Beatles News
According to figures released Friday, the former member of the Fab Four is the first British musician to be worth 1 billion pounds ($1.27 billion).
The annual Sunday Times Rich List calculated that the wealth of the 81-year-old musician and his wife, Nancy Shevell, had grown by 50 million pounds since last year thanks to McCartney’s 2023 Got Back tour, the rising value of his back catalogue and Beyonce’s cover of The Beatles’ “Blackbird” on her “Cowboy Carter” album.
A “final” Beatles song, “Now and Then,” was also released in November and topped music charts in the U.S., the U.K. and other countries. Surviving Beatles McCartney and Ringo Starr completed a demo track recorded in 1977 by the late John Lennon, adding in guitar by George Harrison, who died in 2001.
Source: whas11.com
Four years after his death, John Lennon popped up on radios all over the world once again, sounding fresh and energized. “Nobody Told Me” was originally intended to represent the next chapter in Lennon’s music career. As it turned out, the song would prove a bittersweet reminder of what might have been.
What was the song about? What other ex-Beatle was the intended target for it? And how did it progress from its initial incarnation to being chosen as first single off Milk and Honey, Lennon’s first posthumous album released in 1984? Let’s go back to find out how “Nobody Told Me” came to be, while also checking out the meaning behind the song.
Writing in His Downtime
When the Cliff’s Notes version of John Lennon’s life story is told, you’ll generally hear that he used the time from 1976 to 1979 to concentrate on his roles as a house-husband and father, spending most of his time in his apartment with wife Yoko and son Sean, before re-emerging with his and Yoko’s album Double Fantasy in 1980.
But that broad overview doesn’t take into account that Lennon was writing all along during that stretch, even if he wasn’t recording and releasing them. In fact, he had the rough sketch of “Nobody Told Me” worked out as early as 1976, taping a crude demo using a drum machine to give him a backbeat.
Because of the occasional writing he did during his hiatus, Lennon headed into the studio with a backlog of songs in excess of what he needed for Double Fantasy (especially since Ono would be contributing half the material.) As he said in an interview in 1980 (as reported by The Beatles Bible), he was already thinking beyond the upcoming album:
Source: Jim Beviglia/americansongwriter.com
The Beatles: a band whose influence transcends generations, genres, and continents. With a catalog as rich and diverse as their impact on music history, narrowing down their top 10 songs is no easy feat. From the early days of Beatlemania to their revolutionary experimentation in later albums, each track is a testament to their unparalleled talent and creativity. In this article, we embark on a journey through the sonic landscape crafted by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, exploring the timeless melodies, poignant lyrics, and groundbreaking arrangements that have solidified their place in musical legend. From the infectious energy of their early hits to the introspective depth of their later compositions, every song selected for this list represents a moment of brilliance in The Beatles’ illustrious career. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a newcomer to their music, join us as we celebrate the top 10 best songs ever created by the Fab Four, each one a masterpiece that continues to captivate and inspire listeners across the globe.
1. Here Comes The Sun
2. A Day In The Life
3. Help!
4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
5. Strawberry Fields Forever
6. Here, There and Everywhere
7. Something
8. Let It Be
9. Norwegian Wood
10. Hey Jude
Source: Samuel Moore/singersroom.com
George Harrison walked out on the Beatles on January 10, 1969, and his diary offers a glimpse into how he dealt with the split.
1969 excerpt from George Harrison's diary reveals what he did moments after he ‘left the Beatles’
The 20th century was blessed with the Beatles, whose soul-stirring music resonated across the globe. Composed of vivid and talented artists, the band was an integral part of the music industry. But in 1969, George Harrison left the Beatles for his own reasons and quit the band. According to Diaries of Note, a letter from that year sheds light on Harrison's reasons for leaving and his subsequent actions. On January 10, 1969, Harrison detailed in his diary what he did moments before and after he "left the Beatles." The band had been practicing tirelessly for their final album. Besides that, some tension and disagreements were building up among members.
Source: Angelina C Dsouza/scoop.upworthy.com
Beatles lore has long held that the film Let It Be was a depressing portrait of the band falling apart. According to the same lore, that’s why Peter Jackson’s Get Back was such a revelation. Revisiting Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s footage of the group at work in January 1969, Jackson discovered there was far more joy around than anyone suspected – including the surviving Beatles.
Yoko remains a darkly brooding presence (the revisionism that sees her as benign needs its own revision)
All of which, it now turns out, only goes to prove the ever-reliable power of suggestion. I vaguely remember seeing Let It Be on TV in the 1970s, before it disappeared until last week – and finding it as miserable as I already knew everybody said it was. Except that it really isn’t. Having started watching the film on Disney+ in the mental equivalent of the brace position, I soon found myself successively giving way to relief, delight and a familiar sense of awe at all the Beatles achieved, and at how quickly they achieved it.
At one point, Paul looks back with amusement on the band’s time in India with the Maharishi, gently ribbing John for his uncharacteristic lack of scepticism. This long-vanished era, you then realise with a jolt, was less than a year before. Likewise, when the group exuberantly play rock’n’roll songs from their Hamburg days, it’s hard to believe that those days – the ones before they revolutionised pop music at least twice – were only as far from them as the Brexit referendum is from us.
Source: James Walton/spectator.co.uk
The Beatles are one of several musical acts from decades past that typically manage to appear on at least one Billboard chart every week. The group’s music is still incredibly popular, so it’s not odd to see them rise and fall on the weekly tallies, as Americans can’t stop streaming and buying their many hits.
All that consumption has helped The Beatles return to two rankings this time around. They find their way back with an album that was released decades after they split up and which has gone on to become one of the most successful compilations of all time.
The Beatles' 1 reappears on the Billboard 200 this week at No. 175. That’s a fairly low position for the beloved compilation, but the fact that it’s returning, and not simply climbing or sliding back, shows a noticeable uptick in consumption from one frame to another. It has essentially climbed at least 26 spaces, as last frame it must have been sitting at No. 201, at its highest—though of course no such position actually exists.
In the past tracking week, 1 moved another 8,488 equivalent units. That sum includes only 443 pure purchases, so fans listening on platforms like Spotify and Apple Apple Music did most of the work when it came to bringing The Beatles back to the Billboard 200.
Source: Hugh McIntyre/forbes.com
Following their sell-out Number #1 Tour across Ireland in Summer 2023, The Classic Beatles are back with their Magical Mystery Tour in 2024. Relive the sights and sounds of the Sixties in a stunning 2-hour show stuffed with the best songs ever written.
The Classic Beatles are the only Beatles Tribute band personally endorsed by Sir George Martin (Legendary Beatles Producer) and to have performed for the Queen. Widely recognised as one of the best Beatles Tributes in the world, The Classic Beatles Magical Mystery Tour 2024 is sure to satiate even the most hardened of Beatle Fans. Expect a whole new set – from Moptop to Rooftop – with all the hits and some new deeper cuts NEVER BEFORE performed live!
With multiple costume changes and lots of cheeky banter, catch The Classic Beatles at the top of their game for a great night’s entertainment. Fan favourites in the set include: ‘In My Life’, ‘Nowhere Man’, ‘Rain, Tomorrow Never Knows’, ‘A Day In The Life’, ‘Your Mother Should Know’ and loads more incredible songs.
“The vocal resemblance is uncanny” – Sir George Martin
“Best Beatle Tribute band on planet Earth” – Ryan Tubridy
“These guys are ridiculous! Very impressive” – Tom Dunne
“Fastidiously authentic!” – Eamonn Carr
Source: Civic Theatre/journalofmusic.com
The Beatles drummer has given a new interview where he discussed the band's working relationship and Ringo Starr believes The Beatles would have made far fewer records if it wasn't for Paul McCartney.
The famous Fab Four drummer has opened up about the dynamics of the band in a new interview, where he discussed how they rowed and in later years relied on McCartney to motivate them.
Speaking to Dan Rather for AXS TV, the Yellow Submarine singer explained: "We didn't get along. We were four guys. We had rows. It never got in the way of the music, no matter how bad the rows got, once the count in, we all gave our best".
The drummer also went onto explain that the band - completed by the late John Lennon and George Harrison - found it hard to motivate themselves as they got older and their families grew.
"And that was a little later too, which I think is a natural thing," he added. "Suddenly, we’ve got lives and I've got children and you know, the effort that we put in 'cause we worked really hard was starting to pale a little and, you know, we always thank Paul to this day.
"Because of Paul, who was the workaholic of our band, we made a lot more records than John and I would’ve made. We liked to sit around a little more and then Paul would call ‘Alright lads’ and we’d go in."
Source: Jenny Mensah/radiox.co.uk
Mike Love and Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys have discussed their new Disney+ documentary, the support they had from The Beatles, and the health of songwriter Brian Wilson.
Interviewed by Mariella Frostrup alongside The Beach Boys’ documentary director Frank Marshall at Abbey Road Studios, the pair revealed that the 81-year-old Wilson – who has recently been placed under conservatorship for what his doctors call a “major neurocognitive disorder” – was still able to perform with the band for the film.
“Brian remembered things that I had forgotten from high school at times,” said Love. “His long-term memory is right there. He does need the help medically – but I think as long as he’s alive he’ll play that piano.”
“I’ve always been interested in how they all came together,” said Marshall, producer of the Indiana Jones, Bourne, Jurassic World and Back To The Future franchises and director of the 2020 Bee Gees documentary How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, on his reasons for making the film.
“[I was] always curious about the music and what made it happen. Documentary filmmaking is a journey of discovery – like a little treasure hunter you’re looking for those golden nuggets along the way. And in this case, it was kind of amazing. We uncovered some really great things that hadn’t been seen before.”
Source: Mark Beaumont/nme.com
From the day he was born on October 9, 1940, to his final breaths in a New York City hospital on 9th Avenue, John Lennon seemed to be perpetually followed by the number nine for better or worse. He alluded to his connection to the number nine in various tracks over the years, including “Revolution 9,” “One After 909,” and “#9 Dream.”
But the coincidences didn’t stop there. For someone who was notorious for his glib responses about songs having no real meaning (like, for example, “I Am the Walrus” or “Happiness is a Warm Gun”), Lennon was surprisingly open to the notion that there was an uncanny connection between his life’s overarching trajectory and one specific numerical value. John Lennon’s Connection to the No. 9 Started At Birth.
The Liverpudlian musician, author, and activist’s connection to the number nine started on his birthday, the 9th of October. While Western calendars classify October as the 10th month, Lennon’s birthday fell in the ninth month of the year according to the Chinese calendar.
His childhood address contained three nine-letter words: 9 Newcastle Road, Wavertree, Liverpool. Other early connections to the number nine revealed themselves in multiples of the number, like the No. 72 bus Lennon regularly rode as a student at Liverpool Art College. Two of Lennon’s first bandmates, Stuart Sutcliffe and Paul McCartney, had nine-letter surnames.
Source: Melanie Davis/americansongwriter.com
