Ringo has to be the most likeable Beatle (or at least the least dislikeable). Everyone seemed to get along with him, and he seems like he was a really fun guy to be around in those days.
I've always thought that. He seems to be so genuinely thankful and blessed to have gotten that job 6+ decades ago, and don't you love that last part, where Ringo reveals that if Paul hadn't gotten them off their respective fannies, there wouldn't be the priceless voluminous Beatles catalog? Amazing.
Not sure I ever heard that particular dynamic before. But, I've always been fascinated by (at least his) self-awareness: After a certain early point, tape was rolling on everything in the studio, photographers were present daily and constantly. Notes were feverishly taken, chronicling their every move.
With the era as we know it, long before phone ubiquity and color film, everyone from the band throughout their inner circle, was keenly aware of every literal moment being historic and worthy of salvaging and preserving.
Far from being self-congratulatory or annoyingly self-conscious (or worse, a self-parody.....OK, that bus thing), they were still able to create organic magic that was always of the moment.
Well, say what you will about their legendary music, those intangibles (like slavedriver personality needed against otherwise less-motivated members) is astounding to imagine managed to all come together, along WITH that talent!
I've always been amazed by John and Paul and their songwriter prowess: They didn't start a band to do THAT....they just wanted to "pull the birds"....only after G. Martin and/or EMI/Parlaphone informed them that they've got to do more than just cover Little Richard songs on albums did they discover they were generational (and then some) legendary songwriters....to the early point where THEY WERE GIVING SONGS AWAY AS EARLY AS '64 (Peter & Gordon, Cilla Black....that list is long)!!!!
Forget about good or not....just to have the inherent self-confidence (and generosity) to KNOW you can do this consistently (if not at will) to the point where you feel you can afford to arm your chart opponents with your own product!!!
Just mind-blowing! I mean....did that realization to Paul and John come after Song #1, #5....at what point are you convinced you've got enough "juice" in you to keep up The Beatles' need for material AS YOU GIVE IT AWAY!!??!!🤯
Does it show my shallowness that I got distracted by the photo of Ringo with dyed hair and beard and probably some plastic surgery? It could have been half-Photoshop and not accurate to how he looks. Now you make me feel guilty for putting the AARP mags directly in the recycling!:) Who can read such small print anyway! They should be putting out large-print magazines.
Also, you could put all of Andy's comment on a t-shirt. But no one older than 60 will be able to read it.
Welcome to 2024, Mr. Kyle! Looking forward to reading a gaggle of sonic explorations from your uniquely skew(er)ed brain!
Yep, and if I've not said it here, I've said similar elsewhere: Paul and Ringo are such gracious and eloquent ambassadors of The Beatles, and they've more than earned the right to NOT be, if they so chose. They could be the curmudgeons we've seen elsewhere, regarding their long-ago past, but they've been exceedingly gracious, and exactly what we could hope for with how they treasure their past!
None of that "oh, I don't dwell on the past...let's talk about my new record" folderol for them, and they should be applauded for that (among so many other things)!
Thanks, Jeremy! What a kind compliment! I must admit, I wasn't particularly moved to listen to it, myself, until I wrote about it. Nothing against Ringo; I'm just happy he's still around and ABLE to record, regardless of the outcome! His voice hasn't changed a whit in all the decades!
I AM tickled by the youngsters (Paul notwithstanding) Ringo enlisted here. First of all, they had to be flattered to be asked, and secondly, they've now got a story for life to say they once (at least) played with Ringo! Plus, you gotta gawk in awe at the only one in the room who has the cache to just toss off the ole, "So, Paul, why don't you write me a song?" line, and not only "get away with it," but actually GET a song!! Thanks again, Jeremy.🙏
Happy New Year to you and fellow FR&B readers! Killer piece... was a treat! Love how the story is driven by the quotes/statements. Makes you feel like the protagonists are telling you their anecdotes/stories directly. So much about the Beatles has been written, and yet you managed to make us feel like we were just there as these legends were doing their magic! So aptly titled, Front Row and Backstage. All the best for 2024 and beyond!
Mercy! Thanks, Andy....if only all of your comment could fit on a t-shirt! Gotta hand most of the credit to AARP Magazine....see, it pays to be retired, if not elderly! BTW, AARP stands for the American Association of Retired Persons, and when you join (you can when you're 50, so I did that 18 years ago!), you get the magazine.
Because of all of what you said, I figured not many people would've seen the Tannenbaum interview (certainly not "foreigners" and/or those under 50)! So, with this new sit-down with Ringo, it gave me a chance to listen to it, weave a little bit of FR&B "magic," and poof!
Plus, it was fun finding a pic of the pre-Beatles Ringo with a personalized drum head fashioned with electrician's tape! Soon enough, Ludwig was happy to professionally slap a stylized "The Beatles" on his drum!
Thanks so much, Andy....your kind words are the perfect way to start a new year! And, all of it right back atcha across "the pond" to you and Stephan!
Enjoyed this, Brad, and happy new year to you! Not sure if you saw this, given our mutual AARP status, but the association is also sponsoring The Rolling Stones tour this year. Every time I see a flier for it, I have to laugh. Brilliant marketing on their part!
Thanks, Glenn, and Happy and Healthy '24 to you and all the Cook gang!
That one's all yours, Glenn, if ya want it (Stones tour)! Picture it: Spring 1964, Hornwood Dr. near Bellaire in SW Houston. I'm 8. The Beatles had just been on Ed Sullivan (and the way I hear it, his show, too😱). Immediately, "camps" started to form in our 'hood: The Beatles fans....all the "good" kids. The ne'er-do-wells and adolescent troublemakers all seemed to glom onto the Stones. That's it. That's my story. For as long as I've been a die-hard Beatles fan, I couldn't care less about the Stones. Remember, I was 8!
But, you're right, if Metamucil and tongue-logo-imprinted tennis balls (you know....for walkers!) aren't part of the merch table, they're missing a big boat!
Ringo has to be the most likeable Beatle (or at least the least dislikeable). Everyone seemed to get along with him, and he seems like he was a really fun guy to be around in those days.
I've always thought that. He seems to be so genuinely thankful and blessed to have gotten that job 6+ decades ago, and don't you love that last part, where Ringo reveals that if Paul hadn't gotten them off their respective fannies, there wouldn't be the priceless voluminous Beatles catalog? Amazing.
Dude! Paul was like a slavedriver, but you can't deny those results.
Not sure I ever heard that particular dynamic before. But, I've always been fascinated by (at least his) self-awareness: After a certain early point, tape was rolling on everything in the studio, photographers were present daily and constantly. Notes were feverishly taken, chronicling their every move.
With the era as we know it, long before phone ubiquity and color film, everyone from the band throughout their inner circle, was keenly aware of every literal moment being historic and worthy of salvaging and preserving.
Far from being self-congratulatory or annoyingly self-conscious (or worse, a self-parody.....OK, that bus thing), they were still able to create organic magic that was always of the moment.
Truly, they were one of a kind.
Well, say what you will about their legendary music, those intangibles (like slavedriver personality needed against otherwise less-motivated members) is astounding to imagine managed to all come together, along WITH that talent!
I've always been amazed by John and Paul and their songwriter prowess: They didn't start a band to do THAT....they just wanted to "pull the birds"....only after G. Martin and/or EMI/Parlaphone informed them that they've got to do more than just cover Little Richard songs on albums did they discover they were generational (and then some) legendary songwriters....to the early point where THEY WERE GIVING SONGS AWAY AS EARLY AS '64 (Peter & Gordon, Cilla Black....that list is long)!!!!
Forget about good or not....just to have the inherent self-confidence (and generosity) to KNOW you can do this consistently (if not at will) to the point where you feel you can afford to arm your chart opponents with your own product!!!
Just mind-blowing! I mean....did that realization to Paul and John come after Song #1, #5....at what point are you convinced you've got enough "juice" in you to keep up The Beatles' need for material AS YOU GIVE IT AWAY!!??!!🤯
To circle back, I understand it was only once Ringo was a part of the group that Martin began to see their real potential. That mix was magical.
Does it show my shallowness that I got distracted by the photo of Ringo with dyed hair and beard and probably some plastic surgery? It could have been half-Photoshop and not accurate to how he looks. Now you make me feel guilty for putting the AARP mags directly in the recycling!:) Who can read such small print anyway! They should be putting out large-print magazines.
Also, you could put all of Andy's comment on a t-shirt. But no one older than 60 will be able to read it.
Welcome to 2024, Mr. Kyle! Looking forward to reading a gaggle of sonic explorations from your uniquely skew(er)ed brain!
Thanks, Steve! Forward we go, into the fog!
uh, what fog?
Happy 2024 all you guys and girls out there!
Just reading all the names involved in this has me giddy. I can't wait to hear this!
Hope you like it, Kristen! I love that Ringo is one of the few in his 80s still pluggin' away!
Same! If there's anyone you actually WANT to hear still making music in their 80s, its legends like him. It's not half bad, either.
Yep, and if I've not said it here, I've said similar elsewhere: Paul and Ringo are such gracious and eloquent ambassadors of The Beatles, and they've more than earned the right to NOT be, if they so chose. They could be the curmudgeons we've seen elsewhere, regarding their long-ago past, but they've been exceedingly gracious, and exactly what we could hope for with how they treasure their past!
None of that "oh, I don't dwell on the past...let's talk about my new record" folderol for them, and they should be applauded for that (among so many other things)!
Amen to that!
This was so much more fun to read about than to listen to...however, I did try, thanks to you!
Thanks, Jeremy! What a kind compliment! I must admit, I wasn't particularly moved to listen to it, myself, until I wrote about it. Nothing against Ringo; I'm just happy he's still around and ABLE to record, regardless of the outcome! His voice hasn't changed a whit in all the decades!
I AM tickled by the youngsters (Paul notwithstanding) Ringo enlisted here. First of all, they had to be flattered to be asked, and secondly, they've now got a story for life to say they once (at least) played with Ringo! Plus, you gotta gawk in awe at the only one in the room who has the cache to just toss off the ole, "So, Paul, why don't you write me a song?" line, and not only "get away with it," but actually GET a song!! Thanks again, Jeremy.🙏
Happy New Year to you and fellow FR&B readers! Killer piece... was a treat! Love how the story is driven by the quotes/statements. Makes you feel like the protagonists are telling you their anecdotes/stories directly. So much about the Beatles has been written, and yet you managed to make us feel like we were just there as these legends were doing their magic! So aptly titled, Front Row and Backstage. All the best for 2024 and beyond!
Mercy! Thanks, Andy....if only all of your comment could fit on a t-shirt! Gotta hand most of the credit to AARP Magazine....see, it pays to be retired, if not elderly! BTW, AARP stands for the American Association of Retired Persons, and when you join (you can when you're 50, so I did that 18 years ago!), you get the magazine.
Because of all of what you said, I figured not many people would've seen the Tannenbaum interview (certainly not "foreigners" and/or those under 50)! So, with this new sit-down with Ringo, it gave me a chance to listen to it, weave a little bit of FR&B "magic," and poof!
Plus, it was fun finding a pic of the pre-Beatles Ringo with a personalized drum head fashioned with electrician's tape! Soon enough, Ludwig was happy to professionally slap a stylized "The Beatles" on his drum!
Thanks so much, Andy....your kind words are the perfect way to start a new year! And, all of it right back atcha across "the pond" to you and Stephan!
That is so cool. Very well thought and planned (and written, obvs!).
Thank you for your kind wishes. Right back at ya! All the very best to you too, my friend!
Thanks again, Andy. I'm gonna try and pick out one of your glowing sentences to include on my About page. I'll let you know!
Enjoyed this, Brad, and happy new year to you! Not sure if you saw this, given our mutual AARP status, but the association is also sponsoring The Rolling Stones tour this year. Every time I see a flier for it, I have to laugh. Brilliant marketing on their part!
Thanks, Glenn, and Happy and Healthy '24 to you and all the Cook gang!
That one's all yours, Glenn, if ya want it (Stones tour)! Picture it: Spring 1964, Hornwood Dr. near Bellaire in SW Houston. I'm 8. The Beatles had just been on Ed Sullivan (and the way I hear it, his show, too😱). Immediately, "camps" started to form in our 'hood: The Beatles fans....all the "good" kids. The ne'er-do-wells and adolescent troublemakers all seemed to glom onto the Stones. That's it. That's my story. For as long as I've been a die-hard Beatles fan, I couldn't care less about the Stones. Remember, I was 8!
But, you're right, if Metamucil and tongue-logo-imprinted tennis balls (you know....for walkers!) aren't part of the merch table, they're missing a big boat!