… just how much inventiveness had gone into engineering even relatively simple 50s/60s songs … as yoof, we just enjoyed them, even the reversed lyrics, the obvious tricks … but it was only after seeing this tech analysis of Rain (below) did I really start to understand what it took.

The Beatles fab version itself, imho their best song

Grace Haylor’s multi-instrumental version … also fab in its own way

Many reviewers keep referring to the drumming and bass on that song and as a devotee of good bass, I was on clover.

As for Grace H … I’ve been with and/or seen hundreds of girls over the years of immense talent, which Grace H has in full measure … but I do suspect another influence in there and my best guess is daddy influence, as in “would do anything for daughter”, just as it should be. This was borne out in one of her duets with dad … cough, best he stick to engineering and producing.

Anyway, here she is on two other great choices from the era:

… and here:

Which brings us finally to the era … I was way too young to understand just how innocent it was compared to the vile things now. Don’t think we were simple and innocent in our aspirations … we were into anything going … and yet, comparatively, it was innocent, safe … free!