The Beatles song George Martin couldn’t live without: “I knew there was something there”…..

George Martin’s first impression of The Beatles was not very positive. “I was not impressed by the tape Epstein played me,” he once commented.

“There was something there, but I couldn’t find out if it was worthwhile or not. What I said to Brian (Beatles’ manager) was, if you want me to judge on what you’re playing me, I’m sorry, I’ll have to turn you down.”

George Martin continued with his thoughts on the young Beatles’ manager: “I felt sorry for Brian. He was such an earnest young man. I gave him a lifeline. I said if you want to bring the boys down from Liverpool, I’ll give them an hour in the studio.”

Of course, this is not the final chapter in the story that pitches the Fab Four as protagonists but George Martin as the orchestrator behind the curtain.
Martin’s scathing words came in a documentary about the brilliant composer’s life when asked about meeting the Fab Four for the first time.

Brian Epstein, another key component in the success of the most influential rock and roll band, The Beatles were keen to ensure the band were given a break by Martin and he, eventually, relented. Ultimately though, it was The Beatles’ wit that broke down the walls between George Martin and the boys from Liverpool.

“It was their tremendous charisma, rather than their music, that won me over,” the maestro recalled, “I’ve laid into you now for quite some time (he said to The Beatles, on 6th of June 1962, during the audition as he critiqued every little move) is there anything that You don’t like?”

Following a quick silence, George Harrison, the supposed ‘quiet Beatle’, responded: “For one, I don’t like your tie.” Laughter erupted and the rest was history.

To assume that George Martin should only be associated with The Beatles’ music is a classic mistake. Born in 1926 on today’s date, January 3rd, Martin was a classically trained composer and musician. Before The Beatles, he worked with comedy giants such as Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Bernard Cribbins.

He also worked with American jazz legend, Ella Fitzgerald. George Martin was one of those rare breeds that was destined for music — despite unbelievable odds — he had a natural ability.

Born in 1926, Martin grew up in a non-musical family and, after surviving during the poverty-stricken decade of the 1930s, served in the navy during World War Two. After the war, he joined the Guildhall School of Music to study music, specifically, composition.

George Martin met Brian Epstein on February 13th of 1962; unimpressed by the Decca demos, he reluctantly agreed to that fateful audition where Martin would hear an early version of ‘Love Me Do’. Shortly after, ‘Please Please Me’ was recorded in November of 1962, after which George Martin said to the Liverpool lads, from inside the control room: “Gentleman, You have just made your number one record.”