The boys appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 is iconic. It’s right up there with the images of the Beatles getting off planes, the suits and the haircut. The impact is hard to understand today when we live an almost science fiction world with instant communications across phone lines and the internet. A world where it’s easy to post moving images up in the next five minutes and for the rest of that world to get access to them. What is more important than the appearance itself is the crater impact of it. I believe it was that single show that made The Beatles untouchable. By the time they finished playing All My Loving, the game was up! From that moment they couldn’t escape from success. All of the development in the preceding years of playing for hours on grimy stages all over Liverpool and Hamburg and then in the wider communities of Britain and Europe would culminate in this polished and irresistible performance. It’s not just the show of course. One has to look at their appearance at the airport. It is a slightly bemused Beatles who realise that they are “on” when they are at that famous press conference. They grabbed the opportunity and took it for all it was worth, but not in an obvious way. Like I say, they appear to be taken slightly by surprise by what meets them. Life would never be the same again for them. From here on in they would be carving out the route that few would follow. They would go on to define what pop would become from this platform. However, you don’t get the impression from any of the source films of the time, that they expected this. The Maysles film is I think the best Beatle film of all. It just captures that first US visit so perfectly. It’s the film of the dream ticket for musicians who want to make it big. It’s the measurement of that success. How many UK bands have tried to do it since? Perhaps more than the seventy three million who tuned into the Ed Sullivan Show!! The point about the Beatles at that point is that although it’s obvious that they are working the press rooms, the radio stations, the photographers and so on, they are not forcing it. That is one of the qualities I think endeared them the American public. They are genuine and real. There isn’t a hint of the pretentious about them. By the time they hit the States, it was game over. I think you also have to look at the often mentioned ‘post-JFK’ state that the US was in. After all of the optimism of that Presidency’s beginning, the impact of his assassination is still difficult to comprehend – even for a 21st century boy here in Blighty. So, when this breezy, striking, long haired, talented, self contained, black suited outfit from Liverpool drops by the Nation, as if by accident almost, it would seem that the US was “taken by enlarge” in a kind of Rutle way, if you know what I mean?
I believe that the Ed Sullivan Show appearance by The Beatles is one of the most important moments not only in rock’n’roll history but as part of the development of the modern world. When you look at the globalisation of the entertainment industry following these events, you have to say that it was The Beatles who lit that torch. The whole British Invasion was sparked by that single appearance. Swinging London, James Bond and the whole Sixties was lit up by that appearance. The chances are that all of the above would have happened somehow anyway, but without that show maybe not quite in the same way. And you know it bears thinking about that following these ground shaking events, Paul McCartney went back to his tiny bedroom in Forthlin Road and somehow tried to comprehend what had just happened, and perhaps more interestingly ponder upon what might happen next. What a trip!
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
George Burton's Record Session with guest Gerry Campbell.
"When I was at school, we used to get together in each others houses, bringing along all our latest records which were either bought, borrowed or nicked! It was a case of bringing something to play to your mates that you thought they would love. Each week I aim to have a guest who will bring some records for us and tell us why they picked them!
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Monday, 19 January 2009
Revolution
As a child of the Sixties I’m very excited about the possibilities of Barack Obama’s Presidency. I have no Beatle comment today. I just wanted to make a brief statement to wish the people of the United States the very best of luck for the future at this time. I have nothing but good feelings about the Obama administration but I also realise that he has one of the most difficult jobs ahead. However, this is a bright man surrounded by bright people and when we look back at this point in history, I’m optimistic that we will see that there was an actual change in the direction this world has been taking. I’m sure I speak for most people when I say that we ALL wish him and his family the very best. It’s food for thought but, you know at the time I was born, the Civil Rights movement was in full swing and a little over forty years up the line the tide has turned, common sense has prevailed and genuine hope returns to the world.
Change can and does happen.
Peace and hope for the future.
Change can and does happen.
Peace and hope for the future.
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
King John?
Have a look at this short article first....
I want to say straight off here, I am not particularly a fan of Bono or Bob Geldof. I admire what Geldof has achieved and I can take or leave Bono in any circumstances. However, Julia Baird reckons that people like Bono and Bob Geldof have only been able to take centre stage on the activism front because John isn’t here any more. It’s debatable in my opinion that anyone could put Geldof in the shadows! There is a man who won’t be told. It is true however that he is not unlike John in some senses. It’s probable that John was one of Geldof’s role models, although I don’t think his actions were taken just to be like him, like some sort of tribute act. Geldof acted on instinct and out of the same human decency and awareness that is inherent in most people, just as John did before him.
What is certainly more interesting to contemplate is to imagine what John’s role might have been in the Live Aid campaign, or indeed in the post 9/11 world we live in today. Sure, I reckon he’d have plenty to say, but would he have done so? It is my opinion that he would have been heartily involved in quite a few of the big issues that have occurred over the years since he passed. However, let’s get John into some perspective. He was an extraordinary and remarkable man on many levels and there is no doubt that when he talked, the world listened.
Nevertheless some of Julia’s quotes are difficult to second.
It feels to me like Geldof somehow just couldn’t help himself, as if he couldn’t keep his mouth shut on certain issues, if you know what I mean? In other words, an instinctive reaction to what he began to uncover in Africa. Bono, it seems is slightly more controlled in exactly which issues he gets involved in although there is still the sense that he is driven (at the core of it) by the right motive. This is a man using his very public position to raise awareness of issues which otherwise might be pushed under the carpet. I would say however that without the worldwide success of the Live Aid concert and his role in it, it is uncertain how much of that type of stuff Bono would have been able to get involved in. In any case, all of the high profile political manoeuvring that any of the three men got involved in didn’t exactly harm their public persona did it? The latter applying in particular to Geldof and Bono in particular. All credit to them for sticking with the programme as it were. Again, I think Bono would give John credit for “rock-stars” getting political and using their position in a positive way.
Reading the article one gets the sense that Julia Baird somehow can’t see past John and nurses a certain bitterness that others have picked up his mantle. The reality is that the world doesn’t depend on the Beatles opinions any more. John’s comments may be given some sort of extra attention because of the regard he is held in today, but in reality he would just be another rock star waxing lyrical about something “we” should care about. Yes, John was a great man, an amazing wit and an cosmic uber intelligence, but he was a songwriter at the end of the day and the world just doesn’t listen to songwriters in the way that it used to does it? Including Bono and Geldof! For their part, they have never let go of the original ideal. It is now twenty years plus that they have been banging on the same drum, so one has to give them that credit. Julia leaves us with the assertion that “the two of them together don’t make John, in my opinion”.
Er….and…er…your point is?
Further she is "sure he would have been against the war in Iraq and various other things” and that "he would have been campaigning, protesting and marching.”
I’m sure she is bang on the money that he would have been against that and any other war, but would it have been to the same extent as it was during the Vietnam war? I have my reservations about that. John would be a much older and mellower man by this point, so would he have gone out with one fist in the air and a banner in the other? Mm…again, I have my doubts about the marching thing, but he may have taken a more measured approach to protesting and would probably have used the internet to the advantage of his cause rather than hitting the streets.
The gist of the article is that Bono and Geldof ain’t John Lennon and that the two of them combined don’t make a single John. Well, that is right in many respects but the point is, are they trying to be John? No, they are not. John isn’t and wasn’t the “king of the world” for all time; then, now and forever. There is always going to be someone bigger than you in the playground, someone who will take the ball away from you and run with it.
I want to say straight off here, I am not particularly a fan of Bono or Bob Geldof. I admire what Geldof has achieved and I can take or leave Bono in any circumstances. However, Julia Baird reckons that people like Bono and Bob Geldof have only been able to take centre stage on the activism front because John isn’t here any more. It’s debatable in my opinion that anyone could put Geldof in the shadows! There is a man who won’t be told. It is true however that he is not unlike John in some senses. It’s probable that John was one of Geldof’s role models, although I don’t think his actions were taken just to be like him, like some sort of tribute act. Geldof acted on instinct and out of the same human decency and awareness that is inherent in most people, just as John did before him.
What is certainly more interesting to contemplate is to imagine what John’s role might have been in the Live Aid campaign, or indeed in the post 9/11 world we live in today. Sure, I reckon he’d have plenty to say, but would he have done so? It is my opinion that he would have been heartily involved in quite a few of the big issues that have occurred over the years since he passed. However, let’s get John into some perspective. He was an extraordinary and remarkable man on many levels and there is no doubt that when he talked, the world listened.
Nevertheless some of Julia’s quotes are difficult to second.
It feels to me like Geldof somehow just couldn’t help himself, as if he couldn’t keep his mouth shut on certain issues, if you know what I mean? In other words, an instinctive reaction to what he began to uncover in Africa. Bono, it seems is slightly more controlled in exactly which issues he gets involved in although there is still the sense that he is driven (at the core of it) by the right motive. This is a man using his very public position to raise awareness of issues which otherwise might be pushed under the carpet. I would say however that without the worldwide success of the Live Aid concert and his role in it, it is uncertain how much of that type of stuff Bono would have been able to get involved in. In any case, all of the high profile political manoeuvring that any of the three men got involved in didn’t exactly harm their public persona did it? The latter applying in particular to Geldof and Bono in particular. All credit to them for sticking with the programme as it were. Again, I think Bono would give John credit for “rock-stars” getting political and using their position in a positive way.
Reading the article one gets the sense that Julia Baird somehow can’t see past John and nurses a certain bitterness that others have picked up his mantle. The reality is that the world doesn’t depend on the Beatles opinions any more. John’s comments may be given some sort of extra attention because of the regard he is held in today, but in reality he would just be another rock star waxing lyrical about something “we” should care about. Yes, John was a great man, an amazing wit and an cosmic uber intelligence, but he was a songwriter at the end of the day and the world just doesn’t listen to songwriters in the way that it used to does it? Including Bono and Geldof! For their part, they have never let go of the original ideal. It is now twenty years plus that they have been banging on the same drum, so one has to give them that credit. Julia leaves us with the assertion that “the two of them together don’t make John, in my opinion”.
Er….and…er…your point is?
Further she is "sure he would have been against the war in Iraq and various other things” and that "he would have been campaigning, protesting and marching.”
I’m sure she is bang on the money that he would have been against that and any other war, but would it have been to the same extent as it was during the Vietnam war? I have my reservations about that. John would be a much older and mellower man by this point, so would he have gone out with one fist in the air and a banner in the other? Mm…again, I have my doubts about the marching thing, but he may have taken a more measured approach to protesting and would probably have used the internet to the advantage of his cause rather than hitting the streets.
The gist of the article is that Bono and Geldof ain’t John Lennon and that the two of them combined don’t make a single John. Well, that is right in many respects but the point is, are they trying to be John? No, they are not. John isn’t and wasn’t the “king of the world” for all time; then, now and forever. There is always going to be someone bigger than you in the playground, someone who will take the ball away from you and run with it.
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