It was 61 years ago today...

Although I don't remember when they were on the Ed Sullivan Show, my family was in the same hotel as the Beatles in 1966 when the Beatles played Washington DC. We were in the pool area they came out on their balcony and waved. The girls went nuts. Later on when they were leaving the hotel for the concert (which we did not go see!). My Mom threw my 5 year old sister head first into their limo to give one of the beetles a kiss. All she remembers is kissing some hairy guy with a beard. So we figured it was John she kissed.

*sigh*  They had haircuts...that's why they looked like That.....

I wasn't all that impressed until much later, the earlier music still struck me as a variant of the 'bubblegum' muzic played by various groups....

I originally was more attracted to 'jazz' of various stripes...Brubeck, Szabo, Dizzy, others...  'Rubber Soul' and later MoTown changed my focus, later Zappa, Fugs, Airplane, and all that ...

We is what we was... ;)  And later, more.....*G*

ghdprentice nailed it for me.  I was the youngest in my peer group and the only one, of the four of us, who's musical life was changed forever.  

The Beatles were simply more sophisticated than most pop bands, had better singing generally, and pointier boots. Also, they could deliver live to a degree that only comes from hard club and touring work. Without monitors! (amazing they could sing anything live). Did I mention the boots?

I liked them from the beginning, but it was "Rubber Soul" that really kicked my ass.