School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

The Beat Brothers

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Beat Brothers was not a real band but a name on a record sleeve. It was the label for the backing group of the English guitarist and singer Tony Sheridan on his first recordings for Polydor in Hamburg. On 22, 23 and 24 June 1961 Sheridan recorded a series of songs there, under the direction of the producer Bert Kaempfert. Some were accompanied by the Beatles, some by studio musicians who remained anonymous. At that time John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Pete Best were still playing in Hamburg clubs. Stuart Sutcliffe had already left in July of that year.

Music and breakthrough

The first single contained My Bonnie and The Saints and came out in Germany in October 1961. It was a small success. In 1962 an album followed called My Bonnie. Kaempfert felt that the name Beatles was too like a Hamburg dialect word with an unfortunate meaning, and so had Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers put on the sleeve. When the Beatles became famous, the recordings were reissued, now under their own name. Without Sheridan they also recorded Ain't She Sweet and Cry for a Shadow in the same sessions.

Influence

The name The Beat Brothers shows how much chance there was in the Beatles' beginnings. Their first recordings, well before Love Me Do, appeared under another name and on someone else's record. Today they matter mainly as a document of the Hamburg years, in which the group learned to play for hours on end.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to My Bonnie by Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers. Notice how the Scottish folk song begins slowly and then speeds up into an ordinary rock 'n' roll number.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists