Taylor v. The Beatles

Can Taylor Swift be the 21st century’s answer to the Beatles?

Way back in the 1960’s when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and when all music was either on vinyl or over the radio, the only ways to hear the Beatles’ latest album was either being first in line to buy it or grooving to the “cool” FM radio station that would play it in its entirety at 1 AM.

I would do that for the lads from Liverpool. I would not do it for Tony Orlando & Dawn or any other musical group since.

Taylor Swift matched the Beatles last week. I caught up on recent “Fresh Air” podcasts this morning. Rock critic Ken Tucker began his review of “Tortured Poets” with an anecdote. Ken was in the dentist’s chair for a cleaning on the day before Taylor released her latest. The hygienist said, “I plan to get fully caffeinated at midnight tonight and drive the empty streets listening to “Tortured Poets”.

“T.P.” includes 31 tracks which should take nearly two hours for one play-through. Presumably, the hygienist has a strong bladder and a full tank of gas.

By the way, Ken Tucker was not terribly impressed with Tay-Tay’s latest. Of course, NPR listeners are not exactly Ms Swift’s primary audience.

If technology had allowed downloads of “Abbey Road” or “The White Album” back in the day, I would have done the same as that hygienist though.

By Ed Dufton