The Beatles' pivotal audition for Decca Records on January 1, 1962, marked a significant moment in music history, despite the outcome initially being a rejection. A&R representative Mike Smith, inspired by their performance at the Cavern, arranged the audition. The group, comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best, traveled from Liverpool to London for the session.
The audition, scheduled for 11 am, faced delays as Smith arrived late and insisted on using Decca's amplifiers rather than The Beatles' own equipment. The group recorded 15 songs in roughly an hour, including three Lennon-McCartney originals. Although nerves affected their performance, they were confident it would lead to a contract.
However, Decca opted for Brian Poole and the Tremeloes instead, citing guitar groups as passé. This decision, attributed to Dick Rowe, later known as "the man who turned down The Beatles," became infamous. Epstein's persistence led to further negotiations with Decca, including a promise to buy 3,000 copies of any Beatles single released, but to no avail.
Despite the rejection, the audition tapes proved fortuitous. They provided Epstein with high-quality recordings to shop around other labels, eventually leading to an audition at Abbey Road with George Martin at Parlophone. This pivotal encounter ultimately propelled The Beatles to global stardom.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment