Beatles News
When The Beatles started out they were famously recast by manager Brian Epstein as four boys next door, their suits and mop top haircuts quickly varnishing over their raw rock ‘n’ roll roots. As time moved on, however, those roots showed through – sometimes in unexpected ways.
Take ‘Sun King’. A classic moment from the band’s final album ‘Abbey Road’, it was initially called ‘Here Comes The Sun King’ – before having its title shortened, to avoid confusion with George Harrison’s classic ‘Here Comes The Sun’.
Very much a group effort, the root for ‘Sun King’ owes a debt to Fleetwood Mac, then in their blues rock phase. Perhaps the biggest band in the country at the time, The Beatles lifted aspects of the guitar sound on No. 1 single ‘Albatross’ and turned it into their own.
George Harrison commented in 1987: “At the time, ‘Albatross’ (by Fleetwood Mac) was out, with all the reverb on guitar. So we said, ‘Let’s be Fleetwood Mac doing ‘Albatross’, just to get going.’ It never really sounded like Fleetwood Mac… but that was the point of origin.”
The final vocal part borrows from a plethora of Romance languages, spoof words pilfered from Spanish, Portuguese, and beyond. Essentially meaningless, it goes:
“Quando para mucho mi amore de felice corazón Mundo paparazzi mi amore chicka ferdy parasol. Cuesto obrigado tanta mucho que canite carousel“
The phrase ‘chicka ferdy’ was a nod to their rebellious days as rock ‘n’ roll teens in Liverpool, and it carries a hidden meaning. John Lennon told Rolling Stone in 1969: “We just started joking, you know, singing ‘cuando para mucho.’ So we just made up… Paul knew a few Spanish words from school, you know. So we just strung any Spanish words that sounded vaguely like something.”
It took over 40 years for the true meaning of ‘chicka ferdy’ to emerge, though. Paul McCartney revealed the truth in a 2020 radio interview. “There was a thing in Liverpool that us kids used to do, which was instead of saying ‘fuck off’, we would say ‘chicka ferdy’, he explained. “We were thinking that nobody would know what it meant, and most people would think, ‘Oh it must be Spanish’, or something. But we got a little seditious word in there!”
He added: “We had a few words and phrases that if one of us said it, would amuse the others because it was like a secret code.”
Source: Robin Murray/clashmusic.com
Of all the songs that the BBC banned during the heyday of The Beatles, this particular ban is the most understandable. At the very least, it’s understandable in the context of the 1960s and what was considered taboo at the time.
This particular song that the BBC banned was “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” from The Beatles’ 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
“Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” is one of the Fab Four’s most recognizable songs of their career. It was also one of their most thinly veiled references to the psychedelic drug LSD. The title of the song spells out “LSD”. The lyrics also make poetic connections to the substance, too. The BBC Ban of “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” by The Beatles Was Understandable at the Time
“Picture yourself in a boat on a river / With tangerine trees and marmalade skies / Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly / A girl with kaleidoscope eyes” are just a few of many obvious references in the song.
Mentioning a psychedelic drug in a song wouldn’t make most people blush nowadays. Still, the BBC was pretty strict about banning such songs in the 1960s. One could listen to the lyrics of “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” and think it’s a simple, innocent song about a girl named Lucy.
John Lennon even fought back at the allegations that the song was about doing drugs. He said that the song was simply inspired by a picture his son Julian drew that portrayed his friend Lucy in a childlike surreal manner.
Lennon also said that the song was about his future wife, Yoko Ono. “It was purely unconscious that it came out to be LSD,” said Lennon. “Until somebody pointed it out, I never even thought of it. […] The imagery was Alice in the boat. And also the image of this female who would come and save me. This secret love that was going to come one day. So it turned out to be Yoko, though, and I hadn’t met Yoko then. But she was my imaginary girl that we all have.”
Source: Em Casalena/americansongwriter.com
The iconic British comedy musical film, “A Hard Day’s Night,” was released on this day in history, Aug. 11, 1964, and starred the Beatles in their first feature movie. The movie was released during the height of Beatlemania as well as the British Invasion, and “A Hard Day’s Night” is widely considered a classic, according to Britannica.com. It will mark its 60th anniversary in 2024.
The rock ‘n’ roll musical boasts catchy and classic Beatles tunes, including "Can’t Buy Me Love," "I Should Have Known Better," and the namesake "A Hard Day’s Night."
John Lennon wrote the song "A Hard Day's Night"; it credited to Lennon-McCartney and released on the movie soundtrack of the same name in 1964, according to the Beatles' official website.
Source: Erica Lamberg/yahoo.com
Cynthia Lennon and Yoko Ono didn't get along. Here's why Cynthia was unhappy with Ono after John Lennon's death.
Immediately after John Lennon’s death, Cynthia Lennon reluctantly let her son, Julian, visit Yoko Ono in New York. Julian was still a teenager, and Cynthia didn’t want him to travel alone. Still, she allowed him to do what he felt was necessary. While Julian enjoyed spending time with his younger brother, Sean, Cynthia felt that Ono treated him callously. Cynthia Lennon said Yoko Ono overlooked Julian Lennon after John Lennon died
When Julian arrived at the Dakota, Lennon and Ono’s building in New York, he found the apartment empty. Fred Seamen, Lennon’s personal assistant, took this opportunity to warn Julian about the visit.
“‘[Ono] will do anything to keep you in your place,’ he said. ‘Sean is the only person who matters to her. There’s simply no place for you in her world,’” Cynthia wrote in her book John. “Fred’s message was pretty brutal but it was proven absolutely true over the next weeks and months.”
Still, Ono was vulnerable with Julian when she saw him, admitting she didn’t know how to tell Sean about Lennon’s death. The older boy agreed to help. Julian Lennon was not a part of the statement about Lennon’s death.
Julian offered his advice to Ono on how to talk to Sean. In the end, though, they both sat down with him.
Source: Emma McKee/cheatsheet.com
The Beatles were the greatest band of the 20th century. Their solo careers were each quite lucrative in their own right, even if most Beatles fans wouldn’t say they matched the power of their former band’s career. These six albums specifically were some of the best solo projects to come from each of the former Beatles members. Though, please keep in mind that this list is not tiered nor in order of greatness; each one of these Beatles solo projects is special for different reasons!
1. ‘All Things Must Pass’ by George Harrison
Many consider George Harrison to be the most underrated Beatle. After listening to his debut solo album, we’re inclined to agree. All This Must Pass is an incredible creative achievement from Harrison, and many would say it was his very best solo release. All he needed was to step away from the shadow of Paul McCartney and John Lennon to really shine on his own as a songwriter.
2. ‘Plastic Ono Band’ by John Lennon
The 1970 record Plastic Ono Band was a seething solo release from John Lennon. This whole album takes the listener on a journey of Lennon’s self-confrontations as he battles his inner demons, dreams, and preconceived notions of belief and faith. It’s considered one of the best solo projects by The Beatles’ frontman, and it’s hard to disagree with that.
Source: Em Casalena/americansongwriter.com
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
