1967 - This was the year of the so-called 'summer of love' in the northern hemisphere, and this was the day that a new technological, musical and broadcasting event changed the world. It was 44 years ago, when The Beatles recorded All You Need Is Love, live, on the the BBC's Our World program, and, for the first time for a live music performance, the event broadcast live around the world. For those of us lucky enough to experience that breakthrough, we could see it was the start of something new and something exciting that would change all of our lives. We had no idea in what way it would do it, but we instinctively knew that the times were indeed changing. The seed of the satellite link-up came from the BBC, which took the idea to the European Broadcasting Union in 1966. The project editor was BBC executive Aubrey Singer. Personalities, including Maria Callas and Pablo Picasso, from 19 nations performed, in separate items from their respective countries. The first-time first live global television link, which lasted two-and-a-half hours, had the largest television audience in history at that time. It was watched by 400 million in 26 countries.
No Politicians
No politicians or heads of state were allowed to take part in the broadcast, and no pre-recorded videotape or film was allowed. Around 10,000 technicians, producers and translators helped make the event happen; each country had its own announcers, with translators narrating where necessary. For the first time ever, five continents were linked in the moment, linked in the now, mankind being brought face to face with mankind, in front of mankind as a witness, in places as far apart as Canberra and Cape Kennedy, Moscow and Montreal, Samarkand and Söderfors, Takamatsu and Tunisia. National broadcasting companies from 14 countries provided material for the 125-minute programme, which was shown in black-and-white. The television organizations involved were: Australia (ABC), Austria (ORF), Canada (CBC), Denmark (DZR), France (ORTF), Italy (RAI), Japan (NHK), Mexico (TS Mexicana), Spain (TVE), Sweden (SRT), Tunisia (RTT), United Kingdom (BBC), USA (NET) and West Germany (ARD), and the programme was also shown - without contributing their own content - in Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Switzerland.
Musicians & Guests
The extra musicians were: Sidney Sax, Patrick Halling, Eric Bowie and Jack Holmes (violin); Rex Morris and Don Honeywill (tenor saxophone); Evan Watkins and Harry Spain (trombone); Jack Emblow (accordion); and Stanley Woods and David Mason (trumpet). Stanley Woods also played flügelhorn on the recording. Friends & guests included Mick Jagger, Keith Richard, Marianne Faithfull, Keith Moon, Eric Clapton, Pattie Harrison, Jane Asher, Graham Nash and Hunter Davies. All were dressed in colourful clothes, and were surrounded by flowers, balloons and placards.
All You Need Is Love
The BBC commissioned The Beatles to write a song for the United Kingdom's contribution to the hisotry-making event. The Beatles were asked to come up with a song containing a simple message to be understood by all nationalities. Their manager, Brian Epstein said at the time:"It was an inspired song and they really wanted to give the world a message. The nice thing about it is that it cannot be misinterpreted. It is a clear message saying that love is everything." When asked in 1971 whether his solo songs like Give Peace a Chance and Power to the People were propaganda songs, John Lennon answered: 'Sure. So was All You Need Is Love. I'm a revolutionary artist. My art is dedicated to change." The following video is a colourised version.
1969 - British group, The Hollies, recorded their classic song, He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, 42 years ago today, with Elton John playing piano. This was a big impact song at the time. For more Hollies videos and info, go to our archive search engine. The harmonies on this song are impeccable.
1969 - Mick Taylor made his first concert appearance with the Rolling Stones after he had replaced Brian Jones. This is one of the best eras of the Stones, the one with Mick Taylor, around 1969 to 1974. I wonder if they paid him future royalties and were fair to him on his departure. He certainly made a big difference to the sound of the Rolling Stones during that period, for me, their most fertile. Not from the concert, but one of their truly great songs with Taylor, Gimme Shelter. We have lots of stuff on Taylor, Jones and the Stones, go to our archive blog search engine.
1984 - Must be good singing in the same band as your partner, as Patti Scialfa and Bruce Springsteen found out when she joined him in the E Street Band. For more info on Bruce, Patti, Clarence or the E Street Band, go to our archive search engine.
No Politicians
No politicians or heads of state were allowed to take part in the broadcast, and no pre-recorded videotape or film was allowed. Around 10,000 technicians, producers and translators helped make the event happen; each country had its own announcers, with translators narrating where necessary. For the first time ever, five continents were linked in the moment, linked in the now, mankind being brought face to face with mankind, in front of mankind as a witness, in places as far apart as Canberra and Cape Kennedy, Moscow and Montreal, Samarkand and Söderfors, Takamatsu and Tunisia. National broadcasting companies from 14 countries provided material for the 125-minute programme, which was shown in black-and-white. The television organizations involved were: Australia (ABC), Austria (ORF), Canada (CBC), Denmark (DZR), France (ORTF), Italy (RAI), Japan (NHK), Mexico (TS Mexicana), Spain (TVE), Sweden (SRT), Tunisia (RTT), United Kingdom (BBC), USA (NET) and West Germany (ARD), and the programme was also shown - without contributing their own content - in Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Switzerland.
Musicians & Guests
The extra musicians were: Sidney Sax, Patrick Halling, Eric Bowie and Jack Holmes (violin); Rex Morris and Don Honeywill (tenor saxophone); Evan Watkins and Harry Spain (trombone); Jack Emblow (accordion); and Stanley Woods and David Mason (trumpet). Stanley Woods also played flügelhorn on the recording. Friends & guests included Mick Jagger, Keith Richard, Marianne Faithfull, Keith Moon, Eric Clapton, Pattie Harrison, Jane Asher, Graham Nash and Hunter Davies. All were dressed in colourful clothes, and were surrounded by flowers, balloons and placards.
All You Need Is Love
The BBC commissioned The Beatles to write a song for the United Kingdom's contribution to the hisotry-making event. The Beatles were asked to come up with a song containing a simple message to be understood by all nationalities. Their manager, Brian Epstein said at the time:"It was an inspired song and they really wanted to give the world a message. The nice thing about it is that it cannot be misinterpreted. It is a clear message saying that love is everything." When asked in 1971 whether his solo songs like Give Peace a Chance and Power to the People were propaganda songs, John Lennon answered: 'Sure. So was All You Need Is Love. I'm a revolutionary artist. My art is dedicated to change." The following video is a colourised version.
1969 - British group, The Hollies, recorded their classic song, He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, 42 years ago today, with Elton John playing piano. This was a big impact song at the time. For more Hollies videos and info, go to our archive search engine. The harmonies on this song are impeccable.
1969 - Mick Taylor made his first concert appearance with the Rolling Stones after he had replaced Brian Jones. This is one of the best eras of the Stones, the one with Mick Taylor, around 1969 to 1974. I wonder if they paid him future royalties and were fair to him on his departure. He certainly made a big difference to the sound of the Rolling Stones during that period, for me, their most fertile. Not from the concert, but one of their truly great songs with Taylor, Gimme Shelter. We have lots of stuff on Taylor, Jones and the Stones, go to our archive blog search engine.
1984 - Must be good singing in the same band as your partner, as Patti Scialfa and Bruce Springsteen found out when she joined him in the E Street Band. For more info on Bruce, Patti, Clarence or the E Street Band, go to our archive search engine.
