ABSTRACT: To my mind one of the greatest rock groups of all time were the Beatles. They were a major milestone and changed music forever
CONTENT: (©Jan 10, 2009~Ciao--originally published at Ciao under my pen-name of pyewacket)
If ever there was a rock group that was to forever change the sound of music, The Beatles definitely were "it". Since I was born in 1955, I had the pleasure of growing up with this group that was the cause of the "British Invasion" as it were and was to witness the many changes the group went through, from seemingly innocent mop topped hair-doed fab foursome, to a group that changed direction and went through their more "psychedelic" phase during the 1970s.
The early beginnings of what was to become known as The Beatles was formulated back in 1957 with John Lennon forming the group known as The Quarrymen. During this year, Paul McCartney was to join the group, then in 1958, George Harrison also joined up with the group. The group was to have a change of drummers for many years, first with Colin Hanton, then Pete Best. It wasn't until the year 1962 that Richard Starkey, better know as Ringo Starr was to join the group, and this fab foursome were to remain together until their official breakup in 1970.
During their early years they did "gigs" wherever they could, including the famous Cavern Club, which is where they were to be "discovered" by the then famous record producer, Brian Epstein. The rest you might say, was history and embarked the group to the road of fame that was to be unimaginable. Besides Epstein, another record producer was to manage the group, the equally famous George Martin. The first Beatles single to be released under the Decca label was "Love Me Do" followed by "Please, Please Me," then later, their first album, also called Please, Please Me was released in 1962. It wasn't until late 1962, that the group made their first televised appearance in a UK show called People and Places but that's when things truly go rolling for the group, and Beatlemania was about to begin, not only in the UK, but worldwide.
While The Beatles were on the Decca label in the UK, the record label that distributed their music in America was Capital Records and also Vee-Jay. Oh, how I remember this, as my very first 33 rpm record albums were on the Vee-Jay label and in "glorious" monophonic sound as stereo hadn't been invented yet.
The British Invasion, as it was termed didn't happen until 1964, when The Beatles made their first American appearance in February 1964 and made their official debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. Talk about memory lane! I remember this show so well even after all these years. While the camera naturally focused on the group singing, it would also pan to the audience of wildly, screaming teenaged girls, some were so caught up in seeing the "Fab Four" in person, not only were screaming, but crying, some even on the verge of fainting. With their fast emerging success, The Beatles were also involved with films, such as their first one "A Hard Day's NIght" which was released in June of 1964, and yes, you better believe I saw it. This movie was followed by their 1965 movie, simply called "Help" of which I remember fondly as well.
During their early period, the image of The Beatles while considered revolutionary, as at the time, no male rock group then had "mop top" type haircuts, it was still rather "squeaky" clean. Yet, the group was into drugs even in their early days, especially amphetamines to keep their energy going, and smoked marijuana. Things would change, including their "innocent" sound when they began experimenting with the hallucinogen, LSD and the drugs influence could be later heard in their more "psychedelic" sounding music that one hears in their St. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour and Yellow Submarine albums during the late 1960s. The group wasn't without their controversy in the latter years of the 1960s, especially by the more outspoken John Lennon, who had once stated that their popularity was greater than Jesus Christ, and with their anti-Vietnam War sentiments. With major record contract disputes, The Beatles formed their own record label, known as Apple Records and the first record produced under this label was the famous "White Album" one.
By the late 1960s dissension and hostile feelings were beginning with the group and their seem to be a power play, particularly between Paul McCartney and John Lennon. Many even attribute The Beatles breakup with John Lennon's love in his life, Yoko Ono, who supposedly never left Lennon's side, not even at the recording sessions. While the group disbanded in 1970, the group didn't officially dissolve until 1975, with each member going their separate directions, even creating their own single albums.
For many years after that, however there was some hope particularly by their die-hard fans, that maybe the group might come together perhaps in a concert appearance or if not that, at least to record more music together. That dream ended however, when on December 8, 1980, a crazed, deranged man, Mark David Chapman, shot and killed John Lennon in front of his Dakota apartment building. What was really poignant about his tragic death, was Lennon had just released his new album, Double Fantasy which ironically had included a song "Starting Over", which was what Lennon was indeed trying to do with his life.
It would be near nigh impossible to write every aspect of this most famous group without writing a book, and of course many books have been written about the most influential rock group ever to exist. During their heyday however, with the collaboration between John Lennon and Paul McCartney, some of the greatest and most memorable songs were written and way too many to list, but include, She Loves You, There's A Place, I Wanna Be Your Man, I Want To Hold Your Hand, and Yesterday.
Personal Comments
I just have to add a few really personal comments about this most famous rock group ever known. I quite literally grew up with The Beatles. Also, on August 15, 1965, when I was nine years old, while my grandmother, mother and I were at the famous World's Fair in Flushing, NY this just happened to be the same day that The Beatles were to have their famous Shea Stadium appearance. The group landed via helicopter on the roof of the Windows of The World restaurant, made their way down to ground level to be whisked away by limousine to their hotel. I happened to be there, crushed against the steel gates by a mob of screaming teenaged girls. The Beatles were only a few feet away from me as they ran and ducked into that limousine...oh, how I wished I had had a camera to photograph them, but didn't.
Also, another little personal item to mention. Only a day or so after John Lennon's death in 1980 I went to the Dakota apartment building, loaded up with my camera gear. Hundreds and hundreds of his fans were standing in front giving tribute to him, with candle vigils, singing songs, and I happen to be there when a news reporter Jane Hansen was interviewing people as they stood there in the rather frigid December weather. It was about a week later that the famous tribute was given to John Lennon at Central Park, in the section that would be later renamed Strawberry Fields, and yes, I was there too--I only show a few of my black and white photos I took at both occasions.
Will there ever be another rock group that will have the same impact as the Beatles? I don't think so. Long live The Beatles....We Love You Yeah, Yeah, Yeah..We Love You Yeah, Yeah, Yeah--Yeah!!
Some of their albums:
* Please Please Me ( 1963)
* With The Beatles (1963)
* A Hard Day's Night ( 1964)
* Beatles for Sale ( 1964)
* Help! (1965)
* Rubber Soul (1965)
* Revolver ( 1966)
* Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ( 1967)
* Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
* The Beatles ("The White Album") (1968)
* Yellow Submarine (1969)
* Abbey Road (1969)
* Let It Be (1970)
IMAGE SOURCES~©MELANIE NEER~First photo=Memorial Tribute To John Lennon In Central Park Shortly after his death~1980
Second photo=Reporter Jane Hansen interviewing fans outside the Dakota after his death 1980 Third photo=Memorial to John Lennon in Central Park after his death 1980
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