It was 40 years ago today (again)

Rip Rense wasn't going to write about the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' appearance on American TV, but he couldn't resist. His position is clear.

The Beatles are only the greatest story of the second half of the twentieth century, that's all. Why? In essence, because their music, their wit, their charm, their candor, their naivete, their bravery, their earnestness, their goofiness, their adventurousness---made much of the world feel pretty damned good. No easy trick! It is humanity's great fortune that fate conspired to bring these people together, and allowed them to remain productive as a musicial entity for about ten years.

Imagine a world today without Beatles music, and that good fortune is thrown into sharp relief. I mean, we'd be stuck with (gasp) The Rolling Stones instead. Or possibly Herman's Hermits....

[fast forward]

No, these 88 tunes by Lennon-McCartney, Harrison, and Starkey, and combinations thereof, are not due to go out of circulation anytime soon. Kids still grow up with Beatles music, as they did beginning Feb. 9, 1964, and it looks like they probably always will.

Yes they do. The most junior member of the L.A. Observed team (she's 14) knows just about every song and went to a tribute band concert the other night.