What does it take to be a die hard Beatles fan?

@stuartk: I became an instant fan of Clapton upon hearing Eric Clapton & The Powerhouse on the 1966 Elektra Records album entitled What’s Shakin’, the first time I had seen his name (I and those I knew didn’t yet know Clapton is heard on about half the songs on The Yardbirds For Your Love album, which we all loved. Neither his name nor picture appear on that album). What’s Shakin’ is a various artists compilation album featuring The Lovin’ Spoonful (front cover of the LP) and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (back cover), Clapton & The Powerhouse contributing three songs, including a 2:32 length studio recording of "Crossroads" (I prefer this version to the live Cream one).

I then followed Clapton into John Mayall’s band, Clapton’s guitar playing on Mayall’s debut stunning me. Before I knew it, Clapton had formed Cream, of whom I was a huge fan. I loved the first and second Cream albums, seeing them live on their first two U.S. tours. But as I have chronicled a few times (apparently to the chagrin of rpeluso ;-), that all changed in the Summer of ’69. Unbeknownst to me, the same happened to Clapton. His from hearing Music From Big Pink, which was way over my head in 1968. But by Summer ’69 I got it, and my musical taste underwent a radical change. I wasn’t much of a fan of Psychedelic music, which is why I found amusing how Atlantic Records President Ahmet Ertegun characterized Cream’s Disraeli Gear album when it was submitted to him: Psychedelic horsesh*t. ;-)

You can hear the change in Clapton’s playing in "Badge" (good song), the last Cream song I bothered listening to. Clapton disbanded Cream, and went off in his new direction, which was to my ears more musical. Up to that point a Blues purist, he opened up to other influences, including what can be called Country Blues. The Band didn’t fulfill Clapton’s ambition to be a member of that ensemble, but Delaney & Bonnie gave him a job as a sideman.

Clapton derailed his career a few times (post-Derek & The Dominos), but has kept at his craft his entire (so far) life. George Harrison for the most part didn’t. After being in The Beatles, that is completely understandable.

If this post strikes one as being done to make myself appear any certain way, oh well.

In the words of Lt. Gerard in the opening moments of the 1960's TV show "The Fugitive," when it comes to my opinion of Blues Breakers/Cream era Clapton all I can say is "I don't philosophize, I hunt."

I never considered myself a die hard Beatles fan though I remember seeing them on the Ed Sullivan show back in the day and of course have a fair number of their albums, not the early Parlaphones but the Blue Box, the Mono Box and a few others. One, which was a kick, was a certain German pressing of Die Beatles which was hard panned left and right. Rumor had it that the UK shipped Germany a copy of the raw two track transfer rather than the finished mix. It does have a wiiiiiiide sound.

I worked on a project some years ago involving a videotape of their first live concert appearance at the Washington DC Coliseum, which wasn’t really a concert venue, more like a basketball court. The band was set up on a small rotating stage that didn’t work, so stage hands had to rotate it manually. What blew me away was how in tune those guys were- no stage monitors, no ear pieces, and their harmonies were spot on. They were very tight too. At the time, they were still doing old rock and roll covers among some of their original songs.

I find the phenomenon of The Beatles fascinating as a cultural matter- it was really time and place, though they worked extremely well together as musicians. And I never found fault with the joint writing of Lennon and McCartney, though I found that their solo work tended to be too weird (Lennon) or too saccharine (McCartney) with a few exceptions.

They also seemed to have the right personalities to be celebrities at the time, again, maybe a matter of being in the right place/time.

I don’t listen to them much these days, but every once in a while I’ll pull out a record. There’s a Russian (Soviet era) compilation with a Taste of Honey that is surprisingly good, also from the early era as far as I know.

@whart: Bill, I find your summary of the solo writing of Lennon and McCartney right in line with my opinion. Let’s see if you too get attacked for not considering The Beatles above all criticism.

I saw The Beatles live in ’65 (at The Cow Palace in S. San Francisco), and was underwhelmed. I actually was more impressed with the opening act, Sounds Incorporated, a UK band with a horn section. Very exciting!

The Beatles live on the rooftop? Sorry, they just don’t sound very good. To me, at any rate. Of course by the time I saw that performance, I had already seen The Band live (and Procol Harum. And The Kinks. And Albert King. And Jeff Beck. And dozens more.). Absolutely no contest. ;-)

@bdp24 

Thanks for the background on your listening history with Clapton.

I recall reading one interview in which he described his musical taste as "schmaltzy".  Maybe that explains some of the post-Layla records?

 @grislybutter 

Ah, OK.  I really don't know anything about Harrison's relationship to SRF, other than seeing photos of him wearimg a Babaji button. I went down there several times for services in the mid 70's before they built the new temple. It's an inspiring place, for sure.