50 years of Beatlemania

[MrGongGong]

Although if you could get your name on the royalties cheque, you'd give a sh... alright!

Hey man
Money can't buy you........... oh shit , did I really say that ?

[Richard Tarleton]

I wonder if it may be down to body chemistry, or Myers Briggs personality type, or something - perhaps someone has a theory. I first heard the Beatles aged 14 in early 1963....did nothing for me. The Stones - first heard shortly afterwards - went straight into the bloodstream. Dylan Freewheelin' - also 1963, though I didn't hear it till 64 - life-changing. It's not really comparing like with like though - the Beatles last played to an audience in 1966....not a real band after that.

[Serial_Apologist]

I wonder if it may be down to body chemistry, or Myers Briggs personality type, or something - perhaps someone has a theory. I first heard the Beatles aged 14 in early 1963....did nothing for me. The Stones - first heard shortly afterwards - went straight into the bloodstream. Dylan Freewheelin' - also 1963, though I didn't hear it till 64 - life-changing. It's not really comparing like with like though - the Beatles last played to an audience in 1966....not a real band after that.

But at least you could then hear them!

[cloughie]

I wonder if it may be down to body chemistry, or Myers Briggs personality type, or something - perhaps someone has a theory. I first heard the Beatles aged 14 in early 1963....did nothing for me. The Stones - first heard shortly afterwards - went straight into the bloodstream. Dylan Freewheelin' - also 1963, though I didn't hear it till 64 - life-changing. It's not really comparing like with like though - the Beatles last played to an audience in 1966....not a real band after that.

I always thought the Beatles v Stones thing was manufactured - particularly as one of the early Stones chart successes was the Lennon-McCartney 'I wanna be your man'. This may have spurred on Jagger and Richards to write their own songs but that songwriting partnership was possibly the first edging out of Brian Jones, who was arguably the most musically inventive Stone!

[jean]

Among the 18 Things That Make You a Liverpool Student listed here is this one:

Even though you love them, you're a bit sick of The Beatles.

They made some good records and all that, but it's hard to stay as enthusiastic about them when every out-of-towner asks: "Oh, you go to Liverpool? You must love the Beatles!"

[Richard Tarleton]

I always thought the Beatles v Stones thing was manufactured - particularly as one of the early Stones chart successes was the Lennon-McCartney 'I wanna be your man'. This may have spurred on Jagger and Richards to write their own songs but that songwriting partnership was possibly the first edging out of Brian Jones, who was arguably the most musically inventive Stone!

Agreed, there was a commercial element - one of the survivors (I forget from which band - it may have been Bill Wyman) said how they used to check with eachother to see who had their next record coming out, so that they didn't clash. In my own case, the one left me cold even before I'd heard the other. It may have been the close harmony stuff. Jones, yes, though the edging out down in large part to his drug habit and resultant unreliability (and unexportability to the US)......

I'm sure if they'd persevered as a live band that their audiences would have grown up, as they did for everyone else.

[jean]

I've just come back from a concert by the Quartetto Cremona, playing Paganini, Kreisler and Schubert in St George's Hall, Liverpool.

Introducing their encore, the leader said that they were aware of what a very famous quartet had preceded them - he meant the Beatles. So they knew they had to prepare something very special.

I was dreading what it was going to be. Actually it was Beethoven.

[Bryn]

I've just come back from a concert by the Quartetto Cremona, playing Paganini, Kreisler and Schubert in St George's Hall, Liverpool.

Introducing their encore, the leader said that they were aware of what a very famous quartet had preceded them - he meant the Beatles. So they knew they had to prepare something very special.

I was dreading what it was going to be. Actually it was Beethoven.

Ah, so your dread was fully justified.

[Radio64]

I've just come back from a concert by the Quartetto Cremona, playing Paganini, Kreisler and Schubert in St George's Hall, Liverpool.

Introducing their encore, the leader said that they were aware of what a very famous quartet had preceded them - he meant the Beatles. So they knew they had to prepare something very special.

I was dreading what it was going to be. Actually it was Beethoven.

Awww, nice. I presume Quartetto Cremona are Italians. I think I've actually grown to like the Beatles and all they stand for (take that as you will) since living over here because as an inglese people automatically assume you like The Beatles and know everything about them.

I must have given my talk on the life of John Lennon about five times now.

[Radio64]

By way of a coincidence, The Beatles with the late Shirley Temple and her daughter* presumably during the February 1964 US sojourn:




*Lori Black - later to become bassist in grunge band Melvins.


phew..finally learned how to insert pics into posts - you have been warned.

[MrGongGong]

Ah, so your dread was fully justified.

[jean]

I presume Quartetto Cremona are Italians.

Yes, they're from Cremona, but they didn't claim to be playing Strads, which was a pity.

I'd never heard of them, but they were very good..

I think I've actually grown to like the Beatles and all they stand for (take that as you will) since living over here because as an inglese people automatically assume you like The Beatles and know everything about them.

I found that when I lived there, especially as I was from Liverpool, but it only increased my resistance.

I'm afraid the Italians also held me responsible for the Heysel stadium disaster which had tremendous resonance in Italy. For example:

...Il 29 maggio 1985, prima della finale di Coppa dei Campioni Juventus-Liverpool, 39 persone muoiono sotto l’attacco e i colpi degli hooligans inglesi...

...gli inglesi hanno fatto quello che hanno fatto dopo Hillsborough e non dopo Heysel, dopo i loro morti e non dopo i nostri...

.

[Radio64]

I found that when I lived there, especially as I was from Liverpool, but it only increased my resistance.

I'm afraid the Italians also held me responsible for the Heysel stadium disaster which had tremendous resonance in Italy. For example:

...Il 29 maggio 1985, prima della finale di Coppa dei Campioni Juventus-Liverpool, 39 persone muoiono sotto l’attacco e i colpi degli hooligans inglesi...

...gli inglesi hanno fatto quello che hanno fatto dopo Hillsborough e non dopo Heysel, dopo i loro morti e non dopo i nostri...

.

Oh yes not a good time to be an inglese in Italy. I think it was the only time I ever got 'insulted' for my nationality. Also remember going to see a less-well known Liverpool band play live at that time and they also got some stick for being from there. Shame.

[Radio64]

Back to Beatles band..and their triumphant return to the UK captured on, er, Grandstand

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/winter-olympics/26293815

[Radio64]

on April 4th, 1964 The Beatles occupied the top five slots of the US BILLBOARD singles chart, a feat never repeated.

The Billboard Hot 100 ranking on April 4, 1964:

1. Can't Buy Me Love

2. Twist and Shout

3. She Loves You

4. I Want to Hold Your Hand

5. Please Please Me