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The January 1969 sessions at Twickenham and Apple Studio are The Beatles gift that keeps on giving. Thoroughly taped and filmed, it is a rich vein of material to analyze, especially as it has been chronicled in such a bad light by the group themselves, at odds with much of the evidence that has surfaced. SATB has examined the subject numerous times, notably with the two part Winter of Discontent episodes but also two additional episodes featuring Doug Sulpy (author of the seminal Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image ) and journalist / blogger Dan Rivkin ( They May Be Parted ) . SATB 158 and SATB 151 respectively
But with the pending autumn release of the new and revised cut of Let It Be on its way, we thought it would be a good time to both summarize and re-examine what there is to work with, considering that Peter Jackson’s work is bound to stand as THE final word for a long time on the subject. Further, it is in the interest of offering a corrective to any public perception that what is to come will be a “whitewash” (the quotes in circulation discuss the group’s friendship – as you will hear here, there is ample support for this, counter to the narrative they themselves have put out through the years). Dan Rivkin and I discuss (in a three-hour conversation split over two parts) what we feel are the important and key documented moments that * should * make the cut of Jackson’s work.
Part Two includes:
~ “Commonwealth”
~ George’s walk out and Billy Preston
~ Oldies
~ Afterward
“So I guess you could say we invented reality tv.”
“So I guess you could say we invented reality tv.”
Loved this episode! Lots of stuff I never heard before! Where does that last bit about hunting birds come from? Fascinating….when they were going on all cylinders no one could ever touch them in talent, I will say that forever!
Loved this episode! Lots of stuff I never heard before! Where does that last bit about hunting birds come from? Fascinating….when they were going on all cylinders no one could ever touch them in talent, I will say that forever!
This was great, could have listened to you all day. Any chance of a six hour extended version?!
This was great, could have listened to you all day. Any chance of a six hour extended version?!
Wonderful analysis of the Beatles Get Back Sessions of January 1969.
I think most people, fans, historians and musicologist often assume the Beatles as a one dimensional entity which it was not. From all examples and accounts The Beatles became a multi faceted entity as a group during their early Hamburg days. What does that mean? It means they could focus perform, create and rely on each other with full support as long as they were working towards something specific. When they tried to experiment they would fragment and factionalize. Which never worked for them as a unit.
It may seem they contradicted themselves when they spoke about hating the Get Back sessions all the while they were helping each other resolve songs and be supportive. Those are things their friendship conditioned them to be like during the early Hamburg days.
Most bands or collectives don’t think or work this way. The Beatles didn’t have to break up. They could have taken a very needed break from each other and business but at the same time BEATLES is all they knew. All members pushed and tugged in different directions. Some creative some social political which eroded the creative spirit they once relied on when they focused on a project.
They broke up because they didn’t know how to live without being a Beatle. Lennon may not have broken up the band if McCartney hadn’t been so pushy with the concept of the group. Which by then had outgrown all of them including McCartney.
They didn’t know how to evolve as a unit. Money troubles and a lack of perspective in their finances killed the last of the Beatles.
Yoko Ono is an easy excuse for most fans, experts and the public to blame for breaking up the Beatles. She is Japanese and not an Anglo Saxon and why most Anglo’s state discriminate and state racist comments. Women often get the burden of being the problem to every man’s flaws. But it was Lennon’s weakness to own up and let his peers know how he felt. But he never did.
Wonderful analysis of the Beatles Get Back Sessions of January 1969.
I think most people, fans, historians and musicologist often assume the Beatles as a one dimensional entity which it was not. From all examples and accounts The Beatles became a multi faceted entity as a group during their early Hamburg days. What does that mean? It means they could focus perform, create and rely on each other with full support as long as they were working towards something specific. When they tried to experiment they would fragment and factionalize. Which never worked for them as a unit.
It may seem they contradicted themselves when they spoke about hating the Get Back sessions all the while they were helping each other resolve songs and be supportive. Those are things their friendship conditioned them to be like during the early Hamburg days.
Most bands or collectives don’t think or work this way. The Beatles didn’t have to break up. They could have taken a very needed break from each other and business but at the same time BEATLES is all they knew. All members pushed and tugged in different directions. Some creative some social political which eroded the creative spirit they once relied on when they focused on a project.
They broke up because they didn’t know how to live without being a Beatle. Lennon may not have broken up the band if McCartney hadn’t been so pushy with the concept of the group. Which by then had outgrown all of them including McCartney.
They didn’t know how to evolve as a unit. Money troubles and a lack of perspective in their finances killed the last of the Beatles.
Yoko Ono is an easy excuse for most fans, experts and the public to blame for breaking up the Beatles. She is Japanese and not an Anglo Saxon and why most Anglo’s state discriminate and state racist comments. Women often get the burden of being the problem to every man’s flaws. But it was Lennon’s weakness to own up and let his peers know how he felt. But he never did.
I wonder if The Beatles had The Intro and the Outro by The Bonzo Dog Band in mind when they were doing their name-check-jam-thing.
I wonder if The Beatles had The Intro and the Outro by The Bonzo Dog Band in mind when they were doing their name-check-jam-thing.