Pete Bennett -- Promotional Man of the Year (1983)

In 1983, Billboard Magazine declared Pete Bennett to be the Promotional Man of the Year.  They had a big article about him full of photographs of everyone he promoted throughout his career and he wrote a little bit about songs he promoted.  I pulled out the Beatles related content to share with you. 

Pete Bennett:  Promoting the Music of the Stars

By Pete Bennett

Billboard Magazine

October 8, 1983

The Beatles

 "Hey Jude:" You couldn't go wrong with such a record. The name reminded me of Saint Jude, and the record was destined to be a hit with the right promotion. 

"The Ballad of John and Yoko:" Because I liked John and Yoko, this record was very special to me, and the record went all the way to the top of the charts.

 "Come Together:" This was the number one record that I believed in very much. However, the B side of the record turned out to be another A side entitled "Something." Both sides turned out to be top records.

 "Let It Be": This album and single had special meaning to me because I was present at most of the recording sessions that took place at Apple Recording Studios in London. First time I heard "Let It Be" with its reference to Mary Virgin Mother, made a deep impact on me, and I was very proud to promote the album and single to the number one position. 

"The Long and Winding Road:" This particular cut was recorded during the "Let It Be" sessions in London by the great American producer Phil Spector. Having spent numerous hours and days during the editing process, the song made a long and winding impression on me. During the editing process, everybody was eating banana sandwiches and celery. However, Phil Spector and myself decided to eat out at a regular restaurant at the hotel where we were staying.

 John Lennon

 "Give Peace a Chance:"  This was John Lennon's first release as a solo artist. It was an extremely important record for him because it was not a Beatles record. The record was important to me because I was national promotion manager for the Apple label, and John Lennon was the label's president. John wanted to know if this record would make it to number one and if I liked it. I told him that I liked the record because it was a good sing-along song. I told John to sing the song with Yoko at the concert in Toronto. The song went over very well and became a national hit within a month.

 "Imagine:"  "Imagine" was a song I first heard at Phil Spector's house in California. My instant reaction to both Phil and John, was that if properly recorded, "Imagine" and the rest of the album would skyrocket to the top of the charts. My prediction turned out to be quite accurate as a result of my commitment to John, Phil, and Yoko to make this a top record. 

Paul and Linda McCartney.

" Another Day:" This was Paul McCartney's first solo effort outside of the Beatles. This was not an easy record to promote, but it was on me to make this a hit because John Lennon already had three top singles before Paul's first solo single on Apple. The record was promoted all the way to the top.

 "My Love:" I first heard this song when a tape was shipped to me from London, and my gut feeling was that Paul McCartney did not feel that it would be a number one record. I was so excited about this record's potential that I had acetates made that were sent to every major radio station in the country. I received a call from the Eastmans asking me what I thought of the record. I told them that this was a number one record. The record went to number one.

 George Harrison.

 All Things Must Pass: From this album, George Harrison's first solo effort, "My Sweet Lord", well produced by Phil Spector, came out as a single. George felt very apprehensive about coming out as a solo artist and not as a member of the Beatles. He was very nervous and was willing to do any type of interview and promotion in order to secure a number one album and single. While in New York City, George, Phil Spector, and I were mixing the All Things Must Pass album at Media Recording Studio. After the mixing was completed, I requested 50 acetates, which would be sent to all the key radio stations across the country, on an exclusive basis, even after all this, George was still concerned about being out as a solo artist. He asked me whether he would have a number one album and single like John Lennon did. I told him number one all the way.

 Concert for Bangladesh: While promoting the concert, the album, and concert film, as I promoted the records, I gave exclusive album and concert film to every number one radio station in every big city, which was a phenomenon to the motion picture business, one which I was the first to start. 

Ringo Starr

"It Don't Come Easy" Ringo was the last of the Beatles to come as a solo artist. When Ringo sent me the record on tape for reaction, I told him I loved it. He was very concerned whether I thought it was a hit record. I replied, "Yes, we will make it a hit." So I started on my heavy promotion again. I received a call from Ringo two weeks after the release, wanting to know what was happening with it. I told Ringo that the record had gone on 50 top radio stations. Ringo couldn't believe it. Two days later, I received another call from Ringo, and I told him the record had a bullet. He started to get convinced that he had a hit record. Ringo continued calling from London every two days to find out about the record's progress. Even John Lennon started calling. We did not miss, and I promoted this record.