| BACKGROUND HISTORY: The first musical bands | | | | endlessly or by beating a chorus to death. |
| originated in New Orleans among black | | | | John and Paul found countless ways to be |
| musicians who have traditionally been the | | | | memorable without ever overly repeating |
| innovators. The first jazz record ever | | | | something. The only time they repeated |
| recorded was by The Original Dixieland Jazz | | | | something over and over again for a long time |
| Band in 1917, and of course they were white | | | | was in Hey Jude, and what they chose to |
| because racism always rears its ugly head to | | | | repeat is so gorgeous that one can only wish |
| hold black people back. But during the | | | | they had never ended the song. The Beatles |
| Roaring 20's, young white people couldn't | | | | were my biggest musical influence and I used |
| resist the dance beat laid down by the black | | | | to think, "If I could write just one song |
| jazz bands. Fletcher Henderson, a black man, | | | | that's as good as John and Paul's worst song, |
| became the first band leader to achieve | | | | I'd be happy." People tell me I accomplished |
| national fame possibly because he featured | | | | that goal and they say one good example is |
| Louis | | | | John is Alive, which is my sincere |
| | | | |
| Armstrong on trumpet. Duke Ellington, a | | | | tribute to Sir Lennon.3. BEST SINGERSEven |
| classicly trained musician, brought a level | | | | Ringo could sing when he got a little help |
| of style and sophistication to jazz that | | | | from his friends who lived in the yellow |
| hadn't been seen before. But it wasn't until | | | | submarine. But to say that Paul and John are |
| 1935 that jazz bands with a "swing beat" | | | | two of the best singers in rock and roll is |
| achieved national attention due to Benny | | | | to state the obvious. Combining John, Paul |
| Goodman who I think was the best clarinet | | | | and George created the best harmony vocals |
| player ever to blow air into that instrument. | | | | the world has ever experienced. Even their |
| Benny also had the good sense and taste to | | | | two part harmonies were unusual, catching us |
| bring the first great drummer, Gene Krupa, | | | | all by surprise on their first hit record |
| into his band.When rock and roll exploded | | | | with the fast harmony melisma in the chorus |
| into human consciousness during the early | | | | of I Want to Hold Your Hand. John had a knack |
| 1950's, black musicians like Bo Diddley, | | | | of placing a unique low harmony line |
| Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Smokey | | | | underneath Paul's high melody line so as to |
| Robinson pioneered the way, but a white DJ | | | | form a second melody which created unusual |
| named Alan Freed is believed to have coined | | | | harmony effects. He did that right from the |
| the term "rock and roll". The first real rock | | | | beginning in the verses of She Loves You. |
| and roll record was "Shake, Rattle and Roll", | | | | Both Paul and John could blast out screaming |
| written by Jesse Stone who was black and | | | | rock and roll (i.e. Long Tall Sally and Twist |
| recorded by Big Joe Turner who was also black | | | | and Shout), and both could break our hearts |
| but it wasn't a hit. The first big hit rock | | | | with touching, deep feeling ballads (i.e. |
| and roll record was "Rock Around the Clock" | | | | Yesterday and Julia). There seems to be no |
| written by James Meyers and Max Freeman of | | | | end to their emotional vocal range, and John |
| obvious ancestry, and that one catapulted | | | | even explored the heights of vocal |
| Bill Haley and his Caucasian Comets to | | | | psychedelia in songs like She Said (Revolver) |
| stardom. During the 1950's and early 60's, | | | | and Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.4. MOST |
| there were countless "do wop" groups, rock | | | | CREATIVE PLAYERSPaul brought a new style of |
| groups, singers and songwriters but until The | | | | melodic playing to the bass guitar, reaching |
| Beatles hit the charts, there had been very | | | | a new high of creativity on Sergeant Pepper |
| few bands which contained talented | | | | with a level of sophistication never heard |
| songwriters. The vast majority of jazz and | | | | before. Many other musicians besides me |
| rock bands recorded songs written by | | | | recognize Paul as being one of the best bass |
| songwriters who were not performers, with | | | | guitar players ever. George is underrated as |
| occasional exceptions like Duke Ellington and | | | | a lead guitarist by people with average or |
| Buddy Holly. As time goes on, it's | | | | below average musical knowledge or ability, |
| increasingly clear that Lennon/McCartney | | | | but most guitarists (including Eric Clapton) |
| songs are brilliant classics which will never | | | | know better. George's strength is in melody, |
| be forgotten. Now here's why The Beatles are | | | | pure and simple. It would be difficult to |
| the most creative band of all time:1. BEST | | | | find a George Harrison lead which is not |
| EXAMPLE OF FORM = CONTENTAs I sit here | | | | melodic, and each of his leads has a strong |
| writing this at the keyboard of my computer | | | | beginning, a stronger middle and a well |
| facing the unique and colorful Beatles poster | | | | defined ending. In fact, that's Eric's |
| in my bedroom, I'm aware that I have been | | | | definition of what makes a good guitar |
| directly and indirectly inspired by John | | | | |
| Lennon's music as well as by the way he lived | | | | lead. George continually developed new |
| his life offstage. Squarely in front of me is | | | | guitar sounds for each Beatles song. John and |
| a full color poster of all four Beatles | | | | Paul are also excellent guitarists and both |
| standing in a heavenly-like flower garden at | | | | recorded great leads as well as innovative |
| about the time of the Abbey Road album. Paul | | | | rhythm tracks.All three of the Beatles |
| is angelic in his pink suit with a white | | | | guitarists may lack showy technical fireworks |
| laced shirt. John is enigmatic peering out | | | | but they make that definition of guitar |
| from the background. George is charismatic | | | | mastery irrelevant by overwhelming the senses |
| staring directly into the camera from the | | | | with creativity, style, and pure melody. The |
| lower right. Ringo is on the left with a | | | | exact same thing can be said about John and |
| stylish blue suit and his pink ruffled shirt. | | | | Paul's keyboard playing. Ringo may be |
| I always wished I could dress like those guys | | | | underrated as a drummer by the public but he |
| but | | | | is not underrated by other professional |
| | | | drummers. Ringo mastered the art of drum |
| obviously there's a bit of a problem with a | | | | sounds. No drummer has ever recorded so many |
| money differential there. Surrounding this | | | | different sounds on so many different |
| gorgeous poster which I have never seen | | | | sounding records. Ringo invented a new style |
| elsewhere are my 45 speed original Beatles | | | | of slow drum playing, epitomized on A Day in |
| hit records, including I Want to Hold Your | | | | the Life and Strawberry Fields Forever. John |
| Hand, She Loves You, Please Please Me, Twist | | | | said many times, "Ringo has the best back |
| and Shout, Can't Buy Me Love, She's A Woman, | | | | beat in the business" and the successful |
| Yesterday, and of course, Hey Jude. And | | | | studio drummers understand why John was |
| surrounding all that is a chain of 1-1/2" | | | | correct.5. TOTAL CHARISMAA good definition of |
| long orange flicker flame lights which are | | | | charisma needs to include "an unusual ability |
| the most beautiful and unique Christmas | | | | to influence people and arouse devotion" and |
| lights I've ever seen.I chose to decorate the | | | | "a personal attractiveness which enables a |
| wall directly in front of my work station | | | | person to influence others". No musical group |
| this way because, as I've written elsewhere | | | | prior to or after The Beatles features true |
| on this site several times, the Beatles were | | | | charisma emanating strongly from the entire |
| my major musical influence and having them on | | | | group as well as separately from each member. |
| the wall in front of me inspires me to write | | | | The Beatles stunned the world with their |
| web pages like this one. I was also among the | | | | photogenic quality, their charm, their |
| millions of people who were inspired by how | | | | bubbling and lovable personalities, their |
| The Beatles were actually living their off | | | | cuteness and their unique style.Even before |
| stage lives. The Beatles' music creatively | | | | The Beatles achieved fame, people in |
| stimulated millions of people to change the | | | | Liverpool were imitating their haircuts, the |
| way they were living, and The Beatles | | | | way they dressed, the way they behaved, and |
| behavior encouraged people to have fun by | | | | the way they lived. Such a simple subliminal |
| trying new life style experiences. That's | | | | message about smoking marijuana got |
| what I call a perfect example of FORM = | | | | communicated to all the hippies who were |
| CONTENT. In this case it means that the | | | | waiting to happen without actual words ever |
| creatively and masterfully varied music The | | | | being spoken. The Beatles had a lot to lose |
| Beatles were producing (form) embodied the | | | | by being explicit on that subject, but they |
| real life styles which each of the four | | | | successfully avoided trouble by keeping it |
| Beatles were living (content), together as a | | | | very subtle while at the same time clear |
| band as well as separately as unique | | | | enough so that we all got it. The Fab Four |
| individuals.2. BEST SONGWRITERSThis should be | | | | kept changing their styles rapidly, almost |
| self-evident, but just because Paul McCartney | | | | with each album cover, and soon the message |
| has the title of the most popular songwriter | | | | became |
| in history doesn't necessarily make him the | | | | |
| best songwriter in history. The qualities | | | | one of explicit spiritualism. After visiting |
| which do make both Paul and John the best | | | | India, The Beatles introduced eastern |
| songwriters in history go beyond writing the | | | | mysticism and meditation to the Western world |
| greatest number of catchy classic songs. | | | | for the first time through the mass media. |
| "Catchy" means that their melodies and lyrics | | | | John's long saga with internal angst, drugs, |
| are instantly memorable. "Classic" means that | | | | spiritualism, politics, personal battles, and |
| they stand the test of time. But both Paul | | | | ultimately his marriage to Yoko played out |
| and John wrote very sophisticated melodies | | | | like a movie the whole world got to watch in |
| that moved beyond the simple groups of 2, 4 | | | | fascination. Paul's happy life with Linda, |
| and 8 patterned phrases used by almost all | | | | George's great focus on meditation, and |
| other songwriters. John and Paul's melodies | | | | Ringo's equanimity throughout were all |
| soared, floated, cascaded, dived and peaked | | | | perfect examples of the power, the truth, and |
| with true dynamics, naturally | | | | the effectiveness of true charisma.6. SEXUAL |
| | | | AURANeed I say it? Ask the millions of girls |
| following the syllabic lyric patterns - but | | | | who were screaming and fainting at the very |
| not always.Sometimes the melodic and lyric | | | | sight of them. "The Boys" didn't move like |
| patterns were independent of each other, | | | | Elvis or dance like Mick, they just stood |
| almost counterpoint in nature, and as a | | | | there shaking their "mop top" heads around, |
| songwriter, they never ceased to astonish me | | | | smiling, laughing, and looking gorgeous as |
| with their brilliance and originality. In the | | | | they performed great music and that was it. |
| beginning, their lyrics were simple and their | | | | On their first visit to America, some |
| songs were simple love songs. But they soon | | | | enterprising weirdo from New York City |
| began exploring new territory by writing | | | | managed to cut up the hotel bedsheets The |
| about subjects that hadn't been covered | | | | Beatles had slept on into 1" square pieces, |
| before. Inspired by Bob Dylan, they wrote | | | | and these things were actually sold to girls |
| true poetry with feeling and depth, using | | | | over the public airwaves by adult DJ's on the |
| evocative and unusual words. Rubber Soul | | | | AM radio stations who should have known |
| marked the beginning of their evolution as | | | | better. The Beatles phenomenon went way |
| mature songwriters, Revolver was a break-out | | | | beyond the rock and roll sex star status that |
| album, and Sergeant Pepper was an historic | | | | had been seen before.Teenage girls in |
| landmark album in terms of new and innovative | | | | uncountable numbers fell in love, their |
| songwriting as well as production. Every song | | | | hearts to be trapped, their heart strings to |
| they wrote was significantly different from | | | | be continually plucked, and ultimately, their |
| the last one even though each song had their | | | | hearts to be broken by the unobtainable |
| unmistakable sound.Most songwriters are only | | | | object of their love. Worshiping a star from |
| average players on their instruments, but | | | | afar? Infatuation? Obsession? Not real love? |
| John and Paul are both sophisticated | | | | For many of them, it was their first |
| guitarists who were able to integrate their | | | | experience feeling love for a man/boy. |
| playing into their songs and even into their | | | | Whatever it was, it was very real to all of |
| song structure so that the "licks" they | | | | them, and we all soon understood that The |
| played became as catchy a part of their songs | | | | Beatles were The Real Thing.That's why I call |
| as the choruses and verses. Blackbird and | | | | The Beatles the Most Creative Band of All |
| Dear Prudence are only two examples of songs | | | | Time. They were The Real Thing. The Creative |
| which couldn't possibly be written by any | | | | Zenith. The high point on the bell curve of |
| other songwriter because of the guitar | | | | musical history.Peter Cross is a former |
| playing which forms an integral part of the | | | | professional drummer and a singer/songwriter |
| song structure. In similar fashion, Lady | | | | producer/Web Master who was among the first |
| Madonna is the best example of a great song | | | | to put music on the Internet in a |
| which derives from the unique and beautiful | | | | downloadable format in 1996. His web site is |
| bass part which only Paul could possibly have | | | | very entertaining and at 206 pages, it may be |
| created.Average songwriters achieve the | | | | the largest music artist web site on the |
| catchy quality by repeating a phrase | | | | Internet. |