The 60s ... What did like best about the 60s?
Watch this postThe 60s were deemed to be some of the best times ever! What did you like best about the 60s? Share your memories here...
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In 1962 I was working at The Rialto ballroom in Liverpool as assistant general manager after being transferred from the Majestic Ballroom Newcastle. Every Thursday night I was the relief manager at The Majestic ballroom Birkenhead where we put on all the local groups.
I spent most lunchtimes at the Cavern. One day I met my friend Bob Wooler DJ of the Cavern Club and we went around to Nems music store to see Brian Epstein. A little later we all went to The Cavern Club as Bob wanted Brian to see a group called The Beatles who were not long back from Germany. They were great and of course the rest is history.
After being in Liverpool for some months I contacted Mr Neilson Manager of The Majestic Ballroom Newcastle and told him that there were many great groups in Liverpool such as The Big Three, The Beatles, Lee Curtiss and The All Stars, Gerry and The Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer, Freddie Star and the Midnighters and Derry Wilkie and The Pressmen. There were others and that he should book them, which he did.
Sometime later I was involved in a car smash after getting a lift from a drunken doctor from the Blue Angel club, ending up in hospital. Bob Wooler came to visit me and he was sporting a black eye. He told me that John Lennon had thumped him after he made a comment about Lennon's holiday in Spain with Brian Epstein. You have to realise that Bob was the type of guy who would not lift a finger to defend himself.
After recovering I asked for and got a transfer back to the Majestic Newcastle where in 1963 The Beatles were booked to play. I remember that day well as I was looking forward to seeing the band again. When they arrived with their gear I let them in where they commenced to set up their gear for that nights show. They started to rehearse a song, which turned out to be She Loves You, Paul doing the arrangement. The song was rehearsed and polished off on that afternoon BEFORE the gig and not after as many have suggested.. That’s a fact because I sat at the back of the ballroom and listened to it all. I let them out of the ballroom and they went to their hotel, which was The Turks Head. Later that night we had the gig, I introduced them to the stage and all hell was let loose, you could hardly hear the band for the screaming kids. In fact John Lennon told me in the dressing room that it was ok to play their records now ( I did DJ-ing as well) as they would not be heard over the screaming when on stage.
It is my understanding that the band booked into the Turks Head then came to the ballroom to set the gear up and have a rehearsal at about 3pm. I just don't see how they would have the time to write the song at the Turks Head before coming to the Majestic to set the gear up. So as far as I am concerned "She Loves You" was written in Liverpool at Paul McCartneys home. I witnessed its arrangement (which was the same arrangement that ended up on the record) on the afternoon before the gig at The Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle in 1963. My opinion is there was only one musical genius in The Beatles and that was and is Paul McCartney. He was also the best drummer in The Beatles.
By the way, Oriole records made The Merseybeat albums at The Rialto Ballroom Liverpool when I was there. Yes the early 1960’s were a great time to be around.
Ken Black.
However, I think my main memory directly related to the 1960s is the Weekly Shop - the regular Saturday afternoon outing with my mum (and my dad, if he wasn't at work). Every week would be the same routine: bus into town; then walking the length of the main shopping road, going into certain shops for particular items; then, once we'd completed that part of the expedition, we'd head for the main Market; once there, we'd spend about 10 minutes at Eli's (the local version of Del Trotter, with a fresh supply of goods each week!). Then, another few minutes watching the man on the bone china stall effortlessly juggling complete dinner services.
Then it would be back to the serious business of shopping. The Market had a good number of butchers and fishmongers, and my mum knew exactly which stall to go to for a particular piece of meat or fish. The past Leon's toy stall (sometimes I'd be lucky to get something!) to the Country Stalls, for cheese, cooked meat and preserves. Finally, off to the bus stop and back home in time for Dr Who!
That weekly shop speaks volumes about the difference between the 1960s and the present day. In spite of the distance covered during the shopping trip, and the number of shops visited (not to mention the invariable "chinwag" when my mum met up with someone she knew), everything seemed to happen at a far more leisurely pace back then. Nowadays, the urge is for shoppers to get as much as possible in a single large shop, or do most of the shopping on line. You would think, therefore, that people today would have more time to enjoy life. But sadly this doesn't seem to be the case.
Sorry if I rambled on a bit!
We would try all the new hair styles, Loads of back combing & Belle Air Lacquer, & if you did not have any lacquer you would always use sugar & water.
The music we listened to was The Beatles, Tamla, Rock, etc the days never seemed to end happy & care free.
I still love the fashion, ( al though the mini skirt is a no go for me now age & weight are against me ) but i do love the hippy fashion & flower power, colours.. & music of the 60s & i would of loved to gone to Woodstock.
I am a 60s Babe even to this day.
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and singers but I also love the early 60's girl groups like the Ronnettes, Crystals, Shirelles and Supremes. I've now collected every single Beatles. track I can lay my hands on including bootlegs and out takes and every single recording the Stones have made. If you search the internet carefully you can usually get them for only a couple of pounds. Music Magpie is a great place to look. I've now collected the greatest hits albums of nearly every single 60's artist except for the sad singers like Ken.Dodd, Englebert Humperstink . Des. O'Conner and all those middle of the road warbblers. My wife and I also go to as many sixties music weekends at places like Butlins and Pontins as we can. Love the Searchers live. It's a shame that they've now packed it in. Had booked to go to the one at Butins in January but it's now been cancelled due to covid. I
Loungingsofa
Happy days.
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