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801 — Tomorrow Never Knows
Album: Live
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1442









Released: 1976
Length: 6:06
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Turn off your mind, relax
and float down stream
It is not dying
It is not dying

Lay down all thought
Surrender to the void
It is shining
It is shining

That you may see
The meaning of within
It is being
It is being

That love is all
And love is everyone
It is knowing
It is knowing

That ignorance and hate
May mourn the dead
It is believing
It is believing

But listen to the
color of your dreams
It is not living
It is not living

Or play the game
existence to the end
Of the beginning
Of the beginning
Of the beginning
Of the beginning
Comments (360)add comment
 scraig wrote:

What is this adding to the original exactly?


Another version.
 rpdevotee wrote:

Blasphemous


Sacrilicious
 ianmoff wrote:

Oh very yes

This version is excellent - can't stand whiny Lennon's version. 


Is that John Lennon's brother?
Listening with half an ear I clocked it was Eno singing before coming to see who it was...
An old favorite album.  

No idea why Bill MacCormick's bass headstock is featured on the cover, as the live album is hardly as bass-centered as this track.  

But as a bass player, I have to raise a glass to MacCormick's performance on this great cover of a great song.
 njswede wrote:
This must be the grooviest bass line ever performed! 
 
Probably why the head of a bass is on the cover ☺
What makes this track so remarkable is that it was recoded live.
Absolutely GREAT !!!! Thanks RP !!
I love love Love this version! 
Dig this, funky space rock !
Weird, they turned this Beatles song into a Moody Blues song...
"We are the 801, we are the central shaft"
(fab tune in it's own right)
Good grief that was a mean little number!  
This must be the grooviest bass line ever performed! 
This song makes me love Tomorrow Never Knows...by The Beatles.
My upload. Never tire of hearing this. FRANCIS MONKMAN cranking on keys!
 Steely_D wrote:
My upload. Never tire of hearing this. Bill MacCormack cranking on bass!
 
Thank you!
 oboyle wrote:
The first rule of covering the Beatles is don’t.
 
This song aside, that's one of the most ridiculous comments I've heard here. 'Yesterday', for example, is the most covered song in history, and while I'm sure there are some very poor examples, there are outstanding ones as well.  As a personal favorite, check out Cheap Trick covering all of Sargent Pepper's LIVE. Woah. 
Outstanding, one of my favourite albums. Haven't tired of hearing it in 40+ years
Thanks, again, Bill!
Love this album.
Wow.... first time hearing this.
I'm digging the different take.
 oboyle wrote:
The first rule of covering the Beatles is don’t.
 
First rule of rock 'n' roll: break as many rules as possible.
Never imagined I would hear 801 on any radio.
Loved the entire album.
Congrats !
Those who don't like Beatles covers just don't really like the Beatles ... at best they think they were a nice pop band, and give them ZERO credit as SONGWRITERS.  If you say you don't like a particular interpretation, so be it. But to say you don't accept ANY interpretation beyond that of the original artist ... or to constantly COMPARE the new cover to the original as if that is the only yardstick that matters, is to fundamentally misunderstand the ENTIRE POINT.
if the comments were always this good I'd never get any work done. I liked the cover and recognize that great covers are Bill's specialty. keep them coming RP they are part of what makes this the best station in Paradise.
The first rule of covering the Beatles is don’t.
 Proclivities wrote:

What is a cover version supposed to add to the original version anyhow?  Who came up with the absurd notion that a cover version needs to "add something"?  What does that even mean?  Add what: thyme, vanilla extract, rhinestones?  I could see how it could be considered a waste of time to do a cover which strives to sound like the original, but that is not the case here. Does this sound different from the original?  Yes, very much so.  Does that mean it "added" something?  

 
It was me.  I originated the idea that a cover should add something.  It was right after I invented causal Friday. 

Not really add but make it their own.  Jimi covering Gloria.  The Byrds covering Dylan.  An ersatz simulacrum adds little.  
You gotta love GOOD remakes!  A great song that just has lots of life left in it.
My upload. Never tire of hearing this. Bill MacCormack cranking on bass!
thats wild
Another one that's better than the original!
First, I love this version, so cool.
Second: WOW, this was live, the sound quality and performance is amazing. But I guess that is what you would expect from Phil Manzanera and Brian Eno.
9 JUST BECAUSE THE BEATLES GET THE 10
this is LIVE and in 1976.  Wow!
Blasphemous
 scraig wrote:
What is this adding to the original exactly?
 
What is a cover version supposed to add to the original version anyhow?  Who came up with the absurd notion that a cover version needs to "add something"?  What does that even mean?  Add what: thyme, vanilla extract, rhinestones?  I could see how it could be considered a waste of time to do a cover which strives to sound like the original, but that is not the case here. Does this sound different from the original?  Yes, very much so.  Does that mean it "added" something?  
 Steely_D wrote:
My upload. Never tire of hearing this. SIMON PHILIPS cranking on drums!

 
Thought it might have been. {#Cheers}  
We were such Roxy and Eno fans back in college, my buddies and I...this was a staple piece of vinyl...the cover saw many hash spliffs rolled on it
 jocelynsart wrote:
I love this, love it, though I'm not an avid fan of the original group.

 
Not a fan of the original group meaning the BEATLES?
In my differing opinion, this version is entertaining only to the extent that it follows the melody of the original Beatles version.  Zero creativity to copy a Beatles (or anyone's) cover.  In other words, never much of a challenge to play a cover compared with composing, engineering and recording an original song.
Phill Collins on his first solo album covers this song as well. Very different from this. I like all three.
 
I love this, love it, though I'm not an avid fan of the original group.
My upload. Never tire of hearing this. SIMON PHILIPS cranking on drums!
This was the key to psychedelia
Sorry, but I give the Beatles an 11, and this just a 6 .... I've never heard a Fab Four song covered where I didn't like original better ..
 
It is based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead, currently deep spiritual thought is of recreation is out of favor, but instant Karma wi get you slap you upside the head. lol
801 had two great records.
Then they went there own ways to create even more wonderful music.
A very nice coming together.
This song was tedious back when the Beatles did it.  This version is "better" musically than the Fab Four, but it's still tedious.  Gave it a 6, the original a 5.
 DavidS_UK wrote:

Oh dear, the Icon that is the Beatles has been disturbed, and like many other ancient worshipped icons, the hollowness at it's core is exposed.... yes they were first, they were good, but godlike... no. Their music, just like eveyone else's, can and is enriched by other people placing their own interpretation and view on it.  Just like 'Common People' played earlier.

 
Oh very yes

This version is excellent - can't stand whiny Lennon's version. 
 Bear9 wrote:
Incidentally, the band was named after a line in "The True Wheel," a song on Eno's 1974 album, "Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)." the refrain goes "We are the 801, we are the central shaft." 

 
And although he denies it, it certainly seems obvious that it's also

Eight
Nought
One

8-0-1 
 Shmelo wrote:
THIS is how you cover a song. Fucking awesome. I've never heard this before now. Fantastic.

  
Go buy this album. It's extraordinary.
 Shmelo wrote:
THIS is how you cover a song. Fucking awesome. I've never heard this before now. Fantastic.

 
a 10 out of 10 for your opinion!

And I have just spent far too much time reading back through all the comments! How I LOVE a track that polarises opinion like this one!
 jhorton wrote:
The original is an eleven. This is a minus one.

It's like all the life has been sucked out of it. 

LAME! 

 
Oh dear, the Icon that is the Beatles has been disturbed, and like many other ancient worshipped icons, the hollowness at it's core is exposed.... yes they were first, they were good, but godlike... no. Their music, just like eveyone else's, can and is enriched by other people placing their own interpretation and view on it.  Just like 'Common People' played earlier.
THIS is how you cover a song. Fucking awesome. I've never heard this before now. Fantastic.
Isn't this just a heavenly make up for a band...
Phil Manzanera (guitars, Roxy Music)Brian Eno (keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, vocals and tapes, ex-Roxy Music)Bill MacCormick (bass and vocals, ex-Quiet Sun, Matching Mole)Francis Monkman (Fender Rhodes piano and clavinet, ex-Curved Air)Simon Phillips (drums and rhythm generator)Lloyd Watson (slide-guitar and vocals).
This only one of a host of brilliant songs on this album, most of them original (to the band members). This one-shot collaboration by Eno and Phil Manzanera was the fruit of three — and only three — live gigs in 1976. As one would expect with a band led by Eno, the production is impeccable, an acclaimed model of the art. 

The only song I find inferior is their cover of a song that seems an incongruous choice: the Kinks' "You Really Got Me." I suspect they were just feeling adventurous.  

I am puzzled by the level of hostility to this song, particularly the weird claims of desecration. It's only a pop song, not the Holy Grail. I like both the Beatles' version and this one. On sites like Allmusic, this album gets nearly a perfect score. Everyone's taste is their own, but I don't feel lonely. 

Incidentally, the band was named after a line in "The True Wheel," a song on Eno's 1974 album, "Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)." the refrain goes "We are the 801, we are the central shaft." 
 scraig wrote:
What is this adding to the original exactly?

 
Everything.
The original is an eleven. This is a minus one.

It's like all the life has been sucked out of it. 

LAME! 
This is just spectacular.
Can't recognize anything creative here (in comparison). The good thing is, Bill is probably going to play the Beatles next.

Geez people, really? “..blasphemous” “…not meant to be covered..”? Conceited arrogance.

Use your own ears to judge music; made-up abstract rules is just narcissism.

 

As interesting and fun as the original is, to my ears, the inspired bass part on this version adds a truly delightful dimension. Take that, dogma enforcers.
 


avg. rating  is 6.5  so all the haters, and negative folks —chill out! lol Use the PSD and move on! Jury,  still out for me but always like to hear a "new" version of something lol 
Wow, lotsa hate for this one.
I have to say I don't have a problem with it.
Nice to hear a different take.
humungously brilliant.
All criticism aside, a notable point about this song is that it is performed by real humans, who are furthermore respectable musicians. It is not performed by computers, controlled by incompetent musicians, who similarly produce pseudo-human emulations of what it is actually like to be a human. Can you feel it? 
This is blasphemous...
Please do not play it again 
 buddy wrote:
Noble effort notwithstanding, some songs are just not meant to be covered.  The best cut from the best Beatles album is untouchable, IMHO. You can help but knock the crossbar down in the attempt.

 
Well, ENO never could resist a tape loop!

Per Wiki " The song has a vocal put through a Leslie speaker cabinet (which was normally used as a loudspeaker for a Hammond organ). Tape loops prepared by the Beatles were mixed in and out of the Indian-inspired modal backing underpinned by Ringo Starr's constant but non-standard drum pattern."


what the hell - thank you for playing this amazing band. I am totally happy right now!
I totally agree with buddy - I give this a generous 3.
Noble effort notwithstanding, some songs are just not meant to be covered.  The best cut from the best Beatles album is untouchable, IMHO. You can help but knock the crossbar down in the attempt.
everybody in the 801, get your groove on!
good stuff. How can you not like this?
Ach... entitlement running rampant, in here... Don't mistake opinion for fact, gentlemen. 
 oboyle wrote:
The first rule of Beatles covers is don't.

 
Good job you're not in charge then.
What a brilliant version. I find it best to imagine the stage with Eno, Manzanera, Philips all cranking away - at this, only one of their three shows.
Everybody in my alien space craft loves this groovy cover...
The first rule of Beatles covers is don't.
This is why I love Radio Paradise! New (old) discoveries!
{#Bananajumprope}
What is this adding to the original exactly?
Its from 1976 from a group that only did three gigs.  Phil Manzanera with Brian Eno and co.


Vocals were weak but instrumental was an interesting and pleasent INTERPRETATION!


Fans of Progrock and Art Rock might enjoy this more than others. Manzanera is super talent!      
 OHMish wrote:
What is the purpose of this cover?
 
Art.  Interpretation of two composers' work by admirers.  In a way, similar to any bar band playing a ZZTop classic, but with the intent to perform it from a different perspective.  

They laid in with the psychedelia, eh?  Successfully so?  Yes, to my thinking.  Not so much to yours, I gather. 
 Stranglersfan wrote:
Excellent stuff! Love Manzaneras Guitar work, Eno on Keys.......what a lineup!
More More More

 
Agree. Love this...
Marginal.  2
We are the 801...
Fills me with the urge to defecate!
This tasteless version of the beatles classic is nothing short of a travesty...
The one and only Beatles, the best ever band of all time. It's good to hear a reasonably good cover for once! 
nice fusion touch 
{#No}    {#No}    {#No}
Plodding and colorless. They took out all the interest of the original.
Tomorrow never knows.  Maybe Putin will set his sights on your peaceful country next.  Peace in our time!  You Euros can solve it all with a big hug.
 beatle song.

beinder wrote:

Phil also covered it, but this is Lennon–McCartney.

 


 DCABERO wrote:
Wasn't a song from an album of Phil Collins ?
Who is the original composer ?
 

 
Phil also covered it, but this is Lennon–McCartney.
 DCABERO wrote:
Wasn't a song from an album of Phil Collins ?
Who is the original composer ?
 

 
I don't know why no answer has appeared: Beatles
I normally love covers, for this I will make an exception. {#No}
Wow! 801 here on RP is a pleasant surprise. Still have the "Listen Now" LP on vinyl. Must clean up the ol' Technics direct drive turntable with the Shure cartridge and give it a spin or two. Or a trip to Amazon for the CD (through RP, of course!).
Wasn't a song from an album of Phil Collins ?
Who is the original composer ?
 
What is the purpose of this cover?
Excellent stuff! Love Manzaneras Guitar work, Eno on Keys.......what a lineup!
More More More
 maximinimalist wrote:
I had this in vinyl once upon a time. Thanks for playing. In my opinion it really captures the spirit of the original. Not an easy song to cover.
 
You had this in vinyl?   (jealousy rears its ugly head ....)  This is MAGNIFICENT!
 johnjconn wrote:
Sounds like a cross between Devo and Brian Ferry

 
Ferry wasn't there but his Roxy bandmates, Phil, Andy and of course the other Brian were.

Coolest cover of this is by a string quartet called Invert, who played it as the exit music for my wedding ceremony.

It also appears in a Kate Moss Vanity Fair video on You Tube - look 'em up
I thought this was one Beatles cut that never would be covered.  To my knowledge, that leaves uncovered only "You Know My Name" (and why haven't we heard THAT on RP, Bill?).  I gave it a 7 for sheer nerve.
I just changed my mind: 9 to 10.
 Stingray wrote:

The ultimate confirmation you are a Simpleton!

 

Beyond that you must be a liar, because I doubt that people in churches love 30 year old rock-album covers!

Give me a break and dig it, Lazarus!

 

I only speak the truth, Stingray...  you smell like a fart...

love this groovy cover...

check this out...  we be frying the planet—


global warming graph 


 Stingray wrote:

The ultimate confirmation you are a Simpleton!

 

Beyond that you must be a liar, because I doubt that people in churches love 30 year old rock-album covers!

Give me a break and dig it, Lazarus!



 
Someone needs few happy pills and a cute kitty picture...

Picture of cute kitten


Please do not eat the kitten or shit on its head, Stingray. You can't hate everyone. 



 grant wrote:

Interesting, excellent sounding, re-interpretation.

 
Exactly what I thought. Covering a Beatles song is a risky thing to do but this one is pretty good.

Interesting, excellent sounding, re-interpretation.
 Lazarus wrote:


Everybody in my church loves this awesome cover...

 
 
The ultimate confirmation you are a Simpleton!

 

Beyond that you must be a liar, because I doubt that people in churches love 30 year old rock-album covers!

Give me a break and dig it, Lazarus!




Everybody in my church loves this awesome cover...

 
 aspicer wrote:
Never heard this before, but that has to be ENO - no?!  I like it - I might as well be listening to the Eno vocal catalogue...it fits in perfectly.
 
Eno is in the ensemble.
I had this in vinyl once upon a time. Thanks for playing. In my opinion it really captures the spirit of the original. Not an easy song to cover.
Never heard this before, but that has to be ENO - no?!  I like it - I might as well be listening to the Eno vocal catalogue...it fits in perfectly.
I like this cover, at first I thought it was something recent so I'll have to say "Ahead of its time".
 bachbeet wrote:
Horrible cover.  Hope I never hear it again.
 
ditto.
Horrible cover.  Hope I never hear it again.
I like it but I think the drummer is going a little too nuts for this song.
 lwilkinson wrote:
Do I detect just a hint of Moody Blues in here?  I like this.  3 thumbs up ... oops, 2 thumbs and a big toe ...
 
I don't hear any mellotron mixed ponderously loud, or any other signs of the Moody Blues, but I guess everyone hears different things.  Interesting cover - good take on the tune.
Good
Went to Artist Link - quite the collection of players on this. Never heard of 801 until today. What will I learn next.... Tomorrow never knows
This is just so awesome!!!!