THE BEATLES

John Lennon was the founder of the Beatles, however, they were not called that for some time.  In the mid-late 50's John met Paul McCartney and asked him to join the band.  The two hit it off right away, and shortly if not immediately after joining with John, Paul asked John if a friend of his, George Harrison could join the band.  These men formed the quarry men, later called the Silver Beatles and finally simply the "Beatles."  They played in Germany and London during the early 60's and developed quite a reputation.  Finally, their drummer Pete Best was "replaced" by Richard Starkey a.k.a Ringo Starr and the band was complete.

In 1966, however, the Beatles finished touring for good.  Some say it was because of all the death threats the group was recieving from people after some of John Lennon's comments hit the news.  Others say it was because they were tired of all the hassles.  Why it was we will never know, but the Beatles proved that they didn't need touring to bolster their fan support or to sell records, and they came out with some of the finest studio material that has ever been heard.

The album "Revolver" is considered by many to be the best Beatles album, it featured 2 standards from McCartney in "Eleanor Rigby" a chilling account of lonliness and "Got To Get You Into My Life" an inovative track complete with horns.  It was also Harrison's debut in a sense, with his first legitimate song in Taxman.  Next, the Beatles withdrew themselves even more, and Paul came up with the idea for a new album, one that would combine pop, rock and classical music into what would be considered by many as the greatest album ever made.  (As you can see, you could say that about any 4 of the Beatles albums!)

Sgt. Pepper took over 700 hours in the studio to finish, and even though it lacked one strong song, and none of the tracks were released as singles, it had its share of fan favorites.  There was of course the title track, and "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" by John enthralled many people, as the sound in that hadn't been heard often before, the same going for Harrison's "Within You Without You."  Paul contributed a standard in "When I'm Sixty Four" a tune that sounds anything but a Beatles tune.  "She's Leaving Home" was another of Paul's contributions that showed the groups maturity and blossoming talent.  Paul and John both wrote "With A Little Help From My Friends" perhaps the most Beatlesque of any of the songs.  Than, to close the album was John's "A Day In The Life" a brilliant blend of classical music with pop.  This album was monumental, and as someone once said, many people who never bought a rock album before or after bought this album.

Next came the experiment that would become a disaster in "Magical Mystery Tour" the T.V. movie did very poorly in England, but the music did quite well.  Included on the album were "Strawberry Fields Forever" a fantasy/reflection on John's childhood, and "Penny Lane" a fantasy/refleciton on Paul's childhood.  Both where combined into a single, with the latter forming the A side, and become a top hit.  Also on the record were "All You Need Is Love" a #1 single from John, and "Hello Goodbye" a #1 from Paul.  "I Am The Walrus" and "A Fool On The Hill" also included on the record, become instant Beatles trademarks, even though both were as different as night and day in style, they had many similarities.

Next, the beatles would release the White album.  Their most ambitious project with over 30 tracks.  In this album Paul displays a side of him that he wasn't best known for, a rocker.  And in the explosive song "Helter Skelter", "Birthday" and "Back In The U.S.S.R" he shows he could not only write rock with anyone, but that he had written the heaviest rock the Beatles every recorded.  He also contributed many more reflective songs like "Martha My Dear" and "Blackbird."  John contributed the famous "Revolution" as well as working on a sound collage with Paul of "Revolution 9."  Also highlights from John were "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" and "Cry Baby Cry."  Ringo Starr made his debut in this album with "Don't Pass Me By", but it was perhaps George Harrison who contributed its strongest song in "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" a very mature song about sadness an unchanging world.  Eric Clapton would perform on the guitar for this album, making a rarity for the Beatles.  Other than Mick Jagger singing background vocals in "Magical Mystery Tour" and an occasional string quartet or horn player, they worked alone.

During the White album the Beatles faced great turmoil, John's marriage to Yoko had put a huge riff between him and Paul, and everyone's patience was getting short with one-another.  But the Beatles hit parade was not over.  Paul wrote "Get Back", which John would later think was about Yoko, as well as "Let It Be" and "The Long And Winding Road" all 3 of which would rise to #1 on the charts.  George Harrison got his first and only #1 hit in "Something" which was teamed with Lennon's phenomenal "Come Together" as its B-side.

The last 2 albums the Beatles made were "Abbey Road" and "Let It Be."  Both of these albums were succesful, although the former was considered and still is much stronger because more work was put into it and the producer did a much better job.  In Abbey Road were not so much classics, but still some brilliant compositions.  Besides "Something", Harrison contributed "Here Comes The Sun" and Paul wrote "The End", "Golden Slumbers" and "Carry That Weight."  John wrote the Indian-inspired "Come Together" which for many was the highlight of the album.  But soon after, the Beatles were broken up and would never play together again.

Paul McCartney would go on to be by far the most succesful after the breakup.  He would have 8 number one hits, form a new band named "Wings" which would become one of the most succesful of all-time, and collaborate with Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder for some #1 duets.  He also become the world's greatest tourer, bringing 180,000+ to a stadium in Brazil and breaking records.  He is the 3rd richest man in all of Europe, and released the grammy winning "Flaming Pie" in 1997 and is scheduled to release a new album in '99.

John would get the most attention, as his classic "Imagine" has remained one of the world's most popular and compelling songs since he wrote it in 1971.  Even though he would have only marginal success as a musician after the Beatles breakup, and most of it was in the beginning, he would become an icon for Beatle followers and for a whole generation of people.  In 1980, he was gunned down in front of his New York apartment, and what followed would be one of the greatest outpouring of public sympathy only matched by Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix's deaths.

George Harrison went on to make 2 albums after the Beatles broke up, he landed himself 3 number one hits, giving him the second most for any Beatle.  After that he drifted away.  George was always the most serious and spiritual of the members of the band, meditating for an hour or more daily.  He was diagnosed with cancer recently, but is fighting it and plans to release some material in the year 2000.

Ringo Starr at one point after the breakup had more top 10 hits than any other Beatle.  With the song "I Am The Greatest" he achieved instant solo fame.  Currently, he is the only Beatle touring, and has released 2 albums in the past 3 years, more than any other former member.

The Beatles than proved once and for all their dynasty was still a force, as in 1995 and 1996 they released 3 2-cd sets called "Anthology" #1, #2 and #3.  Each anthology rose to #1 on the charts.  And one of their "new" releases, "Free As A Bird" one them a grammy.  The Beatles changed the face and course of music and society forever, and this is why they were known as the fab four.  All this in only 6 years?  Amazing!!
 

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