Jason Falkner - Bedtime with The Beatles

On Bedtime with The Beatles, Jason Falkner reels in his over-the-top production tendencies to produce a beautiful collection of lullabies via The Fab Four.

Jason Falkner has performed and recorded with such powerpop luminaries as Jellyfish, The Grays, and The Three O'Clock, as well as collaborating with fellow classic popster Eric Matthews. His solo work, however, best reveals his love of ultramelodic composition, and showcases his prowess at pretty much any instrument he touches. Bedtime with The Beatles is Falkner's first CD for children.

Falkner is somewhat famous for a "wall-of-sound" production on his solo work. On Bedtime with The Beatles, however, he decided to slow everything down, keep it all relaxed, and turn in a truly inspired lullaby album.

Most songs are pretty faithful to the originals, with material chosen from A Hard Day's Night, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Magical Mystery Tour, the "White Album", and Let It Be. But Falkner uses just the right amount of ambient sounds and personal touches in decorating his lovingly recreated instrumental versions of Beatles classics to make the songs unique.

The clavinet runs during "Blackbird" and the small swells of strings at the end of "Michelle" will catch your ear; and at a lullaby's pace, you can really hear the beauty of the melodies in "And I Love Her" and "Here There and Everywhere".

If you had to limit yourself to just one Beatles lullaby album, this is the one to pick. Bedtime with The Beatles is a must-have for all new parents (the CD is available in blue and pink), for Beatles fans, and for music lovers in general.

Released October 30, 2001; Sony Wonder