The Music Time Machine

In 1964, The Beatles held the top 5 positions on the Billboard Top 100, an unprecedented feat. In this episode of The Music Time Machine, we look back to find how it all happened.  From the 1963 UK Tour as just one of the opening acts for the teenage sensation, Helen Shapiro, to the days when Roy Orbison, their own opening act, almost stole their thunder, here is the story of how the Fab Four conquered the UK and the US in two short years. You'll even find out which phenomenally successful group George Harrison inadvertently got signed to their first big record deal.

Here are some of the songs you'll hear in this episode of Beatlemania:

• Please Please Me - The Beatles

• I Saw Her Standing There - The Beatles

• Do You Want to Know a Secret - The Beatles

• Twist and Shout - The Beatles

• With Love From Me to You - The Beatles

• In Dreams - Roy Orbison

By the time the Beatles entered the studio in search of their second single and first number 1 hit, they’d already begun to trust George Martin with their musical future. His recommendations on “Please, Please Me” sealed the deal. By speeding up the tempo and rearranging the harmonies, Martin helped the boys begin an ascent up the British charts that would last for years to come. Here’s the story of how it all came to pass, plus a look at the British music background as it was happening.

Here are the songs you’ll hear on this episode:

• Love Love Me Do - The Beatles

• The Young Ones - Cliff Richard and the Shadows

• Apache - Jorgen Ingman

• I Remember You - Frank Ifield

• Please, Please Me - The Beatles

• Twist and Shout - The Beatles

After looking at the music B.B. (Before Beatles) in Beatlemania 1, and the rough early years in Beatlemania 3, we turn our attention to the Beatles refining their sound, lineup, management, label and personas as they move from a small-time, local act to the verge of stardom.

It wasn’t as preordained as it seems looking back. There were defeats and depression along the way as the Fab Four teetered on the brink of giving it all up. In fact, there was a time when only George remained a believer.

Looking back some of the happenstance along the way seems almost miraculous, but somehow the boys kept moving forward until they met George Martin, the man who would bring it all togethe. Even then, it took a well-timed joke from George Harrison to cement the relationship and send them on their way to stardom.

Join us as we look at all the potholes and miracles on the way to Beatlemania.

Here are the songs you’ll hear in this episode:

• P.S. I Love You - The Beatles

• Here Comes My Baby - The Tremolos

• Ask Me Why - The Beatles

• How Do You Do It - Gerry and the Pacemakers

• Hey Baby - The Beatles

• Love Me Do - The Beatles

• Please, Please Me - The Beatles

As the Lads were honing their craft in Germany, first under the name Beatals, then Beatles, things weren’t really looking up for them. Evey one of the six music English music labels refused to sign them … until they got to the final one, Decca. In the meantime, their manager was a social outcast with family money named Brian Epstein and he was having a hard time getting results.

In the end it all worked out great as the band’s final line-up solidified with the addition of Ringo Starr as drummer. Join us as we crank up the Time Machine and look back at those precious days when four lads became … The Beatles.

Songs you’ll hear while listening to this episode:

• Twist and Shout - The Beatles

• She Loves You, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah - The Beatles

• My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean - The Beatles

• Roll Over Beethoven - The Beatles

• She Was Just 17 - The Beatles

The beginning of the British Invasion in 1964 started with the Beatles appearance on Ed Sullivan. But what it took to get there is the real story. Starting with a Capitol Records executive who thought they would be a flash in the pan. Then, there’s the teenage girl who first made a request to her local DJ. Beatlemania swept away lots of great Rock ‘n Roll music, so we journey back to 1964 to remember what got left behind and celebrate what was about to happen as the Fab Four swept America and the world.

Here are some of the great songs you’ll hear in this episode:

• She Loves You, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah - The Beatles

• You Can’t Buy Me Love - The Beatles

• I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles

• Roses are Red, My Love - Bobby Vinton

• Louie, Louie - The Kingsmen

• Dominique - The Singing Nun

• Forget Him, He Doesn’t Love You - Bobby Rydell

• Hello Dolly - Louis Armstrong

• My Guy - Mary Wells

• Stranger On The Shore - Mr. Acker Bilk

• Telstar - The Tornados

Who is the greatest guitar player of all?  Is it Hendrix, Clapton, Page, Gilmore?

Let us lay out the case for Mark Knofler.  Who is Mark Knofler?  He’s the front man of Dire Straits.

Were they good, or opportunists of a new invention “The CD” and the launching of the new MTV channel; not to mention Live Aid?

Listen to the stories, and find out.

Can’t you still hear Sting shouting “I Want My MTV”?

Come with us, you will have fun.  Why did Mark Knofler say “Fame is what comes out of an exhaust pipe of a car”?

Here are the songs whose stories we tell in this episode:

1. “Sultans Of Swing” - Dire Straits
2. “So Far Away”  - Dire Straits
3. “Money For Nothing” - Dire Straits
4. “Walk Of Life” - Dire Straits
5. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” - U2
6. “We Are The Champions” - Queen

When The Bee Gees sent a demo tape to The Beatles manager, Brian Epstein, they didn’t realize the chain of events they were kicking into gear. Epstein died shortly after passing the tape to one of the people at his management firm,. Robert Stigwood who would go on to become a famed movie producer taking The Bee Gees on a merry ride around the world. This is just one of the great stories in our second chapter of the 1978 story. Join us and listen to music you’ll remember.

Songs like these:

• Night Fevewr

• Staying Alive

• If I Can’t Have You

• Emotion

• Love Is Thicker Than Water

• How Deep Is Your Love

• I Just Want To Be Your Everything

• Grease

• Hopelessly Devoted to You

• You’re The One That I Want

Summer Nights

Let’s Get Physical

Sargent Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band

With Or Without You

Two Out Of 3 Ain’t Bad

This is the third episode where we roll out stories from 1971, And look at the list of songs listed below. Behind every song is a great story, causing us to wonder, Was 1971 the greatest year in Rock ‘n Roll history? We tell stories, you decide.

So, here is just a teaser of the stories we uncovered for this episode:.

How did the Beatles help invent the first CAT scan medical procedure?

Kris Kristofferson wrote 3 specialty hits in one year, released by Janis Joplin, Ray Price, and Sammi Smith; do you remember their titles?

In 1971 the Rolling Stones, part of the British Invasion of the mid-1960s, were living a chaotic, drug-fueled life while recording in a foreign country. Guess which one!

Did you know who designed the Stones’ iconic lips and tongue logo? Yeah, there’s a great story behind that, as well.

Enjoy the stories and songs, then tell us if you think 1971 is Rock’s greatest year.

Here are some of the songs that will stir your memories in this episode:

“Maggie May” - Rod Stewart

“Reason to Believe” - Rod Stewart

“As Tears Go By” - Marianne Faithfull

“It’s All Over Now” - Rolling Stones

“Satisfaction” - Rolling Stones

“Ruby Tuesday” - Rolling Stones

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” - Rolling Stones

“The Wedding Song” - Paul Stookey

“Brown Sugar” - Rolling Stones

“Wild Horses” - Paul Stookey

“If” - Bread (David Gates)

“Where Do I Begin” - Andy Williams

“Me And You And A Dog Named Boo” - Lobo

“One Bad Apple” - The Osmonds

“I Woke Up This Morning” - The Partridge Family

“Proud Mary” - Ike and Tina Turner

“Smiling Faces Sometimes” - Undisputed Truth

“Stairway to Heaven” - Led Zeppelin 

In the year's since The Beatles breakup, George Harrison emerged as one of Rock music's finest songwriters. During his Beatles career he was eclipsed by the dynamic duo of Lennon and McCartney. But his really songwriting mentors were across the pond. Tune in and find out how George rose to the very heights of the songwriters world while fighting off frivolous lawsuits and underhanded enemies. One lawsuit tied up his royalties from "My Sweet Lord" for years.

Here's some of the music interwoven with the many stories we tell in this episode. As you cans, it's a humdinger :

1. “I Want To Hold Your Hand” The Beatles
2. “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flower in Your Hair)” Scott McKenzie
3. “Don’t Leave Me This Way” Thelma Houston
4. “When Doves Cry” Prince
5. “Kids Of The Baby Boom” Bellamy Brothers
6. “A Day In The Life” The Beatles
7. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” The Beatles
8. “Maybe I’m Amazed” Paul McCartney
9. “All Things Must Pass” George Harrison
10. “Here Comes The Sun” George Harrison
11. “My Sweet Lord” George Harrison
12. “Isn’t It A Pity” George Harrison
13. “It’s Too Late” Carole King
14. “I Feel the Earth Move” Carole King
15. “You’ve Got A Friend” Carol King
16. “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” The Shirelles
17. “A Natural Woman” Carol King
18. “Your Song” Elton John

Start with a wild story about a washed up 1960's singer whose career was swept away in the British Invasion of 1964. Almost a decade later he was given the chance to record a song with a group of back-up girl singers. But, they couldn't figure out a way to be in the studio at the same time. Predictably, the result was the year's biggest hit, "Candida" setting Tony Orlando and Dawn on a record-breaking run he thought forever beyond his reach. How it happened is just one story from one of the most significant years in rock history. 

But, 1971 had so much more. From Scott McKenzie's iconic "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) to Carol King's soulful "Natural Woman", there are stories to tell. Join master storytellers, Larry Hackenberg and Jennifer Tessane as they take you back to the days of your youth and let you in on some secret stories you've never heard before.

1. “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flower in Your Hair)” Scott McKenzie
2. “Don’t Leave Me This Way” Thelma Houston
3. “When Doves Cry” Prince
4. “Kids Of The Baby Boom” Bellamy Brothers
5. “A Day In The Life” The Beatles
6. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” The Beatles
7. “Maybe I’m Amazed” Paul McCartney
8. “All Things Must Pass” George Harrison
9. “Here Comes The Sun” George Harrison
10. “My Sweet Lord” George Harrison
11. “Isn’t It A Pity” George Harrison
12. “It’s Too Late” Carole King
13. “I Feel the Earth Move” Carole King
14. “You’ve Got A Friend” Carol King
15. “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” The Shirelles
16. “A Natural Woman” Carol King
17. “Your Song” Elton John
18. “Mercy Mercy Me” Marvin Gaye
19. “Anticipation” Carly Simon
20. “Morning Has Broken” Cat Stevens