The Soundtrack of Our Generation: The Beatles
The band that changed everything
There are places I’ll remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain~The Beatles
On Sunday, February 9th, 1964, Americans of all ages gathered around their black-and-whites to watch four shaggy-haired Englishmen fire the first salvo of the British Invasion.
That evening was a cultural inflection point. It was the cornerstone of what would become the soundtrack of our generation.
It began with these simple lyrics:
Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you — tomorrow I’ll miss you.
They played five songs that night: "All My Loving," "Till There Was You," "She Loves You," "I Saw Her Standing There," and "I Want To Hold Your Hand."
That was it, a generation was hooked.
Our parents scoffed, dismissing it all as a fad. Despite the dismissals, that performance was a devastating blow from which the age of swing and the great American songbook would never recover.
With the help of our friends from across the pond, baby boomers had laid claim to American pop culture.
Here they come
John, Paul, George, and Ringo were the advance party — there would be many more.
They were followed across the Atlantic by The Who, The Zombies, The Animals, and The Rolling Stones. That was only the beginning.
The door had been kicked wide open for Dusty Springfield, The Kinks, and The Moody Blues—they kept coming.
While the British Invasion was not the genesis of rock in America, it solidified what the likes of Elvis, Buddy Holly, and Chuck Berry had laid the groundwork for — the Beatles were the catalyst.
Rock and roll had become mainstream, it was here to stay.
The Ed Sullivan Show
Let me take you back to the night when it all began.
The Ed Sullivan Show aired at 8:00 PM Eastern Time from 1948 to 1971. On any given Sunday evening, over 40 million viewers tuned in. Appearing on Sullivan was a credential that almost every entertainer aspired to.
On the night of The Beatles’ first appearance on the show, 73 million Americans tuned in, which translates to 84% of the country's TV audience. It was a happening.
Only 5 years
Although all four members pursued solo careers, the band was present in the American music scene for just over five years. During that time, they released an impressive 11 albums, all of which were successful.
As prolific as they were, petty jealousies fueled a power struggle that led to their eventual downfall.
While The Beatles officially broke up in 1970, they recorded their last album, "Let It Be," in 1969. Their last public performance was the infamous Rooftop Concert in January of that year.
Despite their brief time together, they remain the most successful musical act ever, having sold over 600 million records.
The commercial achievements of the Fab Four were impressive and undeniable. Their cultural influences were more profound, insisting on challenging the status quo.
All we are saying, is give peace a chance ~The Beatles
Thanks to their iconic, recognizable, and diverse music, there was something for everyone. Their appeal was nearly universal, providing a social and generational common ground.
When a Beatles song comes on the radio, everyone knows the words — even now, nearly sixty years later.
And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make. ~The Beatles
Please join me as I reflect on our lives, we experienced so much. If you are younger, join us too—you will see how cool your parents were. Future posts:
Kennedy Assassination
Space Race
Woodstock
1969
And so much more.