Paul and Linda: 29 years of marriage - 10 days apart

You'll be amazed to find out that Paul McCartney and his wife, Linda, stayed only 10 days apart in a 29-year marriage!

Why? Paul spent ten days in a Japanese jail cell when he was busted for marijuana possession :)

However, they never spent any other night apart, usually living quietly in a West Sussex farmhouse, in Scotland. Moreover, Linda always accompanied him on his tours.

They first met on the 15th of May 1967, as she was in the UK on an assignment to take photographs of "Swinging Sixties" musicians in London :)

Beatles' album - Second in Top Most Shocking Banned Album Covers

Guitar World presents the 20 most shocking banned album covers of all time. An Alice Cooper album cover is placed first, followed by The Beatles' "Yesterday and Today".

For their 1966 album, Yesterday and Today, the Beatles presented themselves as grinning butchers, complete with raw beef and dismembered baby dolls. However, the image was not appropriate to the Fab Four's clean public image. Upon receiving advance copies, radio DJs were outraged and Capitol Records quickly repackaged the record with what was apparently the only image of the band it had available.

You can see below the album covers:






The complete top is here.

Shout!

"Shout" is a popular and influential popular song, originally recorded by The Isley Brothers. Released in 1959, it was written by the brothers themselves. The song was inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. It ranked #118 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. (Source: Wikipedia.org)

The Isley Brothers




The Shangri-Las




The Beatles

"Imagine" John Lennon at 70

Yoko Ono declares:

"Now, 99% of the world is taking a stand against wars like Iraq and Afghanistan. John would have done that but he'd have loved the new communication media.

He would have been writing statements and sending them out to the world as a blogger and a tweeter."

Vanity Fair imagined an interview with John Lennon... today. Everything would have been different:
- he would have lived in his dairy farm in Delaware County
- he would have received the reporter "shirtless—nearly naked, in fact, wearing only skimpy white tennis shorts with the top snap undone and a pair of olive-green Wellies"
- he would have been something like this: "slim, with a deep late-summer tan; the longish hair is mostly white and a bit thinned out on top"
- he would have had a young blond assistant taking care of the animals
- he would have been divorced from 1983
- in 2001, after the 9/11 attacks and Harrison being on his deathbed, Lennon and McCartney would have reached a lasting peace :)

More about this interview, here.

He would have been 70

9th of October was his birth day. Not his birthday anymore.






In order to pay John Lennon a tribute, Google decided to celebrate this date :
(using his own self-portrait)



And Youtube did the same:

John Lennon's birth and early childhood

70 years ago, John Lennon was born. Being the son of Julia and Alfred Lennon, he was named after his paternal grandfather, John "Jack" Lennon, and Winston Churchill (as his complete name was John Winston Lennon).

According to some biographers, a German air raid was taking place, and Julia's sister, Mary "Mimi" Smith, used the light cast by the explosions to see her way as she ran through the blacked-out back roads to reach the hospital. Mimi said later, "I knew the moment I saw John in that hospital that I was the one to be his mother, not Julia. Does that sound awful? It isn't, really, because Julia accepted it as something perfectly natural. She used to say, 'You're his real mother. All I did was give birth.'"

Lennon's father, a merchant seaman during World War II, was often away from home and sent regular pay cheques. The cheques stopped when Alfred Lennon went absent without leave in 1943. When he eventually came home in 1944, he offered to look after the family, but his wife (who was pregnant with another man's child) rejected the idea. Under considerable pressure, she handed the care of Lennon over to her sister, Mimi.

In July 1946, Lennon's father visited Mimi and took his son to Blackpool, secretly intending to emigrate to New Zealand with him. Lennon's mother followed them, and, after a heated argument, his father forced the five-year-old to choose between his parents. Lennon chose his father—twice. As his mother walked away, Lennon began to cry and followed her. Lennon then lost contact with his father for 20 years.

"Nowhere boy" is relevant for revealing this period of Lennon's life. You can read more here.

Source: Wikipedia.org

Please Mr. Postman

Its origins:



And then:

Gently whispering lyrics

"The leaves on the trees would be softly sighin',
If they heard from the breeze that you left me cryin',
They'd be sad, don't be bad to me."
(Lennon/McCartney)

Unexpected Best Beatles Song

To coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' 12th and final studio album, "Let It Be"(1970), Rolling Stone magazine released a special collector's edition issue entitled "The Beatles: 100 Greatest Songs".

And... "A Day in the Life", written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, was ranked first.

On of my favourites, "I Want to Hold Your Hand", was placed second. Here it is, with some explanation :)

Here is the top, enjoy! :)

1. "A Day in the Life"

2. "I Want to Hold Your Hand"

3. "Strawberry Fields Forever"

4. "Yesterday"

5. "In My Life" - this I particularly like

6. "Something"

7. "Hey Jude"

8. "Let It Be"

9. "Come Together"

10. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

Beatles fans Twist and Shout

Lennon used to say he never "sang" when he performed this song... all he
had to do was to shout :))

Here's a piece of Beatlemania*



*Beatlemania = a term originated during the 1960s to describe the intense fan frenzy directed toward The Beatles during the early years of their success; Andi Lothian, a former Scottish music promoter, claims that he first used the term while speaking to a reporter at the Caird Hall Beatles concert that took place as part of the Beatles Mini-Tour of Scotland, on 7 October 1963.

Source: Wikipedia.org

"Please Mr. Postman" and John Lennon's letters

"Please Mr. Postman" is the debut single of The Marvelettes and the first Motown song to reach the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart (1961).

"Please Mr. Postman" became a number-one hit again in early 1975, when The Carpenters' cover of the song also reached the top position of the Billboard Hot 100.

The song has been covered frequently, including a version of The Beatles on their "With the Beatles" album. Sung by John Lennon, their version reverses the genders: "There must be some mail today/ From my girlfriend so far away... " and so on.

When in Hamburg (in early '60s), John Lennon used to send letters to Cynthia, his girlfriend whom he was to marry in 1962. On the envelopes, he was always writing: "Postman, postman, don't be slow, I'm in love with Cyn so go, man, go.":)

Nowhere Boy - Young John Lennon's biography

He got his passion for music from his mother. His uncle, George, gave him his first instrument, a harmonica, his mother, Julia, his first rock and roll lessons, his aunt, Mimi, his first 7 pounds guitar and Paul his first notions of musical notes and the dream of having their own songs and recordings. The witty sense of humor, his defiance, fierceness and his intelligence did the rest. Although uncle George and Julia left him early, Mimi took care of him for the rest of his life. As the ending of the film says: “John called Mimi as soon as he arrived in Hamburg… and every week thereafter for the rest of his life”.

"Nowhere boy" is the story of a troubled adolescence, with questions and no answers, with great talent and no direction. John Lennon is torn between his joyful mother and his rigid aunt, both concealing secrets or feelings. But when music came into his life, he found his way. The introduction of music into his existence was underlined at the beginning of the film by the wire that John and his uncle installed into his room, for listening to the radio.

I found the movie powerful, witty, vivid, exactly as I expected it to be. A very interesting fact was that the name of the band, "The Beatles", was never mentioned in the movie, maybe to highlight that the film is only about the "nowhere boy".

Strengths: Aaron Johnson was perfect for playing such a complex character as John Lennon and I particularly appreciated him for having the looks, attitude and tone of voice of John.

Weaknesses: no Beatles songs :); Paul and George do not resemble at all with the real ones (last picture, the second and the fourth from left); some details are not so exact: for example, I know that Julia Lennon was killed while riding a bike and the movie shows no sign of bikes.

All in all, you must see it!



Pictures in comparison :)


John Lennon




John Lennon (Nowhere boy)




John Lennon and Aunt Mimi




Aunt Mimi (Nowhere boy)



The Quarrymen



The Quarrymen (Nowhere boy)



The Quarrymen (Nowhere boy)

Do you want to know a secret? - the story behind the song

This is a love song written by John Lennon and based on a song his mother would sing to him as a child (photo): "Want to know a secret? Promise not to tell? We are standing by a wishing well." ("I'm Wishing" from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs movie).

Although rumors have persisted that John wrote this song about his girlfriend Cynthia, whom he'd just married, evidence remains inconclusive. It is true that he'd gotten her pregnant and was urged by Brian to marry her, yet keep the marriage a secret so as to make him appear available to female fans. But whether the "secret" in question is that John has decided he loves Cynthia, or that their marriage is the secret, is hard to tell. For his part, Lennon always treated it as a generic love song in interviews.

This was given to George to sing and was the first recorded Beatles song not sung by John or Paul. It was not, however, written specifically for him. (George and Ringo were often given songs to sing in the early days, so as to reach out to their individual fans.) John has said that "I thought it would be a good vehicle for him, because it had only three notes and he wasn't the best singer in the world." :)

John Lennon's football drawing

Did you know that John Lennon's "Walls and Bridges" album cover shows a drawing made by him when he was 11? This is a depiction of the Newcastle vs Arsenal FA Cup final in 1952, drawn by him after seeing this match. Arsenal lost to Newcastle, 0-1 with several injuries on the field (no substitutions allowed then) and ended the game with just seven fit players.

The cover shows the unmistakable black and white stripes of Newcastle players and the red jerseys and white shorts of Arsenal. Lennon drew this in June, 1952 a month after the final.

The album "Walls and Bridges" reached no 1 in the USA and no 6 in England in 1974. "Whatever Gets You thru the Night", a song from this album, was Lennon's only no. 1 single as a solo hit in the American Billboard, during his lifetime.

When did John and Paul meet?

Saturday, July 6, 1957 is the day John met Paul!

John (aged 16) and his band the Quarrymen were performing at a fête at St. Peter's Woolton Parish Church in Liverpool. Paul (aged 15) was wheeling around on his bicycle - hoping to pick up girls - and heard the Quarrymen play (photo). A mutual friend named Ivan Vaughan introduced Paul to John. Paul whipped out the guitar strapped to his back and played "Twenty Flight Rock" and "Be-Bop-a-Lula", among others. John was impressed that Paul could tune a guitar and "looked like Elvis", and John said that he "dug him." That October, Ivan told Paul that John wanted him in the band. The rest, as they say, is history.

They shared the passion for music and, sadly, the early loss of their mothers. In 1956, Mary McCartney, a heavy smoker, died of an embolism after a mastectomy operation to stop the spread of her breast cancer. Lennon's mother died in 1958. John was living with his Aunt Mimi and her mother came to visit him. After spending the day with his son, Julia Lennon waved goodbye and began to cross the road in order to catch the bus home. She never made it. She was hit by a car being driven by an off-duty policeman and died instantly, aged 44.

Then and Now: Ringo Starr

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The Beatles and their loved ones

This video says more than words:

Like father, like son! - The Beatles

Take a look :)

Sean / John Lennon

Dhani/ George Harrison

James / Paul McCartney

Ringo Starr/ Zak

What do George Harrison and Eric Clapton have in common? Pattie Boyd!

Pattie Boyd is an English model and photographer and the former wife of both George Harrison (1966 - 1974) and Eric Clapton (1979 - 1989). She was the inspiration for love songs written by both musicians, Harrison's, "Something", "For You Blue" and "Isn't It a Pity", and Clapton's "Layla", "Wonderful Tonight" and "Bell Bottom Blues".

She remembers her relationship with George:

"I had met George six years previously, in 1964, when he was filming A Hard Day's Night. Britain and most of Europe was in the grip of Beatlemania. On first impressions, John seemed more cynical and brash than the others, Ringo the most endearing, Paul was cute and George, with velvet-brown eyes and dark chestnut hair, was the best-looking man I had ever seen. At a break for lunch I found myself sitting next to him. Being close to him was electrifying.

Almost the first thing he said to me was: 'Will you marry me?' He was joking but there was a hint of seriousness. We got together soon after that and married two years later on January 21, 1966. I was 21, he was 22. I was so happy and so much in love. I thought we would be together and happy for ever.

Three years later, in 1969, George wrote a song called Something. He told me in a matter-of-fact way that he had written it for me. I thought it was beautiful and it turned out to be the most successful song he ever wrote, with more than 150 cover versions. Frank Sinatra said he thought it was the best love song ever written. George's favourite version was the one by James Brown. Mine was the one by George Harrison, which he played to me in our kitchen.

But, in fact, by then our relationship was in trouble. Since a trip to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in India in 1968, George had become obsessive about meditation. He was also sometimes withdrawn and depressed.

And there were other women, which really hurt me. George was fascinated by the god Krishna who was always surrounded by young maidens. He came back from India wanting to be some kind of Krishna figure, a spiritual being with lots of concubines. He actually said so.

It was around this time that Eric began to come over to our house. He and George had become close friends, writing and recording music together. Eric's guitar playing was held in awe by his fellow musicians. He was an incredibly exciting performer to watch. He looked wonderful on stage, very sexy.

But when I met him he didn't behave like a rock star - he was surprisingly shy and reticent. I was aware that Eric found me attractive and I enjoyed the attention he paid me. It was hard not to be flattered when I caught him staring at me or when he chose to sit beside me. He complimented me on what I was wearing and the food I had cooked, and he said things he knew would make me laugh. Those were all things that George no longer did."

So, she begins to see Eric Clapton:

"We met secretly at a flat in South Kensington. Eric Clapton had asked me to come because he wanted me to listen to a new number he had written. He switched on the tape machine, turned up the volume and played me the most powerful, moving song I had ever heard. It was Layla, about a man who falls hopelessly in love with a woman who loves him but is unavailable.

I was married to Eric's close friend, George Harrison, but Eric had been making his desire for me clear for months. I felt uncomfortable that he was pushing me in a direction in which I wasn't certain I wanted to go. But with the realisation that I had inspired such passion and creativity, the song got the better of me. I could resist no longer."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-473174/Pattie-Boyd-My-hellish-love-triangle-George-Eric--Part-One.html

About her book, "Worderful Today": http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0755316428/ref=sib_rdr_dp

The story of Jude

"Hey Jude" is a song Paul McCartney wrote to comfort John Lennon's son, Julian, during his parents' divorce.

"Hey Jude" was released in August 1968 as the first single from The Beatles' record label Apple Records. More than seven minutes in length, "Hey Jude" was, at the time, the longest single ever to top the British charts.

It also spent nine weeks as number one in the United States—the longest run at the top of the American charts for a Beatles single. The single has sold approximately eight million copies and is frequently included on professional lists of the all-time best songs.

In 1968, John Lennon and his wife Cynthia Lennon separated due to John's affair with Yoko Ono. Soon afterwards, Paul McCartney drove out to visit Cynthia and Julian, her son with Lennon. "We'd been very good friends for millions of years and I thought it was a bit much for them suddenly to be personae non gratae and out of my life," McCartney said. Cynthia Lennon recalled, "I was truly surprised when, one afternoon, Paul arrived on his own. I was touched by his obvious concern for our welfare.... On the journey down he composed 'Hey Jude' in the car. I will never forget Paul's gesture of care and concern in coming to see us."

The song's original title was "Hey Jules", and it was intended to comfort Julian Lennon from the stress of his parents' divorce. McCartney said, "I started with the idea 'Hey Jules', which was Julian, don't make it bad, take a sad song and make it better. Hey, try and deal with this terrible thing. I knew it was not going to be easy for him. I always feel sorry for kids in divorces ... I had the idea by the time I got there. I changed it to 'Jude' because I thought that sounded a bit better."

Julian Lennon discovered the song had been written for him almost twenty years later. He remembered being closer to McCartney than to his father: "Paul and I used to hang about quite a bit—more than Dad and I did. We had a great friendship going and there seems to be far more pictures of me and Paul playing together at that age than there are pictures of me and my dad."

Although McCartney originally wrote the song for Julian Lennon, John Lennon thought it had actually been written for him: "But I always heard it as a song to me. If you think about it... Yoko's just come into the picture. He's saying. 'Hey, Jude—Hey, John.' I know I'm sounding like one of those fans who reads things into it, but you can hear it as a song to me ... Subconsciously, he was saying, Go ahead, leave me. On a conscious level, he didn't want me to go ahead."

Source: wikipedia.org