"Was it in Hamburg that the Fab Four honed their to be US magnet sound?"

It was in the Abbey Road studios, after they'd been made over by Epstein visually and George Martin musically. Listen to the Hamburg album, and there's nothing that's going to revolutionise the Western world. Actually even by 1963, listen to most of the original 'Please Please Me' album, or the 'Long Tall Sally' EP, and it's mostly very ballsy versions of US not-quite-standards.

All the groups had no end of girls, often in ways that would sound outre even today. But the girls who hung round the stages, stage doors and the Mathew Street pubs were several years older, and a great deal more restrained in public, than the barely pubescent screamers attracted by the Beatlemania thing.

It may be better than I want to hold your hand - but it isn't a a patch on Ticket to Ride or I feel Fine - IMHO of course.

The Beatles were a great Rock N Roll Band; an outstanding pop band and a pretty average rock band.

"Magical Mystery Tour is way more of a musical achievement than I Want to Hold Your Hand!"

You've no idea how much it saddens me to agree with Farce.

But 'Hand' has to be up there with 'Fun, Fun, Fun', 'I Get Around' and 'Satisfaction' as the greatest pop song ever. 'Magical Mystery Tour'? I can still remember rolling round the floor laughing when we all realised that Lennon had finally completely lost it.

My mother saw the Beatles in Hamburg, and said she wasn't very impressed.

She also said that she was pregnant with me at the time, which was a story I dined out on for years.....until....checking their history, I worked out that my mother was indeed pregnant at the time....with my older sister.

Rats!

Waring: Did you know that the Beatles played Winchester? They played at the old open-air swimming pool - in the bit that had the badminton courts in it.

That was probably the last decent gig in Winchester. (although Brian Eno did go to the Art School I think)

And getting away from all this old man's musc - I have just walked past the Hammmersmith Palais which is being demolished in a couple of weeks.

I have been the white man in Hammersmith Palais.

The old Lido, opposite the coach station?

When?

I have a vague recollection of seeing the Cranberries at the Art college, but can't be sure.

The Who (including my fake cousin Roger) were resident at the Concorde Club in Brighton for years.

"That was probably the last decent gig in Winchester."

You mean you missed the Salisbury Big Band at the Mayor's Ball this February just gone? Introduced by Ruby Wax, but interrupted by a fire scare?

Where's your local pride?

Yup that's the one - Hendrix played there too - supporting the Monkees. I have no idea when they played there but it must have been pretty early on I'd have thought. I think it was as part of a package of acts. That's the local legend anyway.

I saw Dire Straits at the Railway. I went because I thought they were a punk band (cos of the name). It was pretty obvious that they were a bit better than the Railway normally put on.

The Who came from a few hundred yards from where I'm typing this (Shepherds bush,) and the westway as featured on the Clash album sleeve is but a short walk.

I have played Winchester Art College (and the Railway Arms and any number of youth clubs) - but that is something that is best left lost in history.

off topic but what the hell

my favorite British rocker by far - Freddie (sp?) Mercury of Queen - great performer, great voice - mesmerizing tunes - Bohemina Rhapsody will be a music, not just rock classic for the ages.

I was in a pub in Baker Street tube station and watched his famous performance at the huge charity concert at Wembley where he, many say, stole the show with his rendition of Radio GaGa.

Queen - music for the soul. so what if Freddie was from some obscure island and of Indian Parsi heritage i believe. Zanzibar i think.

You mean you missed the Salisbury Big Band at the Mayor's Ball this February just gone? Introduced by Ruby Wax, but interrupted by a fire scare?

Where's your local pride?>>>>

Rhetorical question I assume.

They do have the Hat Fair that sometimes has a half-decent band, although a google tells me that this year it's an 11 piece dutch jive band. Which isn't helping much

Yup Pal - he was born in Zanzibar and cremated in Kensal Green.

Where's your local pride?>>>>

Err, currently residing a good 2000 miles away.

Or about 70 miles in my case.

<As for Derek and the Dominoes!!!!>

flananer old chap: now i believe you did not go to public school - i wasn't sure it was Doimons at all but Wikipedia search says Derek and the Dominos, who made one studio album - including i guess the 'world's greatest guitarits' - the short hair Eric Clapton.

Eric Clapton wasn't even the greatest guitarist in Derek and the Dominoes!

PalQ:

Have you been taking lessons in coherence and clarity from somedayparis?

If so would you mind awfully expressing what you're blathering on about in English?

There's a good chap.

The poor cove seems to have taken to the idea that Eric Clapton is the world's greatest guitarist - which is very rum indeed.

As I have said Mr Clapton wasn't even the best guitarist in Derek and the Dominoes, Duane Allman was - (and as an possibly interesting snippet the pianist on the album currently receives his huge royalty checks in prison - he battered his Mum to death).

Off the top of my head here are some guitarists who can wipe the floor with Clapton - Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Billy Gibbons, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Richard Thompson, Bert Jansch, Rory Gallagher, me.

flanner - the cat's out of the bag - i indeed did go to public school (US context)

i don't know bo diddily about who the best guitarist is ... just what i hear... my guitar gently weeps!

and Winchester Cathedral - what a song! Must raise local pride if not hackles.

Audere says "enough of this old man's music [..] I have been the white man in Hammersmith Palais".

That was thirty years ago, Audere, and the fellow who sang it is dead.

You are correct in your "facial hair" rule of thumb, though; it's always been a simple guideline to shopping for obscure psych groups of the 60s by cover art alone -- beards indicate numbskull blues noodling will make up the greatest part of the program, while clean-shaven chins opens up at least the possibility of some groovy toe-tapping sunshiney moments.

The best Beatles stuff is from that brief pivot in time when they were locked in the studio but hadn't yet destroyed their brains with drugs and hair. Namely, "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver".

And the best band to ever be based in Liverpool isn't them (Londoners by then), or Cilla Black, or Gerry and the Pacemakers, but Echo and the Bunnymen. Or maybe the Lightning Seeds.