The Minnesota Beatle Project

I approached this CD with some trepidation. I'm a Beatles fan, although not a rabid one, but still -- sometimes I just want to say, enough with the remakes.

But you know what? This is a heckuva lot of fun.

This CD is the product of a collaborative effort by Minnesota-born-or-based musicians, The Current, McNally Smith College of Music, City Pages, and Schmitt Music, among others. That's the who -- the why is to raise money to support arts and music education across the state of Minnesota. Vega Productions has teamed with the Minnesota Music Educators Association and the Art Educators of Minnesota to distribute proceeds (100 percent of net profit) across the state. There were school kids involved in the project; the album artwork was done by kids from Minneapolis and St. Paul Public Schools, and the final track, a medley starting wtih Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, is a live performance by the Susan B. Anthony Middle School Band.

But before that are some wonderful takes on Beatles' songs by local musicians. Some play it straight, others take a more imaginative approach.

I particularly like Nicholas Morzinski's take on Across the Universe; Jeremy Messersmith's haunting and wistful version of Norwegian Wood; Dave Simonett & Friends' rendition of Two of Us; and I've Just Seen a Face as performed by the Pistol Whippin' Party Penguins (although I may be influenced by the name of the band -- how great is that??).

So, for a few bucks, you can get a great CD and support music and arts education around the state. Not a bad deal at all. CDs are available at local record stores, Schmitt Music Centers, and online.

Amy Rea

Flyover Land , by Amy Rea, is about the best of Minnesota, and why you shouldn't just fly over.