COVER OF THE WEEK
# 17. "Klaatu" by the group Klaatu.
August of 1976: An unknown group called Klaatu released the debut album "Klaatu". Nothing much happens.
February
1977: Steve Smith, a writer for the Providence Journal in Rhode Island,
USA, wrote an article titled "Could Klaatu Be the Beatles? Mystery
Is a Magical Mystery Tour."
The article began the rumor that Klaatu was "more than likely either
in part or in whole the Beatles.".
Reportedly, some of the "clues" as to whether or not Klaatu were the Beatles - or at least included one or more of John, Paul, George or Ringo - were backward messages, Morse code, references to the group in the song lyrics, and the word "Beatles" hidden in various places on the record jacket.
Curious people wanted to hear and the record company had a hit on it's hands, careful to keep the names and faces of the members of Klaatu a secret for two more albums. And they didn't tour until 1981-82, just before breaking up.
Of course Klaatu wasn't the Beatles after all, but three studio muscicians from Toronto, Canada; Terry Draper, John Woloschuck, and Dee Long.
With
the Beatles-mystery gone the group toiled on releasing four more albums,
but never managed to repeat the success of the first LP.
Klaatu finally called it a day in 1982.
Does the name of the group sound familiar? "Klaatu" is of course
the name of the alien visiting the earth in the 1951 science fiction classic
"The Day The Earth Stood Still"
The album "Klaatu" (in their homeland called "3:47 EST") consists of light, harmonic pop songs which harbor a little bit of a progressive rock feel in a few spots. Lyrics telling short stories. It's not the easiest thing to hear why the music in spots could be confused with new/unreleased Beatles-material, but back then the dreams/hopes of a Beatles comeback were still a possibility. As well as a great story.
Enjoy the "beatleseque" sound from Klaatu's debut album this week on RadioDupree. A group who was good enough in its own right, without having to live up to any Beatles rumours.
The
cover was painted by Edward Jones who did the artwork for four of the
groups five albums. Art that fit the sound of the group.
The front shows a sun
More on the group at:
including an article covering all the "clues" that proved why Klaatu had to be the Beatles. Just a couple here to do with the cover of the album:
* While there are 8 trees pictured right at the very bottom of the front cover of the band's first album, only 7 have their roots showing. There are 7 letters in the name Beatles!!
* On the back cover of the first album is a two colored planet. Some took this to be an allusion to Paul McCartney & Wings' album, "Venus and Mars"!!
* On Abbey Road the Beatles sing about the "Sun King". The Klaatu album covers all have a picture of the sun on them!!
* The initials for the Beatles last album, Abbey Road, are AR. If spelled backwards that becomes RA which is the name of the Egyptian god of the sun.
SPOOKY! (hehehe...)
N.S.