Meeting the Beatles - a fantasy poll

[FretlessOnly]

I voted for the Revolver era, but to me, that runs April '66 - December '66, including the recordings of Paperback Writer and Rain through Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields (OK, so I stole a bit of another era; tough ). I would love to have been privvy to the recording innovations going on then; singing into Leslie speakers, adding effects on the soundboard, speeding up/slowing down and keymatching, backward recording (forget the Rain last line; those backward cymbals/hi-hat in Strawberry Fields are fantastic), grabbing effects boxes out of the Abbey Road studio closets and seeing what they could do, and then using them in a way they weren't meant to be used. Yeah, that's where it's at. Revolver is the highwater mark for me.

[brammy]

56-61 for me.
I would love to see them rockin the Star club or kaiserkeller !

Absolutely! And lets not forget the Cavern. And how about Litherland Town Hall with Chas Newby on bass?
http://blog.beatletracksband.com/2008/1 ... -hall.aspx

Litherland Town Hall, Hatton Hill Road, Litherland
On their returning from their first trip to Hamburg, The Beatles played their first gig here on 27th December 1960.
Having played Hamburg for 4 months they had changed into a hard and hungry powerhouse. Another memorable night here was 19th October 1961 when The Beatles and Gerry and The Pacemakers joined forces as The Beatmakers. The Beatles played here 8 times, their last gig being on 9th November 1961.

Litherland old.jpg (31.98 KiB) Viewed 1720 times

[shamustwin]

I chose Beatlemania era. At this time they appear to me to still have a bit of their provincialism (!), the rush of new fame and none of the huge ego (in-fighting, hard drugs) of the later period. More than likely not knowing if their next record would be their last, with all the new competition and and rapidly changing tastes.

[jimk]

I picked '56-'61 because they were just this rock'n'roll band, playing the sorts of gigs that we all have played, dives, beer halls, sock hops, that sort of thing. And there might have been a greater chance for me to have sat in with 'em and jam.

JimK

[Scastles]

Tough choices. I'd love to have been around them at what I consider their most creative period, the Revolver sessions. However, having been fortunate enough to see them in '64, Beatlemania was what it was all about. It was exciting. Decisions, decisions, but I went with my first choice.

[atomic_punk]

I chose Sgt. Pepper because meeting them then would have likely meant you could have spent more time, away from the masses, since they were not on tour. More relaxed.

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

56-61 for me.
I would love to see them rockin the Star club or kaiserkeller !

Absolutely! And lets not forget the Cavern. And how about Litherland Town Hall with Chas Newby on bass?
http://blog.beatletracksband.com/2008/1 ... -hall.aspx

litherland.jpg

Litherland old.jpg

Litherland old2.jpg

Wow! Litherland is where my Dad grew up... I stayed with my Grandmother in her house on Anderson Road in 1990, while I was working at the Liverpool Playhouse Theatre... I haven't been back since but I have fond memories of the place.

I picked 62-63 myself... Just before they became superstars, but when they had developed the magic.. SHE LOVES YOU, (on a battered Parlaphone 45 is still one of my fondest memories of the band.

[rickendelic]

I went with 56-61 for two reasons: 1) they were probably more fun to party with &, 2) I could show them all these cool songs I'd written

[tallpat1]

I chose the sgt p\Pepper era, I think the beatles were at their prime and produced what many believe is the greatest rock album of all time or at least that it changed the course of rock n roll. Love to be hangin out with the guys as they recorded it.
after Sgt pepper it seems the band was starting to break apart ,the white album is a great example most writing and recording was done by single member, Ringo quit, george almost quit. it was the beginning of the end. I don't think I would liked to have been there for all the drama. My second choice would be the early 62-63 before Beatlemania when the lads were not as big. would have been fun hanging out as a group maybe in Hamburg with Astrid and stu.

[lennon211]

I picked '56-'61 because they were just this rock'n'roll band, playing the sorts of gigs that we all have played, dives, beer halls, sock hops, that sort of thing. And there might have been a greater chance for me to have sat in with 'em and jam.

JimK

+1 for me. It would have been awesome to hang out at any time early on, but to see them and hang out in the clubs would have been the best.

[beatlefreak]

'62-'63 is my vote. The Beatles were at the height of their performing career, just about to take on the world, Besides, I love those first two album releases.

[kiramdear]

It's funny that nobody wants to have known them during the Let It Be/Abbey Road sessions.

[beatlefreak]

They were barely a group in 1969.

[kiramdear]

Yeah, you're right. I guess we've all seen the movie.