Beatles News
Recorded between May and October 1970, George Harrison’s “What Is Life” became the second single to be released from All Things Must Pass. It entered the US Hot 100 on February 27, 1971, and went on to become George’s second Top 10 hit in America.
In the UK, “What Is Life” was issued as the B-side of “My Sweet Lord.” As a single, it topped the Swiss charts, and did really well in the Netherlands, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, and Norway. The song was written quickly by George, and he thought originally that Billy Preston would record it for his solo album.
George had started work on All Things Must Pass, but they were running out of tracks at the famous studio, because it only had a four-track machine, so he went to Trident at St. Anne’s Court in London’s Soho where they had an 8-track recorder. According to engineer Ken Scott, “Working with George was always a joy. When he did backing vocals, it was all George. It was tedious, but it was so much fun. We would double it and bounce those down, and double some more and bounce those, getting the mix as we went along.”
Source: Richard Havers/yahoo.com
George Harrison said his fellow Beatle Ringo Starr played the drums like he played the guitar. The two musicians were similar without even trying. Here’s what George said.
During a 1987 interview on Dutch TV, George explained that his former bandmate was like himself as a musician. George explained that for so many years, they’d all grown up together, so they knew each other’s level of musicianship.
According to George, Ringo never practiced the drums, just as he never practiced the guitar. However, whenever they needed to play, they knew how to do it perfectly.
“As a drummer, I know Ringo is a great drummer, but he’s bad,” George said. “He doesn’t practice, but it doesn’t seem to matter he just picks up the drumsticks. For my songs, he’s very good because he listens to the song once and he knows exactly what to play.
Source: Hannah Wigandt/cheatsheet.com
While The Beatles broke up in 1970, they had stopped touring by 1966. While many fans were disappointed they could no longer see their favorite band perform live, the decision to stop touring was great for The Beatles’ music. In the four years where The Beatles stopped touring, the group was able to make their most commercially successful music.
The Beatles’ final tour occurred in North America in the summer of 1966. The tour consisted of 18 concerts and ended at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. While the public was unaware this would be their last tour, The Beatles knew they needed to take time away from performing. The screaming from fans was becoming too much, and they no longer enjoyed the experience.
Source: Ross Tanenbaum/cheatsheet.com
The Beatles are one of the most iconic and influential bands in the history of music. Comprised of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, The Beatles have created an extensive catalog of timeless music that has resonated with audiences for over half a century. The band’s discography is filled with hits that have become ingrained in popular culture and have inspired countless musicians and artists. With so many great songs to choose from, it can be challenging to determine the best Beatles songs of all time. However, there are certain tracks that stand out as particularly significant in the band’s legacy. These songs are characterized by their memorable melodies, poignant lyrics, and enduring popularity. From the upbeat, infectious tunes of their early years to the more introspective and experimental tracks of their later albums, The Beatles’ music is both diverse and timeless.
Source: Jared Parker/singersroom.com
Paul McCartney got the feeling John Lennon didn’t want to associate with him the first time they met in 1957. The “Yesterday” singer was two years younger than the Quarry Men frontman.
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he’d seen John around Liverpool before they officially met in 1957. Paul said he thought John looked cool, but he doesn’t know if they’d have started talking to each other.
Luckily, the pair had a mutual friend, Ivan Vaughan. He invited Paul to the Woolton Village Fête at St Peter’s Church on a hot July day in 1957 to see John and his band, The Quarry Men, perform. Paul initially agreed to go because he wanted to “pick up a girl.” However, he became awestruck once he saw the skiffle group performing on a tiny flatbed truck.
Source: Hannah Wigandt/cheatsheet.com
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Paul McCartney said The Beatles‘ “I’ll Follow the Sun” is a “Leaving of Liverpool” song. Swap following the sun with following dreams. Paul did all that, becoming a rock ‘n’ roll star with his band. The Beatles wouldn’t have been as popular if they had never left home.
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote about his fondest childhood memories growing up on Forthlin Road in Liverpool. Mary McCartney worked as a midwife and brought the McCartneys a handsome salary. Therefore, the family lived in a nicer area. They had lace curtains, which is probably why Paul still has lace curtains. “An Irish thing, maybe,” Paul said.
Paul remembers singing The Beatles’ “I’ll Follow the Sun” in his childhood living room on Forthlin Road. “I’ll Follow the Sun” is like a “Leaving of Liverpool” song when he thinks about it. Paul wrote, “I’m leaving this rainy northern town for someplace where more is happening.”
Source: Hannah Wigandt/cheatsheet.com
In a revealing interview, the musician explained that he felt "bummed out" describing it as a "very difficult time in [his] life". Speaking to MOJO Magazine in 2021, McCartney shared how "someone was going to take every penny we'd ever made", which caused him great distress. "That wasn't easy, and led to a very difficult time in my life," he said.
"I definitely self-medicated there, and drank more than I ever had and probably more than I ever have since."
Reflecting back on his drinking habits, McCartney previously said he "overdid it".
"I think I was just trying to escape in my own mind," McCartney added. "I had the freedom to have a drink whenever I fancied it."
His then-wife, Linda, intervened, telling him to "cool it", which he eventually did.
In another discussion with British GQ, in 2020, McCartney spoke about pulling himself out of depression.
"It’s funny, I remember when I first met Linda, she was divorced with a child and living in New York and having to fend for herself," he began.
Source: Chanel Georgina/express.co.uk
Few bands have had as much influence on global music as The Beatles. Since rising to fame in the 1960s, John, Paul, George and Ringo went on to become a symbol of pop culture recognized all over the world, inspiring countless numbers to start their own bands or change their sound.
Yet it’s in their hometown Liverpool where their success left the greatest legacy. A 2016 report commissioned by Liverpool city council said the value of the Fab Four’s legacy to the city was almost $100 million and created more than 2,000 jobs. It’s easy to see why. Beatlemania is still alive and well on the streets of this former European Capital of Culture.
Several tour operators offer guided tours of relevant sites, but it’s also perfectly possible to take a DIY approach. There are many Beatles-related attractions within walking distance of each other, while some in the southeast of the city will require a bus trip or your own transport.
Source: David Nikel/forbes.com
This weekend marked George Harrison's 80th birthday, a milestone that he would never glimpse. In the spirit of remembrance, I much prefer to dwell on the outcomes that he did manage to realize. And chief among those, of course, were his musical attainments, which, in many ways, remain unparalleled.
During my recent interview with Harrison's first wife Pattie Boyd, we discussed her memories of George, especially his "slow burn" as a songwriter toiling in the shadows of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. We also made time to reflect on the couple's March 1964 "meet-cute" on a railway car during the film shoot for "A Hard Day's Night," the Beatles' first feature film.
For Pattie, meeting George was a revelation. An aspiring model, she accepted a walk-on part in "A Hard Day's Night," which placed her in George's orbit for a day-long shoot on their mobile film set. "He was so delicious," she recalled. "He was so good-looking and had the most beautiful, velvety brown eyes."
Source: Kenneth Womack/salon.com
Yoko Ono has quietly quit New York City life after 50 years and relocated to a rural upstate farm that she and late husband John Lennon purchased together - 42 years after the Beatle was famously shot dead outside of their Manhattan apartment building.
The singer and activist - who turned 90 last week - made the decision to leave Manhattan, and the exclusive Dakota building that she called home for five decades, during the pandemic and move out to her expansive 600-acre farm near Franklin, New York, which she and her husband bought in 1978.
Now, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal, Yoko has decided to relocate to the rural property full-time - and is not thought to have any plans to return to the seventh floor, nine-room Upper West Side apartment she once shared with John, who was murdered on the steps of the very same star-studded building they called home.
Source: Alison Boshoff, Charlie Lankston/dailymail.co.uk
