Honesty is such a lonely word, but...

With my wife, son and friends, I enjoyed Tokyo Disney Resort. It was a wonderful holiday, but it isn't the main topic of this entry. An accident happened when we got on the Shinkansen (superexpress) from Tokyo station and took a trip for three hours to my home. A few minutes before the Shinkansen was due to leave, I bought lunch boxes. As soon as I got them, I put my wallet and pass holder into my jacket's pocket and ran up the escalator to platform 21. I could ride in the reserved Shinkansen. When I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, I found that I had dropped my wallet and pass holder.

I thought I was stupid because not only were there many important things (ex. My ID card) in them but also was much money. I was the organizer for this Tokyo Disney Resort trip among my friends, so I had received much money entrance passes and friend's dinner fee, because I paid it for everything on my credit card. My wallet had 70,000yen ($700 / 530Euro / 475pounds) in it.

I rang the lost property section of Tokyo station again and again, but I heard only the busy tone. So I explained my situation to an express conductor and asked him to call Tokyo station. Several minutes later, he came back and said, "Set your heart at ease, your property was found in the same condition as when you dropped them."

Three days later, my wallet and pass holder was sent to my home in the same condition as when I dropped them. Not only money of 70,000yen but also my ID card, credit cards, and so on. Billy Joel sings "Honesty is such a lonely word." However it surely existed at the platform 21, of Tokyo station on 17:50 5th April in 2009.

Top tunes on my iPod in March, 2009

1. Ryuichi Sakamoto / to stanford
2. Ryuichi Sakamoto / ice
3. Ryuichi Sakamoto / hwit
4. Ryuichi Sakamoto / still life
5. Ryuichi Sakamoto / glacier
6. Ryuichi Sakamoto / in the red
7. Ryuichi Sakamoto / hibari
8. Ryuichi Sakamoto / tama
9. Ryuichi Sakamoto / nostalgia
10. Ryuichi Sakamoto / firewater
11. The Beatles / When I'm Sixty-four
12. The Beatles / Lovely Rita
13. The Beatles / Octopus's Garden
14. J.S. Bach / Inventions No.8（Takahiro Sonoda）
15. The Bangles / Be With You
16. The Beach Boys / Vegetables

The top 10 are all works from Ryuichi Sakamoto's new album "out of noise". I listend to only 1., 3., and7. as music and enjoyed others as sound (others are composed of north poll area environment sound. For example, waterdrops of melting glaciers.) 11.-13. are the results of reading "Here, There and Everywhere" 14. is one of the tunes that never bores me even if I listen to it again and again, it is less than one minute long. 15. is my third favorite song by them after "manic Monday" and "Etrenal Flame".

Geoff Emerick "Here, There and Everywhere"

The Japanese version of this book is "The Last truth of the Beatles Sound", it is a good selection, I think. This is an excellent documentary, biography, and growing-up story of a young sound engineer. The original title "Here, There and Everywhere" is also good for its contents, whose author is one of the few people who can talk about the Beatles' history because he worked with them.

In short, I would like to say that this is one of the best books about the Beatles history. In particular, I strongly believe that people who have listened to their music enthusiastically will enjoy this book. A friend of mine who loves the Beatles said, "I think that this is the book that gives answers to the questions of the world's beatlemaniacs" I agree with this.

For me, the biggest question was about the sound of "Abbey Road". Each of the Beatles' albums were recorded with a unique sound, this was because of changes in musicianship and recording technology. I feel "Rubber Soul" and "Abbey Road" have totally different sounds. I'm disappointed the former, the author Geoff didn't participated in this album, so the question still remains, but for the later, Geoff wrote the answer clearly. I was so impressed (he seems not to like the sound of "Abbey Road", I love it). about their sound and songs were answered by this book.

The value of this book is high because for the documentary of the Beatles' sound making aspect, in addition to this, the aspect about the describing of the people including four beatles is also distinguishing. The important factor for biographies are love and objectivity, are apparent in this book throughly. For instance, about George Harrison, the author didn't hesitate to write about George's poor techniques and ignorable atmosphere in the early days of the band. But on the other hand, he also didn't hesitate to give applause for George's great works in the later days of the band. And about George Martin, the producer of the Beatles, Geoff wrote the truth - there are many great work by Geoff but people have always thought they were George Martin's - without selfish pride. On the other hand, he wrote clearly about George Martin's prominent works, but he also wrote about how the Beatles sometimes alienated Martin in the later days of the band. This book has good balance of "love" and "objectivity" as above examples.

You can also read this book as the story of Geoff Emerick's growth: just after his high school graduation. He was hired by EMI, he met the Beatles, especially after the "Revolver" album, he developed as a professional sound engineer with the Beatles' music development. This point also impressed me. He responded to the Beatles demand as a professional, sometimes produce results that surpassing the Beatles' expectation under heavy pressure. Reading this book, I asked myself how I do my business with eagerness and innovation like Geoff. It is nonsense comparing genius Geoff to me, anyway, this book encouraged me by Geoff's attitude.

I've read many books about the Beatles, this book is the most intriguing and full of good things, I think. I feel that maybe no other book about the Beatles could surpass this book never be written.

At the end, I felt the following point again: the Beatles' magic. As many fans know, the Beatles didn't have unity as a band when they recorded "White Album" and their teamwork was at a peak when "Sgt. Pepper" was recorded collapsed. Of course this book described that situation without allowance. However, for me, "White Album" is one of the masterpieces of the Beatles. Why? After reading this book, the big riddle still remains.

Top tunes on my iPod in Feb. 2009

1. XTC / Dear God
2. Koichi Sugiyama / Dragon Warriors I Finale
3. namco (Junko Ozawa) / THE TOWER OF DRUAGA
4. My Little Lover / DESTINY
5. Radiohead / Airbag
6. J.S. Bach/ Inventions No.6 (Takahiro Sonoda)
7. J.S. Bach / Inventions No.11 (Takahiro Sonoda)
8. The Beatles / Oh! Darling
9. The Beatles / Lady Madonna
10. Elvis Costello / Radio, Radio
11. The Flipper's Guitar / Goodbye Our Pastel's Badges
12. Guns N' Roses / You Could Be Mine
13. Paul McCartney / Mull Of Kintyre
14. Paul McCartney / You Gave Me The Answer

1. is famous for its lyrics, in my opinion, Richard Dawkins would not hesitate to give applause to the song, the song has also the power of music that can appeal the band's message to listeners even without its lyrics. I like 2., in particular, the second melody. 4. is one of my most favorite songs of the band. 8.'s episode is famous among Beatlemaniacs that John Lennon wanted to sing the song. I seem to be able to understand his desire and I also want to listen to John's "Oh! Darling", however, even John Lennon, could not surpass Paul McCartney's outstanding vocal. 14. is one of my favorite pieces of Paul's old fashioned piano based tunes and I am never bored. When listening the intro piano, I dive into the song's world simultaneously.

Top tunes on my iPod in Jan. 2009

1. Schubert, F / Moments Musicaux Op.94 （Jenő Jandó）
2. Brahms, J. / Intermezzo Op 118 No 2（Kristian Banatzianou）
3. The Beach Boys / Cool, Cool Water
4. Bach, J.S. / Goldberg Variations The 20th Variation (Glenn Gould)
5. The Beach Boys / Add Some Music To Your Day
6. Bach, J.S. / Inventions No.13 (Takahiro Sonoda)
7. Brahms, J / 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117 - 1. Andante Moderato (Glenn Gould)
8. Brahms, J / 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117 - 2. Andante Non Troppo (Glenn Gould)
9. SEGA / Main Theme of Enduro Racer
10. GO!GO!7188 / Manastu no Dancehall (A Dancehall in midsummer)
11. Backbeat Band / Please Mr. Postman
12. The Beach Boys / Take A Load Off Your Feet
13. The Beatles / No Reply
14. The Beatles / This Boy
15. GO!GO!7188 / San nin no boggie men (The Three Boggie Men)
16. Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra / Xanadu
17. Perfume / Ceramic Girl
18. Prince / I Wish U Heaven

1. reminds me of my childhood Sunday mornings – because every Sunday my father listened to the radio program whose theme tune was this song. As for 2,7, and 8, Ryuichi Sakamoto's recommend these tunes played by Glenn Gould, I believe these are romantic pieces. Haruki Murakami described The Beach Boys' excellent albums "Sunflower" and "Surf's Up" in his music essay, it also made me want to listened to these album. I'm very impressionable. I think that 11. is the best track by The Backbeat band – the band for the movie "Backbeat", which is about the early life of the Beatles. The song radiated the young Beatles' wild rock attitude. 16. was my friend whilst jogging. The promotion video of the song featuring a roller skate musical movie evoked me to run delightfully.