Nostalgia for The Beatles is not a new phenomenon. The classic Redand Blue albums were released in 1973, followed by a re-issuing ofsingles in the mid-’70s, and then another compilation in the early’80s after John Lennon’s tragic murder, along with the Past Mastersseries.
During the ’80s, the formerly adored Mop Tops went temporarily out offashion, but the resurgence in interest in the past decade has beenspectacular. The astounding success of The Beatles in the ’90s beganwith the CD issuing of the Red and Blue albums, and continued withLive At The BBC, a selection of tracks that had been gathering dustin the BBC vaults. This success would be nothing compared to what wasto come.
A likely Trivial Pursuit question in future years may be, “Whatwas The Beatles’ most successful year?” Maybe you’d think it was1964, the year of the British Invasion? Or maybe 1967, the year ofSgt. Pepper? In fact, 1996, when The Beatles shifted more than 20million albums, was their year of greatest prosperity. The reason?The Anthology television/video series and six-disc collection of yetmore previously unheard material.
If we thought that would be the end of it, that the remainingBeatles had told their stories and that every last messed-up outtakewas available to the public, we were wrong.
The latest Beatles marketing assault is upon us, following hard onthe heels of last year’s Yellow Submarine DVD and soundtrack release.Will the public’s thirst for all things Beatley ever be saturated?With a full reunion impossible (after John Lennon’s death) and PaulMcCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr already having turned down$1 billion for a world tour, the legend of what once was, cut off inits prime, can live on forever.
‘The Beatles Anthology’
This mammoth book, the real reason for the latest Beatles onslaught,will be a joy to read for Beatles enthusiasts and casual admirersalike. The 367 pages are filled with first-person narration compiledover the years from the Fab Four themselves and crammed with hundredsof photos, many never before seen.
Weighing in at more than six pounds, and containing some 340,000words, it is amazing to find that this is a far from comprehensive,although extremely detailed, story of the Beatles. The lack of quotesfrom other sources, most notably Yoko, who was virtually an honorary(if generally unwelcome) member during their final years, is a missedopportunity to give different points-of-view to their stories.
One of the more entertaining elements of the book, as with theAnthology documentary series, is finding that Paul, George and Ringoare still passionate enough about their legacy to disagree on momentsin their history. It is these contradictions that add to the pleasureof the book. Despite the passing of time, for example, George stillseems irked by the creative stifling the group placed on him.
The book is also full of memorable quotes, such as Ringocommenting on his critically-acclaimed “lonely guy” scene in A HardDay’s Night: “I had come directly to work from a nightclub and I wasa little hungover, to say the least … Why I look so cold anddejected is because I felt like shit. There was no acting going on.”
The Beatles — 1,
www.thebeatles.com
There can be no doubting of the quality, popularity, culturalsignificance and durability of every one of the 27 songs on thislatest Beatles greatest hits collection. Each track was a No. 1 ineither the UK or the United States, and most hit the top in bothcountries.
The more pressing question is whether we really need, or thebuying public really wants, another Fab Four compilation.
Apparently, the public does want it; a record 10 million unitsshipped worldwide for its first week of release is proof positive ofthat. The songs themselves make a good case. Although this should inno way be considered a ‘Best Of’ (no ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, no’In My Life’ to name but two of many), the arbitrary chronologicaltrack listing does give a fairly accurate account of the band’screative progress. From the pop classics “She Loves You” and “I WantTo Hold Your Hand,” and the psychedelic masterpiece “Penny Lane”through to the poignant sadness of “Let It Be,” covering the verybrief period of seven years in 79 minutes, there is a quality andbreadth of range that continues to inspire musicians who weren’t evenborn when they disbanded.
And it mustn’t be forgotten that The Beatles lived in a time whensingles were generally regarded as separate entities from albums. Sono tracks are included from Sgt. Pepper and from Revolver. OnlyEleanor Rigby and its one throwaway track (kiddies favorite “YellowSubmarine”) are included, while the eternally interesting White Albumis not represented. If you are one of the few people on the planetwho are not familiar with the Fab Four’s startling body of work, thisis a good starting point.
As for the new Web site — the first official Beatles venture ontothe Internet — it concentrates on the new album rather than TheBeatles phenomenon in general, borrowing artwork, pictures and textfrom the inlay card of the CD. However, it also provides much more,including games on the Yellow Submarine page and a virtual tour ofthe infamous Studio 2 at Abbey Road.
‘A Hard Day’s Night’
Give Ringo a couple of sticks and something to hit, and in returnhe can give you a beat. But ask him to write some meaningful lyricsfor a song and he might come up short. Nevertheless, some of hisexpressions, which can probably be best described as Ringoisms, didbring added color to some Lennon-McCartney tunes, such as “Eight DaysA Week” and of course “A Hard Day’s Night.”
The notion of this film — unlike say, the artsy “Magical MysteryTour,” is simple and was more recently but much less successfullyattempted by the Spice Girls — captures the essence of a day in thelife of the world’s most popular pop group.
That this film remains interesting, but, more importantly,extremely entertaining, is a testament both to the youthful vitalityand raw energy of the four protagonists and the innovative directionof Richard Lester, whose style gave birth to the modern music video.
The frantic pace and often sheer absurdity of their lives iscaptured without resorting to the ridiculous scenarios and pointlessexotic location-shoots that marred the bigger-budgeted “Help!”
Turning the rock ‘n’ roll movie on its head, it perfectly capturesa moment in time when four charming and often very funny young menfrom Liverpool were on the threshold of a startling odyssey thathistory has given no equal.
