Ringo on Cilla's Show

 February 6, 1968

Step Inside Love

 

I am not 100% on the date of this one, but for some reason, I have January 30, 1968 in my files, so I am going to go ahead and post them.  

Snowy Day in April

 April 27, 1971 -  It was on this date, that Ringo and Cilla shot some footage in the snow for Cilla's TV Show.   Ringo also made a promo for the single "It Don't Come Easy."  

5 Years without George Martin

 

No one can disagree that George Martin was a very important person in The Beatles' story.   You can even say that The Beatles' music would not have been the same without George Martin.   As new generations of people discover the Beatles, I hope the importance of George Martin is never lost.

George passed away five years ago today, which I find hard to believe.  While he is gone -- the amazing work he did as a producer will never fade. 

Flying the Friendly Skies

 

Ringo and Cilla

Thinking of Cilla on her birthday

Maximum Volume - the life of Beatles Producer George Martin - A book review

You might think you know a lot about the Beatles' producer, George Martin.  however, you really don't know this man until you have read Dr. Kenneth Womack's biography, Maximum Volume:  The Life of the Beatles Producer George Martin.  This volume covers the first 40 years of George's life.

The book follows George's life from childhood until the Beatles' Rubber Soul album.  It gives amazing insight into the record sessions of the Beatles and other in Epstein's stable of artists.   You really realize what a huge role George played in forming the Beatles early songs and albums.  he gave many suggestions and tried new techniques that made those songs to have the sound that we all have grown to love.   No doubt about it, George Martin was very talented and the Beatles would not have been as successful without him.  Many people consider him to be the "5th Beatle" and after reading this book, you will have no doubts that he deserves that title.  (Although I personally think Martin and Epstein are tied as the 5th Beatle because both of them had played such an important role in different areas of their career.  That is a discussion for another time).

I did not realize that George had such a rough life.  I guess I just assumed that he had a posh upbringing.  However, he came from a challenging family and was stuck in an unhappy marriage for a long time.  EMI was not treating him nor paying him the way the Beatles' producer should have been treated or paid. 

One new thing I learned from this book was minor, but I found it interesting is about the time that George Martin (along with his mistress, Judy) went on a ski trip with John and Cynthia Lennon in 1965.  George ended up with a broken leg.   I incorrectly thought he broke his leg on the slopes.  Actually, he broke his leg inside while John and George were wearing ski tights and leaping around like ballet dancers for their girls' amusement.   That such must have been a funny sight until George landed on his leg the wrong way and broke it.

This isn't an easy book to read.  The vocabulary is at times difficult and I had to slow down and really concentrate to comprehend.   I especially found the first few chapters to be the hardest to read.  The story seemed to pick up once George began working at EMI.    there were a few minor factual errors, but not many.   (The Beatles were in Australia with Jimmie Nicol, not New Zealand for example.)

This is an excellent book and one that needed to be written.  I will be reading the next volume because I am excited to learn more about George Martin's accomplishments.


The link below is the affiliate link to Amazon, where you can purchase this book.   I get a small percentage of anything purchased through this link.  Money made from the Amazon Afflication is used to pay the annual fee to keep this site online.  Thank you for your support.  Sara

  

https://amzn.to/49wGHWx

Step Inside Love

Silly times with Cilla

This is the Cilla I recognize

Many of you have commented that the photo that I posted yesterday is John and Cilla Black.   Thank you!   I sure didn't recognize her (although it isn't the clearest photo), but I do recognize her in this great photo of Cilla at the Cavern.

Remembering Cilla

I am sure that I am sharing in the mourning of the beloved Liverpudlian singer, Cilla Black with the rest of you.     As a Beatle fan the deaths of those who were within the Beatle circle are getting more and more frequent and it never seems to get easier.     I never knew of Cilla until I read Brian Epstein's autobiography, A Cellerfull of Noise in the 1990s.    After reading that book, I was certain that if Brian Epstein had not been homosexual, he would have pursued a romantic relationship with Cilla.   He truly loved her and wanted her to be successful.    When I heard of her death when I woke up this morning, the first thing I thought was that now she could be with Brian again.  They just seemed to me to be such good friends.    

I don't know why Cilla never made it big in the United States.   She had such a large singing voice and it would have sounded amazing on the Broadway stage.  However, she was well known in the UK, and maybe for her that is how it needed to be.    She was a loving wife and mother and a beautiful woman that will be missed by us all.   


Paul and Ringo sent their condolences:

From Ringo:
 
I just heard the news Cilla black has left us she was a good friend we will all miss her peace to Cilla peace and love to the family R&B xxx


From Paul:

"Such a shock to hear about Cilla’s passing.  She was a lovely girl who infected everyone with her great spirit. From first meeting her as a cloakroom girl at the Cavern in Liverpool, to seeing her many times since, she always had a fun loving dignity that made her a great pleasure to be around. She had a fine distinctive voice and was always a bit of a laugh. It was a privilege to know and love her."

A photo from Ringo's collection of he and Cilla in the early days

Cilla:  The only female in a cast of men

Cilla with Brian Epstein celebrating her 21st birthday

Cilla working at the Cavern Club

Cilla along with Brian and Ringo on a game show

With Paul and John during the "Music of Lennon and McCartney" special