Peace of Mind/The Candle Burns

Last updated

"Peace of Mind"
Peaceofmindcover.jpg
Song by Walton Jones and David Hunter
(falsely attributed to The Beatles)
from the album Peace of Mind
Released1973
Recorded1969
Length3:09
Songwriter(s) Walton Jones
(falsely attributed to Lennon–McCartney or George Harrison)

"Piece of Mind" (also known as "Peace of Mind" or "The Candle Burns") is the title given to a song of previously unknown origin that was attributed to the Beatles on bootleg albums starting in 1973. The recording has the sound quality of a home-produced demo, and was reportedly recovered from a rubbish container at Apple Corps headquarters in 1970.

Contents

History

The song first appeared credited as "Peace of Mind" on vinyl bootlegs of Beatles' material in 1973, including Peace of Mind [1] and Supertracks, [2] both issued by ContraBand Music. Over the next decade it was included on more than a dozen bootlegs, sometimes using the title "The Candle Burns". [3]

Little to no information was known about the song, but a very popular theory was the recording was reported to have been "found in the Apple trash can in 1970." [2]

Possible Beatles origin

In the 1975 Beatles discography All Together Now, the song was classified as a Beatles studio outtake from mid-1967 with "intriguing lyrics woven around very complicated beat changes." [4] Later speculation suggested that it was a demo made at home, presumably by John Lennon with George Harrison and possibly Paul McCartney, using a Brenell tape recorder that each Beatle owned. The recording date has been placed as early as 1966 (reflecting the early psychedelia of some Revolver songs) or as late as 1968 (based on similarities to the guitar style on "Dear Prudence"). If the lyrics are interpreted as describing an LSD experience, the phrase "lately has been banned" places the song's origin no earlier than August 1966 when LSD became a prohibited drug in Britain.

Evidence for a Beatles connection include the song's vocals, instrumentation, lyrical content, and recording techniques. The two most prominent singers' voices "are credibly close to George's and John's," [5] while some also perceive the voice of Paul among the three-part harmonising. In addition to the "Dear Prudence" guitar style, a sitar is heard toward the end of the song, a favourite instrument of Harrison. Lyrically, the song is reminiscent of other Lennon output from that era, such as "Tomorrow Never Knows" and "She Said She Said", [6] although Harrison has also been mentioned as its possible songwriter. [7] Indeed, on the bootleg "Day Tripping," the song is attributed to Harrison (with possible involvement from Donovan, Mike Love, and others) and given the name "Pink Litmus Shirt," a reference to spurious Beatles song "Pink Litmus Paper Shirt."

The song utilises recording techniques that were also used in the Beatles' studio work. The song begins with humming and an arrangement of vocable singing which are overdubbed in reverse. Just before the end of the second verse, vari-speed is used to increase the pitch and tempo. Vari-speed is used again near the end of the third verse, and a backwards portion of the lyrics is overdubbed over the instrumental coda.

Many experts on unreleased Beatles recordings are unconvinced. Both Mark Lewisohn (The Complete Beatles Chronicle) and Doug Sulpy (The 910's Guide to The Beatles' Outtakes) completely ignore the song in their books. Richie Unterberger (The Unreleased Beatles: Music & Film) allows for a slight possibility of a Beatles origin, stating: "Unless some surprising proof is unearthed, it must be assumed that 'Peace of Mind' is not the Beatles—though not beyond the shadow of a doubt." [7] John Winn, author of several books documenting Beatles recordings, was asked his opinion about the song and was quoted as replying: "The only surprising thing about this is that so many people still believe it might have a Beatles connection, despite the fact that no evidence of such a title has turned up in the EMI tape log, the Lennon home archive, the 80 hours of 'Get Back' sessions, copyright records, any written documentation, or any interview (Paul, Ringo, and George Martin have all been asked about 'Peace of Mind' and/or 'The Candle Burns' and it didn't ring a bell with any of them). I would bet my entire collection that it's not a Beatle recording." [6]

The cover of 20x4 (1978) - another bootleg album to contain "Peace of Mind". 20x4beatles.jpg
The cover of 20x4 (1978) – another bootleg album to contain "Peace of Mind".

Other possible origins

A number of other theories about the song's origin have been proposed. Some have judged it "merely some stoned bootleggers with a tape recorder and too much time on their hands." [8] Others have considered it a demo by the late Syd Barrett, founding member of Pink Floyd, with the song even appearing on some bootlegs of Pink Floyd material. [9] The song has also been suggested to be the work of The Pretty Things, who, like Pink Floyd, were recording in Abbey Road Studios in 1967 while the Beatles were there making Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band .

One theory suggests that rather than being found in the Apple trash, the song was actually an outtake from the group Trash who recorded for Apple Records. [5] Finally, since Apple was flooded with demo tapes after a 1968 ad campaign, it could be just what would be expected in the trash at Apple Records: a rejected demo from one of countless hopeful bands, whose members abandoned their musical aspirations long before the track became public.

David Hunter and Walton Jones

In 2011, a theater professor named Walton Jones [10] first claimed credit for the creation of the track and stated that "Piece of Mind" was the correct title. Also around this time, a man named John Roberts posted that he had recorded the song off-air from a South Florida radio station in 1969. This new information was collected and posted on an online blog, putting these and many other new details about the song in one place. [11]

Roberts wrote:

I recorded "Piece of Mind" off-the-air in October or November 1969 from WUSF-FM (stereo), the radio station for the University of South Florida, where it was broadcast on their "Underground Railroad" show (Beatles' special). The recording quality of the radio broadcast and stereo separation is very good. However, the quality of "Piece of Mind" itself is quite poor.

Then in 2021, a man named David Hunter, who had been a radio DJ at South Florida State College, stated that he and Jones had recorded "Piece of Mind" at the former's apartment in 1969 as a prank. Hunter then aired the song on his radio show, passing it off as a purported Beatles outtake. [12] The original radio broadcast, which included the song and "Come Together", would eventually be posted by Hunter on SoundCloud. [13] If Jones' and Hunter's claims of having been the ones behind "Peace of Mind" are to be true, this would dissuade any claims that the song had any association with the Beatles.

Notes

  1. ↑ Winn, John C. (2006). Beatlegmania. Multiplus Books. p. 25. ISBN   0-9728362-3-3.
  2. 1 2 Reinhart 1981, p. 152.
  3. ↑ Reinhart 1981, p. 272.
  4. ↑ Castleman, Harry; Podrazik, Walter J. (1975). All Together Now: The First Complete Beatles Discography 1961–1975. Ballantine Books. p.  258. ISBN   0-345-25680-8.
  5. 1 2 McKinney 2003, pp. 303–304.
  6. 1 2 MacKeown, Patrick (September 2006). ""Peace of Mind": Blatant Forgery or Undiscovered Beatles Song". Ear Candy. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  7. 1 2 Unterberger 2006, pp. 359–360.
  8. ↑ Winn, John (May 1998). "Beatles Bootleg History". About The Beatles. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  9. ↑ Fields, Gaylord (29 July 2008). "Fake Beatles No. 15: The Mystery of 'Peace of Mind/The Candle Burns'". WFMU's Beware of the Blog. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  10. ↑ "Walton Jones". theatre.ucsd.edu. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  11. ↑ "3670: The BEATLES! 'PEACE OF MIND'". 21 April 2013.
  12. ↑ Blake, Henry (5 April 2024). ""Oh, I Need You": A Deep Dive into Beatles Lostwave". Medium. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  13. ↑ Radio Presenter Dialogue – Piece of Mind – Come Together , retrieved 30 April 2024

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strawberry Fields Forever</span> 1967 single by the Beatles

"Strawberry Fields Forever" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released on 13 February 1967 as a double A-side single with "Penny Lane". It represented a departure from the group's previous singles and a novel listening experience for the contemporary pop audience. While the song initially divided and confused music critics and the group's fans, it proved highly influential on the emerging psychedelic genre. Its accompanying promotional film is similarly recognised as a pioneering work in the medium of music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds</span> 1967 song by The Beatles

"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was written primarily by John Lennon with assistance from Paul McCartney, and credited to the Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership. Lennon's son Julian inspired the song with a nursery school drawing that he called "Lucy – in the sky with diamonds". Shortly before the album's release, speculation arose that the first letter of each of the nouns in the title intentionally spelled "LSD", the initialism commonly used for the hallucinogenic drug lysergic acid diethylamide. Lennon repeatedly denied that he had intended it as a drug song, and attributed the song's fantastical imagery to his reading of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland books.

The Beatles' bootleg recordings are recordings of performances by the Beatles that have attained some level of public circulation without being available as a legal release. The term most often refers to audio recordings, but also includes video performances. Starting with vinyl releases in the 1970s, through CD issues in the late 1980s, and continuing with digital downloads starting in the mid-1990s, the Beatles have been, and continue to be, among the most bootlegged artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happiness Is a Warm Gun</span> 1968 song by the Beatles

"Happiness Is a Warm Gun" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 album The Beatles. It was written by John Lennon and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. He derived the title from an article in American Rifleman magazine and explained that the lyrics were a double entendre for guns and his sexual desire for Yoko Ono.

<i>Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962</i> 1977 live album by the Beatles

Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962 is a double album featuring live performances by the English rock band the Beatles, recorded in late December 1962 at the Star-Club during their final Hamburg residency. The album was released in 1977 in two different versions, comprising a total of 30 songs by the Beatles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ballad of John and Yoko</span> 1969 single by the Beatles

"The Ballad of John and Yoko" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as a non-album single in May 1969. It was written by John Lennon and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership, and chronicles the events surrounding the wedding of Lennon and Yoko Ono. The song was the Beatles' 17th UK number-one single and their last for 54 years until "Now and Then" in 2023. In the United States, it was banned by some radio stations due to the lyrics' reference to Christ and crucifixion. The single peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song has subsequently appeared on compilation albums such as Hey Jude, 1967–1970, Past Masters, and 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dear Prudence</span> 1968 song by the Beatles

"Dear Prudence" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles. The song was written by John Lennon and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. Written in Rishikesh during the group's trip to India in early 1968, it was inspired by actress Mia Farrow's sister, Prudence Farrow, who became obsessive about meditating while practising with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Her designated partners on the meditation course, Lennon and George Harrison, attempted to coax Farrow out of her seclusion, which led to Lennon writing the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piggies</span> 1968 song by the Beatles

"Piggies" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 album The Beatles. Written by George Harrison as a social commentary, the song serves as an Orwellian satire on greed and consumerism. Among several elements it incorporates from classical music, the track features harpsichord and orchestral strings in the baroque pop style, which are contrasted by Harrison's acerbic lyrics and the sound of grunting pigs. Although credited to George Martin, the recording was largely produced by Chris Thomas, who also contributed the harpsichord part.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey</span> 1968 song by the Beatles

"Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles. It was written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The lyrics contain sayings the Beatles heard from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, with whom they studied Transcendental Meditation in India in early 1968. In his subsequent comments on the song, Lennon said it addressed his bandmates' initial reaction to his relationship with Yoko Ono. Recorded early in the sessions for the White Album, the track typifies Lennon and the Beatles' return to a rock sound in 1968 after their psychedelic period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Brown Shoe</span> 1969 single by the Beatles

"Old Brown Shoe" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. Written by George Harrison, the group's lead guitarist, it was released on a non-album single in May 1969, as the B-side to "The Ballad of John and Yoko". The song was subsequently included on the band's compilation albums Hey Jude, 1967–1970 and Past Masters, Volume Two. Although "Old Brown Shoe" remains a relatively obscure song in the band's catalogue, several music critics view it as one of Harrison's best compositions from the Beatles era and especially admire his guitar solo on the track.

"Not Guilty" is a song by English rock musician George Harrison from his 1979 album George Harrison. He wrote the song in 1968 following the Beatles' Transcendental Meditation course in India with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, an activity that he had led the group into undertaking. The lyrics serve as a response to the recrimination Harrison received from his bandmates John Lennon and Paul McCartney in the aftermath to the group's public falling out with the Maharishi, and as the Beatles launched their multimedia company Apple Corps. The band recorded the song amid the tensions that characterised the sessions for their 1968 double LP The Beatles. The track was completed in August 1968 but not included on the release.

"If You've Got Trouble" is a song written by Lennon–McCartney and recorded by the Beatles on 18 February 1965 with Ringo Starr singing the lead vocal. The song was intended to be Starr's vocal appearance on the Help! album and the Help! film, but the Beatles were not happy with the recording and later chose to record "Act Naturally" instead. "If You've Got Trouble" remained unreleased until Anthology 2 in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sour Milk Sea</span> 1968 single by Jackie Lomax

"Sour Milk Sea" is a song written by George Harrison and released by English rock singer Jackie Lomax as his debut single on the Beatles' Apple record label in August 1968. Harrison wrote the song during the Beatles' stay in Rishikesh, India and gave it to Lomax to help launch Apple Records. Lomax's recording is a rarity among non-Beatles songs since it features three members of the band – Harrison, who also produced the track, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. Performed in the hard rock style, the song also includes musical contributions from Eric Clapton and session pianist Nicky Hopkins. It was the first of many Harrison productions for artists signed to the Beatles' record label.

<i>Kum Back</i> 1970 bootleg studio album by The Beatles

Kum Back is the first bootleg album by the Beatles, released in January 1970. The album is an early version of what would become Let It Be, sourced from a tape recording of an acetate prepared by the band's engineer, Glyn Johns. It is one of the earliest commercial rock bootlegs, the first being Great White Wonder by Bob Dylan which was released several months earlier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas Time (Is Here Again)</span> 1967 song by the Beatles

"Christmas Time (Is Here Again)" is a Christmas song by the English rock band the Beatles, originally recorded for their fifth fan club Christmas record, Christmas Time Is Here Again! (1967). One of the few Beatles songs credited to all four members of the band, it consists of a blues based backing track as well as double-tracked vocals sung by them, George Martin and Victor Spinetti. The lyrics are mostly made up of the song's title refrain, repeated across nine verses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circles (George Harrison song)</span> 1982 song by George Harrison

"Circles" is a song by the English rock musician George Harrison, released as the final track of his 1982 album Gone Troppo. Harrison wrote the song in India in 1968 while he and the Beatles were studying Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The theme of the lyrics is reincarnation. The composition reflects the cyclical aspect of human existence as, according to Hindu doctrine, the soul continues to pass from one life to the next. Although the Beatles never formally recorded it, "Circles" was among the demos the group made at Harrison's Esher home, Kinfauns, in May 1968, while considering material for their double album The Beatles.

<i>Early Takes: Volume 1</i> 2012 compilation album by George Harrison

Early Takes: Volume 1 is a compilation album of outtakes and demo recordings by the English rock musician George Harrison, released posthumously on 1 May 2012. The recordings appeared in Martin Scorsese's 2011 documentary film George Harrison: Living in the Material World and were originally issued as part of the deluxe version of the DVD release. Producer Giles Martin compiled the album, working with engineer Paul Hicks. The majority of the tracks date from the sessions for Harrison's 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass.

<i>The Beatles at Abbey Road</i> 1983 multimedia presentation

The Beatles at Abbey Road is a multimedia presentation hosted by Abbey Road Studios in London that focused on the recording career of the English rock band the Beatles. It took place from 18 July to 11 September 1983, while part of the studios were undergoing renovation. The program included a guided tour of Abbey Road's Studio 2, where the Beatles recorded most of their music for EMI in the 1960s; a two-part video presentation narrated by disc jockey Roger Scott, with interviews and rare archival footage; and previously unheard outtakes from the band's recording sessions. The event was hosted by studio manager Ken Townsend and the shows took place three times a day. Its staging reflected the elevation of Abbey Road to the level of an English cultural location, as well as the enduring popularity of the Beatles, more than ten years after their break-up. The Beatles at Abbey Road was a commercial success, with 22,000 tickets sold.

<i>Beware of ABKCO!</i> 1994 studio album (bootleg) by George Harrison

Beware of ABKCO! is a bootleg album of songs performed by the English rock musician George Harrison in May 1970. It contains songs that were under consideration for Harrison's triple album All Things Must Pass, his first release as a solo artist following the break-up of the Beatles. The performances were taped in a single session at EMI in London, on 27 May 1970, for the benefit of Harrison's co-producer, Phil Spector. Seven of the fifteen songs were subsequently recorded formally for inclusion on All Things Must Pass, as was "Everybody, Nobody" after Harrison reworked it as "Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp ". From its 1994 release by Strawberry Records, the bootleg provided the only available record of five songs that Harrison never revisited during his career. Among these is a 1968 collaboration with Bob Dylan titled "Nowhere to Go". All fifteen songs were officially released in August 2021, as part of the Uber and Super deluxe editions of the All Things Must Pass: 50th Anniversary box set.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.