The Beatles, 1967

Since the group's last concert, Brian Epstein tried to find other projects: theater, managing other singers, and promoting other concerts by name acts, such as The Four Tops.
Epstein was also actively seeking a business partner who could take over the whole NEMS operation from him (There was a separate branch Nemperor Artists, formed with lawyer friend Nat Weiss, that represented NEMS acts in America, like The Cyrkle.)
Enter Robert Stigwood, who already had a roster of new acts-Cream, The Bee Gees, TheMoody Blues, and Jimi Hendrix, among others. Stigwood became NEMS's joint managing director, pending acquisition of a majority shareholding. The merger happened on Jan. 21 st ; Epstein retained sole control over the Beatles.

But in spite of all this, early in 1967, Epstein made a second suicide attempt. He failed.

With the advent of this year, the Beatles were now in the position of having to out-do rivals that they themselves had created.

Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys was blown away by Rubber Soul and became inspired and challenged to try to out-do the Beatle album.

The result? "Pet Sounds".

This equally landmark album was recorded almost exactly by Brian Wilson, while the rest of the group was out on tour. (Ironically, Paul McCartney was inspired and challenged by "Pet Sounds" to come up with "Sgt.Pepper". Don't you just love rock stars?)

I personally believe the San Franciso Sound and the "Summer Of Love" in Haight-Asbury was also a HUGE influence on every major rock star of the time.

By now, the Beatles had finally left their "teenybopper" image behind and embarked on their psychedelic period.

Even the group's look changed; all four members now had mustaches (at times; and sometimes beards), the "mop tops" had grown out longer and shaggier, and the clothes were hippie-oriented (and in George Harrison's case, also inspired by India).

"Strawberry Fields Forever" was the first song recorded that was intended for an album about nostalgia and childhood when the Beatles convened back into the recording studio on November 24 th , 1966. Due to pressure from Capitol Records, Brian Epstein hastily released the first two songs recorded which would have ended up on the Sgt. Pepper album. "Fields" was released as a double A sided single along with "Penny Lane" on February 13 th in the UK and on Feb.17 th in the U.S. ("Penny Lane" was cute, but "Strawberry Fields" was a standout", recalled Pamela Foster. "It was very 'cutting edge' for its day".)

Did you know that after "Penny Lane" became a hit, the street signs for the actual Penny Lane in Liverpool were disappearing with such regularity that the town reverted to simply painting 'Penny Lane' on the buildings, rather than have street signs. "Strawberry Fields" was named for a real place, Strawberry Field, a children's home run by the Salvation Army in Liverpool.

And the song is actually TWO versions mixed together by George Martin. One was a half-tone higher and slightly faster. When slowed down, it somehow fit together with the other version perfectly. The Beatles liked both and couldn't decide; they asked Martin if he could put them together. He did!

The Beatles also became pioneers of the modern pop music video this year, the first to do them for the songs "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever'.

On January 1 st , the group resumed work on Sgt. Pepper; the session ended on April 2 nd ..

By March 11 th , there were at least 446 recorded cover versions of "Yesterday".

On May 1 st , EMI announced that total world sales of Beatle records (LPs, singles, and EPs) had reached 200 million.

On May 15 th , Paul McCartney met his future wife, Linda Eastman, at the Bag O' Nails (a store? restaurant?).

May 20 th -Advance copies of Sgt. Pepper are sent to the B.B.C. "A Day In The Life" is banned because of drug inducement themes.

On June 1 st , "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is released in the UK.

June 2 nd -"Sgt. Pepper" is released in the U.S.

(The total cost to make the album was $100,000. There were 700 hours of studio time used to record it over a period of four months.)

The album became an international sensation, topping the charts all over the world, holding no. 1 in Britain for 27 weeks, 19 in America. Sgt. Pepper was acclaimed as a masterpiece (but was also condemmed for some of the "druggie" lyrics and themes). It's also considered the first "concept album" And it was the first album to print out the song lyrics. EVERYONE seemed to analyze the contents , or want to. Sgt. Pepper set the standard and raised the gold bar for rock albums then and now, decades later. (Legend has it that Otis Redding listened to the album over and over on a houseboat in California; this inspired HIM to write "Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay" as a result.)

Sgt. Pepper won four Grammys: ALBUM OF THE YEAR, George Martin, Producer

BEST CONTEMPORARY ROCK AND ROLL ALBUM

BEST ENGINEERED (NON-CLASSICAL) RECORDING-Geoff Emerick, Engineer

BEST ALBUM COVER-PeterLake and John Haworth, Art Directors

(Contrary to popular belief, one of the album's songs, "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" was prompted by 4-year-old Julian Lennon's description of a painting he brought home from school, not the drug LSD. Actually, accounts vary on this. And knowing John Lennon as we do now, BOTH accounts could be right. Or a combination thereof. "Lovely Rita " was written after Paul got a parking ticket from a female warden in Abbey Road. "For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite" was inspired by an old circus poster! "A Day In The Life" was inspired by a newspaper article John read about an actual suicide. "Within You, Without You" came about from a conversation between George Harrison and Klaus Voorman-remember him?)

On June 19 th , Paul announced to the media that he's taken :LSD at least four times (By now, all four members were taking LSD.) "I don't regret that I've spoken out. I hope my fans will understand..."

On June 21 st , Billy Graham slammed McCartney's druig use: "I am praying for Paul that he finds what he is looking for...he has reached the top of his profession and now he is searching for the true purpose in life. But he will not find it through LSD".

June 25 th -The Beatles become the first rock group to be globally transmitted live (by satellite) on BBC television. The program was "Our World", a two-hour special, viewed by five continents, 24 or 31 countries (accounts vary here), and watched by 400-500 million (accounts vary here also). This was the first live international satellite broadcast.

The featured song? "All You Need Is Love" (The intro is from "La Marseillaise", the French national anthem).

On July 24 th , the Beatles and Brian Epstein signed their names to a full-page advertisement in the Times stating that "the law against marijuana is immoral in principal and unworkable in practice." The list of names included a variety of authors, painter, and politicians.

July 28 th -"The Family Way", starring Hayley Mills, premieres in New York. The film's music was by Paul McCartney and arranged by George Martin.

On August 25 th , the Beatles left London and arrived at Bangor, North Wales for their first meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (I think Maharishi Mahesh means "great saint"). It was Patti Harrison who first met him; she decided to bring the group and the guru together.

Then came very sad news. On August 27 th , Brian Epstein died from an overdose of sleeping pills. He was only 32!

There was panic within the band. John Lennon would later lament: "The Beatles were finished when Eppy died. I knew, deep inside me that, that was it. Without him, we'd had it."

It turned out that upon his death, Epstein's actual monetary worth was three quarters of a million pounds (British money). Epstein had also done heavy borrowing against the company assets. And by October, his five-year contract with the Beatles was set to expire.

The band's business assets began to unravel.

Paul McCartney, according to Beatles press agent Tony Barrow, felt that the group might not be together, so Paul quickly planned the "Magical Mystery Tour" project.

On Sept.11 th , the filming of "Magical Mystery Tour" began.

October 17 th -There was a memorial service for Brian Epstein at the New London Synagogue. All four Beatles attended.

On November 8 th , "How I Won The War" premieres in New York.

November 27 th -The album, "Magical Mystery Tour", is released in the U.S. where it hits no. 1. It's released in the UK eleven days later as an extended play disc.

On December 4 th , the "Apple Boutique" opens, selling trendy hippie fashions. The shop's managed by former Quarryman Pete Shotton.

Dec. 26 th -"Magical Mystery Tour", the hour-long TV special was broadcast (in black and white!) in England only. Some 15 million watched; the critics and public didn't like it. Many reviewers called it "blatant rubbish", "chaotic", and "appalling". As a result, the American million dollar deal for broadcast rights was pulled (But I believe this WAS eventually shown on American TV.)

Here are the singles for this year:

"Penny Lane" (March 4 th entry) was a no. 1 smash/backed by "Strawberry Fields Forever", a no. 8 smash (Mar. 11 th entry).

Another double-sided hit followed, with "All You Need Is Love"(July 29 th entry), another no. 1 smash/backed by "Baby You're A Rich Man", which peaked at no. 34 (August 12 th entry). "Hello, Goodbye"(Dec. 9 th entry) was also a no. 1 smash (for three weeks!)

Here are the albums for this year:

SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND (released June 2 nd)

Side 1

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts ClubBand
With A Little Help From My Friends
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
Getting Better
Fixing A Hole
She's Leaving Home
Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite

Side 2

Within You, Without You
When I'm Sixty Four
Lovely Rita
Good Morning, Good Morning
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
A Day In The Life

MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR (released November 27th)

Side 1
Magical Mystery Tour
The Fool On The Hill
Flying
Blue Jay Way
Your Mother Should Know
I Am The Walrus

Side 2
Hello, Goodbye
Strawberry Fields Forever
Penny Lane
Baby You're A Rich Man
All You Need Is Love