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More transistor radios: The Beatles and Pepsi

Following up from yesterday's Pop Focus feature on transistor radios, here's a look at a radio familiar to anyone who's seen Albert and David Maysles' great documentary about the Beatles first visit to the U.S.

In the film, there are various scenes of the band, particularly of Paul McCartney, listening to American radio for the first time via a radio shaped like a Pepsi vending machine.

The story is that there were four of these radios awaiting the Beatles when they checked into their hotel suite. The band can be seen in the Maysles' film listening to one of them while traveling around New York via limousine. The band all gets a kick out of hearing their own music - and the antic announcements of New York's over-the-top DJs - over the air.

Here's what one of the radios looks like up close.







Pop Focus: Transistor radios

Back in the days before everyone did everything on their stupid phones, and before the days of Sony Walkmen and iPods, people - at least teenagers - listened to music on these things.

Yes, the sound was mono and kinda crummy, and most of these things only took one "ear phone." But the music hasn't been as good since they roamed the Earth in kids' shirts and back pockets.

Here's a look at some of the snazziest, plastic transistor radios we've seen in our online travels. What are your transistor memories?