Frank Ifield and the Beatles

In this audio clip from his NFSA Oral History interview, Frank Ifield (1937–2024) recalls the first time he heard about a new group called the Beatles, and why he agreed to give them the chance to perform on his tour.

By 1963, Ifield had already had a massive UK No. 1 hit with 'I Remember You', recorded in a yodelling country music style in 1962; the song also reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Ifield’s success with this song was quickly followed by further UK No. 1 singles ‘Lovesick Blues’ (1962) and ‘Wayward Wind’ (1963). He eventually had 16 UK Top 40 hits during his career.

Ifield was born in England to Australian parents. He lived in Australia as a child, where he first learned to play guitar and yodel as well as perform and record music. He moved to the UK in 1959 and his recording career took off soon after.

He returned to Australia in 1988, and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007 and received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2009.

'I Remember You' was added to NFSA's Sounds of Australia in 2017.

This is an excerpt from an Oral History interview with Ifield conducted by Lorraine Pfitzner for the NFSA in 2005.