Beatlemania Decline Produced Beatle’s Masterpieces

On the 29 August 1966 the Beatles performed what would be their last official live concert.

The venue was Candlestick Park in San Francisco. The decision that this concert was to be their final live performance was made because of live concert ticket sales being down. However, it was also around the same time that John made some very controversial comments regarding Jesus, and about the “Beatles being bigger than Jesus.” These comments, whilst ignored in Britain, created controversy and many protests in the United States and when the Beatles arrived in the country they were confronted by an uproar, people burning their records, and protesting loudly mostly across the southern American states.

Beatlefan Magazine’s executive editor; Al Susman was quoted as saying that: “In the summer of 1966, it was clear that ‘Beatlemania’ was declining.” He was also said that there were rumors that the tour might be cancelled as a number of the shows were not sellouts. The Beatles were back in London by 31 August 1966 and went their separate ways for time, eventually returning to the studio to begin recording Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. On the 24 November 1966 they began recording “Strawberry Fields Forever,” which was one of the tracks slated to go on Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was later removed from the project, and released as a single.

Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was released on 1 July 1967 and it was a masterpiece, outselling their previous albums and was just the beginning of a string of genius creations by the “Fab Four.” Just four months later the Magical Mystery Tour was released; along with their third movie of the same title in November 1967. In November 1968, the White Album was released which was a double album. Many fans felt that the White Album was a compilation of all four Beatles’ individual creations, and this album signaled the beginning of the end for the Beatles.

After the 'White Album' came the soundtrack for their animated movie of the same name, 'Yellow Submarine.' In September 1969, 'Abbey Road' was meant to be the Beatle’s final album was released. 'Let It Be' was released in 1970, which was also made into a movie and featured the Beatles final public performance on the rooftop of 'Abbey Road' studios. Next to 'Sergeant Pepper’s,' Abbey Road is the Beatle’s highest selling album and arguably their best. Side two of Abbey Road has been described by many as some of the greatest music ever written and performed by any artist.

Officially, many fans believe that Abbey Road was the Beatle’s last album given the tracks recorded, however it was released before Let It Be; which had some great tracks, nevertheless Let It Be was not the masterpiece Abbey Road was. The concert at Candlestick Park may have been their last official tour date, but it was not their final public appearance and it’s also quite possible that the above, masterpiece albums would not exist today if the Beatles had persevered with touring.

Sadly; during this time the Beatles began to fall apart. John was looking to go his own way and was recording music on his own as were George, Paul and Ringo. In 1970 the Beatles officially broke up, and the whole world waited with bated breath for a re-union, which did not come until the 'Anthology' series in 1995, where sadly John was not present, given his death in 1980.

Sources:

Beatles Bible

Beatlefan Magazine





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Copyright 2012 - Janelle Coulton