Interesting discussion at the always busy Steve Hoffman Music Forum: Was there a backlash against the Beatles in the late 1970s, spurred by this initial post:
But, at the same time, there also sentiments that none of the individual parts matched up to the Beatles' whole. I recall lots of joking about Paul McCartney's Wings, etc.
It was a mixed bag, in other words: Some people still adored the Beatles, they were attracting a second generation of fans (like myself), but there also were those who were eager to move on after the 1960s, and/or disappointed that the individual Beatles didn't match up.
Anway, what's interesting is that, with the death of John Lennon and the passing of time, the Beatles are generally viewed with more reverence -- and less realism -- today. They've become part of history. Though there are still folks who can't stand them.
I was on YouTube watching Ringo's 1978 TV special and somebody left this in the comments:I did most of my growing up during the 1970s and, though the Beatles weren't hugely popular in my age group, they did have fans. Solo hits in 1973-74, the Ringo album, the "Red" and "Blue" compilations were all quite popular in the mid 70s.
"It's amazing to me that they had to hire people to get a crowd for Ringo at the beginning of the show, such was the strange and fortunately short-lived anti-Beatles sentiment of the late 70s".
Now, I was only 8 years old in 1978 so I can't say I know but I just can't believe there ever was a 'backlash' against the Beatles in the late 70s. Capitol were still issuing Beatle comps and of course all of the albums were mainstays in the stores. Still heard Beatle songs on the radio. Of course Paul was huge as a solo artist in the late 70s, George was still commercially viable to an extent.....The only thing I can think of is that Ringo's records by 1978 were flopping and going straight into the cut-out bins.....But I don't see how they would've had to 'hire' people to mob him even though his records were flops by then.
Was the person who posted the above comment on YouTube misinformed or just exaggerating?
The closest thing I ever thought there was to a Beatles 'backlash' was in 1966 after John's infamous 'Jesus' comment.
But, at the same time, there also sentiments that none of the individual parts matched up to the Beatles' whole. I recall lots of joking about Paul McCartney's Wings, etc.
It was a mixed bag, in other words: Some people still adored the Beatles, they were attracting a second generation of fans (like myself), but there also were those who were eager to move on after the 1960s, and/or disappointed that the individual Beatles didn't match up.
Anway, what's interesting is that, with the death of John Lennon and the passing of time, the Beatles are generally viewed with more reverence -- and less realism -- today. They've become part of history. Though there are still folks who can't stand them.
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