Jenny’s “Nice” Album

6:00 AM GMT 28/07/2008

Stand-in George Martin: Jenny Bulley
Day job: MOJO Reviews Editor & Paul McCartney fan
Alternative album title: The Nice Album (vinyl only)

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Not easy this, given the bitterness of some of the material, but I first heard a lot of these songs at school and I’m determined to re-cast them with a rosy glow and not let that murderous Manson man spoil things. [Editor's note: Jenny’s obviously chosen 16 tracks here. It’s technically cheating, but I’m too scared to point this out.]

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Side 1

1. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
No honestly, this is a fun record suitable for school assemblies and stuff and what more exciting way is there to start an album than John’s breathless incitement: “Come on! Come on!”?

2. Birthday
A double-whammy, after Monkey’s exquisite fade-out it’s Paul’s party now and I want in.

3. Dear Prudence
Enough to make you really quite fancy the idea of a few months in a lice-ridden ashram with a bunch of inwardly-seething rich folk ‘surrendering’ their egos.

4. Martha My Dear
Lovely song, lovely dog, great horns and no one dies.

5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Dear George’s most beautiful reading of the I-Ching. Since there is no such thing as coincidence to those guys then this must sit uncomfortably between Paul and John. It was ever thus.

6. Glass Onion
Oh John, be nice.

7. Julia
That’s better. Your mother would have been proud.

8. Mother Nature’s Son
Paul’s pretty picking and cut glass vocal, all doo-doo’s and listening to the pretty sound of music.

9. Long, Long, Long
Sorry to leave side one on a downer but George’s exquisite ballad still reduces me to tears. I need the break to compose myself again.

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Side Two

10. Helter Skelter
Because Paul was the psychedelic one. And he does rock.

11. Yer Blues
Oh dear, it’s all gone a bit dark hasn’t it? Great though.

12. The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
That’s better. The ex-pats whooping it up in Rishikesh. Pip pip!

13. Revolution 1
John in loud, raucous mood with really great handclaps. Count me ‘in’.

14. Blackbird
Time for Paul to pick up the mood again. Yes, yes, 1968 race riots are at its heart but it’s also perfect for morning assembly sing-along.

15. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?
Paul channels his inner blues singer to wonder why we can’t all do it like the monkeys.

16. I Will
Paul again, closing with his unashamed Linda-inspired schmaltz and for that I make no apology. No George on this one, sadly but great percussion from John and Ringo.

Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 6:00 AM GMT 28/07/2008

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