Beatles News
John Lennon (1940–1980) was a British musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as a founding member of The Beatles. Born on October 9, 1940, in Liverpool, England, Lennon was a pivotal figure in the evolution of popular music and culture.
With The Beatles, Lennon, along with Paul McCartney, co-wrote many of the band’s most famous songs, including “Imagine,” “Help!,” “Strawberry Fields Forever,” and “All You Need Is Love.” His songwriting, vocal style, and innovative approach contributed significantly to the band’s success and influence.
After The Beatles disbanded in 1970, Lennon pursued a solo career, producing acclaimed albums such as *Imagine* (1971) and *Double Fantasy* (1980). His solo work often reflected his political activism, personal introspection, and desire for peace.
Lennon’s life was tragically cut short when he was assassinated on December 8, 1980, in New York City. Despite his untimely death, his legacy endures through his music, his contributions to the cultural landscape, and his messages of peace and love.
1. Imagine
2. Woman
3. Jealous Guy
4. Instant Karma!
5. Watching the Wheels
6. Stand by Me
7. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
8. Whatever Gets You thru the Night
9. Mind Games
10. #9 Dream
Source: Edward Tomlin/singersroom.com
It is a picture that spawned a thousand stories as Beatlemaniacs continue to try to find some kind of meaning behind what was essentially a simple promotional photo.
The photo for the cover on The Beatles album Abbey Road is yet another of the many over analyzed aspects to their history, and an absolute must see for every Beatles fans when in England.
Apple Records creative director John Kosh designed the cover, which is the only album that doesn't have the name of the band or the title of the record on the front.
"we didn't need to write the band's name on the cover [...] They were the most famous band in the world". Kosh said.
The photograph of the group walking on a zebra crossing, was based on ideas that Paul McCartney sketched, as photographer Iain Macmillan had only ten minutes to take the photo while standing on a step-ladder. Macmillan took six shots, and McCartney chose the one that ended up on the record.
The photo sparked conversation, because in the photo the group walk across the street in single file, with John Lennon in front, followed by Ringo Starr, McCartney and George Harrison. Paul is barefoot and out of step with the others, and Harrison is the only one not wearing a suit designed by Tommy Nutter. in the photo is a white Volkswagen Beetle, parked next to the zebra crossing, which belonged to a person who lived on the block. Because of the photo the license tag on the front of the car, LMW 281F was repeatedly stolen.
Source: Doc Reno/q1043.iheart.com
George Harrison’s pivotal project The Concert for Bangladesh is now available on streaming platforms for the first time. Stream the full album below.
This massive event took place in 1971 and pioneered the concept of large-scale music benefit shows. The acclaimed concert took place over two shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden and saw Harrison welcome the likes of fellow Beatle Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, virtuoso instrumentalist Ravi Shankar, and Eric Clapton throughout the event. Focused both on raising money for Unicef and awareness of the humanitarian crisis of the Bangladesh Liberation War (which had not been covered in-depth by Western media), “The Concert for Bangladesh” was considered a major success.
The album went on to win Album of the Year at the 1973 Grammy Awards, and the concert is often references as a turning point in major stars using their voices, platforms, and concerts for a larger purpose.
Source: IMDB
Trafalgar Releasing and Mercury Studios have set a September 26 release for documentary One Hand Clapping, an opportunity for audiences to step back in time to 1974 with Paul McCartney and Wings.
The behind-the-scenes look delves into the making of the acclaimed One Hand Clapping album featuring rare footage, interviews with the band, insights from the creative team, and iconic Wings hits.
“It’s so great to look back on that period and see the little live show we did. We made a pretty good noise actually! It was a great time for the band, we started to have success with Wings, which had been a long time coming, said McCartney, whose exclusive filmed introduction will kick off the screenings along with previously unseen Polaroid photographs from the recording sessions.
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The full documentary directed by David Litchfield will include previously unreleased Backyard Sessions, showcasing McCartney on acoustic guitar performing beloved tracks from his catalog. Highlights include the previously unreleased song Blackpool and covers of personal favorites like “Twenty Flight Rock,” the song he played for John Lennon during their first meeting.
Watch on Deadline
“We are looking forward to bringing the legendary music of Paul McCartney to the big screen and offering fans a front-row seat to his enduring legacy,” said Trafalgar Releasing CEO Marc Allenby. “This cinematic experience will transport audiences back to a golden era of rock and roll while captivating new fans with the magic of this iconic band. It’s a must-see event for music lovers of all generations.”
Amy Freshwater, VP of Acquisitions secured the film alongside Will White, SVP of Content Sales for Mercury Studios.
Source: Jill Goldsmith/deadline.com
Today, we're celebrating the 60th anniversary of the song 'Ringo for President' by The Young World Singers. Back in 1964, this catchy tune reached #132 in the charts and ignited a playful political campaign to make Ringo Starr the President of the United States of America.
Occurring during the Johnson/Goldwater race at the time, a well-organised group of fans banded together to enter the drummer as a third-party write-in candidate for Commander in Chief.
In recognition of today's anniversary, we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight two limited editions with Ringo in mind. Please note that we are down to the last copies for Mania Days and a number of the prints in Ringo's PHOTOGRAPH Portfolio 2024, shipping later this month. See below and secure yours before they both become fully subscribed.
Source: genesis-publications.com
George Harrison and John Lennon became close in the years they spent with The Beatles. They didn’t start out this way, though. Lennon initially hadn’t wanted Harrison to join the band, believing he looked so young that he damaged the band’s image. Harrison said that after an experience he and Lennon shared, he no longer felt he embarrassed him.
George Harrison said he stopped feeling like he embarrassed John Lennon after they tried LSD
In the mid-1960s, The Beatles began using LSD. Lennon and Harrison were the first to try the drug, and Lennon estimated that he used it 1,000 times.
“I don’t think John had a thousand trips; that’s a slight exaggeration,” Harrison said in The Beatles Anthology. “But there was a period when we took acid a lot — the year we stopped touring, the year of the Monterey Pop Festival, we stayed home all the time,...
Source: imdb.com
What if George Martin and The Beatles had never met? Martin, already established as a producer, would surely have gone on producing records for The Goons, girl singers and symphony orchestras, among others. The Beatles’ native talents would probably have lifted them to the charts at some point, but would there have been a Revolver or a Sgt. Pepper, with all that startling sonic growth from their first recordings? The fateful crossing of paths brought out the best in both Martin and the Fab Four, made their legacies and changed the face of pop music in the 60s. As John Lennon once said of Martin: “He helped us to develop a language.”
Born in 1926, George Martin grew up in north London. After serving in the Royal Navy, he attended the Guildhall School Of Music, studying piano and oboe, and worked in the BBC’s classical music department. In 1955 he began working as a staff producer at EMI Parlophone, and in his first few years he recorded a diverse list of artists, including Matt Monro, the Ron Goodwin Orchestra and Peter Sellers.
“That’s part of my background, the catholic world of music that has no limits, no blinkers,” Martin later said. “I know many musicians in the classical field who believe everything else is rubbish. There are a lot of opera snobs, jazz snobs too. But music really isn’t like that. It’s so diverse and so good, and people should be able to participate in all forms.”
That attitude, along with an extensive musical vocabulary, incredible ears and a sense of playful experimentalism, made Martin the perfect foil for The Beatles, as well as for Cilla Black, Stackridge, America, Jeff Beck, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Cheap Trick, Ultravox and many others he worked with.
Source: Bill DeMain/loudersound.com
August 7, 1980, was a pretty significant day for rock history. Why you might be asking? Well, that was the day John Lennon returned to the spotlight after taking a five-year break. John sent the world into a frenzy by returning to the studio to record what would become his final album, Double Fantasy.
John had stepped away from the music scene to focus on being a dad and enjoy life in New York City with his wife, Yoko Ono. But like most artists of his caliber, he couldn't resist the urge to get back in the studio, so decided it was time!
Double Fantasy wasn’t just any album. It was a love letter to Yoko and a celebration of their life together. The album was a mix of John’s songs and Yoko’s, creating a conversation between them. It is full of themes of love, family, and the joy of starting over. Songs like “(Just Like) Starting Over” and “Watching the Wheels” reflected John’s Happiness and peace after years of uncertainty.
Recording the album was a joyful experience for John. He was working with a new group of musicians, and the atmosphere in the studio was electric. John was full of energy, cracking jokes, and encouraging everyone around him. He was passionate about the music they were creating, and it showed in the final product.
Double Fantasy became a bittersweet farewell from one of the greatest musicians of all time. It wasn’t just an album; it was a reflection of John’s life and love, a final gift to his fans.
Source: Matt Miller/rock95.com
If you were to ask John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison what made the band as great as it was — and it’s a question drummer Ringo Starr would be able to answer from his own experience — the odds are that they would say it was The Beatles in Hamburg..
Among the local places they performed in their native Liverpool was the Jacaranda coffee bar, run by Allan Williams, who would occasionally become their booking agent (in the days before Brian Epstein became their true manager). In August 1960, he informed them that he could book them in Hamburg, if they could secure a drummer, which — in the days before Ringo had joined them — they did in the form of Pete Best.
Source: Women's World
Inspired by his younger years as a clean-cut chap from Liverpool, the name has unfortunately stuck with him for quite some time. Due to his involuntary attachment, McCartney has had a public disdain for the name. Though, in McCartney fashion, he acknowledges it with a tasteful amount of grace and humor.
Paul McCartney’s Least Favorite Nickname
In numerous interviews, McCartney has openly explained his dislike for the name. In a 1989 Daily News Interview, McCartney stated, “I’m not comfortable with being ‘The Cute Beatle.’ I’ve never really thought I was ‘cute,’ though I guess some people think so. Maybe there were a few moments of cute, mostly in the early days.”
