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I remember the Beatles the first time around, and like anyone else who has listened to them, burned out on them, and then for some strange reason (curiosity, nostalgia, etc) went back to listen, think I can give a reasonable opinion why their music stands the test of the decades. The best way I can put it is primarily Paul McCartney's gift for music composition and unusual but pleasant chord changes that give Beatles tunes a sort of thumbprint of their own. That thumbprint carried through their psychedelic years despite John's constant meddling. Their music was well written, genuine, and rightly deserves a high place in pop-music history.

I saw the Beatles in Houston, Texas in 1964. It was a huge venue and all of the clips which you have seen of the young girls screaming is exactly true. They played on stage with these huge Vox amplifiers and these were mic-up to amplifiers and speakers as large as volkswagons which were hung from the ceilings. I was about 50 yards from them and could not really make out the music. The girls were screaming at the Beatles and I was screaming at the girls to quiet down, so I could hear the Beatles.

It was a strange time. It was an innocent period of time which later degenerated into the various experimentations of drugs and hinduism. John went the way of the marxist for everyone except himself...he was a very wealthy capitalist. Paul and George went back to the vitality of the music, though I do not believe it was ever as good as with the Beatle mix. Ringo...well what can you say about Ringo. He remains relaxed and taking it a day at a time.

I have every vinyl LP they ever put out. I still listen to them. I love the 'crackle' of the LP on the stereo. Go back and listen to them sometime when nostalgia gets under your skin.