Well dang, how sweet would that be?? Julian, Sean, James, Dhani and Zak?? If only...

I will absolutely not stop having a life just because things are confusing. I've come a long, long way to get to this point. So screw you, life. Keep on throwing the breaking-balls. I have the resources to overcome whatever you do.

The Beatles on Decca??

I'm currently listening to the Decca audition tape from 1/1/62. How would the band have turned out if Decca had signed them?? Would they have been as successful, or successful at all?

Immediate answer: NO. There are versions of "Money" and "Till There Was You" on the audition reel (keep in mind, over a year and a half predating the EMI recordings we all know). Both were much improved on with the benefit of more studio time and better arrangements (possibly due to the George Martin influence). The band sounds tired, mechanical and not overly impressive throughout.

But consider this:
The Decca session took place after an all-night drive in bitter cold from Liverpool to London. God bless Neil Aspinall for braving the drive in the craptastic van. The trip took much longer than expected and stress surely set in as they arrived late, hastily rushed into the most important gig of their career. Given the fatigue factor, the performances can't be expected to be perfect.

Some of the other cover versions played (things like "Sure to Fall," "To Know Her is to Love Her," "Memphis," "Crying, Waiting, Hoping") are inferior to versions heard on BBC radio in 1962 and 1963. These BBC recordings were recorded in similar conditions: usually one take allowed and in unfamiliar studio environments. The Decca tape suffers from a lack of Ringo behind the drums and the aforementioned fatigue. Would these have been issues if Decca had signed them, given them proper studio time and canned Pete Best??

Bottom line:
The songs chosen probably illustrated the best the Beatles had to offer at this point. They already had loads of experience onstage in Hamburg and the Cavern, with a diverse repertoire of music. Epstein had only recently become their manager and they had not yet peaked as songwriters (all the originals heard on the audition tape were later given away to other artists!!). The band gained invaluable experience as 1962 progressed, not the least hurt by the addition of Ringo Starr. We can't really evaluate the Beatles as a commercial venture yet, since they were not yet ready for the big time. Had this audition been held in later 1962, perhaps they would have been signed and history would have unfolded much differently!!

Back On The Train

Hey friends.

Spare yourself reading through my older posts here... they're a bit of a laugh. I decided to start up this thing again as a way of letting my thoughts out. Too many times they get stuck in my mind and need a place to live... they overstay their welcome.

So here I will be writing whatever is on my mind, ranging from the inconsequential to the musically profound. Enjoy.