Little Children

Written By Beatles60

With greeting from Billy J. Kramer himself!

Podcast summary

In an unusual departure from our usual format, this episode of the Beatles60 Project, titled “Little Children,” ventures into the deeply personal terrain of our host’s own past. More than just a nod to the Billy J. Kramer hit, the title reflects a dual significance: it’s a rare glimpse into the formative record-fueled memories that shaped a preschooler’s world in 1964 and an homage to the song that echoes through Beatles60 host Larry’s recollections. These vivid memories, intertwined with the lives of icons like Billy J Kramer, the Beatles, and Dionne Warwick, may seem extraordinary, but they are as real and intricate as the grooves on a vinyl record.

While the Beatles60 Project typically serves as a historical society, dissecting the 1960s through the lens of media, music, and fandom, “Little Children” stands out as a testament to the peculiar coincidences that have trailed our host since those early days of vinyl obsession. It’s not every day that we turn the spotlight inward, examining the quirks of fate that connect us to the era’s luminaries.

Join us as we unravel the mysteries of childhood memory, pondering why certain moments outlast others. And in a special treat, we’ll hear directly from Billy J. Kramer himself, offering a unique perspective on the song that shares our episode’s title, and our host’s sister, who, as a teenager in the swinging sixties, offers another layer of authenticity to this nostalgic journey.

By the way, judging the 1964 song “Little Children” by today’s standards rather than in the context of the time it was created reflects how presentism can alter perceptions of historical or cultural artifacts. It's a perfect example of the logical fallacies that arise from the scholar's failure to "live in the history." In 1964, nobody thought the song was "creepy." The meaning was obvious. At the time, we understood. In order to avoid complications, the protagonist tries to persuade his girlfriend's younger siblings to remain silent. Nothing more sinister than that. It was meant to be sweet. Of course you are entitled to “feel” now that a 60-year-old song is “creepy” and layer on top of the history your own meanings. But that’s taking it outside our timeline. If our purpose is to understand past mindsets, we need to avoid presentism and not create a new past via our own current imaginings. Remember: We ain’t jumpin’ around!

Links/references

Beatles60
Previous

Sir Laurence! Who knew??
Next

A Hard Day’s Night