This month fans all over the United States have been reliving Beatlemania, thanks to the 50th anniversary of the Fab Four's defining appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Without a doubt, the Beatles majorly changed rock & roll in the early 1960s. Mop-top hair, smart suits, witty wisecracks, three- and four-part harmonies -- the Beatles had it all. But what really helped the Liverpool lads make their mark was taking the best of Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly and synthesizing it all into an earth-shattering sound that prolonged rock & roll's reign and paved the way for music's British Invasion in America.
See also: Ten Fun Facts About the Beatles' Ed Sullivan Debut, 50 Years Ago
St. Louis had just one chance to savor it all. After the band's live Ed Sullivan appearance in 1964 (which held the largest audience ever recorded for an American television program, according to Nielsen ratings), the Beatles exploded in the States, drawing thousands of hysterical fans wherever they went. The band eventually toured the U.S. in 1965 and 1966, including a date at Busch Memorial Stadium on August 21, 1966. The Beatles' sole appearance in the Gateway City occurred just days before they stopped touring altogether, and the eleven-song setlist featured some of the group's most enduring hits:
AUGUST 21, 1966 SETLIST:
"Rock and Roll Music" (Chuck Berry cover) "She's a Woman" "If I Needed Someone" "Day Tripper" "Baby's in Black" "I Feel Fine" "Yesterday" "I Wanna Be Your Man" "Nowhere Man" "Paperback Writer" "Long Tall Sally" (Little Richard cover)
The Beatles appreciated the music that came before their own and regularly performed tunes by Gene Vincent, the Shirelles and Carl Perkins, as well as songs by Berry and Richard as shown in the setlist above. Taking a page from the Fab Four's book -- and seeing as how Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr are four of the most-imitated artists in rock history -- we've collected our favorite cover versions of some of the songs that the Beatles performed at Busch Stadium in 1966. Be sure to share yours in the comments.
JEFF BECK - "SHE'S A WOMAN"
One of the most influential rock & roll guitarists, Jeff Beck puts his stamp all over this Beatles tune. Beck rightly opens with the lyrics, "My love don't give me presents," but then he pulls a Frampton and makes the words nearly unrecognizable, thanks to his "singing guitar" technique. The song quickly morphs into liquid jazz riffs, harking only occasionally back to the Beatles' original backbeat.
OTIS REDDING - "DAY TRIPPER"
Sweet Jesus, Otis Redding can turn any song in the universe into audio sex -- even one that's about drugs. Lennon once said "Day Tripper" was a nod to "weekend hippies," but Redding removes the trippiness and sweetens stuff up with soulful horns and fierce drums. The result is a shake-your-booty anthem that some say surpasses the original.
Continue for more Beatles covers.
