How we became hooked on the Beatles

[PennyLane]

Maybe everybody has their own wee story about how they contracted OBD (Obsessive Beatles Disorder.) Personally, I was in a play, "Haroun and the Sea of Stories" in which I had to sing Here Comes the Sun and I Am the Walrus. I really loved those songs. I bought Magical Mystery Tour, and it has since been my favorite album. My dad also is an avid Beatles fan, so I kidnapped all of his albums and listen to them basically whenever I am conscious. I talk about them even more (I talk in my sleep.) The play got awful reviews, but it got me going on the Fab 4. Anyone else who'd like to share there story, please post! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/tongue.gif

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Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup...

[pat]

Luckily I had a father who was a music fan, and who was open minded enough to welcome all kinds of music. He allowed me to listen to a little tranny in bed, and there I heard 'Love Me Do' when it was released, I liked the band, but was only a small childand not allowed to buy records, I kept listening to them through the following couple of years, but I really got hooked big time when Magical Mystery Tour came out, by this time we were living in London, and I was a almost a teenager. My best friend had the EP and I will never forget listening to it in her bedroom, her Mum yelling all the time to 'cut that racket out!) my memories of that summer are all linked with listening to The Beatles endlessly, and watching out for rare appearances on TV. Imagine my horror when my previously wonderful Dad took me away from London in 1968! to live in dear old backward Ireland, I hated him! (I soon grew to love Ireland, dont worry) Ahhh, great times! Thanks for making me bring back the memory, Penny.

[beatle]

back in high school,around 1987 oh so long ago, my "other half" was already in to the beatles, me well i was more into whatever was around. i've heard some of there songs,so i knew who they were,but my "other half" had some of there cassettes, so eventually they got played,that's all it took,now i'm hooked for life. plus my "other half" is now my"better half" and curses the day i got hooked,because that's all i eat,sleep and talk about!

[pat]

You're not alone there! Lets hear it for all the 'Other/Better halves' who put up with us sufferers of OBD!!

[beatle]

yeh really, they should get an award or something for putting up with us!

[bearkat77]

My first exposure to OBD came in 1964 when I heard on the news of what happened in New York on Feb. 7th. I got intrigued and had to watch Ed Sullivan two days later. That was all it took. Sitting on the living room floor watching them on TV was one of the most important days of my life. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/grin.gif
The next day I had to get their album so I would not be too far from their music. To date, I have all the US albums plus imports from England, Holland, Germany, Japan and Canada. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/shocked.gif

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Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page (http://www9.50megs.com/bearkat77)

[Jerry]

And one pretty damn good bootleg.http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/grin.gif

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Webmaster - BeatleLinks.net
http://www.beatlelinks.net

[Harbidge]

I remember it well. T'was 3 years ago in the year of 1997. We were returning home from a holiday and my bigger brother (age only) had brought along a tape of the red album. I was constantly telling to shut it up because nobody liked the Beatles, but as I was listening to it, something just clicked inside, and I began to like them. Soon I had copied his red album and was starting to learn the lyrics. Then I started to collect their albums which started off with an original Abbey Road with the misaligned apple on the back cover and some Beatles Monthly books and a few Beatlemags from the 60s. Now, my collection has built up greatly with any rarities which I would never sell. I am the biggest sufferer of OBD in my school, and one of the biggest sufferers in my town, but I know a few people who love them more than me.

Bearkat - You have the original imports do you? Look after them well, as they're worth a LOT of money I've been told.

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Is Paul really dead? Find out at http://www.pid.aboveme.com

[DIGIT]

It was after the Sullivan appearences that I knew The Beatles were going to be big.It was a few years before I could own a Beatle record.My older sister bought me my first record "I Feel Fine".The first Lp I bought was "A Hard Days Night".My prized Beatle things are the Beatle pen and coffee mug ,which I"ve never seen in a collectable magizine.And my Jukebox only 45'S

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[bearkat77]

Yes Jerry, and one pretty damn good bootleg! It is something! Thanks again! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/cool.gif

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Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page (http://www9.50megs.com/bearkat77)

[SleepyHead]

Bearkat, you may NOT read this post!! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/wink.gif(We women types like to have our lil secrets...)

Back in '83, I wouldn't have known a Beatle from a Beach Boy (although my previous boyfriend had introduced me to the Beach Boys songs, it never really took off for me.)

I had started a new job at the local bowling alley, and in walks this extremely emaciated, scruffy-looking individual (he looked like a biker with his tattered jeans and t-shirt). This was another lesson in don't let first impressions fool ya, 'cause over the next 4 hours or so, I discovered Mr. Reprobrate actually had a brain, and conversation wasn't limited to blah nothings. During one lil "rush" of business, the neglected Mr. Reprobrate got up to play the jukebox...and he played "Woman", by John Lennon. He didn't mean anything by it, but my lil self was already more than half attracted to him...

At any rate, later on, the bugger was getting ready to leave, and he said, "I have to go babysit." I think my jaw may have hit the counter-top. In my experience, grown men did NOT baby-sit...I think I fell in love right then http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/smile.gif

After he left, I hot-footed it over to the jukebox to see what he had played. Later conversations revealed that the beautiful crooner had a past history, and the scruffy looking individual was hooked on this history. I fell for the Beatles only a jet lag after I fell for Mr. Kat...

and the rest, as they say, is history!

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Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page (http://www9.50megs.com/bearkat77)

[lennon-mccartney]

Awwwwwwwwww!!!!


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http://www.angelfire.com/stars/LennonMcCartney/lennonmccartneylink.gif (http://www.angelfire.com/stars/LennonMcCartney)

[jtal909]

I was 11 years old and outside with my friend who happened to have a small transitor radio. We were just hanging around on a neighbor's lawn and he put the radio to my ear and said listen to this. It was "I Want To Hold Your Hand". And music was never the same again.

[Paperbackwriter]

It was a cold night, and a cold day. I was thirteen, i assume for it was just a year before this one. YOu know, 2000. Anyway, I needed a piano book (so I could play the piano) and went into a shop to buy one. (Yes, I did buy me love). And my dad said to get this band called the Beetles, just joking. So I played Nowhere Man on the piano. Then just that day, I made a tape with this ''Beetles" music on it. My 1st favorite was Maxewell's Silver Hammer. Then I listened to the White Album the next day, figured thoise nuts must have been stoned out of their minds when they did that, and just played Nowhere Man. Then, I started to listen to the music again, another tape was made, and my life was changed. There were other things, but now I've gotten myself all confused.
forever///o-o\\\

[Giggles]

I have always loved "oldies" music, and i have basically grown up listening to all of the great singers and bands (beach boys, beatles ect.ect.ect). I really started to love them and appreciate them recently now that i have talked to some of my over-obsessed friends about them(pennylane for one). The beatles are great!!

[Original Fan]

The first time I heard "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" on the radio was in December of 1963. I liked the unique sound immediately. All the N.Y. deejays really pushed it and I was caught up in the hype. The album "Meet the Beatles" followed soon &, after hearing it at my best friend's house, I ran out and bought a copy of my own. That was it for me. I was hooked forever. It stands to reason that "Hand" will always hold a special place in my heart. It's still exciting to listen to.

[jtal909]

Yes, "Hand" was the first big one in the States and will always be special. Followed by She Loves You.

[Brett]

Jerry got into them in like 9th grade, and I liked 'em and got very into them too. Put my heavy metal down for a few years. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/smile.gif I'm not a fanatic like I was 12 or 13 years ago, but I still have a lot of bootlegs and still enjoy listening to the albums.

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Beatlelinks.net "Designer/Keep Things Running" Guy
Webmaster Van Halen Links.com
http://www.vhlinks.com


[This message has been edited by Brett (edited July 20, 2000 at 01:04 PM).]

[Glenn]

Being 28, I really don't remember a time when I didn't hear the Beatles, whether I was aware that it was them or not. I do remember it turning up a notch when I saw the video called the Complete Beatles. I haven't seen it in a while, but I recall it being very well done. I especially liked the intro when the narrator spoke of Liverpool. Then the end when the guys faded away while (I think) I'm So Tired was playing. Very evocative. Anyway, that was my introduction to learning a bit about the band as opposed to just listening to them.

[beatlemethisbeatlemethat]

well, it all started when the anthology came out. My mother begged me to watch it with her and finally i said ok. I was at least 13 and wasn't a music fan so I was oblivious to who the Beatles were. The first song they played was In My Life, and i was hooked! I bought my mom anthology 1 for christmas and the greatest hits album and i overtook them!! Then when I heard Let It Be, i realized that i had heard it before a few years before. My brother was in a band and they had played LIB a few times and I loved it even then. I think my real "obsession" came when my grandmother was in the hospital and i would take my walkman there and listen to it everyday. It was a tough time and thats the only thing I had to get away from it all and so they became more to me than just a Band. They helped me through a really tough time, which seems crazy. But music can pull you out of a depression, out of anger, out of anything. And the more I saw and listened of the Beatles, the more I loved them. They had wonderful personalities and who wouldnt love them for that AND for great music that has lasted over 30 years and is still touching people in my generation. I am 18 years old, and I don't listen to music of today cause it sucks! All my friends think im crazy but a few understand how I feel cause I've "converted" them to Beatleism. =0)

[beatlebangs1964]

Is there anybody going to listen to my story...

There I go again. The Beatles sure had an appropriate saying for everything.

They were ALWAYS a part of my life. I read early and talked late and to this day I still use them as my spokesmen. Each time I hear the 1966 classic, "I Want to Tell You," I can completely identify with the lyrics because I am much more proficient on the 'Net than I am verbally. I guess maybe it's because you have time to think through what you want to get across.

The Beatles' cartoon, which debuted 9/25/65 helped turn me on even more! Channel ABC broadcast this delightful show to enlighten the children of the world! Even my mother liked it.

I grew up in the listening area of WABC Music Radio 770AM and on carpools to school the first few years of my life, I was exposed to good music on WABC-77. In 1964, I had scrapped "yes" for "yeah" and my mother laments that to this day. I had a crush on Ringo when I was little and I was (you're gonna laugh) turned on by Ringo's hair! I love it!

Guys were not the ONLY ones with hair issues during the Beatle years. I have detested side parts pretty much my entire life (my mother still remembers fondly about how "when you were under one I could blow a part in your hair." Why she would want to and why she would do that has never been explained to me because I sure didn't NEED one). I absolutely hated side parts (still do) and always wanted bangs. Once I took control over my own hair, guess who was never seen with any side part. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/thumbsdown.gif Guys wanted to grow their hair and I was not allowed to cut mine until I reached the magic age of 16 (my mother had some rather weird ideas then). I waited until I was a month off 18 before I took the plunge. When I was in 12th grade, I made my wish come true.

And the rest, as they say, is history, yeah, yeah, yeah.

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Then we will remember things we said today. Yeah.
-- Beatles, 1964

BB1964

[This Message Has Been Edited By beatlebangs1964 On June 10, 2001 07:11 PM]

[beatlebangs1964]

I love this thread! What a wonderful way to hear first hand accounts of Beatle memories.

I've only been on these boards since 5/23/01 and still feel sorta new, so this is a wonderful way to get to know some folks better.

My mother's Beatle story: She was a teacher at that time who had a colleague who was married to a kook. The kook said he wanted to "step on the Beatles." When she told me that story years later, I asked (partly in jest) if anybody ever thought of getting some Black Flag for the kook her former colleague was married to. She even enjoyed their 1964 Ed Sullivan appearances! (That does not surprise me. How could you not enjoy the Ed Sullivan performances)?

Another cool Beatle story -- "She Loves You" was the song that started it for me in 1964. I used to drive my poor mother up a tree with the wonderful chorus from that song. When I got older and started buying LPs (pre-CDs), I thought she'd go round the bend what with my playing the Beatles incessantly. Not surprisingly, she grew to love the Beatles (and I like to take SOME credit for that) and, I'm sure you're going to laugh, did something really cool recently. She has a Beatle haircut NOW http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/thumbsup.gif like George did in "Help!" It looks GREAT! I'm glad she FINALLY took some good advice and put those side parts http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/thumbsdown.gif to rest. Bangs rule!

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Then we will remember things we said today. Yeah.
-- Beatles, 1964

BB1964

[beatlebangs1964]

These boards are excellent therapy.
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Then we will remember things we said today. Yeah.
-- Beatles, 1964

BB1964

[This Message Has Been Edited By beatlebangs1964 On August 05, 2001 08:27 AM]

[bearkat77]

BB1964, we can tell how much you enjoy this topic. You double posted. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/wink.gif

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http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/cat.gif

Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page (http://bearkat77.www9.50megs.com)

[Tim]

The odd thing is,I was introduced to the Beatles in 72 when Channel 7 ran Help! and A Hard Days Night and Yellow Submarine on their 4 o'clock movie.
I didn't get more into the music from ythe films until I stated getting into music in 77/78. The first record though i owned was Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel. The first Beatles record I owned were Canadian pressing of the StarLine singles and This Boy/All My Loving.
The we got the cartoons in 78,I got a copy of the Beatles Forever book,and the rest is history.

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Tim
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Duchy Of Grand Fenwick

[Lynner]

My cousin, Terrie, always had a stack of albums on top of her stereo. On the top of the stack was Beatles VI. "Who are they?" I asked her (in early 1975). "The Beatles. They are the best. And this one (she pointed at George) is the cutest." I immediately disagreed. pointed at Paul and said, "I think he's cuter." I then began telling her about a new record I'd heard, the Carpenters' version of "Please Mr. Postman". That really set her off. She quickly played the Beatles' version for me, followed by a number of other Beatles songs. That's all I needed to hear to become a lifelong fan.

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[beatlebangs1964]

I think we ought to give your cousin Terrie some special appreciation for introducing you to the WORLD'S NUMBER ONE BAND!

HIP, HIP HOORAY FOR YOUR COUSIN!

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Then we will remember things we said today. Yeah.
-- Beatles, 1964

BB1964

[HMVNipper]

I became a Beatles fan in 1975 -- I was at summer camp, and a girl a little older than I was asked me if I liked the Beatles. I was clueless, of course, so she played me some albums -- and the rest was history! That fall, I saw AHDN for the first time (at my local branch library), and at that point I was a goner!

I do have vague memories of the Beatles from when I was a kid -- I was two when they were on Ed Sullivan, so I don't remember that, but I remember watching the Saturday morning cartoon program, and I also remember that my elementary school, which used to rent out the local movie theatre for a school-wide film day every year, showed Yellow Submarine in 1969 (a year late), and I also remember hearing Beatles songs on WABC radio...when "The Fool On The Hill" was a new song, they played it at the same time every single day! But I didn't truly become a fan until that girl turned me on to them at camp in 1975. And boy, am I EVER glad she did!

http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/musicnotes.gif http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/rocknroll.gif http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/musicnotes.gif

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Rooftop Sessions - The Finest In Beatles-Related Fiction. June 2001 Issue up now! About.com BEST OF THE NET, April 2001! www.rooftopsessions.com (http://www.rooftopsessions.com)

[beatlebangs1964]

HMVNipper,

I can TOTALLY relate to your account! I was a month off three when the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan (in 1964) and, my poor mother will attest to it wasn't long before she saw the Beatles' influence over me. By 4, I remember saying proudly that "I know a Beatle song whenever I hear one." Talk about good learning!

I used to drive her BANANAS with "yeah, yeah, yeah" and you can just imagine her response when I gave my dolls Beatle haircuts! I loved doing it, though and the memory makes me smile today. I thought she'd have a stroke for sure! (I was 6 & 7 by then. By 8 I gave up dolls).

I loved WABC 77AM Music Radio and was raised on WABC the first few years of my life. (Remember DAN Ingram [thought that was one word when I was little], Harry Harrison [no relation to George]) when the top hits were actually GOOD?

I remember in 1969 when I was in 3rd grade, my then teacher (Charles Manson in a skirt with nothing to recommend her) had only one good idea that year and that was a field trip to see "Yellow Submarine" in the town library.

As much as I love the Beatles then and now, I sure didn't want to share something that special that I enjoyed on my private time with that horrible class and with that teacher. Thank God the movie had already left the theater that day and we dodged the field trip! I had been treated to "Yellow Submarine," but it was just not something I wanted to do with my classmates. I took enough flak for being a Beatles' fan among other things, but I sure didn't need more fuel added to the fire! (Paul McCartney's classic, "Getting Better All the Time" describes school perfectly. It was hell with a light at the end of the tunnel).

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Then we will remember things we said today. Yeah.
-- Beatles, 1964

BB1964

[beatlebangs1964]

ADDENDUM

The Beatles were always a part of my life and I feel very fortunate that way. Being a late talker was an advantage, too. You can listen to others, like the Beatles and pick up some really cool phrases. If you're lucky and have been taught to read early, (both my parents and favorite uncle were early readers and so are a whole passel of cousins) you can entertain yourself and you can also hang around quietly listening and pick up even more info. I still do that now, sometimes. I have a good memory and I do have many memories of 1964.

Check out this really cool video. I ordered it off the 'Net and got it last week. It's the one when the Beatles first arrive in America and you get treated to their press conferences, the Ed Sullivan shows and some cool impromptu jamming in their hotel suite. John will crack you UP! How can anyone NOT have fun watching this? It is SUCH A TREAT and worth it!

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Then we will remember things we said today. Yeah.
-- Beatles, 1964

BB1964

[MaccaGirl]

My obbsession started with my lucky break as a gymnast in fourth grade. I was selected for the school gymnastics show and the theme that year was oldies but goodies. SO... I heard Love Me Do, Twist and Shout, I Wanna Hold Your Hand and AHDN that show. I enjoyed the music and that summer we were driving around Larkspur and I heard Love Me Do on the radio. I started tapping along to the beat and my cousin Anthony said that he had a CD with that song on it. It was a mixed CD with a few other ppl on it like the Lovin Spoonful and Mama's and Papa's. I listened and more and more I kept coming back to these Beatle people. My dad heard me listening and told me he had a bunch of their LP's downstairs. (My dad has everything under the sun as far as music goes, you name it, he has it.) I went down and put on AHDN and I was hooked, loved them ever since. I credit my obbsession to Coach Kemp, Anthony and my dad. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/smile.gif

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It Takes one to know one ~Linda McCartney
~"She's a baby in the morning time when the sleep is in her eyes."
Venus and Mars are alright tonight!!!

[HeyBeatle]

I've lived in a house filled with Rock n' roll and even LOVED Ringo since a young age not knowing who he was just that he was on TV and sang my favorite song 'Octopus' Garden'.
Then along came 1995 and the Beatles Anthology on tv. I watched that thing every night staying up way past my bed time, eyes glued to the screen. Basically my own personal Ed Sullivan show moment, except it was about a week long. By the end of the series I was entranced and crying as they broadcast the 'Free as A Bird'. The very next day I went out and bought 'Magical Mystery Tour' ( I was in love with 'I am the walrus') and the 'Free as A Bird' single. And from then on I have been in love with their music of course OBD has really set in in the last few years cause I finally have money and can afford all...wait no some of the Beatle memoribilia I desire.

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" Are you a mod or a rocker?"
" No I'm a mocker."

"I'm not dead yet."

"What's brown and sounds like a bell?"
"Dunnng"

[beatlebangs1964]

Yeah, I have the 1964 strain of OBD. Dr. Robert has his take on it -- if you're lucky, you are incurable! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/laugh4.gif http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/joker.gif

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Then we will remember things we said today. Yeah.
-- Beatles, 1964

BB1964

[theloveyoutake]

In 1979 I was 15, and the girl next door was 19, and usually away at teacher training. She was home for a long weekend and a local radio station was running a competition wherein they were playing every track from every Beatles album over the 3 days.

You had to send in your list of all the correct song titles in the order they were played, and the winner got the blue box set of all the Beatles albums.

Well, the girl, Ruth, had had an argument with her boyfriend. He wanted her to go away with her for the weekend, but she wanted to win the Beatles box more. I spent nearly all of the weekend in her bedroom with her and my Beatles song book.

As there may be kids reading this, all I will say here is that we were occsasionally distracted from the radio and we lost the contest - I also lost something else that weekend, which was less of a blow to me.

I already had been a Beatles fan, and was now even more so!

When I left school and started earning my own money, the first thing I bought was that Beatles box set, then the John Lennon albums box set. I went on to buy all their solo albums, songbooks, video's, and many bootlegs. I also have a bookcase full of books on them.

I to this day love the Beatles, and now does my son Travis who is 8 and who stands to inherit my Beatles collection eventually!

P.S. This is a story that I have never told anyone else!

Dave



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[beatlebangs1964]

What a wonderful story! Thank you for telling it. How lucky Travis is that you have set a good example for him by exposing him to top culture.

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Then we will remember things we said today. Yeah.
-- Beatles, 1964

BB1964

[SleepyHead]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Tahoma, Arial, Sans-Serif">Quote:</font><HR>Originally Posted By theloveyoutake:
I also lost something else that weekend, which was less of a blow to me.

I already had been a Beatles fan, and was now even more so!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Whoa! TMI!! TMI!! I didn't realize there was another way to go! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/laugh2.gif



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http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/sleep2.gif
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Bearkat77's Tribute to John Lennon (http://bearkatjl.50megs.com)
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[mindgames]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Tahoma, Arial, Sans-Serif">Quote:</font><HR>Originally Posted By theloveyoutake:
As there may be kids reading this, all I will say here is that we were occsasionally distracted from the radio and we lost the contest - I also lost something else that weekend, which was less of a blow to me.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/cool2.gif Attaboy man. The perfect combination: Beatles and a pretty girl.



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This week, the Beatles' greatest hits album, 1, is at number eighty-five on the USA album charts.

[beatlebangs1964]

Thanks for picturing me with the Beatles. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/laugh4.gif

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Then we will remember things we said today. Yeah.
-- Beatles, 1964

BB1964