50 years ago today the Beatles first played America on the Ed Sullivan Show. A very big moment for the Boomers. The oldest of us were 17 and the youngest were just born. It cleared the airwaves of 50's-style doo-wop, teenage laments, folk ballads, and show tunes. Rock and Roll moved right to the front but with a higher bar for quality songwriting and production values.
I was watching Pulp Fiction the other day, and - given this anniversary was coming up - the line that caught my attention was when Mia told Vincent that there are two types of people in the world; Beatles people and Elvis people. Everyone may like both, but no one likes both equally. I would say I'm a Beatles person.
Will always give them props for what they contributed to the movement but was never a fan of much of their music. Guess I'm just too young. I don't get to say that often.
They were innovative and extremely high. Only someone that is high as fuck could ever live in a yellow submarine. To quote the late great Bill Hicks, they were so high they let Ringo sing a few tunes.
I had every album and could quote every lyric. Rubber Soul and Revolver were favorites of the early stuff. Sgt. Peppers and The White album amazed me at the time. The first time I smoked pot it was to Abby Road. As they moved on so did I, and I never was as much of a fan of the individual efforts. George became the most interesting. Shocking that John died a violent death.
Likely all you've ever heard were the top-10 hits which are all standards now. But those of us who grew up listening to the albums appreciate just how good the Beatles were in their time, especially compared with what came before and around them. Especially listening to the exceedingly hip later albums while on psychedelic drugs. Lots of amazingly good stuff there that young folks never hear when all they own is The Beatles #1 Hits.
It could never been as intense as all four talents working as one. But there is some really excellent solo stuff out there . . . from all four. I could make you a kick-ass playlist.
Revolution is probably my favorite. Mostly for the music and less for the lyrics. Lennon song writing is about like when alda took the reigns of MASH, depressing.
Although I didn't grow up listening to The Beatles since they were way before my time, I agree with this. Someone once bought me a CD of their songs that reached #1 on the charts and those never spoke to me much. However, there are at least 20 songs that I rarely hear anywhere unless I'm listening to that particular album (CD) that may be my favorite music of all-time. I can listen to Abbey Road from beginning to end. Same goes for Let it Be with the exception of The Long and Winding Road (which I almost always skip). It's also pretty amazing that they created all of that music in less than a decade. Both the quantity of songs and the evolution from their early days to what they transitioned into.
