BEATLEMANIA, 1995

The Beatles are back, and I couldn’t be happier (Cover Story, Nov. 12). I missed them the first time around, but grew up with “Sgt. Pepper’s,” the White Album and “Let It Be” thanks to my older brother, and now I count them first among my favorite bands.

Their songs, and especially their lyrics, have so much hope and positive energy to offer young people today, young people of all generations. It’s time to let the Beatles leave the ‘60s and become artists for all time. As John Lennon himself said: “If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that should have been left behind in the ‘60s, that’s his problem. Love and peace are eternal.”

MICHAEL WOLFFE

Los Angeles

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It was a refreshing treat to read Robert Hilburn’s articulate rave on the Beatles. It’s obvious from the piece that, where this band is concerned, he’s as much a fan as a critic. Even now, listening to their music still provides a good “emotional cleansing.”

I would, however, question Hilburn’s take on “Norwegian Wood” as a “tale of sexual seduction.” I always thought it was quite plainly a story about a guy who couldn’t score. After they drank and chatted till 2 a.m., she laughed and went off to bed while poor John was forced to sleep in the bathtub. When he awoke to find her gone in the morning, he simply torched her flat. “She had me” is probably derived from the British expression “had me off,” or “put one over on me.” Perhaps this was more of a precursor to the angry nihilism of punk than a cheery pop tune.

TOM WERMAN

Studio City

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Every article I’ve ever read about the Beatles, including Hilburn’s, misses the single most important element to their initial acceptance in America: the assassination of John F. Kennedy seven weeks earlier.

At no time since the loss of Lincoln had we as a nation been so emotionally distraught and desperately in need of distraction than in the winter of 1963, and what came out of our radios and a month later our televisions but four young Kennedy look-alikes singing the ultimate distraction of our time: rock ‘n’ roll.

RICHARD J. TAFILAW

Burbank

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Your cover trivialized the Beatles’ impact (how many people would really confuse them with insects?) and the stories gave us precious little detail about either the upcoming video or audio releases.

What Robert Hilburn fails to realize is that the Beatles were able to commingle art and commerce and become a sociological force as well. Trust me, Bob: Nine Inch Nails or U2 or REM aren’t the Beatles of the ‘90s, they’re the Duran Duran of the ‘90s.

J.E. MARSHALL

Thousand Oaks

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Paul McCartney: “I am not happy with the way Michael [Jackson] has handled [the Beatles songs he owns]. He was the first of all the owners of the songs to use them in commercials. I think this is a bad move commercially, not just morally. It cheapens the songs.”

What a load of hypocritical tripe! Let us not forget that McCartney has strip-mined his own musical holdings to provide musical background for, for starters, an automobile ad campaign (remember the “Oh Buick!” ads from Buddy Holly’s “Oh, Boy!”?) and some other product whose name escapes me, but I will never forget the use of the finale of “A Chorus Line” (“One”) to sell it.

I hope Michael Jackson uses those Beatle songs to sell toilet paper.

CARLO PANNO

Reseda

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As one of those undying Beatle fanatics, I must point that the last “Beatles” recording session took place on April 1, 1970, not 1969, as reported in your otherwise interesting and accurate pieces.

No doubt your reporters must know that us Blue Meanies are everywhere. We pledge to annoy all in an attempt to make sure that every date, figure, guitar tuning, etc. is right on. So watch out!

PAUL GASE

San Pedro

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People want to go back to a time that was simpler and fun, hence we see the resurgence of “The Brady Bunch,” ballroom dancing, mod fashions--and, of course, the Beatles. Retro is in and Bleak Chic is out. What is old is new again with a ‘90s spin.

GEORGE H. KUBOTA

Los Angeles