Teaching Popular Music

Slide 1: The Beatles The original Boy Band in the Global Village

Slide 2: Post-war Britain

Slide 3: The Austerity Years

Slide 4: Food Rationing • Rationing started in 1940, shortly after the start of WW2 • Didn’t end till 1954, when meat finally came off the ration • Sweets and sugar were rationed until 1953

Slide 5: War babies • The Beatles were all War Babies (born in Liverpool 1940-1943) • They grew up in Austerity Britain • They were teenagers (or nearly) when rationing ended and Elvis hit the airwaves

Slide 6: The Quarrymen • John Lennon’s first group was caught up in the Skiffle craze • Skiffle was a mixture of British folk music and blues - played on cheap or home-made instruments • Paul McCartney joined the band

Slide 7: The Silver Beatles • Paul’s friend George Harrison joined the group • They were then known as the Silver Beatles • Later, just The Beatles

Slide 8: Liverpool & Hamburg • These two seaports, in Britain and Germany, were where The Beatles learned their trade • In Hamburg, they would play 6 or more hours per night, often warming up for strippers • They played a vast repertoire of rock ‘n’ roll, showtunes, and even hits of the day (like Motown records)

Slide 9: Brian Epstein • Manager of the NEMS record store in Liverpool • Saw The Beatles playing in the Cavern Club one lunchtime • Became their manager in November 1961 • Often seen as The Beatles’ “Svengali”

Slide 10: Suits • Epstein’s first move was to get the Beatles to wear suits and ties on stage • He tried to get them a record contract in London with little success • Guitar groups, he was told, were “on the way out.”

Slide 11: Parlophone

Slide 12: Parlophone • Epstein finally got The Beatles signed to EMI’s subsidiary Parlophone

Slide 13: Parlophone • Epstein finally got The Beatles signed to EMI’s subsidiary Parlophone • Producer George Martin was known for working with Charlie Drake and The Goons, who were popular on the radio in the 1940s and 1950s.

Slide 14: Parlophone • Epstein finally got The Beatles signed to EMI’s subsidiary Parlophone • Producer George Martin was known for working with Charlie Drake and The Goons, who were popular on the radio in the 1940s and 1950s. • Parlophone mainly released comedy records, like Charlie Drake’s “My Boomerang Won’t Come Back”

Slide 15: Parlophone • Epstein finally got The Beatles signed to EMI’s subsidiary Parlophone • Producer George Martin was known for working with Charlie Drake and The Goons, who were popular on the radio in the 1940s and 1950s. • Parlophone mainly released comedy records, like Charlie Drake’s “My Boomerang Won’t Come Back”

Slide 16: Composers • The Beatles were delighted to work with Martin, because they loved The Goons • Martin was surprised to find that two of the group, Lennon and McCartney could write their own songs • The first single, “Love Me Do” was released in October 1962 and went to #17, mainly on the strength of sales in Liverpool

Slide 17: First album • Recorded in one session of about 12 hours • Released March 1963 • Included 8 original Lennon/McCartney compositions and 6 covers

Slide 18: Second Album • Released 22 November 1963 • Same formula, but also includes the first George Harrison song • On the same day, President John F Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas

Slide 19: 1963

Slide 20: 1963 • In 1963, The Beatles toured the UK twice, and released two albums of 14 songs each

Slide 21: 1963 • In 1963, The Beatles toured the UK twice, and released two albums of 14 songs each • They also released three additional classic singles, none of which were on any of the albums

Slide 22: 1963 • In 1963, The Beatles toured the UK twice, and released two albums of 14 songs each • They also released three additional classic singles, none of which were on any of the albums • They also released a Christmas record, and played the Royal Variety Performance

Slide 23: 1963 • In 1963, The Beatles toured the UK twice, and released two albums of 14 songs each • They also released three additional classic singles, none of which were on any of the albums • They also released a Christmas record, and played the Royal Variety Performance • By the end of the year, their UK fanclub had 80,000 members

Slide 24: 1963 • In 1963, The Beatles toured the UK twice, and released two albums of 14 songs each • They also released three additional classic singles, none of which were on any of the albums • They also released a Christmas record, and played the Royal Variety Performance • By the end of the year, their UK fanclub had 80,000 members • Advance orders for “I Want to Hold Your Hand” totalled 700,000

Slide 25: UK Chart Records • “She Loves You” was at #1 for 4 weeks, then slipped down the chart, only to come back and return to top spot (for 2 weeks) 7 weeks later • It was replaced at #1 by... “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” which spent 5 weeks at #1, slipped down the chart, and then also returned to #1 for another week!

Slide 26: 1964 • Two more albums - each record is a technical advance over the one before • Under Bob Dylan’s influence, The Beatles begin to compose more thoughtful songs • Released their first film - A Hard Day’s Night: “The Citizen Kane of jukebox musicals.” • Two US Tours - February and August/ September • Paris, Amsterdam, Hong Kong... Australian Tour... • ...and a Christmas record!

Slide 27: America • The Beatles were the first British artists to make it big in the USA • On February 1, 1964, “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” is #1 in the US charts • On February 7, The Beatles arrive in the USA • On February 9, 73 million Americans watch them on The Ed Sullivan Show – no crimes are reported while The Beatles are on TV. It’s a HUGE media event • Somehow, they have succeeded in selling a distinctly British mix of music hall, cheeky comedy, and rock ‘n’ roll to an America still mourning the death of JFK

Slide 28: US Chart Records • During the week of 4th April, 1964, The Beatles occupied the top five spots in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. • They had another seven singles further down the chart, making a total of 12 in the top 100 that week!

Slide 29: Second US Tour - August/September 1964

Slide 54: 1965 • Two More albums • Another film: Help! • Another US Tour, including a concert at Shea Stadium in New York: 56,000 fans, and the largest concert attendance ever at that time... • ...and a Christmas record

Slide 55: 1966

Slide 56: 1966 • Death threats, diplomatic incidents, and the constant grind of travelling the world take their toll

Slide 57: 1966 • Death threats, diplomatic incidents, and the constant grind of travelling the world take their toll • The Beatles think their music is suffering and sometimes fear for their lives

Slide 58: 1966 • Death threats, diplomatic incidents, and the constant grind of travelling the world take their toll • The Beatles think their music is suffering and sometimes fear for their lives • Controversy follows them everywhere and some American fans organise “Beatle bonfires” when John is quoted as saying that they’re “bigger than Jesus.”

Slide 59: 1966 • Death threats, diplomatic incidents, and the constant grind of travelling the world take their toll • The Beatles think their music is suffering and sometimes fear for their lives • Controversy follows them everywhere and some American fans organise “Beatle bonfires” when John is quoted as saying that they’re “bigger than Jesus.” • They play their final concert at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, on August 29, 1966

Slide 60: 1966 • Death threats, diplomatic incidents, and the constant grind of travelling the world take their toll • The Beatles think their music is suffering and sometimes fear for their lives • Controversy follows them everywhere and some American fans organise “Beatle bonfires” when John is quoted as saying that they’re “bigger than Jesus.” • They play their final concert at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, on August 29, 1966 • Revolver, released 5th August, is the beginning of a new era of sophisticated studio albums

Slide 61: 1967 • After the double A side single “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane,” The Beatles release Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band • Tracks like “A Day in the Life” take popular music to a new level

Slide 62: 1967 - The Global Village • The Beatles take part in the first global satellite television broadcast on June 25, 1967 • It’s another HUGE media event! • They sing “All You Need Is Love” to an audience of 400 million viewers in 24 countries • Brian Epstein dies 27 August

Slide 63: 1968 • Start their own record label: Apple • Release The Beatles (known as The White Album), on which they pastiche just about every popular musical style • Also release singles “Lady Madonna” and “Hey Jude/ Revolution”

Slide 64: 1969

Slide 65: 1969 • Ill-fated attempt to film themselves recording an album results in on-camera arguments and misery

Slide 66: 1969 • Ill-fated attempt to film themselves recording an album results in on-camera arguments and misery • They finish the filming with a publicity stunt: a concert on the roof of their offices in London – the police are called.

Slide 67: 1969 • Ill-fated attempt to film themselves recording an album results in on-camera arguments and misery • They finish the filming with a publicity stunt: a concert on the roof of their offices in London – the police are called. • In July, record their last album together: Abbey Road, named after their favourite studio

Slide 68: 1969 • Ill-fated attempt to film themselves recording an album results in on-camera arguments and misery • They finish the filming with a publicity stunt: a concert on the roof of their offices in London – the police are called. • In July, record their last album together: Abbey Road, named after their favourite studio • The group is finished by September, but they don’t announce it till the following year. Continue to issue singles and albums till 1970

Slide 69: 1969 • Ill-fated attempt to film themselves recording an album results in on-camera arguments and misery • They finish the filming with a publicity stunt: a concert on the roof of their offices in London – the police are called. • In July, record their last album together: Abbey Road, named after their favourite studio • The group is finished by September, but they don’t announce it till the following year. Continue to issue singles and albums till 1970 • ...They still release their annual fan club Christmas record!

Slide 70: 1970... • Let it Be, film and album, are released • Beatles release solo albums • In 8 years, The Beatles released 13 albums, plus countless singles and EPs, as well as films • In today’s music business, The Beatles’ level of output would take around 25-30 years

Slide 71: What did The Beatles do for us?

Slide 72: What did The Beatles do for us? • Between them, The Beatles reinvented popular songwriting and pioneered innovative recording techniques

Slide 73: What did The Beatles do for us? • Between them, The Beatles reinvented popular songwriting and pioneered innovative recording techniques • Huge changes in British society are reflected in their image and music. As a global phenomenon, they ushered in the era of the so-called Global Village.

Slide 74: What did The Beatles do for us? • Between them, The Beatles reinvented popular songwriting and pioneered innovative recording techniques • Huge changes in British society are reflected in their image and music. As a global phenomenon, they ushered in the era of the so-called Global Village. • Because of The Beatles, most rock groups write their own songs and fans expect artists to look and sound different from record to record

Slide 75: What did The Beatles do for us? • Between them, The Beatles reinvented popular songwriting and pioneered innovative recording techniques • Huge changes in British society are reflected in their image and music. As a global phenomenon, they ushered in the era of the so-called Global Village. • Because of The Beatles, most rock groups write their own songs and fans expect artists to look and sound different from record to record • Because of George Martin, few artists have sounded as good – before or since. The Beatles are the Gold Standard of record production.

Slide 76: What did The Beatles do for us? • Between them, The Beatles reinvented popular songwriting and pioneered innovative recording techniques • Huge changes in British society are reflected in their image and music. As a global phenomenon, they ushered in the era of the so-called Global Village. • Because of The Beatles, most rock groups write their own songs and fans expect artists to look and sound different from record to record • Because of George Martin, few artists have sounded as good – before or since. The Beatles are the Gold Standard of record production. • The Beatles opened up the US market to British bands

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