Thursday, March 18, 2010

Twin Peppers - An Investigation

In the Fall of 2008, the fifth and final Iamaphoney suitcase was left in Berlin, Germany and reportedly found at the Brandenburg Gate by YouTube user sdofik. Your friend and mine, MikeyNL1038 chronicled this momentous event in his famous video paul is dead - nothing is real 333, which features the obscene gesture heard around the world.



At the time, the famous finger was credited to blog reader Yenz, who I'm told is back on solid food and should be released within the next few months. People were a bit unkind to poor Yenz, who was never proven to be the individual in the famous video with the famous middle finger.

MikeyNL1038 continued to put pressure on Mr. sdofik, and eventually, I think, came in possession of what some consider to be the most interesting items from the suitcase. "The Twin Peppers" (two Parlophone vinyl copies of The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album) were strategically attached to a rumor that if you play them in sync, hidden messages would appear.



Mike made another video called paul is dead - nothing is real 334 suitcase contents showing the items found in the suitcase.

More recently, Mike generously shared a link (no longer active) to what he claimed were digitized versions of the two vinyl albums at rapidshare. He instructed listeners to open the two files in Audacity and play them at a speed of 0.93%. Do you have any idea of what happens to 40 year-old sleeveless vinyl records that are left in a suitcase on the ground in Germany? Am I supposed to try to play them in sync? They both skip a lot, so one would have to do quite a bit of editing to keep them in sync. Playing them at 93% speed results in a nearly imperceptible difference, even to a trained ear.

I did do some experiments with them, but the results were not too inspiring.

I was hoping that Rotten Apple 59 was giving us a clue. Released about one year before the German suitcase was dropped, the video features the sound of scratchy vinyl and a loop from the song "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." My first slightly out of sync attempts at playing the Twin Peppers simultaneously reminded me of the Iamaphoney mashup.



But a close listen to the soundtrack, which can also be found in Mike's Iamaphoney Bootleg 2 under the title iamaphoney - Paperbags For Pepper shows that the Iamaphoney recording bears no resemblance to the scratchy records I downloaded from rapidshare.

The idea of syncing up two vinyl records that skip is folly. And please don't suggest that the skips may have meaning. Variables such as the quality of the turntable cartridges, weight of the tone arm, condition of the stylus and environmental elements would not allow for planned skips in vinyl records. It is possible to sync them to some degree by putting breaks in the skips to equal the amount of time lost, but nothing emerged from that experiment.

There is one thing I can tell you about those two records. These are not alternate mixes of the Sgt. Pepper tracks. The sound on these records is what you would get if you played them on a monaural record player with a stereo needle. You basically have a mono mix of one channel with some bleed through. So, Paul's part at the beginning and end of the title track is buried, as are the backing vocals on "When I'm 64," the lead vocals of "Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite," the laughter at the end of "Within You Without You," the chorus vocals on "Good Morning Good Morning" and the lead vocal of the first verse and bridge of "A Day In The Life." There is nothing on these records that can't be heard on the standard issue of the album. The only highlight would be that it is easier to hear the vocal at the end of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)," which some interpret as "Paul is dead, really dead."

So basically we have a phony alternative mix (actually two identical ones) of the Sgt. Pepper's album that can be easily achieved by using improper equipment. That was a rather curious choice by whoever it was that ripped them and uploaded them to rapidshare.

It is a surprise that neither record has the inner groove recording that existed on the first British release of the album. There is an extra bit of sound at the end of Side Two of Album Two, but it sounds like an accidental needle drop. Attempts to slow down this artifact did not result an any meaningful discovery.

I have inquired to MikeyNL1038 for some clarification, and will update this post when I receive any information.

There are some new videos inspired by the Rotten Apple Series. TheMagickian gave us A Craftsman in the Works.



YouTube user VomitonRBX303 has been uploading Rotten Apple videos with Spanish sub-titles. I have posted a permanent link on this blog under Essential Links. Sunssol also has a new backwards backwards video, if you know what I mean. And I'll be uploading a new video shortly.

It will be interesting to see if Iamaphoney says hello to us in April. April has always been an interesting month in the Iamaphoney saga.

104 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am first.

April Showers/May Flowers/Pilgrims said...

It will be interesting to see if Iamaphoney says hello to us in April. April has always been an interesting month in the Iamaphoney saga.

Why yes, indeed it has.

Anonymous said...

And where you see clouds upon the hills,
You soon will see crowds of daffodils,
So keep on looking for a blue bird,
And list'ning for his song,
Whenever April showers come along.

Anonymous said...

I'm a Bluebird

Anonymous said...

Great you are the best

Anonymous said...

Blue Jay's Way

Anonymous said...

oh yes indeed we know,
We will find the way to go,
no matter what the man says!

Anonymous said...

Well it only goes to show
And I told them where to go
Ask a policeman on the street
There's so many there to meet

Anonymous said...

lol

When the red red robin comes bob... said...

Spring is here.

Phoney isn't.

Anonymous said...

11

Anonymous said...

Phoney isn't.


or is he?

something to make me small said...

Shoes still rules. How you gonna out do that one, iaap?

speaking of UFOs said...

1954 film over Belgium

Anonymous said...

t if you play them in sync, hidden messages would appear.

Anonymous said...

You will know.

rocket science said...

H+ H bagels

just outtasight

Anonymous said...

I forgot about good ol' Yenz. Those were the glory days of Iamaphoneymania before all those damn Twilight fans jumped on the bandwagon and left comments consisting of random song lyrics. When IAAP was shirtless and wooing sexually confused young men all over youtube. When a fat kid named Yenz gave us all the finger, probably the most honest secret message ever imparted throughout this whole fiasco.

(sniff) you can never go home again.

Anonymous said...

A special thank you to Tafultong and MikeNL. Nobody keeps the flame like you guys.

the secret message! said...

CODE

Faul said...

It's not like me to pretend.

Big Al said...

Whispering pretty stories

One Froggy Night said...

GOOD STUFF

Phonee said...

How I love ya!

Your Mother Should Know said...

what the secret message is.

Michigan J. Frog said...

evening that is

Falco said...

Push! Push! Push!
Just a little!
Push! Push! Push!
A little further!
Push! Push! Push!
Oh just a little bit!
Push! Push! Push!
A little bit more!

Ford Falco N said...

I am second.

tafultong said...

On the Wings of a Nightingale

Phil and Don Everly Brothers said...

Which one is Doc?

somebody mccartney said...

On the wings of a nightingale

Wings of a Nightingale said...

Oh yeah!

Tafultong said...

YouTube says:


This video is still being processed. Video quality may improve once processing is complete.


Thanks YouTube. The sound is muddy too! Hopefully it will clear up soon.

just a little refurbishing said...

and we're good as new!

Jude/RockXLight said...

paul is dead - the rotten apple 1337: A REVALATION BEGINS

Two Brothers said...

The sound is muddy too! Hopefully it will clear up soon.

Sounds OK here.

BillyShearsFaul said...

The Rotten Faul 2 A

it's all too much

technical difficulties said...

Taf's video is freezing up at 1:18 for me. (Right where the girl with her feet up is being shown.)

goo3joob said...

Try this one.

I saw that! said...

Why is the man kicking a cross at 1:35?

goo3joob said...

Use the second (bottom) link.

Anonymous said...

Guys, Tafultongs voice sounds a lot like phoney on the video, dont you think?

Anonymous said...

Possibly, a Beatles and McCartney fan and a Byrds maniac. ;)

Sesame Street: The Beetles - Letter B

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmVd9F1fW00

Anonymous said...

And if you like
D7 G C
We'll fly together to the land of eternal sun
G D7
On the wings of a nightingale of love
C D7 G C
High above land and sea I'll be thinking of you and me
G D7
Couldn't ask for a better place to be

Anonymous said...

46

Anonymous said...

So, searching for some sign of life, he sees a house with a light on at the top of a hill....

Something Obscene said...

Me and my monkee

With a little YELP from my friends said...

taf and byrds

Anonymous said...

I tell you man, he's living there still.

Byrdsmaniac said...

Possibly, a Beatles and McCartney fan and a Byrds maniac. ;)

LOL! But I actually had a similar thought.
I thought that Tom Petty (who sounds like McGuinn) might be singing with taf!

(Go for it taf!!!)

yenz/joode said...

(just kidding!)

Anonymous said...

Powerball

Anonymous said...

Let me roll it

Anonymous said...

55

Anonymous said...

Bluebirds

Anonymous said...

LOL B, Wondered if you'd catch that one.

The song sounds a little like McGuinn doing McCartney. Taf has a pretty good knack for creating video to go along with the audio as well.

Will the real IAAP please stand up.

Anonymous said...

You can bet your Everly loving heart Taf has some skills plus lots of old records and dolls. It is alright to have a few dolls, we have gotten past that bit in today's society. :)

olimpicus said...

thanks VomitonRBX303 for the translations!

i need them sometimes

Tafulwong said...

Twin Peppers - A Masturbation

Butt Seriously said...

oompa loompaolimpicus

Johnny B. Bad said...

"Do it! Do it! Do it!"

Who was giving the orders?

The Ghost of John Lennon said...

reviews "The Catcher in the Rye."

John "Everly" Lennon said...

I die each time!

Anonymous said...

oh no it cant be so

Anonymous said...

MoJo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHS8Ns-8bW0

Anonymous said...

The future is littered with prizes
And though I'm the main addressee
The point that I must emphasize is
You won't get a sniff without me!

Anonymous said...

^^^

stick humour

Anonymous said...

ll

Anonymous said...

lol

Anonymous said...

April 10th? for what?

grateful said...

Tom Petty with Crosby Stills and Nash?
What's not to like?

I mean, other than Crosby?

Thanks for the tip!

Anonymous said...

Got some things to talk about, here beside the rising tide.

Anonymous said...

Have you seen the light?

Anonymous said...

brilliant

Mike is too lazy to log in said...

How can iaap top that and shoes?

April10H8R said...

NO MORE SUITCASES!

Anonymous said...

christ omega! Please!!

lipread lip said...

80

Lonely Bones said...

Here's another clue for you all

Now and Then

Anonymous said...

and if I make it through, it's all because of you

Anonymous said...

Now and Then, I miss you.

Anonymous said...

Hello,

It's true. It's all because of you

Anonymous said...

Billy White Cloud leaning on a lamp post.

Anonymous said...

You know I believe in how.

Anonymous said...

Welcome to Paul McCartney.com.

Anonymous said...

Let 'em in...

Anonymous said...

Brian Ray put up this interesting note on his Facebook page Tuesday. It reads

"We just wrapped up day 2 of rehearsals here, the singer is in good form, as per usual w/some cool surprises on the Up and Coming Tour.. stay tuned, ok?"

Anonymous said...

90

Anonymous said...

Penny Lane dances at the Palladium.

Anonymous said...

Helter Skelter

Anonymous said...

Wasn't that song on the White Album?

Anonymous said...

Ste. IamaPhotini

the enlightened one!

Anonymous said...

Chase Phoney

Anonymous said...

The Titanic sinks in panic, but the band played on and on, they heard the SOS but no one knew where she had gone!

Anonymous said...

so Taf, bottom line is: another disappointment? Twin Peppers = hoax?

Well, it wasn't worth the wait, but the Yenz thing was fun entertainment.

Anonymous said...

flipping out

Anonymous said...

twin freaks!

twin pepper said...

Worth the weight! Really!

Anonymous said...

100

Anonymous said...

Electric Bill arguments

Anonymous said...

Oh Philadelphia freedom shine on me, I love you
Shine a light through the eyes of the ones left behind
Shine a light shine a light
Shine a light won't you shine a light
Philadelphia freedom I love you, yes I do

Anonymous said...

I got the Bill, and Phoney paid it.

Anonymous said...

Friday Jan 13, 2012

hi





jenz is still a jerk

Isaacsondgmt said...

I am second.