More coverage of ARotR can be found in the main thread, here.)

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One live band, 214 Beatle songs, 150 minutes, no breaks.

That's what we witnessed 5/28/2010 on the lawn at Abbey Road on the River. How could it happen?

The story is that elder Beatle-ology statesman Hal Bruce and Gary Jacob, organizer of the Abbey Road on the River festivals, are buds. (Hal has played every single ARotR.)

In the unique culture that's grown up among festival folks, every year there's an effort to come up with something grander, more amazing, bigger and better. Hal has been behind many of those ideas.

A few years ago he told Gary he could play all 214 recorded Beatles songs as a medley. Gary said it was impossible. Hal worked it up as a solo piece, and has performed it twice at ARotR.

The festival has presented complete albums, with full orchestration. What could be bigger?

At last year's event, Hal told Gary he could do the medley with a BAND. Gary said it was impossible.

Turns out, it's only alMOST impossible – but you'd only know that from the backstory, because the performance itself was seamless.

The backstory: Hal finalized the running order of the songs last November, and started forwarding his arrangements electronically, in batches of ten, to Mark Beyer, master musician and his frequent keyboard collaborator here in Louisville. Mark, in turn, worked up his parts and rehearsed them with the guitarist (also from Louisville).

The musical sketches went back and forth between the Louisville contingent and Halifax NS (Hal's home), or wherever he was at the time. Hal rehearsed with a drummer, also from Nova Scotia.

Amazingly, the bassist was recruited in Nova Scotia at something like the last minute. The band first assembled as a group just last Sunday for live rehearsals. Before last night's performance, they reported having played the entire 214-song medley through just four times.

Last night around 7:30, Hal Bruce and the Hard Dazed Knights were introduced by a local TV personality and ARotR kingpin Gary Jacob, and they lit into it.

Some of us were mesmerized; some were increasingly elated as the performance went on. A contingent of girls (age 10 to ahem) danced, nearly continuously – and performed pantomime motions to the lyrics of most of the songs, a la Rocky Horror audience participation. They also sang (or at least mouthed) virtually every lyric.

All of us went on a long and winding journey as we were carried from The Beatles' roots in classic American roots rock (sometimes we forget how long they were a roughneck somethin'-like-'billy band) through the fresh chiming magic of the mid-decade hits to the wonders of their musical maturity.

It's like living a decade in fast-forward. You wonder whether The Beatles created the era – or whether they were washed along on the current like everyone, and simply managed to bob up ahead a little.

There was ample time to reflect not only on the alchemy of genius – how four particular very human talents came together to create something like an immortal separate entity – but on the characteristic melodicism of their writing and the essential strength of the songs, the care and ingenuity of the arrangements, their growth from youth to maturity, their progression from simplicity to complexity in a decade that careened from promises of new frontiers to threats of social collapse.

You can't help but think about the fundamental humanity, compassion, and goodwill The Beatles stood for as a group. It's not only in the preponderance of love songs, nor only in the love-and-peace lyrics; it's in the band's homely attention to detail in presenting the characters implied in their songs.

Most of all, watching the people listening and singing, dancing and dreaming, you get a sense for the lasting legacy of this music and its universal appeal. For some of us, this music is nostalgic – though this performance made it new and vital again – the the young, who know it as well as most of us, it is equally new and vital.

Hearing it straight through, in Hal's sequence, was something of a ritual for all involved. Yes, the sun was shining when they sang the sun songs – and it clouded up, lightninged, and even rained a few drops right around "Rain's" turn.

That's the kind of night it was on the Lawn at Abbey Road on the River. Wish you could have been there.

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As far as anyone knows, such a medley has never before been performed by an entire band. It took 2 hours and 30 minutes, give or take, and there's never more than a 1-2-3-4 between any two songs.

What will they do with The White Album, I kept wondering. In fact, what about the whole arc of their work from Sgt Peppers onward? How do you replicate that? It's one thing to do it with acoustic guitar – no one would expect BIG. But put a band up there, and the stakes get higher. Here's where the keyboards came into play, with some of the best samples and arranging of such material I've ever heard.

In fact, the performance would be hard to imagine without any one of the players: the guitar and bass were consummate, the drums impeccable and powerful. Bruce lead with easy confidence on acoustic and electric, and his sturdy, Lennonesque voice was a constant – somehow even reassuring – presence.

It's a feat of physical endurance as well as musical skill and focus, but the running order, arrangement, and performance are what really make it work.

I had wanted to stream the performance live, but logistics didn't permit. I went second-best and recorded every second of it, from the 4th row front right. I tried to hold the same position throughout so the stereo perspective doesn't wander too badly (though some of my neighbors' singing and inane if understandable enthusiams come through).

Even if you're a Beatle cynic, you want to listen to this. Find a way to settle back and relax, plug it through a good sound system or put on headphones, and take this magical mystery tour.

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Two versions. The first mp3 contains the entire performance, straight through in one file – a 203 MB, 150 minute file.

If your system can't eat that, I've broken the performance into 11 sections, something between 9 and 15 minutes each (depending on good stopping points). But nothing is edited out. As soon as one ends, start the next with no play gap, and you'll be there.

But let's make it more interesting with a contest.

214 songs. To the best of my knowledge, the playlist is not available to google. I have a whole Gretsch guitar rig for what I'll call the first, best listing of all 214 songs, IN ORDER. (I say "first, best" because there's some latitude for judgment in various places.)

The prize? A black Gretsch Electromatic Jr. Jet II with gig bag, and Electromatic 5222 amplifier, and a coily cord to go with it.

I've requested Hal Bruce's official running list – which will obviously serve as the master reference. If I can't make contact with him, I'll get the running order verified SOMEhow.

Send your submissions to my email address, via messaging on the GDP.

I don't know when I'll be able to announce the results...but this will give you something to listen to while waiting for more ARotR coverage.

(And some video of the performance will come later.)

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The Audio

Audio files have been disabled; watch this space for higher-fidelity versions, coming next week.

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Medley Video Montage

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If I didn't know any better, judging by the looks of the crowd... I'd think this was a Grateful Dead concert!

I don't even know 214 Beatles songs

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that really made me want a casino

That's awesome! I'd do it if I didn't have to go to work.

This is very cool! Thanks for recording this, Proteus! If the first clip is any indication, they're playing the albums in order with the original UK LP running order.

Let's see if that holds true . . .I'm curious to hear where they're going to stick the singles.

I'm exhausted, but it was sure fun to listen. It must have been great to see this live.

So it has taken me over 12 hours to listen to the whole eleven listings, but what a great time I have had!

Thanks Tim!

I have been listening again parts of the performance during the day. I am still amazed. I wish I had been there to hear it live.

214 songs sounds a lot, and I thought I would not recognize many of them. But especially the first half of it was like meeting old friends. When I was kid I had the red and blue double albums and I recorded earlier albums to casette recorder from my friends. I listened those over and over again. Back then I could not get their later albums, so I had few blank spots on those.

What a great group they were. Hal Bruce & co made great job of bringing their music alive. Thanks for sharing this Tim!

AndyJ said: If the first clip is any indication, they're playing the albums in order with the original UK LP running order.

Pretty much, but they moved some around in a few spots -- still within the "album," as it were.

The real curveball was putting the Let It Be material ahead of Abbey Road -- an apparent nod to the recording chronology.

They apparently ran out of gas before getting to Free as a Bird and Real Love, but we'll give 'em pass on that.

Paul/FF909

Sie liebt dich was good

I'm still taking entries of the playlist to win the guitar and amp.

I was considering it, but I don't need a 5222 that badly.

Honestly, it's probably not that hard. I started listening (and simultaneously googling lyrics that I didn't already know) and got the first five or so songs. But twelve hours of that.....uh.....pass.

that is quite the dedication to meld 214 songs into one medley!

EDIT: I enjoyed the twelve hours so much I came back for more!!

Thanks again Proteus for a great day spent listening to some cool tunes!

That was awesome. What a great medley.

My entry is in your PM box...

Thanks so much for sharing that!

Hal comes through!

Hal and I have been playing phone and email tag for almost two weeks – but my busy is nothing compared to his, so we didn't meet till yesterday afternoon.

I had emailed to see if he had the setlist in electronic form he could send easily, but he hadn't been playing email in the last week. I explained the purpose during our conversation, and he regretted he didn't have it electronically – only on the big cue cards they used during the show.

But he volunteered to make a hand copy of the list for us. I said he shouldn't – but he insisted. So, as he met people at his merch table, signed autographs, and showed off his new guitar, he worked on a legal tablet.

I now have that very list in my grubby paws, and will use it to adjudicate a winner. Pretty soon.

Many thanks to Hal for his graciousness and generosity!

What a great thing to do for us... Alot of time taken out of both of your schedule's for the GDP!! Thanks Hal, Pro!!

That is quite a set list for one gig

Hal & the setlist...

And Casino case...

Well, no ...

I was keeping it as a surprise for the other thread, but on Sunday Hal Bruce became the newest official Gretsch Artist, and that's his new Tennessee Rose with Hilotrons.

As he said, he's always wanted a Gretsch.

Even cooler...

Great news that Hal Bruce now plays a Gretsch!

Frankly, for all of the bands that were Beatles-wannabes, I couldn't understand how they could think that they could complete the visual part of the equation without playing the correct instruments. Despite the Beatles suits, you can't be a Beatles band and not play a Gretsch, Rickenbacker, and Hofner. It just doesn't compute for me.

Looking at Hal's list, unless there's a continuation page somewhere, he failed to include his reprise of A Day in the Life at the very end.

Paul/FF909