91: The Beatles’ Live Reunion

SATB 91

What if the events of December 8, 1980 played out completely differently and somehow, an unscathed John Lennon – bereft of any obstructions – was able to join his former bandmates in a live concert situation; perhaps more than one? In a subject suggested by a listener, Robert and Richard discuss the form that such a concert might take: what the set list and the staging might have looked like. Songs include “Here, There and Everywhere” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

Find Richard’s books here.

Find Robert’s books here.

0 thoughts on “91: The Beatles’ Live Reunion”

  1. Since we’re dreaming, my reunion concert doesn’t include the Abbey Road medley, with the exception of ‘ Bathroom Window’.. would add Gimme Some Truth, Rain, Got to Get You into My Life’, What is Life, If Not for You, Eat at Home (with slightly different arrangement), Leave My Kitten Alone .. Bowie/U2 open different legs of the tour 🙂

  2. I’ve seen The Beatles live together, well the remaining ones Paul and Ringo at Change Begins Within 2009 at Radio city Music Hall, here’s the setlist:

    [Ringo]
    It Don’t Come Easy
    Boys
    Yellow Submarine

    [Paul]
    Drive My Car
    Jet
    Got to Get You Into My Life
    Let It Be
    Lady Madonna
    Blackbird
    Here Today
    Band on the Run
    Can’t Buy Me Love

    [Together]
    With a Little Help From My Friends
    Cosmically Conscious
    I Saw Her Standing There

    I guess in an alternative world Here today would not be written …

  3. I guess I am a pessimistic Beatles/Solo Beatles fan. Don’t think it would ever happen had John lived. George to me would be toughest to get to agree and even Paul I could see saying no if the other 3 were not 110% into it!

  4. Two things:

    1. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that had
    John lived, The Beatles would have reunited in some form or other. I believe that they would have definitely recorded together again. I feel that they would have done their own projects etc, getting together every few years to record together.

    2. In my alternate universe, there is no opening act for The Beatles live reunion.

  5. What a great show! An upper in every way, really appreciate this wonderful distraction from the real world! Thank you.

  6. In the late 70s either WYSP or WMMR in Philadelphia (I believe it was WMMR) ran a couple hour special simulating a live Beatles reunion concert by over dubbing audience sound on recordings. I tuned in part way through and recorded the whole thing until they came on at the end and announced that the preceding show “The Beatles Live From The Imaginary Ballroom” had been a simulation.

    Reused the tape shortly thereafter.

  7. I’m very glad I discovered this podcast recently. This episode was a fun one.

    Was there ever a single live Beatles performance where Ringo sang from anywhere but behind the drums? I assume not. So I would hope that at the hypothetical reunion show the Beatles would have employed a guest drummer for at least one number so Ringo could take center stage for once. Then surrounded by the other Beatles he sings With A Little Help From My Friends with them all joining in. Would have there been a dry eye in the house?

  8. Very interesting discussion, though certainly a fantasy land POV. I discussed with my wife and son (they are qualified fans to discuss this, though they may roll the eyes when I bring up a new discussion!)

    We mostly discussed how long it would take this 1980’s Beatles to deliver the goods to a MSG size audience. We joked that maybe Eric Clapton would need to stay on stage for the duration! And maybe a back up drummer, given Ringo’s state in 1980? I’ve no doubt that they would’ve given it the old college try – but by 1980 many, many bands had spent a great deal of time honing the area rock show (KISS, Pink Floyd, Bruce – and U2 and Tom Petty were up and comers).

    I think – less focus on Because, SFF – the hard to replicate songs and instead play to the strengths for a band that probably would under-rehearse rather than choreograph the whole show: Early Beatles rockers/mid tempo tunes through Revolver; an acoustic interlude; then a final set with Billy Preston that includes songs that favor the dynamics of 2 guitars + bass + keys + drums.

    Don’t Let Me Down; Get Back: USSR – and assorted solo songs.

    My gut is that we’d be in for a rocking, looser than tighter Beatles, in the first go’round of a reunion tour. Maybe tour 2 would be a lot more ambitious.

    PS – Sampling horns/strings/et al was not common in 1980. And – as you’ve alluded – it still sounds cheesy right here in 2017!!!!

  9. I literally had a dream years ago that this occurred. No specifics as dreams tend to not have but John had not died and they were going to do it. It would have been a dream come true.

  10. A live Beatles reunion would likely include 60 percent early Rock covers the Beatles played in Hamburg and Liverpool. The few original songs would be from White Album and the rest would be solo material.

    They would likely never want to repeat the early music live in the 1980s. Too much New Wave, Post Punk and Hip Hop would provoke them to keep it simple. Look what happened to Bob Dylan with Empire Burlesque (1985) and all of Lou Reed’s albums during the 80s till his comeback Dirty Blvd (1989). Both Reed and Dylan rid themselves of the trends and returned to simple basics and it worked.

    Beatles would have done the same but earlier in a reunion. They would have set an example by going the opposite direction with the actual music. Am sure they would have made bad updated versions on their songs and the audience would hate it. The public would still be talking about how terrible their new versions of Helter Skelter, Yer Blues, Savoy Truffle. Ringo would be the only one who would sing “Don’t Pass me By” in its original version. Ringo never pisses anyone off.

    But for the next 30-50 years… we’d all be talking about the terrible live versions The Beatles sang of their own songs.

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