May 18, 1963
The Beatles start another national package tour, this one headlined by Roy Orbison. It doesn't take long before they are upstaging even him. Orbison, always a gentleman, takes it in stride. I wonder if he thought back to these days when he hooked up with George and the rest of the Traveling Wilburys 25 years hence.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Sunday, May 12, 2013
A New Logo
May 12, 1963
Late in April, date unknown, Ivor Arbiter of Drum City in London sketches up a design for Ringo Starr's bass drum, the famous Drop-T logo. The design highlights the root word "Beat" in the name of the band. Today, the new drum kit is delivered to Ringo Starr at a Birmingham TV studio just in time for taping an appearance on "Thank Your Lucky Stars". That's the last piece of the puzzle. Now, at long last, they look "just like the Beatles".
Video recordings made for the BBC back on April 1 will go out over the BBC tomorrow and that gives me a chance to highlight one of my favorite Beatle resources. Happy Nat's The Beatles Rarity. He has a simply astounding collection of rare recordings which he parcels out to us Beatle fans in a weekly blog which I never miss.
Recently he posted a recording with some Beatle banter in front of it of "Thank You, Girl", a recently minted Lennon and McCartney tune that was originally broadcast 50 years ago tomorrow.
And here they are...THE BEATLES!!!
Note the absent harmonica and the lyric "That's the kind of love that seems to good to be true", instead of the more familiar "...that is to good to be true." To a huge Beatle fan, the world turns on such minutiae.
Thanks, Nat.
Late in April, date unknown, Ivor Arbiter of Drum City in London sketches up a design for Ringo Starr's bass drum, the famous Drop-T logo. The design highlights the root word "Beat" in the name of the band. Today, the new drum kit is delivered to Ringo Starr at a Birmingham TV studio just in time for taping an appearance on "Thank Your Lucky Stars". That's the last piece of the puzzle. Now, at long last, they look "just like the Beatles".
Video recordings made for the BBC back on April 1 will go out over the BBC tomorrow and that gives me a chance to highlight one of my favorite Beatle resources. Happy Nat's The Beatles Rarity. He has a simply astounding collection of rare recordings which he parcels out to us Beatle fans in a weekly blog which I never miss.
Recently he posted a recording with some Beatle banter in front of it of "Thank You, Girl", a recently minted Lennon and McCartney tune that was originally broadcast 50 years ago tomorrow.
And here they are...THE BEATLES!!!
Note the absent harmonica and the lyric "That's the kind of love that seems to good to be true", instead of the more familiar "...that is to good to be true." To a huge Beatle fan, the world turns on such minutiae.
Thanks, Nat.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
We're Number ONE!
May 11, 1963
The "Please Please Me" album reaches number one in England's Record Retailer magazine chart, where it will stay for almost the rest of 1963.
The "Please Please Me" album reaches number one in England's Record Retailer magazine chart, where it will stay for almost the rest of 1963.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Notorious
May 1963
One of the most notorious episodes in Beatle history is taking place this week. Paul, George, and Ringo have taken a flight to the Canary Islands for a well earned bit of R & R. But John Lennon and Brian Epstein have decided to take their vacation together in Barcelona, Spain.
It can be pretty certainly stated that John Lennon agreed to the co-vacation because of the opportunity it provided him to get closer to the "boss", to further solidify his own credentials as the leader of the group. Likewise, it simply can't be denied that Epstein is hoping for fulfillment of a long time fantasy of a physical relationship with the magnetic Lennon.
It can also be pretty confidently claimed that homosexuality was front and center during the holiday. John himself told of sitting with Brian outside a cafe and discussing with him the attractiveness of this or that boy passing by. John, admitting to a pretty intense relationship, describes how he felt, "I was rather enjoying the experience, thinking like a writer all the time." At times later, John admitted to episodes of sexual touching or kissing, that he later retracted, probably being designed to shock or impress the listener with his worldliness and sophistication.
Paul McCartney put it down to John's need to control his environment, and that does ring true to me.
For my money, it's all of a piece - the sexual, political and personal aspects of the vacation merging in the mind of the most psychologically complex Beatle.
One of the most notorious episodes in Beatle history is taking place this week. Paul, George, and Ringo have taken a flight to the Canary Islands for a well earned bit of R & R. But John Lennon and Brian Epstein have decided to take their vacation together in Barcelona, Spain.
It can be pretty certainly stated that John Lennon agreed to the co-vacation because of the opportunity it provided him to get closer to the "boss", to further solidify his own credentials as the leader of the group. Likewise, it simply can't be denied that Epstein is hoping for fulfillment of a long time fantasy of a physical relationship with the magnetic Lennon.
It can also be pretty confidently claimed that homosexuality was front and center during the holiday. John himself told of sitting with Brian outside a cafe and discussing with him the attractiveness of this or that boy passing by. John, admitting to a pretty intense relationship, describes how he felt, "I was rather enjoying the experience, thinking like a writer all the time." At times later, John admitted to episodes of sexual touching or kissing, that he later retracted, probably being designed to shock or impress the listener with his worldliness and sophistication.
Paul McCartney put it down to John's need to control his environment, and that does ring true to me.
For my money, it's all of a piece - the sexual, political and personal aspects of the vacation merging in the mind of the most psychologically complex Beatle.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
A Breather At Last
April 28, 1963
A couple of weeks off is built in to the Beatles hectic schedule by the management. Paul, George, and Ringo head off to Tenerife to enjoy some conventional tropical sun in the Canary Islands. John and Brian (the management) go off together for a holiday in Spain.
This is one of the most interesting episodes in the history of the Beatles. To this day, there is a lot of mystery and speculation concerning it. Don't forget, John became a father just three weeks ago. Shouldn't he be spending his all too rare vacation time with his new family? I think what is unmistakable is Brian Epstein's infatuation with the complex first Beatle and John Lennon's all consuming need to explore relationships. Don't you detect a complicated father-son, mentor-protege, desire-object of desire thing? Given John's chaotic childhood, could we expect anything less? Also, no doubt John's need to be the first among equals plays a role in his consenting to it.
We are reminded, these characters are very much real human beings, wanting, confused, driven, and searching for their places in this crazy world.
A couple of weeks off is built in to the Beatles hectic schedule by the management. Paul, George, and Ringo head off to Tenerife to enjoy some conventional tropical sun in the Canary Islands. John and Brian (the management) go off together for a holiday in Spain.
This is one of the most interesting episodes in the history of the Beatles. To this day, there is a lot of mystery and speculation concerning it. Don't forget, John became a father just three weeks ago. Shouldn't he be spending his all too rare vacation time with his new family? I think what is unmistakable is Brian Epstein's infatuation with the complex first Beatle and John Lennon's all consuming need to explore relationships. Don't you detect a complicated father-son, mentor-protege, desire-object of desire thing? Given John's chaotic childhood, could we expect anything less? Also, no doubt John's need to be the first among equals plays a role in his consenting to it.
We are reminded, these characters are very much real human beings, wanting, confused, driven, and searching for their places in this crazy world.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
I Read the News Today, Oh Boy
April 18, 1963
A new informal partnership is well along in development. Virtually all radio in the UK is provided by the official British Broadcasting Company. Users are required to pay an annual license fee that is used to produce content, whether for TV or radio. The Beatles are showing up more and more often on the Light Program, which is where the more popular and less "serious" content is broadcast.
Today, the Beatles appear in the show that is broadcast live from the Albert Hall. It's the first time they play there. They spend the entire day cooped up in a dressing room, waiting for their chance to go on at 8pm and later at 10.
An exceptionally pretty young actress is recruited by the Radio Times to produce an interview for their paper, an obligation she fulfills at the Albert Hall gig today. She has strawberry blond hair, georgeous blue eyes and a lovely peaches and cream complexion. She is just 17 at the time. Her name is Jane Asher (Be still my beating heart!)
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A new informal partnership is well along in development. Virtually all radio in the UK is provided by the official British Broadcasting Company. Users are required to pay an annual license fee that is used to produce content, whether for TV or radio. The Beatles are showing up more and more often on the Light Program, which is where the more popular and less "serious" content is broadcast.
Today, the Beatles appear in the show that is broadcast live from the Albert Hall. It's the first time they play there. They spend the entire day cooped up in a dressing room, waiting for their chance to go on at 8pm and later at 10.
 |
| Now they know how many holes it takes to fill it |
 |
| Jane Asher |
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Sunday, April 14, 2013
Checking Out the Competition
April 14, 1963
The Beatles tape an appearance on the"Thank Your Lucky Stars" TV show. Appearing with them is a new upstart band called The Dave Clark Five and American Del Shannon of "Runaway" fame. After the show they drive to Richmond-Upon-Thames to see another up-and-coming English band, fellow Chuck Berry fans, The Rolling Stones. (Obviously, that video was made before Tina Turner gave Mick lessons in how to move onstage.)
A new scene is beginning to get organized, centered in London. The Beatles want to be a part of this thing, whatever it is.
The Beatles tape an appearance on the"Thank Your Lucky Stars" TV show. Appearing with them is a new upstart band called The Dave Clark Five and American Del Shannon of "Runaway" fame. After the show they drive to Richmond-Upon-Thames to see another up-and-coming English band, fellow Chuck Berry fans, The Rolling Stones. (Obviously, that video was made before Tina Turner gave Mick lessons in how to move onstage.)
A new scene is beginning to get organized, centered in London. The Beatles want to be a part of this thing, whatever it is.
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