The Beatles
History
The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, who became very successful in popular music.The members during heyday were: John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals).All members were born in the 1940s in Liverpool, England. The group later worked in many genres in innovative ways. The nature of their enormous popularity, transformed as their songwriting grew in sophistication. The group came to be perceived as the embodiment of progressive ideals, seeing their influence extend into the social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s.
Formation and early years (1957–1962)
John Lennon formed the skiffle group at 16 years with Liverpool school friends in March 1957. Paul McCartney joined as a guitarist who invited George Harrison to watch the group the following February. The three guitarists were playing rock and roll whenever they could get a drummer.
Beatlemania and touring years (1963–66)
In the wake of the moderate success of “Love Me Do”, “Please Please Me” reached number two in the UK singles chart. Martin created a “live” album at Abbey Road Studios.
The British Invasion
Beatles releases in the United States were initially delayed for nearly a year when Capitol Records, EMI’s American subsidiary, declined to issue their albums. Negotiations with independent US labels led to the release of some singles, but issues with royalties and derision of The Beatles’ “moptop” hairstyle posed further obstacles. Once Capitol did start to issue the material, rather than releasing the LPs in their original configuration, they compiled distinct US albums from an assortment of the band’s recordings and issued songs of their own choice as singles.
Musical style and evolution
Influences
The band’s earliest influences include Elvis Presley. Richard advised them on the proper technique for performing his songs. Elvis inspired the existence of the Beatles. Other early influences include Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins and Roy Orbison. The Beatles continued to absorb influences finding new musical and lyrical avenues by listening to their contemporaries, including Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, The Byrds and The Beach Boys, whose 1966 album Pet Sounds amazed and inspired McCartney. Pet Sounds inspired to be produced.
Genres
The Beatles soon embraced 1950s rock and roll and venturing pop music. Lennon said, “You could call our new one a Beatles country-and-western LP”. This was the first Beatles recording to use strings. Of “She’s Leaving Home”, for instance, Gould writes that it is cast in the mould of a sentimental Victorian ballad, its words and music filled with the clichés of musical melodrama.”
Contribution of George Martin
Beatles producer, George Martin earned the informal title of “fifth Beatle”. He brought his classical musical training to bear in various ways. The string quartet accompaniment to “Yesterday” was his idea giving excellent results. Martin began to function as an informal music teacher to them, facilitating their creative development. Martin often performed, playing instruments including piano, organ and brass.
In the studio
The Beatles made innovative use of technology, treating the studio as an instrument in itself.
Instruments
Many of the Beatles played more than one instrument.
This photograph shows Paul McCartney’s 4-stringed sunburst bass guitar on the left, and George Harrison’s 6-string red guitar on the right.
The album “Help!” saw the band making increased use of vocal overdubs and incorporating classical instruments.
Website
The Beatles’ official website is http://www.thebeatles.com
Albums
The Beatles had albums like; Please Please Me (1963), With The Beatles (1963), A Hard Day’s Night (1964), Beatles for Sale (1964) and Help! (1965) among others.