1, One More Time

"'The Beatles, their music, their work and their images is as strong as (it's) ever been,' Lindsey-Hogg said. 'You can't beat them. You can't beat the Beatles.'" -From interview with Jacque Wilson Smith, CNN http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/20/entertainment/beatles-restored-music-videos/

It was 1957 when John Lennon and Paul McCartney started playing together, it was 1958 that George Harrison was added to the group, and four years later, Richard Starkey fell into place behind drums to form The Beatles. A little Liverpool group that made it to number one and has held that spot, at least in my opinion, as the number one band of all time, with twelve studio released albums {search and read about each album here}, Four films, Eight time Grammy winners, honored as Members of The British Empire, and much more, including Twenty Seven number one Singles.  It was only appropriate that this number one band with a near three dozen number one singles have their own number one album; Beatles 1. 

Beatles 1 was originally released on 13 November, 2000 featuring every number one single released by these Liverpool Lords in the United Kingdom and United States from 1962- 1970. It was no surprised that within hours of being released this number one album shot to number one on charts across the world. This album not only topped charts across the globe, but became the fourth best-selling album in the United States - best-selling album in the US of the decade {2000-2009}, and making it the number one selling album of the decade worldwide! 

The album includes the following tracks;

1. Love Me Do
2. From Me To You
3. She Loves You
4. I Want To Hold Your Hand
5. Can't Buy Me Love
6. A Hard Days Night
7. I Feel Fine 
8. Eight Days A Week
9. Ticket To Ride
10. Help!
11. Yesterday
12. Day Tripper
13. We Can Work It Out
14. Paperback Writer
15. Yellow Submarine
16. Eleanor Rigby
17. Penny Lane
18. All You Need Is Love
19. Hello,Goodbye
20. Lady Madonna
21. Hey Jude
22. Get Back
23. The Ballad of John and Yoko
24. Something
25. Come Together 
26. Let It Be
27. The Long and Winding Road

The album was remastered and released, with once again an over whelming success, in September 2011. However, it may be Forty-Five years since The Beatles broke up {10 April, 1970} their music is still thriving. With that being said, look out world because on 6 November, 2015 The Beatles 1 is being re-released with twenty-seven digitally enhanced promotional videos for each number one hit! On top of that it will include twenty-three additional videos of the bands television appearances and rare footage. 

Dennis Michael, a longtime Beatlemaniac told CNN News the following;  

"Grainy, bad-sounding versions of The Beatles' early music clips have been bouncing around YouTube for years, but now they're back in their vivid glory."

Michael couldn't be anymore on point. Along with Dennis Micheal, many other fans eaglerily wait for the release of this brillant restored album featuring;

Disc 1:

1. Love Me Do
2. From Me To You
3. She Loves You
4. I Want To Hold Your Hand
5. Can't Buy Me Love
6. A Hard Days Night
7. I Feel Fine 
8. Eight Days A Week
9. Ticket To Ride
10. Help!
11. Yesterday
12. Day Tripper
13. We Can Work It Out
14. Paperback Writer
15. Yellow Submarine
16. Eleanor Rigby
17. Penny Lane
18. All You Need Is Love
19. Hello,Goodbye
20. Lady Madonna
21. Hey Jude
22. Get Back
23. The Ballad of John and Yoko
24. Something
25. Come Together 
26. Let It Be
27. The Long and Winding Road

Disc 2:

Paul McCartney audio commentary for “Penny Lane,” Hello, Goodbye, “Hey Jude”

Ringo Starr filmed introductions for “Penny Lane,” “Hello, Goodbye, “Hey Jude, “Get Back”

‘The Beatles 1+’ Bonus Material

Disc 2 Videos:

1. Twist & Shout
2. Baby It’s You
3. Words of Love
4. Please Please Me
5. I Feel Fine
6. Day Tripper (alternate)
7. Day Tripper (alternate)
8. We Can Work It Out (alternate)
9. Paperback Writer (alternate)
10. Rain (alternate)
11. Rain (alternate)
12. Strawberry Fields Forever (plus Paul McCartney audio commentary)
13. Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows
14. A Day in the Life
15. Hello, Goodbye (alternate)
16. Hello, Goodbye (alternate)
17. Hey Bulldog
18. Hey Jude (alternate)
19. Revolution
20. Get Back (alternate)
21. Free as a Bird
22. Real Love

List From UltimateClassicRock.com

You can pre-order the album today by visiting TheBeatles.com

"The Beatles will go on and on."-George Harrison

Beatles Fest

Last year we celebrated The Beatles 50th Anniversary of coming to America {read about their coming here}, a day that shook not only the United States but an event that changed the world forever. It was also last year that New York celebrated their 30th Anniversary of The Fest For Beatles Fans, otherwise known as Beatles Fest.

50 years later on the exact day The Beatles landed at JFK Airport in New York, I was driving with my mom and my twin sister to The Big Apple to attend Beatles Fest after pleading with my parents to let me go; what really pushed them to finally drive us was Denny Laine's {Read some about Denny Laine here and here}appearance and my underlying love for him. Also, I had saved up enough money from past birthdays and Christmas's  to buy a hotel room for the night.  But this post isn't going to be about my experience at The Fest, but about the history of the fantastic event that combines Peace, Love, Good Vibes as Fans from across the nation and the world come together to celebrate the lives, stories, history, music, and love of The Fab Four. 

Mark Lapidos

The idea of Beatles Fest came from  Sam Goody Record Store's manager, Mark Lapidos in 1974. Lapidos himself was born in New York but raised in the state of great musicians, from Sinatra to Springsteen, New Jersey. With his Jersey background, Mark didn't find himself obsessing over Jersey musicians as other's around him might have, instead Lapidos fell under the spell we all did when we first heard that Ludwig drum, that smooth bass grooves, and perfect guitar melodies of these long-haired Liverpool Lords; The Beatles. 

At age 26, this Beatles devotee decided it was appropriate to celebrate the world's biggest band on their 10th Anniversary of The British Invasion and create a celebration to bring other's like himself, who thrive on Beatles music, in a weekend of pure Beatlesque and music loving festivities. With this dream all coming true Mark took on the challenge to put his vision in action, by doing so he had called the Commodore Hotel in Manhattan, New York and booked every convention hall and/or room for a beautiful late summer, early autumn fest.

Loyal, Mark Lapidos made sure to get permission from The Beatles themselves before throwing such and extravagant event. During a March of Dimes Walk-A-Thon in Central Park on 28 April, 1974 Lennon had not only found himself on a Lost Weekend but found himself at this event with who else than Harry Nilsson. But what does this have to do with the fest? Well, it's said, actually stated on The Fest site, that this day is the most important day in Beatles Fest history. Without this day I might not be writing this little article right now; on this day Mark Lapidos sat down with John Lennon and Harry Nilsson and discussed his idea of starting a Fest. It was just like Lennon to respond with;

"I'm all for it. I'm a Beatles fan, too!"

Read more about Mark and John's meeting here. 

With this blessing, and later getting permission from the other three, the first annual Beatles Fest was held in early September, 1974 with an outcome of over 8,000 fans! To make the first Fest even better, all four members donated musical instruments that were not only shown on display at the hotel but held and auctioned for charity.

Mark and The McCartney's

With success of the first year, even landing an article in Rolling Stone magazine, the fest has grown to be a tradition with annual fest all across the country. From New York, Chicago, Los Angeles ...  And within the running of these festivals Lapidos has met Paul and Linda McCartney, who were big supporters of the event, and George Harrison, who gave permission for the first West Coast Fest!

The Fest is filled with activities such as live concerts, galleries of photographs and art, meditation classes, games, Look-A- Like contest, contests, open mics, Vendors selling great merchandiser, and special Guests! These guest range from Beatles authors, Beatles friends or affiliates, Musicians, and more! Some past {and present} attendees include;

• Freda Kelly
• Cynthia Lennon
• Pattie Boyd
• Astrid Kirchherr
• Gerry Marsden
• Tony Sheridan
• Denny Laine
• Mark Rivera
• Peter Asher
• Gordon Waller
• Klaus Voorman
• Victor Spinetti
• Pete Best
• Donovan
• Micky Dolenz
• Lawrence Juber
• ....

"Most remarkably, even from the very start, the Fest attracted not just first-generation Beatles lovers who had enjoyed the Beatles in the 1960s – but also younger fans who were just discovering the band. That phenomenon has continued. Now the Fest is attended by several generations of Beatles lovers – with the fastest-growing demographic being attendees in their teens and twenties." -Fest For Beatles Fans Official Website

I already have my tickets purchased for this years New York Fest this weekend. Do you have yours?

For more details check out TheFest.com

Peace, Chaos and Good Vibes.

Articles That May Interest You;

• Beatles Coming To America
• Beatles Ed Sullivan Shows
• George Harrison - What Is Life?
• Paul McCartney Valentine's Concert
• Macca Remembers
• Postcards From Paradise music video
• Ringo Starr Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame