2. Early Days: Beginnings to the first number one hit

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1 2. Early Days: Beginnings to the first number one hit Questions What were the conditions and ingredients for success? What was the formula for the first successful hits? John Winston Lennon Born October 9, 1940 Middle class upbringing with Mimi & George Smith Julia Stanley Mother Father: Alfred Lennon, merchant seaman Julia played banjo, taught John his first chords Personality Rebellious Penchant for twisting words Enjoyed writing and drawing Naturally intelligent Academically unsuccessful Idolised Little Richard & Elvis Presley Skiffle Homespun country rock Guitars, washboard, one-stringed tea-chest bass Lennon formed his own skiffle band: Black Jacks / Quarry Men July 6, 1957 Quarry Men: Lennon s gang St Peter s Parish Church Summer fête Eruption of noise? Fateful meeting with guitarist Paul McCartney James Paul McCartney Born June 18, 1942 Father: Jim McCartney, cotton merchant and amateur jazz musician & bandleader in 1920s Mother: Mary Mohin, nurse/midwife Intelligent, academically successful Personality Abundant charm Obsession with Little Richard Restringed his guitar to play left-handed Early indications of perfectionism

2 Apt to criticize George Harrison Born February 25, 1943 Father: Harold Harrison, school bus driver Mother: Louise French Obsessed with rock and roll guitar music from US Joined Quarry Men by mid 1958 Duane Eddy Twangy guitar style Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins Hollowbody 1958 releases: Rebel Rouser; Movin n Groovin Quarry Men Covered US R&R hits McC: I Lost My Little Girl (late 57) Lennon: Hello Little Girl Competition? First recording Home of Percy Phillips, summer 58 Holly s That ll Be The Day In Spite Of All The Danger (McC & H) L lead vocals; John Lowe on piano The Team Lennon & McCartney (Goffer & King; Lieber & Stoller) Different personalities Why did this relationship work? Mothers Mary Mohin died late 1956 of complications from breast cancer Julia Lennon killed by a car in 1957 Stuart Sutcliffe L s friend from Art College Talented artist Played bass Stimulated L s intellectual/artistic curiosity Suggested new names: Beatals, Silver Beats, and Silver Beetles L s decision Liverpool coffee houses

3 Casbah, 1959 (owner: Mona Best) Jacaranda, 1960 (owner: Allan Williams) Unaccomplished No drummer Other Liverpool bands Gerry & The Pacemakers Formed by Gerry Marsden in 1959 Rory Storm & The Hurricanes Recognize the drummer? Richard Starkey, alias Ringo Starr Playing with Rory Storm & The Hurricanes in Hamburg, Germany Drums & Hamburg Williams offered stint in Hamburg, August to November 1960 Reeperbahn: clubs, strip clubs, sex shops, brothels Drummer? Randolph Peter Best Born November 24, 1941 Good looking Main attraction for girls Personality: quiet, sullen, aloof His band: The Blackjacks Joined Beatles August 12, 1960 First Hamburg visit Long sets at Indra, Kaiserkeller Decadent atmosphere, rowdy audiences, drugs, dismal living conditions Opportunity to learn large repertoire of US hits, showtunes, etc. to try out their own compositions Rehearsal, Hamburg 1960 Movin n Groovin (Eddy) Hello Little Girl (Lennon) NB Vocal harmonies? Influences? The Look Developed electrifying stage act Hooked up with existentialist youth groups: art, literature Astrid Kirchherr New haircuts, leather Back to Liverpool Ignominious end to Hamburg stint Top Ten Club / Tony Sheridan

4 H deported McC & Best arrested, deported Sutcliffe & Kirchherr Sutcliffe opted to stay in Hamburg and attend art school Relationship with Astrid Kirchherr Leaves the band The Cavern Headquarters Began to establish reputation as exciting new band Needed to refine the sound No bass player Momentous decision? McC opts to play bass Höfner violin bass Why? Back to Hamburg Late March to early July, 1961 Played at the Top Ten Alternated sets with Tony Sheridan My Bonnie / When The Saints Go Marching In Late March to early July, 1961 Played at the Top Ten Alternated sets with Tony Sheridan June recordings In need of a manager? Fell out with Williams Brian Epstein (b. 1934), ran family s record shop: North End Music Store in Liverpool Demand for My Bonnie Epstein visited Cavern November 9, 1961, lunchtime set Unprofessional Uncouth Ate / smoked on stage Talked / joked / swore Captivated by energy & sound Attracted to Lennon Taming of The Beatles Epstein promised tours, recording contracts, more money, but: No more jokes, swearing on stage No eating, drinking Organized sets Limited time on stage Exchange leather for suits & ties Faustian bargain?

5 Decca, January 1, 1962 Decca studios, London 60 minute session, 15 songs Designed to show off versatility Goofy songs, wooden rhythms, tense performances quite unlike their live shows Own compositions? What did Decca do? Cavern / Hamburg again Continued to refine their act at the Cavern Third trip to Hamburg (April May 1962) Topped the bill at the Star Club Death of Sutcliffe, April 10, 1962 George Martin Born January 3, 1926 Musician, composer, conductor, arranger, record producer With Parlophone (EMI) from 1950 (head from 1955) Worked mainly in light music and comedy Heard Decca tape, booked audition for June 6, 1962 Beatles played Besame Mucho plus 3 original compositions: P.S. I Love You Ask Me Why Love Me Do What Martin liked? What Martin disliked? What Martin suggested? The firing of Pete Best August 16, The boys want you out and Ringo in. The band knew Ringo from Hamburg Why was Ringo a better fit? Ringo Starr Born Richard Starkey, July 7, 1940 Parents Elsie Gleave, Richard Starkey Stepfather, Harry Graves, bought him drum set A question of music AND personality Joined Beatles August 18, 1962 First performance at The Cavern August Some Other Guy We want Pete! How Do You Do It?

6 Beatles learned this Mitch Murray song Rejected it in favour of doing their own material Importance of this decision? (Martin also took on Gerry & The Pacemakers, who had #1 hit with it) Love Me Do Recording session, September 4, 1962 Lyric: Love, love me do. You know I love you, I'll always be true, So please, love me do. Someone to love, Somebody new. Someone to love, Someone like you. Analysis Simple, repetitive lyric Intro the signature harmonica? Blues notes? A section (verses) / B section ( middle eight ) Groove? Laid back, gentle shuffle Harmony: simple, 3 chords (I, IV, V) Plodding bass line Vocal harmonies Drumming? Ringo s replacement Martin (or was it McC?) was not satisfied with Ringo s drumming 15 takes New session, September 11, 1962 Andy White, professional session drummer Chemistry was important to the band Ringo was part of the theatre of personality of The Beatles Compare? The right ingredients? Love Me Do reached #17 Dream: bigger than Elvis an incredible live stage act their own musical vision a proper manager with a business vision an astute recording manager Charm, humour But did they have the music?

HISTORY OF THE BEATLES

HISTORY OF THE BEATLES 1 As musicians, the Beatles proved that rock & roll music could embrace a limitless variety of harmonies, structures and sounds. The group was formed in Liverpool, England in 1957