Beatles News

Even as his early creative peak, George Harrison would typically be given two slots to fill on Beatles albums. That tends to happen when your bandmates are named John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

The Beatles split in 1970 and Harrison quite understandably began his solo career with a backlog of great songs. He came roaring onto the charts: Every single Harrison issued over the first five years of his solo career reached the Billboard Top 40 – and two of them hit No. 1.

He'd add four more Top 40 hits, including another No. 1 hit, before taking a break from music in the early-'80s. Then, as before, Harrison returned with a clutch of great songs in the early '00s. How George Harrison Staged a Remarkable Comeback.

Harrison would score the most recent solo Beatles U.S. No. 1 song during a period of late-'80s rebirth. He almost cracked the Top 20 twice with two other singles in this same era – and then was halted just outside the U.K. Top 40 with 1990's "Nobody's Child" with the Traveling Wilburys.

There were some strange anomalies, too. Harrison scored a hit in his native U.K. with the Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care," but the single only reached No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100. T details

The Beatles' Legendary Hit Song Held the No. 1 Spot on the Billboard Charts for 9 Straight Weeks.

In a conversation about the biggest Beatles' song of all time, a lot of timeless tracks may come to mind. The legendary band boasts a rich discography, many of which weren't just critically praised but were also commercially successful. That includes songs like "Let It Be," "Can't Buy Me Love," "She Loves You," "Hello Goodbye," "Yesterday," "Twist and Shout," and many more. But history has kept its record. And the one song that became one of the biggest hits of their career is none other than "Hey Jude" — a non-album single released in 1968.

Written by Paul McCartney and credited under the Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership, "Hey Jude" became the longest-running number-one single by a rock act of the 1960s on the US Billboard Hot 100 — an impressive achievement for any artist in the decade. It was also the band's longest-running number-one single ever, having spent a total of nine weeks on the chart. It surpassed the record made by "I Want To Hold Your Hand" (another successful track from the band), which spent seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Hey Jude" was also a number-one details

As arguably the most important rock and pop band in music history, The Beatles (and their individual members) have understandably been the subject of several documentaries over the decades, from contemporary accounts at the height of their fame in the late 60s, to recent biographies and retrospectives by some of the movie world’s most acclaimed filmmakers. Some have taken deeper dives than others into the lives, history, and music of the Fab Four, with varying results overall—both critically and commercially, and among reviewers, musicians, filmmakers, and fans alike. Ten of the band’s most interesting and worthwhile documentary features are listed here, ranked by critical and commercial performance, and their place in both the band’s canon and cinema history.

All Together Now (2008)
Meeting the Beatles in India (2020)
Imagine: John Lennon (1988)
The Beatles Revolution (2000)
Let It Be (1970)
The Compleat Beatles (1982)
The Beatles: Get Back (2021)
The Beatles Anthology (1995)
Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years (2016)
Beatles ’64 (2013)

All Together Now (2008)

In the early 2000s, George Harrison and his friend Guy Lalib details

Right up until near the end, when things got a little dicey, The Beatles mostly projected an air of harmony to the public. Only after the breakup did we find out that there were occasionally severe arguments. But they kept these mostly hidden from the public.

One of those dustups concerned the first song they released after the death of manager Brian Epstein in 1967. And it came down to which of the Lennon/McCartney songwriting pair was going to get the A-side.
Goodbye, Brian

For most of 1967, The Beatles rode an incredible wave that carried them to heights that few artists have ever experienced. Before the summer was over, they had delivered a spellbinding two-sided single (“Strawberry Fields Forever”/”Penny Lane”), a masterpiece album (Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band), and an acclaimed worldwide performance of a song (“All You Need Is Love”) perfectly timed for the occasion.

But then fate intervened to put the brakes on the nonstop good vibes. Brian Epstein, the manager who brought the band from obscurity to the pinnacle of stardom, was found dead in his London home on August 27, 1967.

Source: americansongwriter.com

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Neil Aspinall’s name is not one commonly heard when talking about the purported “fifth” Beatles that were close to the Fab Four. Many consider the band’s manager, Brian Epstein, to be a fifth Beatle. Others consider producer George Martin and collaborator Billy Preston to be fifth Beatles.

However, Aspinall played an important role in The Beatles’ rise to fame and subsequent management of their legacy after they disbanded in 1970. And Aspinall passed away on this day, March 24, 2008, at the age of 66. Let’s look back at the legacy of one of the movers and shakers who helped make The Beatles the biggest band of the 20th century. Remembering Neil Aspinall’s Work in the Wake of The Beatles’ Breakup.

Neil Aspinall was born on October 13, 1941, in Prestatyn, Wales. Shortly after the early iteration of The Beatles formed, Aspinall formed a friendship with original Beatle Pete Best. Once the band started to get more successful, traveling by bus to gigs was no longer doable.

So, they contracted the help of Aspinall and hired him as a part-time road manager. He would drive a grey Commer van and take the band around town from gig to gig.

Aspinall was the details

Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy were in a world of their own as they enjoyed a romantic beach day in St. Barts on Sunday.

The musician, 83, and his wife, 66, who are regular visitors to the Caribbean island, enjoyed a passionate kiss during a dip in the ocean.

Nancy couldn't keep her hands off her Beatles legend husband, pulling him in for hugs as they cooled down with a swim. The American businesswoman was well protected from the sun in a brown, long-sleeve swimsuit teamed with a wide-brimmed sun hat and shades.

Sir Paul donned a navy swim top and patterned shorts, beaming as he enjoyed the beach day with his wife of 15 years. Paul and Nancy got married in 2011 after meeting in 2007 and both have children from previous relationships.

Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy were in a world of their own as they enjoyed a romantic beach day in St. Barts on Sunday. The musician, 83, and his wife, 66, who are regular visitors to the Caribbean island, enjoyed a passionate kiss during a dip in the ocean.

Source: dailymail.co.uk/Joanna Crawley

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Paul McCartney has once again reflected on the breakup of The Beatles, one of the most analyzed episodes in music history. In an interview with Vanity Fair, the British artist acknowledged that John Lennon's decision to leave the group was "a great shock, very traumatic, a drama", marking a point of no return for the band.

Although Yoko Ono has been blamed for the breakup over the years, McCartney now qualifies his view. "When John met Yoko, that was the end of the Beatles," he admits, but adds that over time he has come to understand that relationship better: "In time it's easier to accept that they fitted in very well." According to him, the connection between the two went beyond the personal and responded to an artistic affinity: "She fitted completely with that experimental thing."
Paul McCartney on The Beatles' breakup: "I have absolutely nothing against it". The musician recalls how the meeting between Lennon and Ono took place at the Indica Gallery in creative 1960s London: "That's how John met Yoko... He went to see her. They met." Nevertheless, he acknowledges that her presence altered the internal dynamics of the group. "It was disturbing because it would separate the Beatles," he says, recalling mom details

While the Beatles were certainly no strangers to alcohol, it appears that their backstage beverage of choice may not have had any booze in it. In a 1965 story for Playboy, journalist Jean Shepherd joined the Beatles for a stretch of shows in the UK, and often spent time with them in the dressing room. Every stop felt the same, he wrote, with the dressing rooms themselves having the same food items at every stop, including trays of French fries, steak, and pots of tea.

The lads were often seen enjoying a cuppa, so much so that there's even a zine, The Teatles, dedicated to compiling photos of them with tea. Comedian and Beatles historian Martin Lewis also found that tea just so happened to be the drink the Beatles mentioned the most in their lyrics. In fact, according to Lewis's study, the band wrote a total of five songs referencing tea in a span of just three months.

It makes a lot of sense that the Beatles would drink so much of it — they were as British as you could get, and tea is an integral part of their culture. While it isn't clear what specific tea they kept in their dressing rooms, odds are it was a type of black tea, since 71% of Brits prefer it over herbal or green teas (via World Tea News). Dr details

While Anna Sawai has been busy conquering TV and film, the Emmy-winning “Shōgun” star first got her start in show business as a member of the J-pop band FAKY. Now, Sawai is going back to her musical roots in the role of Yoko Ono in Sam Mendes’ forthcoming “Beatles” biopics.

“It was my dream to tell her story and I didn’t think it would come this quick,” Sawai told Variety at the Los Angeles premiere of Apple TV’s “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” Season 2 on Thursday night. “There’s a version of her I feel people still don’t understand. And in this film, I think we’re going to be able to tell that side of the story.”

To prepare, Sawai has been busy reading everything she can about the artist and musician. “So much reading, oh my gosh,” she said. “So many books, so many videos, so many articles…She has so much artwork that also shows her personality.”

While on set in London, Sawai teases it’s been fun to hear the cast — Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr — play the iconic ba details

The Irish actor opened up about the effect of the harsh comments.  Barry Keoghan has said he ‘doesn’t want to go outside’ after remarks about his looks. The Irish actor, who will play Ringo Starr in the upcoming Beatles' biopic, has been faced with harsh comments about his looks over the past couple of years.

Keoghan has opened up about the harmful effects such comments has had on him personally, admitting it has made him 'shy away'. Keoghan firstly acknowledged the 'good side' of fame, highlighting his 'incredible fanbase', however he added that 'there is also a nasty side of it'.  He said he has received 'a lot of abuse' over his looks and tried to remove himself from online.

"I think I removed myself from online, but I'm still a curious human being that wants to go on and, if I attend an event or if I go somewhere, you want to see how it was received. And it's not nice," he said. The Saltburn star continued: "There's a lot of hate online. It's a lot of abuse of how I look.

"It's made me really go inside myself, not want to attend places, not want to go outside. "And I say this being absolute pure and honest to you. It's becoming a problem."In 2 details

John Lennon's songwriting and Beatles legacy form the foundation of his cultural impact.  "Strawberry Fields Forever" tops recent rankings, praised for its production and experimental sound.  The song’s inspiration stems from Lennon’s Liverpool childhood and personal struggles.

John Lennon is famous for many reasons. His songwriting genius, his activism, his enduring cultural impact. But his rise to fame with The Beatles is the foundation on which everything was built.

In 1956, Lennon founded the Quarrymen, described as a skiffle group. Four years later, the band composed of Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, solidified their core, changed their name, and never looked back.

With Harrison contributing to the Fab Four‘s songwriting further into their meteoric career, and two songs coming from Starr, most of the writing was shared by Lennon and McCartney. But for our purposes here, we’re focused on the masterworks that sprung from the heart, mind, and soul of the bespectacled, shaggy-haired rock pioneer.

In a recent roundup published by Uncut, the team, including Paul Weller, guitarist and principal singer and songwriter of The Jam, details

Getting to the top of the charts is easy compared to the second challenge waiting just on the other side of this accomplishment: staying there. The Beatles were discovering how difficult this follow-up hurdle was in 1964, months after “I Want To Hold Your Hand” hit No. 1 in the States. Beatlemania might have been in full swing, but the band was responsible for keeping that fire going.

Eager to recreate their success and linger on the charts a little longer, The Beatles followed up with “Can’t Buy Me Love”. With George Harrison on a jangly twelve-string guitar, the song fit perfectly in the musical zeitgeist. And indeed, it was a hit. “Can’t Buy Me Love” topped charts worldwide, cementing itself among the most ubiquitous early Fab Four tunes.

Interestingly, producer George Martin played a significant role in the writing process, adding the intro and outro tag and essentially framing it as a 12-bar blues number. But lyrically, neither Martin nor anyone else involved thought to double-check the track for any double entendres. No, “Can’t Buy Me Love” Wasn’t About That.

The “my love is free” trope has become commonplace i details

While he will forever remain a music icon and part of the legendary Beatles, George Harrison is, perhaps, the most subtle of the quartet of musicians. While John Lennon and Paul McCartney were wailing on lead vocals and writing most of the band's songs, and Ringo Starr was jamming on the drums, Harrison played lead guitar and stood somewhat apart, often being referred to as "the quiet Beatle." But this didn't mean that he was any less talented than the others, in fact, it was Harrison who wrote the acclaimed "Here Comes the Sun" on the album "Abbey Road." And Beatles fans certainly didn't love him any less. In fact, when his American fans learned that Harrison loved the British sweet called Jelly Babies, they literally showered him with the confection...sort of.

Because they couldn't find actual Jelly Babies in America at the time, Beatles fans reached for what they thought was the next best thing: jelly beans. At concerts, they began to throw this popular candy on stage, pelting the band mates from all directions (and if you know how jelly beans are made, the hard-coated shell probably didn't feel great). Wouldn't one of these gummy bear brands have been a better choice? Of course, Harrison also received plenty of the details

Paul McCartney says his late wife Linda encouraged him to embrace freedom and let go of being uptight
Linda’s phrase “It’s allowed” helped the former Beatle overcome self-imposed limitations and inspired him to take risks
The pair were married from 1969 to Linda's death in 1998

Paul McCartney had a lot to learn from his late wife Linda.

The legendary musician, 83, offered rare insight into the effect that Linda had on his life in a new clip from his Words + Music installment with Audible, which PEOPLE is exclusively premiering.

In the episode — which is an expansion of his recent documentary Man on the Run — McCartney says Linda was a “freeing influence” when they first got together in the 1960s.

“She had grown up in a posh bit of New York. She was on track to become the sort of company wife. But she didn’t like that. She liked rock ‘n’ roll,” McCartney says. “And she would do things like sneak out of the house late at night and drive into New York with a boyfriend. So there was a lot of freedom in her thinking. So I think that really was good for me.”

When Linda and Paul met, she was a d details

One of Paul McCartney‘s all-time favourite songs was written by his Beatles bandmate, George Harrison.

The Wings frontman confirmed as much during a Reddit Ask Me Anything on the r/Music subreddit. McCartney was asked for his favourite songs by members of the public, with the Let It Be hitmaker going one step further and naming an album release by Harrison as one of his favourites. McCartney confirmed Brainwashed, Harrison’s posthumous release, which dropped in 2002, was among his favourite albums. In a Reddit AMA to promote his 2020 album, McCartney III, McCartney confirmed Here Comes the Sun was one of his favourite songs from Harrison.

He wrote: “It is a brilliant song and the kind of song that’s really good in times like these.” The “times like these” McCartney refers to in his comment is the lockdown the United Kingdom, and other countries across the world, experienced due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

A previous compilation release from McCartney saw the legendary songwriter name a Brainwashed track as another favourite from Harrison’s discography.

Source: cultfollowing.co.uk/ Ewan Gleadow

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