SHOCK REUNION: RINGO AND MACCA TEAM UP AGAIN! (But Not How You Think)
The Continuing Saga of the Fab Four's Legacy in Today's Pop Culture Landscape
McCartney and Starr join forces for animated film adaptation of Paul's children's book
Swedish student band may have inspired the iconic Sgt. Pepper cover art three years before its creation
Keith Richards lambasts Sgt. Pepper as a "mishmash of rubbish" as fans debate cover versions that outshine Beatles originals
Well, well, well... what have we here? Sir Paul and Ringo together again? Before you start dusting off your mop-top wigs and Cuban-heeled boots, I should mention they're not hitting the studio for a new Abbey Road session, more's the pity.
Variety has revealed the voice cast for the animated adaptation of Macca's children's book "High in the Clouds," and our Ringo will be lending his distinctive Liverpudlian tones to the production. Rather splendid news, wouldn't you say?
The 3D animated film will also feature a veritable smorgasbord of talent including Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, Hannah Waddingham, Idris Elba, Jimmy Fallon, and interestingly enough, Himesh Patel – who you may recall portrayed a musician in a world where the Beatles never existed in that rather clever film "Yesterday." Talk about coming full circle, eh?
The tale follows a teenage squirrel named Wirral (a sly nod to the Merseyside peninsula, naturally) battling against a tyrannical owl called Gretsch who's banned music. One doesn't need to be a graduate of the University of Obvious Metaphors to spot the parallels to certain aspects of the music industry there, does one?
McCartney penned the original book with Philip Ardagh back in 2005, and Toby Genkel (of "The Amazing Maurice" fame) will direct, with our Macca providing original songs. Michael Giacchino, who composed the score for "Coco," will handle the musical heavy lifting alongside Paul. Splendid credentials all round.
Speaking of interesting Beatles connections, have you heard about the Swedish brass band that may have inadvertently inspired the iconic Sgt. Pepper cover? I nearly spat out my Earl Grey when I came across this little tidbit.
It seems a student brass band called Mercblecket from the Stockholm School of Economics created an EP titled "Mercblecket Beats the Beatles" in 1964 – a full three years before the seminal Beatles album. The cover featured the cheeky Swedes dressed in marching band uniforms posed around a bass drum – sound familiar?
According to American Songwriter, Roger Wallis (a British-born musician who was part of the group) actually met Paul McCartney when the Beatles returned to Stockholm in July 1964 and gave him a copy of the EP. Pure coincidence? Perhaps. But it does make one wonder if that image had been tucked away in Macca's subconscious, only to resurface during that fateful flight back to London when he conceived the Sgt. Pepper concept.
Of course, many Beatles scholars would argue the Sgt. Pepper cover had far more specific references and allusions. But one can't help but raise an eyebrow at the similarities. It's rather like discovering Shakespeare got the idea for Romeo and Juliet from watching an amateur production in Stratford, isn't it?
Meanwhile, the perennial debate about which Beatle felt most sidelined continues to rumble on like a parliamentary session that's gone on too long. CheatSheet.com reminds us how Ringo briefly quit during the White Album sessions, feeling "virtually ignored" according to Hunter Davies, the band's only authorised biographer.
It's a poignant reminder of the complex dynamics that existed within the group. Even as the perceived "fourth Beatle," Starr's contributions were vital – his distinctive drumming style became the rhythmic backbone of their sound. When he temporarily left, the remaining three quickly realised his importance, sending him a telegram declaring: "You're the best rock'n'roll drummer in the world. Come on home, we love you." Upon his return, they even decorated his drum kit with flowers. Rather touching, that.
In other news, Rolling Stone Keith Richards has once again demonstrated his talent for the colourful turn of phrase, describing Sgt. Pepper as a "mishmash of rubbish." Pot, kettle, black, one might suggest, given the Stones' own psychedelic copycat effort "Their Satanic Majesties Request."
Richards told Esquire in 2015: "Some people think it's a genius album, but I think it's a mishmash of rubbish, kind of like Satanic Majesties – 'Oh, if you can make a load of shit, so can we.'" One can almost hear the sardonic chuckle with which he delivered that line.
Despite his disdain, Richards acknowledged that without the Beatles, the Rolling Stones might never have become the titans they are today. He recalls the first time the Fab Four came to watch the Stones play at The Station Hotel in Richmond in late 1962: "I'm thinking 'fuck me, look who's here'. This was just after 'Love Me Do'... I was like 'oh god, they've come to check us out man'."
Interestingly, he claims the bands would collaborate to ensure their single releases didn't clash: "We would collaborate with each other to stop us going head to head because then outside you'll have to be a Beatles fan or a Stones fan like it would never twain which is bullshit." A far cry from the manufactured rivalry the press so loved to tout, it seems.
Even John Lennon himself wasn't above criticising Sgt. Pepper. According to Far Out Magazine, he once stated: "I actively dislike bits... which didn't come out right. There are bits in Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds I don't like. Some of the sound in Mr Kite isn't right." Coming from the chap who wrote those songs, that's rather like Michelangelo complaining about the Sistine Chapel ceiling, isn't it?
Meanwhile, Beatles fans have been engaged in that most enjoyable of musical pastimes – debating which cover versions of Beatles songs might actually surpass the originals. A recent Reddit thread in the r/TheBeatles subreddit posed the question, and Stevie Wonder's rendition of "We Can Work It Out" received particular praise, with one fan commenting it simply "hits different!"
Joe Cocker's versions of "With a Little Help From My Friends" and "She Came In Through the Bathroom Window" also received high marks. One user suggested the live version of the latter from "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" is "the greatest version of that song ever." High praise indeed.
U2's live cover of "Helter Skelter" apparently "makes me forget to breathe," according to one enthusiastic fan. Given Bono's tendency to pontificate between songs, one wonders if that's due to the performance or simply holding one's breath hoping he doesn't launch into another speech about saving the world.
In a more offbeat selection, Chumbawamba's take on "Her Majesty" was highlighted for its clever extension of the brief Abbey Road outro. Perhaps not the first band one associates with Beatles covers, but there you have it – the Fab Four's influence truly knows no bounds.
On a more personal note, a new documentary titled "Miss O'Dell" chronicles the remarkable career of Chris O'Dell, who began working at the Beatles' Apple Corps in 1968 after a chance encounter with Derek Taylor in Los Angeles. O'Dell had a front-row seat to Beatles history – she sang on "Hey Jude," witnessed their final rooftop performance, and was even present at George Harrison's house when the news broke that Paul had quit the band.
"I came down for breakfast and every newspaper was on the table, saying: 'Paul quits,'" she recalls. "It felt so abrupt and so unexpected. George went out in the garden, because that's where he went for his peace. That afternoon, John came over and he and George spent quite a long time walking together."
Her fascinating career extended well beyond the Beatles – she worked with the Rolling Stones during the "Exile on Main St" sessions (even appearing on the album artwork), managed tours for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue, and later Queen and Led Zeppelin.
George Harrison even wrote a song about her – "Miss O'Dell," which became the B-side to "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)." One can only imagine how it must feel to be immortalised in song by a Beatle. Rather better than being mentioned in a tax audit, I should think.
O'Dell eventually left the music industry to become a therapist working with people with addictions after battling her own substance issues. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of her career was being a pioneering woman in the male-dominated world of tour management. As she proudly notes: "I worked with over 21 bands. That is something to be quite proud of – being the first woman to really operate in the music world on the road. I can look back and say, 'That was a good legacy.'" Indeed it is, my dear. Indeed it is.
In another fascinating insight into Lennon's post-Beatles journey, Far Out Magazine discusses how his 1973 album "Mind Games" represented a transition "between being a manic political lunatic to back to being a musician again," as Lennon himself put it. After the overtly political "Some Time in New York City," which Lennon felt had alienated parts of his fanbase, "Mind Games" saw him return to a more melodic approach.
"I had enough of this trying to be deep and think... 'Why can't I have some fun??' And my idea of fun with music was to sing. Sing anything," Lennon explained. While songs like "Bring on The Lucie (Freeda People)" still touched on political themes, there was a noticeable shift back towards more accessible material.
The album also marked the beginning of Lennon's separation from Yoko Ono and his infamous "lost weekend" period. Despite the personal turmoil, "Mind Games" represented a musical step forward and prevented Lennon from becoming, as the article puts it, "a one-trick pony" with his political material.
In a rather more acerbic assessment, Van Morrison once dismissed the Beatles as "peripheral," claiming, "If you had more knowledge about music, it didn't really mean anything. To me, it was meaningless." One suspects Sir Paul might have a thing or two to say about that, given half the chance.
Morrison, who was making music with his group Them when the Beatles emerged, may have harboured some resentment at the Fab Four's astronomical success compared to his own more modest achievements at the time. Of course, he went on to create the magnificent "Astral Weeks," so perhaps it all balanced out in the end.
Even the legendary Leonard Bernstein had his say on the Beatles, though with considerably more appreciation than Morrison: "Only think of the sheer originality of a Beatles tune," he noted. Coming from one of the 20th century's most revered composers, that's rather like having Picasso compliment your doodle, isn't it?
So there we have it, dear readers – another day, another chapter in the ongoing Beatles saga. Nearly sixty years after they first took the world by storm, they continue to fascinate, inspire, and occasionally baffle us. Not bad for four lads from Liverpool who just wanted to make music, eh?
Until tomorrow, then. I'll be back with more news from the wonderful world of the Fab Four. In the meantime, let us know which Beatles cover you think surpasses the original – though be prepared for a vigorous debate if you dare suggest anyone improved upon "A Day in the Life."
Cheerio!