Beatles News

The Beatles star was stabbed multiple times by an intruder at his home in 1999, and now his widow Olivia has revealed George's obsessions prevented fatal wound

When George Harrison was the victim of a frenzied knife attack, he was saved by some paper with song lyrics on, his wife Olivia says.

She said the notes, which were in a pocket in front of his heart, were folded thick enough to protect the organ during the stabbing. The couple were attacked at their home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, in 1999 by intruder Michael Abram. Beatles legend George was stabbed dozens of times including to the chest.
Olivia tells a Radio 3 show being aired on Sunday: “He had notes in a pocket right over his heart and he had them folded. You can only fold paper so many times. He had them folded and stuck in the pocket and it’s what saved him... Gardening notes and lyrics were his passions and they saved his life.”

Source: Mark Jefferies/mirror.co.uk

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Earlier this year, Beatles fans all over the world got incredibly excited when Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr made the shock announcement of a final song from the Fab Four.

The surviving members of the band confirmed that the song – the final ever new track from the band – has been pieced together using original recorded material from John Lennon, who was murdered in 1980, and George Harrison, who died in 2001.

Will the final Beatles song feature an 'AI John Lennon'? Paul McCartney explains
New Beatles song 'Now and Then': The 'final' Beatles track with John Lennon explained
Listen to the Gold 60s Live Playlist on Global Player

It's not been officially confirmed what the song is called, but it's widely believed to be 'Now and Then'.

That was one of the demos given to Paul, George and Ringo by Yoko Ono when the group reconvened for the Anthology project.

Source: Mayer Nissim/goldradiouk.com

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John Lennon and Paul McCartney possessed a remarkable talent for crafting hit songs that featured memorable introductions, infectious choruses, unexpected bridges, and thrilling conclusions. If there’s one song that perfectly showcases all these techniques, it’s the iconic track that catapulted the Beatles to stardom in the United States: “I Want to Hold Your Hand.”

“I Want to Hold Your Hand” stands as one of the most pivotal songs in the history of popular music, marking a significant turning point in the Beatles’ career. This track was penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney in late 1963 at a time when Beatlemania had exploded across their native England. Yet, the band had yet to break through in the United States. That would change with the release of “I Want To Hold Your Hand.”

The songwriting process for “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was a collaborative effort between Lennon and McCartney. The song was recorded in October 1963 at Abbey Road Studios in London, with legendary producer George Martin at the helm. The Beatles delivered a polished and energetic performance that perfectly captured the essence of youthful infatuation.

Source: Scott Freiman/culturesonar.com

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Paul McCartney's exit from The Beatles caused serious tension behind the scenes and in court.

Paul McCartney sued The Beatles and their manager, Allen Klein, in 1970, in an attempt to protect their creative freedom and prevent their earnings from going into a shared pot.
Despite being blamed for breaking up The Beatles, McCartney claims he filed the lawsuit to save the band and their music from falling into the hands of Allen Klein.
Manager Allen Klein later sued The Beatles for $19 million after they decided not to renew his contract. The lawsuit was settled in 1977, with Apple paying Klein $5 million and Klein paying out $800,000.

All these years later, Paul McCartney isn't quitting on music, the artist is still going strong into his 80s. He still has big plans for a final Beatles song, and he plans to use John Lennon's voice as well.

Source: Alex Passa/thethings.com

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On This Day, September 28, 1968…

The Beatles’ non-album single “Hey Jude” began a nine-week run at #1 on the Billboard Hot 10. It was the longest run at #1 for any Beatles single.

With a run time of seven minutes and 11 seconds, “Hey Jude” also set a new record for the longest song to top the chart.

Paul McCartney famously wrote “Hey Jude” for John Lennon’s son Julian, during John’s separation from his first wife, Cynthia.

The song, which was the first release on the band’s new Apple Records label, also topped the chart in several other countries, including the U.K., Australia and Canada.

It was inducted into the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.

Source: abcnews/deltaplexnews.com

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Poet Paul Muldoon has had enviable access to Paul McCartney, as the two collaborated on a book about lyrics, so their podcast is delightful and detailed. McCartney proves he’s one hell of a storyteller as he describes the characters he’s created, revealing that the US audience thought Penny Lane was about selling puppies. With a huge back catalogue, there’s plenty more to come, from Back in the USSR to Eleanor Rigby and Live and Let Die.

Source: Alexi Duggins/theguardian.com

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By the time The Beatles recorded The White Album, the band was already becoming quite fractured personally and professionally. It was 1968, and the band’s most ambitious effort was the project, almost ending their partnership. The White Album was The Beatles’ ninth studio album and the only double LP they would ever record. But one moment in the studio led John Lennon to go “ballistic” on Paul McCartney, leading to a moment that would forever change one of their most iconic songs.

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr recorded The White Album in mid-1968. The album features 30 songs, 19 of which were written during March and April 1968.

However, tensions between the bandmates heightened as the recording wore on. Lennon and McCartney couldn’t agree on the recording of several songs.

The collaborators worked for one week on just two songs, claimed Abbey Road Studios recording Geoff Emerick. He wrote the 2006 memoir Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles.

Source: Lucille Barilla/cheatsheet.com

 "Come Together" and its wacky lyrics kick off 'Abbey Road' in epic fashion. It provided The Beatles with one of their final number one singles topping the Billboard Hot 100 and staying on the chart for 16 weeks. It has one of the coolest, most-recognizable intros in music history. Simply put, it's 4:19 of rock and roll perfection that is unlike anything else in the Beatles catalog.

54 years ago today, The Beatles released their massive, eleventh studio album, Abbey Road. It is the last album the group recorded. Let It Be was the last album completed before the band’s break-up in April 1970. They recorded it mostly in the summer of 1969. They eventually released it on this day, September 26th, 1969, in the United Kingdom, and 1 October 1969 in the United States. It reached number one in both countries. A double A-side single from the album, “Something” / “Come Together” debuted in October, which also topped the charts in the US.

Source: Brent Porche/wmmr.com

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Paul McCartney requires little introduction—he’s arguably the most iconic rock artist alive. Born in 1942, the English musician became famous with The Beatles as their bassist. But after The Beatles broke up in 1970, McCartney continued to enjoy success as a solo artist. His three-album solo run from 1970 to 1973, in particular—comprised of McCartney, Ram, and Band on the Run—can safely be classified as one of the most inimitable creative streaks of all time.As is the case with any of The Beatles, most of McCartney’s work is stellar. Diving deeper than the hits is an endlessly rewarding undertaking. Here are five of the many hidden gems McCartney released under his own name.

1. “Temporary Secretary”

“Temporary Secretary” came to life during a period of heady jamming that birthed the 1980 record McCartney II. Its arrangement has as much in common with new wave and early techno as it does classic rock. It’s built on bassy synthesizer arpeggiations and a simple drum groove. The song’s lyrics are about a man yearning to hire a secretary, for reasons that go beyond professional assistance. It’s a true McCartney oddity that highlights his enduring knack for experimentation.

Source: Ted Davis/americansongwriter.com

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