Beatles News

John Lennon often talked about the fact that he wanted the verses to the songs that he wrote to have the same musical potency as the choruses. Although he never stated this intent, Lennon also had a knack for dropping lines into the middle of his songs that could stop you in your tracks with their profundity. In his classic song “Strawberry Fields Forever”, a couplet in the second verse summed up much of what the song was meant to convey. And it also provided a stunning glimpse into just how Lennon saw himself within the wider world.

As The Beatles prepared to make new music in 1967, John Lennon and Paul McCartney originally gave themselves a brief to write about their childhoods. Although they soon abandoned the idea, it stuck around long enough to influence the songs that would serve as the band’s first single of the year, a double A-side.

McCartney wrote “Penny Lane”. The song takes a specific look at the people and places he remembered encountering as a kid. Lennon based “Strawberry Fields Forever” around a local park area within the grounds of a Salvation Army home. But the location simply served as a touchstone for happier memories, a la Rosebud in Citizen Kane.

‘The Beatles Anthology’ Expands With a 9th Episode and 4th Volume

This episode goes behind the scenes of the 1995 documentary; new mixes of “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love” are coming out; and an updated book is due.

The Beatles are back: Unreleased demos and never before seen footage are coming later this fall.

The fourth volume of the band’s “Anthology Collection” of recordings (including 13 new demos) is arriving, along with a capstone episode to the 1995 eight-part documentary and a 25th-anniversary edition of “The Beatles Anthology” book.

The album, “Anthology 4,” includes new mixes of “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love.” The release will accompany remastered versions of the first three “Anthology” albums as well, and will be available Nov. 21.

Source: nytimes.com/Michaela Towfighi

John Lennon was certainly not a man known for biting his tongue, whether conversationally or musically through his lyrics, and that included his feelings about a controversial career move Bob Dylan made in the late 1970s. (Though, to be fair to Lennon, everyone seemed to have an opinion on this interesting pivot in the singer-songwriter’s discography.)

Lennon’s snarky response to arguably one of the best songs to come out of this Dylan era never made it to an official album. The song landed on posthumous archival releases, though, granting us insight into Lennon’s opinions that went deeper than what he was willing to divulge to the press. 

Love it or hate it, Bob Dylan’s Christian era was a pivotal moment in his career. For critics, it was difficult to reconcile this gospel-preaching Dylan with the 1960s rebel who spoke out against authoritarian figures of all kinds. For Dylan purists, it was one of many unique stages in his musical career, yet another testament to the songwriter’s broad abilities. These camps inevitably included some of Dylan’s contemporaries, who felt strongly one way or another about his late 1970s career shift. John Lennon tried to ride the fence on t details

The classic music documentary series, The Beatles Anthology, is being remastered by Peter Jackson’s production companies and will stream on Disney+ later this year. As well as digitally enhanced versions of the original eight episodes, there will also be a brand new ninth episode, created from previously unseen behind-the-scenes footage of Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr coming together around the release of the original series.

The series, which was first broadcast by ITV in 1995, was hailed as the definitive documentary on the Beatles thanks to the way it reunited the surviving three Beatles with their producer George Martin, former press officer Derek Taylor and one-time road manager Neil Aspinall to tell the tale of their career in their own words. Its release was accompanied by the single, Free As a Bird, the first new piece of music put out by the scouse quartet since their disbanding. It was so shrouded in secrecy that record label EMI used armed guards to protect it ahead of its release.

The remastered series, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the original, is the latest Beatles project from Jackson’s Wingnut Films and Park Road Post teams. They previously worked on details

Sir Paul McCartney has hinted at a return to the Anthology series of albums by The Beatles.

Appearing on McCartney's Instagram, as well as Sir Ringo Starr's and the official Beatles accounts, a new post appears to make a nod towards the famous series of albums. The carousel of images contained the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4, with no caption.

Each of the numbers feature images from the Beatles' three-volume double set of albums inside. This has led to Beatles fans speculating what this could mean, and many are now convinced that the post is a precursor to the return of the Anthology series.

Anthology was a multimedia project that was put together by the three surviving Beatles at the time, featuring live versions, alternate takes, unreleased material, outtakes and never-before-seen interviews and photos.

Anthology 1 was released in late 1995, followed by 2 and 3 the following year.  The series also featured the first new music from the band since the death of John Lennon, with McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr working with Jeff Lynne on the tracks 'Real Love' and 'Free as a Bird'.

It also included remnants of a song called 'Now And Then' from 1978. In 2023, they wer details

Beatles drummer Ringo Starr had a frightening near-death experience after being involved in a terrible car accident. In 1980, Starr, now 85, met Barbara Bach on the set of the movie Caveman, and the pair quickly formed a bond.

Just a few months later, they were en route to a party in Surrey when their visibility was hampered by thick fog. As they approached a notorious black-spot at the Robin Hood Roundabout on the A3 at 60 mph, Starr had to swerve to avoid an oncoming truck.

This caused the couple to skid fifty yards, leading to Starr's white Mercedes crashing head-on into two lampposts. Despite injuring his leg, Starr managed to get his partner out of the car to safety.

After extracting his Bond star girlfriend from the wreckage, the musician reportedly went back to the car to grab a pack of cigarettes.
Miraculously, both escaped the crash with minor injuries, but the horrifying collision completely totaled Starr's luxury car, reports the Express. 

In a chilling coincidence, the accident occurred just half a mile away from where Marc Bolan tragically died in a car accident just three years earlier.

Just three weeks after their crash, Bach, now 77, told her father that she plan details

John Lennon and Paul McCartney couldn't always agree on who had written what when they were composing The Beatles' songs. The two wrote the vast majority of the band's songs and every track John and Paul wrote while in the band was credited to Lennon-McCartney, irrespective of whether it was a joint effort or predominately written by one of them.

That was the result of a pact made before they rose to fame and it very occasionally led to disagreements. The ECHO has looked at how they had different recollections on who wrote the majority of 'Eleanor Rigby', 'In My Life' and 'And I Love Her'.‌

They were not the only songs where this was the case either. The track 'Do You Want to Know a Secret' featured on the band's 1963 debut album 'Please Please Me' and was released as a single in the USA the following year.‌

The song, which was sung by George Harrison, had been written in 1962 but John and Paul had differing accounts on how it was written.

About it, John said in a 1980 interview: "My mother was always… she was a comedienne and a singer. Not professional, but, you know, she used to get up in pubs and things like that. She had a good voice. She could do Kay Starr.

"She used details

Looks like The Beatles have some news to share.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers appear to be teasing some upcoming news with various posts on social media and their website.

On Instagram they posted pictures of the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4, each featuring images associated with the band. On X they posted a video with audio of a countdown and screaming fans as images of the band members are shown with the same numbers flashing in front of them.

Both posts include Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison tags, as well as a link to the band’s website, which features what appears to be the back of a canvas frame, with the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4. There’s also a place for fans to sign up for the latest Beatles news.

As for what The Beatles may be teasing, speculation in the social media comments seems to be focused on a possible fourth installment in the band’s Anthology series.

The Beatles released their original Anthology album, titled Anthology 1, in 1995, featuring rarities, outtakes and live performances from early in their career. It also included the new song “Free as a Bird,” which at the time was the first new Beatles song in 25 years. The song incor details

So often in life, we don’t realize we’re experiencing something for the last time while it’s happening. The last time we see a friend, the last time we go out to eat at a beloved restaurant that shuts down, the last time we leave our childhood home’s front door. On August 20, 1969, the Beatles walked out of Abbey Road Studios for the last time, and it’s hard to say whether they knew it was the last.

On the one hand, the Fab Four as a collective wasn’t exactly in great spirits. Nearing a breakup and eager to pursue professional endeavors, leaving the studio with their soon-to-be ex-bandmates for the last time was likely more freeing than bittersweet. But with all of the events that happened in the years following, we can’t help but feel they must have picked up on that same melancholic hindsight.

Although, we’d imagine the release and success of their iconic album, Abbey Road, might have soothed any lingering sadness at the time.
The Beatles Leave Abbey Road Studios for the Last Time

The Beatles began working on their final album together in late February 1969. (They recorded their “last” album, Let It Be, before the Abbey Road sessions.) Th details

On This Day, Aug. 19, 1967 …

The Beatles landed another #1 single with ‘All You Need Is Love,” a non-album track that represented Britain in the TV program Our World, the first live global, multi-satellite TV show.

When they signed on for Our World, The Beatles were asked to contribute a song with a positive and universal message.

They performed the track on the show with a prerecorded backing track, and were joined by The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Graham Nash, The Who’s Keith Moon and others, who sat on the floor and sang along to the chorus.

“All You Need Is Love” also went to #1 in several other countries, including the U.K., Canada, Australia, Austria, New Zealand and Sweden.

Source: Everett Post

Though it may be hard to understand in hindsight, some hit songs aren’t apparent in the studio. Even songs that become instant classics can seem like they are built on shaky ground to an artist who hasn’t yet received their audience’s opinion. Paul McCartney experienced this with one of his biggest solo hits. We can’t imagine ever hearing this song and not thinking it was a masterpiece, but McCartney didn’t feel as confident when he first wrote it. Find out which solo hit McCartney thought he overdid below.

McCartney’s solo work has proven to be quite different from his Beatles material. Though there are glimmers of what he would produce when left to his own devices, the input from the rest of his bandmates somewhat watered down his songwriting voice.

McCartney’s earliest solo pursuits were markedly less produced than his work with the Beatles. He focused on sparse instrumentals and haphazard delivery. Unsurprisingly, this alienated some listeners, but it also set McCartney on a path to solo greatness.

“When The Beatles had broken up and I was on my own for the first time, I got that four-track Studa in my living room,” McCartney once said. “And details

Considering The Beatles' success, which continues to mount more than five decades after their split, it's hard to imagine any of the Fab Four wishing for more. Or, maybe it's not when reflecting on how much a perfectionist John Lennon was concerning the band.‌

Lennon was often the most critical of The Beatles' endeavors, both in and out of the recording studio, and continuously voiced negative views even after the group called it quits. He wasn't ever shy to throw certain Beatles songs under the bus and brutally bash them.

In fact, Lennon wasn't happy with any of The Beatles' songs, it turns out, and once confided in one of the most important figures in the band's life, their producer, George Martin, who was often referred to as the fifth Beatle, about a wild wish he had about their tunes.

Lennon wrote some of the most famous songs in music history with and without his songwriting partner, Paul McCartney, but Martin said that he didn’t exactly look back at his songs fondly.  Throughout The Beatles' lifetime, Lennon would call some of their songs like Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, Hey Bulldog, Run For Your Life, and Dig a Pony garbage or even embarrassing. Despite what he thought abo details

An early version of Norwegian Wood from The Beatles‘ Rubber Soul album has been hailed as “genius” by fans.

Preference for the early version comes as a demo version of the song was uploaded to YouTube. Racking up nearly two million views over the last nine years, fans are still cropping up in the comments to share their love for the Norwegian Wood alternate. It’s a version that has people still left surprised by the song, while others have suggested this Norwegian Wood is superior to the one featured on the album. The Beatles’ Rubber Soul is considered a turning point for the band, with Norwegian Wood featuring lyrics influenced by Bob Dylan. The legendary artist would not, however, influence the sitar featured on the song.

John Lennon had asked George Harrison to add a sitar layer to the song, with the track suggested as a veiled account of an extramarital affair. Harrison’s additions to the song have been hailed as a “genius” inclusion on the track. One user wrote: “I can’t get over how much of a genius George is.”

Another agreed, adding: “Paul McCartney’s harmonies on this song get me every time. Their two voices together we details

Meet the Beatles! That’s what happened 60 years ago when the Fab Four played their only concert in the Twin Cities on Aug. 21, 1965.

The show was at Met Stadium, the old ballpark in Bloomington that was home to the Twins and Vikings, located where Mall of America now stands.

Tickets cost $3.50, $4.50 and $5.50 (about $56 in today’s money).

Sixty years later, the tax man would do a double take at the price to see Beatle Paul McCartney at U.S. Bank Stadium on Oct. 17 — from $135 and to $750-plus.

That’s now. Let’s look at some numbers from back then.

A ticket from The Beatles' only Minnesota performance, on Aug. 21, 1965 at the old Met Stadium. Provided by Jeff Syme. (Jeff Wheeler/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

1 Ringo Starr and George Harrison each sang one tune at Met Stadium. John Lennon and/or Paul McCartney sang the rest.

2 There were only two Beatles souvenirs for sale at Met Stadium that night, a $1 program and a $1 megaphone, with all four musicians photos on it.

4 A quartet of limousines waited at Wold–Chamberlain Field airport to transport each Beatle to the stadium. Instead, all four rode in the same limo.

4 Opening details

George Harrison, the late, great, and often underrated member of The Beatles, was arguably the most fearless. He was the first to release a solo album (the 1968 effort Wonderwall Music) among the Fab Four. And he was also the first to release his own autobiography.

4 of the Best Opening Lines in Rock Music History

The autobiography in question was released on this day in 1980 and was titled I, Me, Mine. Published on August 15, 1980, this little memoir was clearly something very special to Harrison. In its original publication run, each book was hand-bound and considered a limited edition, with about 2,000 signed by Harrison himself.

But don’t expect to find any new Beatles lore in this book. Though, Harrison did talk about how much he loved Monty Python.
What George Harrison Revealed in ‘I, Me, Mine’

I, Me, Mine felt like a true published diary of Harrison’s, as well as a little piece of music history. The book, which you can still find today, is filled with copies of Harrison’s own handwritten song lyrics. It also features commentary from The Beatles’ press officer, Derek Taylor.

George Harrison revealed quite a bit in the book about himself. And details