“If you can remember anything about the sixties, you weren’t

really there.”

- Paul Kantner, guitarist of the Jefferson Airplane

British Pop Music (pre-1960s)

• Dominated by American Acts and tastes- World War II – US Soldiers in UK- Post WWII rebuilding of damaged country

• US Teenagers = money, cars, rock ‘n roll, etc.

• BBC controls broadcasting (3 channels)- Brian Matthew, “Saturday Club”- major labels license (and push) US records

• “Skiffle” – mix of folk, jazz, etc.

Lonnie Donegan(1931-2002)

• Leading Skiffle Band

• Traditional jazz, folk music, “jug” bands, etc.

• 20 “Top 30 Hits” in UK

• Primary Influence on Beatles & other bands

• YouTube - Lonnie Donegan - Rock Island Line

• Lonnie Donnegan - The Battle Of New Orleans – YouTube

• Lonnie Donegan s Skiffle Group - Puttin On The Style – YouTube

• Lonnie Donegan - Does Your Chewing Gum Lose it's Flavour? - YouTube

The Beatles(beginnings)

• Liverpool Skiffle Band- The Quarrymen- nucleus (Lennon, McCartney, Harrison) - Drummer (Hanton), Bass (Sutcliffe)

• AKA Johnny and the Moondogs, Silver Beetles, etc.

• Auditions for Professional management

• Brief tour of Scotland• 1st Recording (1958)

The Quarrymen - That'll Be The Day - YouTube

Beatlesin Hamburg

• 1960 & 1962- three long dates (‘62)- 246 performances

• 6-hour gigs- learn everything- American rock ‘n roll (Germans liked!)

• Examples.- YouTube - The Beatles - Red Hot (Full Version) - Live at the Star Club

- The Beatles My Bonnie with lyrics Highest Quality Audio - YouTube

Pete Best (drums), Harrison, Lennon, McCartney, and Sutcliffe (bass)

Liverpool:The Cavern

• 1961-63: 292 gigs- continuing “education”

• Lunchtime crowds

• American influences- sailors w/ records

• Example: YouTube - The Beatles - Hippy Hippy Shake

Two major influences

• Brian Epstein• Record store manager• becomes Beatles’ manager (1961)• changes image and promotes band

• George Martin (the “5th Beatle”)• A&R man for Parlophone (EMI)• Produces & engineers sessions• Replaces Pete Best w/ Ringo

The Beatles (c. 1962-4)

• Love me Do-The Beatles ' 62 – YouTube (UK # 17)

• Beatles She Loves You (With Lyrics) – YouTube (UK # 1)

• The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand – YouTube

(US # 1, late 1963)

• Boston Pops I Want To Hold Your Hand – YouTube

(“covered” by Boston Pops)(Note the haircuts and suits)

The Ed SullivanShow (1964)

• Textbook, pp. 168-9• YouTube - Beatles: CBS Ne

ws "30 Years Ago" Invasion Report

• The Beatles 1st Ed Sullivan Performance (REMASTERED) – YouTube

• The Beatles - Live Ed Sullivan Show 1964 (ALL SHOWS New York, United States HD 1080p RARE) - YouTube

Beatles Movies

• YouTube - A Hard Days Night Trailer

• A Hard Day's Night (Full Movie) 1080p [HD] - YouTube

• Beatles" A Hard Days Night" Behind The Scenes – YouTube

• Help! The Beatles Movie - Complete 1 hour 30 Minute Movie - YouTube

A Hard Day’s Night (1964)

Help! (1965)

Influences on Beatles’ Sound

• “Skiffle” – general “jangly” sound• US Rock ‘n Roll / Rockabilly – Elvis, Chuck Berry,

Buddy Holly, Little Richard, etc.• 12-bar blues or basic song forms• Chuck Berry guitar strum• Fuzz tone – Ventures, also Les Paul• Brill Building – lyrics & song forms• Vocal harmonies – girl groups, Everly Bros., etc

The Beatles (mid-career)• “Beatlemania” (August 1966 –

Last stadium concert)

• YouTube - "I Saw Her Standing There (Live)" By the Beatles (1964)

• Revolver (1966 album)-beginning of “studio” sound - more complex “composition”- album-length works- difficult / impossible tocreate in live performance

• The Beatles - "Tomorrow Never Knows" Mono – YouTube (1966)

The Beatles (1966)