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Hey!

We talk on this forum about the Ventures and other instrumental bands, but I'm wondering how many of you were brought into guitars because of the Beatles.

My coworkers bought me a copy of Rolling Stone's The Beatles' 100 Greatest Songs Friday, and I am nearly through it. What a band and what a collection of songs.

I was born in '52, and I can remember what an impact the Beatles had on me in the summer of 1964. At first, I was under the impression that the Beatles were a band that only girls liked, as I had a couple of girl cousins who were daffy over them. I actually missed seeing the Beatles at the Gator Bowl that September, even though my uncle had bought me a ticket, because of that.

It took another cousin, slightly older, who had a brief career in music before flaming out, to tell me, "Hey; those guys are real musicians. They aren't just fakes." It was like he gave me permission to respect what they were doing and there was always such excitement when they came out with a new record.

After Rubber Soul, it usually it took a few days for me to "get" what they were doing on a new album, and I can remember wondering what in the heck was going on with the White Album. It just seemed to be all over the place.

But the Beatles were responsible for me switching from sax to bass guitar to guitar, and I still love their music. What a band!

--Jim

The Beatles were just a little before my time and I was never drawn into their music. I was more into Elvis (Scotty Moore), The Who, Bruce Springsteen to name a few.

I remember watching the Beatles cartoon on TV while 'playing' along with the songs on a tennis raquet or a cricket bat. I also remember my collection of Beatles bubblegum cards which ended up who-knows-where and the Beatles record which my brother hit me on the head with when we were arguing over who owned it.
They were great days.

I always enjoy listening to The Beatles.

For guitar playing, I chose The Ventures over The Beatles when I was in the college. I appreciate them more recently when I started to learn the instrumentals of The Beatles' hits by The Ventures, The Shadows and Nokie Edwards.

I like Paul McCartney particularly, so I got myself a Hofner bass.

I remember 'Beatlemania' sweeping the country (1964 and still living in Johannesburg) and the 'mood' the whole city seemed to be in after I saw "A Hard Day's Night" in a cinema -of course- (or "Bioscope" as they were called in S. Africa)

It was when -but more the way in which- the Beatles uttered the degree of their popularity that I found myself having to radically revise my opinion of them as persons (one band member in particular)...and not for the better. Their early works have made the biggest impression on me; great musicians, composers and performers, each and every one of them.

I loved the Beatles too, and I was also put off at first by the crazy adulation by the teenage girls. Not their fault I suppose. Just a real fan of the 60's music in general , Domestic (U.S.) and the British invasion. And of course a super fan of the Ventures who hit their stride in the sixties.

I started playing guitar because of The Ventures, continued playing because of The Beatles.
Jim

I have a somewhat controversial view on the some Beatles music. Am I not a fan? Sure, I am! And I'll gladly listen to any one of their albums any day. EXCEPT for Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club. Overall, that album just ain't for me.

The first time I ever heard a Beatle song was one night in 1964 ...I was lying in bed and the radio was on......."I Wanna Hold Your Hand" came on.....holy cow.......I loved the sound! The guitars sounded so cool and different....McCartney and Lennon are/were musical geniuses.....
They are on top of my list of vocal groups along with the Eagles and the Beach Boys.....

rog43win wrote:The first time I ever heard a Beatle song was one night in 1964 ...I was lying in bed and the radio was on......."I Wanna Hold Your Hand" came on.....holy cow.......I loved the sound! The guitars sounded so cool and different....McCartney and Lennon are/were musical geniuses.....
They are on top of my list of vocal groups along with the Eagles and the Beach Boys.....

I still listen to that song.
Jim