The Beatles In America - 1964 (2 Hours @ 59:00 or 54:00) > Comments > "Review of The Beatles In America - 1964 (Hour 1)"
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Commenter Profile
- D. Cameron Lawrence
- Username: johncam
- Location: Louisville, KY
- Joined PRX: Aug 22, 2004
Piece Information
- "The Beatles In America - 1964 (2 Hours @ 59:00 or 54:00)"
- Summary: A lively two-hour montage of rare archival audio, concert recordings, and new interviews on The Beatles' first U.S. grand tour. Hour 1 focuses on January-February 1964 / Hour 2 focuses on the Beatles summer tour of the US in August/September 1964.
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Review of The Beatles In America - 1964 (Hour 1)
D. Cameron Lawrence
Posted on March 25, 2005 at 12:35 AM
This series consists of two one-hour programs and takes listeners back to 1964, when the Beatles swept through America like a tornado.
Hosted by the dulcet-voiced Paul Ingles, this lively, well-produced program pulls together many archival audio elements, such as newscasts, and teams them with remembrances of reporters, radio DJs and others caught in the frenzy of Beatlemania. Add in plenty of Beatles music - including several less familiar pieces and some lovely ballads - and you’ve got a very pleasant hour in Radio Land.
As a 40-something, I was there, and Ingles does a great job of taking us back to that year when the Fab Four knocked us over. Fascinating to hear is tape of concerts where the Beatles sound unpolished, even a tad off-key at times, no doubt having trouble with the incredible screaming of their fans.
There’s nothing experimental or unusual here – just highly listenable radio. The combination of music and the voices of those remembering the time keep the program moving. The description on PRX calls the programs “a thrilling walk down musical memory lane.” It is indeed.
I assume hour two is just as good. I can’t wait.