The Beatles Bible - Topic: anything that HASN'T been written yet?

davchild on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 01:32:05 +0100

Full disclosure: I've visited this site somewhat frequently, but not enough to realize there was a message board. I'd written my own Beatles-related book and sought a place to get the word out a bit. I didn't want my first post to double as a new topic (from my message board experience elsewhere, newbies creating threads tends to be looked down upon) and I came across this one. It seemed perfect. While my book isn't covering new ground on The Beatles' material per se, I feel pretty confident that I've traversed new ground.

It's called Sonic and The Beatles, and ...

Into the Sky with Diamonds on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:00:01 +0100

Anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Good question. Considering the literally hundreds of books out there, what else is there to learn?

For one, someone from the Beatle entourage can still step forward to provide their take on things. Cynthia Lennon and Pattie Boyd have (relatively) recently done so.

And there's still Ringo.

Who wouldn't be interested in his Beatley opinions?

Essentially all books give you the historical facts + some analysis (musical, sociological,...).

What I've found to be lacking is a perspective on the feel for what it was like when Beatle songs, albums, and movies were released.

This of course is ...

Ben Ramon on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:53:45 +0100

minime said
I have recently played some rudimentary piano myself, and I wonder how John learnt to play chords on the piano, because obviously he could play them, is that something you can just "catch" on? I mean, if you know the chords on guitar, can you play them "by ear" on piano as well? I don't think Paul intentionally taught John, anyway, I'm pretty sure he would have mentioned it by now if he did.

Yes. I started with guitar and bass and although I'm still not very good at piano I was ...

minime on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:08:45 +0100

I have recently played some rudimentary piano myself, and I wonder how John learnt to play chords on the piano, because obviously he could play them, is that something you can just "catch" on? I mean, if you know the chords on guitar, can you play them "by ear" on piano as well? I don't think Paul intentionally taught John, anyway, I'm pretty sure he would have mentioned it by now if he did.

I would like to read a picture of book of John's cats

Ben Ramon on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:33:36 +0100

vonbontee said
Not worthy of an entire book, obv; but I'd STILL like to know exactly when & how John learned piano. The Philip Norman bio and other Beatle history books I've read all make a big deal about how he came to play the harmonica & (obviously) guitar, but not a word about his learning keyboards.

This is interesting actually, I've never thought about it. When was the first time in the Beatles' career John used the keys? According to Lewisohn, the earliest I can find is that he played Hammond organ on "I Wanna Be Your Man", then piano ...

meanmistermustard on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:48:55 +0100

I think the beatles/stones rivalry was hyped up by the press: nice clean beatles v dirty rebellious stones, which was not at all accurate but nice beatles was something Brain was keen to maintain. The Stones were seen as being anti-establishment whilst the Beatles were the ones you'd take home to meet your mum (not realising what would happen after suppertime when the parents had gone to bed).

There are stories that Brian Jones wanted to leave The Stones and become a fifth beatle but no idea how true that is, he did play sax on You ...

pnance26 on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:03:56 +0100

And let's not let the obvious go unmentioned... John and Paul went to a corner and wrote "I Wanna Be Your Man" for the Stones. Jagger and Richards were amazed that they could tear something off in a matter of minutes. Andrew Loog Oldham was an early part of the Beatles entourage as well before he became the Stones manager.

The Walrus on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:47:38 +0000

Didn't Mick and Keith sing in Yellow Submarine too? And Mick sang when the Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (I Saw Her Standing There).

Von Bontee on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 05:11:43 +0000

That's as good an answer as any, I guess! I just wish there was some definitive answer, y'know - like finding out that (let's say) Aunt Mimi owned a piano and insisted that John take lessons as a boy. And that he hated being forced to learn it, only to find out years later how useful such skills would ultimately become - that'd be a nice autobiographical detail.

mr. Sun king coming together on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 02:30:14 +0000

Vonbontee, I Think John Learned The Piano from Paul, George Martin, Billy Preston and any pianist they met and befriended in Hamburg.
Personally I think he took tips from all of the above and hearing from ear to become the pianist he was at his death in 1980

Getting Better on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:23:10 +0000

CranberrySauce said:

And don't forget Mick Jagger singing on "All You Need is Love"

Thank you for reminding me about that, also talking about Mick Jagger i read in a Beatles book that Ringo and Paul were invited to his wedding

CranberrySauce on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 02:58:45 +0000

And don't forget Mick Jagger singing on "All You Need is Love"

Getting Better on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 23:50:33 +0000

Von Bontee said:

That always struck me as strange - that notion of having to choose sides, Stones or Beatles, if that really was the popular perception of the day. But maybe it made sense at the time. (Me, I wouldn't want to deprive myself of EITHER band, but of course I'd take the Beatles if you held a gun to my head.)

Yes that also is strange to me, personally i`ve only listened to only a few Rolling Stones songs but definitely i would choose The Beatles.

I really can`t understand because it seems like the interactions between the band were ...

Von Bontee on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:31:26 +0000

MeanMrs.Mustard said:

I think if you're posting on this site, it's basically guaranteed that you'd pick the Beatles.

Yeah, I guess that might've went without my saying...

MeanMrsMustard on anything that HASN'T been written yet?

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 21:41:51 +0000

Von Bontee said:

That always struck me as strange - that notion of having to choose sides, Stones or Beatles, if that really was the popular perception of the day. But maybe it made sense at the time. (Me, I wouldn't want to deprive myself of EITHER band, but of course I'd take the Beatles if you held a gun to my head.)

I think if you're posting on this site, it's basically guaranteed that you'd pick the Beatles.