Reader David wrote me to ask: "Some thoughts I've had recently with George Harrison's behavior within the Beatles particularly when the true Beatlemania kicked in. Do you think that kind of insanity going on around him, the crush of the crowds, the screaming, being chased and attacked...could all of that made him feel threatened, vulnerable, perhaps that his life was in danger? Ringo is on record talking about loving the experience. Paul certainly seemed to love it...John eventually I think stopped caring for it though he wasn't a deer in headlights over it. George on the other hand, if you look at what [...]

Friend of Dullblog Stephen Kroninger sent along this mesmerizing Bollywood version of "I Want to Hold Your Hand": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9JMo9xLfzM The Beatles came along at the precise moment for Western popular culture to have maximum impact all around the globe. Not only were the economically dominant cultures of the U.S., U.K., and Europe producing a monoculture, the process of de-colonization was still in its infancy. So first, the UK went mad for The Beatles in a way that wouldn't be possible ten or even five years later. Then that madness was shared with its ex-colonies (the US foremost among them), where [...]

One of the things that I love about The Beatles is that all their songs—even all the parts of their songs—sound right to my ear. Other people can cover a Beatles song and their version might be interesting, or even good, but it won't sound as perfect as the original. Eric Clapton's solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is definitely like that—the magic was so strong, it even extended to session men (Billy Preston is another example of this). Then I listened to this 2004 solo by Prince at George Harrison's induction ceremony into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [...]

I'd like to try to break out some of the more important issues brought up in comments, and put them in one themed thread, so browsers/new users of this blog can find and follow the discussion more efficiently. Please continue your discussion of the Beatles and the UK class system in the comments here. Thank you.

Brooks, Lennon, et al. [Stalwart @Hologram Sam posted some of this as a comment, but it's just too good not to surface on the main page. Albert Brooks is a comedian's comedian—someone I want to get for Bystander—and his seminal comedy LP "Comedy Minus One" came out in 1973. This is from a 2012 Vanity Fair interview by Judd Apatow.—M.G.] J.A. You said you were friends with Harry Nilsson? A.B. I was. He was one of these comedy-freak guys. He would come and see my shows and he was very sweet and a massive drinker. I didn’t drink and I wound up being [...]