Beatles Trivia

"We don't like their sound," said Decca Recording Co. in 1962 when they rejected The Beatles. "And guitar music is on the way out."

In 1962, the Merseyside newspaper held a contest to find the most popular band in Liverpool. The Beatles called in multiple times, posing as different people, to vote for themselves. They won.

"Strawberry Fields Forever" is actually two versions of the same song which were mixed together by George Martin. The Beatles liked both versions and asked him if he could somehow put them together. One version is a half tone higher and slightly faster. When it was slowed down, it fit perfectly with the other version.

Paul McCartney wrote "Hey Jude" in his car before visiting John's son, Julian, who was disturbed by his parents' divorce. He wrote it to cheer him up. Paul intended to change the line, "The movement you need is on your shoulder," but when John heard it, he said, "No! I know what it means. Don't change it." Does anyone else know what it means?

"Yesterday" by Paul McCartney, has been voted the most popular song of the 20th century. It's music was written before the lyrics. Paul used the words "scrambled eggs" as he was composing it.

"Lovely Rita, Meter Maid" was written by Paul McCartney for the Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album after he got a parking ticket from a woman "meter maid" in Abbey Road.

The Beatle's TV debut was in 1962 on the BBC show "Teenager's Turn." Pete Best was the drummer. They played Roy Orbison's "Dream Baby."

"Dear Prudence" was written about Mia Farrow's sister, Prudence because she wouldn't come out and play with the Beatles and Mia when they were attending a retreat in India.

Two of the Beatles are left handed. It is obvious that Paul is because he held his bass left handed. But Ringo is also, which may partially account for his original drumming style.