The Beatles evolved and changed with every album they issued. I prefer the second half of their career starting from the Revolver album. However there are some lovely tracks on Help, despite the heavy workload that the Beatles were operating under. Help was issued on 8th June 1965, and was both the soundtrack to the film and their 5th album in three years of intense activity.

The title track ‘Help’,was also a No.1 single of course. This was not a ‘churn it out’ pop song but a genuine plea from the heart. Lennon really was feeling stressed by his pressure-cooker Beatle existence…”When I was younger….I never needed any help in any way. Now those days are gone, I’m not so self assured….HELP I need somebody.”

1967 was the ‘summer of love’, the Beatles had released Sgt. Pepper and had a number one hit that encapsulated the spirit of the times, with “all you need is love”.

I was a 13 year old teenager completely immersed in the music and psychedelia of the time, so when I heard that the Beatles were going to release psychedelic posters of themselves, I couldn’t wait to get hold of them.

The day the posters were released I went into my local branch of WH Smith Newsagents, and found them – trouble is they were expensive; 10/6 (or 52.5p in new money). No problem, I would save up my newspaper round money and get them later.

Atom Heart Mother has always been my favourite Pink Floyd album, even though the members of  the band are rather embarrassed by the pomposity of  it. However I’m not the only one who thinks this is a great soundscape.  

“If you were to ask anyone to name a Pink Floyd LP their immediate reaction would no doubt be Dark Side of The Moon or The Wall (- two very superb LPs). However, I can’t remember the last time I heard anyone mention this LP, which is a shame…but in that respect it makes Atom Heart Mother a true gem; something that is overshadowed in many ways yet shines through, in my opinion, perhaps more than many other acclaimed Pink Floyd work.

Oasis are more often compared to the Beatles, but my comparison is with live stadium rock events.

I saw the Rolling Stones liveat Wembley Stadium on 7th July 1990. It was their Steel Wheels / Urban Jungle tour. The Stones were great but I wasn’t impressed with the sound quality.

It was very loud, and any subtleties in their music was lost by the sound blast. My impression was that the acoustics were rubbish because of the open air stadium; the sound was escaping into the sky. 

Pink Floyd have had three completely different singer/songwriter leaders, and still kept their fans, becoming a worldwide phenomenon.

Coca Cola is often regarded as an extremely powerful brand, yet when they changed the formula to their drink, the public reacted against this and they swiftly reverted back to the original recipe. 

Pink Floyd however have had three different musical incarnations and despite this actually became more and more popular. Does this make Pink Floyd a more powerful brand than Coca Cola? Certainly the groups fans seem to be more loyal than Coca Cola’s customers.
1) Syd Barrett’s Pink Floyd (1965 – 1968)

The world is coming to terms with the shocking death of Michael Jackson. I can’t help thinking however that Jarvis Cocker could have saved him from his own excesses.

I am not a religious person, but when I saw the live 1996 BRIT awards,  I couldn’t believe my eyes. Here was a man impersonating Jesus, with a white flowing cloak, spotlights behind him, and a wind machine, so that he was both glowing and windswept.

Then unbelievably he had groups of children coming up to him to be blessed. “Suffer the little children to come unto me” said the Lord (Mark 10:13-14). And at that moment I believe that Michael Jackson thought he was some sort of diety.

The ‘proof’ of Paul McCartney’s death runs right through the Beatles songs and album covers. He had been replaced in  the group by a look-alike double in 1965.

I am a life-long Beatles fan, so I can reassure everyone that Paul McCartney is very much alive and I wish him well. Back in 1971 however there were rumours sweeping the world that he was dead. He had actually died in 1965 and been replaced in the Beatles by a look-alike double.

McCartney had disappeared from public view at the time, retreating to his Mull of Kintyre home to come to terms with the breakup of the Beatles. Without McCartney around the rumours started to gain credence and reached the front page of Britain’s Daily Mirror in August 1971.

I like most music, (apart from Jazz obviously), however whenever I am asked I unhesitatingly name my favourite groups as 1) the Beatles 2) Pink Floyd and 3) Led Zepplin. Please leave a short comment with your own favourite group or groups. I have left my own reply so you can see the format. 

The groups are undoubtedly a reflection of age. The most powerful musical influences being made during your teenage years and early twenties, when music generally seemed much more important. Unfortunately I am not old enough to have seen the Beatles live, although I have seen Paul McCartney in concert at the NEC Birmingham.