The Mind of Brian
Late January 1962
January of 1962 was the beginning of Brian Epstein managing The Beatles. He got to work right away. He started by convincing Deutsche Grammophon’s Polydor Records division to release 'My Bonnie,' the song that they had recorded in Hamburg in June of 1961 backing Tony Sheridan, as a single in the UK. That would happen on January 5, 1962. Added bonus, instead of crediting the group as Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers, Epstein convinced them to call them Tony Sheridan and The Beatles. It’s success was minimal to non-existent.
But Epstein wasn’t done. He also needed to formalize a management contract with The Beatles. He looked at sample of such contracts and found them lacking, specifically in their treatment of the musical artists. What he wanted was a fair contract, one that would treat The Beatles with the respect they deserved as well as one that the group could get out of if necessary. This episode of the Beatles60 podcast looks into what was going on in The Mind of Brian.
'Ma Bonny Lad' explained
This song isn’t ‘My Bonnie’ but is part of the same family of songs about bonnie/bonny (pretty/winsome/handsome) young women and men. In these traditional songs the beloved often goes out to sea never to return. ‘Ma Bonny Lad’ is an example.
Ma Bonny Lad - Kathleen Ferrier - YouTube
Ha' you seen owt of my bonny lad?
He's gone along wi' a stick in his hand
He's gone to row the keel-o
Yes, I ha' seen your bonny lad
'twas on the sea I spied him
His grave was green, but not wi' grass
And you'll never lay beside him
AUTHOR: traditional/unknown
EARLIEST RECORDING DATE: 1951 (Isla Cameron)
KEYWORDS: navy separation death sailor
FOUND IN: Scotland and the North of England
"row the keel-o" means to work on a sea-going boat.
"His grave was green, but not wi' grass" means he died at sea.
