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Covering the period of John’s lifetime, Richard and Robert examine the recordings produced by the formerly Fab foursome and how their individual artistry contributed to each other’s work.
Songs include “I’m The Greatest and “Oh My Love.”
Find Robert’s books here.
Find Richard’s books here.
Well, I’m twenty minutes in so far and as usual, am not just being entertained, but learning too, which I guess is the trick.
Stunned also. I know more than the average fan about the Fabs, but am less than scholarly, and am amazed again at the availability of offcuts and alternate takes these days. For someone who in the mid 80s could count on only a few Apple Trax and Lost Lennon boots from Camden market (courtesy of my fanatical father whose birthday it is today and who genetically modified into me a love of music bred before I was), many of your shows have pointed me in the right direction and now I am subscribed to some great internet channels with studio chatter aplenty.
I am again, banging on, with the cancerian feel of a Ringo on the White album, but I hope you can understand my new found fervour of a dug up acolyte. The Beatles have always been there, but my studies were interrupted by my 20s and 30s when (taking as a starting point) I ventured sonically into new avenues. I went through all the phases, Acid House, Hip Hop, and anything remotely underground, dark and light shades all encompassed.
So I have some questions, which may be dealt with in a future listener inspired show, but which I am more than happy to have dealt with ad hoc, in absentia or adversely.
First, but truthfully, by no means, judging from the length of this post thus far (I use thus for effect and clarity rather than pomposity which is reserved for the rest of my prose as you can plainly see) I would suggest that I’m The Greatest is at best a misnomer. Johns version is better (though your chosen take sounds deliberately (?) feeble) but it is still pretty weak and though it was all peace I am certain John knew this deep down, after all, a man that fought for A sides just a few years earlier would not have just ‘given’ a masterpiece to Ringo. I will admit too, that emotional attachment to songs that have become part of the DNA can cloud objectivity which is why your show, as well as introducing a great deal of potential psychology of the band, is welcome as it forces me to reappraise certain things, and which, as has been evident in all my Beatles experience is something that fluctuates, evolves, descends and becomes primal joy before unleashing bliss and harmony in waves equally putrid and pure… And yes, I am talking bollocks again…
You mentioned Wanderlust, which is to my ears, inoffensive, but which I assume (daftly) that you will hate. I heard the Brian Wilson version again today and he does a decent stab (a minute or so too long though) and I reckon it would sit well if it had come out in the post (original) Smile era and could even have made Pet Sounds (Sacrilege) as it has that vibe and potential. You will think I am mad for suggesting it, but Wilsons version is better than McCartneys even though the vocals are ropey, I think it would have benefited from the Sandbox treatment. I actually also think the drums (though intrusive) make Wanderlusts original much stronger.
Anyway, my question is (hopefully someone can help, a listener even) if (the budget exceeding Lennonology book aside) there is a reliable, and full guide to available Lennon and Beatles sessions, not just those recorded, but those I can find? Lewisholm is fine, but a directory of chronological recordings would be great. I would also ask, if anybody knows, of all the session time booked, how much is out there. A decent list of home demos would be nice too. I ask because you played a lovely version of Ausimusen on an earlier show (far nicer than the released version) and I spent hours trying to find it only to learn I already had it but had not fully appreciated it’s beauty on a crappy copy of an alternate Mind Games’Shaved Fish bootleg.
Also, you played part of a Lennon outtake in this show that I hadn’t heard before (I am relearning after a long hiatus when much has happened… I know it may interrupt the flow, but would it be possible to mention the source (take number ect) either in the show, or even on the shows website so that future historians can seek out the full versions?
Cheers… Peace and thanks Mo.
Hey take a breath and then find something intelligent to say—OK.
Nice podcast.
For my money, the standout performance of the George Harrison tribute was Ringo’s Photograph. There’s a beautiful moment when he and Clapton realise the power behind the line “you’re not coming back anymore”. I agree that its Ringo’s finest song.
Great show, one of the best. I immmediately hit re-wind and went thru the whole thing again. 🙂
Great show guys, A 1980-2017 show on this topic would be great as well. Never heard or rumored that “Back off Boogaloo” was about Paul. Not even “Negative Nellie” George (love ya GH) hinted at that ever. One unconfirmed rumor I heard from a past Beatlefest guest was that they thought “Boogaloo” was about Allen Klein…hmmmm
“Back Off Boogaloo” certainly sounds inspired by Paul, namely specific aspects of his relationship with Ringo as well as with George (Paul’s bossiness in the studio, his specific coaching of George and Ringo’s playing, the death rumors, Paul’s underwhelming output circa 1972, and his heated confrontation with Ringo about releasing his first solo album) There are other things going on in that song, too. The song lifts its title from something Marc Bolan said, and musically it has a T. Rex power pop vibe. But it’s basically a song about what a prat Paul is for not liking Ringo’s “Blindman” co-star Allan Klein enough.
You can make the argument that Gimme Some Truth is the last written Lennon/McCartney
song based on Paul’s input to the song during the Get Back sessions.
A double A side single of Cold Turkey and Gimme Some Truth would have been a great Beatles release.
I disagree with everything you have said.
Yoko wants a mic…-hilarious meme…
When Dr. Robert (heh) was saying, “There’s at least three levels to this,” my first thought was, “Well, yeah, obviously there are seven levels.”
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