26. Jerome (340-420) began his ascetic lifestyle as a hermit but found he needed something to occupy his mind. He took up Hebrew and eventually began teaching classes in Biblical interpretation. In A.D. 382 he would translate the Old and New Testaments from their original languages (Hebrew and Greek) into Latin-what we call "Vulgate."
27. The tests of canonicity included: (1) the book had to have a history of being used in Christian worship; (2) the book had to be written by an apostle, or associated with an apostle; (3) the book had to have evidenced power in the lives of believers.
28. No New Testament. During the entire first century and much of the second century there was no concept of a New Testament canon. Church fathers often quoted from sources that were familiar in tone yet different in the names of the sources. Paul's writings were the most well known and were quoted often, but they were not thought of as scriptural.
29. The term New Testament was created by Tertullian around the year 200. In an attempt to move the church away from Greek and toward Latin, which had become the preferred language of scholars, Tertullian referred to the writings of the Christian church as Novum Testamentum-a phrase we still employ today. Interestingly Tertullian also coined the term Trinity to refer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
30. A New Testament Canon was not looked upon favorably at first. in fact it was through heretical movements that the New Testament came into being as a legitimate part of the Holy Bible. Marcion was a teacher who broke away from the church in Rome. Around A.D. 150 he rejected the Old Testament and instead chose to accept only ten letters from Paul along with the Gospel of Luke as authoritative Christian Scripture
31. The Muratorian Canon is named for its discoverer, L.A. Muratori, who first published it in 1740. A fascinating look into early church, it reveals that by the year 190, Christians had developed their own New Testament and put it alongside the Jewish scriptures-the former the fulfillment of the latter. It contains in order: Mathew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Romans, Philemon, Titus, 1 and 2 Timothy, the Apocalypse of John (Revelation), the Apocalypse of Peter, and the wisdom of Solomon.
32. Some books of Scripture faced challenges. Christians in the West didn't like Hebrews, while those in the East opposed Revelation. Church historian Eusebius, writing in the fourth century, noted that James, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Jude, and Revelation were the only books "spoken against." Martin Luther would challenge the Book of James in the sixteenth century, calling it "an epistle of straw."
33. Accepted at last. The Eastern church accepted the New Testament as we know it in A.D. 367 with the 39th Paschal Letter of Athanasius, and the Western church followed suit after Pope Damascus called a synod together in Rome in 382.
34. The allegorical method of interpretation went to extreme lengths to try to make the Old Testament into a Christian book. Origen, one of the Christian theologians, believed that "the Scriptures were composed through the Spirit of God, and have both a meaning which is obvious and another which is hidden." He then proceeded to create all sorts of allegorical meanings to the Word of God-infuriating his critics, who felt that Origen was crafting theological implications out of thin air.
35. We get our word paper from the papyrus plant-a tall weed that could be cut into strips, flattened, then woven together and dried to form sheets of paper. It is incredibly resilient, scraps of paper with Scripture on them date back to the early second century. Writing done on sheepskin was known as "parchment."
Monday, June 1, 2015
Egyptian Mummification
Egypt was the first major African civilization. It emerged 6,000 years ago along the banks of the Nile River. Much of our understanding of Egyptian culture has been provided by their belief in an afterlife and the great lengths to which they went to in order to attain it.
They believed that an intact physical body was essential for the afterlife. The earliest Egyptians buried their dead in the baking sand, which quickly dried and preserved the bodies in a natural mummification process. Later they used coffins, and then embalming , to replace the activity of the sand.
The process was very expensive, time consuming, and complicated, so it was only available to pharaohs and the very wealthy. It took more than two months to complete. First the body was washed with spices and a solution of natron (a natural salt mixture found along the Nile). Egyptians recognized that cleanliness was paramount to the preservation process, although they knew nothing of the action of bacteria in decomposition .
The second important step was to remove all moisture from the body. After the brain had been scooped out in a mushy mess through the nose and thrown away, all the internal organs were removed and sealed in four Canopic Jars (The Qebensnuet, Puamutef, Hapy, and Imsety), except for the heart, which was believed to be the seat of thought.
Body cavities were washed out with palm wine and myrrh and filled with bags of natron. Then the body was packed in a 600-pound pile of natron for 35 days at a temperature of 115 degrees Fahrenheit, during which it would lose nearly half its weight as water leeched out. Then the bags of natron were replaced by palm wine, spices, and wood shavings. After a mixture of five different oils-frankincense, myrrh, lotus, palm, and cedar-had been rubbed into the skin, the body was ready for wrapping.
The origin of the word mummification comes from the bitumen like substance called "moumia" that was used to attach the linen strips during this stage. Each linen strip bore hieroglyphic inscriptions, and a total of six layers, and more than 20 pounds of linen were used.
Many intricate rituals were then performed. One of the most important of these was called the "The Opening of the Mouth" to rejuvenate all the senses.
The whole process took 70 days because the star Sirius disappears from the sky and returns 70 days later to signal the Egyptian New Year. The Egyptians equated this with the period between death and rebirth in the afterlife.
They believed that an intact physical body was essential for the afterlife. The earliest Egyptians buried their dead in the baking sand, which quickly dried and preserved the bodies in a natural mummification process. Later they used coffins, and then embalming , to replace the activity of the sand.
The process was very expensive, time consuming, and complicated, so it was only available to pharaohs and the very wealthy. It took more than two months to complete. First the body was washed with spices and a solution of natron (a natural salt mixture found along the Nile). Egyptians recognized that cleanliness was paramount to the preservation process, although they knew nothing of the action of bacteria in decomposition .
The second important step was to remove all moisture from the body. After the brain had been scooped out in a mushy mess through the nose and thrown away, all the internal organs were removed and sealed in four Canopic Jars (The Qebensnuet, Puamutef, Hapy, and Imsety), except for the heart, which was believed to be the seat of thought.
Body cavities were washed out with palm wine and myrrh and filled with bags of natron. Then the body was packed in a 600-pound pile of natron for 35 days at a temperature of 115 degrees Fahrenheit, during which it would lose nearly half its weight as water leeched out. Then the bags of natron were replaced by palm wine, spices, and wood shavings. After a mixture of five different oils-frankincense, myrrh, lotus, palm, and cedar-had been rubbed into the skin, the body was ready for wrapping.
The origin of the word mummification comes from the bitumen like substance called "moumia" that was used to attach the linen strips during this stage. Each linen strip bore hieroglyphic inscriptions, and a total of six layers, and more than 20 pounds of linen were used.
Many intricate rituals were then performed. One of the most important of these was called the "The Opening of the Mouth" to rejuvenate all the senses.
The whole process took 70 days because the star Sirius disappears from the sky and returns 70 days later to signal the Egyptian New Year. The Egyptians equated this with the period between death and rebirth in the afterlife.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
"Time to Change", 109 Law St., Darlington, SC 29532
* Time to Change originated because it IS Time to Change the thought processes that occur each and every day and for them to be happy with themselves, and hold their heads up and once again bring back their self esteem.
* Time to Change is a Homeless Veterans Reintegration/Transitional Program for male, female and Veterans/Families.
* Programs consist of Drug & Alcohol Counseling, Aid in submission of Veterans Forms.
* On-site Veterans Affairs Officer to assist with obtaining pension/compensation.
* Provide a shelter and meals while helping them to Transition to a residence of their own.
* Assist with resumes' and job applications.
* Provide any aspect of counseling as needed.
* Provide counseling and shelter for Domestic Violence, Male/Female.
* Provide assistance with Continuing Education by assisting with Grants.
"THEY HAVE FOUGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY, NOW IT'S TIME TO SHOW THEM "WE CARE" FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR US". MAINLY FREEDOM
Tom Tedder
Director
(720) 422-9374
Jimmy Williams
Asst. Director
Or contact your Representative
* Time to Change is a Homeless Veterans Reintegration/Transitional Program for male, female and Veterans/Families.
* Programs consist of Drug & Alcohol Counseling, Aid in submission of Veterans Forms.
* On-site Veterans Affairs Officer to assist with obtaining pension/compensation.
* Provide a shelter and meals while helping them to Transition to a residence of their own.
* Assist with resumes' and job applications.
* Provide any aspect of counseling as needed.
* Provide counseling and shelter for Domestic Violence, Male/Female.
* Provide assistance with Continuing Education by assisting with Grants.
"THEY HAVE FOUGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY, NOW IT'S TIME TO SHOW THEM "WE CARE" FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR US". MAINLY FREEDOM
Tom Tedder
Director
(720) 422-9374
Jimmy Williams
Asst. Director
Or contact your Representative
Saturday, May 30, 2015
About The Bible II
14. Written over the course of a thousand years, primarily in ancient Hebrew, the Jewish Bible is the equivalent of Christianity's Old Testament. For Jews there is no New Testament.
15. At least half as much time elapsed between the Bible's first book and its last (with well over a thousand years between the first writing and the time of the last), as has elapsed between its last book and now. This means that writing styles vary not just between modern books and the Bible but among the Bible books themselves.
16. The terms Old Testament and New Testament originated with the prophet Jeremiah. When he spoke about the glorious future for Israel of which the prophets often spoke, he said that God would "make a new covenant with the house of Israel." Testament means "covenant," and Jesus of Nazareth, the long-awaited Messiah, made a new covenant with God's people. The books of the New Testament provide the fulfillment of the promises made throughout the Old Testament books.
17. The translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Koine Greek dialect was an outstanding literary accomplishment under the Ptolemies. This translation was called the Septuagint. The translation project is said to have been sponsored by Ptolemy II Philadelphus around the third century B.C. According to tradition, seventy-two Jewish scholars (six from each of the twelve tribes) were summoned for the project. The work was finished in seventy-two days; the Jewish scholars were then sent away with many gifts.
18. The Septuagint provided a bridge between the thoughts and vocabulary of the Old and New Testaments. The language of the New Testament is not the koine of the everyday Greek, but the koine of the Jew living in Greek surroundings. By the New Testament era, it was the most widely used edition of the Old Testament.
19. Most Jews of Jesus' day spoke Aramaic, a Syrian language similar to Hebrew that was commonly used at the time. Jesus surely studied the formal Hebrew of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. Whether he could also speak Greek is unknown. Jesus left no personal writings.
20. Both the Jewish Bible and Christian Old Testament contain the same thirty-nine books, although they are arranged and numbered in a slightly different order. In Jewish traditions the Bible is called the Tanakh, an acronym of the Hebrew words Torah (for "law" or "teaching"), Nevi'im ("the Prophets"), and Kethuvim ("the Writings").
21. The Old Testament's first five books, the Pentateuch, were already considered authoritative Scriptures by the time of Ezra in the fifth century B.C. The other books were recognized as part of the Old Testament at later times.
22. Jesus himself knew the "old covenant." As a Jewish boy, he diligently studied the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. He could recite them by heart when he was twelve. Because there was no Bible as we know it, he would have learned by rote from scrolls kept by local teachers or rabbis.
23. The earliest references to the Old Testament were "the law of Moses," the law of the Lord," or simply "Moses." Since the additional writings were considered the work of prophets, the common term became "Moses and the Prophets" or something similar.
Note: Wherever the word "law" is seen, the Jewish reference would be "Torah." By New Testament times, "Scripture" or "the Scriptures" became common. The simplest generic term for the collection was "writings," often with "sacred" or "holy" added.
24. The uniformity of Bible printing sometimes obscures the scope of variety within the Bible's writings. If Bible printers laid out the print with all the different styles and languages accounted for, including prose, poetry, and songs, a wheelbarrow would be needed to move a Bible from the den to the bedroom.
25. No Bible writer that we know of ever drew a map to accompany his writing-at least not one that was preserved. Maps are generally drawn from facts discovered through historical and archaeological research.
15. At least half as much time elapsed between the Bible's first book and its last (with well over a thousand years between the first writing and the time of the last), as has elapsed between its last book and now. This means that writing styles vary not just between modern books and the Bible but among the Bible books themselves.
16. The terms Old Testament and New Testament originated with the prophet Jeremiah. When he spoke about the glorious future for Israel of which the prophets often spoke, he said that God would "make a new covenant with the house of Israel." Testament means "covenant," and Jesus of Nazareth, the long-awaited Messiah, made a new covenant with God's people. The books of the New Testament provide the fulfillment of the promises made throughout the Old Testament books.
17. The translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Koine Greek dialect was an outstanding literary accomplishment under the Ptolemies. This translation was called the Septuagint. The translation project is said to have been sponsored by Ptolemy II Philadelphus around the third century B.C. According to tradition, seventy-two Jewish scholars (six from each of the twelve tribes) were summoned for the project. The work was finished in seventy-two days; the Jewish scholars were then sent away with many gifts.
18. The Septuagint provided a bridge between the thoughts and vocabulary of the Old and New Testaments. The language of the New Testament is not the koine of the everyday Greek, but the koine of the Jew living in Greek surroundings. By the New Testament era, it was the most widely used edition of the Old Testament.
19. Most Jews of Jesus' day spoke Aramaic, a Syrian language similar to Hebrew that was commonly used at the time. Jesus surely studied the formal Hebrew of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. Whether he could also speak Greek is unknown. Jesus left no personal writings.
20. Both the Jewish Bible and Christian Old Testament contain the same thirty-nine books, although they are arranged and numbered in a slightly different order. In Jewish traditions the Bible is called the Tanakh, an acronym of the Hebrew words Torah (for "law" or "teaching"), Nevi'im ("the Prophets"), and Kethuvim ("the Writings").
21. The Old Testament's first five books, the Pentateuch, were already considered authoritative Scriptures by the time of Ezra in the fifth century B.C. The other books were recognized as part of the Old Testament at later times.
22. Jesus himself knew the "old covenant." As a Jewish boy, he diligently studied the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. He could recite them by heart when he was twelve. Because there was no Bible as we know it, he would have learned by rote from scrolls kept by local teachers or rabbis.
23. The earliest references to the Old Testament were "the law of Moses," the law of the Lord," or simply "Moses." Since the additional writings were considered the work of prophets, the common term became "Moses and the Prophets" or something similar.
Note: Wherever the word "law" is seen, the Jewish reference would be "Torah." By New Testament times, "Scripture" or "the Scriptures" became common. The simplest generic term for the collection was "writings," often with "sacred" or "holy" added.
24. The uniformity of Bible printing sometimes obscures the scope of variety within the Bible's writings. If Bible printers laid out the print with all the different styles and languages accounted for, including prose, poetry, and songs, a wheelbarrow would be needed to move a Bible from the den to the bedroom.
25. No Bible writer that we know of ever drew a map to accompany his writing-at least not one that was preserved. Maps are generally drawn from facts discovered through historical and archaeological research.
About The Bible I
1. The Bible. Christians believe this book to be the true Word of God. From the creation account of Genesis to the end-time visions of Revelation, from the story of Israel to Jesus' ministry, it is the source for what Christians believe and how they try to live.
2. The word Bible comes from the Greek word biblia, which means "books," which comes from another word, biblos, meaning papyrus, a material books were made from in ancient times.
3. The ancient Greeks obtained their supplies of paper from the port of Byblos, in what is now Lebanon. Their word for book-biblion (the singular form of biblia)- was derived from the name of this port, and from this we get our English word Bible, meaning the Book of books.
4. The word Bible is not in the Bible. The term came long after all the writings were completed and assembled.
5. The Bible is the world's best-selling book as well as the world's most shoplifted book!
6. The Bible is the most bought yet understood book. Nine out of ten Americans own a Bible, but fewer than half ever read it. Worldwide sales of the Bible are uncountable.
7. Just how big is the Bible? Stack ten average-sized nonfiction books printed today. That pile will contain the same number of words that are found in one Bible-close to one million words not counting the number of words in features like footnotes, verse numbers, and concordances.
8. The Bible looks like one book, but is actually an anthology, a collection of many smaller books. In an even broader sense, it is not just an anthology of shorter works but an entire library.
9. Some Bible books are as short as half a page. One of the longest books-Jeremiah-is roughly the length of today's short novel. This makes the Bible's longest book one hundred times longer than its shortest book.
10. Though the Bible as a whole is much longer than most any other book we'd like to read, its individual books are mostly shorter than any other book we consider reading.
11. The Bible is an extraordinary gathering of many books of law, wisdom, poetry, philosophy, and history. The number of books in this portable library depends on which Bible you are holding. The Bible of a Jew is different from the Bible of a Roman Catholic, which in turn is different from the Bible of a Protestant.
12. The Bible is both ancient and contemporary as it deals with the unchanging issues of human existence: life, death, joy, sorrow, achievement, and failure...Yet these issues are couched in the language and correspondence of ancient times.
13. Testament was another word for "covenant"-meaning an agreement, contract, or pact. For Christians, the Old Testament represents the ancient covenant made between God and his people. In the New Testament, Christians believe in a new covenant with God made through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
2. The word Bible comes from the Greek word biblia, which means "books," which comes from another word, biblos, meaning papyrus, a material books were made from in ancient times.
3. The ancient Greeks obtained their supplies of paper from the port of Byblos, in what is now Lebanon. Their word for book-biblion (the singular form of biblia)- was derived from the name of this port, and from this we get our English word Bible, meaning the Book of books.
4. The word Bible is not in the Bible. The term came long after all the writings were completed and assembled.
5. The Bible is the world's best-selling book as well as the world's most shoplifted book!
6. The Bible is the most bought yet understood book. Nine out of ten Americans own a Bible, but fewer than half ever read it. Worldwide sales of the Bible are uncountable.
7. Just how big is the Bible? Stack ten average-sized nonfiction books printed today. That pile will contain the same number of words that are found in one Bible-close to one million words not counting the number of words in features like footnotes, verse numbers, and concordances.
8. The Bible looks like one book, but is actually an anthology, a collection of many smaller books. In an even broader sense, it is not just an anthology of shorter works but an entire library.
9. Some Bible books are as short as half a page. One of the longest books-Jeremiah-is roughly the length of today's short novel. This makes the Bible's longest book one hundred times longer than its shortest book.
10. Though the Bible as a whole is much longer than most any other book we'd like to read, its individual books are mostly shorter than any other book we consider reading.
11. The Bible is an extraordinary gathering of many books of law, wisdom, poetry, philosophy, and history. The number of books in this portable library depends on which Bible you are holding. The Bible of a Jew is different from the Bible of a Roman Catholic, which in turn is different from the Bible of a Protestant.
12. The Bible is both ancient and contemporary as it deals with the unchanging issues of human existence: life, death, joy, sorrow, achievement, and failure...Yet these issues are couched in the language and correspondence of ancient times.
13. Testament was another word for "covenant"-meaning an agreement, contract, or pact. For Christians, the Old Testament represents the ancient covenant made between God and his people. In the New Testament, Christians believe in a new covenant with God made through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Friday, May 29, 2015
10 More Reasons Why The Beatles Are The Greatest Band Ever
11. One may not like songs such as "Yesterday" and "Hey Jude," but they are unrivaled in their popularity, and the melodies are unforgettable.
12. Paul McCartney actually dreamed the tune to "Yesterday."
13. "Helter Skelter" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" are considered two of the first heavy metal songs.
14. They have 23 of the Top 500 songs of all time, again according to Rolling Stone-the most of any artist.
15. Their iconic No. 1 singles notwithstanding ("Love Me Do", "From Me To You", "She Loves You", "I Want To Hold Your Hand", "Can't Buy Me Love", "A Hard Day's Night", "I Feel Fine","Eight Days A Week", "Ticket To Ride", "Help!", "Yesterday", "Day Tripper", "We Can Work It Out", "Paperback Writer", "Yellow Submarine", "Eleanor Rigby", "Penny Lane", "All You Need Is Love", "Hello, Goodbye", "Lady Madonna", "Hey Jude", "Get Back", "The Ballad Of John And Yoko", "Something", "Come Together", "Let It Be", "The Long And Winding Road"), some of their best songs weren't even on any singles or B-sides: "I Should Have Known Better", "You Won't See Me", "For No One", "Across The Universe", "Two Of Us", "Dear Prudence", and "Because" are all just album filler.
16. They revolutionized the science of recording, using multiple tracks instead of playing live. Producer George Martin used varying tape speeds to make Lennon's voice sound high ("Tomorrow Never Knows") and slow ("Strawberry fields Forever"); he also brought in string musicians to accompany certain songs ("Yesterday"). In another session, McCartney utilized bass drums halfway down a corridor to achieve a staccato sound in "Mother Nature's Son).
17. In an age where other people wrote songs for the flavor of the day-think the Brill Building songwriters doing all the work for the Shangri-Las and the Dixie Cups- The Beatles surprised everyone by penning their own hits from the beginning. As a result, they helped usher the singer-songwriter movement that popularized the late 1960s.
18. Their ability to cross over from media and teen idols to musical innovators is one-of-a-kind. Their chart success and initial popularity are unparalleled; but despite their initial fame, they managed to continue to improve throughout their career.
19. Their place in popular culture is unrivaled-their movies, their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show (in which they played to 74 million people), the "bigger than Jesus" comment, the refusal to play in concert after 1966, the Maharishi, the painstaking production work, the beginnings of the drug culture and LSD fad, "Helter Skelter" and Charles Manson, the "Paul Is Dead" phenomenon, Yoko Ono, the rooftop concert, the cover of "Abbey Road", the subsequent solo years, and the hit singles created from rough demos of the late Lennon.
20. They accomplished all this in just seven years.
12. Paul McCartney actually dreamed the tune to "Yesterday."
13. "Helter Skelter" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" are considered two of the first heavy metal songs.
14. They have 23 of the Top 500 songs of all time, again according to Rolling Stone-the most of any artist.
15. Their iconic No. 1 singles notwithstanding ("Love Me Do", "From Me To You", "She Loves You", "I Want To Hold Your Hand", "Can't Buy Me Love", "A Hard Day's Night", "I Feel Fine","Eight Days A Week", "Ticket To Ride", "Help!", "Yesterday", "Day Tripper", "We Can Work It Out", "Paperback Writer", "Yellow Submarine", "Eleanor Rigby", "Penny Lane", "All You Need Is Love", "Hello, Goodbye", "Lady Madonna", "Hey Jude", "Get Back", "The Ballad Of John And Yoko", "Something", "Come Together", "Let It Be", "The Long And Winding Road"), some of their best songs weren't even on any singles or B-sides: "I Should Have Known Better", "You Won't See Me", "For No One", "Across The Universe", "Two Of Us", "Dear Prudence", and "Because" are all just album filler.
16. They revolutionized the science of recording, using multiple tracks instead of playing live. Producer George Martin used varying tape speeds to make Lennon's voice sound high ("Tomorrow Never Knows") and slow ("Strawberry fields Forever"); he also brought in string musicians to accompany certain songs ("Yesterday"). In another session, McCartney utilized bass drums halfway down a corridor to achieve a staccato sound in "Mother Nature's Son).
17. In an age where other people wrote songs for the flavor of the day-think the Brill Building songwriters doing all the work for the Shangri-Las and the Dixie Cups- The Beatles surprised everyone by penning their own hits from the beginning. As a result, they helped usher the singer-songwriter movement that popularized the late 1960s.
18. Their ability to cross over from media and teen idols to musical innovators is one-of-a-kind. Their chart success and initial popularity are unparalleled; but despite their initial fame, they managed to continue to improve throughout their career.
19. Their place in popular culture is unrivaled-their movies, their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show (in which they played to 74 million people), the "bigger than Jesus" comment, the refusal to play in concert after 1966, the Maharishi, the painstaking production work, the beginnings of the drug culture and LSD fad, "Helter Skelter" and Charles Manson, the "Paul Is Dead" phenomenon, Yoko Ono, the rooftop concert, the cover of "Abbey Road", the subsequent solo years, and the hit singles created from rough demos of the late Lennon.
20. They accomplished all this in just seven years.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
10 Reasons The Beatles Are The Greatest Band Ever
Every once in awhile, I meet someone who just doesn't get The Beatles, or who doesn't even like them.
I try to keep an open mind about this, since there are some groups that I simply don't get, either. Bob Dylan? Sure. His voice itself can turn some people away. But The Beatles? Come on!
20 accomplishments, achievements and innovations that may change your mind:
1. During the week of April 4 1964, The Beatles occupied the top five positions on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart (12 in the 100), the top 2 positions on the albums chart, the no. 1 position in the British singles chart, the first two positions in the British albums chart and the no. 1 position in the British EP chart,-the most complete domination of the British and American charts in history. Today, you're lucky to have one top 10 album and single at the same time.
2. To date, The Beatles have sold over 1billion records. That's billion, with a B.
3. They have the most no. 1 albums in the British album charts (15), and 17 no. 1 hits.
4. They hold the record for the group with the longest span between no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart (39 years and 51 weeks, 1964 to 2001). In 2000-20 years after John Lennon was killed and 30 years after they broke up, their second major greatest hits compilation, 1, spent eight weeks at no.1 and sold 13 million copies in it's first month of release.
5. They boast 20 no. 1 hits in the United States, (19 no. 1 albums), with 24 consecutive Top 10 hits from 1964 to 1976 (six years after they broke up), a record for a group. They also have 12 no. 1 hits in Germany, 23 in Australia, 21 in the Netherlands, 22 in Canada, 13 in Malaysia.
6. According to the United World Chart, The Beatles have 16 of the 100 most successful tracks of all time, and also seven of the 100 most successful albums in history.
7. The Beatles recorded four of the Top 10 Greatest Albums of All Time, according to Rolling Stone magazine, and three of the Top Five. (I'll ignore the fact that Abbey Road was only no. 14).
8. They were ground-breaking pioneers almost from the beginning, being the first group ever to employ feedback in 1964's "I Feel Fine." One of their hits, "A Hard Day's Night," features an opening chord so revolutionary that people are still trying to figure out. 1965's Rubber Soul and the follow-up, Revolver, saw more innovation, from the use of a sitar in "Norwegian Wood" to tape loops in "Tomorrow Never Knows." Then there are the backwards vocals in "Rain" (a first) and a Moog synthesizer on several songs on 1969's Abbey Road.
9. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band is arguably the greatest album ever made (indeed, it topped Rolling Stone's list). While it doesn't have the strongest material, the album was a landmark in recording. It popularized the concept album-something that would serve as inspiration to the Who and Pink Floyd.
10. "A Day In The Life" from Sgt. Pepper may have been the crowning achievement of the group-a five and a half minute song composed of two suites-one by Lennon, one by McCartney-that are totally different in song and texture, yet complement each other perfectly. The song features two cacophonous crescendos from an orchestra, the final one climaxing in a single E major chord that lasts 42 seconds.
I try to keep an open mind about this, since there are some groups that I simply don't get, either. Bob Dylan? Sure. His voice itself can turn some people away. But The Beatles? Come on!
20 accomplishments, achievements and innovations that may change your mind:
1. During the week of April 4 1964, The Beatles occupied the top five positions on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart (12 in the 100), the top 2 positions on the albums chart, the no. 1 position in the British singles chart, the first two positions in the British albums chart and the no. 1 position in the British EP chart,-the most complete domination of the British and American charts in history. Today, you're lucky to have one top 10 album and single at the same time.
2. To date, The Beatles have sold over 1billion records. That's billion, with a B.
3. They have the most no. 1 albums in the British album charts (15), and 17 no. 1 hits.
4. They hold the record for the group with the longest span between no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart (39 years and 51 weeks, 1964 to 2001). In 2000-20 years after John Lennon was killed and 30 years after they broke up, their second major greatest hits compilation, 1, spent eight weeks at no.1 and sold 13 million copies in it's first month of release.
5. They boast 20 no. 1 hits in the United States, (19 no. 1 albums), with 24 consecutive Top 10 hits from 1964 to 1976 (six years after they broke up), a record for a group. They also have 12 no. 1 hits in Germany, 23 in Australia, 21 in the Netherlands, 22 in Canada, 13 in Malaysia.
6. According to the United World Chart, The Beatles have 16 of the 100 most successful tracks of all time, and also seven of the 100 most successful albums in history.
7. The Beatles recorded four of the Top 10 Greatest Albums of All Time, according to Rolling Stone magazine, and three of the Top Five. (I'll ignore the fact that Abbey Road was only no. 14).
8. They were ground-breaking pioneers almost from the beginning, being the first group ever to employ feedback in 1964's "I Feel Fine." One of their hits, "A Hard Day's Night," features an opening chord so revolutionary that people are still trying to figure out. 1965's Rubber Soul and the follow-up, Revolver, saw more innovation, from the use of a sitar in "Norwegian Wood" to tape loops in "Tomorrow Never Knows." Then there are the backwards vocals in "Rain" (a first) and a Moog synthesizer on several songs on 1969's Abbey Road.
9. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band is arguably the greatest album ever made (indeed, it topped Rolling Stone's list). While it doesn't have the strongest material, the album was a landmark in recording. It popularized the concept album-something that would serve as inspiration to the Who and Pink Floyd.
10. "A Day In The Life" from Sgt. Pepper may have been the crowning achievement of the group-a five and a half minute song composed of two suites-one by Lennon, one by McCartney-that are totally different in song and texture, yet complement each other perfectly. The song features two cacophonous crescendos from an orchestra, the final one climaxing in a single E major chord that lasts 42 seconds.
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