Sunday, February 9, 2014

"It Was Twenty Years Ago Today..."




Sgt Pepper taught the band to play...
They've been going in and out of style...
But they're guaranteed to raise a smile...



Well...

As usual...
... I'm calling bullshit on that...

because...

... it was 50 years ago tonight that The BeaTles appeared on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' for the first time!

See...there was this band from England... from Liverpool...

Stu Sutcliffe, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, 
Tommy Moore, George Harrison
(L-R)

... and contrary to popular opinion, they were not an over-night success...
These guys had worked hard at plying their trade...  learning their licks.

Pete Best, George Harrison, John Lennon, 
Paul McCartney, Stu Sutcliffe
(L-R)

These guys spent a great deal of time playing various clubs... and traveling to Germany, where they actually started earning critical acclaim.

Stu Sutcliffe
Original Bassist

The band had two different members at this time... Pete Best on drums, and Stu Sutcliffe on bass guitar.

Pete Best
Original drummer

In the photos at the beginning of this post, one can see McCartney posing with guitars... not his bass.  1962 seemed to be a pivotal year for this group... Stu Sutcliffe died from a brain aneurysm... and Pete Best was unceremoniously fired from the band.

In 1961, a young fellow by the name of Brian Epstein sold himself to members of the band... convinced them that he could take them to the 'next level'... and the members of the band believed it... they hired him.

Epstein and The BeaTles

These guys did quite well under his leadership... Epstein was playing Hell finding a studio that would sign his band to a recording contract... Epstein eventually met this fellow...

George Martin

Martin worked at a recording studio and had been introduced to Epstein.  It was Epstein's zeal that convinced Martin to sign them to a contract... even though every other British label had declined them.

If there was one person that was critical to the success of this band... this group of musicians... it had to be George Martin.  In the earliest recording sessions, Martin did not care for Pete Best's drum work... and recommended he be replaced.

Martin was a classically trained musician... and was able to 'hear' changes that needed to be made to their recording efforts.  It was Martin's idea to add strings to 'Yesterday,'... something to which McCartney was opposed.  It was also Martin's idea to use a piccolo trumpet solo in 'Penny Lane'... McCartney hummed out the melody he wanted... Martin transcribed it, and they hired a classically trained trumpeter, David Mason, to record it...

In all of the rhetoric about a so-called 'fifth BeaTle'... if there was indeed one, it was George Martin.

Anyway... I've digressed...

Fifty years ago tonight... The BeaTles were on American TV for the first time... and things haven't been the same.  If you weren't alive then, you can't understand.  That's about all I can say about it.

We Americans were only three months removed from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy... political turmoil... brink of nuclear war with the Soviet Union... racial strife...

... and here these guys come a long...

... and I fall in love with music and guitars...

It appears that the powers that be have become possessive of
the Ed Sullivan videos... This clip is  from December, 1963...

Need I tell you how quickly this 50 years has passed?

I feel old...

Hell... I AM old...

Peace...

~shoes~











Posted by at

23 comments:

  1. Kalei's Best FriendFebruary 10, 2014 at 6:51 AM

    I don't feel old, but every time I have to say my age or refer to it, it makes me feel old... Too much has happened in 50 years!. Its going too fast!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesFebruary 10, 2014 at 11:19 AM

      Good morning, Chris...

      From time to time when I look in the mirror, I see this old fart looking back at me... but in my mind's eye, I still see the young fellow I was when I was in high school.

      I wonder if, when I die, how my kids will remember me? The young Dad that I was when they were impressionable? Or the old fart I have become??

      My Dad told me before he died, that he had no idea that 90 years could go by so fast...

      Yes they do... but last night for a few hours, I was a kid again... :o)

      ~shoes~

      Delete
    2. Red ShoesFebruary 10, 2014 at 7:44 PM

      Chris... your blog post is the most touching thing I have ever seen... thank you for posting it.

      Please go to Chris's blog site and look at this...

      http://afreshstartwithkalei.blogspot.com/2014/02/mark-listened_8.html

      Oh man...

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  2. LeahFebruary 10, 2014 at 10:09 AM

    This is one of your greatest posts, Shoes. And in May this year I'll be the age that was mentioned in one of their most well known song titles. Boo hoo :-(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesFebruary 10, 2014 at 11:49 AM

      Hi there, Ms Leah...

      My greatest post? Thank you... I love music and love The BeaTles even MORE!!

      As for your age, we are all heading that way,dear. :o)

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  3. RobinFebruary 10, 2014 at 10:52 AM

    How did I KNOW that you were going to post on the Beatles here????

    Yes. They played the Ed Sullivan Show and changed the sound of "rock and roll." Can you imagine having that sort of influence on music? Me either.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Red ShoesFebruary 10, 2014 at 11:53 AM

    Robin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I'm too fukken predictable, I fear... ;o)

    I'm not sure anyone knew what was really going to happen... but a 'perfect storm' if you will... the right people at the right time at the right place...

    We all should be so fortunate... no?

    How is your neck of the woods today??

    ~shoes~

    ReplyDelete
  5. AmiFebruary 10, 2014 at 12:59 PM

    I remember seeing that show. I couldn't understand what the big deal was.

    We were at my Aunt Myrtle's house and I did my parlor trick of sitting with my legs tucked under me and then jumping off the chair like that and landing on my feet.

    I remember that better.

    Of course it would kill me now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesFebruary 10, 2014 at 7:05 PM

      I have to admit that I did NOT know who they were when the Ed Sullivan Show started that night... my brother was the one that was all about them.

      Needless to say, I liked what I saw...

      If I tried the maneuver that you mentioned above, I would need knee surgery again...

      HAH!

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  6. Nancy/BLissed-Out GrandmaFebruary 10, 2014 at 1:54 PM

    I remember. I didn't learn to love them until some years later, but I was fascinated by the effect they had on people. Great post, Shoes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesFebruary 10, 2014 at 7:10 PM

      Hi there, Blissed... how are you? :o)

      It is amazing the effect that they had on people... and how they opened the doors for The Rolling Stones... and The Animals.... and Gerry and the Pacemakers... and countless other acts from England... not to mention The Sir Douglas Quintet or The Beau Brummels... who were from Texas and San Francisco, respectfully...

      I trust all is well with you!!

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  7. EllaFebruary 10, 2014 at 2:55 PM

    I still have my father's copy of St. Pepper ... if only I had a turntable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesFebruary 10, 2014 at 7:13 PM

      Hey you...

      I want a turntable. I have way too much vinyl to not have one...

      How are things for you??

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  8. Sandra CoxFebruary 10, 2014 at 5:50 PM

    I'm right there with ya Shoes. I remember. But I didn't know as much of the back story as you told. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Red ShoesFebruary 10, 2014 at 7:17 PM

      Hi, Sandra...

      Thank you!

      Imagine all of the back stories to the many many many things we don't know!

      AUGH!!!

      ... and I want to know them!

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  9. YvonneFebruary 10, 2014 at 10:15 PM

    I LOVE the Beatles! I also love this post! It's very informative but not boring. Last night, I was dancing and singing along with them. All of them. Good times...

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Red ShoesFebruary 10, 2014 at 11:48 PM

      Hey you... wasn't that a wonderful show?!?!?!

      Yes, great times... :o)

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  10. Cocaine PrincessFebruary 11, 2014 at 12:21 AM

    My mom loved the Beatles. I'd like to think she was dancing on a cloud in the high heavens while watching the special on Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesMarch 5, 2014 at 7:03 AM

      Hi there, Princess...

      I bet she was as well!!!

      I hope all is well with you, dear...

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  11. Jules February 13, 2014 at 5:31 AM

    I'm all for people learning their licks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesMarch 5, 2014 at 7:01 AM

      Learning ones licks is a good thing, I'm thinking... :oD

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  12. Ki' LeaMarch 4, 2014 at 5:55 AM

    The Beatles are THE BEST. I'm just a few years too young to have seen that show. But you are never too young or old to love them. I'm not a big concert person but seeing Sir Paul a few years ago is a highlight.

    How do you name a favorite? It's impossible, right??

    Across the Universe is probably close if I have to choose a fav.

    http://youtu.be/KNdRU-5tMfg

    Great history lesson, as usual. You ever think about teaching??

    ;-)

    xo
    ~k

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red ShoesMarch 5, 2014 at 7:00 AM

      I like all of the music from that era... maybe it's because I haven't grown up much... maybe it's because it connects me to a happier time in my Life...

      I regret not seeing Sir Paul in Memphis in the past year... I hear he put on a great show!

      I hadn't been aware that there were several versions of 'Across The Universe'... I like all of them...

      Me? A teacher??

      I would probably suck at it...

      :oD

      ~shoes~

      Delete

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