Tuesday, November 22, 2005

John F. Kennedy and The Beatles...


The late President John F. Kennedy never heard "I Want To Hold Your Hand", and there's a good chance he never heard any Beatles songs at all. Although the Beatles recorded in 1962 and 1963, the big Beatle Invasion didn't happen over here until January 1964, appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, and gave their first American Concert in Washington, D.C.

Some say the reason the Beatles hit so big here in America was because America needed something "good", a "breath of fresh air" after the tragedy of the Kennedy assassination. I don't know how much I would believe that; I suppose that from a sociological point of view, it's possible. Of course, it could also be that The Beatles were just very, very good at what they did.



















However, in a way, JFK and the Beatles are tied together for all eternity. You see JFK at upper left; he was assassinated November 22, 1963. At right is the Beatles' second English album, "With The Beatles", which has many of the songs later issued on the U.S. Version of that album, "Meet The Beatles". And it turns out, that the English LP, "With The Beatles" was also released on November 22, 1963. As one life ended, a whole realm of possibilities began.

Strange how things work out, ain't it?

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi,
I love your blof title "Thin Air"..
Thank you for posting about JFK and the Beatles..however, based on my reseached, JFK was aware of the Beatles and one of their early singles..probably Love Me Do, since he liked c and w.
cant say that one for sure, but yes, he liked the beatles!
read my Blog
"steveo's Blogdog!


keep up the great work!

11:33 AM  
Blogger Lil ol' me... said...

Hey, Steveo, that could be the case, JFK was aware of the Beatles. I know the Fabs did not get a lot of airplay in the States until "I Want To Hold Your Hand" broke in 1964. The only singles JFK would've heard, probably, were from "Love Me Do", up thru, perhaps, "Please Please Me"...all of those singles were released on small labels until Capitol picked up the Beatles' contract, but that's after JFK passed away. Those early singles might have been played somewhat, especially in a bigger metro market like New York or Washington. I can't picture a Kennedy as a C&W fan, though anything's possible. Thanks for stopping by~!

5:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

cd Dave,
Although what you say is true..they were big in england in 1963, and given Kennedy's international travels....
well, just perhaps he was aware...
the story i told you was quoted in
part from a very famous record producer...
JFK liked country...he also liked broadway music....(the Camelot lp
spun in his office quite often on the record player...
cd Dave please keep up the great work on your blog....!!!

7:56 PM  

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