Although Forgotten Hits began in November of 1999, we didn't post our first web page until February 9th, 2008. (Previously, everything had gone out via email. Can you even imagine?!?! EVERYTHING!!! All of the music, all of the photos, comments and links ... and we were damn-near daily back then, too ... with the largest list of subscribers we've ever had. I think with an AOL White Pages bulk mail account and proof that what we were sending wasn't spam but rather requested information, it still took us sixteen emails per day to reach everybody!!!)
Well, on that faithful day, we chose a subject matter that is still near and dear to our heart ...
IS THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES STILL RELEVANT ... IN 2008?
Here is a reprint of portions of that very first post ...
Along with some new comments from yours truly about all that has transpired since in this regard. Enjoy!
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Several times over the past nine years we've addressed the on-going debate as to just how relevant the music of THE BEATLES has been (with the benefit of 40+ years hindsight.) There seem to be many on the list who feel that, were it not for all the hype and the $1,000,000 investment made by CAPITOL RECORDS to let The United States know about them, THE BEATLES may have just been "another band from the '60's" ... if they EVER got airplay here in America at all. (Keep in mind that their first four British releases were virtually ignored here in The States until CAPITOL RECORDS organized the push behind I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND!!!)
WHY this debate continues is beyond me ... all one has to do is turn on the radio ... you'll STILL hear at least 20 BEATLES song every single day, spread out ALL over the radio dial, regardless of format. Their music has lived on and often seems to grow in stature ... how these SAME four musicians and song writers went from the simplicity of LOVE ME DO to RUBBER SOUL and REVOLVER to SGT. PEPPER and LET IT BE is a music journey unparalleled by any artist of our generation.
And no greater proof of this may be evident than on tomorrow night's GRAMMY AWARDS Program ... where the music of THE BEATLES will be spotlighted (and honored) once again. PAUL McCARTNEY is up for THREE awards for his MEMORY ALMOST FULL album ... the LP is nominated for BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM, the song ONLY MAMA KNOWS got a nod for BEST SOLO ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE and the album's catchy opening cut DANCE TONIGHT is up for THE BEST MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE Award.
Meanwhile, two compositions by PAUL's former writing partner, JOHN LENNON, are ALSO up for significant awards. Incredibly the GREEN DAY version of WORKING CLASS HERO and the U2 version of INSTANT KARMA are competing against EACH OTHER in THE BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS category!!!
And, to top things off, the cast of the film ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (which uses BEATLES music exclusively in its soundtrack) will team with the cast of CIRQUE DU SOLEIL (who perform the INCREDIBLE BEATLES' LOVE musical to sold out audiences every single night in Las Vegas) for a live performance of a special BEATLES song medley on the program.
THE BEATLES were NEVER properly honored to their truly deserved potential by THE GRAMMYS in the past (one report I read stated that collectively, THE BEATLES had won a total of 12 GRAMMYS overall ... however, I was able to find a total of SEVENTEEN awards spread out over all of the group members. This includes Best New Artist of 1964 ... jeez, imagine them losing THAT one!!!) Then again how can anyone explain the group NOT winning Song Of The Year for "Yesterday," the most-recorded song of all time?!?! (It lost to "The Shadow Of Your Smile" ... let's face it ... The Grammys were never the "hippest" group of music people at the dance!)
This is a fitting hindsight tribute to the timeless music that JOHN, PAUL, GEORGE and RINGO have created over the years. MUST SEE viewing to be sure!!! (Sunday Evening, February 10th, at 8 PM Eastern, 7 PM Central on CBS Television.)
kk
BEATLES-Related GRAMMY AWARDS:
1964 - Best New Artist
1964 - Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Group: A Hard Day's Night
1966 - Best Contemporary Solo Vocal Performance: Paul McCartney -
Eleanor Rigby
1966 - Song of the Year: Michelle (John Lennon & Paul McCartney)
1967 - Album of the Year: SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND
1967 - Best Contemporary Album by a Group Vocal:
SGT. PEPPER's LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND
1970 - Best Original Score for a Motion Picture: LET IT BE
1971 - Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocals: Paul McCartney -
Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey
1972 - Album of the Year: THE CONCERT FOR BANGLA DESH
(George Harrison and Friends)
1974 - Best Pop Vocal by a Group: Band On The Run (Paul McCartney & Wings)
1979 - Best Rock Instrumental by a Group: Rockestra Theme
(Paul McCartney & Rockestra)
1981 - Album of the Year: DOUBLE FANTASY (John Lennon & Yoko Ono)
1989 - Best Rock Performance Vocal by a Group: The Traveling Wilburys
(including George Harrison)
1996 - Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Group: Free As A Bird
1996 - Best Music Video by a Group: Free As A Bird
1996 - Best Long-Form Music Video: THE BEATLES ANTHOLOGY SERIES
2003 - Best Pop Instrumental: Marwa Blues (George Harrison)
Since our post first ran in 2008, The Beatles (or Beatles-related material) have been nominated for any number of awards ... and have managed to add a few more to their tally. In fact, even on the music charts The Beatles continue to outsell some of the biggest artists of today with reissues of their catalog albums and special compilation releases. (This is also true of some of their solo work.)
Which leads us to the question ...
