[Applause] when it came to the Beatles I was a late
when it came to the Beatles I was a late
when it came to the Beatles I was a late bloomer I remember it like it was
bloomer I remember it like it was
bloomer I remember it like it was yesterday it was 1977 I was 11 years old
yesterday it was 1977 I was 11 years old
yesterday it was 1977 I was 11 years old and my favorite television show my
and my favorite television show my
and my favorite television show my favorite morning’s show the new Zoo
favorite morning’s show the new Zoo
favorite morning’s show the new Zoo review had been suddenly and
review had been suddenly and
review had been suddenly and unforgivably preempted I won’t mince
unforgivably preempted I won’t mince
unforgivably preempted I won’t mince words
words
words I love the new zoo revue with its
I love the new zoo revue with its
I love the new zoo revue with its fanciful depictions of life-sized animal
fanciful depictions of life-sized animal
fanciful depictions of life-sized animal puppets living in perfect utopian
puppets living in perfect utopian
puppets living in perfect utopian harmony with their human counterparts
harmony with their human counterparts
harmony with their human counterparts what’s not to love
what’s not to love
what’s not to love Henrietta hippo is a hoot and Freddie
Henrietta hippo is a hoot and Freddie
Henrietta hippo is a hoot and Freddie the frog was was hilarious but on that
the frog was was hilarious but on that
the frog was was hilarious but on that fateful morning as I took another bite
fateful morning as I took another bite
fateful morning as I took another bite of sugared cereal it was 1977 it was all
of sugared cereal it was 1977 it was all
of sugared cereal it was 1977 it was all sugared cereal as I took another bite of
sugared cereal as I took another bite of
sugared cereal as I took another bite of sugared cereal the new zoo review had
sugared cereal the new zoo review had
sugared cereal the new zoo review had been replaced by of all things the
been replaced by of all things the
been replaced by of all things the Beatles and I had absolutely no idea who
Beatles and I had absolutely no idea who
Beatles and I had absolutely no idea who they were at first I was more than a
they were at first I was more than a
they were at first I was more than a little perturbed by their appearance in
little perturbed by their appearance in
little perturbed by their appearance in my life
my life
my life who were these cartoon guys but then
who were these cartoon guys but then
who were these cartoon guys but then just as suddenly I was smitten with the
just as suddenly I was smitten with the
just as suddenly I was smitten with the four lads from Liverpool they got in
four lads from Liverpool they got in
four lads from Liverpool they got in great adventures they had a larious high
great adventures they had a larious high
great adventures they had a larious high jinks and they could sing where had
jinks and they could sing where had
jinks and they could sing where had these songs been all my life
these songs been all my life
these songs been all my life I wondered well the Beatles were also a
I wondered well the Beatles were also a
I wondered well the Beatles were also a challenge for George Martin who was also
challenge for George Martin who was also
challenge for George Martin who was also a late bloomer to their story when he
a late bloomer to their story when he
a late bloomer to their story when he first heard them back in February 1962
first heard them back in February 1962
first heard them back in February 1962 it barely stand their demo recordings in
it barely stand their demo recordings in
it barely stand their demo recordings in fact later he would write that he was
fact later he would write that he was
fact later he would write that he was not knocked out at all I guess that in
not knocked out at all I guess that in
not knocked out at all I guess that in 60 speak not knocked out at all is
60 speak not knocked out at all is
60 speak not knocked out at all is something like atrocious
something like atrocious
something like atrocious in any event George was not smitten with
in any event George was not smitten with
in any event George was not smitten with them certainly not the way I had been
them certainly not the way I had been
them certainly not the way I had been back with my breakfast cereal no he had
back with my breakfast cereal no he had
back with my breakfast cereal no he had spent the past dozen or so years
spent the past dozen or so years
spent the past dozen or so years navigating lowly Parlophone records
navigating lowly Parlophone records
navigating lowly Parlophone records from the states of financial ruin to the
from the states of financial ruin to the
from the states of financial ruin to the safe harbors of commercial success and
safe harbors of commercial success and
safe harbors of commercial success and he done it on the back of a spate of hit
he done it on the back of a spate of hit
he done it on the back of a spate of hit comedy recordings but what George really
comedy recordings but what George really
comedy recordings but what George really wanted to do was develop a beat band of
wanted to do was develop a beat band of
wanted to do was develop a beat band of his own he wanted to develop what he
his own he wanted to develop what he
his own he wanted to develop what he would describe as a fire proof act that
would describe as a fire proof act that
would describe as a fire proof act that he could ride up the charts for George
he could ride up the charts for George
he could ride up the charts for George it was all a matter of adopting the
it was all a matter of adopting the
it was all a matter of adopting the right formula in many ways this aspect
right formula in many ways this aspect
right formula in many ways this aspect of his personality was his greatest
of his personality was his greatest
of his personality was his greatest personality trait being methodical being
personality trait being methodical being
personality trait being methodical being calculated but at the same time it may
calculated but at the same time it may
calculated but at the same time it may have also been his great weakness he had
have also been his great weakness he had
have also been his great weakness he had what psychologist Angela Duckworth
what psychologist Angela Duckworth
what psychologist Angela Duckworth describes as grit the idea that through
describes as grit the idea that through
describes as grit the idea that through hard work and persistence we can make
hard work and persistence we can make
hard work and persistence we can make the best version of ourselves the
the best version of ourselves the
the best version of ourselves the problem was George had a lot of gritty
problem was George had a lot of gritty
problem was George had a lot of gritty self determination but precious little
self determination but precious little
self determination but precious little in the way of good talent scouting the
in the way of good talent scouting the
in the way of good talent scouting the kind of passion you need to pick the
kind of passion you need to pick the
kind of passion you need to pick the next fireproof act well I know a thing
next fireproof act well I know a thing
next fireproof act well I know a thing or two about George’s dilemma for me the
or two about George’s dilemma for me the
or two about George’s dilemma for me the best example of this occurred in college
best example of this occurred in college
best example of this occurred in college when it came time to select a major I
when it came time to select a major I
when it came time to select a major I knew in my heart of hearts what I wanted
knew in my heart of hearts what I wanted
knew in my heart of hearts what I wanted to be I wanted to be an English major
to be I wanted to be an English major
to be I wanted to be an English major and study language and literature but
and study language and literature but
and study language and literature but when it came time to make that selection
when it came time to make that selection
when it came time to make that selection I was at tenterhooks no I chose Business
I was at tenterhooks no I chose Business
I was at tenterhooks no I chose Business Administration instead not that there’s
Administration instead not that there’s
Administration instead not that there’s anything wrong with that
anything wrong with that
anything wrong with that I chose Business Administration for the
I chose Business Administration for the
I chose Business Administration for the simple fact that to my ears
simple fact that to my ears
simple fact that to my ears it sounded like it would pay the bills
it sounded like it would pay the bills
it sounded like it would pay the bills you see like George I had my own formula
you see like George I had my own formula
you see like George I had my own formula it looks something like this and as you
it looks something like this and as you
it looks something like this and as you can tell it was pretty pragmatic and
can tell it was pretty pragmatic and
can tell it was pretty pragmatic and very short-sighted formulas like this
very short-sighted formulas like this
very short-sighted formulas like this end up bringing you to a crisis and it
end up bringing you to a crisis and it
end up bringing you to a crisis and it certainly did in my case I began to
certainly did in my case I began to
certainly did in my case I began to notice the disintegration of my own
notice the disintegration of my own
notice the disintegration of my own psyche in the face of the fact that one
psyche in the face of the fact that one
psyche in the face of the fact that one day I would have to argue for a job go
day I would have to argue for a job go
day I would have to argue for a job go to a job interview and make a case for
to a job interview and make a case for
to a job interview and make a case for myself as a business major I was
myself as a business major I was
myself as a business major I was petrified at the thought of it so one
petrified at the thought of it so one
petrified at the thought of it so one day in a moment of incredible
day in a moment of incredible
day in a moment of incredible self-determination I went down to the
self-determination I went down to the
self-determination I went down to the registrar’s office picked up my file
registrar’s office picked up my file
registrar’s office picked up my file because remember this is the 80s files
because remember this is the 80s files
because remember this is the 80s files were still paper
were still paper
were still paper I picked up that file and I marched down
I picked up that file and I marched down
I picked up that file and I marched down to the English department and I declared
to the English department and I declared
to the English department and I declared my major it was to borrow the words of
my major it was to borrow the words of
my major it was to borrow the words of author vladimir nabokov a delicious
author vladimir nabokov a delicious
author vladimir nabokov a delicious dream feeling it was as if I were
dream feeling it was as if I were
dream feeling it was as if I were stepping off of the great precipice of
stepping off of the great precipice of
stepping off of the great precipice of my life into an unknown future well for
my life into an unknown future well for
my life into an unknown future well for George Martin that great moment of
George Martin that great moment of
George Martin that great moment of crisis occurred in the very second
crisis occurred in the very second
crisis occurred in the very second recording session he ever held with the
recording session he ever held with the
recording session he ever held with the Beatles in September 1962 in late summer
Beatles in September 1962 in late summer
Beatles in September 1962 in late summer Georgia to sign the four lads with the
Georgia to sign the four lads with the
Georgia to sign the four lads with the task of recording a cover version he had
task of recording a cover version he had
task of recording a cover version he had them rehearse a song by Mitch Murray
them rehearse a song by Mitch Murray
them rehearse a song by Mitch Murray called how do you do it George had
called how do you do it George had
called how do you do it George had personally selected it by walking over
personally selected it by walking over
personally selected it by walking over to Tin Pan Alley which was actually a
to Tin Pan Alley which was actually a
to Tin Pan Alley which was actually a place at the time in London and
place at the time in London and
place at the time in London and selecting this song as their debut
selecting this song as their debut
selecting this song as their debut single well back in Liverpool the
single well back in Liverpool the
single well back in Liverpool the Beatles were not impressed they thought
Beatles were not impressed they thought
Beatles were not impressed they thought it was corny but at this point they
it was corny but at this point they
it was corny but at this point they would have done just about anything
would have done just about anything
would have done just about anything George Martin wanted they would have
George Martin wanted they would have
George Martin wanted they would have washed his car if necessary so they
washed his car if necessary so they
washed his car if necessary so they rehearsed the corny song came back to
rehearsed the corny song came back to
rehearsed the corny song came back to London and they performed a pretty
London and they performed a pretty
London and they performed a pretty passable version of it but their anger
passable version of it but their anger
passable version of it but their anger got the best of him and of course it was
got the best of him and of course it was
got the best of him and of course it was John Lennon as it always was who
John Lennon as it always was who
John Lennon as it always was who confronted George Martin John stepped up
confronted George Martin John stepped up
confronted George Martin John stepped up to him and said look we’d rather have no
to him and said look we’d rather have no
to him and said look we’d rather have no contract at all than put that crap out
contract at all than put that crap out
contract at all than put that crap out well George was thunderstruck who hired
well George was thunderstruck who hired
well George was thunderstruck who hired these guys but then just as suddenly he
these guys but then just as suddenly he
these guys but then just as suddenly he said well then what have you got he
said well then what have you got he
said well then what have you got he called their bluff and they presented a
called their bluff and they presented a
called their bluff and they presented a new song a new Lennon and McCartney
new song a new Lennon and McCartney
new song a new Lennon and McCartney original called please PLEASE me well
original called please PLEASE me well
original called please PLEASE me well George heard it and he said well that’s
George heard it and he said well that’s
George heard it and he said well that’s slow and dreary come on you need to pick
slow and dreary come on you need to pick
slow and dreary come on you need to pick this up we need a faster tempo and you
this up we need a faster tempo and you
this up we need a faster tempo and you know what why didn’t you return
know what why didn’t you return
know what why didn’t you return Liverpool before you even came out here
Liverpool before you even came out here
Liverpool before you even came out here well the Beatles felt that sting of his
well the Beatles felt that sting of his
well the Beatles felt that sting of his scolding and they felt it deeply they
scolding and they felt it deeply they
scolding and they felt it deeply they went back home to Liverpool they
went back home to Liverpool they
went back home to Liverpool they rehearse the song all week and when they
rehearse the song all week and when they
rehearse the song all week and when they came back to London to Abbey Road
came back to London to Abbey Road
came back to London to Abbey Road Studios they blew George away they had
Studios they blew George away they had
Studios they blew George away they had transformed that lugubrious composition
transformed that lugubrious composition
transformed that lugubrious composition into a high-octane pop song
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
well quite suddenly George was a true
well quite suddenly George was a true convert they had heard him they had
convert they had heard him they had
convert they had heard him they had listened to his advice and they had come
listened to his advice and they had come
listened to his advice and they had come through with their own passion and
through with their own passion and
through with their own passion and resolve they had taken a slow song and
resolve they had taken a slow song and
resolve they had taken a slow song and made it better so George did what George
made it better so George did what George
made it better so George did what George knows how to do best he called a meeting
knows how to do best he called a meeting
knows how to do best he called a meeting brought the Beatles together and he was
brought the Beatles together and he was
brought the Beatles together and he was ready to put his chips on the table in
ready to put his chips on the table in
ready to put his chips on the table in an unthinkable way he told them that
an unthinkable way he told them that
an unthinkable way he told them that they were gonna make a record album a
they were gonna make a record album a
they were gonna make a record album a full long playing record nobody but
full long playing record nobody but
full long playing record nobody but nobody was doing this with beat bands at
nobody was doing this with beat bands at
nobody was doing this with beat bands at the time but George didn’t care he was
the time but George didn’t care he was
the time but George didn’t care he was ready to go he was now stepping off the
ready to go he was now stepping off the
ready to go he was now stepping off the precipice of the life of his great
precipice of the life of his great
precipice of the life of his great unknown future and he was excited to get
unknown future and he was excited to get
unknown future and he was excited to get started now if you’re at a loss for
started now if you’re at a loss for
started now if you’re at a loss for words that’s okay it’s never easy to get
words that’s okay it’s never easy to get
words that’s okay it’s never easy to get out of our own way and let the magic
out of our own way and let the magic
out of our own way and let the magic happen
happen
happen as for me just changing my major
as for me just changing my major
as for me just changing my major obviously did not in my struggle I still
obviously did not in my struggle I still
obviously did not in my struggle I still had a lot to learn but now I had passion
had a lot to learn but now I had passion
had a lot to learn but now I had passion and resolve on my side today
and resolve on my side today
and resolve on my side today I enjoy a lifetime of teaching writing
I enjoy a lifetime of teaching writing
I enjoy a lifetime of teaching writing speaking travel and oh yes I even
speaking travel and oh yes I even
speaking travel and oh yes I even managed to pay the bills most of the
managed to pay the bills most of the
managed to pay the bills most of the time and now my path has led to a place
time and now my path has led to a place
time and now my path has led to a place where I’m working on George’s biography
where I’m working on George’s biography
where I’m working on George’s biography so I can tell his story for successive
so I can tell his story for successive
so I can tell his story for successive generations you know in his own day
generations you know in his own day
generations you know in his own day George Martin was just as flummoxed is
George Martin was just as flummoxed is
George Martin was just as flummoxed is all of us non legendary Beatles producer
all of us non legendary Beatles producer
all of us non legendary Beatles producer types but after his experience with
types but after his experience with
types but after his experience with Please Please Me he was able to glimpse
Please Please Me he was able to glimpse
Please Please Me he was able to glimpse beyond the hardwired professional
beyond the hardwired professional
beyond the hardwired professional expectations that he had for himself in
expectations that he had for himself in
expectations that he had for himself in the band he was able to get over the
the band he was able to get over the
the band he was able to get over the fears and uncertainties that plagued us
fears and uncertainties that plagued us
fears and uncertainties that plagued us all and revel in the pure experience of
all and revel in the pure experience of
all and revel in the pure experience of their music sink-or-swim George Martin
their music sink-or-swim George Martin
their music sink-or-swim George Martin had finally learned to surrender to the
had finally learned to surrender to the
had finally learned to surrender to the creative engine that lived inside
creative engine that lived inside
creative engine that lived inside himself and oh how the Beatles and
himself and oh how the Beatles and
himself and oh how the Beatles and George Martin would swim thank you
George Martin would swim thank you
George Martin would swim thank you [Applause]
”
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