Midlife Crisis Hawaii

I read this yesterday:

April 10 marks the 43rd anniversary of the breakup of The Beatles, one of the most beloved rock bands in history.

After months of speculation from fans and industry insiders about The Beatles’ inevitable end, Paul McCartney announced in a press release published April 10, 1970, that he would no longer perform or record with John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.

At the time, McCartney explained that the breakup was a result of “Personal differences, business differences, musical differences, but most of all because I have a better time with my family.”

Remarking on the future of the band, he added, “Temporary or permanent? I don’t really know.”

For years, many believed that Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono was the reason for the band’s split. Just last fall, McCartney shot down the idea, saying, “She certainly didn’t break the group up, the group was breaking up.”

Ono gave her two cents on the breakup as well. “The Beatles were getting very independent,” she said in the 1987 interview, which recently became available. “Each one of them [was] getting independent… [They] thought Paul would hold the Beatles together as his band. They were getting to be like Paul’s band, which they didn’t like.”

The Beatles released their final studio album, “Let It Be,” one month after the breakup was made public.

I remember that famous night when the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan show for the first time.  Eyes all across America were glued to their TVs.  But mine weren’t.  I was a skosh too young.  I just remember the hoopla and everyone gathering in the parlor around the black and white TV set.

Wait a minute – weren’t all the programs here broadcasted a week later?  Like how we used to watch Christmas episodes of our favorite shows during New Years?

Anyway, I didn’t know much about pop music then.  I remember seeing my big brother’s Meet the Beatles, Hard Days Night, and Rubber Soul albums but I probably didn’t even know how to play them on the stereo.  I only knew how the play the Tubby the Tuba record on the record player.

It wasn’t until a few years later that I picked up my brother’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album and played it on the stereo.  I was hooked.  Listening to every song – on Side A and Side B – over and over again while looking at the album art work, reading all the linear notes, and looking at the pictures over and over again.

Then the Magical Mystery Tour album.  Memorizing every song and every picture.

Then I started buying my own Beatles records.

My first Beatles 45: Hey Jude.  Revolution was a great song too so it was like getting a second hit song free!

I think my first Beatles album was: Abbey Road.  Then the Let It Be album.

So you can see how I kinda jumped on the Beatles bandwagon only towards the end of their legacy.  But I grew to love a lot of their songs.  Both from the early Beatles to the redefined Beatles.  And even followed them during their solo careers.

Here are few of my favorite Beatles songs:

And finally:

The Beatles.  Musical geniuses.  So much a part of our lives.  Even to this day, I never get tired of listening to the Beatles.

How did the Beatles impact your life?  Were you a big fan?  Beatlemania?  What are your favorite Beatle’s tunes?  Do you remember your first Beatles records?  Do you remember which Beatles albums you had?  Did you have Beatle boots?  You can bet your life that I did!

———————————————————————————-

It’s not to late to support Sassydog!  It’s this Sunday.  And it’s going to be BIG!  Maybe I’ll see you there!

With the elections happening – I thought we’d visit voting songs.

And I can’t think of a damn one.

But I can think of Protest songs.  Peace songs.   Anti-establishment songs.

Now, get out and VOTE!