1968
It was the great glory of The Beatles that they could absorb and transmute so much, first in those tiny houses in Liverpool, listening to eclectic 1940s wireless, then to r’n’r and r&b and to Dylan and the poets and soon to music and messages from India.
Unafraid of growth, dogged individuals with a powerful devotion to the group ethic, the Beatles accepted each other’s offerings and really “cooked” to make each record a feast that left us breathless with admiration. They never stood still.
The Beatles started their own company, Apple Corps with five creative divisions – records, films etc – and then went public with an offer that anyone with an artistic need could come to them and get help. Is there, even now, a machine to count such numbers?
The promise was that all sincere supplicants would be given encouragement, succour, a contract and maybe an envelope full of money. At the same time, the Beatles flew to foothills of the Himalayas to learn meditation. There, between sessions with the Maharishi, they wrote songs for what would become The ‘White’ Album.
When recording started, the songs had come in such profusion that, famously, The White Album had thirty of them – enough for two high-class musicals. They sped from one track to another, content that the unity of the album would transcend the disparity in the style and content of the tracks. It was always their strength that they wrote bewitching singles.
New songs were written to suit themselves; sometimes written alone. This new work could virtually be recorded solo, spontaneously, simply.
Facts
Comments
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paulmccartney09 on 18th Jan 12:
“This is my least favourite year in the Beatles era. They did, however, release some great stuff.”
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Hair peace 1969 on 4th Jan 12:
“I reallly don't like this year for the Beatles because, there were so many things that split them apart. ( India, Yoko, and Apple records)”
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Eastabrooks on 14th Dec 11:
“i can not believe John died =(”
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GeorgieHarrison on 2nd Nov 11:
“oh this is good :3”
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elanorrigby on 28th Oct 11:
“Elanor Rigby is my favorite song just in case you didn't know. All though I'm not sure how it's relevant. To the this history page.”
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SpencerWhWr on 16th Jul 11:
“Their the best album was the
White Album!” -
katediane on 11th Jul 11:
“ringo looks like a super model”
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lumpito on 6th May 11:
“sick mustache ringo”
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Beatlesgirl55 on 4th Apr 11:
“this is one of my fave pics”
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ericthemaster62 on 21st Mar 11:
“i love this era”
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George & Ringo take a break in a control room, during recording sessions for the album "The Beatles" (White Album)
