Beatles News
Even as one of rock ‘n’ roll’s best guitarists, George Harrison sometimes turned to the piano to write his songs. The Beatle relied on ivory keys to give him a fresh sound when writing “Old Brown Shoe” and “Something,” not tight strings.
In his 1980 memoir, I Me Mine, George said he wrote “Old Brown Shoe” on the piano. Although, he wasn’t familiar with the instrument.
He wrote, “‘Old Brown Shoe.’ I started the chord sequences on the piano (which I don’t really play) and then began writing ideas for the words from various opposites: ‘I want a love that’s right/ But right is only half of what’s wrong.’ Again it’s the duality of things–yes-no, up-down, left-right, right-wrong, etc.”
Source: Hannah Wigandt/cheatsheet.com
Paul McCartney said one of the lyrics from The Beatles’ “Day Tripper” had a risque meaning.
He compared it to a line from The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life.”
“Day Tripper” was more popular in the United Kingdom than it was in the United States.
Paul McCartney said The Beatles‘ “Day Tripper” included a provocative lyric. Paul felt older listeners would not understand it. Despite this, he felt “kids” got it.
In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul discussed The Beatles’ “Day Tripper.” “This was getting towards the psychedelic period when we were interested in winking to our friends and comrades in arms, putting in references that we knew our friends would get but that the Great British Public might not,” he said.
Paul commented on a provocative lyric from the song. “So ‘she’s a big teaser’ was ‘she’s a p**** teaser,'” he added. “The mums and dads didn’t get it but the kids did. ‘Day Tripper’ was to do with tripping.”
Source: Matthew Trzcinski/cheatsheet.com
George Harrison said he never consciously tried copying Bob Dylan’s singing voice. Although Dylan significantly influenced the former Beatle. The pair later combined their musical talents in The Traveling Wilburys.
During a 1989 interview with Mark Rowland (per George Harrison on George Harrison: Interviews and Encounters), George spoke about how Dylan influenced his Beatles song, “Long, Long, Long.”
“Yeah, that was just a sort of funny little tune I wrote one day, basically,” George explained. “The only thing I suppose that’s memorable about it is that I was very hung up on [Bob Dylan’s] ‘Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands’ at the time. It’s got the same chords as ‘Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands.'”
Source: Hannah Wigandt/cheatsheet.com
George Harrison tried cashing in on the money Lorne Michaels promised for a Beatles reunion on his show, SNL. In 1976, the producer went on live television to give an impassioned speech about his love for The Beatles and offered a handsome sum of money to the band if they reunited and played a couple of songs on the comedy show.
George appeared as the musical guest months later and thought he was entitled to the money. However, it didn’t exactly work that way.
During the April 24, 1976 show of NBC’s Saturday Night (Later Saturday Night Live), producer Lorne Michaels cut in to speak directly to John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. He had a special offer for them.
“Lately there have been a lot of rumors to the effect that the four of you might be getting back together,” Lorne said. “That would be great. In my book, the Beatles are the best thing that ever happened to music. It goes even deeper than that – you’re not just a musical group, you’re a part of us. We grew up with you.”
Source; Hannah Wigandt/cheatsheet.com
THE BEATLES were devastated in 1967 when their boss and mentor, Brian Epstein, was found dead in his home. His personal assistant has now spoken out about the day he died, noting that George Harrison began consoling those affected by the loss. She attributed the star's caring nature to his meditation sessions.
The Beatles were first discovered by Brian Epstein in 1961. On a lunch break, he walked down the stairs of Liverpool's Cavern Club and saw them playing. He arranged to sign a contract with them as soon as he could.
Epstein fixed the band's image by making them wear suits and get uniform haircuts. Instead of swearing and smoking on stage, he urged them to become polite young men. Before long, they had become the biggest band in the UK.
Disaster struck in 1967 when Epstein was found dead at his home in Belgravia, Central London.
Source: Callum Crumlish/express.trem.media
John Lennon said The Beatles’ The White Album took a long time to complete. John didn’t really like to listen to The Beatles’ classic albums. He didn’t like listening to other artists’ albums, even if they were good.
John Lennon said The Beatles‘ The White Album took a long time to finish. For example, he said he spent eight hours to mix one of the songs on the album. In addition, John revealed why he didn’t listen to his albums for pleasure.
“Are you kidding?” he said. “For pleasure, I would never listen to them.”
John discussed what he thought when he listened to his old albums. “When I hear them, I just think of the session — the 48 hours Paul and I sat up putting The White Album in order until we were going crazy; the eight hours of mixing ‘Revolution 9‘ — whatever. Jesus, we were sitting hours doing the bloody guitars. I remember every detail of the work.”
Source: Matthew Trzcinski/cheatsheet.com
Imagine all the people living in John Lennon’s former family home.
The Liverpool property is up for grabs, headed to a virtual auction, the BBC reported. The three-bedroom house on Blomfield Road is being sold to the highest bidder by Omega Auctions.
Lennon’s mother, Julia, was the main inhabitant of the home, living there from 1950 until her accidental death in 1958. Other residents at the so-called “House of Sin” — dubbed by Lennon’s aunt — included Julia’s husband, John Dykins, and Lennon’s sisters, Julia Baird and Jacqueline Dykins.
Lennon visited the home often, but mostly lived at his aunt’s home on Menlove Avenue. Nevertheless, Lennon and future Beatles member Paul McCartney often rehearsed at the Lennon home with The Quarrymen, the group that spawned the Beatles.
Source: therealdeal.com
George Harrison said he didn’t care if his 1987 album, Cloud Nine, bombed. The former Beatle didn’t release music solely for the fans. He made and released music because he liked doing it. If fans liked it, that was a bonus.
Before starting work on Cloud Nine, George decided he wanted ELO frontman, Jeff Lynne, to help him as co-producer. It was a little ironic, considering George had once called Lynne a Beatles copycat. However, George felt Lynne was perfect for that reason. He wanted someone who knew his music style well.
He invited Lynne over to his home, Friar Park, and then invited him to vacation with him in Australia. George needed to be sure Lynne would be a good songwriting partner. They had to get along, and Lynne passed the test. George then asked Lynne to work with him
on Cloud Nine.
Source: Hannah Wigandt/cheatsheet.com
Paul McCartney and George Harrison met as teenagers and would go on to perform in one of the biggest bands in the world together. McCartney encouraged John Lennon to accept Harrison into his band, The Quarrymen. Harrison looked up to McCartney, but the latter said it was difficult to view his younger bandmate as an adult, even as they aged. This would later create tension in The Beatles.McCartney and Harrison met as students at the Liverpool Institute. Though McCartney was in the grade above Harrison, they rode the bus together as they lived near one another. During the lengthy trips to school, they bonded over their mutual love of music.
Source: Emma McKee
George Harrison said he wasn’t “brilliant” at taking care of his career. Maybe that was because he never considered himself in one his whole life. George never pursued a solo career.
He released All Things Must Pass as a reaction to leaving The Beatles. He had so many songs stockpiled that he had to release them just to move forward. When the triple album did well, he continued making music on his schedule. He didn’t like making music just because the record companies and fans wanted him to.
However, after releasing several albums through the years, George couldn’t deny that he had somewhat of a career and realized he wasn’t good at keeping it afloat.
Source: Hannah Wigandt/cheatsheet.com
