Eavesdropping on the BEATLES, Exposing Let It Be Narratives |
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- Опубліковано 28 тра 2024
- In this continuation of eavesdropping on the Beatles Get Back / Let It Be sessions, we hear Yoko Ono's outspokenness and John's withdrawing from discussions regarding the Beatles live show. John & Yoko's herion use, Ringo's contributions, and Paul's acceptance of Yoko are all discussed in this video. Mark Lewisohn offers some valuable commentary on these sessions as well as do Michael Lindsay Hogg and George Martin.
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The rooftop was the ultimate solution. They didn’t have to go anywhere, make any outside arrangements, schedule, or “appear” in front of anyone yet they were able to perform to a huge live audience in the heart of one of the worlds greatest cities. Simple and brilliant.
it was a compromise and concession to the needs of the film. I wouldn't call it a 'huge audience'. Maybe a few hundred surprised, confused, irritated or thrilled Londoners (depending on who they were).
As interesting as it was I wish they had done it in Hyde Park for the public....like large concerts in Central Park, NYC. Then their fans could have seen them instead of just heard them from the streets below or watched a few years later on film.
And it meant they didn’t have one specific demographic watching, too.
You are right. It was perfect!
@@KeizerHedorah But Jefferson Airplane were not the Beatles. They couldn't check by googling rooftop concerts back in the day.
it's amazing how mature and refined Paul sounds at 27 years of age. One would think that being a Beatle would result in arrested development.
Sixes& Sevens 6 days ago
John Lennon " I've made a huge mistake "
@Sixes& Sevens He shouldn't talk about Yoko like that! ;)
Well realize how much they went through starting at a very young age. They did more in a few years then most could do in 10 lifetimes. What is amazing is none of them died of a drug overdose. They all seemed older and more mature then their ages so you have to wonder if their insanely busy lifestyle contributed. As well the level of writing in some of their songs are astounding for kids in their 20's.
@@whichgodofthousandsmeansno5306 Many people from that time are amazed they did not die. They walked a line as many young people with a little money do. It can come down to luck. Jim Morrison talked about every day being an adventure like spinning a wheel and hope you live another day to do it again. Not spinning the wheel was not living life that day to it's fullest in his perception. Does anyone think Jim Morrison ever did anything worse than Keith Richards did at the same age? Life is a lot about dumb luck or bad luck.
Hey that’s the name of the show.
He was 26.
I still to this day refuse to believe that Yoko never heard of The Beatles before meeting John. Paul has got an heart of gold!
Gold diggers play ignorant, that's for sure
@@carlosvelasquez9007 You don't even know Yoko herself is from a very rich family. Her dynasty is well-known in Japan.
@@alexandrebenois7962 this is true but she's still full of it. She definitely heard of them and was playing dumb to seem cool, and if she truly didn't know of them then she must be an ignoramus of the highest magnitude who never read a newspaper, magazine or watched a single television newscast. Btw she met John in London of all places putting on a show, so that is even more of a red flag alluding to her ever pretentious bs.
@@alexandrebenois7962 you mean only poor girls are gold diggers?? Have you heard of rich girls marrying poor guys ??? 😂
Absolutely, she knew exactly what she was doing she's a very calculating women. People are saying after watching Get Back Yoko had nothing to do with the break up but she was speaking for John in the artistic & the business meetings that's why the first meeting with George after he walked out didn't go well Yoko was speaking instead of John. She knew everything about the Beatles yes John was in love but she definitely played him & reeled him in.
Paul, as the bad bossy guy has been so largely overblown it appears. He’s hard working, considerate of John and Yoko and self aware- all while trying to keep it together for everyone involved. Thanks for sharing, this is great. Or “Grrrrrrrrrreeeaaaaaateee” if you prefer
The whole "McCartney is an a*hole/bad guy/etc" to me was a myth. I believe another video in this series debunked that. I and tons of us grew up with that belief. It wasn't till the Anthology series that my mind changed about him. Lennon was always the victim; George wanted out; McCartney the overreacher; and Ringo trying to be the diplomat. All myths passed down for decades. While there are elements of truth in all this, they are not the be all conclusions we all know.
Paul is putting up with crazy Yoko and having to jam with her screaming like a madwoman. Amazing patience on his part.
She did absolutely nothing to make that period anything the others would even remotely be fond of
There's audio of Yoko demanding a microphone, then screaming the word John over and over again. For TWENTY MINUTES. I only made it through 10 and I couldn't take it. All the while, Paul is playing piano, and does not say a single word. I seriously cannot believe someone didn't strangle her on the spot.
@@jacenoley2597She sang like a sick cat; Idk how John thought she was so great. I think of her as a not so attractive wack job.
I love how you get right to the info, no flashy intro, no long drawn out "here's what I'm gonna talk about, no "smash that like button." Just great info.
I appreciate you recognizing this. I try not to be like every other youtuber, using the current social media vernacular. I like to keep these to a reasonable length and condense to give the most meat on the bone as possible! Thank you, David!
I find Paul's behavior in this era interesting. Obviously he's kind of bossy, which annoys the other Beatles, but he's also self-aware and deliberately diplomatic. I've seen that in other videos as well. I don't think it was really him wanting to take over the group and telling the others what to do, but rather him just being more into it and trying to push the others to keep up.
Paul may have discovered that he got nowhere by ordering people around, but he couldn't work his magic in that setting AND he didn't encourage anyone to be particularly great.
@@Pimp-Master Look at it like this. Paul would have been happy to defer to any comments made by John, George and Ringo, but when they wouldn't speak up, he wasn't going to let Yoko and the Director be the only ones making suggestions. It also appears to me as though John, George and Ringo had no motivation to do anything at all. It was amazing how well they played on the roof, given their ambivalent attitude in this discussion.
It wasn"t Paul. It was replacement Paul!
@@talkcat10 Bossy Billy Shears
@@talkcat10 🙄
Putting up with Yoko shows how much they cared about John and each other. I don't know how they did it.
This is a good point, Randy. Many of us have experienced "a girlfriend" entering the inner sanctum of a guy group and it takes some grace to deal with it properly. I think the Beatles did okay in handling this situation, all things considered.
@@popgoesthe60s52 The (good) artistic input she instinctively gave would I'm sure have figured into their acceptance of her being around, I can't see it 'all' merely to appease John, Paul's no fool, I'm sure if her ideas were mostly redundant he'd have pushed more against her presence but whatever your opinion of her (and mine isn't overall that favourable) you can't deny she has a good nose and ear for feel, like her pushing for the more delicate piano for Imagine or suggesting how do you sleep loses the slug and spanks more
The fact is, it was Yoko’s poetry that inspired Imagine and her activism that seeded John’s political awakening. She was an artist in her own right and she’s put up with a lot of BS because she wasn’t the dumb blonde sitting meekly off to the side. She’s a strong person and to really appreciate that, you have to remember that she got involved with John before the feminist movement took root and a mere 25 years after WWII when the Japanese were still hated for being on the enemy side. That she sits confidently among the Beatles and offers her own ideas took courage and that’s what I think rankles her detractors the most.
@@DJ-bj8ku She spent a year stalking John (in a scary way). I can appreciate her intellect and admire her as a feminist. I think John picked a loser as an artist. I'm sure he loved her, but she isolated him from his family and friends, especially Paul, and she stifled his creativity. On the whole, I wish he would have met someone else. If you watch the Get Back sessions, John only looks genuinely happy when he's playing music with Paul. With Yoko he looks withdrawn and miserable. Oh, and she got him hooked on heroin, there's that little detail.
The real question is, why did John feel that they should accept her to begin with? It just shows you how self-centered the man really was. Saying he became a drug addict because the other three didn't treat her as an equal. Why would they? Why should they? I just don't get what he expected or what he thought he deserved. I can't believe they let her on the album covers for those singles. I don't even disagree with what Yoko is saying in the video. I just have a problem with the audacity of vocalizing it
Well, Yoko did eat George's biscuits 😂
And sit on an amp!
Guess you didn't hear the audition she did that was partially on this video. That's enough to kill any band. Even The Beatles.
Once Yoko started singing, it's time to bring back George.
She was the Andy Kaufman of her time.
While Yoko’s ideas aren’t bad-Pink Floyd would famously play to an empty amphitheater in their Live at Pompeii film a few years later-she sometimes comes off as dismissive or condescending while discussing them. At the same time, though, one can also mentally cast her in the role of a consultant, an outside artist who is bringing her experiences and opinions to contribute to the discussion of how to present this art piece. I think that’s exactly what Paul was doing.
She has credibility and offers substance. However, her voice in these matters is probably one voice too many. If she is "speaking for John," that must have took some getting used to. More on this topic to come in my next video! Thanks for the comment about the Pompeii film, Garrett!
Yoko's screeching caused the Beatles break up
Paul worked exactly the same way with Robert Fraser in regards to St. Pepper. Robert put the entire visual side together, brought in Peter Blake, generally gave it its intellectual underpinnings. Robert Fraser & Christopher Gibbs are the unsung inspirations for much of the change behind both the Beatles and the Stones around this time. These are the chaps who enlightened them to their possibilities in a variety of disciplines.
Yoko is actually super bright in the flesh, nobody ignores what she has to contribute. She is years ahead of both Lindsay Hogg and George Martin in this conversation when thinking about their image and how to present it. Its an English thing but there is a deal of "englishness" or a "class based" element to this conversation too. Its very '60's oddly. It seems a bit Paul being stuck up to do the talking, but this was one of the things that interested him and he was good at. He brought Fraser in, it changed their lives. John deliberately doesn't interject because he doesn't have to. No need to back Yoko up because she's not an interfering girlfriend; she's a famous conceptual artist who hangs with the best and the brightest London has to offer, giving the benefit of her opinion which is welcomed with respect, nobody talks over her. And its a strong idea which prompts discussion.
Read "Groovy Bob" by Harriet Vyner for some insight on who everyone was hanging around with at the time, and how they influenced the scene. No groovy Bob, no India for George, no Morocco for the Stones, no Mars Bar Bust and no transcendence from pop groups to artists for the ages.
Its on Amazon and worth a read.
@@zeldafan9016 No. it's cause she sat on an amp
@@lukemacducci hahaha
You can't wait for the new Get Back movie? I know. Me too.
I've been waiting for what seems like forever for it, and the supposed LET IT BE DVD re-mastered.
I'm excited for it, but it seems like they're going to go out of the way to show that they were getting along great and to dispel the idea that they were constantly fighting
It's been forever
@@090nj2 Yes, it's been forever, and a day.
I can't wait to see it, but the fact that many people are going to accuse Paul of revisionism AGAIN makes me less excited the more I think about it.
Amazing, I see why George didn’t care for her.
I remember George telling the story of how she ate all his biscuits that he brought to for a recording session and George shouted inside his head, "That Bitch! She ate all my biscuits!" It was a small gesture of inconsiderate behavior that broke the camel's back for him.
She's an obnoxious, self serving person, and bizzarely cocky.
That screeching would drive me up a wall. I get the artsy thing. But, I'm not playing guitar behind that awful racket.
John was shot Five times one bullet miss
yoko knew@@williamdentino3052
Ringo is the ideal drummer. As drummers we have to feel each instruments part, the dynamics of multiple instrumentation, vocals. The hilarious jibber jabbing and joking around or strong opinions of a song direction. I am a psychoanalyst behind drums at rehearsals . I hear all sides then all of a sudden I say something to positively motivate the project forward. ✌️🥁❤️🇨🇦
I am sure Yoko has performed to many empty chairs....
But, that may have been the crux of her 'concept'.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!
😅😅🤣
@@waynej2608
Exactly!!!
She could empty out a 20,000 seat theater. I don't know about filling it.
Letting Yoko into the studio proves John was not the leader of the Beatles as its clearly disruptive to the band; it was an ego play. Leaders don't do this. Kudos to the rest of the band; especially Paul-- for putting up with it as long as they did. Instant karmas' gonna get you indeed.
I'm trying to imagine how awful it would be for my creative partner to have her husband show up in meetings and speak for her. Feeling angry and disgusted with my partner for pulling this shite while also trying to placate her and her spouse so things don't deteriorate even further. Having to listen to her husband's weird ideas after several years of a close working creative partnership. Her husband screeching loudly while the rest of us are trying to get work done. I get the feeling John was trying to punish Paul for his creative ascendency in the group. And Paul is being as civil as humanly possible under the circumstances, trying his best to keep things together.
You make an excellent point about 'punishing Paul.' Though John never admitted this to my knowledge, his actions and words in the early 70s certainly punished Paul. You'll get to hear Paul's opinions in my next video on this topic, so stay tuned!
@@popgoesthe60s52 Great! I'm loving these videos. So great to hear from them directly.
@@popgoesthe60s52 Paul is on record saying John wrote Jealous Guy as an apology to him.
@@loosilu I didn't know that - thanks!
@@popgoesthe60s52 In India, JOhn and Paul both attended a lecture avout being nature's children. Paul wrote a song called Mother Nature's Son, and John wrote a song called Child of Nature, which was the exact same melody as Jealous Guy. I'm pretty sure there is a demo on YT with the original lyrics. He rewrote the lyrics to make it into Jealous Guy. I personally believe that rewriting lyrics to that tune was a deliberate nod to their shared experience. Their relationship was extremely intense and complicated.
Even though vocally silent, Ringo would have had to have been really "locked in" during those LIB sessions. Since they seemingly dragged on for a while, to be "present" for the group, and the songs, etc. Ringo would have had to keep track of the proceedings, especially in his head. When the tracks were being put down, Ringo knew what the arrangements were. Essentially, just being "Ringo" was a very important part of his job in the Beatles. He was an "anchor." You had Paul and John as the big "egos" (rightly so) and George going through his own turmoil, so, where the music was concerned, Ringo had to be almost as reliable as pressing the "play" button.
Ringo was one of the most underrated, and even maligned musicians in popular music.
I always loved his playing, and his drum roll intro to She Loves You always put a chill up my spine.
But I first had a real appreciation for Ringo after I got into Classical music in the late 1960s.
I started noticing how Classical percussionists did not just hold down the beat or add fast flourishes like most Rock drummers. They treated their instruments like any other musicians in the orchestra - focusing on the tone and inserting well thought out parts that add compositionally to the overall piece.
Starting at least with Revolver, you can hear Ringo taking the same approach. I suspect part of it was a result of the growth they all made when they began concentrating on strictly studio work, and the songs became more sophisticated both musically and thematically. The White album is a really good example of Ringo at his finest, even though he was extremely self critical,, depressed and claims his playing was "shit".
Or - maybe should have called Ringo 'out' & done a gig without him if film work was so important to his career, would have changed history!
You hit the nail right on the head Mark! Ringo wasn't a 'lovable dolt' as movies such as "A Hard Day's Night' projected him to be. Whenever The Beatles would go off into some kind of endless jam, it was Ringo who steered them into other waters. In Geoff Emerick's book, he said that he never found Ringo to be 'funny or lovable.' he said that he was very quiet and a bit nasty. I can understand the nasty part at times, because what an enormous responsibility to attempt to keep the two giant egos of Lennon and McCartney in check.
I can't believe Yoko is chiming in and John is saying nothing. She had him wrapped around her finger.
Or he was strung out on heroin.
@@renemies78 That’s probably more like it.
or vice versa
He probably couldn't be bothered to chip in to the conversation. Or... off his head !
On the nod
Don't get me wrong!!! It's clear John and Yoko were in love, but you just don't need someone like that in the studio. I've been in a number of groups and we always had a no partners rule, especially when recording and rehearsing but I feel it may also be important on the road too.
So it’s ok to have Billy Preston but not Yoko? Someone like that?
@@anthonyfrancis2374 billy preston was a fantastic musician,who’s keyboards on get back alone were worth him being there.
Meanwhile yoko -*screaching noises*
@@johnnysmith5770 * yawn *
Who on Gods earth would put Billy Preston and Yoko in the same musical universe?
What’s next?
Maybe Yoko should have cut the solo on While my guitar gently weeps instead of Clapton?🤯
Lennon must have been a strung out junkie to bring a bitch to Beatles rehearsal.
One of the others should have slapped some sense into him.👍🥃
@@anthonyfrancis2374 Preston wasn't anyone's girlfriend. That's what is meant by partners.
This was such a rich period in Beatles history. Its a shame so many have tried to put a negative spin on it. Your discussions are great for telling it like it really was. Keep 'em coming.
The negative spin came from the Beatles themselves in all of their post interviews. I would imagine how they described it was how it really was.
Thank you, Paul! More to come.
@@randykirby2866 I'm referring to the editorialization about the so-called feuding that was going on during the period. That's the stuff that has been exaggerated over the years by revisionists and the original Let It Be film edit. The negative has been grossly over-emphasized and very little has been said about the positives. Yes, the band was not happy at Twickenham, but The Beatles all have said that once they returned to Abbey Road everything seemed to normalize. Film and audio from the second half of January 1969 supports this.
@@fittobetiedyed5315 I get that and you couldn’t be more right about the film but in interviews Lennon and Harrison both seem to describe it as a negative experience. Probably somewhere in between I guess. Maybe like McCartney they would have a different view about it now. Unfortunately will never know.
@@randykirby2866 McCartney also describes it as a negative experience. He grew the beard because he was deeply depressed and couldn't be bothered to shave. Ringo found it so negative he quit the band first. But we have to separate that from the music. The majority of time in studio was just hanging out, there was jamming and waiting around. Whwn they were playing music together, they were happy and laughing. But you know how it is. Just one blowout can ruin your experience.
Love these let it be videos. Can't wait for peter jackson
8:33 - Actually, Yoko and Paul are showing simillar ideas, it was already decided that they were not going abroad to do a live show and Hogg still kept pushing it several times every day because he wanted scenery and atmosphere and artsy stuff. Ringo solidly said no to travelling. He'd be acting in a film soon, he's not one for doing lots of travelling. Yoko's ideas got annoying at times, but this lighter point of discussions was more Paul and Yoko still trying to get through to Hogg that the live show most likely is not going to be him getting his own way about it. Even George felt like an audience of only 10 people was fine, close to Yoko's 0, and far from Hoggs large audience. John was sometimes high and even puking away from the cameras some of these early January sessions. He almost puked while being interviewed during a session break.
You clearly stopped watching at 8:33
Paul seems genuinely intrigued by the idea of empty chairs as an artistic statement. But then realizes that the whole ting is moot b/c they will not be playing an amphitheatre. That decision is made.
Love the word of wisdom from George Martin.
Let it be
George Martin was also brilliant. Amazing his talent and the Beatles. Incredible!!!!!
Father Martin looking over gently.
John and Yoko had a co-de pendent relationship, Yoko was John's missing mother figure resolving his childhood issues. Bringing that into a concentrated male bonded friendship could only end one way. But the Beatles were always going to end, so blaming Yoko is just unpleasant. John needed boundaries with Yoko but was psychologically unable due to his trauma.
If any of us would´ve had the absolute audacity to have brought something like Yoko to a practice session, the offender would´ve been drawn and quartered forthwith.
I find the Yoko quotes very interesting and much of the comments people made were very enlightening, critical, yet most were civil. I think her ideas show her true artistic sense which is much different from singer-songwriters, even at the level of the Beatles. I love/hate her as much as anyone, but I'm softening to her point of view as a purely avante-garde artist, which is much different from the band, despite their forays into creative music production. Another thing I love about this is that they were very kind to each other and seemed reasonable throughout. Can you imagine the pressure on them, being the biggest band ever??
Well, while Yoko _Oh No!_ may not the sole reason of The Beatles broke up, she's definetely play part of it and speed up the process.
The Beatles studio session is 'sacred', that even Brian Eipstein didn't dare to disrupt them when they did their mojo.
No wonder George Harrisson was so mad at her. George already had to contend with playing second fiddle to Paul and John, now he's relegated further to third with Yoko's presence and disruptive behaviour.
Love these videos man. You're exactly what Beatles fans are looking for on UA-cam dude.
Thank you, Erick! More to come.
The thing that strikes me most about this, is that the three people whose ideas are most closely aligned are Paul's, George's, and Yoko's. They're all on the same page about the form the potential concert might take.
Paul and George were also the ones who didn't want to do the rooftop concert. John saying he wanted to do it wasn't enough, but the second Ringo said he wanted to do it too, Paul immediately took notice and became open to it.
Why did Yoko feel that she should be pitching ideas?
She was talking for John
@@jk4675 she did that A LOT didn't she
Woman moment
She was a reasonably well known creative artist at the time, and a confident personality who in many ways was stronger emotionally than John. She had the confidence to speak up and make artistic suggestions.
@@zargonthemagnificent330 That's nice that she's confident in herself. She shouldn't be offering ideas when she's not even a musician. If she's as smart as some people like to believe she should be intelligent enough to see how her presence was having a negative effect.
Also your voice is so soothing. Love watching these videos and the insight you bring to it. Amazing stuff
Thank you, Pepe! More to come.
I agree. This is one of the reasons I watch as well.)
@@popgoesthe60s52 Yes, you should do some ASMR videos talking about music :-)
6:20 I wonder if Pink Floyd were listening in and thinking “hey let’s do a gig in Pompeii!!“ 🤣
Ironically, both Pink Floyd & The Beatles were recording @ Abbey Road during this period. You may be on to something. 😏
Drug abuse affects not just performance. A person becomes much more unreliable in action, character and growth.
Let’s face it, yoko was a clown show
The Beatles were it musically. We loved what they did for our generations. We loved the culture and trends they developed or expanded on. The brilliance of the Beatles had every great musician doing a cover of theirs. They were the greatest ever!
Yoko was the root canal the Beatles maybe needed? She's definitely a pain.
John used Yoko as a weapon against the others. Very passive-aggressive.
She got all the shit and hate when it was him that wanted to leave the band.
Supposedly Yoko did not know who John Lennon was in 1966, and now she's an expert on the Beatles
Exactly! Tells you all you need to know about that situation.
Love your work. Thanks! (every time Yoko says "you know" have a drink)
You would be unconscious in 10 minutes. She says “you know” in almost every sentence in the many times I have heard her speak over the last 40 years. It is annoying to hear, you know.
But,...she inspired "You Know My Name"......
@@johnsain GREAT song! (and Ballad of John and Yoko) AND the greatest, most honest, most vulnerbale love song ever written. "Love" by John Lennon.
@@spockboy And she co-wrote "Imagine" and sang and squealed on the White Album....Yoko for the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame!
@@johnsain Whoa, I don't believe she wrote ANYTHING. Her musical abilities were at the same level as a wounded seal.
Can't believe Yoko was the inspiration for the Demon sounds in Ghosts n' Goblins. Crazy.
As much as I've tried, it's just impossible for me to like Yoko.
Yoko has mastered the art of having ZERO self awareness.
Maybe she was aware but just stopped caring. Being self aware is good but can be quite crippling if you’re second guessing everything you say and the way you say it.
@@George-jk6hb She was delusional thinking she had any sort of talent.
@@mikewest6569 ...and had any business giving advice to The Beatles
@@mikewest6569 In her world, talent or music in general, is up to the consumer, the interpreter. That was the point of those early collab albums.
@@rapabsinthe786 She sold 5 records her whole life. nobody bought that shit.
Great job, I have enjoyed it.
If they had allowed those Yoko screams to be included on the Let It Be album, it might have destroyed their legacy forever 🤣.
Thank God they didn't.
They’re one of my favorite bands but come on they had Wild Honey Pie which I would argue is just as unbearable to listen to even if it’s extremely short lol
Thanks again for enriching our understanding of who the Beatles were during January of ‘69. Your videos are not just fun trivia, rather they deepen our understanding of who the Beatles were as people, which for me deepens my appreciation of their music. One thought, apropos of nothing... I wonder what the John Lennon of 1963 or ‘64 would have thought if he could have seen himself in the future in that interview in January of 1969???
Thank you. It's amazing how all of this interesting information has been ignored. I'm glad to unveil it to a wide audience. Thanks for the comment!
Yoko Ono's ideas were actually pretty intriguing, coming from the happenings perspective...she was trying to find some interesting way to transcend the celebrity status of the group, and the tried-and-true approach of previous performances.
I know!! I loved the ideas
Not only that, Paul was agreeing with her!
Not only that her vocals are great!
Small correction to the subtitles: Yoko didn’t say the Beatles have an audience in every part of the world, she said, “in every heart in the world.” It doesn’t change the overall gist of what she’s saying, but is a much more “Yoko” thought.
She’s in England, she dropped her “H’s”. Lol.
Thank you for debunking some of those tired Beatles narratives. The whole Get Back was disastrous from the get go, The Beatles were unprepared for live concert. It's very clear to me that there was tension on the band, considering the short amount of time they had until the show.
The rooftop concert was excellent. Unprepared?
@@exessex3522 It was, but they only played 4 or 5 songs so it wasn’t exactly a concert. The original idea was to perform a new album in it’s entirety to an audience but they were not prepared to do that.
Came back to this after watching Get Back. They cut out a bunch of audio (that was present here) for the Get Back final edit, including and especially Yoko’s input during the conversation about the logistics of their gig.
Yes, I was disappointed to see none of the controversial Ono stuff. That was part of the story and Jackson decided to keep it out. He said he had no pressure to add or subtract so why omit this?
@@popgoesthe60s52 Yes, with eight hours of Get Back, one could certainly think other parts could have been omitted, and Yoko's audio from this bit included. It provides more insight into Yoko than the countless scenes of her just sitting there. I believe Linda got more audio time than Yoko. Jackson did an incredible job, but it sure appears to be a form of protection.
I think this is excellent and highlights that Yoko was listened to and made good points.
How did they go,...in 5 years, from the height of Beatlemania, with the pop music that will live forever,......to Yoko wailing in the studio?
Burnt out and ready to disband...
@@Cryo837 Exactly, or they needed a very long vacation rest at least a yr or2
....I find it Interesting That John Lennon Did not say A Word ......!
The annoying part is of course Yoko. The most interesting part to me is how the best businesspeople in the room (Paul and Yoko) are simpatico on a lot of this stuff. It's funny simply because - although I genuinely dislike the little screech queen - you can see the two best brains for business at work.
Actually, Yoko's idea wasn't all that bad (as annoying as her presence in the studio usually was).
@@zoznack , I agree and that's part of what I am saying. Paul had the best business mind of all the Beatles and Yoko's dad was a banker - so they both were very savvy.
@@danaarden8373 And Paul's inlaws were lawyers. But having relatives doesn't always make you as smart as they are ;)
@@curtb9567 , you are quite right - but history itself has proven that both Paul and Yoko were sharp business people.
@@danaarden8373 No doubt about that!
YES love these videos keep them coming with the narratives and stories for anything you can find behind recording sessions
You forgot to transcribe Paul's dismay, "Oh God," just after Yoko states "invisible nameless." Barely audible but it speaks volumes. 4:09
Damn, I'm sorry I missed that. Thank you, Sebastian.
Paul's idea about playing 2 nights - 1 "to silence" and 1 to "those chairs filled" is excellent. Imagine how they could cross-clip and create totally original suspense that way.
Good to see you're still rolling mister Williamson - already look forward to your in depth review of the comin' film.
That'll be something, won't it. .
They certainly could have made a great film from 2 separate shows. I wonder how Peter Jackson will approach showing the rooftop concert, since we've all seen it and presumably the best shots were already used? We'll find out.
Matt,
Once again, a great video presentation. Lennon’s Canadian interview footage about the “power” the Beatles had is fascinating. There are very few entertainers that could have been asked that question. The amount of pressure that Lennon (and the Beatles) were living under had to be overwhelming at that time. You can see the strain in his eyes and face. Over fifty years later, people still turn to the Beatles for answers to the questions of their lives. “Powerful” indeed! (Sincere thanks).
I've had a handful of viewers voice how put off they are at how Beatle fans pour over minutiae 50 years later. I guess people still find it fascinating. Thanks again for the comment, Scott!
this is literally my new favourite channel. I love listening to your videos! John was definitely high on heroin during that interview - the vomit half way through is an obvious sign. I myself have been addicted to morphine and heroin before - nausea is part n parcel with this type of drug. Of course he felt better afterwards. I feel more together after a heroin throw up. The main thing in my opinion (selfishly so, obviously) is to not judge people for doing this, and not buying into tired cliches that it necessarily makes you unable to contribute or keep things together. His voice is the main give away. There's a thing all opiate users will be aware of, which I dub the "opiate voice". That's what is on play during this interview. He was still able to make amazing music and talk to people in a way that'd be mostly considered normal. Is he intoxicated? Without a doubt. It doesn't change the amazing guy he was, or his productivity. And "Cold Turkey" is good proof that he knew the experience of being an opiate addict, and the eventual pain that will always result from such a disposition. I know these words to be very true - "I wish I was a baby.... I wish I was dead". Let's accept John for who he was, warts and all. He may not have been a consistent user throughout all of the 70's. but he experienced what it meant to be an opiate addict, and as much as I wish he hadn't. I'm personally glad to have music from a person from that perspective.
I appreciate the background and substantive comment. Some people can function on drugs - take Keith Richards in the studio in the Stones 1971-1973 period. I'm not sure how productive Lennon was on heroin but I will be delving into that and the 'Beatles And Drugs' topic in another video.
What stands out to me, is just how passive the Beatles are during the talks about the upcoming stage show. Yoko Ono, Michael Lindsay-Hogg, and George Martin are driving the discussion forward. The Beatles for all their musical creativity sound quite directionless. (So much for Paul being overbearing!) Perhaps this directionless was the source of dysfunction after the death of Brian Epstein. (Until Allen Klein appears. That is the video I am waiting for)
Excellent piece as always. I'm looking forward to your review of Riding So High.
I don't think that The Beatles were terrifically interested in, or spent a lot of time thinking about the films. They would react to other people's ideas and say what they didn't want - such as A Hard Day's Night not being like the usual Elvis type film, but when it came to positive control of the films they pretty much shrugged their shoulders. They weren't that keen on Help but didn't seem to offer any alternatives, they weren't that interested in Yellow Submarine and Magical Mystery Tour was a random mess thrown together largely by Paul just to give them something/anything to do together. The idea for Let It Be was a kind of minimal artlessness to fulfil a contract. "Show them rehearsing and then performing some sort of show somewhere" was about as complex as the plan got, and they couldn't even come up with a decent idea for where.
For me, the film arena was where they were the weakest. They were fortunate with the combination of Lester and Plater for A Hard Day's Night but otherwise it's slim pickings, with only a few great musical sequences in Help and Yellow Submarine being worthy of their overall talent.
Or the Beatles didn't care either way about some documentary.
I love this audios. It makes me feel like I’m there, and to understand better their personalities.
Excellent work on these videos. Can't wait for the next part.
I find the entire conversation fascinating. Thank you, truly, for presenting this to us.
Well done Matt. Interesting to hear discussion of playing to an empty venue/no audience as a conceptual idea knowing that this ultimately led to the rooftop. This choice now feels like a deliberate follow through on that concept rather than just the default solution to the predicament.
They really did get alot out of this. Originality....An album....a movie... rooftop concert...inside look in studio...and a closer look at their personalities.
Thanks for putting quality and effort into your productions. These videos are very enjoyable.
Great job on the video! Looking forward to your next one. That time period for the Beatles is so special. Thanks for the insight!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Crazy how paul was the most supportive of yokos ideas. Not what most people typically say.
Yes, and in my next video, you'll hear discussions about Yoko with neither her or John present, so stay tuned!
Very interesting....I appreciated hearing the conversation on the performance and the time frame for it given Ringo's film commitment.
I recall hearing on FM radio and I recollect it was the spring of 1969....the original mix and song ordering for 'Get Back' as it was bootlegged. I really liked it.
My disappointments are 1) Across the Universe was not their early 68 single as it clearly has stood out much more and been more memorable since then than Lady Madonna. It was John's turn for an 'A' side, clearly one his best songs...and 2) they did not release the Beatles 'Get Back' album as initially mixed and envisioned. When Let it Be finally came out, I was really disappointed - the remix of Across the Universe and other songs were in my opinion a travesty, and the result of the other songs not being produced by the usual 4 plus producer and engineer was just ...well 'very very disappointing.'
What you've been doing is very interesting. Enjoying this very much.
4:27 Yoko says "Every heart in the world."
Okay! Why wasn't this included in the Get Back doc?! They seemed to have conveniently left out what might have harmed Yoko Ono's image?! What are you thoughts on this?!
I agree with you. They avoided the entire conversation of Yoko pitching in ideas for the live show where John says nothing. This omission is curious to me and takes away from Yoko disturbing the sessions. The reason George leaves the meeting at Ringo's house was because Yoko was taking for John. She clearly disturbed the other three. After the first cut by Lindsay Hogg, 3 calls were placed the next morning to say there was too much Yoko in the film. Guess who those calls were from?
Well, remember that Jackson had to get Yoko's approval to release the documentary. I doubt she would have approved it if she had been shown in a truly bad light.
I like it, but want to hear more from Ringo.
Love this channel, keep up the great vids! You defiantly deserve more subs for the work you put in these vids.
Very good commentary. New characters: I think Yoko was so avant garde (in character) that she tried to be a catalyst...challenging the cohesiveness of the band as a whole. She seemed to like how she was able to get at the steering wheel and take a drive with the group's focus and thrust. In Geoff Emerick's book, "Here, There, & Everywhere" he mentions how Yoko disrupted the natural band environment to the point that when John, Paul, and George were going in studio to record their guitar solo parts for "The End", Yoko followed them with the intention to be there too. In this instance, John told her a "No"; and Emerick mentions that the three lads were as they once were, at the beginning of their career. As good friends.
Thanks for that Emerick comment regarding The End. I was glad to know that Lennon could separate from her when he needed to.
@@popgoesthe60s52 Too bad it didn't happen a lot more! Who knows... maybe there could have been another album after "Abbey Road"! I just know it would have also gone beyond our expectations. Thank you, again, for your outstanding critique and observations!
Fantastic--love all of these and they've been such a great addition as I've worked through these sessions myself. I find the exchange between McCartney and Yoko to be really interesting. She asks some compelling questions artistically, and he's so respectful of her ideas. I don't think it's just for show (though I agree with MLH that they are, in the parlance of today, just too damned privileged). But John's silence remains significant. I know that Ringo has alluded to a conversation with John where he explained his intentions in letting Yoko speak for him. Wish that was something we could hear Lennon himself explain. Their total togetherness has been spun in so many ways--as an act of controlling abuse, as an artistic statement, as a result of heroin, as paranoia after her miscarriages. Feel like we'll never know, as outsiders, the whole truth.
I don't expect to know the whole truth, but I can tell you I'm gonna get a hell of a lot closer to the truth than what previous journalists and biographers have offered us! Thanks for the comment, Phoebe.
Wow incredible it must have been wierd as fuck to put up with her plus Lennon saying nothing
Great video and I love how you present it. The bare conversations are extremely hard to follow without a transcript and even then, you find yourself reading ahead and missing bits. Excellent work, sir.
Much appreciated, David!
Yes, the transcripts are great.
Thanks for these great videos. Love the unbiased and almost archeological descriptions of the events you found. Well done.
Thank you, Herman. Plenty more to come!
Excellent video. Proves what a disaster vacant YO was for the Beatles.
It is very weird that John was so silent. But then again, his mouthpiece was going on and on. I wonder if it was planned that way.
Believe he was often under the influence of heroin during these sessions
@@dawndireitz5531
Yeah, it's sad as hell.
Very informative and interesting. Thanks for your investigative reports. I’ll be back for more for sure
Excellent channel/resource subbed and God Bless you and your work.
The bad thing about this is that they should not have involved Yoko in the first place. There must be a line drawn between personal and professional. While she might have been a musician (or whatever) herself, her style is impossible to harmonize with the Beatles. Even if they were all stoned, high, strung or drunk, they would not create that type of music.
Yoko is making total sense here. Although I do love George’s smoochy low light show as well.
I can't see how having a concert with no audience makes total sense at that period of technological development.
god i love the get back session videos!! it’s such a heavily documented period yet its so misunderstood and that’s what i love about the period....finding out that what we’ve all been told for all this time is actually not how it was is so cool. amazing videos.
Really liking these videos. Can't wait until Nov 25th.
Part of the problem regarding Yoko was that, for the guys surrounding the Beatles and the Beatles themselves, they were brought up in a world where women were expected to be seen and not heard. And the sexual revolution and all the societal changes in the 60s didn't necessarily change that overnight. Just look at the typical glamorous but silent rock and roll wife or girlfriend. In that scenario, the fact that Yoko was talking at all was bound to ruffle feathers.
I disagree, if it was the husband of a female band member speaking such strong views the reaction of both the fellow band members and now us as the audience would have been similar. Why do you always have to play the 'it's because she's a woman' card?
19 weeks until the release of Get Back
.....
@@worlds1ep3enthusiast92
Lol
This aged well🤦🏻♂️
Keep them coming. This is a great series. January 1969 is a fascinating time in Beatles history!
Thanks. I love your videos. I think You bring a lot of clearance about things. Keep it coming. 🇸🇪🌹🇸🇪🌹🇸🇪🌹
If anyone knows about playing to empty chairs it's Yoko.
The thing is though, heroin is not a hangover drug. He wouldnt be "green" from taking it the night before. He would only be sick if he had just taken it, or had become physically dependent upon it and was in need of it
Just to tell you how much I like your videos. How much then? Very. Not only this one in particular, rather your approach in general. Looking at things with an open and yet inquisitive mind, calmly advancing everybody's education as you unfold your own thoughts and views. And another thumbs-up to your presentation, so well edited and visualized! Thank you.
I really appreciate the comment. These videos take a lot of thinking, research and organization. I'm encouraged to be finding an audience that is hungry for information and an approach to these topics through a fresh lens. I wish I could do this full time!
Always get excited when I see a new video from you pop up
ringo
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Yoko jamming - did you have to? ;-)
That was a generous description...
I’d have called it verbal diarrhea.🙄👍🥃
Thanks again Matt for your great work with these videos!
50 odd years ago i was 11 i dont want this to end i have listened to them almost every day of my life
//: John should have separated his personal life from his business life. To much of a good thing is never good, so they say?
The saddest part of this is! John wanted her there. The Plastic Ono project was still an idea. George was already frustrated with the quota of songs permitted on the Beatles Project: only 3 on 10,12 or 14 songs per. The 4 McCartney, 4 Lennon, 4 Harrison and 2 Starkey[Starr] or collaboration might have worked for 2 or 4 years: but as their music grew separately as their personal lives matured. Marriage partners, no one night stand groupies: very evident?
Any chemical intake is non-recommended! A world minus Jon Lennon or Keith Richards would be a terrible loss. I view it as a cry for help?
It's interesting how many fans keep putting all the blame on Yoko, but never, EVER question John's decision of bringing her there, as if he was a child.
John showed disrespect for his fellow band members by allowing Yoko into “private” band workings . Yoko was a gold digger . John saw himself and Yoko as the next big phenomena , perhaps as big as the Beatles
Just stumbled across this channel.. great beatle content.. could easily sit and watch for hours 👍🏻
Thanks for watching, Lenny!
Thanks, your vids really make the wait to Get Back less harsh!
Thanks! I appreciate the comment.