John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs

Soon after President Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, Epstein traveled to New York to seek out new opportunities for the Beatles. He secured the group a spot on the Ed Sullivan Show and got Capitol Records to release “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” The song quickly became “number one in America” (100). The Beatles performed in the US thereafter, and Beatlemania was an international phenomenon.

The Beatles took a global tour after their visit to the US. They released another album and produced their first film, A Hard Day’s Night. However, this rapid rise to fame affected both John and Paul. Leslie quotes their reflections on the experience, noting their feelings of entrapment.

Leslie describes the songs that John and Paul were writing then. He describes their musical arrangements and harmonizing techniques. While critics didn’t have the language to describe what they were doing, Leslie argues that it was unprecedented in music history and reiterated their uncanny collaborative bond.

By 1964, the Beatles’ popularity had surpassed Elvis’s. When they returned to the US, however, their music began to change. Lennon was spending more time alone with Epstein during this era. Soon, conflicts broke out amid the group—most notably John’s outburst at Paul’s birthday party.