Chapter 3:

1. Chapter 3:

2. Accomplishments • Had a very short time recording as a group (1962-1970), but set many records that have yet to be broken • The Beatles are the best selling group of all time • Estimated well over 1 billion records/tapes/CDs sold • Most multi-platinum albums of any artist or musical group (13 in the US alone) • Most #1 singles • (22 in the US alone, 181 if #1 rank in every country for each single counted) • April 4, 1965 – the top 5 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 were all by the Beatles • April 11, 1965 – the Beatles held 14 total spots on the Hot 100 • The Beatles had back-to-back-to-back #1 songs three times in their career

3. Influences • Seldom directly influenced by the blues (like many British bands of the 1960s), Chuck Berry and other early rock/pop artists of the 1950s were a great source of inspiration • The Everly Brothers and the Beach Boys attention to harmony obviously influenced the Beatles sound • John Lennon named Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, & Bob Dylan as influences of his • George Harrison’s early guitar style was derived from Carl Perkins, Scotty Moore & Duane Eddy • Later work shows his interest in Indian culture and a focus on clear melodic lines unlike the distorted riffs of Clapton & Hendrix • Ringo Starr’s contributions widely underestimated known for his comic vocals on some songs and steady drumming, influenced the group with and interest in country sounds

4. John Lennon • B. Oct 9, 1940 – D. Dec 8, 1980 • Started the Quarrymen in March 1957 • Met Paul McCartney during their 2nd concert • George Harrison became lead guitarist • Accomplished performer in his own right after the Beatles • John Lennon/Plastic Ono band • Imagine • Double Fantasy • Murdered Dec 8, 1980 by Mark David Chapman • BBC poll in 2002 listed him 8th on the 100 Greatest Britons • Ranked 38th on Rolling Stone’s 50 Greatest Artists (The Beatles were #1) • Rolling Stone also ranked him 5th greatest singer of all time • Elected into the Rock n’ Roll HoF in 1994

5. Paul McCartney • B. June 18, 1942 • Joined John Lennon’s Quarrymen in 1957 at the age of 16 • Most commercially successful ex-Beatle • One of England’s wealthiest men (valued at $1.2 billion) • Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most successful songwriter in the world • 60 gold discs and 100 million singles sold • Yesterday is the most covered song in modern history (3,500 versions) • Only person in British history to have #1 as a soloist, duet, trio, quartet, quintet and sextet • 1997 - Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II • 1999 – inducted into the Rock n’ Roll HoF

6. George Harrison • B. Feb 24, 1943 D. Nov 29, 2001 • Befriended Paul McCartney at the Liverpool Institute in the mid-1950s • Joined Quarrymen in 1958 at age 15 • Harrison wrote several of the Beatles well know later songs: Taxman, Here Comes the Sun, Something, & While My Guitar Gently Weeps • Had a commercially & critically successful solo career • Probably 1st modern musician to organize a major charity concert • Ranked 21st in Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitarist • 1999 – stabbed by a crazed fan, punctures lung • 2001 – died due to a brain tumor • 2004 – inducted into the Rock n’ Roll HoF

7. Ringo Starr • B. Richard Starkey July 7, 1940 • known for his easygoing personality and comic singing • Drummer for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes1959-62 • Joined the Beatles in 1962 • Generally sang one song per album • Didn’t write many songs b/c the songs he had would unintentionally be a clear knock-off of some popular song • Did help w/ lyrics and song titles in many cases • Acted in several movies & the voice of Mr. Conductor on Shining Time Station • Played himself on The Simpsons • Only Beatle not inducted into RR HoF as a solo artist

8. The Quarry Men • Originally formed by John Lennon and high school classmates in Liverpool, England • July 6, 1957 – John met Paul McCartney after the Quarry Men’s second concert • July 20 ’57 – McCartney joins the group • Feb ’58 – Paul introduces George Harrison to John • Aug ’58 – Lennon asks Harrison to join the band • The Quarry men would grow to a seven member band before it disbanded in 1959, due to a lack of gigs

9. Formation of The Beatles • After the Quarry men disbanded, John, Paul & George continued on as “Johnny and the Moondogs” • John & George on guitar and Paul on drums • Jan ’60 – John invited college friend Stuart Sutcliffe into the band to play bass • Started playing as Long John and the Silver Beetles • Aug ’60 – Pete Best joins as drummer, Paul switches to rhythm guitar • Band name shortened to Beetles and later - Beatles • Band makes first trip to Hamburg, Germany to play a stint of 30-set weeks in the bars/clubs • Harrison gets deported for being under age in December • The rest of the band has to leave soon after for working w/o permits • April ’61 – return to Germany; Sutcliffe leaves the group

10. Paul would switch to bass after Sutcliffe departs • Sutcliffe would die from cancer less than a year later • July ’61 – returned to Liverpool • Nov ’61 – spotted by Brian Epstein at the Cavern Club • Epstein becomes their manager & changes their image • May ’62 – signed to EMI for a recording contract by George Martin • Pete Best is asked to leave the group • Aug ’62 – Ringo Starr leaves Rory Storm and the Hurricanes & joins the Beatles

11. The Pop Years Please, Please Me (Mar. ‘63) • Certified platinum • Entire album recorded in 1 day • Notable Songs • I Saw Her Standing There • Love Me Do (#1, 1962) • She Loves You (#1, 1963) • Twist and Shout (#2, 1964) With The Beatles (Nov. ‘63) • Released in US as Meet the Beatles (Jan ’64) • Notable Songs • Roll Over Beethoven (#68) • Money (That’s What I Want)

12. 70 million people watched the Beatles appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show (Feb 9th & 16th ‘64) A Hard Day’s Night (July ‘64) • Soundtrack for the movie • 1st Beatles album using 4 tape tracks • Notable songs • Can’t Buy Me Love (#1, Gold) • A Hard Day’s Night (#1, Gold) Beatles For Sale (Dec. ‘64) • Recording session started only 6 days after last for A Hard Day’s Night • In those 6 days - played concerts in 5 countries • Notable Songs • I’m A Loser • Eight Days A Week (#1, Gold)

13. Help! (Aug ‘65) • Soundtrack to movie of same name • Music begins to show the band moving beyond “pop” sound • Notable Songs • Help! (#1, Gold) • Ticket to Ride (#1, released w/ Help) • Yesterday (#1, Gold) Rubber Soul (Dec. ‘65) • 1st album w/ set recording dates • title was a pun after hearing Mick Jagger’s singing style called “plastic soul” • Many tracks have a folk rock feel • Notable songs • Nowhere Man (#3, Gold) • Drive My Car, Michelle

14. The Psychedelic Years Revolver (Aug. ‘66) • The beginning of their studio years; released before their last tour in ‘66 but none of the songs were played live • Considered one of the greatest technical achievements in rock history • Notable Songs • Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby double A-side (#2, #11; Gold) Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (June ’67) • Took 168 days to record • Ranked #1 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Albums of All Time • Won 4 Grammys in 1968 • Continues and expands on Revolver’s innovations and musical experimentations

15. One of the first “concept” albums • Spent 15 weeks at #1; but no singles at release • Has sold over 8 million copies • Notable Songs • Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band • Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds • Getting Better Magical Mystery Tour (Nov. ‘67) • Brian Epstein dies of overdose in late August, leaving band w/o manager • Soundtrack to the TV movie • Movie panned by critics and fans • Notable Songs • Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever (#1,#8; Gold) • All You Need Is Love (#1; Gold) • Hello, Goodbye/I Am the Walrus (#1,#56; Gold)

16. The Final Years The Beatles (Nov. ‘68) • First release on their own Apple label • commonly known as the White Album • Only double album of original material • Harrison said there were too many egos in the band at that time • #10 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Albums of All Time • Recorded during a period of great turmoil in the band • First album undertaken since Epstein died • Yoko Ono’s presence becomes point of contention among the band • Ringo quit the band for the two weeks earlier in the year • Switched to 8 track recording • Eric Clapton played lead guitar on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” Notable Songs: • Back in the USSR • Birthday • While My Guitar Gently Weeps • Helter Skelter

17. Abbey Road (Sept. ‘69) • Last actual album made by the Beatles • Let It Be was recorded first, but not completed • Biggest selling Beatles album ever (10 million+ copies) • #14 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Albums of All Time • Album cover fueled the “Paul is Dead” rumor • Paul is barefoot, out of step w/ others • VW Beetle plate is “LMW 28IF” • Van in the distance appears to be heading at Paul Notable Songs • Come Together (#1) • Something (#1) • Double single (2x platinum) • Maxwell’s Silver Hammer • Octopus’s Garden • Here Comes the Sun

18. Let It Be (May ‘70) • Recording took place in January ’69 • The band wasn’t happy with the album so it was shelved • The band was falling apart • At one point, George got into to a argument w/ John and Paul; stormed out of studio & quit the band • Talked back after a couple of days • The members were all going in different directions • Paul was taking control of the band • The others resented John for bringing Yoko into the studio • George & Ringo resented being treated as secondary members by John & Paul • Paul sued to dissolve the band Dec ‘70 Notable Songs • Let It Be (#1, 2xPlatinum) • The Long and Winding Road (#1, Gold)