatles to finally begin selling their music in digital form via Apple’s iTunes Music Store. A deal is rumored to be imminent but details have yet to be announced.

If this is any indication….

Via Rolling Stone: TRUCKEE, Calif. – A woman who pleaded no contest to trespassing at the Hawaii home of George Harrison was found dead in a blood-splattered sport utility vehicle, apparently the victim of a murder-suicide, police said. Cristin Keleher, 34, served four months in jail after her arrest for entering Harrison’s house in Maui in December 1999. Prosecutors accused her of stalking the former Beatle.

In Hawaii, Keleher admitted she was in Harrison’s home without his permission but said she was feeling sick and was seeking shelter from the rain. She told the court she loved Harrison and never meant him any harm. Keleher was arrested a week before Harrison was stabbed in the chest by an intruder in his mansion near London. Harrison, who suffered a collapsed lung in the attack, died of cancer in 2001 at age 58.

MP3: ‘I’ve Got My Mind Set On You’ (via 3TeezMansion)

If this is any indication….

Via Rolling Stone: TRUCKEE, Calif. – A woman who pleaded no contest to trespassing at the Hawaii home of George Harrison was found dead in a blood-splattered sport utility vehicle, apparently the victim of a murder-suicide, police said. Cristin Keleher, 34, served four months in jail after her arrest for entering Harrison’s house in Maui in December 1999. Prosecutors accused her of stalking the former Beatle.

In Hawaii, Keleher admitted she was in Harrison’s home without his permission but said she was feeling sick and was seeking shelter from the rain. She told the court she loved Harrison and never meant him any harm. Keleher was arrested a week before Harrison was stabbed in the chest by an intruder in his mansion near London. Harrison, who suffered a collapsed lung in the attack, died of cancer in 2001 at age 58.

MP3: ‘I’ve Got My Mind Set On You’ (via 3TeezMansion)

If this is any indication….

Via Rolling Stone: TRUCKEE, Calif. – A woman who pleaded no contest to trespassing at the Hawaii home of George Harrison was found dead in a blood-splattered sport utility vehicle, apparently the victim of a murder-suicide, police said. Cristin Keleher, 34, served four months in jail after her arrest for entering Harrison’s house in Maui in December 1999. Prosecutors accused her of stalking the former Beatle.

In Hawaii, Keleher admitted she was in Harrison’s home without his permission but said she was feeling sick and was seeking shelter from the rain. She told the court she loved Harrison and never meant him any harm. Keleher was arrested a week before Harrison was stabbed in the chest by an intruder in his mansion near London. Harrison, who suffered a collapsed lung in the attack, died of cancer in 2001 at age 58.

MP3: ‘I’ve Got My Mind Set On You’ (via 3TeezMansion)

Yahoo! reports: NEW YORK – An album cover signed by all four Beatles as a gift for George Harrison’s sister has sold at auction for more than $115,000. The sale, to an unidentified buyer, was believed to set a record price for a signed Beatles album purchased at a public sale, said Mark Zakarin, president of the online auction company ItsOnlyRockNRoll.com. The exact price, with the buyer’s commission, was $115,228.82.

Harrison wrote above his signature: “To Lou with love from `Brother’!!” John Lennon’s inscription read, “To Lou many love from John Lennon X.” Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr expressed similar feelings when all four signed the album cover while aboard a train to Washington for a 1964 concert.

MP3: The Beatles – Penny Lane

Whoa, across the Atlantic and the same holds true!

Over the weekend, we were stunned to find out that Westlife beat The Beatles & U2 on the UK album charts (for all of their debut weeks). Seems like neither megagroup could topple Daughtry (I guess he removed his first name, Chris, for some sort of appeal, not mine) or the 700+ debuting Jay-Z ‘comeback album’.

Not only that but the latest edition of Now also faired higher than the big boys this week!

Here’s how the top 5 round up (sales in parantheses):
#1 Jay-Z: 708k
#2 Daughtry: 301k
#3 NOW 23: 298k
#4 The Beatles: 280k
#5 Snoop Dogg: 274k

U2′s U218 didn’t even crack the top 10! They’ll have to settle for #12. Although that could be because they have way too many greatest hits releases as it is. Only The Cure has more (seriously, 5 best-ofs with the same 12 songs over and over? Come on!)

Thoughts on all of this? Predictable? I don’t know why it shocks me, but it does.

MP3: U2 – Acrobat (one of my favorite U2 tracks)

Westlife have beaten off Oasis, U2 and The Beatles to win the battle for Number One in the album chart tonight (November 26). The boy band’s new studio covers ‘Love Album’ beat off all three ‘Best Of’ collections released on November 20 on what was declared “Super Monday”. Oasis were in at Number 2 with ‘Stop The Clocks’ closely followed by The Beatles’ classic re-workings ‘Love’ album at 3 and U2′s ’18 singles’ LP at four. (via NME)

Is anyone as shocked as I am?

MP3s: The Beatles – Revolution + U2 – Beautiful Day

I don’t really know what to say about this.

It could be good, no?

Maybe?

From HITS: LOVE, the companion to the Cirque de Soleil production of the same name currently at the Mirage in Las Vegas featuring the music of the Fab Four, will be released worldwide by Apple Corps Ltd and EMI Music this November.

Added Giles: “We took all the Beatles catalog from tape, the original four tracks, eight tracks and two tracks, and used this palette of sounds and music to create a sound bed. What people will be hearing on the album is a new experience, a way of re-living the whole Beatles musical lifespan in a very condensed period.”

MP3: The Beatles – Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

…apparently. Although I think that it’s a bit early to break out these kind of comparisons (I fully acknowledge that I am being a bit unfair, since no-one is actually making these claims; however I do like to be unfair. It’s fun!)

From the BBC:

Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not was released on 23 January and has sold more than 360,000 copies.

The Sheffield band’s album is currently outselling the rest of the top 20 album chart combined.

A spokesman for music retailer HMV said: “In terms of sheer impact… we haven’t seen anything quite like this since The Beatles.”

So I dunno. I mean, I quite like WPSIA, TWIN (wow! Great acronym! I’m Wpsia Twin, and I’m from Huddersfield, and tonight, Matthew, I’m going to be Ian Brown). But… it’s not actually that great. Seriously. THERE IS MUCH BETTER MUSIC OUT THERE, PEOPLE! Aside from the excellent I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, I don’t think I’ve really been struck by the record, and stuff like Red Light Indicates Doors are Secure is just risible.

What is interesting about it is what this might mean for the recording bastards industry; as Jarvo is pointing out in the BBC story this has got to be some kind of lesson for them; this is a triumph (of sorts) for the argument that downloads (as tasters, which is, of course, what we do here kids, go buy the records!) can help record sales. I know I just bought the Cat Power record because I heard bits of it online as leaks; and hey, here’s another free plug for Point Juncture, WA, whose record I just bought because I’d heard bits of it already. (Go buy it, you sluts!) And Belle & Sebastian have acknowledged the usefulness of leaks and downloads, certainly amongst their fans.

Anyway. That was off topic. I just want to know – beyond getting themselves a lot of excellent online exposure – what is it about the Arctic Monkeys that people love so much? I will acknowledge that they have some good tunes, but… not much further.* Please, enlighten me; am I missing something here?

Skye’s prediction: in 6 months conversations about the Arctic Monkeys will largely involve the word ‘meh’.

*Oh, and they suck at titles (except I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor). And cover art. Feel free to bitch about my opinion in the comments.