It was 50 years ago today....

It would be hard to come up with a 60's/70's pop group that didn't incorporate horn and string arrangements into there recordings. The Beatles were a product of their environment with this respect.

Often, the band would record and then a later date was set for a string and woodwinds or horn section and they would superimpose their recording with the earlier recording.

Brian Epstein made the Beatles a household name. So they were already the bourgeoisie elite of pop culture when they began taking LSD and experimenting in the studio. I agree with you bdp24, in that the Beatles were a studio group first and foremost however they're live performances always sold out. I believe this to be telling of the complexity that surrounds the Beatles and other pop groups who rise to levels of such notoriety.

wolf-garcia, that's how I felt when I heard Traffic.

'Day Tripper' featured George Harrison's counterpoint guitar which was sophisticated and still is.

Sorry, I'm thinking of 'I Feel Fine'.

Two after Beatles records that deserve merit IMHO are 'All Things Must Pass' and 'RAM'.