got this book about the beatles and the year 1966, a transition year. - The Beatles Discussion

[–] NotoriousRio (12927) 2 years ago

Retiring from live shows was such a brave move for them, I notice a change in quality with Rubber Soul (late '65), especially from John on that album, I’m not saying anything pre Rubber Soul was bad, most of Help! was awesome too, but for me it’s with Rubber Soul that the band truly becomes great.

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[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

I don't agree that the band became great with Rubber Soul, but that is when their greatness became complex and sophisticated. Their earlier simple pop songs were also perfect examples of simple four-guy pop songs, and should be appreciated as such. That's what was so amazing about the Beatles, they went from a very good four-guy band who did the guitars-drums-bass thing better than the other bands, and they went on to become pioneers of studio music without losing their place at the top.

The band really did have an incredible career, the intact band was on the world stage for only about five years, and were constantly expanding their range the whole time. And dragging the rest of the music industry in their wake.

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[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

i look forward to this book. it's quite long and includes a lot of pop culture references.

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[–] mtxmind (3296) 2 years ago

Retiring from live shows was such a brave move for them

It was more a matter of nessecity by then due to 1) their songs becoming more complex in the arrangments, & therefor, becoming harder to translate into a 4 piece live setting & 2)- not being able to hear themselves in concert between the screaming fans & inadequate stage monitors & 25 watt amplifiers.

There's a well known clip of them performing "I'm Down" at Shea Stadium in '65 or '66, where Paul & Ringo are basically carrying the song, while John (on electric piano) & George are pretty much fucking around.

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[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

so reading this book and the beatles think the song tomorrow never knows was a game changer for them as they moved away from pop to more substantial songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4BuziKGMy4&ab_channel=TheBeatlesVEVO

you also see the different interests of the beatles developing in 1966:

paul - art and classical music
george - indian and mystical interests
ringo - collecting war memorabilia and other things
john - the laziest of the beatles. watched a lot of tv

they also released two singles before the album revolver:

paperback writer - one of their worse songs
rain - one of their most underrated songs

they also met bob dylan for the second time in 1966. dylan told them to stop writing pop love songs. i am at the part where they start their final tour.

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[–] Vastuntitled (5695) 2 years ago

I can see that, with Tomorrow Never Knows being a song that is highly influential in the world of electronica and psychedelic rock, along with other genres for sure. It’s undoubtedly influenced many a song and sampled by a few artists. And to think “critics” at the time were somewhat baffled by the sound and departure from their previous pop-infused work. I suppose it’s not hard to imagine some confusion as the world of psychedelia and “trippy” sounds were still a bit of a new concept; at least that’s how I comprehend it, as it was a little before my time. Still, one of my favorite songs from any artist of any era, though admittedly, I’m neither an authority on the Liverpool Lads nor what I’d call a huge fan of the band.

But, hell yeah, a great experimentation and triumph in creativity, just a damn cool song IMHO…..

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[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

the 1966 tour

germany: the police are beating the fans with sticks and acting like the gestapo. the beatles are horrified

japan: the right wingers say the beatles are a disgrace to japanese culture and there are assassination threats.

phillipines: marcos and his wife want a meeting with the beatles, the beatles refuse and there is a fight at the airport. marcos tries to shake them down for money.

usa: months earlier lennon said the beatles were more popular than jesus. the whole thing was taken out of context. a few bible thumpers go crazy and lennon sort of apologizes. the shows are a disaster and the beatles can't hear themselves sing.

you want to know why the beatles quit touring in 1966. the 1966 tour was one from hell.

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[–] Vastuntitled (5695) 2 years ago

Thanks for the updates H, good stuff ….sounds like a good read.

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[–] hyperjet (719) 2 years ago

I think more than anything, it was that they were treated like prisoners. The fangirls were terrifying. They'd rip a pop idle's hair out if they got the chance. Then there'd be politicians in the next town asking for favors (imagine refusing one mafia to another...). I would just stay at home and record as well.

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[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

the beatles hated meeting with politicians and officials.

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[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

three important dates from 1966

paul goes on a solo vacation on november 6/1966 and this starts the paul is dead rumors. why? he seems to have grown a beard while on vacation and was replaced. that's about it.

november 7/1966 - john meets yoko at one of her art exhibits - the beginning of the end for the beatles.

december 18/1966 - tara browne is killed in a car accident. sort of the inspiration for a day in the life which would be released in 1967.

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[–] Vastuntitled (5695) 2 years ago

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[–] EdwardHaskell (142) 2 years ago

Bob Dylan introduced the Beatles to Cannabis in 1964. By '66 they were daily users.

John Lennon referred to Rubber Soul as, "The pot album."

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[–] nyctc7 (43591) 2 years ago

Quite aside from the Beatles, I see 1966 as a demarcation point in America. I recall Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead referring to the summer of '66 as the real "Summer of Love." By the summer of 1967 (the so-called Summer of Love) everything was changing. All kinds of people were descending on San Francisco, and they were often homeless and getting into harder drugs. In '67 The counterculture was starting to take off, the good and the bad. The first 100,000+ Vietnam War protests were taking place. We all know the turmoil of 1968.

So I see 1966 as the last gasp of a certain kind of innocence. Yes, that had been shattered by the assassination of JFK. But 1966 was remarkably different than 1967 forward.

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