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The Beatles

The Beatles were a 1960s English guitar band formed in 1960 at Liverpool, UK.  The lineup comprised John Lennon (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Paul McCartney (bass, guitar, vocals), George Harrison (guitar, vocals), and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals). The band is regarded as one of if not, the most influential bands in music history and pop culture.

Following an initial period as a straightforward Mersey-beat group, later recordings saw them experiment with psychedelia, incorporating innovative production techniques involving tape loops and other effects. Although the group split in 1970, they have continued to influence many artists and bands everywhere.

Links to Peel[]

John Lennon (1940-1980), Paul McCartney (b.1942), Ringo Starr (b.1940) and George Harrison (1943-2001) were all born and brought up in Liverpool and were of the same generation as Peel. Yet their paths did not cross; Peel was born in 1939, was sent to boarding schools, was one of the last intake of National Servicemen, and moved to the USA in 1960. The Beatles were beginning their career at this time and remained little-known beyond Merseyside until their commercial breakthrough in 1963.

Eventually they became a global phenomenon, with fans and imitators in many countries around the world, but their rise to fame in Britain was accompanied by frequent session appearances on BBC Radio One's predecessor, the Light Programme. In July 1964 they were guests on the first edition of a new show, Top Gear, produced by Bernie Andrews and presented by Brian Matthew. The show was taken off after a couple of series but revived when Radio One began in October 1967, still with Bernie Andrews as producer. Although he was unable to book the Beatles for a session (their final BBC radio appearance was in 1965[1] ), he did provide Peel, at the time a great admirer of the Beatles, with the support he needed to become the programme's main presenter.

Before that, Peel's career had been transformed by "Beatlemania" in the US. By emphasising his Liverpool origins he was able to find work in radio as a "Beatles expert" on KLIF in Dallas. In 2004 he told Max Décharné:

There was a record shop in Dallas called Emstrom's.....I went in there one day and they guy behind the counter said, "we've just got this record in by this band from your part of the world, John" and I said "Who's that?" and he said "They're called The Beatles". I didn't think any more about it until it suddenly went mad, because everything that happened here over a two-year period happened in about two weeks in the States, completely out of control....(Mojo, December 2004, p.80)

He also told Max Décharné that "I did actually have a collarless Beatle-type suit at one stage. I don't think I had the courage to wear it very often, 'cos I looked a dick in it, basically." In an interview with Record Collector magazine, he recalled:

I never said that I did know the Beatles, but then again I never said that I didn’t....When The Beatles came to Dallas, I felt that I should try and establish contact with them, and I got to speak to Derek Taylor, and he very sensibly rebuffed me rather rudely, so I retired to my lair to lick my wounds.[1]

He later attended a Beatles Press Conference while working for KOMA in Oklahoma City.

John_Peel's_Views_-_The_Beatles

John Peel's Views - The Beatles

Peel on Pepper

On his return to Britain in 1967, the Beatles were at the height of their creativity, having just released the single "Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever". They were revered by many, including Peel's Radio London colleague Kenny Everett, and were regarded as far ahead of their pop contemporaries. The release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in June 1967 intensified this adulation and drew even more critical acclaim. The LP was previewed on Radio London on 12 May 1967 (reportedly its first play reduced Peel to tears) and became an essential part of the Perfumed Garden playlist; its atmosphere, a mixture of psychedelic strangeness and images drawn from everyday British life, was reflected in Peel's presentation style, alternately dreamy and down-to-earth. As a Liverpudlian, he sought to distance himself from the fashionable cliques of "Swinging London", hoping that his programme, its ethos expressed in the Beatles' song "All You Need Is Love", would appeal to a wider audience.

The Beatles were also involved with the London underground scene, whose newspaper International Times was supported financially by Paul McCartney, at the time a friend of IT editor Barry Miles. In a column Peel wrote for the paper in January 1968 there is a mysterious "Memo to J.L.",[2] which may hint at the friendship Peel developed with John Lennon (which he only revealed years after Lennon's death). Later, Lennon was a guest on Night Ride on 11 December 1968 and provided financial backing for a relaunch of IT in 1974, although by then Peel was no longer writing for the paper.

Throughout the late 1960s Peel retained his high opinion of the Beatles, playing their new records as they appeared, and after the band split up in 1970 he devoted most of a Disc and Music Echo column to a review of their film Let It Be, "for me, just about the saddest film I've ever seen"[3], saying "I love them like I love my brothers and my parents". In the early 1970s, their solo records featured in his playlists, but gradually his attitude towards the band began to change, perhaps because of their position in what was becoming an established canon of rock history - which, after the mid-1970s, began to be challenged. Much of their solo work was disappointing after the heights they had reached during their heyday as a band. In addition, as Peel got older he returned more and more to the key listening experiences of his youth, which had occurred in the 1950s when he discovered skiffle and early rock'roll. Despite the fact that he lived through the Beatle era, in his final years he saw Lonnie Donegan as a more important influence on his musical taste.

Festive Fifty Entries[]

1976 Festive Fifty

  • 'Strawberry Fields Forever (LP-Magical Mystery Tour)' (Parlophone) #17
  • 'Hey Jude (LP-Hey Jude)' (Apple) #14
  • 'A Day In The Life (LP-Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band)' (Parlophone) #9

2000 Festive Fifty (All-Time)

  • 'I Am The Walrus (LP-Magical Mystery Tour)' (Parlophone) #45

Peelenium[]

  • 'I Saw Her Standing There (LP-Please Please Me)' (Parlophone) (Peelenium 1963)
  • 'And Your Bird Can Sing (LP-Revolver)' (Parlophone) (Peelenium 1966)
  • 'I Am The Walrus (LP-Magical Mystery Tour)' (Parlophone) (Peelenium 1967)

John Peel's Record Box[]

  • Come Together / Octopus's Garden / Something (Melodica) 1969 (USSR release)

Sessions[]

  • None, although as mentioned above they did two sessions for the original series of Top Gear, presented by Brian Matthew on BBC Light Programme in 1964. Peel claimed his show (or possibly Bernie Andrews, who had produced their 1964 sessions?) had tried to book them but were turned down. (See 03 July 1992.)

Other Shows Played[]

(The list below is compiled only from the database of this site and Lorcan's Tracklistings Archive and is far from complete. Please add further information if known.)

The_Beatles_-_I_Saw_Her_Standing_There_-2009_Stereo_Remastered_HD-

The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There -2009 Stereo Remastered HD-

1967
  • 12 May 1967: Premier play of the Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album
  • 01 July 1967: Within You, Without You (LP - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone ("for the prophet Paul")
  • July 1967 (Radio London): (JP: “Tell everybody to absorb the message of the next record from our leaders.') (Pete Drummond (over song intro): “Absorb the message. Love.”)
    All You Need Is Love (7") Parlophone
  • 12 July 1967: All You Need Is Love (single) Parlophone (JP: “That’s number one this week, and it should be for every week too.”)
  • 12 July 1967: (JP: “This is the Sergeant Pepper track that has been glittering in my mind.”)
    Fixing A Hole (LP - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone
  • 12 July 1967: She's Leaving Home (LP - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone
  • 16 July 1967: Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise) / A Day In The Life (LP - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone PMC 7027 (three tracks run together in a "Peelian construction")
The_Beatles_-_And_Your_Bird_Can_Sing_-_2009_Remaster_(Stereo)

The Beatles - And Your Bird Can Sing - 2009 Remaster (Stereo)

  • 17 July 1967: Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite (LP - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone
  • 17 July 1967: All You Need Is Love (single) Parlophone
  • 18 July 1967: The Word (album - Rubber Soul) Parlophone PMC 1267 John plays "If I Needed Someone" by mistake before flipping the LP
  • 18 July 1967: She's Leaving Home (album - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone PMC 7027
  • 19 July 1967: I'm Only Sleeping (LP - Revolver) Parlophone (JP: “I spent most of the day actually going back and listening to earlier Beatles LPs, and sort of listen to them develop while I was sitting there. And it just sort of flooded over me in the most extraordinary fashion. Beautiful it was too.”)
  • 20 July 1967: Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) / A Day In The Life (LP - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone
  • 22 July 1967: Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (LP: Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone
  • 22 July 1967: Norwegian Wood (LP: Rubber Soul) Parlophone
  • 02 August 1967 (or 11 August 1967): Day Tripper (single) Parlophone ("revived 45" from "the masters of love")
  • 06 August 1967: 'I'm Only Sleeping (LP-Revolver)' (Parlophone)
  • 07 August 1967: I Want To Tell You (LP: Revolver) Parlophone
  • 07 August 1967: Baby, You're A Rich Man (single - b-side of All You Need Is Love) Parlophone
  • 12 August 1967: Baby You're A Rich Man (7" - All You Need Is Love) Parlophone
The_Beatles_-_I_Am_The_Walrus_2014_Remaster

The Beatles - I Am The Walrus 2014 Remaster

*14 August 1967 (final Perfumed Garden)

  • Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band / With A Little Help From My Friends (LP - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone
  • And Your Bird Can Sing (LP - Revolver) Parlophone (JP: "Sparrows, no doubt. And I think I’ll just run on into the next track.")
  • For No One (LP - Revolver) Parlophone
  • Getting Better (LP - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone (JP: “It certainly is. Even the hang-ups are straightening out. You’ll find out.”)
  • She's Leaving Home (LP - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone
  • Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (LP - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone (JP: "Oops, all kinds of feedbacky things there.")
  • (JP: “Here was the first indication we ever had from the Beatles that they were becoming more aware of what was going on around.”)
    The Word (LP - Rubber Soul) Parlophone (JP: “Those are the Beatles and “the word is love” – which is exactly right. That sums it all up really. I keep saying that, but it really does.”)
  • 05 November 1967: Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (album - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone PMC 7027
  • 19 November 1967: Hello, Goodbye (7") Parlophone
  • 19 November 1967: I Am The Walrus (7" - Hello, Goodbye) Parlophone
  • 26 November 1967: I Am The Walrus (2x7" EP - Magical Mystery Tour) Parlophone MMT 1
  • 26 November 1967: Magical Mystery Tour (2x7" EP - Magical Mystery Tour) Parlophone MMT 1
  • 26 November 1967: Your Mother Should Know (2x7" EP - Magical Mystery Tour) Parlophone MMT 1
  • 26 November 1967: The Fool On The Hill (2x7" EP - Magical Mystery Tour) Parlophone MMT 1
  • 26 November 1967: Blue Jay Way (2x7" EP - Magical Mystery Tour) Parlophone MMT 1
  • 03 December 1967: I Am The Walrus (7" - Hello, Goodbye) Parlophone R 5655
  • 10 December 1967: The Fool On The Hill (2x7" EP - Magical Mystery Tour) Parlophone MMT 1
  • 10 December 1967: Blue Jay Way (2x7" EP - Magical Mystery Tour) Parlophone MMT 1
  • 17 December 1967: I Am The Walrus (7" - Hello, Goodbye) Parlophone R 5655
  • 24 December 1967: Your Mother Should Know (2x7" EP - Magical Mystery Tour) Parlophone MMT 1
  • 24 December 1967: Flying (2x7" EP - Magical Mystery Tour) Parlophone MMT 1
  • 31 December 1967: Blue Jay Way (EPs: Magical Mystery Tour) Parlophone (JP criticises the negative press reaction to the first showing of the Magical Mystery Tour film on BBC TV. It is due to be repeated on BBC2 on the following Friday, but Tommy Vance remarks that there are 20,000 owners of colour TV sets in the whole country)
THE_BEATLES_-_Strawberry_Fields_Forever

THE BEATLES - Strawberry Fields Forever

1968
1969
1970s
Beatles_-_Hey_Jude_-_Anthology_version_with_original_promo_film

Beatles - Hey Jude - Anthology version with original promo film

The_Beatles_-_A_day_in_the_life

The Beatles - A day in the life

  • Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey (2xLP-The Beatles) Apple
    (JP: "It's very difficult putting this programme together to decide which records to put in and which ones to leave out. For example, I was very wounded because I couldn't get And Your Bird Can Sing into the programme, but I didn't manage it.")
  • Here Comes The Sun (LP-Abbey Road) Apple
    (JP: "We're going to end this series of programmes with the Beatles' best record in my view: a prejudiced view of course, but this is....")
  • Hey Jude (LP-Hey Jude) Apple
  • 30 December 1976: Strawberry Fields Forever (LP-Magical Mystery Tour) Parlophone FF#17
    (JP: “John Walters and meself were talking recently to a girl who works at the BBC called Veronica, and discussing the Beatles, and she said, ‘Oh yes, I can just remember them.’ Amazing when you think about it.”)
    Hey Jude! (LP-Hey Jude!) Apple FF#14
    (JP: “My own favourite Beatles track didn't make it, unfortunately, which was And Your Bird Can Sing, but I'd like to thank the one person who did vote for it. Nice of them to try because it's a good record.”)
  • 03 January 1977: A Day In The Life (LP - Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone FF#9
  • DE Tape 11 Peel Late 1976 Early 1977: Dizzy Miss Lizzy (album - The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl) Parlophone EMTV 4
  • DE Tape 11 Peel Late 1976 Early 1977: Ticket To Ride (album - The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl) Parlophone EMTV 4
  • 29 April 1977: 3 tracks from (album - The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl) Parlophone EMTV 4
  • PM017: Revolution
  • 16 August 1977: Hey Jude (LP-Hey Jude) Apple
  • 07 October 1977: A Day In The Life (album - [https://www.discogs.com/master/23934-The-Beatles-Sgt-Peppers-Lonely-Hearts-Club-Band Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) Parlophone PMC 7027
  • 03 August 1978: My Guitar Gently Weeps (2xLP - White Album) Apple
  • 03 October 1978: (JP: “The only track on the Siouxsie & The Banshees LP that isn’t a group composition is Helter Shelter and it occurred to me that you might not have heard the original from 1968 from the Beatles’ ‘White Album’.”)
    Helter Skelter (2xLP – The Beatles) Apple
  • 01 February 1979 (Paul Gambaccini): Crying, Waiting, Hoping (album - The Decca Audition Tapes)
  • 19 March 1979: Do You Want To Know A Secret [LP – Please Please Me) Parlophone
  • 16 April 1979: I Want To Hold Your Hand
  • 18 September 1979: I Should Have Known Better (LP-A Hard Day's Night) Parlophone
  • 30 October 1979: Mr Moonlight
1980
1983
1988
1993
  • 15 May 1993: (Peel describes yesterday as grim. He had the unpleasant task, along with his brother, of going through his mother’s things at her house in London to decide what to keep. She had died the previous year and they were having to sell her property. He did find a press cutting, which his mother had kept, of an article written by him when he was working in Dallas about the Beatles. John reads some of it out.)
1994
  • 23 July 1994: Only A Northern Song (LP - Yellow Submarine) Apple
1999
2000
  • 05 January 2000: I Am The Walrus (LP-Magical Mystery Tour) Parlophone ATFF#45
Others
KMEN British Pop Top Ten
  • 18 Feb 1966: We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper (4)
  • 01 Jul 1966: Paperback Writer / Rain (3)
  • 08 Jul 1966: Paperback Writer / Rain (3)
  • 15 Jul 1966: Paperback Writer / Rain (1)
  • 22 Jul 1966: Paperback Writer / Rain (1)
  • 29 Jul 1966: Paperback Writer / Rain (2)
  • 26 Aug 1966: Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby (3)
  • 02 Sep 1966: Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby (1)
  • 09 Sep 1966: Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby (1)
  • 16 Sep 1966: Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby (1)
  • 23 Sep 1966: Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby (2)
  • 30 Sep 1966: Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby (2)
  • 07 Oct 1966: Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby (3)

Top Of The Pops[]

Covered[]

(The Beatles were probably the most covered of all artists on Peel's programmes; German band FSK even did a full session of Beatles covers. The list below was compiled from the Cover Versions page of this site and features only covers of original Beatles songs, NOT songs that the Beatles themselves covered. Please add further information if known.)

Performing Artist | Song | First Known Play

See Also[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Tracks from their two Top Gear sessions are available on the albums The Beatles – Live At The BBC and On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2.

External Links[]

  • [4] Wikipedia
  • [5] Official site
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