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5.26am
19 February 2013
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I noticed on the anthology series that Paul is quoted saying that they were refusing to come to America before they had a number one.
However, I later learned that they were already scheduled to come to America before they actually did have a hige hit, yet alone a number one. Of course, propelling the myth more so is the fact that by the time they got there, they did have a hit. But it is not true that they actually refused to come and waited until this happened first. So, I am curious as to why Paul misremembers this? Just another case of confusing memories with facts and a long career of various details that get spun differently?
Of course, I get the whole idea of why they did not want to come before having a significant hit, to avoid the fate of other British groups and to avoid being second or third act to lesser bands. So, Paul is sort of right that they wanted to wait until they had something good lined up in America (and when Ed Sullivan offered, that was it) but it just seemed funny to me that he actually claims that they had to have a number one, when the facts simply refute his memory.
6.17am
17 January 2013
Offline I’m 29, and I already have trouble with memories from 10 years ago. I could not imagine trying to remember back 50 years.. that’s a long time! 
"Please don't bring your banjo back, I know where it's been.. I wasn't hardly gone a day, when it became the scene.. Banjos! Banjos! All the time, I can't forget that tune.. and if I ever see another banjo, I'm going out and buy a big balloon!"
10.33am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline They might have said they werent going to America without a number 1 but Epstein had booked it well in advance (he wouldnt have left it until January, not his style), Sullivan had seen their return from Sweden in October ’63, either being in the Airport or on the same plane, and they went from there.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
10.46am
19 February 2013
Offline Makes sense. Perhaps that was something that they did say… but Epstein being the manager was smart enough not to actually keep it as a strict rule. Though when watching the Anthology series, it seems like Paul is strong on the notion, and George (i think off the top of my head) remembers it slightly differently, or accurately.
3.47pm
1 December 2009
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Paul loves to reminisce, he has to embellish these stories somehow or he’d run out of things to say. Of course, it’s always possible that he’s just misremembering; or maybe it was a vow that they kept among themselves.
GEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty.
3.55pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline If you analyse the Beatles history time-wise you’d no doubt find a ton of inaccuracies (that looks wrong spellingwise) when lined up with the Beatles own memories. Events and time shifts when you reminisce. I find it a hoot that in all the stories of the Beatles Please Please Me is referred to as their first number 1 single yet its not on the album 1 – takes an essay to explain why both premises are true (well in 1963 there were 4 sperately charts…).
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
6.03pm
8 November 2012
Offline exarctly said
However, I later learned that they were already scheduled to come to America before they actually did have a hige hit, yet alone a number one. Of course, propelling the myth more so is the fact that by the time they got there, they did have a hit. But it is not true that they actually refused to come and waited until this happened first. So, I am curious as to why Paul misremembers this? Just another case of confusing memories with facts and a long career of various details that get spun differently?
I’m reading Ian MacDonald’s book where he mentions this, and I don’t think Paul exactly misremembered it. According to MacDonald, they set up the America trip once I Wanna Hold Your Hand was written though not yet released, so it sounds like they were banking on that finally being the one.
parlance
8.27pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline parlance said
I’m reading Ian MacDonald’s book where he mentions this, and I don’t think Paul exactly misremembered it. According to MacDonald, they set up the America trip once I Wanna Hold Your Hand was written though not yet released, so it sounds like they were banking on that finally being the one.parlance
But there was no certainty to suggest in October or even November that IWTHYH was going to be a hit, never mind a number 1, in the US, they might be have been hoping it happened but they couldnt predict whats going to happen. Confidence might have been up due to success in a few countries but America was still the promised land unbroken by nearly all of the BIG UK artists and She Loves You had been another flop following on from both Please Please Me and From Me To You . The Beatles themselves were amazed when they arrived to see the mania going on. It wouldnt surprise me if the four had said to themselves, Brian and a handful of others about not wanting to go to America and be another band playing 19th on the bill next to nobodies, but it wouldnt have been a strict command upheld by Brian. I think it was one of the big factors in the Beatles story playing a major role – timing.
(I know Gould goes into the circumstances of the American music scene and culture leading upto the UK Invasion but i forget them all. Good book.)
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
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