John Lennon and Paul McCartney worked closely together on “A Day in the Life.” They each wrote portions of the song and married the parts together to create the finished product. Lennon was often hard on McCartney’s writing, but he complimented the work his bandmate put into the song. He believed that one line McCartney wrote was particularly beautiful.
John Lennon admired one of Paul McCartney’s contributions to ‘A Day in the Life’
While Lennon and McCartney wrote closely together in the early years of The Beatles, they drifted apart as the 1960s progressed. Still, some songs were the product of their close collaboration in later years. “A Day in the Life” was one of them.
“Paul and I were definitely working together, especially on ‘A Day In The Life,’” Lennon said in The Beatles Anthology. “The way we wrote a lot of the time: you’d write the good bit,...
John Lennon admired one of Paul McCartney’s contributions to ‘A Day in the Life’
While Lennon and McCartney wrote closely together in the early years of The Beatles, they drifted apart as the 1960s progressed. Still, some songs were the product of their close collaboration in later years. “A Day in the Life” was one of them.
“Paul and I were definitely working together, especially on ‘A Day In The Life,’” Lennon said in The Beatles Anthology. “The way we wrote a lot of the time: you’d write the good bit,...
- 3/5/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney wrote a large portion of The Beatles’ songs based on a variety of his personal experiences. “Let It Be” came to him after having a dream about his mother and he wrote “She Came In Through the Bathroom Window” after a fan did just that. Beatles associate Alistair Taylor believed McCartney wrote a different Beatles song after a seemingly paranormal experience.
Paul McCartney wrote a Beatles song after a strange experience
In 1967, McCartney and Taylor were walking McCartney’s dog Martha in the morning. As they turned to look for Martha, they realized a man was behind them.
“We turned round to go and suddenly there he was standing behind us,” Taylor said, per the book A Hard Day’s Write: The Stories Behind Every Beatles Song by Steve Turner. “He was a middle-aged man, very respectably dressed in a belted raincoat. Nothing in that, you may think,...
Paul McCartney wrote a Beatles song after a strange experience
In 1967, McCartney and Taylor were walking McCartney’s dog Martha in the morning. As they turned to look for Martha, they realized a man was behind them.
“We turned round to go and suddenly there he was standing behind us,” Taylor said, per the book A Hard Day’s Write: The Stories Behind Every Beatles Song by Steve Turner. “He was a middle-aged man, very respectably dressed in a belted raincoat. Nothing in that, you may think,...
- 2/28/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The songwriting relationship between Paul McCartney and John Lennon was one of the most prolific of all time. They began to write on a more individual basis as the 1960s wore on, and their working relationship fell apart entirely when The Beatles broke up. McCartney noticed a shift in their dynamic when Lennon met Yoko Ono. He believed Lennon was intentionally putting distance between them to leave more time for her.
Paul McCartney said it was a bit off-putting to watch John Lennon and Yoko Ono in the studio
When Lennon and Ono began a relationship, they started spending all their time together. He brought her to Beatles recording sessions, which bothered his bandmates.
“Now John had to have Yoko there,” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology. “I can’t blame him, they were intensely in love — in the first throes of the first passions — but it was fairly off-putting...
Paul McCartney said it was a bit off-putting to watch John Lennon and Yoko Ono in the studio
When Lennon and Ono began a relationship, they started spending all their time together. He brought her to Beatles recording sessions, which bothered his bandmates.
“Now John had to have Yoko there,” McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology. “I can’t blame him, they were intensely in love — in the first throes of the first passions — but it was fairly off-putting...
- 2/11/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
“Please Please Me” was an early hit for The Beatles, but it might not have made it far in its original form. According to Beatles producer George Martin, the initial version of the song was slow and dull. When he pointed this out to the band, they felt embarrassed that they hadn’t noticed.
The Beatles’ producer embarrassed the band when he asked them to change ‘Please Please Me’
When The Beatles first played “Please Please Me” for Martin, he could scarcely keep from yawning. They wanted it on the first single, but he thought it was too boring as it stood.
“In the first year, I had the final decision on songs, but they persuaded me to let them have their own songs on both sides of their first single,” Martin said in The Beatles Anthology. “I was still thinking that we should release their recording of ‘How Do You Do It.
The Beatles’ producer embarrassed the band when he asked them to change ‘Please Please Me’
When The Beatles first played “Please Please Me” for Martin, he could scarcely keep from yawning. They wanted it on the first single, but he thought it was too boring as it stood.
“In the first year, I had the final decision on songs, but they persuaded me to let them have their own songs on both sides of their first single,” Martin said in The Beatles Anthology. “I was still thinking that we should release their recording of ‘How Do You Do It.
- 1/23/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1963, the songs The Beatles released laid the groundwork to establish them as the biggest band in the world. They had a handful of hits that year that completely changed their lives. While they were proud of each release, Paul McCartney said one of these in particular felt like a big step forward for the group. He shared how the introduction of a chord made him feel like they were growing as artists.
Paul McCartney said 1 early Beatles song felt like a step forward for the band
In 1963, The Beatles released their debut album Please Please Me. For years before this, though, McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison had performed together. Lennon and McCartney had long been writing songs and had amassed a catalog of music.
“We’d had a fair bit of practice writing over the years, though our legendary ‘first one hundred’ was probably in reality less than half that amount of songs,...
Paul McCartney said 1 early Beatles song felt like a step forward for the band
In 1963, The Beatles released their debut album Please Please Me. For years before this, though, McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison had performed together. Lennon and McCartney had long been writing songs and had amassed a catalog of music.
“We’d had a fair bit of practice writing over the years, though our legendary ‘first one hundred’ was probably in reality less than half that amount of songs,...
- 1/17/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon left Hamburg, Germany, without the other Beatles. The government had deported George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Pete Best, and Stuart Sutcliffe remained in Germany with his girlfriend. Lennon did not enjoy his time alone in the city and liked his trip back to England even less. He shared why he felt terrified on the journey.
John Lennon made his way back from Hamburg without the other Beatles
After Harrison, McCartney, and Best left Hamburg, Lennon remained for a brief time.
“They were all deported and I was left in Hamburg, playing alone with another group of musicians,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “It was quite a shattering experience to be in a foreign country, pretty young, left there all on my own. We’d spent our money as we went along. I didn’t have any to spare and being stuck in Hamburg with no food money...
John Lennon made his way back from Hamburg without the other Beatles
After Harrison, McCartney, and Best left Hamburg, Lennon remained for a brief time.
“They were all deported and I was left in Hamburg, playing alone with another group of musicians,” he said in The Beatles Anthology. “It was quite a shattering experience to be in a foreign country, pretty young, left there all on my own. We’d spent our money as we went along. I didn’t have any to spare and being stuck in Hamburg with no food money...
- 12/26/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In his time with The Beatles, Paul McCartney wrote many hit songs. Together, he and John Lennon made their mark on songwriting history. McCartney said that one of the songs he wrote without any of Lennon’s assistance was one of the top songs of the century. Still, he said that its release was a bit disappointing.
Paul McCartney said a Beatles song he wrote was the song of the century
One of The Beatles’ most famous songs is “Yesterday,” which came to McCartney in a dream. Because of this, he assumed he couldn’t have actually come up with it. When he realized it was an original melody, he set to work writing lyrics. This made the song’s massive success felt even more thrilling.
“It was my most successful song. It’s amazing that it just came to me in a dream,” he said in The Beatles Anthology.
Paul McCartney said a Beatles song he wrote was the song of the century
One of The Beatles’ most famous songs is “Yesterday,” which came to McCartney in a dream. Because of this, he assumed he couldn’t have actually come up with it. When he realized it was an original melody, he set to work writing lyrics. This made the song’s massive success felt even more thrilling.
“It was my most successful song. It’s amazing that it just came to me in a dream,” he said in The Beatles Anthology.
- 12/4/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney and John Lennon were close collaborators in The Beatles. Despite their differences, the pair were good friends and wrote many of The Beatles’ hits together. According to Beatles audio engineer Geoff Emerick, the respect that McCartney and Lennon had for each other made them perfect partners. McCartney was the only person who could call Lennon out when he behaved badly.
Paul McCartney could call out John Lennon when other people couldn’t
Emerick worked in close quarters with The Beatles for years. As a result, he gained an understanding of McCartney and Lennon’s relationship dynamic.
“Many people’s view of the Lennon/McCartney collaboration is a simplistic one: that Lennon was the rough and ready rocker, while McCartney was the soft sentimentalist,” he wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “While that might have been partially true, their...
Paul McCartney could call out John Lennon when other people couldn’t
Emerick worked in close quarters with The Beatles for years. As a result, he gained an understanding of McCartney and Lennon’s relationship dynamic.
“Many people’s view of the Lennon/McCartney collaboration is a simplistic one: that Lennon was the rough and ready rocker, while McCartney was the soft sentimentalist,” he wrote in his book Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. “While that might have been partially true, their...
- 8/7/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Can you imagine The Beatles without Paul McCartney? It could have happened. John Lennon almost kicked Paul out of The Beatles after giving him an ultimatum about staying in the band. That would have meant no songwriting sessions with John. No tunes changing the course of popular music. And probably no Beatles as we know them.
(l-r) Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns John Lennon considered kicking Paul McCartney out of The Beatles: ‘F****** turn up today or you’re not in the band’
The Beatles weren’t even close to being The Beatles when they returned from their first Hamburg, West Germany, residency in December 1960. The underage George Harrison got deported. Paul and drummer Pete Best got arrested on arson charges and then deported. John had his work permit revoked. The group returned to Liverpool without much to show for weeks of hard work.
With his father...
(l-r) Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns John Lennon considered kicking Paul McCartney out of The Beatles: ‘F****** turn up today or you’re not in the band’
The Beatles weren’t even close to being The Beatles when they returned from their first Hamburg, West Germany, residency in December 1960. The underage George Harrison got deported. Paul and drummer Pete Best got arrested on arson charges and then deported. John had his work permit revoked. The group returned to Liverpool without much to show for weeks of hard work.
With his father...
- 6/9/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1973, the band Stealers Wheel released “Stuck in the Middle With You,” a song that many listeners have incorrectly attributed to Bob Dylan. Dylan had nothing to do with the song, but it’s unsurprising that people think it was his. The lyrics sound like Dylan could have written them, and the nasally vocals sound like his. In reality, “Stuck in the Middle With You” was a surprise hit that singer Gerry Rafferty wrote to parody Dylan.
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns The song ‘Stuck in the Middle With You’ is meant to sound like Bob Dylan
In 1973, Scottish band Stealers Wheel released “Stuck in the Middle With You,” a song about their experience in the music industry.
“We signed a contract with a big American company and they threw a launch party in a chic restaurant in Chelsea,” Rafferty told Record Collector. “There was a huge table with about 50 people there,...
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns The song ‘Stuck in the Middle With You’ is meant to sound like Bob Dylan
In 1973, Scottish band Stealers Wheel released “Stuck in the Middle With You,” a song about their experience in the music industry.
“We signed a contract with a big American company and they threw a launch party in a chic restaurant in Chelsea,” Rafferty told Record Collector. “There was a huge table with about 50 people there,...
- 5/29/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles experimented with many different styles of music. “Yer Blues” was the band’s attempt at an American blues song, while songs like “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” saw the band capturing a more folkish sound. One Beatles song Paul McCartney said he and John Lennon wrote in a “waltz time.”
‘Baby’s in Black’ is one of the final songs John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote together Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns
While many songs by The Beatles are credited to the Lennon-McCartney duo, the pair stopped collaborating as often in the band’s later years. The band started writing together on their earliest hits, like “I Saw Her Standing There” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” However, by 1964, the two were starting to work more independently.
“Baby’s in Black” is a song from 1964’s Beatles for Sale. It’s one...
‘Baby’s in Black’ is one of the final songs John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote together Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns
While many songs by The Beatles are credited to the Lennon-McCartney duo, the pair stopped collaborating as often in the band’s later years. The band started writing together on their earliest hits, like “I Saw Her Standing There” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” However, by 1964, the two were starting to work more independently.
“Baby’s in Black” is a song from 1964’s Beatles for Sale. It’s one...
- 5/8/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The John Lennon and Paul McCartney songwriting partnership churned out hits for The Beatles. How good were they? One of their unreleased songs hit No. 1 when another band recorded it. So it’s no surprise two Lennon-McCartney songs spent 29 weeks on the chart for another group.
(l-r) Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns The Fourmost spent 29 weeks on the chart with a pair of John Lennon and Paul McCartney songs
Even before they became synonymous with chart-topping hit songs, Paul and John weren’t shy about giving away songs they wrote to other artists. They let The Rolling Stones take on “I Wanna Be Your Man” before The Beatles recorded it. John and Paul gave up on the song “That Means a Lot,” handed it to American singer P.J. Proby, and he turned it into a modest success.
The Fourmost did much more than achieve middling success...
(l-r) Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns The Fourmost spent 29 weeks on the chart with a pair of John Lennon and Paul McCartney songs
Even before they became synonymous with chart-topping hit songs, Paul and John weren’t shy about giving away songs they wrote to other artists. They let The Rolling Stones take on “I Wanna Be Your Man” before The Beatles recorded it. John and Paul gave up on the song “That Means a Lot,” handed it to American singer P.J. Proby, and he turned it into a modest success.
The Fourmost did much more than achieve middling success...
- 5/7/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney and John Lennon grew up near each other, and both dealt with the deaths of their mothers at a young age. Beyond that, though, their upbringings were markedly different. McCartney said that when discussing his childhood with Lennon, he couldn’t help but notice how much warmer and loving his was. McCartney believed that the effects of this type of childhood might have made him seem “uncool” as an adult, but he was grateful for it.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns Paul McCartney said he had a much ‘warmer’ childhood than John Lennon
McCartney’s mother died when he was 14, but his childhood was full of extended family members. He recalled playing piano at parties and laughing at stories.
He believed Lennon’s childhood was far less warm than his. When Lennon was a child, his parents separated, and he went to live with his aunt and uncle.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns Paul McCartney said he had a much ‘warmer’ childhood than John Lennon
McCartney’s mother died when he was 14, but his childhood was full of extended family members. He recalled playing piano at parties and laughing at stories.
He believed Lennon’s childhood was far less warm than his. When Lennon was a child, his parents separated, and he went to live with his aunt and uncle.
- 5/5/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Have you ever wanted to hear Paul McCartney’s “New” or John Lennon’s “Grow Old With Me” as Beatles songs? Now with artificial intelligence, you can. One YouTube user uploaded the songs as if they were done by the fab four, and the response is overwhelming.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney | Val Wilmer/Redferns Paul McCartney’s ‘New’ as a Beatles song with the use of AI
“New” is the lead single of McCartney’s 2013 album of the same name. In Japan, it became a number 4 hit on the Japan Hot 100. The song was also included in BBC Radio 2’s playlist and the accompanying album was named their Record of the Week. Additionally, “New” the song is featured in the 2013 animated film, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.
YouTube user Dae Lims has reimagined the song being sung by more than just McCartney. In the AI project,...
John Lennon and Paul McCartney | Val Wilmer/Redferns Paul McCartney’s ‘New’ as a Beatles song with the use of AI
“New” is the lead single of McCartney’s 2013 album of the same name. In Japan, it became a number 4 hit on the Japan Hot 100. The song was also included in BBC Radio 2’s playlist and the accompanying album was named their Record of the Week. Additionally, “New” the song is featured in the 2013 animated film, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.
YouTube user Dae Lims has reimagined the song being sung by more than just McCartney. In the AI project,...
- 5/3/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Bob Dylan began his career as a protest singer, but his musical trajectory changed when he heard The Byrds cover one of his songs. The band took a different approach to the cover than Dylan had, and suddenly, a world of possibility opened to him. A member of Dylan’s set recalled how Dylan reacted when he heard the cover.
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns He began his career as a folk singer
When Dylan moved to New York to pursue music, he strictly played acoustic songs. His idol was Woody Guthrie, and he was modeling his career off of his. He didn’t even own an electric guitar. When he enrolled at the University of Minnesota, he traded in the instrument for an acoustic guitar, figuring that this would be more useful to him.
“First thing I did was go trade in my electric guitar, which would have been useless to me,...
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns He began his career as a folk singer
When Dylan moved to New York to pursue music, he strictly played acoustic songs. His idol was Woody Guthrie, and he was modeling his career off of his. He didn’t even own an electric guitar. When he enrolled at the University of Minnesota, he traded in the instrument for an acoustic guitar, figuring that this would be more useful to him.
“First thing I did was go trade in my electric guitar, which would have been useless to me,...
- 4/17/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Musicians build their reputations on their art, which means that they can sometimes get away with rude behavior, outlandish styles, and, in the case of these three artists, smelling bad. Here are three talented musicians who have caused people to complain about their odor.
Bob Dylan | Rowland Scherman/Getty Images Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan’s longtime road manager Victor Maymudes dealt with a lot while working with the musician. When their working relationship crumbled, Maymudes aired some of his grievances about Dylan. These included rude behavior, like blowing cigarette smoke in people’s faces or refusing to answer questions. He also had problems with Dylan’s hygiene.
“He doesn’t take his clothes off when he goes to sleep and the guy doesn’t clean his teeth,” Maymudes said, per the book Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan by Howard Sounes. “He’ll smell like a f***ing hog.
Bob Dylan | Rowland Scherman/Getty Images Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan’s longtime road manager Victor Maymudes dealt with a lot while working with the musician. When their working relationship crumbled, Maymudes aired some of his grievances about Dylan. These included rude behavior, like blowing cigarette smoke in people’s faces or refusing to answer questions. He also had problems with Dylan’s hygiene.
“He doesn’t take his clothes off when he goes to sleep and the guy doesn’t clean his teeth,” Maymudes said, per the book Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan by Howard Sounes. “He’ll smell like a f***ing hog.
- 4/14/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Though he has been famous for years, has given hundreds of interviews, and has been the subject of a number of films, Bob Dylan remains a relatively enigmatic celebrity. He prefers to keep his personal life private, though documentarians have attempted to understand the man behind the music. For any fans who want the same thing, here are five films that capture Dylan.
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns ‘Dont Look Back’
In 1965, filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker followed Dylan on his tour of England. The resulting film is one of the most intimate looks at Dylan, who was just beginning his career. For context, he was still an acoustic artist at this point; he divided fans by going electric just months after this tour.
D.A. Pennebaker's classic 1967 documentary Dont Look Back starts with one of the most iconic moments of 1960s pop culture: Bob Dylan's hard-driving 1965 hit "Subterranean Homesick Blues," which...
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns ‘Dont Look Back’
In 1965, filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker followed Dylan on his tour of England. The resulting film is one of the most intimate looks at Dylan, who was just beginning his career. For context, he was still an acoustic artist at this point; he divided fans by going electric just months after this tour.
D.A. Pennebaker's classic 1967 documentary Dont Look Back starts with one of the most iconic moments of 1960s pop culture: Bob Dylan's hard-driving 1965 hit "Subterranean Homesick Blues," which...
- 3/23/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the early 1960s, Bob Dylan released a number of protest songs that kick-started his career. By the mid-60s, he had moved away from protest music, even claiming that he had never had any interest in the genre. It’s difficult to separate Dylan from protest songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Masters of War,” but he has kept his distance from protest music for the vast majority of his career.
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns Bob Dylan started his career singing protest songs
Dylan has released a number of immediately recognizable protest songs, but he released most of them at the beginning of his career. His 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan held many of his classics, like “Masters of War” and “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall,” were topical and scathing criticisms.
Dylan’s music even brought him to the March on Washington in 1963, which he said was an incredibly moving experience.
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns Bob Dylan started his career singing protest songs
Dylan has released a number of immediately recognizable protest songs, but he released most of them at the beginning of his career. His 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan held many of his classics, like “Masters of War” and “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall,” were topical and scathing criticisms.
Dylan’s music even brought him to the March on Washington in 1963, which he said was an incredibly moving experience.
- 3/19/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney and John Lennon had a lot in common. They were both big fans of early rock ‘n’ roll music who played multiple instruments. And they were deemed songwriting idiots who became prolific songwriters that powered The Beatles. Yet there was one major difference between their mothers’ deaths that Macca perfectly described in one quote.
(l-r) Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns Paul McCartney described a difference between his and John Lennon’s mothers’ deaths
Paul’s mother shared a heartbreaking sentiment from her deathbed before she died from breast cancer complications in 1956. He was 14. John’s mother died tragically after being hit by a car roughly two years later. Her son turned 18 a few months later.
The future Beatles were already bandmates at the time of John’s mother’s death. He didn’t hesitate to ask Paul a heart-wrenching question about how to deal with the loss.
(l-r) Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns Paul McCartney described a difference between his and John Lennon’s mothers’ deaths
Paul’s mother shared a heartbreaking sentiment from her deathbed before she died from breast cancer complications in 1956. He was 14. John’s mother died tragically after being hit by a car roughly two years later. Her son turned 18 a few months later.
The future Beatles were already bandmates at the time of John’s mother’s death. He didn’t hesitate to ask Paul a heart-wrenching question about how to deal with the loss.
- 3/16/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
If The Beatles dominated the 1960s, then Led Zeppelin ruled the 1970s. England’s musical tastes started changing in late 1969. That’s when Zep knocked The Beatles out of the No. 1 spot on the charts with their second album. The Fab Four’s breakup cleared the way for other bands to grab the spotlight. Led Zeppelin copied a page from The Beatles’ playbook to do just that.
(l-r) The Beatles; Led Zeppelin | Val Wilmer/Redferns; Chris Walter/WireImage Led Zeppelin released their first two albums 10 months apart in 1969
Things happened fast for Led Zeppelin. Jimmy Page quickly recruited Robert Plant, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones to form a new band when the Yardbirds disintegrated in June 1968. Led Zeppelin recorded its first album and started touring before the year finished.
Page had a plan for Led Zeppelin I, which landed in January 1969 — capture listeners’ attention right away. The band did,...
(l-r) The Beatles; Led Zeppelin | Val Wilmer/Redferns; Chris Walter/WireImage Led Zeppelin released their first two albums 10 months apart in 1969
Things happened fast for Led Zeppelin. Jimmy Page quickly recruited Robert Plant, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones to form a new band when the Yardbirds disintegrated in June 1968. Led Zeppelin recorded its first album and started touring before the year finished.
Page had a plan for Led Zeppelin I, which landed in January 1969 — capture listeners’ attention right away. The band did,...
- 3/5/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1963, Bob Dylan’s second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, brought the young artist national attention, particularly for his protest songs. On several subsequent albums, Dylan tackled subjects such as racial injustice and the Cold War. While he moved away from protest songs by the mid-1960s, just several years into his career, he returned to them on occasion. Dylan himself said he doesn’t consider himself a protest singer, but he made an indelible impact on the genre. Here are five of his best protest songs.
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns 5. ‘The Times They Are A-Changin”
Dylan moved to New York City in 1961, 19 years old and determined to meet his idol, Woody Guthrie. “The Times They Are A-Changin'” is evocative of Guthrie’s work to great effect. Dylan released the song in 1964, at a time of rumbling social change, and he concisely spoke to the era.
“Come senators, congressmen,...
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns 5. ‘The Times They Are A-Changin”
Dylan moved to New York City in 1961, 19 years old and determined to meet his idol, Woody Guthrie. “The Times They Are A-Changin'” is evocative of Guthrie’s work to great effect. Dylan released the song in 1964, at a time of rumbling social change, and he concisely spoke to the era.
“Come senators, congressmen,...
- 2/26/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Bob Dylan began his career as a protest singer, but he quickly moved away from this type of song. As early as 1963, Dylan said he wanted to distance himself from politics. In 1971, though, Dylan wrote a song in response to the murder of Black Panther leader George Jackson. Though his fans had been wanting Dylan to return to his roots, some thought his new music lacked sincerity. While there was likely real emotion behind the song, Dylan’s more authentic self was not a protest singer.
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns Bob Dylan started his career as a protest singer
Dylan’s second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, primarily contained songs he wrote, many of which were protest songs. Songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “Masters of War,” and “The Times They Are a-Changin'” from his early albums cemented this reputation.
In 1963, Dylan’s music brought him to the National...
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns Bob Dylan started his career as a protest singer
Dylan’s second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, primarily contained songs he wrote, many of which were protest songs. Songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “Masters of War,” and “The Times They Are a-Changin'” from his early albums cemented this reputation.
In 1963, Dylan’s music brought him to the National...
- 2/26/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
John Lennon discussed what he felt after the Lennon-McCartney partnership ended.Paul McCartney also discussed what he felt when the partnership ended.The two singers had wildly different things to say. John Lennon and Paul McCartney | Val Wilmer / Contributor
John Lennon “never felt a loss” after he stopped working with Paul McCartney. Despite this, he didn’t want people to think he didn’t need Paul. Subsequently, Paul discussed what he missed about writing songs with John.
John Lennon said Paul McCartney knew how to play more instruments than he did when they 1st met
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, John discussed what instruments Paul could play when he first met him. “When I met him he could play guitar, trumpet, and piano,” he recalled.
“Doesn’t mean to say he has a greater talent,...
John Lennon discussed what he felt after the Lennon-McCartney partnership ended.Paul McCartney also discussed what he felt when the partnership ended.The two singers had wildly different things to say. John Lennon and Paul McCartney | Val Wilmer / Contributor
John Lennon “never felt a loss” after he stopped working with Paul McCartney. Despite this, he didn’t want people to think he didn’t need Paul. Subsequently, Paul discussed what he missed about writing songs with John.
John Lennon said Paul McCartney knew how to play more instruments than he did when they 1st met
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features an interview from 1980. In it, John discussed what instruments Paul could play when he first met him. “When I met him he could play guitar, trumpet, and piano,” he recalled.
“Doesn’t mean to say he has a greater talent,...
- 2/15/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney and John Lennon‘s songwriting sessions were short. You’d think that they took their time pouring over lyrics or extracting The Beatles‘ early hits from their brains was hard work. However, their songwriting sessions only lasted about three hours. After that, they couldn’t think anymore.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Getty Images Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s songwriting sessions were only three hours
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he and John used to go to each other’s houses for songwriting sessions, which only lasted about three hours.
Paul wrote that it wasn’t that they set a strict time limit; “it was just that by three hours, we’d had enough, and we learnt that by then we could polish it off. That two to three hours is a kind of natural period. It’s why most classes...
Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Getty Images Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s songwriting sessions were only three hours
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he and John used to go to each other’s houses for songwriting sessions, which only lasted about three hours.
Paul wrote that it wasn’t that they set a strict time limit; “it was just that by three hours, we’d had enough, and we learnt that by then we could polish it off. That two to three hours is a kind of natural period. It’s why most classes...
- 2/12/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon was often known for his surreal and psychedelic sayings. Some of them wouldn’t make any sense, while others were humorous quotes that made the other Beatles laugh. In the early days of The Beatles, Lennon shared a bizarre anecdote about the band’s origins that Paul McCartney later used as the basis for one of his solo albums.
Paul McCartney recorded ‘Flaming Pie’ shortly after ‘The Beatles Anthology’ Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns
McCartney released his 10th solo album Flaming Pie in 1997. The project debuted shortly after The Beatles Anthology, an extensive retrospective of The Beatles that included a book, a documentary, and a three-volume set of double albums. McCartney worked on the project with Ringo Starr and George Harrison and was inspired to create an album with a Beatles influence.
For Flaming Pie, McCartney worked with Electric Light Orchestra’s Jeff Lynne and former Beatles producer George Martin.
Paul McCartney recorded ‘Flaming Pie’ shortly after ‘The Beatles Anthology’ Paul McCartney and John Lennon | Val Wilmer/Redferns
McCartney released his 10th solo album Flaming Pie in 1997. The project debuted shortly after The Beatles Anthology, an extensive retrospective of The Beatles that included a book, a documentary, and a three-volume set of double albums. McCartney worked on the project with Ringo Starr and George Harrison and was inspired to create an album with a Beatles influence.
For Flaming Pie, McCartney worked with Electric Light Orchestra’s Jeff Lynne and former Beatles producer George Martin.
- 2/12/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
Bob Dylan doesn’t look at himself as a “cult figure” and he explained why.People at circuses influenced him and taught him dignity.Dylan went on to sell over 125 million records. Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer / Contributor
Bob Dylan could be understood as a cult figure since his music has a significant cult following. Despite this, Dylan said he doesn’t look at himself in those terms. Subsequently, the “Like a Rolling Stone” singer discussed some of his unorthodox influences as an artist.
Bob Dylan said he’s more countercultural than Paul McCartney, The Beach Boys, and other stars from the same era
During a 2009 interview with HuffPost, Dylan said he didn’t fit into mainstream culture when he started his career. He noted the likes of Andy Williams, The Sound of Music, Perry Como, and Frank Sinatra dominated popular culture at that time. Dylan felt he didn...
Bob Dylan doesn’t look at himself as a “cult figure” and he explained why.People at circuses influenced him and taught him dignity.Dylan went on to sell over 125 million records. Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer / Contributor
Bob Dylan could be understood as a cult figure since his music has a significant cult following. Despite this, Dylan said he doesn’t look at himself in those terms. Subsequently, the “Like a Rolling Stone” singer discussed some of his unorthodox influences as an artist.
Bob Dylan said he’s more countercultural than Paul McCartney, The Beach Boys, and other stars from the same era
During a 2009 interview with HuffPost, Dylan said he didn’t fit into mainstream culture when he started his career. He noted the likes of Andy Williams, The Sound of Music, Perry Como, and Frank Sinatra dominated popular culture at that time. Dylan felt he didn...
- 2/7/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When Bob Dylan arrived in New York, one of his first stops was Woody Guthrie’s house. He idolized the folk singer and believed that talking to him would be helpful to his development as an artist. When he arrived, Guthrie’s family wasn’t allowing many visitors, but they could tell that Dylan was sincere in his intentions. They believed Dylan and Guthrie had a soul connection, which Dylan proved by encouraging Guthrie to light a cigarette.
Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; John Springer Collection/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images Bob Dylan came to New York to visit Woody Guthrie
In 1961, Dylan knocked on the Guthrie family’s front door, asking to meet the musician. He had traveled from Minnesota and was planning on pursuing a career in music in New York City.
“Like seeing Woody Guthrie was one of the main reasons I came East,...
Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; John Springer Collection/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images Bob Dylan came to New York to visit Woody Guthrie
In 1961, Dylan knocked on the Guthrie family’s front door, asking to meet the musician. He had traveled from Minnesota and was planning on pursuing a career in music in New York City.
“Like seeing Woody Guthrie was one of the main reasons I came East,...
- 2/6/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Bob Dylan has been a successful and widely praised musician for decades, and a friend said this meant he was sometimes cruel. He explained that even in the nascent days of Dylan’s music career, he was used to people celebrating him. Because people were afraid to contradict or stand up to Dylan, his behavior verged on viciousness.
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns Bob Dylan’s road manager said he could be cruel
Even the people Dylan was closest to said he could be unpleasant to be around. His tour manager, Victor Maymudes, worked with Dylan for years. Over the decades, he said he had to put up with a lot.
“Bob would torture me; on occasion he was very hard on me,” Maymudes wrote in the book Another Side of Bob Dylan: A Personal History on the Road and Off the Tracks. “I drove him over to visit his...
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns Bob Dylan’s road manager said he could be cruel
Even the people Dylan was closest to said he could be unpleasant to be around. His tour manager, Victor Maymudes, worked with Dylan for years. Over the decades, he said he had to put up with a lot.
“Bob would torture me; on occasion he was very hard on me,” Maymudes wrote in the book Another Side of Bob Dylan: A Personal History on the Road and Off the Tracks. “I drove him over to visit his...
- 2/4/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan was known for creatively challenging the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis on stage with his style and intensity, a youthful performer who surprised audiences by playing with utter confidence and maturity. For a time, he was considered one of the most important jazz musicians alive. His wife, Helen Morgan, was a forceful woman, who attracted attention with her good looks and delectable cooking. Her home became a hang out spot for struggling New York musicians who needed a warm meal after a rough night performing in the clubs. Morgan and Helen fell in love, becoming quick partners. When Morgan fell into heroin addiction, Helen saved him, pushing her man into rehabilitation. And later, she killed him, shooting him in the chest as he stood on stage, clutching his trumpet.
Early on in I Called Him Morgan, Kasper Collins‘ morbidly fascinating documentary account of the...
Early on in I Called Him Morgan, Kasper Collins‘ morbidly fascinating documentary account of the...
- 9/12/2016
- by Tony Hinds
- The Film Stage
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