The Beatles‘ first-ever recording is one of the most valuable records on the planet, and Paul McCartney only got it back in 1981. The little shellac disc contains a cover of Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be the Day” and their own “In Spite of All the Danger.” It doesn’t seem like much. However, it embodies The Beatles’ early days. The single recording was integral to their transformation into one of the best rock ‘n’ roll bands.
In the summer of 1958, The Beatles were called The Quarry Men. It was John Lennon, Paul, George Harrison, drummer Colin Hanton, and Paul’s school friend, piano player John “Duff” Lowe. The Quarry Men, who would become The Beatles in four years, wanted to make their first-ever recording.
In his book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he and the band found an ad for a little recording studio owned by Percy Phillips in Kensington, Liverpool. It cost only five pounds to record something on shellac. They split the price and set out to Phillips’ recording studio, which turned out to be a small room with a microphone.
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When a Beatles song appears in movies and television shows, it usually means that the production paid a good deal of money for the right to use it. The Beatles have maintained such a powerful influence on popular culture that the weighty price tag is typically worth it. Here are seven perfect uses of Beatles songs in movies and television.
1. ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ in ‘The Wonder Years’
One of the most prominent examples of a Beatles song in popular culture is “With a Little Help From My Friends” in The Wonder Years. The show uses Joe Cocker’s version of the song over the opening credits. According to actor Dan Lauria, Paul McCartney pushed Apple Records to let the show use the song. They agreed, as long as it was Cocker’s version (via Mel Magazine).
The song was a perfect fit for The Wonder Years. Cocker’s version has the ideal amount of nostalgia for a show about friendship and growing up.
2. “Here, There and Everywhere’ in ‘Friends’
In the tenth season of Friends, “Here, There and Everywhere” plays in the episode “The One With Phoebe’s Wedding.” The rendition of the song details
Paul McCartney is surprised that not everyone knows the backstory of The Beatles’ “Yesterday.” “Yesterday” was released as a single many years apart in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The tune became far more popular in the U.S. than it was in the U.K.
The Beatles‘ “Yesterday” has an interesting backstory. Paul McCartney said he’s surprised he’s had to tell that story repeatedly. In addition, he said he’s had to tell one anecdote about John Lennon again and again.In a 2021 Rolling Stone article, Paul and producer Rick Rubin interviewed each other. Rubin is a major producer known for working with artists such as Aerosmith, the Beastie Boys, Kanye West, Lana Del Rey, Lady Gaga, and numerous others. In the interview, Rubin discussed watching the documentary The Beatles Anthology.
Rubin said it was incredible how much footage of The Beatles existed, especially since the band predated camera phones. “There’s so much stuff out there,” Paul said. “But I think that’s one of the reasons The Beatles keep going — because you keep discovering another little thing.”
Source: Matthew Trzcinski/c details
Paul McCartney’s most influential music came with The Beatles, but he never stopped writing songs. His ex-wife Heather Mills foolishly trolled Paul for working with Rihanna and Kanye West and totally missed the mark. His work beyond The Beatles has been nearly as successful. Let’s look at the five most successful Paul solo songs.
Note: We ranked Paul’s solo songs based on weeks atop the Billboard singles chart, not total weeks on the chart. Wings’ songs appear as Macca was the primary songwriter on those hits.
1. ‘Ebony and Ivory’
Macca’s 1982 collaboration with Stevie Wonder got banned in South Africa but became a rousing success in the United States. The tune spent seven weeks at No. 1 during its 19-week stay on the singles chart.
Paul’s solo tune about racial harmony nabbed three Grammy nominations for song of the year, record of the year, and best pop performance by a duo or group. “Ebony and Ivory” also achieved gold status from the Recording Industry Association of America.
Source: Jason Rossi/cheatsheet.com
Paul McCartney’s prowess as a songwriter is undisputed. He disliked some of his Beatles songs, but his hits overshadow his misfires. One part of Macca’s personal life was a major snafu, though — his marriage to Heather Mills. Their union ended in a bitter divorce. Ringo Starr, usually very pleasant in public, uncharacteristically called out Paul’s wife with three simple and vicious words.
Paul’s wedding to Linda in 1969 showed how far apart The Beatles had grown. Yet they enjoyed a decades-long marriage that saw them work as musical partners in Wings as they raised three children.
Macca moved on with Heather Mills after Linda died. Paul met Mills in 1999, a year after Linda’s death, and they became an official couple just a few months later. They married in 2002, but the partnership didn’t last.
Source: Jason Rossi/cheatsheet.com
detailsGeorge Harrison may not have been given enough of a chance to write and record many of his songs for The Beatles records, but the ones he did squeeze through have become all-time greats. Tracks like Here Comes the Sun, Something, I Me Mine and I Need You are just a few examples, but one of his best-known tracks appeared on The White Album, While My Guitar Gently Weeps. However, he almost didn't get it recorded until he started thinking outside the box.
Harrison wrote While My Guitar Gently Weeps and at his mother's house in the 1960s and instantly knew he had a hit.
When he took it to the recording studio in the following days, however, he found himself struggling to get the song laid down by the rest of the band.
"We tried to record it," Harrison recalled. "But John and Paul were so used to just cranking out their tunes that it was very difficult at times to get serious and record one of mine."
Source: Callum Crumlish/express.co.uk
detailsThe Beatles‘ “She Loves You” remains one of the Fab Four’s most famous songs and one of the most famous songs of the whole decade. Notably, “She Loves You” was inspired by another hit that came out around the same time. The earlier track wasn’t as successful.
In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul discussed the origin of “She Loves You.” “We must have had a few hours before the show so we said, ‘Oh, great! Let’s have a ciggy and write a song!” he recalled.
“I remember for some reason thinking of Bobby Rydell; he must have had a hit that we were interested in,” Paul said. “I remember thinking of him and sitting on the bed in this hotel somewhere with John in the afternoon daylight.” For context, Rydell’s “Forget Him” was a hit at the time.
Source: Matthew Trzcinski/cheatsheet.com
detailsThe Beatles wrote countless songs throughout their decade-long career - but not every one of them was a hit. There were a number of songs the band never released as singles, and - as the songwriters - the Fab Four were their own biggest critics. As a result, John Lennon confessed he hated a song from their sixth album, Rubber Soul, which hit store shelves in 1965.
Lennon opened up about his music in the book "All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono", which involved snippets of interviews from 1980, the year he was murdered.
In the chat, he spoke about the song Run For Your Life. The track is a jaunty blues track that, Lennon later confessed, was inspired by a song performed by Elvis Presley.
Lennon revealed: "Yeah, it has a line from an old Presley song: ‘I’d rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man’ is a line from an old blues song that Presley did once." The song in question was the King of Rock and Roll's 1955 song Baby, Let's Play House.
Source: Callum Crumlish/express.co.uk
Paul McCartney discussed “Another Day” with a famous producer. He said he wrote the song because he’s a “voyeur.”
The song became a hit in the United States but John Lennon was not a fan of the song.
Paul McCartney‘s “Another Day” portrays a day in the life of a character. Paul once said he wrote the song because he’s a voyeur. Subsequently, John Lennon criticized the song.During a 2021 interview with Rolling Stone, Paul said he’s observant. “Well, I definitely am an observer,” he said. “I sometimes embarrass people because they say, ‘Oh my God, I didn’t think you noticed that.’ ‘Yeah, I did.'” Paul compared himself to George Martin, the musician who produced most of The Beatles’ songs and some of Wings’ material. “Funnily enough, just slightly tangential, George Martin was in the Fleet Air Arm, and he was on a plane, but he didn’t fly the plane — he was called the observer,” Paul recalled.
Source: Matthew Trzcinski/cheatsheet.com
detailsAre you a die-hard lover of The Beatles and their legendary music? Have you ever wished to follow in the footsteps of great band members? Have a look at George Harrison’s Liverpool property, which is now available to hire on Holiday Swap.
George Harrison is a great rock ‘n’ roll icon as one of The Beatles’ original members. His Liverpool home is a must-see for any Beatles fan, and you can now stay in this historic property and experience The Beatles’ enchantment for yourself.
This magnificent home in the heart of Liverpool has all the charm and character you’d expect from a superstar pad. It’s the ideal spot to unwind and soak up the spirit of this beautiful city, with three bedrooms, a fully furnished kitchen, and a huge living area.
Liverpool is a city that doesn’t need an introduction. It’s a cultural destination for music fans and history experts alike, and it’s known as the birthplace of The Beatles.
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