British Expat Forum

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18449107

Can't say I'm really that excited about it. Sure, I liked them when I was a kid, but later I was much more into some of the other 1960s and 70s music.

Are you still a big fan?

Well it is well known that Mancs and Scousers don't have a great deal of affection for each other, even more so back in the sixties, The Beatles however, although it pains me to say it of someone from down the East Lancs road in jam butty land have been my main source of musical entertainment all my life both collectively and individually, Sir Paul's lyrics from "this one" from the album Flowers in the Dirt along with my wife inspired me to make a life changing career decision and i will always be greatful to them for that, i listen to their tracks most days and will keep on doing so, hanging on to my youth, amazing band.

In a recent top 1000 tracks as voted for by the Great British public on Gold Radio, 42 Beatles tracks were included and surprisingly the number one although deservedly so i wouldn't have predicted. Would you ? take a guess.

http://youtu.be/zI0Q8ytD44Y

I barely remember that one, but it is great. Seeing B&W clips of The Cavern made me nostalgic, although it was Alix Welsh that was playing when I went there in January 1963. Yes, that chilly year. Lime Street, with freezing fog and still gaslit, looked like something from a Victorian melodrama. The girls were wearing duffel coats and Black Watch tartan trews - while skip-jiving, which was also new to me. There was a poster near the entrance for a local group I'd never heard of: The Beatles.

It was a surprising choice Ruggie in that it was an album track from my favourite compilation Rubber Soul, full of nice calming songs from '65, i think the fog like The Beatles has left Liverpool, not sure about the gaslites, a Manc just don't go there.

http://youtu.be/AHlinWwucsQ