Category: Beatles

STATIONS SAY NO TO BEATLES’ DISKS… AUGUST 13, 1966

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1966

LENNON COMMENTS REGARDING ‘JESUS AND CHRISTIANITY’ SPARKS OUTRAGE, GROUP’S MUSIC AIRPLAY BAN ACROSS U. S.

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK — The radio ban against playing Beatles’ records, which was begun last week by Tommy Charles and Doug Layton, WAQY, Birmingham, Alabama, has spread across the country, with dozens of stations refusing to program or play recordings by the British group.

British magazine Datebook July 29, 1966 issue with the controversial “Jesus” Lennon comment which fueled universal outrage around the world.

Cause of the controversy is a statement published in a British magazine, Datebook, dated July 29, 1966 and attributed to John Lennon. The statement follows:

“Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that: I’m right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now; I don’t know which will go first, rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was right, but his disciples were thick and ordinary.”

At a press conference held here late Friday, August 5, Brian Epstein, Beatles’ manager, said the statement was taken out of context. Epstein explained that Lennon meant “in the last 50 years the Church of England and, therefore Christ, had suffered a decline in interest.”

While the statement, confirmed by a Beatles spokesman, went virtually unnoticed in England, the reaction in this country was immediate.

In the aftermath of Lennon’s comments, Beatles records were banned from radio airplay by dozens of stations, sparked by B. J. Williams, seen here, a deejay from KSWO, Lawton, Oklahoma. (Click on image for larger view).

Greater impact has been in the so-called “Bible Belt” which is mainly in the southeast portion of the United States. But the ban has extended to other sections of the country. New York’s WABC has reportedly put Beatles records on the verboten list, but, at press time, the switchboard operator at the station said that not one of the station’s staff members could be reached.

B. J. Williams, deejay at KSWO, Lawton, Oklahoma, called for a Beatles “bonfire” and broke the Beatles’ latest record while on the air.

In Milwaukee, WOKY music director King Kbornik said he would not ban the record until he had seen Lennon’s remarks in print.

The extent of the ban is not known, but a majority of the nation’s radio stations will continue to program Beatles records. The group is scheduled to perform a concert at New York’s Shea Stadium August 23.

A spokesperson for Capitol Records, which issues Beatles recordings under it’s logo in the United States, said Lennon’s remarks were “quoted out of context and misconstrued.” END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; August 13, 1966)

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BEATLES RECORD-BREAKERS EARLY IN ’64 . . . MARCH 14, 1964

A MCRFB NEWS brief: 1964

CAPITOL CLAIMS BEATLES ‘REPEAT’

 

 

 

HOLLYWOOD — Capitol Records will release the Beatles’ second single, “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “You Can’t Do That,” tentative Monday, March 16, claiming advance orders will exceed 1,700,000 copies. The Capitol label plans asking the RIAA to certify the disk as a million-seller on the same date for release.

Both tunes were written by band members Paul McCartney and John Lennon and the songs were recorded in London on February 27, upon returning from their triumphant U. S. visit here. Capitol Records has three outside pressing plants working on the disk, in addition to its own two facilities. The disk is also slated to be released in Europe tentative Friday, March 20. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; March 14, 1964)

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WEST COAST SECURITY STRETCHED PROTECTING FAB FOUR… AUGUST 29, 1964

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964

Police Called On Special Duty; Beatle Antics Causes Headaches

 

 

 

HOLLYWOOD — The Beatles may be idols of teenage girls and the love of top 40 stations, but to California police, airport officials and hotel managers they spell trouble.

When the mop-topped British band arrived here last week for concerts at the San Francisco Cow Palace and Hollywood Bowl, they found their reservations at the Fairmont and Ambassador Hotel canceled because of management fears about what screaming hordes of teenagers would do to their property, stayed guests and jovial the quartet itself.

The group was scheduled to land at Lockheed Airport in Lockheed, California, for their concert Sunday (August 23)  at the Bowl, but officials nixed the idea, stating they didn’t want teenagers ruining their facilities.

“Beatlemania” frenzy displayed in full force during the 1964 Beatles concert performance in San Francisco.

The quartet arrived with accustomed hysteria and confusion at Los Angeles International Airport Tuesday, August 18, en route to San Francisco. Over 500 screaming girls flocked to the Pan American terminal when word was leaked that the Beatles was passing through L. A. Extra police were called in to supplement the regular airport security force. The Beatles touched down at 4:15 p.m. and were airborne at 5:45 p.m., appearing at a hastily arraigned press conference which accomplished nothing.

Forty-five minutes later, when they arrived in San Francisco, a howling mob of 5,000 hysterical teenage girls were there to greet them. More than 100 San Mateo County sheriffs and police officers fought back the hysterical youngsters.

The four were taken to the Hilton Hotel, one of the few places willing to rent them rooms.

To secure maximum protection for the Bowl concert, which Capitol planned recording, producers Bob Eubanks, Reb Foster (both of KRLA) and night club owners Michael Brown and Bill Uttley obtained the services of 149 Los Angeles policemen, with the city picking up the tab for the coverage because the Bowl is county property. When events are held in private facilities, police are often hired by the producers.

San Francisco producer Paul Catalana paid the salaries for 100 policemen, hired especially for the concert at the Cow Palace, but San Mateo County faced an estimated $4,000 tab for additional protection at the airport. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; August 29, 1964)

Police security in high-action during the Beatles performance at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. The date was August 19, 1964.
Fast-forward: September 14, 1964. The Cleveland police were heavily present posing as a security barrier from screaming female fans during the Beatles concert in Cleveland, sponsored by Top 40 WHK.

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KING FEATURES NEW BEATLES CARTOONS . . . OCTOBER 30, 1965

A MCRFB NEWS brief: 1965

Beatles Cartoon Ratings Success Saturday Mornings on ABC-TV

 

 

 

NEW YORK — King Features is reportedly planning another TV cartoon series based on a popular recording group. The company’s “The Beatles Series,”aired over Saturday morning over ABC-TV, has been running over a month, and, according to the Nielsen ratings, is reaching over 50 per cent of the audience with sets turned on in their time period. The series, produced in London by TV Cartoons, LTD., uses the English-accented animated-sounding voices of the Fab Four and the actual Beatles hit recordings in every episode as well. END

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 (Information and news source: Billboard; October 30, 1965)

Beatles cartoon image was created by Kail Tescar. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

This copyrighted Beatles cartoon image was created by Kail Tescar. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

A MCRFB NOTE: The Beatles cartoon series premiered on the ABC Television Network, Saturday September 25, 1965. The last Beatles cartoon episode aired on April 20, 1969. Al Brodax and the King Features team created the cartoon series in New York.

Beatles Cartoon Image (MCRFB) 1965 and 1966

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KING FEATURES: BEATLES CARTOONS ABC-TV ’65 & ’66!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTiPaNSv0d8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plcM-Z3CMaM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MReW-zgHch4

M O T O R   C I T Y   R A D I O   F L A S H B A C K S

A MCRFB ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: A special thank you goes out to Kail Tescar for allowing Motor City Radio Flashbacks to use his remarkably splendid Beatles cartoon image(s) above. For more on Kail Tescar‘s wonderfully created Beatles cartoon arts, you can visit his website here.

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Copyrighted material. Used with permission by the artist.  All rights reserved.

Beatles 1965 Cartoons (MCRFB) Banner

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BEATLES RECORDS BOOMING ON GLOBAL SCALE . . . FEBRUARY 29, 1964

From the MCRFB news archives: 1964

BEATLES GROSS $17,000,000 PLUS IN 6 MONTHS

 

 

 

NEW YORK — In the six months prior to the peak of their American success, Beatles records grossed $17,500,000, according to EMI Managing Director John Wall.

This figure, which does not include the huge sales of Beatles records here in the United States, shows the staggering impact the group has had on the record industry around the world.

The Beatles performing in America, 1964 (click on image for larger view)

Beatles records, whether “I Want To Hold Your Hand” or “I Saw her Standing There,” have risen to the top of the charts around the world on a grand scale. Besides England and the United States, the Beatles have topped charts globally whether in Australia, Eire, France, Holland, New Zealand, Norway and Hong Kong. Yet to be tapped by the hot British band are the Spanish speaking nations in Europe and South America, Germany and Japan.

The push is already on. In Spain, for instance, strong publicity is being done to further advance the pop group’s sensational rise. Also, the Beatles’ “I Want To Hold Your Hand” and other Beatles chart hits is gaining widespread popular airplay on the radio in Spain. A recent cover of the Spaniard fan magazine Discomania showered the Liverpool group with a large feature coverage. As planned, the strategy would be to further promote the “new Liverpool sound” which could potentially translate into a huge global market share there as well.

With the Beatles’ music popularity on the rise in Spain, it is anticipated it may become easier to introduce Beatle records through Central and South America, in the coming months ahead. It is commonly known that Spanish-speaking nations are tougher markets for English-speaking artists.

For the powerful German market, the Beatles have cut records in that country’s native language. This country has become a tough market for English-speaking artists in recent years as well. The German Beatles disks were cut in France during the group’s recent tour there prior to coming to America. END.

 (Information and news source: Billboard; February 29, 1964).

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FLASHBACK POP MUSIC HISTORY: FEBRUARY 28

From the MCRFB Music Calendar:

Events for this date: FEBRUARY 28

 

 

 

 

 

 

1962: Legendary deejay Murray The K threatens to leave New York’s WINS-AM after the station considers changing from their TOP 40 rock and roll format to adult easy-listening.

A recent photograph of the (thanks to the Beatles) world-famous Cavern Club in Liverpool. (Click on image for larger view).

1963: John Lennon and Paul McCartney compose the Beatles’ next hit, “From Me To You,” while on a bus tour from York to Shrewsbury in Shropshire, England, while on tour with Helen Shapiro.

1966: Over 10,000 pounds in debt, the owners of Liverpool’s famous Cavern Club — where the Beatles got their start — decided to close the rock institution. 100 fans barricade themselves in the club, but to no avail. The venue would later become a subway station, although the Cavern would re-open in a different location.

1976: At tonight’s Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Paul Simon picks up Best Pop Vocal and Best Album awards for Still Crazy After All These Years. In his acceptance speech he remarked, “I’d like to thank Stevie Wonder for not releasing an album this year.”

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(Pop Music events source: oldies.com/)

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