KRLA Beat articles, interviews and reviews from Rock's Backpages

Beatles, The: Beatle Quotes: It's Not Quiet In Studio As Beatles Make New Disc

Interview by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, March 1965

WHILE THE Beatles filmed in the Bahamas, George Martin, (the Beatles recording manager), sat back in London listening to tapes of the last recording session. ...

Petula Clark, Herman's Hermits: On the Beat

Column by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, March 1965

PETULA CLARK really "tore up" the Ed Sullivan audience Sunday night. This girl sure swings; she even had the sedate adult audience clapping their hands ...

Beatles, The, George Harrison: George Harrison: Beatles Plans Revealed

Interview by Derek Taylor, KRLA Beat, April 1965

THE RECENT Beatle interviews by Derek Taylor and Dave Hull – broadcast over KRLA – have attracted widespread interest and enthusiasm. ...

Beatles, The: The Beatles: Making A Gold Record

Report by Derek Taylor, KRLA Beat, May 1965

ST. JOHN'S WOOD is very much London. Solid and a little old. But nice and comfortable, and not yet shabby. The buildings have dignity and ...

Beatles, The: Here Come The Beatles!

Memoir by Derek Taylor, KRLA Beat, May 1965

Liverpool 4 Here In August ...

Petula Clark: Backstage Report: Pet Clark A Hit At Party

Report by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, May 1965

ONE OF THE record world's most popular attractions is the meet-the-press party for a performer whose records are bursting through the charts. ...

Byrds, The, Rolling Stones, The, Paul Revere & The Raiders: The Rolling Stones, The Byrds, Paul Revere & The Raiders: Long Beach Arena, Long Beach CA

Live Review by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, June 1965

STONES SHOW WAS REALLY A ROCKER ...

Beatles, The, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Roy Orbison: Derek Taylor's Life With The Beatles

Memoir by Derek Taylor, KRLA Beat, June 1965

Recalls First Meeting When He Marveled At Their Magnetism ...

Beatles, The: Derek Taylor Recalls Early Beatle Appeal

Memoir by Derek Taylor, KRLA Beat, June 1965

(Editor's note: Last week Derek Taylor began the story of his association with the Beatles. He told of attending a concert in which he first ...

Byrds, The: The Byrds: Ciro's, Sunset Strip, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, June 1965

Just Like Beatlemania; Byrds Drawing Big Crowds ...

Kingsmen, The, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, P.J. Proby, Byrds, The, Johnny Cash, Everly Brothers, The, Jackie DeShannon: The Byrds, The Everly Brothers, Johnny Cash, P.J. Proby et al: Freedom From Hunger Benefit, Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, June 1965

Most Fantastic Show Ever! ...

Beatles, The: Derek Taylor: My Life With The Beatles — Beatlemania Grips England

Memoir by Derek Taylor, KRLA Beat, June 1965

(Editor's Note: This is the third and concluding installment of Derek Taylor's life with the Beatles, first as a newspaperman covering their exciting rise to ...

Byrds, The: Derek Taylor Reports: The Byrds Fly High And It's Time To Crow

Report by Derek Taylor, KRLA Beat, June 1965

For the Byrds, the time has come. ...

P.J. Proby Inspires Heated Emotions

Report and Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, June 1965

'l Love Him' Sobs Teen – Others Want Him Banned ...

Ian Whitcomb: Meet English Singer Ian Whitcomb

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, July 1965

Beat Takes You For Chat At Tower Records Setting ...

Marianne Faithfull Like A Breath Of Fresh Air

Profile by Derek Taylor, KRLA Beat, July 1965

MARIANNE FAITHFULL flew out of Los Angeles and somehow the city didn't seem quite as bright. ...

Marianne Faithfull: Fairy Tales Can Come True — Look at Marianne Faithfull

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, July 1965

WELL HERE we go again. This time we're off to an exclusive interview with a girl who looks like a refugee from a fairy tale ...

Turtles, The: Turtles Race With Success, Uncle Sam Waits At Crossing

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, August 1965

THERE IS AN unfortunate situation which reoccurs much too often in the recording business. A group or an individual makes a record and it's a ...

Lovin' Spoonful, The: The Lovin' Spoonful: Spoonfuls Get Taste of Life… If You Believe In Magic

Profile by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, August 1965

IT IS REALLY rather hard to believe. Things like this just don't happen – do they? The four unusual boys who perform collectively as the ...

Animals, The, Rolling Stones, The: The Animals, The Rolling Stones: English Artists Find 'Soul' Music Is More Than Skin Deep

Report and Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, September 1965

THE SOUL of today's music, the place "where it's at" is rhythm and blues. The type of music, this "soul", has been around the U.S. ...

Rolling Stones, The, Sonny & Cher: Eskimo Boots: The Stars And Kooky Garb: Do Clothes Make The Man?

Report by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, September 1965

DO CLOTHES really make the man? Are they that important? Or are they merely for decoration? ...

Rolling Stones, The: We Go To The Rolling Stones' Secret Record Date

Report by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, October 1965

THE ROLLING Stones were in the U.S. for just two short days. They flew all the way over here to cut some tracks at the ...

Yardbirds, The: Yardbirds Wail!

Report and Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, October 1965

Britishers Play For BEAT At A Party ...

Lettermen, The: Lettermen Relate Secret Of Success

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, October 1965

Top Pop Group For Five Years ...

Freddy Cannon Success is Simple: He Stays Himself

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, October 1965

A TORNADO OF talent just hit our offices in the person of one Mr. Freddy Cannon! Freddy is a phenomenon of our times because he ...

Red Roosters, The: Red Roosters Not Chicken

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, November 1965

THEY'RE CALLED the Red Roosters but they don't look much like chickens. They look like just any other five guys except for one thing – ...

Beau Brummels, The: Beau Brummels Blackballed?

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, November 1965

THE BEAU Brummels' press agent says that they "penetrate". And so they did – they penetrated right into The BEAT offices the other night. They ...

Dusty Springfield: Life + Laughs = Dusty Springfield

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, November 1965

DUSTY SPRINGFIELD'S voice came over the house phone: "Why don't you come on up to my manager's room? I'll be up in a few minutes. ...

Great Society, The: A Sloppy Great Society Offers Some Free Advice

Profile by Carol Deck, KRLA Beat, December 1965

THE GREAT Society is about to give out with some free advice, musical type free advice. ...

Donovan, Petula Clark: Fun, Work Behind The Cameras At Filming of 2nd T.A.M.I. Show

Report by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, December 1965

A COUPLE OF weeks ago The BEAT took you behind the scenes of a recording session to show you that it was not so easy ...

Lou Christie: Gypsy Helps Lou Make Hit Discs

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, January 1966

LOU CHRISTIE strolled into The BEAT offices today and completely charmed the entire female portion of our staff. He's an absolute gas, a guy you ...

Mel Carter: Swingin' Mel Carter Setting New Goals

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, January 1966

WHEN HIS heart sings it really sings. His name is Mel Carter and he is one of the few remaining ballad singers who continues to ...

Jay & The Americans: A Winning Recipe For Jay and The Americans

Profile by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, January 1966

TAKE THREE college students who like to sing. Add a shoe salesman (you wear out a lot of shoes on the road to success). Toss ...

Kingsmen, The: Kingsmen Need Perry Mason

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, February 1966

WHENEVER THE Kingsmen are mentioned, one automatically thinks of 'Louie, Louie' – right? Well, The BEAT staff used to think that way too but as ...

Rascals, The: Young Rascals Pick Appropriate Name

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, February 1966

BECAUSE THEY were over three hours late for the interview and because they hadn't even bothered to phone and explain that they would be late, ...

Chris Montez Back

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, February 1966

Once Topped Bill Over The Beatles ...

Hollies, The: Pop Is Comin' Up Hollies

Profile and Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, February 1966

IF YOU 'Look Through Any Window' you probably won't find a Holly lurking inside but if you try a pop television show, a concert (of ...

Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler: Barry Sadler Sings Of War Without Protest

Profile by Carol Deck, KRLA Beat, February 1966

ON THE POP charts right now are songs by attractive young men and women about love and the loss of it, about silence and stomachs ...

Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs: Minus Beard And Turbans, Sam & Pharoahs Host Press

Report and Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, February 1966

HOLLYWOOD – Press conferences for pop artists are getting to be a welcome habit around here. Of course, press conferences have been going on for ...

Herb Alpert: The Million Dollar Trumpet

Profile and Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, March 1966

THEY SAY that in order to make a lasting name for yourself in the music business you've got to come up with something which is ...

Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler: Ballads: Of Men And Green Berets

Comment by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, March 1966

THE "GREEN BERETS" are a special group within the Army who carry out special missions beyond the scope of regular troops. ...

Association, The: Vietnam: War!

Comment by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, April 1966

THERE IS A war going on in Vietnam and whether the United States has officially declared war or not – it is there, it's happening. ...

Beau Brummels, The: The Beau Brummels: 'That's The Way We Want It'

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, April 1966

HOLLYWOOD: Unlike last summer there are no female hikers along Benedict Canyon Drive. No long bangs – no bell bottoms – no police cars. You ...

Beach Boys, The, Brian Wilson: Some Producers' Hints From Beach Boy Brian

Interview by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, April 1966

FOR THE LAST few weeks, we have been speaking with various record producers exclusively in The BEAT in an effort to take The BEAT'S readers ...

Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler, Barry McGuire: Teen Panel Discussion: Green Berets and Barry McGuire

Interview by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, April 1966

THE ARTICLE you're about to read is the first in a series of teen discussions which will be sponsored and published in The BEAT. ...

Shadows Of Knight, The: Shadows Of Knight Win 'Gloria' Race

Profile and Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, May 1966

THEY HAVE shut down Them with their recording of 'Gloria'. They're the first rock group to come out of Chicago and really make a sizable ...

Mindbenders, The: The Mindbenders: Bending Your Mind

Profile by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, May 1966

A SPLIT IN a group usually results in pop disaster for someone. Wayne Fontana and the Mind-benders had one of the biggest smashes in the ...

Righteous Brothers, The: The Righteous Brothers: 'Don't Ignore Us'

Profile and Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, May 1966

THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS. The Brothers Righteous. Bobby and Bill. It doesn't really matter what you call them. People know who you're talking about anyway. ...

Ike & Tina Turner: Ike And Tina Deep And High

Profile and Interview by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, May 1966

'River Deep, Mountain High', Ike and Tina Turner have signed with Phil Spector and there's no telling what fantastic sounds they'll come out with now! ...

Rolling Stones, The, Keith Richards: Keith Richard: The Ignored Stone

Profile by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, May 1966

WHY IS IT Keith Richard is the Stone who receives the least amount of publicity or fanfare? ...

Captain Beefheart, Remains, The: Captain Beefheart, The Remains: Too Many 'Diddy Wahs'

Profile by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, June 1966

ONE GROUP is from Boston and claims to be protesting the British influence on American music. The other group is from California and proudly declares ...

Neil Diamond: A Look Inside A Rather 'Solitary Man'

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, June 1966

NEIL DIAMOND is real. And in the record business, that's unusual. In a world of phonies and "yes" men, a real person stands out like ...

Beatles, The: Beatle LP Cover Banned

Report by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, July 1966

THE BEATLES have turned out the most nauseating album cover ever seen in the U.S. The jacket [of yesterday and Today — RBP Ed] is ...

Troggs, The: Amid Controversy Troggs Break-Out

Report and Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, July 1966

PROBABLY NEVER before has a totally unknown group caused the amount of comment and controversy (not to mention record sales) as the Troggs from England ...

Love: Is Love Lost?

Report and Interview by Rochelle Reed, KRLA Beat, July 1966

...WHAT IS LOVE TRYING TO PULL? ...

Manfred Mann: Manfred Stand-Out: A Bloke Named Paul

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, July 1966

MANFRED MANN is a group but like most top groups they possess one member who stands out, who is immediately recognizable, who is "it." The ...

Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs: Twentieth Century Pharaoh: A Texan Named Sam The Sham

Profile by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, July 1966

'WOOLY BULLY' and a beard. Turbans and sheet-like outfits. The whole thing seems like years ago but actually isn't. Since 'Wooly Bully' Sam The Sham ...

Dobie Gray Into The Acting Bag

Interview by Rochelle Reed, KRLA Beat, July 1966

THE "LEADER of the 'In' Crowd" came into The BEAT office this week and almost didn't get out. ...

Turtles, The: The Turtles Return!

Comment by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, August 1966

HOLLYWOOD: The hot, cigarette-stale air belched out of the Whiskey and onto the Strip. The sardine-like inside of the club drew its breath from the ...

Bobby Fuller Four, The : Bobby Fuller: Pop Star's Death Probed

Report by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, August 1966

Body Discovered In Parked Auto ...

John Lennon, Beatles, The: Letters to the Editor: Lennon Vs. Christianity

Readers' Letters by Various Writers, KRLA Beat, September 1966

(Ed. NOTE: The BEAT has received hundreds of letters, both pro and con, concerning John Lennon's remarks about Christianity. Unfortunately, we do not have nearly ...

Buffalo Springfield: Buffalo Herding Clancy

Profile and Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, September 1966

NOWADAYS CLANCY can't even sing, but the Buffalo Springfield have made it. And that's rather amazing in itself. Not because 'Clancy' isn't a great record ...

Beatles, The, Ronettes, The: The Beatles, The Ronettes et al: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, Ca.

Live Review by Rochelle Reed, KRLA Beat, September 1966

"THIS JUST stuns me!" said awed Byrd David Crosby, a Beatle mate. He was standing on the field of Dodger Stadium, gazing up at the ...

Beatles, The, Remains, The: The Remains: Beatle Tour — 'Like Playing In A Closet'

Interview by Rochelle Reed, KRLA Beat, September 1966

"PLAYING THE Beatle tour was like performing in a closet with the lights off," confessed Briggs, one of the Remains who wandered up to The ...

James Brown Says 'I'm A Dynamo!'

Interview by Rochelle Reed, KRLA Beat, October 1966

Mr. Soul Speaks Out On Himself, His Music, His Points of View... ...

Neil Diamond's Searching for Tone

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, November 1966

THOSE WHO start young are more apt to make it since they've more time to profit from their errors. Such a person is Neil Diamond. ...

Lou Rawls: Greatest Thing Since Black Pepper

Profile and Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, November 1966

THEY CALL IT Blues but really it's a large spoonful of mother earth. All heaped up and occasionally spilling over. When it spills over it's ...

Monkees, The: Man-Made Monkees

Profile by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, November 1966

MOST GROUPS happen. The Monkees were made. If they weren't intentionally created, it is conceivable that they would not exist for it is highly unlikely ...

Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels: The Soul Of Ryder

Profile and Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, December 1966

MANY TRY but few white entertainers really succeed in singing the blues as they should be sung. The blues which come from deep inside seem ...

Lou Rawls: Royal Tahitian, Ontario CA

Live Review by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, December 1966

Rawls 'Live' At Tahitian Recalls 'Death' In Florida ...

Riots on Sunset Strip: Strip Of No Man's Land

Comment by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, December 1966

The following is the first half of an opinion poll where teenagers give their views on the Sunset Strip controversy. Part II of this series ...

Riots on Sunset Strip: Strip Of No Man's Land (part 2)

Comment by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, January 1967

This is the second half of The BEAT'S opinion poll where teens express their feelings about the Sunset Strip controversy. Part I appeared in the ...

Teen Panel: The Use Of Drugs By American Teens

Interview by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, January 1967

In this issue, The BEAT's Teen Panel discusses another of the hottest subjects of the day – the use of drugs by teenagers. ...

Left Banke, The: The Left Banke: People Expect A Lot Of A Group

Profile and Interview by Rochelle Reed, KRLA Beat, January 1967

"PEOPLE EXPECT a lot out of a pop group," commented Steve Martin recently. "They expect you to continually pour out witty little answers they think ...

Teen Panel: Teenagers And Drugs, Part II

Interview by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, February 1967

This is the second half of The BEAT'S Teen Panel discussion on the subject of "drugs," Part One appeared in the last issue. ...

Lovin' Spoonful, The: The Lovin' Spoonful: Washing The Bad Medicine On Down

Profile by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, March 1967

FOR CENTURIES, mothers everywhere have given their children a spoon full of sugar and water to help the bad-tasting medicine go down. ...

Twiggy: A Mini-Everything

Profile and Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, May 1967

NEW YORK – The world's most in-the-news model, Britain's seventeen year old Twiggy, arrived at Kennedy International Airport to a horde of newsmen and photographers ...

Beach Boys, The: Beach Boy Defies Draft, Would Rather Go To Jail

Report by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, May 1967

CARL WILSON of the Beach Boys has decided to risk jail rather than report for induction into the Army. ...

Moby Grape: Aiming High Up On The Vine

Profile by uncredited writer, KRLA Beat, June 1967

THE MOBY Grape is a San Francisco rock quintet whose stated objective is to "climb high on the vine". They live in Mill Valley, California, ...

Smothers Brothers, The: The Smothers Brothers: Forcing The Establishment To Bend

Interview by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, June 1967

WHILE THE love-ins, be-ins, chiquita stickers and protest marchers give the Establishment an inkling of what the younger generation thinks, feels and hopes to change, ...

Rolling Stones, The: Monterey Pop Festival: Brian Jones