Cunard Yanks
July 1, 2008 2:49 AM Subscribe
They were Britain's pop culture pioneers, bringing back American music and fashions to a nation still starved by post-war rationing and austerity. They paved the way for The Beatles. Meet the Liverpool Merchant Seamen known as the Cunard Yanks.
Interesting, but the supposed influence on the Beatles isn't very plausible. They could hear genuine American music on the radio and records every day. Nobody needed to "bring it back" across the Atlantic; Liverpool was already full of it.
posted by Phanx at 5:15 AM on July 1, 2008
posted by Phanx at 5:15 AM on July 1, 2008
Interesting, but the supposed influence on the Beatles isn't very plausible.
It's certainly plausible (as "pop-culture pioneers" they embraced American culture and gave it purchase in Britain) but the link provided provides no link.
Otherwise outstanding post.
posted by three blind mice at 5:50 AM on July 1, 2008
It's certainly plausible (as "pop-culture pioneers" they embraced American culture and gave it purchase in Britain) but the link provided provides no link.
Otherwise outstanding post.
posted by three blind mice at 5:50 AM on July 1, 2008
Nobody needed to "bring it back" across the Atlantic; Liverpool was already full of it.
Hmm... I wouldn't know for sure about that, especially if we're talking late fifties/very early sixties. I wasn't there, of course (were you, Phanx?), but during those years I don't imagine Liverpool radio was paricularly a cornucopia of American rock'n roll, blues, or what-have-you. And in fact, though I don't have a cite, I do recall hearing exact mention (maybe an old Lennon interview?) of this exact phenomenon: merchant marines bringing 45's they'd brought from abroad back to the port city of Liverpool.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:13 AM on July 1, 2008
Hmm... I wouldn't know for sure about that, especially if we're talking late fifties/very early sixties. I wasn't there, of course (were you, Phanx?), but during those years I don't imagine Liverpool radio was paricularly a cornucopia of American rock'n roll, blues, or what-have-you. And in fact, though I don't have a cite, I do recall hearing exact mention (maybe an old Lennon interview?) of this exact phenomenon: merchant marines bringing 45's they'd brought from abroad back to the port city of Liverpool.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:13 AM on July 1, 2008
They could hear genuine American music on the radio and records every day.
Apparently you don't know much about BBC programming and policy prior to pirate radio. Up until the pirates in the early 60's, the BBC had a monopoly on radio in the UK. There was an agreement with the Musicians Union that the bulk of their programming would be live music. So right up until the birth of Radio Caroline, the only way people could hear modern American music in the UK -- other than one or two shows at the weekend -- was if they could tune into Radio Luxembourg.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 6:14 AM on July 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
Apparently you don't know much about BBC programming and policy prior to pirate radio. Up until the pirates in the early 60's, the BBC had a monopoly on radio in the UK. There was an agreement with the Musicians Union that the bulk of their programming would be live music. So right up until the birth of Radio Caroline, the only way people could hear modern American music in the UK -- other than one or two shows at the weekend -- was if they could tune into Radio Luxembourg.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 6:14 AM on July 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
the link provided provides no link
OK, see here instead.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 6:18 AM on July 1, 2008
OK, see here instead.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 6:18 AM on July 1, 2008
OK, see here instead.
There you go. Now an outstanding post.
posted by three blind mice at 6:38 AM on July 1, 2008
There you go. Now an outstanding post.
posted by three blind mice at 6:38 AM on July 1, 2008
the link provided provides no link
That's a delicious sentence.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:46 AM on July 1, 2008
That's a delicious sentence.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:46 AM on July 1, 2008
Great post. It's probably irrationally romantic, but there does seem to be something quite wonderful about music reaching someone after having made a material, tangible journey across the ocean; and while the need certainly isn't there, something of that sentimentality remains when buying imported vinyl, rather than hunting down and downloading an mp3. Oh, and the old joke makes so much more sense now that I know the phrase "Cunard Yanks":
BOY1: How do you know so much good music?
BOY2: It's cos me dad works for Cunard.
BOY!: Well, my dad works like a fookin' Trojan, but it's still Vera Bloody Lynn round our place
posted by bunglin jones at 7:10 AM on July 1, 2008 [2 favorites]
BOY1: How do you know so much good music?
BOY2: It's cos me dad works for Cunard.
BOY!: Well, my dad works like a fookin' Trojan, but it's still Vera Bloody Lynn round our place
posted by bunglin jones at 7:10 AM on July 1, 2008 [2 favorites]
When I first saw this I thought that there was a significant beat band called the Cunard Yanks that I had somehow missed. Now I'm a little bummed I'm not about to discover another band to obsess over.
Actually, I'm not bummed at all because this post is fantastic. These guys were most definitely a major influence on the Beatles and the whole British beat scene in it's formative years. The records they brought over spread like wild fire across the sea port cities.
"the link provided provides no link" - hey, isn't that the hit single by that lovable beat quintet the Cunard Yanks?
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 7:11 AM on July 1, 2008
Actually, I'm not bummed at all because this post is fantastic. These guys were most definitely a major influence on the Beatles and the whole British beat scene in it's formative years. The records they brought over spread like wild fire across the sea port cities.
"the link provided provides no link" - hey, isn't that the hit single by that lovable beat quintet the Cunard Yanks?
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 7:11 AM on July 1, 2008
You people really think it's plausible that the Beatles drew their American influences from a band composed of Liverpudlian sailors, rather than actually listening to American music? Bizarre.
Here's something John Lennon said.
It was Elvis who really got me buying records. I thought that early stuff of his was great. The Bill Haley era passed me by, in a way. When his records came on the wireless, my mother used to hear them, but they didn’t do anything for me. It was Elvis who got me hooked on beat music. When I heard 'Heartbreak Hotel', I thought ‘this is it’ and I started to grow sideboards and all that gear...
I mean, even his mother was listening to Bill Haley on the radio.
posted by Phanx at 7:28 AM on July 1, 2008
Here's something John Lennon said.
It was Elvis who really got me buying records. I thought that early stuff of his was great. The Bill Haley era passed me by, in a way. When his records came on the wireless, my mother used to hear them, but they didn’t do anything for me. It was Elvis who got me hooked on beat music. When I heard 'Heartbreak Hotel', I thought ‘this is it’ and I started to grow sideboards and all that gear...
I mean, even his mother was listening to Bill Haley on the radio.
posted by Phanx at 7:28 AM on July 1, 2008
The Cunard Yanks didn't just bring records. I seem to remember reading that some of them brought over equipment, such as cheap electric guitars, essential for the formation of a rock and roll scene.
posted by Mocata at 7:41 AM on July 1, 2008
posted by Mocata at 7:41 AM on July 1, 2008
You people really think it's plausible that the Beatles drew their American influences from a band composed of Liverpudlian sailors, rather than actually listening to American music? Bizarre.
The link subsequently provided provided a link. It wasn't a band - it was the collective influence of Liverpool sailors establishing an "American urban setting" in Liverpool. Bizarre indeed.
In 1956, this American urban setting of Liverpool created the ideal location for a new revolution in ‘rock & roll’ music; all that was needed was John Lennon to light the fuse. Merchant Sailors were bringing 45rpm records into the City from America and Shops like Rushworths and Cranes were selling the latest Black music to those who wanted to listen. A year before John met Paul he played his first 45rpm record of Gene Vincents ‘’Be-Bop-A-Lula.’’ John asked himself, ‘’how can I do that ?’’
posted by three blind mice at 8:03 AM on July 1, 2008
The link subsequently provided provided a link. It wasn't a band - it was the collective influence of Liverpool sailors establishing an "American urban setting" in Liverpool. Bizarre indeed.
In 1956, this American urban setting of Liverpool created the ideal location for a new revolution in ‘rock & roll’ music; all that was needed was John Lennon to light the fuse. Merchant Sailors were bringing 45rpm records into the City from America and Shops like Rushworths and Cranes were selling the latest Black music to those who wanted to listen. A year before John met Paul he played his first 45rpm record of Gene Vincents ‘’Be-Bop-A-Lula.’’ John asked himself, ‘’how can I do that ?’’
posted by three blind mice at 8:03 AM on July 1, 2008
I seem to remember reading that some of them brought over equipment, such as cheap electric guitars
In the YouTube clip, one of the sailors talks about selling the guitar that he bought in NY to a young George Harrison.
You people really think it's plausible that the Beatles drew their American influences from a band composed of Liverpudlian sailors
What band of Liverpudlian sailors would that be? Where are you getting this stuff from? Because it certainly isn't from the links.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 8:16 AM on July 1, 2008
In the YouTube clip, one of the sailors talks about selling the guitar that he bought in NY to a young George Harrison.
You people really think it's plausible that the Beatles drew their American influences from a band composed of Liverpudlian sailors
What band of Liverpudlian sailors would that be? Where are you getting this stuff from? Because it certainly isn't from the links.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 8:16 AM on July 1, 2008
Whatever the extent of their influence, I knew nothing about this, and it was fascinating reading. Wonderful post. Thank you!
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 8:17 AM on July 1, 2008
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 8:17 AM on July 1, 2008
Interesting, but the supposed influence on the Beatles isn't very plausible. They could hear genuine American music on the radio and records every day. Nobody needed to "bring it back" across the Atlantic; Liverpool was already full of it.
According to just about every Beatle biography I've read, John Lennon regularly hung around the Liverpool docks to buy records from sailors returning from the States, something he'd learned from his father, a merchant seaman. BBC Radio didn't play rock and roll, teens had to try to pull in Radio Luxembourg on Wednesday nights.
posted by Oriole Adams at 9:11 AM on July 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
According to just about every Beatle biography I've read, John Lennon regularly hung around the Liverpool docks to buy records from sailors returning from the States, something he'd learned from his father, a merchant seaman. BBC Radio didn't play rock and roll, teens had to try to pull in Radio Luxembourg on Wednesday nights.
posted by Oriole Adams at 9:11 AM on July 1, 2008 [1 favorite]
"And somebody picked it up and took it over there..." - Ritchie Barrett - Some Other Guy
posted by pracowity at 9:25 AM on July 1, 2008
posted by pracowity at 9:25 AM on July 1, 2008
You people really think it's plausible that the Beatles drew their American influences from a band composed of Liverpudlian sailors...
Aha. Now I see. Phanx didn't actually read any of the links, and in fact has absolutely no idea what we're talking about here. Good show, Phanx!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:36 PM on July 1, 2008
Aha. Now I see. Phanx didn't actually read any of the links, and in fact has absolutely no idea what we're talking about here. Good show, Phanx!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:36 PM on July 1, 2008
Heh, he thought the Cunard Yanks were a band.
*points and laughs*
posted by the cuban at 2:03 AM on July 2, 2008
*points and laughs*
posted by the cuban at 2:03 AM on July 2, 2008
Liverpool was already full of it.
Liverpool is still full of it.
posted by vbfg at 8:03 AM on July 14, 2008
Liverpool is still full of it.
posted by vbfg at 8:03 AM on July 14, 2008
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