The British Invasion: The Beatles – Introduction

Overview

Until this point, we have focused almost entirely on American music. Beginning in this lesson, however, we will see the tremendous influence that British musicians began to exert on rock during the 1960s. The explosion of British music in general, and the Beatles in particular, is called the British Invasion. After the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in February of 1964, the British presence in rock and roll was firmly established.

Objectives

Recall the origins and early career of the Beatles, focusing on their career until about 1966
Recall the stylistic, personnel, and management changes of the Beatles before settling into the image of the Fab Four in matching suits
Describe the musical style of the Beatles from this early period and how they recorded their albums.

Introduction

Until this point in our study of rock, we have focused almost entirely on American music. In this and subsequent lessons, however, we will see the tremendous influence that British musicians began to exert on rock during the 1960s. The explosion of British music in general, and the Beatles in particular, is called the British Invasion. After the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in February of 1964, the British presence in rock and roll was firmly established. Beginning with the Beatles, British rock musicians established a firm presence in the world of rock and began to influence American rock musicians as well.

“When you think about rock at its origin, and you think of the Beatles and millions of kids screaming as loud as they can and running as fast as they can towards the Beatles, there's no one who is that kind of lightning rod, who commands that kind of power and has that kind of creative magma.”

-Jack Black

“'The Beatles' did whatever they wanted. They were a collection of influences adapted to songs they wanted to write. George Harrison was instrumental in bringing in Indian music. Paul McCartney was a huge Little Richard fan. John Lennon was into minimalist aggressive rock.”

-Chris Cornell

"When they hit it big, The Beatles were subject to massive taxes in England, which they sheltered by forming a public company to control their publishing rights. This company was bought out in 1969, and put up for sale in 1984, which is when Michael Jackson famously outbid Paul McCartney for the publishing rights to most of The Beatles songs. Jackson paid $47.5 million for the catalogue of over 200 songs, which in 1995, when Jackson needed cash, he merged with Sony for $95 million."

Songfacts