Original Fans' Remembrances of Record Releases
-
I'm very curious to hear what the original fans (who were listening to and buying the Beatles' records as they were released) remember about the Beatles' singles and albums when they were new. (I became a fan in 1976, so it's a different perspective for me.) For instance, if you became a fan in the US around the time of the Ed Sullivan appearance, then the first "new" single to come out after that would have been "Can't Buy Me Love." How thrilled were you to hear something fresh off the press, as it were? Or how about "I Feel Fine" with its feedback intro, or "Strawberry Fields Forever" with the multiple fadeouts and impressionistic lyrics? Or the Let It Be album, after it had been delayed for so long? Even if you can just remember one or two highlights, that would be great, but I'd love to hear as much as you want to tell!
-
OMG, it was fantastic! It seemed like every time you turned around, a new Beatles single or album would be released! Then it got longer & longer between albums. When I was 15 and Let It Be finally came out, I wasn't aware at first that it was actually recorded before Abbey Road! The Beatles songs/albums were the soundtrack of my growing up. The summer of '67 when I was 12, all we did was play Sgt. Pepper! And I can remember being at my cousin's wedding Dec. 23, 1967 and discussing MMT with my other cousin. (it had just come out in early Dec) I could go on forever, but you get the picture!
-
When The Beatles were together each new single or album release was a major event, because music played a much bigger part in people's lives then. You only had AM radio and the 3 major TV networks so all your entertainment came through those. Then FM radio really got going in the late 60's with "album rock". There were no CDs or home movies, no video games, no internet, no satellite or cable, no smart phones or iTunes or downloading. It was all on vinyl or tape, and everything they put out sold in the millions. The Beatles connected all of young America, and eventually the whole world. I was glad to be alive then, and see it happen. Back then in the 60's, Record Stores were everywhere in America, and even grocery stores and pharmacies had record sections. I bought the just released single Ticket To Ride at a Singer Sewing Center store for 69 cents. This was before the movie Help! came out, and the Capitol 45 record label read "from the United Artists film Eight Arms To Hold You", which was the working title for the movie until John wrote the song. Another memorable release was when The Beatles (White Album) came out at the end of November '68. My family shopped at the Navy Exchange in San Diego, and they had a large record department. Only this was the new Beatles album, and I remember a huge rack of all-white record covers being placed prominently at the front check out stands.The 2-record set was going for $7.50, a lot of money at the time. I begged my mom to buy it for me, and she said she would get it for me as a Christmas gift, but I had to wait until Christmas to open it. I will never forget opening it on that Christmas of 1968, and pouring over the poster and the lyrics as we listened to it on my parents home stereo in the living room, something the kids were never allowed to do. But even my parents liked The Beatles, and we were all blown away by the album. I had most all their Capitol and Apple albums either immediately or soon after release, but in 1967 I got caught up in The Monkees craze which was full blown that year. So when Sgt. Pepper's came out I actually missed it, but picked up with them again when Magical Mystery Tour came out later that year. I finally got Sgt. Pepper's as a gift from a friend in '70 or '71.
-
beatlesfanrandy:
I had most all their Capitol and Apple albums either immediately or soon after release, but in 1967 I got caught up in The Monkees craze which was full blown that year. So when Sgt. Pepper's came out I actually missed it, but picked up with them again when Magical Mystery Tour came out later that year. I finally got Sgt. Pepper's as a gift from a friend in '70 or '71.
Sacrilege!
I was a Monkees fan too. Got their albums and watched the show, but I never missed a Beatles album or single! -
Nancy R:
beatlesfanrandy:
I had most all their Capitol and Apple albums either immediately or soon after release, but in 1967 I got caught up in The Monkees craze which was full blown that year. So when Sgt. Pepper's came out I actually missed it, but picked up with them again when Magical Mystery Tour came out later that year. I finally got Sgt. Pepper's as a gift from a friend in '70 or '71.
Sacrilege!
I was a Monkees fan too. Got their albums and watched the show, but I never missed a Beatles album or single!Well my only reason is I was 10 when it came out so I really couldn't understand it at that point. It wasn't pop music and The Monkees were easy to like. I had to wait until I was 13 or 14 to really appreciate Pepper, and I certainly did then!
-
I remember 1968 as the Year of The Long Song on AM radio. Hey Jude, and Richard Harris' MacArthur Park took up a lot of broadcast time. If the uncut version of Ina-Gadda-Da-Vida would have hit the top-40 airwaves, it would have meant a 24-hour, three-song monopoly.
-
beatlesfanrandy:
When The Beatles were together each new single or album release was a major event, because music played a much bigger part in people's lives then. You only had AM radio and the 3 major TV networks so all your entertainment came through those. Then FM radio really got going in the late 60's with "album rock". There were no CDs or home movies, no video games, no internet, no satellite or cable, no smart phones or iTunes or downloading. It was all on vinyl or tape, and everything they put out sold in the millions. The Beatles connected all of young America, and eventually the whole world. I was glad to be alive then, and see it happen. Back then in the 60's, Record Stores were everywhere in America, and even grocery stores and pharmacies had record sections. I bought the just released single Ticket To Ride at a Singer Sewing Center store for 69 cents. This was before the movie Help! came out, and the Capitol 45 record label read "from the United Artists film Eight Arms To Hold You", which was the working title for the movie until John wrote the song. Another memorable release was when The Beatles (White Album) came out at the end of November '68. My family shopped at the Navy Exchange in San Diego, and they had a large record department. Only this was the new Beatles album, and I remember a huge rack of all-white record covers being placed prominently at the front check out stands.The 2-record set was going for $7.50, a lot of money at the time. I begged my mom to buy it for me, and she said she would get it for me as a Christmas gift, but I had to wait until Christmas to open it. I will never forget opening it on that Christmas of 1968, and pouring over the poster and the lyrics as we listened to it on my parents home stereo in the living room, something the kids were never allowed to do. But even my parents liked The Beatles, and we were all blown away by the album. I had most all their Capitol and Apple albums either immediately or soon after release, but in 1967 I got caught up in The Monkees craze which was full blown that year. So when Sgt. Pepper's came out I actually missed it, but picked up with them again when Magical Mystery Tour came out later that year. I finally got Sgt. Pepper's as a gift from a friend in '70 or '71.
Great stories! These are the kinds of things I remember, but for me it started in the late '70s as far as new (solo) releases. But i can clearly remember getting all the Beatles' records during that time, too. It was amazing how fresh and new "Got To Get You Into My Life" seemed in 1976, so that was probably a big factor in my growing obsession.
-
What's that saying... You weren't really there if you can remember it or something like that.
: (see I can't even remember the saying) LOL...I googled it... If You remember the 60's you weren't there. But good on you all with those fab memories! 
-
Nancy R:
beatlesfanrandy:
I had most all their Capitol and Apple albums either immediately or soon after release, but in 1967 I got caught up in The Monkees craze which was full blown that year. So when Sgt. Pepper's came out I actually missed it, but picked up with them again when Magical Mystery Tour came out later that year. I finally got Sgt. Pepper's as a gift from a friend in '70 or '71.
Sacrilege!
I was a Monkees fan too. Got their albums and watched the show, but I never missed a Beatles album or single!I heard that in '67, The Monkees outsold The Beatles, The Stones and The Who combined!
-
I became a Beatles fan at age 7 1/2 in 1964. I always enjoyed The Beatles' songs and couldn't wait for the next songs to be released. Carried my transistor radio with me everywhere in order to hear one played for the very first time. Was I a HUGE fan back then? No. I found John Lennon to be subversive, although I wouldn't have known what that word meant back then. He was just a little too scary to me like he didn't have an edit feature in his brain. I felt very safe being a fan of The Monkees back then and that's the music I spent my babysitting $$$ on. Oh, and The Supremes, I bought their records too. I used to pretend I was Diana Ross in front of a mirror....singing into my hairbrush and extending my arms way out so as to block any view of anything behind me. Wonder where I got THAT from? Just as an aside...I bought only Beatles "Greatest Hits" albums through the years as a young adult and beyond. Eventually did not find John Lennon to be as scary as I originally thought he was so I do have an appreciation of him now. I think he is an individual who created great things because of his inner pain. Have always adored Paul though and that's how I got here. Have a lot of catching up to do to keep pace with the SUPER fans on this site. I am in awe....really.
-
Scarlett14:
I became a Beatles fan at age 7 1/2 in 1964. I always enjoyed The Beatles' songs and couldn't wait for the next songs to be released. Carried my transistor radio with me everywhere in order to hear one played for the very first time. Was I a HUGE fan back then? No. I found John Lennon to be subversive, although I wouldn't have known what that word meant back then. He was just a little too scary to me like he didn't have an edit feature in his brain. I felt very safe being a fan of The Monkees back then and that's the music I spent my babysitting $$$ on. Oh, and The Supremes, I bought their records too. I used to pretend I was Diana Ross in front of a mirror....singing into my hairbrush and extending my arms way out so as to block any view of anything behind me. Wonder where I got THAT from? Just as an aside...I bought only Beatles "Greatest Hits" albums through the years as a young adult and beyond. Eventually did not find John Lennon to be as scary as I originally thought he was so I do have an appreciation of him now. I think he is an individual who created great things because of his inner pain. Have always adored Paul though and that's how I got here. Have a lot of catching up to do to keep pace with the SUPER fans on this site. I am in awe....really.
I like to think we're super!
-
beatlesfanrandy:
Nancy R:
beatlesfanrandy:
I had most all their Capitol and Apple albums either immediately or soon after release, but in 1967 I got caught up in The Monkees craze which was full blown that year. So when Sgt. Pepper's came out I actually missed it, but picked up with them again when Magical Mystery Tour came out later that year. I finally got Sgt. Pepper's as a gift from a friend in '70 or '71.
Sacrilege!
I was a Monkees fan too. Got their albums and watched the show, but I never missed a Beatles album or single!Well my only reason is I was 10 when it came out so I really couldn't understand it at that point. It wasn't pop music and The Monkees were easy to like. I had to wait until I was 13 or 14 to really appreciate Pepper, and I certainly did then!
I was a wise 12 year old when Pepper came out!
-
audi:
Nancy R:
beatlesfanrandy:
I had most all their Capitol and Apple albums either immediately or soon after release, but in 1967 I got caught up in The Monkees craze which was full blown that year. So when Sgt. Pepper's came out I actually missed it, but picked up with them again when Magical Mystery Tour came out later that year. I finally got Sgt. Pepper's as a gift from a friend in '70 or '71.
Sacrilege!
I was a Monkees fan too. Got their albums and watched the show, but I never missed a Beatles album or single!I heard that in '67, The Monkees outsold The Beatles, The Stones and The Who combined!
You heard this where? Is it true?!
-
Yes it's true. The top selling album of '67 was More of The Monkees. They had three number one albums in that one year and they outsold everyone else.
-
beatlesfanrandy:
Yes it's true. The top selling album of '67 was More of The Monkees. They had three number one albums in that one year and they outsold everyone else.
Wouldn't have been hard to outsell the Who that year. They were not a blockbuster yet, and in the US especially sold very modestly.
-
beatlesfanrandy:
Yes it's true. The top selling album of '67 was More of The Monkees. They had three number one albums in that one year and they outsold everyone else.
Holy crap! And this was the year Sgt. Pepper came out and everybody bought that album!
-
I would have bought that "More of The Monkees" album that year....if I had had a turntable to play it on! Didn't buy my first album until just a few years later when I heard The Raspberries sing and wanted their album because it smelled like raspberries even through the plastic cover at the record store! I just realized how many words I've just used above that must be so confusing to the under twenty crowd!
-
Nancy R:
beatlesfanrandy:
Yes it's true. The top selling album of '67 was More of The Monkees. They had three number one albums in that one year and they outsold everyone else.
Holy crap! And this was the year Sgt. Pepper came out and everybody bought that album!
It's way off topic but More of the Monkees was the top selling album of 1967, was number one for 18 weeks, sold over 5 million and was the 3rd biggest seller of the entire 1960's decade, and the 12th biggest seller of all time to that point. And they had two more number one albums in that year alone. Certainly overall Sgt. Pepper would in time sell more and be more important, but in 1967 it was All Monkees all the time, at least in the U.S.! It was also a real coincidence that it was the first year without a Beatles tour so they helped too.
