While John Lennon was the more personal songwriter of The Beatles, Paul McCartney was the group’s storyteller. Lennon was influenced by Bob Dylan and preferred to write introspective songs based on his own experience and emotions. He didn’t like to write from a third-person perspective, but he did remember the first track he wrote that contained a “complete story.”
John Lennon said ‘No Reply’ told a ‘complete story’ George Harrison and John Lennon | Bettmann / Contributor
“No Reply” is a song by The Beatles from 1964’s Beatles For Sale. While the track is credited to the Lennon-McCartney duo, it was primarily written by John Lennon. The song has a voyeur aspect, with a man who is trying to court a woman who is unavailable and uninterested. He shows up at her place and calls but gets no reply. He even sees that she is with someone else.
In the 1980 Playboy interview,...
John Lennon said ‘No Reply’ told a ‘complete story’ George Harrison and John Lennon | Bettmann / Contributor
“No Reply” is a song by The Beatles from 1964’s Beatles For Sale. While the track is credited to the Lennon-McCartney duo, it was primarily written by John Lennon. The song has a voyeur aspect, with a man who is trying to court a woman who is unavailable and uninterested. He shows up at her place and calls but gets no reply. He even sees that she is with someone else.
In the 1980 Playboy interview,...
- 5/31/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Imagine you could go back in time and buy stock in The Beatles in 1960 or 1961. A small investment would be worth a fortune today. Allan Williams had some Beatles stock back then. What he did with it made him the biggest loser in Beatles’ history even while being one of the most important people to the band.
(l-r) Beatles manager Allan Williams, his wife Beryl, Lord Woodbine, Stuart Sutcliffe, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best | Keystone Features/Getty Images Allan Williams became the biggest loser in Beatles history by walking away over £9
The Beatles made it big in England in early 1963 when “Please Please Me” (No. 2) and “From Me To You” (No. 1) became the first of many top-10 hits. A little more than a decade later, the band turned down a $250 million reunion offer. In just eight years, The Beatles rose to the pinnacle of international stardom, became musical trendsetters,...
(l-r) Beatles manager Allan Williams, his wife Beryl, Lord Woodbine, Stuart Sutcliffe, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best | Keystone Features/Getty Images Allan Williams became the biggest loser in Beatles history by walking away over £9
The Beatles made it big in England in early 1963 when “Please Please Me” (No. 2) and “From Me To You” (No. 1) became the first of many top-10 hits. A little more than a decade later, the band turned down a $250 million reunion offer. In just eight years, The Beatles rose to the pinnacle of international stardom, became musical trendsetters,...
- 5/28/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
By the late 1960s, George Harrison was ready to leave The Beatles and go off alone. Not only did he feel creatively stifled by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, but he was also fed up with the band’s business side. He wrote a few songs to air out his grievances, and one song he referred to as a ‘piss-take.’
George Harrison wrote ‘Only a Northern Song’ to express his frustration with The Beatles’ publishing company George Harrison | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
“Only a Northern Song” is a Beatles track written by George Harrison that debuted on 1969’s Yellow Submarine soundtrack. The lyrics consist of Harrison sharing his discontent with The Beatles’ publishing company as he says none of the chords he’s playing or lyrics he’s singing matter since it’s “only a Northern song.”
In a 1999 Billboard interview (shared via Rolling Stone), Harrison wrote the song...
George Harrison wrote ‘Only a Northern Song’ to express his frustration with The Beatles’ publishing company George Harrison | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
“Only a Northern Song” is a Beatles track written by George Harrison that debuted on 1969’s Yellow Submarine soundtrack. The lyrics consist of Harrison sharing his discontent with The Beatles’ publishing company as he says none of the chords he’s playing or lyrics he’s singing matter since it’s “only a Northern song.”
In a 1999 Billboard interview (shared via Rolling Stone), Harrison wrote the song...
- 5/3/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
On this day in 1963, The Beatles made the horrible mistake of signing the contract that created their publishing company, Northern Songs. Within a few years, the Fab Four learned they should’ve never entered into a binding agreement with Dick James.
The Beatles | Mirrorpix/Getty Images The band’s manager was doubtful of music publisher Dick James’ skills
Once The Beatles released “Love Me Do,” the group, their manager, and their producer knew they needed a good publisher to maximize the value of their songs. George Martin recommended Dick James Music to The Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein.
Epstein met with James and offered him The Beatles’ “Please Please Me,” but he was hesitant about James’ publishing skills. In 1963, James was new to music publishing, but wanted to be The Beatles’ publisher. To wow Epstein, he organized the group’s first TV performance on Thank Your Lucky Stars.
Epstein was amazed...
The Beatles | Mirrorpix/Getty Images The band’s manager was doubtful of music publisher Dick James’ skills
Once The Beatles released “Love Me Do,” the group, their manager, and their producer knew they needed a good publisher to maximize the value of their songs. George Martin recommended Dick James Music to The Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein.
Epstein met with James and offered him The Beatles’ “Please Please Me,” but he was hesitant about James’ publishing skills. In 1963, James was new to music publishing, but wanted to be The Beatles’ publisher. To wow Epstein, he organized the group’s first TV performance on Thank Your Lucky Stars.
Epstein was amazed...
- 2/22/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Slinky — the popular springy children’s toy — is getting the Hollywood treatment. Tamra Davis, the filmmaker of “Billy Madison” and “Half Baked,” is set to direct “Slinky,” a movie based on the true story behind the inception of the playroom staple.
Though the Slinky was created by Richard James, the film will center on his wife Betty James, who took over the struggling business after her husband left her with their six children and a nearly bankrupt company. In an era dominated by male CEOs, Betty James held her own and helped turn the Slinky into a must-have item for kids.
Joanne Rubino is producing the film through her Be Brave Media production banner. Chris Sivertson is writing the “Slinky” screenplay, along with Ann Carli and Cristina Curbelo. Principal photography is expected to begin in 2021.
“I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to tell the story of Betty James; a female inventor,...
Though the Slinky was created by Richard James, the film will center on his wife Betty James, who took over the struggling business after her husband left her with their six children and a nearly bankrupt company. In an era dominated by male CEOs, Betty James held her own and helped turn the Slinky into a must-have item for kids.
Joanne Rubino is producing the film through her Be Brave Media production banner. Chris Sivertson is writing the “Slinky” screenplay, along with Ann Carli and Cristina Curbelo. Principal photography is expected to begin in 2021.
“I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to tell the story of Betty James; a female inventor,...
- 10/6/2020
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Let It Be—the 1970 film, album, and song—celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and it will be accompanied by a frenzy of new and remastered material. Not only will the original film be presented in a new pristine cut, but Peter Jackson will use the same restorative magic he used on the film They Shall Not Grow Old on 55 hours of never-released Beatles footage for a new take on their cinematic swan song. The band who taught the world about group unity presented a cautionary tale on the way out. The Beatles were always educational, expanding the music theory of rock and roll, and Let It Be was a lesson on how a rock group said goodbye. Such lessons were never lost on the upstart educational series Sesame Street. Chris Cerf, who produced the show’s music and wrote the parody “Letter B,” remembers the impact the song had on him,...
- 4/2/2020
- by Chris Longo
- Den of Geek
Exclusive: We hear that two-time Boardwalk Empire SAG ensemble winner Stephen Graham is joining Sony’s Venom 2 directed by Andy Serkis.
Graham’s role in the Kelly Marcel scripted sequel is being kept under wraps. Graham joins previously cast Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson and Naomie Harris. The sequel to the $855M WW hit is being produced by Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, and Hutch Parker.
The British born Graham played Al Capone on HBO’s multi-award winning series Boardwalk Empire. Recent roles for him include Tony ‘Pro’ Provenzano in Martin Scorsese’s current awards season contender The Irishman. He can also be seeing in Sony/Bron Studio’s upcoming WWII Tom Hanks movie Greyhound due out on May 8, 2020. Graham’s credits also include Scorsese’s Gangs of New York, Guy Ritchie’s Snatch, The Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,...
Graham’s role in the Kelly Marcel scripted sequel is being kept under wraps. Graham joins previously cast Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson and Naomie Harris. The sequel to the $855M WW hit is being produced by Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, and Hutch Parker.
The British born Graham played Al Capone on HBO’s multi-award winning series Boardwalk Empire. Recent roles for him include Tony ‘Pro’ Provenzano in Martin Scorsese’s current awards season contender The Irishman. He can also be seeing in Sony/Bron Studio’s upcoming WWII Tom Hanks movie Greyhound due out on May 8, 2020. Graham’s credits also include Scorsese’s Gangs of New York, Guy Ritchie’s Snatch, The Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,...
- 12/5/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka and Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Along with a brief peek at Top Gun: Maverick this morning, Paramount showed off extended looks at such upcoming titles as Ang Lee’s Gemini Man, live-action/CGI hybrid Sonic: The Hedgehog, raunchy comedy Hostile Makeover, family comedy Playing With Fire, horror pic Crawl and feature adaptation Dora And The Lost City Of Gold. Studio Chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos also unveiled that Paramount is working on a new Paranormal Activity.
This is Gianopulos’ third visit to CineEurope since taking over the top job at Paramount and he noted this has been “a time of great change, growth and renaissance” for the studio. “I’m proud of the progress we started last year and proud to be working with some of the best artists in the world.”
At CinemaCon in April, Gianopulos appeared in a hilarious opening reel as he contended with a ditzy chauffeur trying to make his way across Vegas to the convention.
This is Gianopulos’ third visit to CineEurope since taking over the top job at Paramount and he noted this has been “a time of great change, growth and renaissance” for the studio. “I’m proud of the progress we started last year and proud to be working with some of the best artists in the world.”
At CinemaCon in April, Gianopulos appeared in a hilarious opening reel as he contended with a ditzy chauffeur trying to make his way across Vegas to the convention.
- 6/19/2019
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Now that moviegoers are finally getting to see “Rocketman,” casual Elton John fans may wonder which key moments are fiction. That’s not easy in a film staged more as a movie musical than traditional biopic. Is the “Tiny Dancer” singer’s story riddled with tiny fibs, or should we be surprised by what it gets right? Put on your levitatin’ shoes as we dig in and separate fact from fancy.
John headed out of a concert and straight into rehab dressed as a horned demon.
True. He was so hopped up on cocaine at the time, he believed he was going to a “Fantasia” party, hence the full “Night on Bald Mountain” regalia.
When Elton was a lad, he and the other members of his family retreated to separate rooms to sing about how lonely they were, trading verses on “I Want Love.”
False. “I Want Love” would not be written for another 45 years,...
John headed out of a concert and straight into rehab dressed as a horned demon.
True. He was so hopped up on cocaine at the time, he believed he was going to a “Fantasia” party, hence the full “Night on Bald Mountain” regalia.
When Elton was a lad, he and the other members of his family retreated to separate rooms to sing about how lonely they were, trading verses on “I Want Love.”
False. “I Want Love” would not be written for another 45 years,...
- 6/3/2019
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
The new Elton John movie Rocketman never pretends to be a traditional biopic. It’s a fantasy musical told from the perspective of a burned-out, drug-addled Elton reflecting on his wild life from a rehab facility in the early 1990s. Characters frequently burst into elaborately choreographed song and dance routines, songs are played long before he wrote them, the timeline is off much of the time and facts are disregarded in favor of creating a compelling narrative and capturing the emotional truth of Elton’s life.
“What I care about...
“What I care about...
- 6/1/2019
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
“It was like a ball of fire hit the Troubadour. When he got to ‘Take Me to the Pilot,’ the place levitated,” Linda Ronstadt said of the first night of Elton John’s 1970 residency at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. And as that show is depicted in the Elton John biopic “Rocketman,” the crowd in the audience does the same, soaring off their feet in a moment of musical magic.
Of course, Ronstadt and director Dexter Fletcher are embellishing a little bit – we’re quite sure no one literally defied the laws of gravity when John took the stage on that night on Aug. 25, 1970. Though for people who were there, it no doubt felt that way. Just look at this iconic photo of John sideways at his piano as he quite literally turned heads among those lucky few in the crowd.
Elton John performs at the Troubadour on Aug. 25, 1970. pic.
Of course, Ronstadt and director Dexter Fletcher are embellishing a little bit – we’re quite sure no one literally defied the laws of gravity when John took the stage on that night on Aug. 25, 1970. Though for people who were there, it no doubt felt that way. Just look at this iconic photo of John sideways at his piano as he quite literally turned heads among those lucky few in the crowd.
Elton John performs at the Troubadour on Aug. 25, 1970. pic.
- 5/30/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Elton John was just a shy, gawky 22-year-old struggling pianist/songwriter when drummer Nigel Olsson first laid eyes on him. It was early 1969 and John was a staff songwriter for Dick James’ Djm Records, desperately trying to write songs for the likes of Lulu, Roger Cook and the Eurovision Song Contest along with his lyricist Bernie Taupin. “I would hang around the Dick James office,” recalls Olsson. “And if Elton was cutting a demo and needed a drummer he’d say to me, ‘Hey, would you come back into the...
- 8/22/2018
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.