If you ever watched that Disney + documentary of the making of Let It Be, it’s crystal clear that Harrison’s disgruntlement was pretty much the catalyst to the break up. After watching that, I do think Yoko Ono got a bad rap, even if the other Beatles were not entirely thrilled she was sitting in their sessions. But what’s also very apparent is that McCartney was the driver of the group. Not Lennon/McCartney, just McCartney. He was the taskmaster, the drill sergeant, and the one keeping the trains running on time. Lennon wasn’t disciplined enough and/or he was already mentally checked out. The others resented Paul for this, but I found it pretty enlightening that Lennon was always considered the artistic genius, but Paul’s musical range was amazing. Anyway, what really stuns me to this day is how young they all were when they were cranking out album after album. Honestly, they were all burned out, the chinks in their relationships notwithstanding.
Yeah, I found myself thinking that Yoko got a bit too much blame. If anything Harrison was the person I liked the least after watching the documentary. He was constantly passive aggressive with the band, always negative, always moaning, and always the person stirring up trouble. Weird that he is thought of as the nice, quiet Beatle, because I changed my opinion on him completely. Lennon was the funniest Beatle, and McCartney was certainly the engine powering the whole thing.
I mean, it was a snapshot in time. I don’t hold anything against Harrison. There was a lot brewing leading up to that time period. He was a brilliant musician in his own right.
I agree - plus the videos are still edited so we are getting the narrative they want us to see…but still, I've met 100 people like Harrison and I try to avoid them like the plague! Always giving you 20 reasons why something won't work, instead of putting the effort in and trying to get it to work. There's always a Harrison in a team, and in my experience, they are a nightmare to deal with.
Wow though. The videos made it crystal clear that McCartney was at the core of the Beatles. The intense love/hate/rivalry/jealousy between McCartney and Lennon just jumped off the screen. So strange that even with all McCartney’s talent and skill, he only ever wanted Lennon's approval. McCartney didn't care what Harrison or Ringo or Martin thought about anything, and he only ever cared what Lennon thought.
Amazing to see Lennon and McCartney singing and smiling together. For so many years we believed the narrative that they hated each other…nothing could be further from the truth. I will be forever grateful to the makers of the documentary for destroying that toxic myth.
If Lennon had been interviewed a week later, he might have given completely different answers. His praise for Something might have been a way of dismissing McCartney's contributions.
And, of course, he doesn't mention that Come Together was plagiarized, stolen from Chuck Berry. That cost the Beatles a bit of money, and Lennon agreed to perform Berry's original in concert.
One line was appropriated from Chuck Berry’s You Can’t Catch Me, and was so re-contextualized that it hardly seems like stealing. Also, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer is a pretty bad song.
Did the patchwork nature of the Medley surprise you? Hell, I was 9 when it came out and I realized this was just the guys mashing a bunch of songs together and seeing how they fit. Doesn't mean the likes of "Sun King" or "Golden Slumbers" are any less magnificent.
Also, don't forget that Lennon wrote "The Word" (it's love, you know) and "All You Need is Love" so it's not like he was completely shut off to the concept. Just ask Yoko.
I don't think there is any 'brutal truth'. Musical innovation is often unrecognisable as it happens. I heard a session musician from the recording of Astral Weeks relate how he only found out Astral Weeks was a cult album 20 years later. It was just another day's work to him.
Great overview. Thanks for putting it together. BTW the way, one thing that’s been said about George being in jeans in the photo is that he represented The Grave Digger
Thanks for this insight. There was a Playboy interview with John long ago where he detailed every song and the contributions of him vs. Paul. I've never been able to find it again.
If you ever watched that Disney + documentary of the making of Let It Be, it’s crystal clear that Harrison’s disgruntlement was pretty much the catalyst to the break up. After watching that, I do think Yoko Ono got a bad rap, even if the other Beatles were not entirely thrilled she was sitting in their sessions. But what’s also very apparent is that McCartney was the driver of the group. Not Lennon/McCartney, just McCartney. He was the taskmaster, the drill sergeant, and the one keeping the trains running on time. Lennon wasn’t disciplined enough and/or he was already mentally checked out. The others resented Paul for this, but I found it pretty enlightening that Lennon was always considered the artistic genius, but Paul’s musical range was amazing. Anyway, what really stuns me to this day is how young they all were when they were cranking out album after album. Honestly, they were all burned out, the chinks in their relationships notwithstanding.
Yeah, I found myself thinking that Yoko got a bit too much blame. If anything Harrison was the person I liked the least after watching the documentary. He was constantly passive aggressive with the band, always negative, always moaning, and always the person stirring up trouble. Weird that he is thought of as the nice, quiet Beatle, because I changed my opinion on him completely. Lennon was the funniest Beatle, and McCartney was certainly the engine powering the whole thing.
I mean, it was a snapshot in time. I don’t hold anything against Harrison. There was a lot brewing leading up to that time period. He was a brilliant musician in his own right.
I agree - plus the videos are still edited so we are getting the narrative they want us to see…but still, I've met 100 people like Harrison and I try to avoid them like the plague! Always giving you 20 reasons why something won't work, instead of putting the effort in and trying to get it to work. There's always a Harrison in a team, and in my experience, they are a nightmare to deal with.
Wow though. The videos made it crystal clear that McCartney was at the core of the Beatles. The intense love/hate/rivalry/jealousy between McCartney and Lennon just jumped off the screen. So strange that even with all McCartney’s talent and skill, he only ever wanted Lennon's approval. McCartney didn't care what Harrison or Ringo or Martin thought about anything, and he only ever cared what Lennon thought.
Amazing to see Lennon and McCartney singing and smiling together. For so many years we believed the narrative that they hated each other…nothing could be further from the truth. I will be forever grateful to the makers of the documentary for destroying that toxic myth.
Side 2 of Abbey Road was genius. If it’s true that it was just put together on the spot, that only makes it more brilliant.
If Lennon had been interviewed a week later, he might have given completely different answers. His praise for Something might have been a way of dismissing McCartney's contributions.
And, of course, he doesn't mention that Come Together was plagiarized, stolen from Chuck Berry. That cost the Beatles a bit of money, and Lennon agreed to perform Berry's original in concert.
So it was just the one line “Here come old flattop he come movin’ up slowly”. It was more of a quote than a rip off. They had to pay as you said.
And the music. Berry's tempo is faster. McCartney recognized it immediately, and warned Lennon before the recording was released.
One line was appropriated from Chuck Berry’s You Can’t Catch Me, and was so re-contextualized that it hardly seems like stealing. Also, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer is a pretty bad song.
Whether or not Maxwell's Silver Hammer is a bad song is not justiciable.
Pretty sure it cost Lennon a lot more than it did the other three.
Did the patchwork nature of the Medley surprise you? Hell, I was 9 when it came out and I realized this was just the guys mashing a bunch of songs together and seeing how they fit. Doesn't mean the likes of "Sun King" or "Golden Slumbers" are any less magnificent.
Also, don't forget that Lennon wrote "The Word" (it's love, you know) and "All You Need is Love" so it's not like he was completely shut off to the concept. Just ask Yoko.
Maxwell's Silver Hammer is indeed a terrible song.
As for Side Two: the live version with orchestra and chorus shows it was one of the supreme achievements of Western Civilization:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y97NhMlHSvQ
I don't think there is any 'brutal truth'. Musical innovation is often unrecognisable as it happens. I heard a session musician from the recording of Astral Weeks relate how he only found out Astral Weeks was a cult album 20 years later. It was just another day's work to him.
Hey, you are cruel to Ringo. He went on to have a bunch of good songs with his band. “It don’t come Easy” is a great song. Apologize to Ringo.
Great overview. Thanks for putting it together. BTW the way, one thing that’s been said about George being in jeans in the photo is that he represented The Grave Digger
I hated Maxwell’s Silver Hammer too
I don’t understand the Peter Cook reference.
Thanks for this insight. There was a Playboy interview with John long ago where he detailed every song and the contributions of him vs. Paul. I've never been able to find it again.
Sometimes a work of art is profound even though the artist had no intention or thought as to its deep meaning.
Interesting history and information on an interesting album. Thank you.