I think this one should play a bit gentler than most of my themeless puzzles. I’ll leave you with two gorgeous recordings of 47 Down, which is one of my favorite Beatles songs, early or late. (1) The original. (2) Cover version by Emmylou Harris:
Words: 72
Average Length: 5.11
This puzzle sets a record (sure to be broken) of the greatest number of my favorite songs I’ve managed to work into clues: (1) The Caves of [18 Across] (Steely Dan), (2) [25 Across] Smile (John Prine), (3) [55 Down] House (Graham Nash), (4) Where Have all the Flowers Gone (31 Down), and (5) Penny Lane (The Beatles, 54 Down). If you know some of these off the bat, you’ve got a head start. If not, don’t fear – everything should be easily gettable from crosses.
Words: 70
Average Length: 5.29
Here’s a concert line-up for you: the immensely talented Justin Timberlake, metal gods AC/DC, grunge idol Soundgarden, the magically-reformed Beatles, the ever-innovative Police, a reincarnated Otis Redding, more grunge from Nirvana, and closing the show, those giants of American music, the Grateful Dead. I’d go for sure, and tickets would undoubtedly be cheaper than seeing Taylor Swift. Enjoy the solve and the tunes!
(The photo has nothing to do with the puzzle. It’s from the Fathala Nature Reserve in Senegal, which I visited last week.)
Words: 16
Average Length: 5.00
I hope you enjoy this week’s MMM. Starting with today’s grid, I plan to write a few totally subjective sentences about one or two entries in each MMM. Here goes:
8 Across (ranked by Rolling Stone as the 243rd greatest song ever) is the most radical track on Revolver, which at the time was the most radical album in pop music history (and is Rolling Stone’s 11th greatest album ever). It’s a bleak, beautiful song with a propulsive melody and wistful lyrics (mostly by Paul) and a terrific, jagged George Martin string arrangement.
Revolver is my favorite Beatles album (Rubber Soul is second), but 8 Across is only my fourth favorite song on the album. I generally prefer John’s songs to Paul’s, and two of his tunes on Revolver – She Said She Said and I’m Only Sleeping – take first and second. Paul’s masterpiece, Here There and Everywhere, ranks third for me.
Words: 74 (17×13)
Average Length: 4.95
Difficulty: Somewhere between yacht rock and pop punk
Surely, you thought (hoped), Jeff has run out of musical puns. Um, no. This one bears some thematic resemblance to Rock of Aging (available here), but is less focused on decrepitude and more on just plain brand extension. Enjoy, share, and come back next Sunday!
Words: 79 (16×15 grid)
Average Length: 4.96
Difficulty: Like a fine romance – mostly easy with a few bumps along the way
Happy Valentine’s Day! I’ll let Ella Fitzgerald (1 Across) take it from here with her fantastic version of “My Funny Valentine,” available here.
Words: 78
Average Length: 4.92
Difficulty: Like aging gracefully – it can be done but takes some commitment
There’s been a lot of news recently about musicians selling their catalogs for hundreds of millions of dollars. But there’s another way for chronologically advanced rockers to monetize their hits – adapt them to tout cures for various afflictions of the aging. Such as, you may ask? Solve and find out!
Jeff's Puzzles