3 understated aspects of The Beatles' early-career development
A reminder that even genius-level talent requires a period of incubation
Hi, me again, briefly popping my head above water in between working and studying.
I was recently listening to a fantastic Beatles podcast called Nothing is Real, hosted by Fab Four aficionados Steven Cockcroft and Jason Carty. The show discusses fascinating yet still relatively unknown aspects of the group. More specifically, recent episodes revealed some subtle features of the group’s early-career development that even the most dedicated of fans may not be aware of. And so I thought it fun (and useful) to highlight 3 of my favourite parts of the band’s early evolution, demonstrating that even genius-level talent needs a phase of intense incubation.
#1 Merseyside’s musical ecosystem allowed The Beatles to go full-time with music
Unlike some other regions around the country, Merseyside’s musical ecosystem was a healthy and lively one, abound with venues and clubs. This meant that certain bands, The Beatles being one, could operate fulltime as musicians and not have to work a side job, offering a nice advantage when it comes to creative development. Groups in other areas, by contrast, were often limited to performing at weekends at events like weddings and parties.
The Fab Four could ultimately play The Cavern at lunchtime and then use the remainder of their day as they pleased, often choosing to invest this free time into crate digging and buying records.
#2 Brian Epstein’s record shop was key to their musical education
Lucky for The Beatles, manager Brian Epstein ran a record shop in Liverpool called North End Music Stores (NEMS). NEMS initially served as an extension of the Epstein family’s furniture store, and Brian’s father, who was looking to broaden the business into central Liverpool, established a branch in the city centre. Entrusting Brian and his brother Clive with the responsibilities, Brian oversaw the record section on the ground floor, while Clive managed the first-floor department specialising in white goods and furniture-based electrical goods.
Crucially, Brian’s fascination with the record retailing industry led him to become adept at sourcing hard-to-find recordings. This proved invaluable for The Beatles, who would spend a significant portion of their time at the store, with Brian offering them a discount on records. This environment worked wonders for nurturing their creative talents and encouraging a continuous flow of creative ideas.
#3 The band refused to repeat songs during their long sets in Hamburg
In their early Hamburg years, The Beatles faced demanding gigs, often playing for 4-6 hours a night. Given that the band had limited touring experiencing until this point, save some Scottish shows with singer Johnny Gentle, they weren’t truly road ready and were initially challenged by the workload. Still, they embraced a tenacious philosophy: working hard, learning new material on the fly, and vowing to learn a vast repertoire as to never repeat a song during their long sets1. This determined attitude, many would argue, was the making of them.
So whether we're aspiring to reach the heights of the Fab Four or are simply intrigued fans, the above recognises both the external and internal factors critical in shaping creative talent. And individual genius aside, this period of intense development underscores the profound journey every creative must embark upon, a journey that moulds not just skill but the very essence of creative expression.
I don’t know if anyone else spotted this, but upon watching the Get Back documentary I was blown away by the sheer amount of covers the band knew, as well as their collective knowledge of other artists’ music - a testament to the apprenticeship of learning that took place in Hamburg.
I’m making a note to check out this podcast! You’ve highlighted such important points: access/proximity to opportunities and a scene & access to good inputs. With the internet’s abundance and algorithms, I wonder if it's much harder for (younger) people to sift through and find good musical inputs, and develop good taste, unless they have friends/know someone with good taste?
I didn't know these things, and have read quite a bit about the Beatles, so appreciate your observations.
Not repeating songs in gigs that long seems extraordinary. Being exposed to the structure of so many songs must be an incredible learning experience. No wonder they were so creative.