In 1967, John Lennon’s songwriting was broadcast live around the world. “All You Need Is Love” appeared on the broadcast Our World, the first live program to reach multiple countries. Lennon’s Beatles bandmates saw “All You Need Is Love” as a fitting song for the program. Though Lennon did not disagree, he thought the finished song sounded a bit “strange.”
John Lennon said one of his songwriting achievements sounded strange when recorded
In 1967, The Beatles welcomed many of their contemporaries into the studio to sing “All You Need Is Love” for Our World. They were a global sensation at this point, but they were treading new ground with the live broadcast.
“The Our World broadcast was great, going out to hundreds of millions of people around the world,” Ringo Starr said in The Beatles Anthology. “It was the first worldwide satellite broadcast ever. It’s a standard thing that people do now; but then,...
John Lennon said one of his songwriting achievements sounded strange when recorded
In 1967, The Beatles welcomed many of their contemporaries into the studio to sing “All You Need Is Love” for Our World. They were a global sensation at this point, but they were treading new ground with the live broadcast.
“The Our World broadcast was great, going out to hundreds of millions of people around the world,” Ringo Starr said in The Beatles Anthology. “It was the first worldwide satellite broadcast ever. It’s a standard thing that people do now; but then,...
- 1/29/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
By the time The Beatles recorded The White Album, the band was already becoming quite fractured personally and professionally. It was 1968, and the band’s most ambitious effort was the project, almost ending their partnership. The White Album was The Beatles’ ninth studio album and the only double LP they would ever record. But one moment in the studio led John Lennon to go “ballistic” on Paul McCartney, leading to a moment that would forever change one of their most iconic songs.
John Lennon ‘went ballistic’ on Paul McCartney during this one pivotal moment while recording ‘The White Album’
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr recorded The White Album in mid-1968. The album features 30 songs, 19 of which were written during March and April 1968.
However, tensions between the bandmates heightened as the recording wore on. Lennon and McCartney couldn’t agree on the recording of several songs.
The...
John Lennon ‘went ballistic’ on Paul McCartney during this one pivotal moment while recording ‘The White Album’
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr recorded The White Album in mid-1968. The album features 30 songs, 19 of which were written during March and April 1968.
However, tensions between the bandmates heightened as the recording wore on. Lennon and McCartney couldn’t agree on the recording of several songs.
The...
- 9/27/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
After the early 1960s, John Lennon and Paul McCartney didn’t collaborate as closely when writing Beatles songs. Still, they gave each other their opinions and helped finish pieces. McCartney asked Lennon for help completing “Eleanor Rigby.” Lennon explained that he was hurt when his bandmate asked him to work on it.
John Lennon said Paul McCartney can’t take all the credit for ‘Eleanor Rigby’
Lennon agreed that “Eleanor Rigby” was one of McCartney’s more complex songs, but he said this was partly thanks to him.
“Ah, the first verse was his and the rest are basically mine,” Lennon said in the book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview With John Lennon and Yoko Ono. “But the way he did it … Well, he knew he had a song. But by that time he didn’t want to ask for my help, and we were sitting around...
John Lennon said Paul McCartney can’t take all the credit for ‘Eleanor Rigby’
Lennon agreed that “Eleanor Rigby” was one of McCartney’s more complex songs, but he said this was partly thanks to him.
“Ah, the first verse was his and the rest are basically mine,” Lennon said in the book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview With John Lennon and Yoko Ono. “But the way he did it … Well, he knew he had a song. But by that time he didn’t want to ask for my help, and we were sitting around...
- 9/17/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When George Martin told Paul McCartney that they should add a double string quartet to “Eleanor Rigby,” he was wary. He didn’t necessarily want that type of sound. Eventually, though, he agreed, so long as they followed his vision for the song. This particular vision horrified the string musicians. A Beatles audio engineer shared how they reacted and how they finally achieved the finished product.
Paul McCartney had a specific vision for the strings on ‘Eleanor Rigby’
McCartney initially played “Eleanor Rigby” on the acoustic guitar. When producer George Martin suggested they get a double string quartet, McCartney hesitantly agreed. He insisted that they achieve a “really biting” sound with the strings, though. This request meant that audio engineer Geoff Emerick had to get creative in the studio.
“String quartets were traditionally recorded with just one or two microphones, placed high, several feet up in the air so that...
Paul McCartney had a specific vision for the strings on ‘Eleanor Rigby’
McCartney initially played “Eleanor Rigby” on the acoustic guitar. When producer George Martin suggested they get a double string quartet, McCartney hesitantly agreed. He insisted that they achieve a “really biting” sound with the strings, though. This request meant that audio engineer Geoff Emerick had to get creative in the studio.
“String quartets were traditionally recorded with just one or two microphones, placed high, several feet up in the air so that...
- 9/16/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1969, The Beatles attended a Christmas party at Apple Corps. The previous year, George Harrison had invited the Hells Angels to a party that quickly devolved into chaos. At the 1969 party, audio engineer Geoff Emerick worried the night would end in horrible tragedy. The studio was under construction, and as the night wore on, he became increasingly — and rightfully — concerned that the floor would collapse under the partygoers.
A Beatles engineer worried about danger at a Christmas party
At the end of 1969, Apple Corps was under construction. The corporation hosted the Christmas party just after the demolition phase of the project, much to Emerick’s concern.
“The most memorable thing about the 1969 Christmas bash was that it nearly marked the end of Apple … literally,” Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “The demolition phase of the studio project had been completed by then,...
A Beatles engineer worried about danger at a Christmas party
At the end of 1969, Apple Corps was under construction. The corporation hosted the Christmas party just after the demolition phase of the project, much to Emerick’s concern.
“The most memorable thing about the 1969 Christmas bash was that it nearly marked the end of Apple … literally,” Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “The demolition phase of the studio project had been completed by then,...
- 9/12/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1967, Brian Epstein rushed into the studio to give The Beatles what he saw as thrilling news. He’d booked them a spot on a television program that would reach televisions around the world. Epstein saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; for the first time ever, a satellite would transmit a program worldwide. The Beatles didn’t think this was nearly as monumental as Epstein did. Their lack of interest nearly drove him to tears.
Brian Epstein almost cried at The Beatles’ lack of interest in a career opportunity
While The Beatles were putting the finishing touches on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Epstein rushed into the studio with exciting news. He didn’t often visit them during recording sessions, so everyone in the room eagerly awaited his announcement.
“With a grandiloquent sweep of his hands, he called for silence,” engineer Geoff Emerick wrote in his book Here,...
Brian Epstein almost cried at The Beatles’ lack of interest in a career opportunity
While The Beatles were putting the finishing touches on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Epstein rushed into the studio with exciting news. He didn’t often visit them during recording sessions, so everyone in the room eagerly awaited his announcement.
“With a grandiloquent sweep of his hands, he called for silence,” engineer Geoff Emerick wrote in his book Here,...
- 9/10/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles stocked up on snacks in the studio. According to Beatles audio engineer Geoff Emerick, the band members were very protective of their food. If anyone touched their snacks, they exploded with frustration. This trait didn’t stop them from taking other people’s food, though.
The Beatles thought all snacks but their own were fair game for consumption
According to Emerick, The Beatles didn’t want anyone eating their snacks. They didn’t see a problem with eating other people’s food, though.
“Food was always very proprietary among The Beatles,” Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “Mal [Evans] would get everybody his own thing, and there was no sharing, no eating family style; no one was allowed to try anyone else’s food. That principle applied to us, too — we knew never to help ourselves to any...
The Beatles thought all snacks but their own were fair game for consumption
According to Emerick, The Beatles didn’t want anyone eating their snacks. They didn’t see a problem with eating other people’s food, though.
“Food was always very proprietary among The Beatles,” Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “Mal [Evans] would get everybody his own thing, and there was no sharing, no eating family style; no one was allowed to try anyone else’s food. That principle applied to us, too — we knew never to help ourselves to any...
- 9/10/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles split songwriting duties amongst themselves, much to John Lennon’s frustration. While he thought Paul McCartney and George Harrison wrote some good songs, he didn’t like working on the music they wrote. According to audio engineer Geoff Emerick, every Beatle was like this, but Lennon was the worst offender. He made his boredom, frustration, and distaste quite apparent.
John Lennon begrudgingly worked on Beatles songs he didn’t write
While Lennon and McCartney wrote most of the early Beatles songs in close collaboration, they took a more individualistic approach as the years passed. In addition, Harrison began writing more songs. This meant that Lennon had to focus more of his attention on songs he didn’t write.
According to Emerick, this was not something Lennon liked to do. While he brought a great deal of energy into the studio when the band worked on his songs, he...
John Lennon begrudgingly worked on Beatles songs he didn’t write
While Lennon and McCartney wrote most of the early Beatles songs in close collaboration, they took a more individualistic approach as the years passed. In addition, Harrison began writing more songs. This meant that Lennon had to focus more of his attention on songs he didn’t write.
According to Emerick, this was not something Lennon liked to do. While he brought a great deal of energy into the studio when the band worked on his songs, he...
- 9/8/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1964, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr starred in the Beatles’ movie A Hard Day’s Night. They enjoyed the experience, and their fans loved the film. The people who knew The Beatles also enjoyed their viewing experiences. Audio engineer Geoff Emerick, who worked extensively with the band, said it showed him a different side of the musicians. In particular, he appreciated the fact that the typically reserved Starr came across well.
Geoff Emerick found it surprising that Ringo Starr came across well in a Beatles movie
When Emerick saw A Hard Day’s Night, he had some issues with the music but no complaints about The Beatles’ performances. He also appreciated the fact that he had the insider knowledge to recognize that their onscreen personas did not match their real personalities.
“The Beatles themselves were portrayed as four stereotypes in the movie, and I remember sitting there thinking to myself,...
Geoff Emerick found it surprising that Ringo Starr came across well in a Beatles movie
When Emerick saw A Hard Day’s Night, he had some issues with the music but no complaints about The Beatles’ performances. He also appreciated the fact that he had the insider knowledge to recognize that their onscreen personas did not match their real personalities.
“The Beatles themselves were portrayed as four stereotypes in the movie, and I remember sitting there thinking to myself,...
- 9/8/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles released their sixth studio album, Rubber Soul, in 1965. It was a more mature album that showcased their improving lyricism. Despite this, few people who worked on the album had high hopes for it. According to Beatles audio engineer Geoff Emerick, there was very little excitement around the studio when they were recording it.
An engineer for The Beatles said no one seemed to like ‘Rubber Soul’ very much
Emerick worked closely with The Beatles for years, but he had little to do with Help! or Rubber Soul. Still, he heard all the studio gossip about both albums. He said people excitedly discussed Help! but didn’t share the same enthusiasm for Rubber Soul.
“I didn’t hear the Help! album in its entirety until after going to see the film, though I do remember Norman [Smith] talking about it enthusiastically in the canteen, especially Paul’s ballad ‘Yesterday,’ which he raved about,...
An engineer for The Beatles said no one seemed to like ‘Rubber Soul’ very much
Emerick worked closely with The Beatles for years, but he had little to do with Help! or Rubber Soul. Still, he heard all the studio gossip about both albums. He said people excitedly discussed Help! but didn’t share the same enthusiasm for Rubber Soul.
“I didn’t hear the Help! album in its entirety until after going to see the film, though I do remember Norman [Smith] talking about it enthusiastically in the canteen, especially Paul’s ballad ‘Yesterday,’ which he raved about,...
- 9/7/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Yoko Ono’s constant presence in the studio began to wear on George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr. Things grew so tense that, eventually, Harrison blew up over a digestive biscuit. The Beatles had always been protective of their food, and when he saw Ono eating his snack, he began screaming about her.
George Harrison began shouting about Yoko Ono in the studio
The Beatles were so protective over their food that they were not allowed to share snacks. Therefore, when Harrison noticed Ono eating his digestive biscuits, it became a problem.
“After a moment or two, [George] began staring bug-eyed out the control room window,” engineer Geoff Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “Curious, I looked over his shoulder. Yoko had gotten out of bed and was slowly padding across the studio floor, finally coming to a stop at Harrison’s Leslie cabinet,...
George Harrison began shouting about Yoko Ono in the studio
The Beatles were so protective over their food that they were not allowed to share snacks. Therefore, when Harrison noticed Ono eating his digestive biscuits, it became a problem.
“After a moment or two, [George] began staring bug-eyed out the control room window,” engineer Geoff Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “Curious, I looked over his shoulder. Yoko had gotten out of bed and was slowly padding across the studio floor, finally coming to a stop at Harrison’s Leslie cabinet,...
- 9/6/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
According to a Beatles audio engineer, John Lennon paid close attention when listening back to songs. Even though he derided some of The Beatles’ music after the band broke up, he was careful in the studio. While listening back to “Yellow Submarine,” Lennon realized that someone had made a mistake. His voice was missing from a part where it was meant to appear.
John Lennon realized his voice was missing from part of a Beatles song
The Beatles spent a good deal of time messing around in the studio while recording “Yellow Submarine.” Still, Lennon tried to keep them focused. He put a great deal of thought into the song and made several alterations. Not all of these made it into the song’s final version, though.
“At a certain point, John decided that the third verse needed some spicing up, so he dashed into the studio and began answering...
John Lennon realized his voice was missing from part of a Beatles song
The Beatles spent a good deal of time messing around in the studio while recording “Yellow Submarine.” Still, Lennon tried to keep them focused. He put a great deal of thought into the song and made several alterations. Not all of these made it into the song’s final version, though.
“At a certain point, John decided that the third verse needed some spicing up, so he dashed into the studio and began answering...
- 9/2/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Harrison began contributing more songs to The Beatles in the latter half of the 1960s. This meant the band dedicated more studio time to his songs, which they often found fruitless and frustrating. According to Beatles audio engineer Geoff Emerick, the band wasn’t all that enthusiastic about working on Harrison’s songs. It didn’t help that the more work they put in, the worse the finished result was.
George Harrison’s songs rarely improved with more work, said a Beatles engineer
While Harrison wrote several hits for The Beatles, his bandmates didn’t think his songs were as important as John Lennon’s or Paul McCartney’s. According to Emerick, they didn’t try very hard to hide this.
“In general, sessions where we did George Harrison songs were approached differently,” Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles.
George Harrison’s songs rarely improved with more work, said a Beatles engineer
While Harrison wrote several hits for The Beatles, his bandmates didn’t think his songs were as important as John Lennon’s or Paul McCartney’s. According to Emerick, they didn’t try very hard to hide this.
“In general, sessions where we did George Harrison songs were approached differently,” Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles.
- 8/30/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the majority of The Beatles’ songs, but George Harrison began taking his writing seriously in the band’s later years. He wanted to contribute more to their albums. Unfortunately, this wasn’t always easy for him. Lennon and McCartney often overlooked his contributions to the group. When Harrison could get songs on the albums, nobody took them seriously in the recording studio.
The Beatles didn’t take George Harrison’s songs as seriously as their others
By the second half of the 1960s, Harrison was making a concerted effort to write more music. During this time, he wrote songs like “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Something,” and “Here Comes the Sun.” While these were hits for the band, the other Beatles rarely treated them like they had potential.
“In general, sessions where we did George Harrison songs were approached differently,” audio engineer Geoff Emerick wrote in his book Here,...
The Beatles didn’t take George Harrison’s songs as seriously as their others
By the second half of the 1960s, Harrison was making a concerted effort to write more music. During this time, he wrote songs like “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Something,” and “Here Comes the Sun.” While these were hits for the band, the other Beatles rarely treated them like they had potential.
“In general, sessions where we did George Harrison songs were approached differently,” audio engineer Geoff Emerick wrote in his book Here,...
- 8/29/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When audio engineer Geoff Emerick learned he would be working with The Beatles, he was terrified to meet John Lennon and George Harrison. He was taking over for another engineer during the Revolver sessions. As he was an Emi employee, Emerick had met Beatles producer George Martin and seen the band around. What he knew of them made Lennon and Harrison seem very intimidating.
A Beatles engineer found John Lennon and George Harrison intimidating
Emerick’s first day of work was also the first day of sessions for Revolver. He knew that this was a life-changing opportunity for him. He would be working with the biggest band in the world, meaning that success on the album would fast-track his career. Still, he was nervous to greet them, particularly Lennon and Harrison.
“I assumed, naturally enough, that the four Beatles knew that Norman Smith was out and that I was to be their new engineer,...
A Beatles engineer found John Lennon and George Harrison intimidating
Emerick’s first day of work was also the first day of sessions for Revolver. He knew that this was a life-changing opportunity for him. He would be working with the biggest band in the world, meaning that success on the album would fast-track his career. Still, he was nervous to greet them, particularly Lennon and Harrison.
“I assumed, naturally enough, that the four Beatles knew that Norman Smith was out and that I was to be their new engineer,...
- 8/29/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles began working with George Martin just before their careers took off. He guided their music and helped them grow as artists. He also kept them focused in the studio. According to audio engineer Geoff Emerick, the band couldn’t concentrate when he wasn’t around. They acted like children when Martin was out with food poisoning.
The Beatles were on their worst behavior when George Martin was out sick
While The Beatles worked to record “Yellow Submarine,” Martin called out sick with food poisoning. The band used this as an opportunity to let loose in the studio.
“As it happened, George Martin was out sick with food poisoning the night we began work on [‘Yellow Submarine’]; he sent his secretary, Judy, along to keep an eye on things while I took the helm,” Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles.
The Beatles were on their worst behavior when George Martin was out sick
While The Beatles worked to record “Yellow Submarine,” Martin called out sick with food poisoning. The band used this as an opportunity to let loose in the studio.
“As it happened, George Martin was out sick with food poisoning the night we began work on [‘Yellow Submarine’]; he sent his secretary, Judy, along to keep an eye on things while I took the helm,” Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles.
- 8/28/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon wrote the sweeping lullaby “Good Night” for the White Album, but he didn’t sing the song. Typically, he would sing the songs he wrote, but he passed this one off to Ringo Starr. According to Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, this was a shame. He explained that Lennon sang a beautiful demo of the song. He didn’t find Starr’s version of the song nearly as impressive.
John Lennon let Ringo Starr sing lead on a song he wrote
Work on the White Album was, for the most part, a nightmare for everyone involved. Band relations were frosty when they weren’t outright hostile, and everyone in the studio was exhausted and fed up. Therefore, the introduction of Lennon’s “Good Night” came as a pleasant surprise.
“[J]ohn surprised us all with the unveiling of his lush ballad ‘Good Night,'” Emerick wrote in his book Here,...
John Lennon let Ringo Starr sing lead on a song he wrote
Work on the White Album was, for the most part, a nightmare for everyone involved. Band relations were frosty when they weren’t outright hostile, and everyone in the studio was exhausted and fed up. Therefore, the introduction of Lennon’s “Good Night” came as a pleasant surprise.
“[J]ohn surprised us all with the unveiling of his lush ballad ‘Good Night,'” Emerick wrote in his book Here,...
- 8/26/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
During recording sessions for The Beatles’ White Album, the band’s behavior was so terrible that audio engineer Geoff Emerick quit. He had worked with The Beatles on multiple albums but concluded he could no longer take their fights. When he told the band he was leaving, they were clearly guilty. Emerick said The Beatles’ behavior reminded him of school children.
The Beatles’ behavior was childish, according to an engineer
During sessions for the White Album, The Beatles bickered, rolled their eyes at each other’s music, and worked long, arduous hours. After witnessing a shouting match between Paul McCartney and producer George Martin, Emerick decided he’d had enough. Martin and studio manager Alan Stagge begged him to stay for another week while they found a replacement, but he refused.
“At the conclusion of my meeting with Stagge, only one task remained, and that was to tell the band,...
The Beatles’ behavior was childish, according to an engineer
During sessions for the White Album, The Beatles bickered, rolled their eyes at each other’s music, and worked long, arduous hours. After witnessing a shouting match between Paul McCartney and producer George Martin, Emerick decided he’d had enough. Martin and studio manager Alan Stagge begged him to stay for another week while they found a replacement, but he refused.
“At the conclusion of my meeting with Stagge, only one task remained, and that was to tell the band,...
- 8/24/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney and John Lennon worked closely together for years. While they had two other bandmates, multiple sound engineers, a manager, and a producer to assist them, they primarily relied on one another. While producer George Martin had a say over how their albums sounded, they reportedly never treated him with the same respect they showed one another. According to a Beatles audio engineer, Lennon and McCartney didn’t see Martin as an equal.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon didn’t treat George Martin with the respect they gave each other
In the early 1960s, Lennon and McCartney had a close working relationship. As the decade wore on, they wrote songs separately, but they were one another’s primary ally for years.
“During playbacks, John and Paul would often huddle together and discuss whether a take was good enough; they’d talk about what they were hearing and what they...
Paul McCartney and John Lennon didn’t treat George Martin with the respect they gave each other
In the early 1960s, Lennon and McCartney had a close working relationship. As the decade wore on, they wrote songs separately, but they were one another’s primary ally for years.
“During playbacks, John and Paul would often huddle together and discuss whether a take was good enough; they’d talk about what they were hearing and what they...
- 8/19/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
While Ringo Starr let his bandmates control much of The Beatles’ creative direction, he was a force to be reckoned with on the drums. He was an excellent timekeeper and was a grounding force in the band. He was also a powerful drummer. According to audio engineer Geoff Emerick, Starr was a small man. Still, he hit the drums with such force that he left debris in the studio.
Ringo Starr hit the drums with great force
Starr has never been a flashy drummer, but he has a unique style. Emerick credits this to his stature.
“[His fills aren’t] fast — in fact, he himself has likened them to the sound of someone falling down the stairs — and they’re often a little laid back, a little behind the beat,” Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. That’s not because he wasn’t...
Ringo Starr hit the drums with great force
Starr has never been a flashy drummer, but he has a unique style. Emerick credits this to his stature.
“[His fills aren’t] fast — in fact, he himself has likened them to the sound of someone falling down the stairs — and they’re often a little laid back, a little behind the beat,” Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. That’s not because he wasn’t...
- 8/19/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon was vocally frustrated with The Beatles, decrying his bandmates and the albums they made together. At the start of the 1960s, they worked closely and excitedly together. By the second half of the decade, though, the four Beatles were no longer as eager to collaborate. According to Lennon, working on albums became torturous.
John Lennon said it was always a pain to record Beatles albums
Shortly after The Beatles finished recording Let It Be, Lennon spoke about the slog of working with his bandmates.
“We were going through hell,” he told The Village Voice (via Gold Radio UK). “We often do. It’s torture every time we produce anything.”
While they were the most popular band of the era, Lennon said that there was no magic in what they did. It was all hard, painful work, particularly as they worked on their final albums.
“The Beatles haven’t...
John Lennon said it was always a pain to record Beatles albums
Shortly after The Beatles finished recording Let It Be, Lennon spoke about the slog of working with his bandmates.
“We were going through hell,” he told The Village Voice (via Gold Radio UK). “We often do. It’s torture every time we produce anything.”
While they were the most popular band of the era, Lennon said that there was no magic in what they did. It was all hard, painful work, particularly as they worked on their final albums.
“The Beatles haven’t...
- 8/18/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Recording The White Album brought the simmering problems between Paul McCartney and John Lennon to the surface. They bickered in the studio, made their dislike of each other’s songs clear, and even stormed out of recording sessions. Lennon made his hatred of McCartney’s song “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da” clear, mainly because McCartney was a perfectionist with it. An audio engineer working with the band wondered if McCartney purposely tried to irritate his bandmate.
Paul McCartney may have tried to annoy John Lennon in the studio
According to engineer Geoff Emerick in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles, Lennon “openly and vocally detested” “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da.” He rolled his eyes every time they rehearsed it, which was often. McCartney repeatedly made the band play the song in order to get it right. Each time, Lennon grew more frustrated.
As Emerick watched this happen, he...
Paul McCartney may have tried to annoy John Lennon in the studio
According to engineer Geoff Emerick in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles, Lennon “openly and vocally detested” “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da.” He rolled his eyes every time they rehearsed it, which was often. McCartney repeatedly made the band play the song in order to get it right. Each time, Lennon grew more frustrated.
As Emerick watched this happen, he...
- 8/16/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The mood in the studio sessions for The Beatles’ White Album was grim, with John Lennon and Paul McCartney constantly at each other’s throats. The two had once been close collaborators. Suddenly, they could hardly agree on anything. Lennon openly derided one of McCartney’s songs. After spending too much time on it, he left the studio in a rage.
John Lennon was not happy with Paul McCartney after hours of working on his song
One of Lennon’s least favorite songs on the White Album was “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da,” McCartney’s bouncing, reggae-inspired tune. He rolled his eyes every time the band worked on it, which was often. McCartney worked endlessly to perfect it, much to the irritation of everyone else in the studio.
“The previous week’s work was a typical study in frustration,” audio engineer Geoff Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life...
John Lennon was not happy with Paul McCartney after hours of working on his song
One of Lennon’s least favorite songs on the White Album was “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da,” McCartney’s bouncing, reggae-inspired tune. He rolled his eyes every time the band worked on it, which was often. McCartney worked endlessly to perfect it, much to the irritation of everyone else in the studio.
“The previous week’s work was a typical study in frustration,” audio engineer Geoff Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life...
- 8/13/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Harrison was the youngest Beatle and, according to an audio engineer, the least fun to be around. Geoff Emerick, who worked with the band on several albums, had a hard time understanding Harrison. While he empathized with the struggle he faced in the band, Emerick wasn’t the guitarist’s biggest fan. He believed he was a bit too snide.
George Harrison was a mystery to a Beatles audio engineer
In his time with The Beatles, Emerick was the friendliest with Paul McCartney, but he liked John Lennon and Ringo Starr as well. The same could not be said about Harrison.
“George Harrison was always kind of a mystery to me,” Emerick wrote in the book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “Although he was kind and generous with many of my Emi colleagues throughout the years, he and I just didn’t have good chemistry together.
George Harrison was a mystery to a Beatles audio engineer
In his time with The Beatles, Emerick was the friendliest with Paul McCartney, but he liked John Lennon and Ringo Starr as well. The same could not be said about Harrison.
“George Harrison was always kind of a mystery to me,” Emerick wrote in the book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “Although he was kind and generous with many of my Emi colleagues throughout the years, he and I just didn’t have good chemistry together.
- 8/12/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
While Ringo Starr didn’t think of himself as one of the driving creative forces in The Beatles, the band respected his ideas. It helped that he was far less embroiled in the complicated band politics than the other three. According to a Beatles audio engineer, though, Starr’s ideas held more weight than expected because he often kept his thoughts to himself. His bandmates knew that when he spoke up, it was important.
The band was always willing to listen to what Ringo Starr said
Starr was often viewed as The Beatles’ weakest link, but he was a key member of the band. He just wasn’t as loud-mouthed as John Lennon, Paul McCartney, or George Harrison. Audio engineer Geoff Emerick worked with the band on multiple albums and noted that Starr was as “quiet as a mouse.” This quality meant that his bandmates paid attention to him when he did speak up.
The band was always willing to listen to what Ringo Starr said
Starr was often viewed as The Beatles’ weakest link, but he was a key member of the band. He just wasn’t as loud-mouthed as John Lennon, Paul McCartney, or George Harrison. Audio engineer Geoff Emerick worked with the band on multiple albums and noted that Starr was as “quiet as a mouse.” This quality meant that his bandmates paid attention to him when he did speak up.
- 8/10/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Upon reflection, John Lennon disliked many of The Beatles’ songs and albums. He acknowledged that fans liked the music, but he thought he was capable of more. One of the albums Lennon claimed to hate was among The Beatles’ most well-known and well-loved. Here’s what he had to say about it.
John Lennon was not a fan of a much-loved Beatles album
While recording the White Album, audio engineer Geoff Emerick decided he couldn’t stomach working with The Beatles anymore. They continuously fought in the studio, turning their vitriol on anyone within eyesight. When he told the band he was quitting, they seemed suitably ashamed.
“As I headed down to face them, I could see George Harrison, Ringo, and, surprisingly, even Paul all staring down at the ground like guilty schoolboys,” Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles.
John Lennon was not a fan of a much-loved Beatles album
While recording the White Album, audio engineer Geoff Emerick decided he couldn’t stomach working with The Beatles anymore. They continuously fought in the studio, turning their vitriol on anyone within eyesight. When he told the band he was quitting, they seemed suitably ashamed.
“As I headed down to face them, I could see George Harrison, Ringo, and, surprisingly, even Paul all staring down at the ground like guilty schoolboys,” Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles.
- 8/9/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
While recording the White Album, John Lennon rolled his eyes at Paul McCartney’s perfectionism despite being the same way for the song “Revolution.” He wanted a very specific sound out of it, and required many, many tries in order to get it right. If this wasn’t frustrating enough for the others in the studio, Lennon was in a foul mood the entire time.
John Lennon was in a terrible mood while recording ‘Revolution’
After many recordings of “Revolution,” Lennon announced that he wanted to give it another try. He wanted to record it at a faster tempo, which audio engineer Geoff Emerick thought was typical of him at the time.
“John wanted the second, up-tempo version of ‘Revolution’ to be even tougher and more biting than the first one,” Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “This was...
John Lennon was in a terrible mood while recording ‘Revolution’
After many recordings of “Revolution,” Lennon announced that he wanted to give it another try. He wanted to record it at a faster tempo, which audio engineer Geoff Emerick thought was typical of him at the time.
“John wanted the second, up-tempo version of ‘Revolution’ to be even tougher and more biting than the first one,” Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “This was...
- 8/9/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney and George Harrison met on the bus to school and had a close relationship. McCartney looked at Harrison as his younger brother, even long after they’d both grown into adulthood. This ultimately became a problem for Harrison. He didn’t feel respected by McCartney or John Lennon in the studio. It didn’t help that McCartney always made his frustration with his younger bandmate clear.
Paul McCartney grew frustrated with George Harrison in the studio
In the early half of the 1960s, Lennon and McCartney worked head-to-head on their songs. They wrote together and consulted one another while listening to their records. They consulted with Harrison far less frequently.
“George was more of a loner; he was the outsider in a way,” audio engineer Geoff Emerick wrote in the book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “As the ‘bottom tier’ Beatles,...
Paul McCartney grew frustrated with George Harrison in the studio
In the early half of the 1960s, Lennon and McCartney worked head-to-head on their songs. They wrote together and consulted one another while listening to their records. They consulted with Harrison far less frequently.
“George was more of a loner; he was the outsider in a way,” audio engineer Geoff Emerick wrote in the book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “As the ‘bottom tier’ Beatles,...
- 8/8/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney and John Lennon were close collaborators in The Beatles. Despite their differences, the pair were good friends and wrote many of The Beatles’ hits together. According to Beatles audio engineer Geoff Emerick, the respect that McCartney and Lennon had for each other made them perfect partners. McCartney was the only person who could call Lennon out when he behaved badly.
Paul McCartney could call out John Lennon when other people couldn’t
Emerick worked in close quarters with The Beatles for years. As a result, he gained an understanding of McCartney and Lennon’s relationship dynamic.
“Many people’s view of the Lennon/McCartney collaboration is a simplistic one: that Lennon was the rough and ready rocker, while McCartney was the soft sentimentalist,” he wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “While that might have been partially true, their...
Paul McCartney could call out John Lennon when other people couldn’t
Emerick worked in close quarters with The Beatles for years. As a result, he gained an understanding of McCartney and Lennon’s relationship dynamic.
“Many people’s view of the Lennon/McCartney collaboration is a simplistic one: that Lennon was the rough and ready rocker, while McCartney was the soft sentimentalist,” he wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “While that might have been partially true, their...
- 8/7/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
By the mid-1960s, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were tired of touring. While Paul McCartney continued to push for The Beatles to keep performing live, his bandmates were fed up. Their tour stops in the United States were particularly draining because Lennon had recently made comments comparing The Beatles to Jesus. When Lennon complained about the situation, Harrison told him he was to blame.
George Harrison said John Lennon was ‘daft’ for a comment he made
In early 1966, Lennon mentioned in an interview that he thought The Beatles were more popular than Jesus.
“Christianity will go,” he said, via Rolling Stone. “It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I know I’m right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now. I don’t know which will go first – rock & roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right, but...
George Harrison said John Lennon was ‘daft’ for a comment he made
In early 1966, Lennon mentioned in an interview that he thought The Beatles were more popular than Jesus.
“Christianity will go,” he said, via Rolling Stone. “It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I know I’m right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now. I don’t know which will go first – rock & roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right, but...
- 8/7/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
By the end of the 1960s, Paul McCartney was beginning to get on John Lennon’s nerves. All The Beatles found him domineering in the studio, overly focused on perfecting his songs. One of the songs he spent an exceptionally long time on was “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da.” He was a perfectionist about the production, much to his bandmates’ irritation. It didn’t help that Lennon disliked the song and did not try to hide it.
John Lennon did not like Paul McCartney’s ‘Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da’
McCartney dragged The Beatles through endless takes of “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da” while working on the White Album.
“The previous week’s work was a typical study in frustration,” audio engineer Geoff Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “We’d worked endlessly on just two songs: Lennon’s ‘Revolution’ and McCartney’s ‘Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da,’ done over and...
John Lennon did not like Paul McCartney’s ‘Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da’
McCartney dragged The Beatles through endless takes of “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da” while working on the White Album.
“The previous week’s work was a typical study in frustration,” audio engineer Geoff Emerick wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “We’d worked endlessly on just two songs: Lennon’s ‘Revolution’ and McCartney’s ‘Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da,’ done over and...
- 8/4/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1968, the increasingly distant Beatles dragged themselves into the studio to record the Paul McCartney song “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da.” The band was growing tired of working together, and they didn’t exactly hide the fact that they disliked the song. In short, it was a miserable day in the studio, and tempers grew short. Engineer Geoff Emerick watched as McCartney and producer George Martin began shouting at each other. He was so disgusted with the fight that he quit.
Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick quit working for the band when Paul McCartney fought George Martin
While recording the vocals for “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da,” Emerick noticed with sadness that the frosty dynamic between the band members was nothing like the public image they put forth.
“The public still believed The Beatles were a band, that John and Paul still wrote together, that the four lads from Liverpool were making a group album,” he wrote in his book Here,...
Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick quit working for the band when Paul McCartney fought George Martin
While recording the vocals for “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da,” Emerick noticed with sadness that the frosty dynamic between the band members was nothing like the public image they put forth.
“The public still believed The Beatles were a band, that John and Paul still wrote together, that the four lads from Liverpool were making a group album,” he wrote in his book Here,...
- 7/29/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Ringo Starr took the lead on The Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends,” but he didn’t initially want to sing it. While his bandmates wrote the song with Starr’s vocal range in mind, he felt that the high note at the end was beyond his capabilities. His bandmates rallied around him to help him sing the song in its entirety.
The Beatles had to convince Ringo Starr to sing ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’
Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote “With a Little Help From My Friends” for Starr to sing. When it came time to record the vocals, though, he was hesitant. He attempted to leave the studio before he could record it.
“He was at the halfway point [of the stairs] when we heard Paul’s voice call out. ‘Where are you going, Ring?'” engineer Geoff Emerick wrote Here, There and Everywhere: My Life...
The Beatles had to convince Ringo Starr to sing ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’
Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote “With a Little Help From My Friends” for Starr to sing. When it came time to record the vocals, though, he was hesitant. He attempted to leave the studio before he could record it.
“He was at the halfway point [of the stairs] when we heard Paul’s voice call out. ‘Where are you going, Ring?'” engineer Geoff Emerick wrote Here, There and Everywhere: My Life...
- 7/8/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles’ song “With a Little Help From My Friends” gave Ringo Starr a chance to sing lead vocals. He wasn’t exactly excited about it — his bandmates had to coax him into it because he lacked confidence in his singing. When they finally got him to record his vocals, Starr also had a problem with one of the lines in the song. He refused to sing it, even making his bandmates rewrite it because he feared the way fans would react.
Ringo Starr did not want to sing a line in The Beatles’ ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’
After spending an afternoon writing together, Paul McCartney and John Lennon called Starr to get him into the studio.
“It was getting near 7 o’clock, almost time to go round the corner to the Emi recording studios,” Beatles biographer Hunter Davies wrote, per Rolling Stone. “They decided to ring Ringo,...
Ringo Starr did not want to sing a line in The Beatles’ ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’
After spending an afternoon writing together, Paul McCartney and John Lennon called Starr to get him into the studio.
“It was getting near 7 o’clock, almost time to go round the corner to the Emi recording studios,” Beatles biographer Hunter Davies wrote, per Rolling Stone. “They decided to ring Ringo,...
- 7/5/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney wrote many of The Beatles’ songs, including ones Ringo Starr sang. The Beatles didn’t have a designated lead singer, and they had each of the four members sing at least one song on most of their albums. Because Starr didn’t write many of the band’s songs, his bandmates often penned the ones he sang. McCartney explained why writing songs for Starr was challenging.
Paul McCartney said writing songs for Ringo Starr posed a unique challenge
Starr sang the song “With a Little Help From My Friends” on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. John Lennon and McCartney wrote the song together. McCartney said he liked writing songs for Starr because it was more of a challenge than writing for himself.
“It was pretty much co-written, John and I doing a work song for Ringo, a little craft job,” McCartney said in the book Paul...
Paul McCartney said writing songs for Ringo Starr posed a unique challenge
Starr sang the song “With a Little Help From My Friends” on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. John Lennon and McCartney wrote the song together. McCartney said he liked writing songs for Starr because it was more of a challenge than writing for himself.
“It was pretty much co-written, John and I doing a work song for Ringo, a little craft job,” McCartney said in the book Paul...
- 7/5/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles created one of their best albums with Revolver. The record many fans consider the first psychedelic album is an essential starting point for new fans, according to Ringo Starr. The drummer sang “Yellow Submarine,” and though it might not be the best Beatles song, it’s the one that saw John Lennon save someone’s job while they recorded it.
John Lennon stopped someone from getting fired while making The Beatles’ song ‘Yellow Submarine’
The Beatles really never lived sober lifestyles. Booze and pills were frequently part of their routine during early marathon performances in Hamburg, Germany. They used recreational drugs more frequently after getting high with and pranked by Bob Dylan in 1964. That trend continued for years for each member of the Fab Four.
That included when they recorded “Yellow Submarine” in the middle of 1966.
Lennon and a host of friends — Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Marianne Faithfull,...
John Lennon stopped someone from getting fired while making The Beatles’ song ‘Yellow Submarine’
The Beatles really never lived sober lifestyles. Booze and pills were frequently part of their routine during early marathon performances in Hamburg, Germany. They used recreational drugs more frequently after getting high with and pranked by Bob Dylan in 1964. That trend continued for years for each member of the Fab Four.
That included when they recorded “Yellow Submarine” in the middle of 1966.
Lennon and a host of friends — Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Marianne Faithfull,...
- 7/3/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles didn’t play sports, but they were a team, and every member had a role. Ringo Starr kept time on his drum kit and came up big on one of the band’s most enduring songs. But drumming wasn’t his only talent. According to someone who worked with the Fab Four, Ringo brought a secret skill to The Beatles that helped them in ways no one could have known.
Ringo Starr had a hidden skill for pushing The Beatles ‘in new directions,’ according to a band insider
Ringo was never the creative center of the Fab Four. He knew it and accepted it. But the drummer still played a crucial role in making the magic.
It’s no secret that The Beatles used drugs during their heyday. It started with Bob Dylan introducing them to marijuana. The quartet later dabbled in other substances. Using drugs became part of their creative routine.
Ringo Starr had a hidden skill for pushing The Beatles ‘in new directions,’ according to a band insider
Ringo was never the creative center of the Fab Four. He knew it and accepted it. But the drummer still played a crucial role in making the magic.
It’s no secret that The Beatles used drugs during their heyday. It started with Bob Dylan introducing them to marijuana. The quartet later dabbled in other substances. Using drugs became part of their creative routine.
- 6/21/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Every Beatles album has legions of fans, and rightfully so. Still, Revolver might be at (or at least near) the top of the list of their greatest accomplishments. The 1966 record featured so many stellar songs that “Got to Get You Into My Life” became a hit until years later even though fans knew the song well. Revolver also saw the band dive head first into studio experimentation. An enduring Beatles mystery is whether or not they used the “Taxman” solo on another song, albeit in an almost alien way. Did they? Let’s dive deeper into the theory.
Exploring The Beatles mystery that they used the ‘Taxman’ guitar solo on ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’
The Fab Four’s famous Shea Stadium concert in 1965 was one of their most monumental events.
It demonstrated the band’s popularity and power, but the downside was that it was overwhelming and impersonal. That negative side...
Exploring The Beatles mystery that they used the ‘Taxman’ guitar solo on ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’
The Fab Four’s famous Shea Stadium concert in 1965 was one of their most monumental events.
It demonstrated the band’s popularity and power, but the downside was that it was overwhelming and impersonal. That negative side...
- 6/13/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It’s not a stretch to say The Beatles redefined popular music. When they still played live, their concerts caused mayhem and hysteria. Their singles ruled the charts on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Heck, “Lovely Rita” from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band changed the English language. Yet the early Beatles song “She Loves You” proved to be one of the best performances of their career, according to recording engineer Geoff Emerick.
(l-r) Beatles members Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon | David Redfern/Redferns Geoff Emerick said The Beatles gave one of their most exciting performances recording ‘She Loves You’
Emerick worked on Beatles albums such as Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, the White Album, Abbey Road, and more. He didn’t work on the song but was at Abbey Road Studios while the band recorded “She Loves You.” For him to say that Beatles song...
(l-r) Beatles members Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon | David Redfern/Redferns Geoff Emerick said The Beatles gave one of their most exciting performances recording ‘She Loves You’
Emerick worked on Beatles albums such as Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, the White Album, Abbey Road, and more. He didn’t work on the song but was at Abbey Road Studios while the band recorded “She Loves You.” For him to say that Beatles song...
- 6/11/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon’s first marriage to Cynthia Lennon lasted from 1962 to 1968. It ended quickly after she caught him cheating on her with his next wife, Yoko Ono. Even before that, their marriage still had problems, and one Beatles song written by John Lennon featured subliminal messages that their marriage was in trouble.
The Beatles’ ‘Good Morning, Good Morning’ was written about John Lennon’s marriage John Lennon and Cynthia Lennon | Evening Standard/Getty Images
“Good Morning, Good Morning” debuted on 1967’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. While the album featured The Beatles being more experimental and surreal, John Lennon’s personal life still found life within his lyrics. Lennon got divorced one year after this song debuted, and his marital troubles were infused with his music.
In Barry Miles’ biography Many Years From Now, Paul McCartney said Lennon felt “trapped” in his relationship with Cynthia. He was bored...
The Beatles’ ‘Good Morning, Good Morning’ was written about John Lennon’s marriage John Lennon and Cynthia Lennon | Evening Standard/Getty Images
“Good Morning, Good Morning” debuted on 1967’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. While the album featured The Beatles being more experimental and surreal, John Lennon’s personal life still found life within his lyrics. Lennon got divorced one year after this song debuted, and his marital troubles were infused with his music.
In Barry Miles’ biography Many Years From Now, Paul McCartney said Lennon felt “trapped” in his relationship with Cynthia. He was bored...
- 5/28/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It is fitting to find Fanny: The Right to Rock broadcast on PBS. The channel thrives on educational material, and director Bobbi Jo Hart’s documentary teaches many lessons. The film chronicles the career, and captures the reunion of Fanny, a group of musicians who changed the dynamics of rock in the 1970s. The lineup was unique, labels and management executives dubbed them the “female Beatles.” They made history as the first all-women rock band to release an LP with a major record label.
Originally called The Svelts and rebranded as Wild Honey, Fanny was formed in the mid-1960s in Sacramento, Calif., by three Filipina American musicians: sisters June and Jean Millington, on guitar and bass, and drummer Brie Darling. All three sang. When Darling had her daughter, Brandi, in 1968, Fanny added drummer Alice de Buhr, and roving keyboardist Nickey Barclay.
As was the fashion of the time, they lived in a band house.
Originally called The Svelts and rebranded as Wild Honey, Fanny was formed in the mid-1960s in Sacramento, Calif., by three Filipina American musicians: sisters June and Jean Millington, on guitar and bass, and drummer Brie Darling. All three sang. When Darling had her daughter, Brandi, in 1968, Fanny added drummer Alice de Buhr, and roving keyboardist Nickey Barclay.
As was the fashion of the time, they lived in a band house.
- 5/22/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
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
The Beatles exist in a stratosphere all their own decades after they broke up. The music still resonates, and the band members — living and dead — are still celebrated. So are the group’s other projects, such as The Beatles’ first movie A Hard Day’s Night. It cost $500,000 to make, which was well worth it beyond the box office receipts. Paul McCartney said filming the movie was nerve-wracking, but it came with a huge payoff.
(l-r) George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon | Underwood Archives/Getty Images ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ more than recouped its $500,000 budget
A Hard Day’s Night (1964) was like many other movies. A screenwriter (Alun Owen) penned the script. A director (Richard Lester) helmed the shoot. And actors (many of them anonymous in the U.S. aside from The Beatles) performed in it.
Yet it comes off as a quasi-documentary with Paul, John Lennon, George Harrison,...
(l-r) George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon | Underwood Archives/Getty Images ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ more than recouped its $500,000 budget
A Hard Day’s Night (1964) was like many other movies. A screenwriter (Alun Owen) penned the script. A director (Richard Lester) helmed the shoot. And actors (many of them anonymous in the U.S. aside from The Beatles) performed in it.
Yet it comes off as a quasi-documentary with Paul, John Lennon, George Harrison,...
- 4/13/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Working with Paul McCartney would be a dream for many musicians. He proved himself to be a talented musician and songwriter with The Beatles. Some of their most notable songs feature only Paul by himself. Collaborating with the bassist wasn’t a bucket list item for guitarist Chris Spedding, but he said Paul’s whining proved how different he was from other musicians.
(l-r) Paul McCartney; Chris Spedding | Richard Blanshard/Getty Images; Michael Putland/Getty Images Chris Spedding worked with Paul McCartney on ‘Give My Regards to Broad Street’
The closest you could get to a Beatles reunion in the mid-1980s was getting two of the remaining three members in the same studio.
Since George Harrison paused his solo career after 1982’s Gone Troppo, that meant Paul and Ringo Starr. And Paul was the only option since Ringo spent most of the decade on the sidelines, too.
Chris Spedding...
(l-r) Paul McCartney; Chris Spedding | Richard Blanshard/Getty Images; Michael Putland/Getty Images Chris Spedding worked with Paul McCartney on ‘Give My Regards to Broad Street’
The closest you could get to a Beatles reunion in the mid-1980s was getting two of the remaining three members in the same studio.
Since George Harrison paused his solo career after 1982’s Gone Troppo, that meant Paul and Ringo Starr. And Paul was the only option since Ringo spent most of the decade on the sidelines, too.
Chris Spedding...
- 4/9/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Zombies only released two albums during their initial run, but the hits keep them coming back. Director Robert Schwartzman’s documentary, Hung Up on a Dream, named after a song from their classic album Odessey and Oracle, premiered at the Zach Theater during SXSW on March 12. Cooking Vinyl Records will release Different Game on March 31.
The Zombies’ first full-length album since 2015’s Billboard-charting Still Got That Hunger features founding keyboardist Rod Argent and lead singer Colin Blunstone, along with drummer Steve Rodford, guitarist Tom Toomey, and bassist Søren Koch. It retains the variety of sounds the band has been cultivating since their formation in 1961.
In 1964, The Zombies won a recording contract with Decca Records, the same label as the Rolling Stones, as first prize in a contest sponsored by The London Evening Post. Their single, “She’s Not There,” hit the charts internationally, and the band was part of...
The Zombies’ first full-length album since 2015’s Billboard-charting Still Got That Hunger features founding keyboardist Rod Argent and lead singer Colin Blunstone, along with drummer Steve Rodford, guitarist Tom Toomey, and bassist Søren Koch. It retains the variety of sounds the band has been cultivating since their formation in 1961.
In 1964, The Zombies won a recording contract with Decca Records, the same label as the Rolling Stones, as first prize in a contest sponsored by The London Evening Post. Their single, “She’s Not There,” hit the charts internationally, and the band was part of...
- 3/31/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
There were many important people to The Beatles. Their friends and families go without being said. However, other essential people ensured the Fab Four were safe and cared for in their day-to-day lives. Here are the top 10 people crucial to The Beatles’ success and well-being.
Derek Taylor and The Beatles | Mirrorpix/Getty Images 10. Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein was The Beatles’ manager. He heard about them after a customer asked if he had a copy of The Beatles’ German single at his family’s record store. He learned they were from Liverpool and saw them play at The Cavern Club. Epstein didn’t always make the best financial decisions for the band, but he was like their father figure. He helped them the most, and when he unexpectedly died in 1967, they were left struggling to keep themselves afloat. John Lennon once said going somewhere without Epstein was like going somewhere without your pants on.
Derek Taylor and The Beatles | Mirrorpix/Getty Images 10. Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein was The Beatles’ manager. He heard about them after a customer asked if he had a copy of The Beatles’ German single at his family’s record store. He learned they were from Liverpool and saw them play at The Cavern Club. Epstein didn’t always make the best financial decisions for the band, but he was like their father figure. He helped them the most, and when he unexpectedly died in 1967, they were left struggling to keep themselves afloat. John Lennon once said going somewhere without Epstein was like going somewhere without your pants on.
- 3/24/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It’s 10pm on Monday 11 February 1963, and as the Abbey Road clock ticks down the final minutes of an exhausting 12-hour session, John Lennon strips to the waist, doses up on Zubes throat lozenges and throws himself into one final death-or-glory charge into rock’n’roll history.
“The last song nearly killed me,” he’d say later, recalling that last-minute take of “Twist and Shout”, which The Beatles managed to squeeze into the closing seconds of the one-day recording session for their debut album Please Please Me. A second take was abandoned as Lennon’s voice gave out altogether after a full day of howling and harmonising, powering through on throat sweets, milk and the ferocious Hamburg spirit that had seen them through countless late-night rock’n’roll marathons at the Kaiserkeller. “My voice wasn’t the same for a long time after,” he said. “Every time I swallowed it was like sandpaper.
“The last song nearly killed me,” he’d say later, recalling that last-minute take of “Twist and Shout”, which The Beatles managed to squeeze into the closing seconds of the one-day recording session for their debut album Please Please Me. A second take was abandoned as Lennon’s voice gave out altogether after a full day of howling and harmonising, powering through on throat sweets, milk and the ferocious Hamburg spirit that had seen them through countless late-night rock’n’roll marathons at the Kaiserkeller. “My voice wasn’t the same for a long time after,” he said. “Every time I swallowed it was like sandpaper.
- 3/22/2023
- by Mark Beaumont
- The Independent - Music
There are many Beatles songs that John Lennon hated. Out of all The Beatles, John was the most critical of his and the band’s work. He didn’t give his praise lightly. Here are 10 songs John disliked. Some may surprise fans.
John Lennon | Harry Benson/Getty Images 10. ‘Run for Your Life’
It’s surprising if anyone likes “Run for Your Life.” It’s one of the most disturbing Beatles songs and one John hated. All you need to hear is the first verse to get that impression: “Well, I’d rather see you dead, little girl/ Than to be with another man/ You better keep your head, little girl/ Or I won’t know where I am.” According to Ultimate Classic Rock, John often said it was his least favorite Beatles song. He also called it a “throwaway.”
9. ‘Paperback Writer’
“Paperback Writer” is one of the best Beatles songs from the mid-1960s.
John Lennon | Harry Benson/Getty Images 10. ‘Run for Your Life’
It’s surprising if anyone likes “Run for Your Life.” It’s one of the most disturbing Beatles songs and one John hated. All you need to hear is the first verse to get that impression: “Well, I’d rather see you dead, little girl/ Than to be with another man/ You better keep your head, little girl/ Or I won’t know where I am.” According to Ultimate Classic Rock, John often said it was his least favorite Beatles song. He also called it a “throwaway.”
9. ‘Paperback Writer’
“Paperback Writer” is one of the best Beatles songs from the mid-1960s.
- 3/20/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Ringo Starr saw his confidence grow as during his time in The Beatles. He started as a nervous newcomer but then grew into his role in the band. Ringo fully embraced boasting about his skill during the Abbey Road sessions, but he never wanted to sit at the mixing console working on Beatles albums for the most Ringo of reasons.
Beatles drummer Ringo Starr | Bettmann / Contributor Ringo Starr let his bandmates mix The Beatles’ albums
Being the last to join The Beatles and the only one who didn’t write songs had its perks for Ringo. Being the fourth Beatle was a positive since he faced less pressure than John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison.
That extended to making the records. As the primary songwriters, John, Paul, and George spent plenty of time at the mixing desk ensuring their songs on The Beatles’ albums sounded as close to what...
Beatles drummer Ringo Starr | Bettmann / Contributor Ringo Starr let his bandmates mix The Beatles’ albums
Being the last to join The Beatles and the only one who didn’t write songs had its perks for Ringo. Being the fourth Beatle was a positive since he faced less pressure than John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison.
That extended to making the records. As the primary songwriters, John, Paul, and George spent plenty of time at the mixing desk ensuring their songs on The Beatles’ albums sounded as close to what...
- 3/14/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney admits he hasn’t analyzed his singing voice. However, the former Beatle has admitted to stealing other artists’ voices for specific songs.
Paul McCartney | Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images Paul McCartney hasn’t thought about his singing voice
In his book, The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he’s never actually thought much about his singing voice.
“I’ve been lucky enough not to have to,” he said. “People say to me, ‘Do you use your head voice or your chest voice?’ I say, I’m afraid I don’t know the difference. I haven’t analyzed it.”
Throughout Paul’s decades-long career, he’s used many different sounding voices. There’s a noticeable difference between his singing on “Get Back,” “Helter Skelter,” “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey,” and “I’m Down.” If you listen closely, you can hear who Paul was trying to emulate too.
Paul emulated...
Paul McCartney | Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images Paul McCartney hasn’t thought about his singing voice
In his book, The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he’s never actually thought much about his singing voice.
“I’ve been lucky enough not to have to,” he said. “People say to me, ‘Do you use your head voice or your chest voice?’ I say, I’m afraid I don’t know the difference. I haven’t analyzed it.”
Throughout Paul’s decades-long career, he’s used many different sounding voices. There’s a noticeable difference between his singing on “Get Back,” “Helter Skelter,” “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey,” and “I’m Down.” If you listen closely, you can hear who Paul was trying to emulate too.
Paul emulated...
- 3/6/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
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