The BeatlesBY SATKRIT CHAPAGAIN

MUSIC 1010

BIOGRAPHY

Band: Early Years

McCartney performed at the local church in the Liverpool.

John Lennon who was also playing at a local church with his band, The Quarrymen saw McCartney’s talent.

The two met and shortly after their introduction they started writing music together.  They eventually joined forces and McCartney became a member of Lennon’s band.

George Harrison as the lead guitar and Pete Best on the drums. Lennon played as the backup guitar and McCartney played bass. The band then changed their name to Beatles now the most influential and recognized band in the world.

Band: Early Years

They played in two cities of Hamburg, Germany and Liverpool.

Over a year, they would play over 300 hundred shows.  

Brian Epstein, a local music store owned first heard them. He loved the performance and wanted to be their band manager. He didn’t have any experience managing bands, but the group went ahead and signed him as their manager.

 He reformatted the group to improve their look and stage presence and also helped them collaborate with a record label called EMI’s Parlophon.

After Pete Best left, Ringo Starr was added to the group.

Band: Music

They were an instant success and at their peak they held the top 5 spots on the billboard hot 100 singles chart.  Till date, they have sold over a billion records

 #1 Can’t Buy Me Love

 #2 Twist and Shout 

#3 She Loves You

#4 I Want To Hold Your Hand 

#5 Please Please Me

Epstein’s passing

In 1965, Epstien overdosed on sleeping pills.

Paul McCartney took over managing the group.

Disagreements began to take place.

Apple Records

In 1967 the group formed “Apple Records”.

Signed many talents including James Taylor, and Mary Hopkins.

Poorly managed, and added to existing problems in the group.

The break up

1968- Lennon married Yoko Ono. This relationship created more hostility within the group.

Lennon decided to leave The Beatles.

“I’m Leaving the group. I’ve had enough. I want a divorce.”

-John Lennon

Paul McCartney- Solo

April 10th, 1970- Paul McCartney released his first solo album.

He publically announced the band was breaking up.

He forms a new group “Wings”

“Wings” is a quick success

• McCartney today has a very successful solo career.

• Continues to write and perform.

John Lennon- Solo

1971- Lennon released his first solo album “Imagine.”

The song “Imagine” is voted the 3rd best song of all time by Rolling Stones Magazine.

In 1973 Lennon was granted U.S. residency and moved to Los Angeles.

Continued to record music. Did work with David Bowie and Elton John.

John Lennon Murdered

1980 Lennon Recorded the album “Double Fantasy.”

On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed.

George Harrison & Ringo Starr

Harrison on the break up, “Just a relief. We should have done it years ago.”

He would go on to pursue a solo career

Saddened by Lennon’s death, he wrote a tribute song “All Those Years Ago.”

November 29, 2001. Harrison died from a long battle with cancer.

Ringo Starr did work with Lennon on his “Imagine” album.

He pursued a solo career and a career in acting.

In 2008 he released his latest solo album “Liverpool 8.”

Continues to perform to this day.

1988 The Beatles are Inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Composition History

"Come Together"

Originally written for Timothy Leary’s political campaign.

Recorded July 31st, 1969

Grammy Award Winner

Later covered by Michael Jackson and Aerosmith

“Let It Be”

Song was written about Paul McCartney’s mother who passed away when he was 14.

Recorded January 1969.

“Love Me Do”

Written by Lennon & McCartney.

Inspired by McCartney’s girlfriend Iris Caldwell.

McCartney took over lead vocals due to Lennon’s numb mouth from playing harmonica.

"Across the Universe"

Written after an argument Lennon had with his wife.

Recorded February 1968.

Listening Guide

"Come Together"

2:02- Bridge

A drum fill introduces a solo which is led by electric piano.

4 measures an electric guitar solo resolves into a version of the intro vamp with the bass, electric guitar, electric piano and no drums.

“Let It Be”

0:38- Chorus

The chorus continues with solo piano and vocal lead and adds a (boys quire) of oohs and ahh's over the piano progression.

1:19- Chorus

Second chorus is a livelier version of the first with the addition of a drums and a lead vocal sung with a bit more energy. 

The second chorus is four measures longer than the first which allows it to take on a very uplifting tone.

“Love Me Do” 0:00- Introduction

The intro is led by a simple harmonica solo which is accompanied by drums, bass and an acoustic guitar being strummed softly in the background. 

The intro sorts out seamlessly into the chorus which follows.

0:57 B-part

When the song's monotony becomes too obvious, this b-section relieves the back and forth feeling the rest of the song is flooded with.  The arrangement and instrumentation does not change in this section but it does end abruptly for a couple of beats at the end of the section.  This abrupt ending serves to reset the song in a way that, again, seems to break up the melodic monotony.

1:25 Second b-part

This section is a repeat of the first b-part with one difference.  The harmonica takes the place of the lead vocals and harmony vocals as it is played across an melodically identical version of the first b-section. 

“Across The Universe”

0:14- Verse 1

The guitar continues to drive the rhythm alone and deep lyrics are introduced that seem to serve as both information into how the song should be received and as the melody as well.

2:13- Verse 3

The verse breaks down nearly all the energy that was present and building throughout the last chorus and only the strings and the acoustic guitar remain.  This arrangement seems to make the information that the lyrics are trying to get across important again as there is much less movement in the instrumentation even though the main instruments are still present.  

Bibliography

(n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2013, from Song Facts: http://www.songfacts.com

Brian Epstein. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2013, from The Beatles Bible: http://www.beatlesbible.com/people/brian-epstein

George Harrison. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2013, from The Beatles Bible: http://www.beatlesbible.com/people/george-harrison/2/

John Lennon Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2013, from bio: http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/john-lennon.html

Ringo Starr Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved june 30, 2013, from bio: http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/ringo-starr.html

Sir Paul McCartney Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2013, from bio: http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/paul-mccartney.html

The Beatles. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2013, from Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/the-beatles/biography

Band: Final Years

 After Epstein passed away, McCartney took over managing the group.

The group couldn’t agree with decisions, McCartney was making and in1967, the group formed Apple Records. Even after signing some talented young musicians, the label was not managed well and started causing more problems in the group. 

At this point, the band started to fall apart and decided to move in their own directions.

 Paul McCartney released his first solo album and publicly announced that the band was breaking up and created his own band called Wings.

Final Years

 McCartney was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

The Beatles are arguably one of the best bands in history, and their music will continue to be passed down from generation to generation.

The Beatles were inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

     

Listening Guide

History of Classical Period

Best known composers are Ludwig van Beethover, Bach, Hadyn and Mozart.

Melodies and plain-old good tunes took over from complex polyphony (everything playing at once).

The instruments of the Classical period were constantly changing and evolving as various bright sparks came up with handy innovations and grab ideas, but there are two main developments that we can point to - first, the piano. Previously, the harpsichord's twangy sound was all over the place in the Baroque period, but it gradually became replaced by the piano because of its ability to play much more softly and subtly than the harpsichord.

The second major development in sound in the Classical period was the expansion of the orchestra, . In the Baroque period you could expect modest strings-only orchestras with occasional woodwind accompaniment and a harpsichord, but as woodwind instruments (clarinet, flute horns, oboe etc) got better and more versatile, they managed to bag their very own section in a standard orchestra.