I Should Have Known Better
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The Beatles 
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THE (Early) BEATLES (1959-1963) Formed 1959, Liverpool, England. The impact of the Beatles - not only on Rock & Roll but on all of western culture - is simply incalculable. Prior to forming the Beatles, John and Paul were in a band called the Quarrymen. They started writing songs together and later invited George to join them. In 1960 the band's name was changed to The Silver Beatles and finally 'The Beatles'. Band Members
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The Beatles, as somewhat a poor musical act in the beginning, in a way got their break
when they were secured as a club act in Hamburg, Germany. After playing a variety of
venues, most prominantly 'The Kaiserkeller', they returned to Liverpool. Soon after
they were engaged to play regularly at 'The Cavern Club' where they attracted a loyal
local Liverpool following.
I'll Follow The Sun |
The Quarrymen 1958
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Movin 'N' Groovin |
The Early Beatles
In mid 1961 the Beatles returned to Hamburg to play at the Top Ten Club, alternating sets with
Tony Sheridan. At this Stage Stu Sutcliffe, lacking music ability, slowly lost interest, and
became more unmanageable, and quit the band. He later died from a brain tumor in April 1962
On this second trip to Hamburg, the Beatles made their first commercial recording ‘Ain’t She
Sweet’ using the name the Beat Brothers. They returned to the Cavern club, where after some
time Brian Epstein (a manager of a local Liverpool Record Shop) became their manager.
The Beatles' Home Movies 1963 part 1
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Although Epstein had had no prior experience of artist management, he made it clear he wanted to change The Beatles’ early dress-code and attitude on stage, as they wore blue jeans and leather jackets, ate and swore, stopped and started songs when they felt like it, pretended to hit each other, and turned their backs to the audience. Epstein put a stop to their behaviour, insisting they wear more suitable clothes, and later suggested the famous synchronised bow at the end of their performances. Epstein: "I encouraged them, at first, to get out of the leather jackets and jeans, and I wouldn't allow them to appear in jeans after a short time, and then, after that step, I got them to wear sweaters on stage, and then, very reluctantly, eventually, suits". |
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Although 1962 was to be a big year for The Beatles, it didn’t begin well. Brian’s first priority
was to obtain a recording contract. He started at the top with Decca, EMI, Philips and Pye
Records. All turned them down. The Beatles had recorded some fifteen songs but their nerves
had got the better of them during try-outs. Decca at that time had decided to sign only one new
‘beat’ band and signed instead Brian Poole and The Tremeloes. Epstein was furious, warning
the Decca executives that one day his group would be bigger than Elvis. The executives smiled
– but their decision certainly backfired on them.
was to obtain a recording contract. He started at the top with Decca, EMI, Philips and Pye
Records. All turned them down. The Beatles had recorded some fifteen songs but their nerves
had got the better of them during try-outs. Decca at that time had decided to sign only one new
‘beat’ band and signed instead Brian Poole and The Tremeloes. Epstein was furious, warning
the Decca executives that one day his group would be bigger than Elvis. The executives smiled
– but their decision certainly backfired on them.
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The Beatles - Money 1962 |
The Beatles finally had good news
in June 1962, when they were signed up by lowly Parlophone headed up by a knowledgeable musician known as George Martin who had the ambition of making Parlophone big in the industry. He liked what he saw and heard in the Beatles and knew they had potential. In July he offered the minimum EMI contract, one year and 4 songs, at a royalty of one penny per-double sided record. |
George Martin
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In August, Pete Best – their drummer was deemed not to be fitting in personally nor musically
and was dropped in favour of Richard Starkey, or Ringo, who had been a former drummer with
Rory Storm and The Hurricanes. The last piece of the 6 major pieces of what would become
the Beatles legend (John, Paul, George, Ringo, Brian and George Martin) was finally in place.
and was dropped in favour of Richard Starkey, or Ringo, who had been a former drummer with
Rory Storm and The Hurricanes. The last piece of the 6 major pieces of what would become
the Beatles legend (John, Paul, George, Ringo, Brian and George Martin) was finally in place.
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In September 1962, the
Beatles recorded ‘Love Me Do’ which eventually climbed to No 17 by December 1962. In late November, the Beatles recorded ‘Please, Please Me’. Television appearances on Thank Your Lucky Stars and a radio appearance on the BBC’s 'Saturday Club' certainly helped their popularity. |
Please Please Me |
In March 1963, the Melody Maker charts showed the Beatles second release as Number One.
The Beatles were now the heroes of Liverpool.
The Beatles then followed up with a full album of newly recorded songs – a mix of Lennon-
McCartney songs, as Esptein cleverly managed their road to the top. Their songs included: ‘I
Saw Her Standing There’, ‘Do you Want To Know A Secret’ and cover versions including
‘Twist & Shout’. The Third release ‘From Me to You’ hit number one in Late April 1963. By
then , Gerry and the Pacemakers, old friends from Liverpool, had joined the Beatles on the
charts. People began to speak of the ‘Liverpool Sound’ or the ‘Mersey Sound’ as the Mersey
river ran through Liverpool.
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Their fourth hit, ’She Loves You’ also zoomed to number 1. In September, the Melody maker poll showed the Beatles as the top British pop group. Their most notable TV appearance of the year came in October with Sunday Night At the London Palladium, before a viewing audience estimated at 15 million. In late October came a successful tour of Sweden; and in November came an appearance as part of the 1963 Royal Command Performance for an exclusive audience that included the Queen Mother and Princes Margaret. It was at this show that John made his famous quip, ‘Will the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands? All the rest of you, if you’ll just rattle your jewellery…” |
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In late 1963, the British version of Beatlemania was in full swing. Newspapers over flowed
with Beatle interviews and articles portraying them as loveable, innocent charming, witty lads;
Beatles products were rampant. Their second LP, With The Beatles’ was successful, as was
their fifth single ‘I want To Hold Your Hand. Soon the Beatles who just after 18 months earlier
had been thrilled to see the inside of a real recording studio, now held seven out of the top 20
positions on the British charts. But the world – and the US hadn’t seen ‘nothing yet’.
with Beatle interviews and articles portraying them as loveable, innocent charming, witty lads;
Beatles products were rampant. Their second LP, With The Beatles’ was successful, as was
their fifth single ‘I want To Hold Your Hand. Soon the Beatles who just after 18 months earlier
had been thrilled to see the inside of a real recording studio, now held seven out of the top 20
positions on the British charts. But the world – and the US hadn’t seen ‘nothing yet’.
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The Beatles and the US (US Beatlemania)
In 1963 everyone knew that Rock n Roll was exclusively American music. Any other country’s
Rock n Roll was merely a pale imitation. Cliff Richard had bombed in the US as had many
other foreign acts. In early 1963, it was the same for the Beatles. No record companies wanted
them, except for a small Chicago record company Vee Jay. Vee jay released ‘Please Please
Me’ and later ‘From Me to You’. Both failed to reach the top 100, as did ‘She Loves You’
In November 1963, Brian Epstein flew to New York to try to break down the barriers. After
much hesitation, Capitol agreed to release “I want To Hold Your Hand” in January 1964.
Epstein also convinced promoter Sid Bernstein to present The Beatles in concert at Carnegie
Hall.
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Finally he also contacted Ed Sullivan, host of a CBS television variety show that had aired for some twenty years. Sullivan had seen the Beatles, and Beatlemania, on a recent trip to the UK. He booked the group for 2 shows in February as a novelty act. |
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With considerable misgivings, the Beatles hoped to do what no previous British group had done
– crack the American pop-rock scene. And they soon did the unforeseeable - Not only did they
crack the scene t –but they blew it wide apart! Beatlemania – American Style – had begun!
– crack the American pop-rock scene. And they soon did the unforeseeable - Not only did they
crack the scene t –but they blew it wide apart! Beatlemania – American Style – had begun!
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Early Performance Time Line Of The Beatles At The Cavern Club
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