Glen Burtnik & Friends

[sadie65]

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Glen Burtnik & Friends show their devotion to Beatles' 'White Album'

By Robert Hicks • Special to the Daily Record • July 25, 2008


Styx bassist Glen Burtnik loves the Beatles.

"The Beatles just seem to be resonating continuously," he said. "It's like a pebble that's dropped in the water and the waves just keep going. I have a 16-year-old daughter and the Beatles are just as current for her as any of today's rock acts."

Glen Burtnik & Friends will perform the Beatles' "White Album" in its entirety at the State Theatre's Jersey Summer Beatles Bash #2 in New Brunswick July 25.

The 40-member cast includes Marshall Crenshaw, Bob Burger and Marc Muller, plus an orchestra led by conductor James Egan, band director at North Brunswick Township High School.

The event marks the 40th anniversary of the Liverpool lads' landmark contribution to rock history. During its era, the original vinyl recording met with controversy for its diverse stylistic innovation and radical politics in songs ranging from "Why Don't We Do It in the Road" and "Back in the U.S.S.R." to "Helter Skelter" and "Revolution."

"When I started this project, I looked back on 1968 and thought, 'Why not celebrate this multifaceted album,'" Burtnik said.

"Growing up with two older brothers, I was always very attuned to the youth culture of the '60s. I remember being excited about the release of a new Beatles album. I couldn't wait. There were rumors about when it would be available."

Burtnik first performed Beatles' music live in 1978 as a cast member of the Broadway show "Beatlemania." He also joined the cast on the West Coast. That's when he met Marshall Crenshaw. Every year Burtnik performs at Beatles conventions and in a Beatles tribute band, Liverpool. He has extensively researched the Fab Four's recording history in books such as "All You Need Is Ears" and "The Beatles Recording Sessions."

The "White Album" had its lighter child-like and balladic sides, too, in songs such as "Rocky Raccoon," "Martha My Dear," "Julia" and "Good Night."

"'Good Night' is one of my favorite songs," Burtnik said. "It ended the double album. It's kind of flowery. But it can be almost like a children's song."

There were the playful rhymes in "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da" and the rambunctious humor of "Piggies."

The double album brimmed with lyricism, too, in songs such as "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Happiness Is A Warm Gun."

And it rocked aggressively with the energy of "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey" and some of the aforementioned songs.

"The Beatles were almost like religious figures for me at the time," Burtnik said. "I was just so into their music."

A native of central New Jersey, Burtnik first heard the "White Album" at age 13, encouraged to listen to it by his older brothers who were fans of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."

"I grew up with this music," Burtnik said, "and so many musicians hold it in such high regard. We try to approximate what's on the record and to do live what the Beatles never had a chance to do."

[Toph]

[quote="sadie65"]http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080725/ENT01/807250310


Glen Burtnik & Friends show their devotion to Beatles' 'White Album'

By Robert Hicks • Special to the Daily Record • July 25, 2008


Styx bassist Glen Burtnik loves the Beatles.

[quote]

Glen's back with Styx?! Sweet!