I remember being with my mom, driving on our way Christmas shopping in L.A., when the D.J., comes on, and announces a '..new group from England..'. My first thought was, "What do the British know about rock and roll?". Then, 'I Want to Hold Your Hand', came on. I thought it sounded pretty good, and considering they were Brits! a lot better than surf music, rehashed doo-wop, songs about cars, predictable blue based pop hits, and novelty songs.

Being as I already played both guitar, and piano, I was particularly interested in the SOUND and tonality of their guitars..quite different.
I even, 2 1/2 years later, went out and bought brand new, a 'Gretsch Country Gentleman' just like George's...by the way, a GREAT ax....but more guitar than I was ready for, at the time.

I think that no matter what style you play, The Beatles helped influence, or forwarded a wave, we all came in on, one way or another.

Through time I got tired of hearing their songs..once in a while one pops out sounding refreshing.
I was fortunate enough, when I had my recording studio, in L.A., that a guitarist gave me a copy of Beatle outtakes gleeped from Apple's vault, when they were breaking up. The songs were different, that the versions that made it to the radio, and some I prefer a LOT more than the commercially released ones. These were NOT the ones released as the latter albums, of 'unreleased'..these were rehearsal sessions...and some acoustic versions, that might even qualify as 'folk'. 'I'm Looking Through You' for instance, was acoustic, and the tempo different, and frankly, a lot better.

Like any musicians, some were better than others..some great..some not, some, just because it was them.

Years later, our son worked with McCartney(about4-5 years ago), and previously I did some stuff for Ringo, on a production..who would have thought?

Also, managed to get a signed 'Double Fantasy' from John, just shortly before his death. (signed: "John Lennon _'80"). It just sits in a plastic case with a lot of other stuff. (also got some early albums (vinyl) of theirs in Russian covers...said to worth a lot, and some Russian early Stones, and a couple of Russian McCartney, albums). All of them have never been played.

All that, and I'm still not exactly a Beatle Koo-koo....but some stuff is cool...some, not as cool. Big Deal!

GfS