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Some twenty years on from the issue of “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” Richard and Robert revisit the Beatles Anthology project and the new performances and recordings that were part of the documentary’s release. Songs include the aforementioned, plus “Ain’t She Sweet” and “Raunchy.”
April 2016 is upon us and so are the Something About The Beatles 2016 calendars – get one of the last remaining copies in stock here and specially priced!
Great episode! I must admit that I’ve psychoanalyzed the Anthology footage of the Threetles every time I’ve watched it. There is always the feeling that George might be annoyed with Paul, and Paul is making a huge effort but just can’t help himself. The special features of the Anthology are so skimpy, and they never really go too deep. Of course I want so badly for them to be getting along and having a good time together. The Real Love studio footage is a horrible teaser…. Would it have killed them to have included some more of that?
Great show, guys!
The reason “Now and Then” was not completed was because of a negative review by the BBC of “Real Love”, which George didn’t take very kindly to. I find this a frankly stupid reason, because the surviving Beatles, at that time, were in their 50s, and nothing to prove to anyone. Who cares about reviews? Musicians make music for the joy of making music, do they not?
The version of “Real Love” you play at the beginning of this podcast is not the version given to the Threetles. John recorded the song in demo form at least 4 times, changing the title and some of the lyrics. The version that was turned into a Beatles song has nowhere near the audio clarity of the version you played (suggesting that Yoko Ono was deliberately trying to sabotage The Beatles’ reunion by offering inferior source material, which I can believe). The first version had the title of “Real Life”, and was played on acoustic guitar. The one heard in this podcast was something you can find on “The John Lennon Anthology” (I believe, Disc 4). The version given to the surviving Beatles was, like, “Free As A Bird”, incredibly poor sounding, with a hum that had to be digitally removed before anything could be done with the track.
Thanks for another insightful episode.
Personally the biggest disappointment in the whole Anthology project is the ‘threatles’ performing live together. It’s awful.
A few rehearsed Beatle era Lennon songs would have been a more fitting tribute to John and a nice gesture to the fans. Instead we get harf-arsed versions of the usual standards more reminiscent of the let it be film.
I never knew about John warming to the idea of playing with ‘the boys’ again. It would never have happened of course while John and Yoko were still together. She wouldnt have allowed it she had too much to lose.
Love your podcasts and its nice that Richard puts in the imput from our UK side of things.
The version you play of “Free As A Bird” could easily have worked as the finished product, in my opinion. John’s vocal is more audible, the harmonies with Paul and George sound like actually three-part harmonies, and the acoustic guitar layering compliments it as well. Yeah, I know there aren’t any drums, but it would have worked if Ringo just shook a tambourine.
Maybe Andy White could’ve handled the kit chores…
Never a fan of the Jeff Lynne production when it came to this. I could tolerate it for George’s album.
As I am catching up on the older shows, this is my fave so far. Great insight, great clips and maybe this will help people see that George was “both feet in” when it came to the Anthology and while he did kill the last reunion single, it was a great time. Why do people have such issues with Paul and George’s complex relationship? Bands argue and fight whether it is the Beatles or a local garage band! Hard to believe it was 20 years ago. How about a show like promised on the albums and the documentary. Great Stuff guys!
During “Raunchy” when Paul was doing all the vocal stuff… I kept waiting for George to go “Paul, ratchet it back, will ya?”
Informative as usual. I think I remember reading some time ago that George refused to do Grow Old With Me on the grounds that John was robbed of the chance to grow old and so George didn’t think the song was appropriate at all for them to work on. I can see that point of view though I would have loved to have heard a version of the song with some classic Beatles backup vocals.
I have to say having already owned Milk & Honey and the Imagine 1988 Doco soundtrack when the Anthology came out, I would have far preferred to hear them take on “Now & Then” (maybe regardless).
Love that track Dehradun; great touch to include it here. Thoughts on personnel? Also, Madinger and Easter say recorded during ATMP sessions. Elsewhere I’ve read (and it sounds to me more like) during Radha Krsna Temple sessions, but there was overlap, right?
Hi Jorge,
Most authoritative sources I’ve seen place it during the ATMP sessions, which would then give you the usual supporting crew, but it seems like a lot of what was done at Trident lacks the usual thorough documentation of what was done at EMI. So I’m open to any new supporting evidence surfacing on this one.
I was wondering what your educated ear tells you, re drums and bass– since “the usual ATMP crew” doesn’t narrow it down that far! (I know I’m not the only one who wishes those sessions were better documented. I don’t see a mention of that recording in Simon Leng.) This is from Nate’s Beatles Rarity site: “During the sessions for Radha Krishna Temple’s single ‘Hare Krishna
Mantra’ at London’s Trident Studios, producer George Harrison recorded
a few songs on his own guitar that he wrote and actually completed but
never got around to releasing. One named after the Himalayan city
Dehradun was mentioned in The Beatles Anthology documentary while
George chats with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. George tries to
recall the song and then sings a few lines with a brief ukulele
accompaniment. Today’s Beatles rarity is George’s complete version of
the track, titled ‘Dehradun’ recorded sometime between March and July
1969 at London’s Trident Studios. Listen and get more info here.” (I read this on the Beatles Rarity site before but now I pulled it from his Tumblr. https://thebeatlesrarity.tumblr.com/search/dehradun) I think it was a June 2015 post. Anyhow the link doesn’t work so I don’t know if it’s the same recording. There were commenters opining that it was Ringo and/or Paul. I’d be happy to hear even a guess from you. Thanks for being so responsive! If I started telling you how much I like your podcast I would be writing all night.
Oh and both these discussions are kind of interesing in that regard…
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/my-encounter-w-dhani-harrison-about-george.180760/
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/george-harrison-the-apple-years-box-set.369005/page-12
Why do you guys hate Paul so much?
I don’t – not at all. (Some people accuse me of hating John too, so maybe the right balance is being struck.)
One guy was always reflexively anti-Paul and he’s off the show now, so you WILL hear a definite change in attitude; even more Paul-centric topics.
Hang in there!
Just now going through old episodes. Robert, I’m sure you will be relieved to know that “Hiroshima Sky Is Always Blue” was issued on CD with the 2011 book “THE ROAD OF HOPE” printed in Japan to coincide with Yoko being awarded The 8th Hiroshima Art Prize. Published by Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art
The tracks on the CD are as follows:
Hiroshima Sky Is Always Blue
– Paul McCartney bass, James McCartney guitar, Sean Lennon harpsichord, Linda McCartney, keyboards Heather, Mary and Stella McCartney, backing vocals
Namyohorengeko
Happy Xmas [War Is Over]
Rainbow Revelation
Un Un. To
Scream
I Love You, Earth
If they haven’t already, I’m certain that Richard and Robert will waste no time searching the Internet far and wide to get their copy of this ‘song’ on CD (and the book).
Cheers!