Week 4 - Lecture notes 24-29 PDF

Preview

Summary

John Eros...

Description

● The scene: the United States in the mid 1960's ○ This week's material concentrates, roughly, on the period from 1964 - 1967 (or so). What is happening in the United States? Although it might seem like it was still the optimistic, carefree days that teen idols were singing about, things are really heating up in America. The Civil Rights movement is growing bigger and bigger, the U.S. is getting more involved in the Vietnam War, President Kennedy is assassinated in November of 1963, things are getting tense on college campuses and in big cities, etc. ○ Enter four lads from England. They have exotic English accents. They have long "mop top" hair. They all wear identical black suits and thin ties. They have a string of catchy hit songs. They land at the airport on February 7 1964 and people go crazy. They give interviews and people find out how funny they are. Then, they go on American TV on February 9 and perform and millions of people tune in. ○ They are: The Beatles. ■ And the British Invasion has begun. The Beatles are followed by other British bands, bringing more new looks and sounds. Who knew that rock and roll was so popular in Europe also? ■ If people thought that rock and roll was finished when Elvis was drafted, Little Richard left music and became a minister, Chuck Berry was arrested, and Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash, they could not have been more wrong. Rock and roll was only getting started! ● The British Invasion ○ Between 1964 and 1966, British groups dominated the pop charts. It was a time when American pop music needed a shot in the arm, a bit of rejuvenation from the schlock rock music of Chubby Checker, Frankie Avalon, Fabian, and Annette Funicello.

○ If you'll remember, by this time the innovators of rock and roll were long off the scene, and most were forgotten by all but the most ardent rock and roll fans. To add to this absence of quality rock music, the social tone of the country was in a pretty dark place. Cultural Historians have stated that the country was in a funk- a collective malaise that people were finding hard to pull out of. A much beloved President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated on November 27, 1963. Also in this era, the Civil Rights Movement was gaining more and more strength. The Vietnam War, and the impact of young men being sent into combat overseas, contributed to the rising tensions. Things were serious, and playtime was over.

○ The Beatles were the first of the British Invasion Bands to break through in the American market. They were followed by other British bands, but most were one-hit wonders and quickly disappeared into oblivion. Of course there were a number of bands that stuck around, and some became some of the most famous bands in rock and roll lore. In this class, will talk about The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who. These were the most famous bands of the British invasion, and had the most impact on the youth and culture of America.

○ On February 9, 1964, The Beatles electrified a nationwide audience on the Ed Sullivan

Show. Millions of TV viewers went crazy, and the British Invasion was on. We'll talk about that in the Beatles lecture.

○ From this point in music history onward, there will be numerous famous British bands, to the point that some critics have called different rock eras the 2nd wave of the British invasion, and a 3rd wave of the British invasion. However, when referring to the British invasion, we are talking about 1964 and beyond, when the Beatles arrived in America with a number one hit, and a new look, attitude, and excitement that changed the world.

○ Herman's Hermits - British Invasion 'Listen People 1964-1969' Trailer ○ It's Gonna Be Alright - Gerry And The Pacemakers ○ Rory Storm & the Hurricanes ■ Rory Storm and the Hurricanes was another popular group from back in early 1960s England. If I didn't tell you that they were an English band, you might not be able to tell! The look and sound is so similar to American rock and roll. ■ The main thing that people remember about this band now is that the drummer, a fellow by the name of Ringo Starr, went on to play for another band: the Beatles. ● The Beatles ● The Beatles, also known as "The Fab Four," are considered by many to be one of the most, if not *the* most, important rock and roll bands of all time. There are many books and even entire classes dedicated to the Beatles. The Beatles might be viewed as having three periods. ○ Early Beatles: The Beatles form in England and play lots of gigs in England and Germany. They are playing covers of other bands' music (especially American rock and roll, rockabilly, and rhythm and blues), and they are learning about writing their own songs. ○ Middle period Beatles: The Beatles begin writing their own original music. They begin to experiment with other sounds and instruments other than the usual guitar/bass/drums ○ Late Beatles: The Beatles stop touring and start doing all of their work in the studios, becoming more and more experimental. We'll talk about this when we get to psychedelic rock.

● This week, we are looking mainly at the first two periods. ● Here are some examples of what music writers during this era were saying about the Beatles: ● The sum of the Beatles was greater than the parts, but the parts were so distinctive and attractive that that group could be all things to all people. Unlike a fad, the Beatles gained more and more magnetism as time went on. The group affected not only the feel, but the quality of life; they deepened it, and sharpened it. ● Here are some sales figures: ○ 1964–the Beatles held the 1st five spots on the Billboard charts. Their 1st LP was the best-selling in history up to that point. Every release would yield a plethora of hits. For many years, the Beatles ruled the charts, and set new standards for sales for rock and roll and pop music. ○ A music writer discussing the Beatles after their debut on the Ed Sullivan show in

1964 –“the music was instantly recognizable yet like nothing we have ever heard. It was joyous, threatening, absurd, arrogant, determined, innocent, yet tough. It was something that had never happened before”.

○

As personalities they defined the 1960s style and culture. They wore their hair longer than was common at the time, leading to them being called "mop tops.". They were smart, idealistic, eclectic, irreverent. Their music, from the early rockers to the incredible ballads, to the perfectionist studio works, set new standards for commercial and artistic music and success. No group has so transformed the sound and meaning of rock and roll. Before the Beatles, rock and roll was only a segment of popular music and the music business. After the Beatles, rock became the dominant style in popular music, and rock and roll and its derivatives have remained that way ever since. The Beatles set new standards for commercialism and pop music yet, were also the most artistic rock band, and set the bar very high for rock and roll as an art form beyond a form of entertainment. ● Influences ○ The Beatles had a wide array of influences which they were able to put together in a unique way to create their sound. Most of their influences were from America. They studied American rock and roll through listening to lots and lots of American records. The early rockers in particular had a big impact on the band. Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and especially Elvis Presley. The Beatles also listened to American rhythm and blues, American blues, country music, and many genres of pop music from this era. One early influence, was a style called Skiffle. This was a British style of popular music that blended elements of folk music with rock and roll. It often featured guitars, simple harmonies, and vocal harmonies. Actually, skiffle had its roots all the way back into the 1920's in America, as a combination of jazz, blues, and folk elements. Remember that new forms of music frequently develop because of musicians mixing components of earlier genres, such that something new emerges. So, even though this is called the British Invasion, you should realize that (I would argue) there is a certain element of America's music coming home, but via different packing in the form of performances from musicians from outside the U. S. ○ As the Beatles matured, they also started to listen to 20th century classical music, American jazz, and various ethnic musics, in particular the music of India. This was a very eclectic group of musicians. Part of the reason they were able to achieve such commercial and artistic heights, is the vast array of influences that they researched. As with Elvis Presley, and all the great artists in history, the Beatles were able to copy all these different styles, funnel all these sounds through their systems and through the band, and when it came out it sounded like a unique style very much their own. ● Brief Historical Sketch ○ The Beatles came from working class families in Liverpool, England. Liverpool is a port city, which proved to be very beneficial for these young musicians growing up, because the sailors traveling around the world would bring the latest sounds and musical styles into the port. It was fairly easy to get American records, so the Beatles were able to listen to lots of American rock and roll. The young Beatles were able to hear the newest styles and sounds very shortly after they were released. Although no famous bands had ever come out of Liverpool, growing up there proved to be quite beneficial. They were hip to all the latest trends and styles in music. ● The Lads:

○ If you have ever heard the names "John, Paul, George, and Ringo" all together, then you have heard of the Beatles. If not, well, you have heard of them now. John was the tough guy rocker, social conscience, and witty one. Paul was the cute and talented one, George was the quiet serious one, Ringo was the funny one. This is the final membership of the Beatles, and the one everyone knows, although the Beatles included several different musicians in their earlier days. ○ John Lennon was the leader of the Beatles. He was abandoned by both his parents, and was raised by his aunt. He was a ‘wiseguy’ kind of kid, always getting in trouble. Though his aunt was very strict, he was a hell raiser. His biological mother did show up occasionally, and she's the one who taught him guitar when he was young. When Lennon was 17, his biological mom was killed after being struck by a bus. This would prove to be one of the common ties he had with Paul McCartney. ○ Paul's mother had died of breast cancer when Paul was very young, so the two teens bonded around these tragedies. Paul grew up in a rough neighborhood, and a household filled with music. His father had been a musician in the jazz era, and Paul had learned to play many instruments and to write music from a very young age. For the first few years of the Beatles' career, John and Paul were the main creative force. ○ George Harrison was the son of a bus driver, and met Paul McCartney on the bus on the way to school. Their friendship bonded around their love of rock 'n roll. ○ Ringo Starr came from an ordinary, working-class family. Ringo had been so sick as a child, that he never even went to school. He had a way of speaking and mixing up his words, which gave the Beatles many of their unusual song titles. ○ The band came together when John Lennon was performing with his group called the Quarrymen. It was at one of these gigs at a church, that Paul McCartney first met John Lennon in 1957. Later that year, Paul brought George into the group. They changed the name from the Quarrymen to Johnny and the Moon Dogs. The band at this point was playing primarily skiffle music (discussed earlier) In 1960, an art school friend of Lennon's named Stu Sutcliffe, became the bassist. Stu couldn't play a note of music, but was good-looking and had sold a painting, so he was able to use that money to help upgrade the group's equipment. They taught him how to play the 12 bar blues and he joined the group. ○ At this point the name of the band was changed to the Silver Beetles, and finally to the Beatles. The name is a take-off on Buddy Holly and the Crickets. In addition to the musical influence that Buddy Holly had on the early Beatles, John Lennon liked the double meaning of the word cricket, since cricket refers to both an insect and a British sport. Also, by changing the spelling from "beetle" to "beatle," the word "beat" now appeared in the name. Remember that Buddy Holly had invaded Britain well before the Beatles invaded the US (1958 vs. 1964). In a way, one might say that Buddy Holly's musical influence lived on in the form of the Beatles' band name.

○ By 1960, the group was looking to move away from British skiffle and get into more American rock and roll styles. To do this they needed a drummer, and they hired Pete Best. He instantly became the undisputed sex symbol of the band. But, he also had a darker, brooding way about him. That didn't exactly fit in with the outgoing John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Pete Best is also considered one of the unluckiest musicians in rock and roll history. Literally on the night before the Beatles became

○

○

○

○

the biggest act in showbiz history, Best was replaced by a drummer from another band called Rory Storm and the Hurricanes: Richard Starkey, now known to everybody as Ringo Star The band honed its incredible skills in Hamburg Germany. There was a musical pipeline between Liverpool and Hamburg, where bands would move between different venues in these cities. The Beatles would sometimes play 6 to 8 hours a night. Soon they created a tight, very professional energetic unit. Because of the amount of hours they had to play and theaudiences they had to satisfy, the group was forced to learn hundreds and hundreds of songs in every conceivable style. This was where the band expanded musically to a level not reached by many groups in history. At some point during the Hamburg gigs, Stu Sutcliffe quit the band and sadly would be dead within the year from a brain hemorrhage. When Stu quit, Paul McCartney became the bass player of the group. After some months of planning in Hamburg the group returned to Liverpool as the best, tightest band in England. The Beatles were playing in a club called the Cavern Club in Liverpool when they were brought to the attention of Brian Epstein. Epstein was a record store owner who had been hearing of this new band called the Beatles. He went to check them out at the Cavern Club, and said “one day the Beatles will be bigger than Elvis”, becoming the only manager in rock and roll history to use this line and be right!!! Brian Epstein became the Beatles" manager. He cleaned up their act, replacing black leather jackets and tight jeans with Pierre Cardin suits. He gave the Beatles the famous haircut, and a new look and style. His next move was to shop the Beatles around to every record label he could find. Virtually every label turned the band down. Finally, producer George Martin at EMI records signed them. Martin hated Pete Best’s drumming, so the band recruited Ringo Starr from another local group, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. All the band members felt that the music settled and came together when Ringo joined the group. We now have the Beatles as they existed through the rest of their history. During their Liverpool and Hamburg days, the Beatles were basically playing covers of other people's music, including lots of American rock and roll, blues, and rhythm and blues musicians. However, as time passed, John and Paul began to learn and develop the craft of writing pop songs. Within a couple of years, they were writing their own hit songs, even while they were still playing covers. ■ At this point I would like to recap some of the important things about this group: ● The Beatles were avid students of American rock and roll. They listened to lots of American records and became familiar with many artists and genres. ● The Beatles also performed these American songs many times during their years of playing in clubs so that, by the time they came to America, the Beatles knew American popular music backwards and forwards ● The Beatles did not start out performing their own music. Gradually, John and Paul introduced their own songs into the Beatles' repertoire and began to write more of their own music. George also did this, later.

● The Beatles, especially John, had an ability to "connect" with crowds. As you watch videos of their interviews and performances, you will see how well crowds reacted to them. They were entertaining and charismatic. Even the Queen of England thought so!

■ Beatles She Loves You (With Lyrics) ■ John Lennon:"...just rattle your jewelry" + Twist and shout ● This is one of the Beatles' most famous performances from their early days. It is before they have grown the long hair, "mop top" look. They are performing one of their hit songs, a cover version of the popular song, "Twist and Shout," and the Queen of England herself is in the audience. When John Lennon says, "rattle your jewelry, " he is actually talking to the Queen of England! ● You can get a sense from the recording of how well John Lennon can interact with a live audience. ■ Ferris Bueller's Day Off- Twist & Shout ● "Twist and Shout" was also famously used in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. ■ The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand - Performed Live On The Ed Sullivan Show 2/9/64 ● This is the Beatles' first performance, in 1964, on The Ed Sullivan Show. Many people consider this televised performance as the true beginning of "The British Invasion." With this performance, the Beatles had opened the floodgates for more and more British bands to come to the United States. ○ The Beatles in the movies ■ Similar to Elvis, the Beatles also made or were involved in several movies. Those include: ● ● ● ●

Help! Hard Day's Night Magical Mystery Tour Yellow Submarine

■ Yellow Submarine was a cartoon movie that the Beatles did not really

have much to do with. Magical Mystery Tour was a movie that they made themselves. It is not viewed as being a great movie. ■ A Hard Day's Night Official Remastered Trailer (2014) - The Beatles Movie HD ● Here is the trailer for the Beatles' movie "Hard Day's Night." It came out a few months after the Beatles had invaded America by playing on the Ed Sullivan Show. It was, and still is, very successful. People did not just love the Beatles' music. They also found the Beatles to be very funny, witty, and entertaining.

■ The Beatles - Hard Days Night - Train Scene [HD]

● Early in their career, the Beatles made a movie, named after one of their songs: "A Hard Day's Night." This is a clip from the movie, set on a train. The movie was extremely popular, as the Beatles were a very charismatic group. Despite what the scene might remind you of, the Beatles are not on their way for another year at Hogwarts, sharing a car with the latest Defense against the Dark Arts Teacher ■ The Beatles Help! The Trailer ● The trailer for the Beatles' movie Help! ○ Rubber Sole ■ Rubber Soul and Revolver ■ In 1965 with the album Rubber Soul, the Beatles ambitions extended beyond love songs and pop formulas. This was not a band that would rest on its laurels. Most bands that had experienced success at this level would carry on status quo, unwilling to jeopardize the formula that made them stars. The Beatles, on the other hand, were just getting started. ■ In 1965 there was a famous meeting between the Beatles and singer/songwriter Bob Dylan. This became one of the most important meetings in Rock history. Dylan turned the Beatles on to smoking pot, and discussed his view of pop music with them. He got the band thinking about writing their songs with a deeper meaning, rather than just creating songs for teens. Their lyrics became much more poetic and political. The music would reflect this new found sensibility. They started to view Rock as more than mere entertainment, and wanted to take a more artistic approach to lyric writing and arrangements. ■ Rubber Soul was considered the first c...