Playlist & Memories
In Spite of All the Danger. First recording by Lennon, McCartney and Harrison in 1958 - two years before the first trip to Hamburg. Composed by McCartney with a guitar solo played by a 15-year old George Harrison.
Some Other Guy. Written by Leiber/Stoller/Barrett, performed by The Beatles at Liverpool’s Cavern in August 1962 just two months before the first record released under their own name.
Look Who It Is. By Helen Shapiro with appearances by John, George & Ringo in 1963. The 16 year-old English singer headlined the package that was The Beatles’ first national tour of the UK
I’m Down. From Shea Stadium, August 1965. The closer for the Beatles 1965 U.S. shows. Lennon later described Shea Stadium as their “mountaintop”.
Bonus. The Shea introduction by Ed Sullivan
Ticket to Ride. From the infamous Houston visit of 1965. Recordings made through the stage microphones had far better audio quality than the band could actually hear on-stage. Shot from trying to be heard above the screaming crowd, Lennon’s voice breaks altogether in the coda.
The Marcos incident in the Philippines
The Ku Klux Klan protests The Beatles’ show in Memphis
Dr. Kitty Oliver was one of the young Black Beatles fans in 1964 for whom the band’s principled stand had a lifelong impact.
Beatles’ long-time roadie Mal Evans transcribes lyrics for McCartney’s “The Long & Winding Road”
McCartney & Wings perform “The Long & Winding Road” during the triumphant Wings Over America tour of 1976. Note how horn section exquisitely fills the space occupied by Phil Spector-added strings in The Beatles’ original written and first recorded a few years after The Beatles abandoned touring.
One more full-circle moment as McCartney and his band revisit “Kansas City” in a stadium in – where else? – Kansas City in 1993. Almost 30 years after receiving a then-unprecedented sum from Kansas City A’s owner Charles Finley for the Beatles’ first U.S. stadium show at Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium in 1964.
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