Promoting 'Meet the Beatles' (1964, January 20)
| To promote the 'Meet The Beatles' album and their upcoming first American visit, Capitol Records conducted the following interview with the Beatles. Discs of the recorded interview were then sent to American radio stations. It was created to be an 'Open-end' interview - meaning that once the interview was recorded, the questions were edited out so that local disc jockeys could read scripted questions along with the recording to sound as if they were personally conducting the interview. This promotional disc also contained 3 tracks from the album, 'This Boy,' 'It Won't Be Long,' and 'I Want To Hold Your Hand.' Q: "How did you ever decide on a name like The Beatles for the group?" John: "Well, I had a vision when I was twelve. and I saw a man on a flaming pie, and he said, 'You are Beatles with an A.' and we are." (laughter) John: "That's how it started, anyway." Q: "How did it all start for you, Paul?" Paul: "We made our first record at the beginning of 1963 and we had a hit with that. But I think, uhh, the whole bit really started when we did a Palladium show. and then later we were asked to do the Royal Variety Command Performance, you know, and we met the Queen Mother - and she started clapping." (laughs) John: "and Princess Margaret, too." Paul: "Yeah, and Princess Margaret." Q: "Do you know how many records you've sold up to the present time?" Ringo: "Uhh, well... The last count was, umm, six million, I think. John: (jokingly) "That's just Ringo's records." Paul: (laughs) Ringo: "Well, the others' are on sale." (laughter) Q: "Have you heard that your records are getting into the Pop charts in countries all over the world?" George: "Yes. Well, we've heard that our latest record 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' came into the Australian Top Twenty right at Number One, which is very nice. and I think it's selling in Finland and Sweden and other places like that, too." Ringo: "Also, Ireland." John: "Israel, I believe." Paul: (to John) "Oh yeah!" George: "Israel, to mention but a few." Paul: "I'm glad they like us." Q: "Bet you never thought you'd get that kind of world-wide acceptance." George: (jokingly) "Well, that's a nice thing to say, isn't it." (laughter) Ringo: "We're very lucky." Q: "There's a rumor that you fellas wear wigs." Paul: "No, it's a dirty rumor. We don't." John: "No, we cut it ourselves." (laughter) Q: "What influenced you fellas to let your hair grow so long?" Paul: "I think it was my dad, really. He said, 'You know, Paul, it's a bit square,' the haircut I had - you know, short back and sides. He said, 'Why don't you get a Beatle Cut, son.'" (laughter) Q: "Was there ever a time when you felt you were in danger of being mauled by exuberant fans?" Paul: "Well they get exuberant, you know, but we're uhh - We enjoy it. We don't come to any harm, 'cuz the policemen are equally as exuberant. The police have a great time." (laughter) Q: "Where'd you get those snappy jackets?" Ringo: "I don't know. We were just walking 'round town and looked in a shop window. and we liked it so went and just bought a jacket each, and decided to get suits made for the stage. That's how it started, you know, and we've worn them ever since." Q: "Well, you know you started a new trend among your fans." John: "Yeah, quite alot of 'em are wearing it. Quite alot of 'em aren't. But there are a few of 'em wearing it. (laughs) I've seen an old man in one, as well." Ringo: "I've seen an old woman." (laughter) John: "I saw four old men. Top that!" Ringo: (laughing) "I give in." Q: "Alot of your songs contain the words, 'you,' or 'me,' or 'I.' George and John: "'Please Please ME,' 'From ME To YOU,' 'She Loves YOU,' 'I Want To Hold YOUR Hand.'" Q: "Right. Now, what is the significance of that?" Paul: "No, the only idea about that is that, uhh... When we sing songs, we prefer to sing ones with a sort of personal touch, you see. So, the best way to get that into a song is just to write them with 'I' or 'you' or 'me' or 'him' or 'through' or 'by' or 'that.'" (laughter) Q: "What brings you to the U.S. at this particular time?" George: "Well, we're over here to do three Ed Sullivan TV shows, and meet the press, and a bit of a rest on Miami Beach." Q: "Are there plans for a movie?" George: "Yeah. Well, when we get back to England from this current visit of America..." John: (giggling) "...to America." George: "...by America, yeah. Well, you see, we're making a film - which we don't know the title of - but it should be a film just about us." Paul: "We don't know the script, and we don't know what songs will be in it." George: "It should be released in the states by the end of this year sometime, we hope." John: (laughing) "With no title and no songs!" Paul: "and no script." Q: "We'd like to thank you for dropping by, and we wish you the best on your U.S. tour." George: "Pleasure to be here." Paul: "Thank you." John: "Bye Bye." Ringo: "Thank you very much." Source: Audio recording of the interview |