50 years of Beatlemania

[cloughie]

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

It was 50 years ago today - good songs -good tunes!
...and try singing along to any top 5 in the last ten or even 20 years!

[Paul Sherratt]

A Beatle had a song played on Radio 3 yesterday which was a really nice surprise.

[Radio64]

A Beatle had a song played on Radio 3 yesterday which was a really nice surprise.

Really? Do tell!

[Paul Sherratt]

Uncle Ernie winged in ( today in fact ) at 0.15 as the jam in the Connan Mockasin - Kathleen Ferrier sandwich.
Credit ( and top marks from me ) go to guest Late Junction presenter Mara Carlyle for that creation.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

doncha just love 'em [still]

[cloughie]

doncha just love 'em [still]

Of course and Rubber Soul and Revolver were in many ways the peak of their achievement.

[johncorrigan]

doncha just love 'em [still]

Yes indeedy, Calum!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcsM4Ku9kKE

[Pegleg]

I was just 11 in 1963, but my sister was 14 and so I was not immune from screaming Beatlemania. If course those early raw hits are still ingrained on the memory, but by the time of rubber soul and revolver, this teenager had discovered this:

[Pegleg]

Which turned into this:

[Pegleg]

and then there was the little matter of this:

[Pegleg]

and finally there was the real thing :

The Beatles had been blown away by another revolution.

[Serial_Apologist]

and finally there was the real thing :

The Beatles had been blown away by another revolution.

First things last!

Funnily enough I've just been going through all my 60s "Blues Britannica" recordings, tracing who and what musical traits fed into what was to become jazz-rock fusion or progrock - a fascinating trip to take - noting en passant innovations which took place here before being taken up in America. Barbara Thompson led a series of programmes on Radio 3 on this very subject, about a decade ago.

[cloughie]

First things last!

Funnily enough I've just been going through all my 60s "Blues Britannica" recordings, tracing who and what musical traits fed into what was to become jazz-rock fusion or progrock - a fascinating trip to take - noting en passant innovations which took place here before being taken up in America. Barbara Thompson led a series of programmes on Radio 3 on this very subject, about a decade ago.

I guess these would be good to repeat if still in the vaults. I often think that 1965-70 must have been the most creative period in non-classical music - or maybe it was just that I was the right age to take it all in!

[Pegleg]

First things last!

Funnily enough I've just been going through all my 60s "Blues Britannica" recordings, tracing who and what musical traits fed into what was to become jazz-rock fusion or progrock - a fascinating trip to take - noting en passant innovations which took place here before being taken up in America. Barbara Thompson led a series of programmes on Radio 3 on this very subject, about a decade ago.

Just a had look at a track listing of one those "Blues Britannica" recordings, and I only recognise about half the names now. The British Blues scene of the 60's and all those influeces and the seeds sown form a who's who web worthy of books and programmes. But it's many years since I frequented the likes of the 100 club, various pubs and trapsed round London libraries in search of obscure LP recordings of Lightnin' Hopkins, Blind Boy Full, Sleepy John Estes, Johhny Shine, Eddie Taylor, Snooky Prior, Hounddog Taylor and many others in the Greater London Audio Specialist Section. I spent many hours taping and compliing hihglights of Paul Jones' radio show - it's hard to believe his 72 now - and even harder to believe I was that dedicated.

The revolution I mentioned was a personal one. A chance encounter that lead to my escape from "pop", soul, tamla etc. It was a school friend's older brother who had the money and taste to buy those early Brit Blues records which we listened to between furtive puffs of a ciggy. Two years later and the same friend was buying Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin and Yes LPs. All bands which never appealed to me, there was just wasn't the immediate and elemental connection I had with the Blues.

I won't go on about harmonica players, except to say that for anyone with the slightest interest in the subject Paul Lamb is still the man to beat in the UK. Here he is doing a Big Walter number. Those with keen ears will pick out a miniture Sonny Terry lick in at 2.38:

[Pegleg]

And I can't say goodnight before a Sonny Terry number: