Jan 1 1962: The Beatles are turned down by Decca

I remember reading a few years ago about some of the publishers that (**bang head on wall**) rejected J. K. Rowling. This is one of those stories. On New Year’s Day, 1962, a practically unknown band from Liverpool trekked more than 200 miles down to London to give it their best for Decca Records. According to an article by retired UK journalist Ray Setterfield, the Beatles — who then, pre-Ringo, included Pete Best on drums — recorded 15 songs. 

Then they went home again — and waited. 

Several weeks went by, and finally, their frustrated manager Brian Epstein called Decca.  

“Groups with guitars are on the way out,” they were allegedly told by a Decca representative. The man added that he believed “the Beatles have no future in show business”. 

A good lesson in perseverance — and a reminder that even people who are supposed to know in fact often don’t.

Happy new year and new decade, and here are a few YouTube clips for your listening pleasure, because any day is a good day to listen to the Beatles. 

Hey Jude This 1968 performance on Frost on Sunday (hosted by English TV presenter David Frost) starts out a bit oddly, but hang on through the first minute — you won’t be disappointed. (Also, note the number of views the video has received.)    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_MjCqQoLLA (8:09)

Something  This is an interesting and somewhat quirky montage of old video (film?) of Beatles and their significant others (love seeing Linda McCartney, God bless her) — and the song itself always reminds me that George (The Quiet Beatle) was perhaps always under-rated and a bit over-looked. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UelDrZ1aFeY (3:07)

How the Beatles Changed the World  Full disclosure: I have not seen this whole documentary, but what I have seen is very well done. If you’re a Beatles fan — and even if you’re just interested in the 60s culture and social scene —  it’s well worth a look. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo1XboQXOAE (1 hr, 48 min)

Paul McCartney on Carpool Karaoke  Paul McCartney not only joins host and driver James Corden but takes him back to McCartney’s childhood home and then performs in a pub. Lots of fun — and McCartney shows he’s still such a class act. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjvzCTqkBDQ (23:42)