Beatles Break Free of CDs

Now at Christie's; may fetch $11K

(NEWSER) - Looks like the stars were aligned for Ringo. A 1960 letter written by Paul McCartney sought a drummer for the Beatles two years before Starr joined the Fab Four. The note was discovered folded into a book at a Liverpool yard sale, the AP reports. It was a response to an ad placed by a drummer looking for a band. In the missive, McCartney offered the drummer—whose identity remains unknown—an audition. More»

Even so, his latest album is available on it

(NEWSER) - “The Internet is the most dangerous thing invented since the atomic bomb,” according to rocker John Mellencamp. “It's destroyed the music business. It's going to destroy the movie business,” and it could lead “some smart people, the China-Russians or something,” to conquer us by hacking our power grid or financial system. He made the dire warnings while promoting his latest album…which was released in stores as well as, yes, on the Internet, Reuters reports . More»

Yes, they're mostly by George

(NEWSER) - Sam Greenspan admits he had a little trouble with this list for his 11 Points blog , but he toughed it out and came up with the best 11 Beatles songs written by Ringo Starr or George Harrison. The top five:

1. "Something" (George): "Arguably his best lyrics, melody and vocal performance all coming together on one track ."
2. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (George): On the other hand, this could have been No. 1, too.

Norah Jones, Nelly also snag spots

(NEWSER) - The Beatles might have had its heyday a few decades ago, but the band managed to emerge from this decade with the best-selling album. Perhaps more surprising is the decade’s top-selling artist: Eminem, with 32.2 million albums sold—followed closely by, yes, the Beatles again in the No. 2 spot with 30 million sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The most surprising appearance of all, however, is a certain boy band… More»

(NEWSER) - When the eyes of the world turn to London for the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics, the land of Shakespeare and the Beatles will present ... the Spice Girls. "They stand for so much in British music history and I can’t think of a better time for them to get back together for another performance," says impresario Simon Fuller. The performance may accompany a farewell tour, he tells the Daily Mirror : "I think if they do it, it’s going to be in 2012." More»