@@Johnnywhamo No not a good point and not true. John was far more open minded and honest. George Harrison NEVER forgave John for his well motivated anti religious views after he stupidly defended the sexual harassing Maharishi which led the other three going back to England to record the biting 'Sexy Sadie' causing a rift that simmered leading to George threatening to leave. The split started here. For visual evidence watch 'the Hey Bulldog' Video. Recorded right after George rejoined them. Paul, Ringo and John for the last time have the childish joy of their early years while George is surly. After 1974 he and John never talked together again. Far worse than the temporary John Paul split!
Don't understand all the ATMP hype. I bought the album some thirty years go, just couldn't get into and I really wanted to. Some songs are good, none in my opinion are great. Most of the songs just drag on like melancholy dirges and George's voice is thin and reedy. Way too long and the Spector wall of sound overproduction is not my cup of tea.
It's from 1995 actually, or filmed in the couple of years before the release. It's from The Beatles Anthology. I heavily, heavily, heavily recommend it, even if you're not a hardcore Beatles fan. It goes through everything in the band in great detail, with lots of side interviews from all four Beatles (with John posthumously), and it works so well
I’am pretty sure that the footage you talk of. Is Paul being on Desert Island disks. He didn’t choose a Beatles song, but rather summed up the whole Beatles thing. With John Lennon’s Beautiful boy, of the Double Fantasy album, with Yoko Ono. It is on RUclips, I watched it yesterday, no pun intended!!!
'Flaming Pie' is one of McCartney's understated, and underrated album gems. It may be that Linda's death a year after it debuted tended to put it in the shadows, or maybe because of the lack of quality recordings from Paul in the years running up to it. Holds an easy candle to BOTR anytime in my book.
Paul wrote and recorded Dear Friend (on Wings Wildlife) which is a rather sweet commentary regarding Paul's friendship with John. They were throwing barbs at each other on their albums during the early 70s, but I think they were like any two mates who had a bit of a falling out but still really loved each other like brothers.
A great one- always loved it. You would think it didn't even exist now. I always thought it was very much about John. Of course, most of their songs have multiple layers and meanings- they wrote using the subconscious many times.
I’m an American Beatles fan (named after Paul) and unfortunately I just barely discovered you this passed summer John. I wish I found you sooner. I LOVE your videos, and your explanations as well as references.
Javier Gil Vidal Double fantasy is great if you can get past yoko. And you’re forgetting all the demos John was working on at the time which are fantastic.
I don't trust the comments John made about Paul's music right after the break up . He was so angry that Paul ask him not to announce he was leaving the band and then Paul turned around and announced he was leaving
John later remarked in an interview that his song "How Do You Sleep" was a projection of how he felt about himself. There was so much bad blood eminating out of John that it coloured the entire picture. Personally, I believe that The Beatles were they're own worst critics but then, that's what made them great as a band! Post Beatles, they all finally relaxed a bit and I think that's a good thing!☺
@@laussethecat When he wrote it, he definitely wrote it about Paul. John said in a later interview, after receiving some therapy, that "like everything else" it was really about him.
He said it was about him, but lyrics like "the only thing you did was yesterday" and "those freaks were right when they said you dead" are more than a little damning.
Another insightful and compelling analysis from Mr. Heaton, who's clearly done his own research on the topic. Bravo! I predict that soon we'll require a Top Ten 'best of' list of John Heaton's 'best of's. : )
Extremely informative video. I truly believe that, if John hadn't been murdered, the Beatles would've reunited as elder men in the mid-80's, or the mid-90's (during the Anthology project), and played until George's death in 2001. Maybe even a new album or two. The things that could've been.
@@vitocorleone8323 They were all egomaniacs. George was apparently insufferable during his Hare Krishna days. He calmed down, and got wiser and more balanced, less judgemental, whilst finally hitting his stride as a guitarist in the 80's when he developed his signature sound. Paul also calmed down and became less demanding to be with, and probably would have been game to work with people who could challenge him again, as he has not done so since the Beatles, and that is sad. Ringo of course would have said 'yes' in a heartbeat. John was less of a silly c**t towards the end of the 70's, and his 'watching the wheels' shows it. He was more shy towards the end, a recluse, but with Paul's momentum, which he used since the mid-60's when the leadership of the band changed hands, I think JOhn would have made the effort to get out, record some tunes and see what happens. A concert tour would have been a whole other matter. I do not think that would EVER have happened. It would have been a nightmare of intense attention.
OneEyedKeys good comment but didn’t George’s sound come about during ATMP? Also the best thing the Beatles did was break up or die separately because now they’re irrevocably emblematic of the 1960s nostalgia
I wouldn't want the Beatles in the 80s... the great 60s and 70s artists just sounded bad and cheesy during the 80s as they didn't know what to do with the 80s sound.
Yes, the late 80s or early 90s, when all those bands started having reunion. They all ran out of money. If Paul refused they would have told him to go screw and got Harry Nilsson to play bass.
After the split all four had moments of brilliance, together the chemistry was there for the whole world to see. I think the split was enevatable, they had grown apart and had other interests. Such is life.
THANK YOU JOHN HEATON!!! Other than "The Compleat Beatles" documentary from decades ago have I been genuinely happy and intrigued with a Beatles fans observations and research. THANK YOU!!! What people tend to forget sometimes (as McCartney has attested to) was that John could be a bit acerbic at times. That's just who John was. Out of everything I've read over the decades, and which you recounted so much of and more, left no doubt that they truly loved each other. And that's the way they should be remembered.
RAM is a terrific album; I view it as being more creative than commercial...even the hit--'Uncle Alberr/Admiral Halsey'--is bonafide weird. There's not a single dud on the record.
It's a shame that with some albums it takes time (and years- even decades) to shed the initial misplaced prejudices and to see it for what it is- like RAM, an outstanding LP.
RAM is amazing. It's aged really well. Honestly, I think this one and Band on the Run are the closest solo records to actual Beatles albums. I think it might just be jealousy...
Was 16 when they broke up and at the time was kinda devastated. But as time went on and all the various albums came out I began to appreciate the volume of works with the individual talents and efforts that were expressed , particularly Georges albums because he only got a couple songs on each Beatles album and I always really loved his songs.
John. I’m in my 60s. I’m an American. I was there in 1964 when the Beatles came to America. We Beatlemania fans have a different experience than fans who came later. They have read these inaccurate books about the group. They also didn’t know those times, the culture the politics etc. of the 60s. You ask how we felt after the breakup and the comments they made at each other. It hurt. We were hurting as a John changed, got strange looking, brought Yoko into everything. The shots they took at each other were distasteful because we knew them as one close unit. Suddenly they used their solo albums and the press to stab each other. All the while any Beatle fan you talked to felt the same way, this was the opposite of what we wanted. We painfully desired, painfully desired them to get back together and make more records! We wanted them to be the Beatles again! There’s more to this.....
And don't underestimate their respective spouses and business advisers plying them off against each other. A major factor I think for J&P. Both J&P mentioned at times that when they could just sit down and talk, only the two of them, they usually worked things out. But that got lost by 69/70.
Many Beatles fans weren’t that upset about the infighting. After the break, people kinda moved on to other great bands of the times. I think many fans began to appreciate the Beatles a decade after the split. Some, you are correct took sides. I did not. I became more of a fan later in life, although I always liked them very much. The Stones kept making great music. Thanks for the post. I found this very informative
See Yelizovo I hear you. I really liked the Mick Taylor period, which I thought was great for the Stones. There was a lot of great music in the 70’s and 80’s.
George loved "I'm Carrying" from Paul's London Town album? I'm both delighted and surprised because I too think that's one of the great Paul post-Moptop songs. An absorbing post John - thanks.
Paul may have had the most success but I find George's solo output holds up better for me. Wings was unfairly knocked, they rocked pretty hard in their prime. Actually, it's John's solo work I find most frustrating. Some great things, some awful things.
@@prakis1958 I agree too. George's solo work continues to grow on me, it's made with care and there is a sincere sense of beauty. I think Paul did good work, Ringo didn't have a lot to live up to but has some nice albums & John's I find frustrating, there isn't a single solo album of his that I find a joy to listen to. There is stuff that I like, odds and ends, but as a Beatle he was fantastic, going through his solo career is like searching through the wreckage to find hints of greatness.
@ adran jubb Paul, out of all 4 Beatles, wrote ,or tries to write "hit"songs. He was partly successful, and I can count on one hand the names of any of his solo work. I believe John had some great songs ,but alot of bullshit as well. Ringo is Ringo.. he has fun just playing with his friends and doing live shows. George ,in my mind, was set free from being under the Lennon/McCartney combo. All Things must Pass, is an incredible album...even though Phil Spector almost ruined it with his "Wall of Sound" production. So ,all in all George,IMHO is the best solo artist....and dont forget the Travelling Wilbury`s
@adrian jubb As Lennon said (post Beatles split) "He is a great PR man Paul". You cant really compare their solo careers as 2 of them still have them and 2 don't , due to being dead.
This is a very interesting video John, well researched as always. Really highlights the pretty rotten remarks that were going around in the early 70s, very sad in a way. George really did seem to have a downer on Paul post split and that never seemed to completely go away.
And you believe that she hadn't? Maybe some isolated Amazon jungle dweller mightn't have heard of them but a well educated Japanese with access to the media - give me a break.
She heard of them like anybody else in the world but she was a scheming bitch trying to get the spotlight and financial support for her so-called artistic production. First she turned to Paul, who addressed her to John. So she knew very well whom to get in touch with
I could believe that she never heard any of it. I know a lot of people who favor avant garde, classical and, jazz and they are not familiar with pop music.
It seems to me most of their comments had more to do with how their business dealings than the music: when they were in court, they were critical about one other's work; when things were settled, they were more complimentary.
After the bitter back and forth between John and Paul for several years after the Beatles breakup, it was nice to hear John compliment Paul's classic lp Band On The Run, which he liked very much.
If you brought this up and I missed it, sorry. In the early middle seventies George was getting flak for playing new material and new arrangements on his tour and his response was something like If you was to hear the 4 mop tops go listen to Wings. John Lennon was asked for a comment and John said I don't know what George is talking about, Band on the Run was a damn good album.
to John Heaton. Good work here. Like many of us from that period from Beatlemania onward know The Beatles quite well. Especially someone like myself who's watched a lot of interviews and performances, read material etc., and find your post here quite novel. It's an angle I've seen some things about, but never had it put together like this with commentary-so thank you. I didn't buy the books written, but have done what now is available quite readily with the internet to look at the genesis of the band while together and after. I tend to agree with George about Paul's work afterwards, and I do feel that directly after they split up all their material was a bit better. It seemed to erode over time, but many groups after splitting get worse for a variety of reasons. I have theories about it, but I think age is a significant factor. Running out of material to draw on another, and also personal inhibition in one way or another. They don't want to sound like their old selves as not to be accused of it for one. The loss of synergy in the end seemed paramount however. Think of Billy Joel. He stopped writing songs for display entirely. Think of David Bowie's work after the 80's. John, particularly, could be a bastard in opinion-even to himself. Despite that, I think John had the best songs after the break-up, and I do feel he was the soul or you might say, grit, of the band. His songs and leads always made me feel like it was rock n roll and progressive. Paul was a bit more musical, and really was the ballad maker. George, of course, could play, and had real heart. Ringo was underrated as a drummer and his songs are whimsical to me, nothing more. We were very lucky to part of their careers. Thanks again.
Great idea for a video John. Remember in the Lennon Letters book there is a Summer 1980 shopping list written by John and given to Fred Seaman that has 'Paul's new album' listed as one of the things Fred needs to get! So I have a hunch that Waterfalls is the track that made John and Yoko cry. Lennon was a lot more open hearted once Sean came along.
I would take anything Yoko says about John during the late 70’s with a pinch of salt.... she has a habit of embellishing a few stories as time goes on, and in the 3/4 interviews John did before his death, for a relatively short period and giving effectively the same interview script, he does seem to contradict himself in places (he did have a habit of making comments and not really thinking them through with a thought of “nobody will ever read this” (take his “Julian is a result of a bottle of whisky” comment in Playboy.... while maybe a little too honest, in his mind he is probably thinking “Julian will never read Playboy”)
paul is a machine, always creating more and more music it is like an endless flow, John was great when he wanted to be creative but I think he was not as motivated to create after the first few years of the break up, in 1980 I think he was motivated to work again and Im sure great music would have been done my him had he lived
Hello John hope you are having a fine weekend....this is right down the middle ace! Kudos 👏🏻 what a great idea and I was totally immersed in this...boy John always got the flack about his comments but nobody ( other than here) says anything about George and how BITING he could be....now I’m talking mainstream listeners of the Beatles, George was just so nice and John well you know bull$&/# thank you my friend for this great video - Lis
Hi John . This was a fantastic job on this idea that you have . So of it I have herd and others I have not . I think that this feud in rock is the longest of a band braking up and still are . The wild thing I have George talking about Paul . George speaking . And he said the only time you here from Paul is win he wonts to promotes his new lp . He will start talking about the Beatles as well to promote himself !!! ... wow ... The song that you are talking about .... I think is water falls ?. I like your autographs behind you . I do have some as well solo and together . But yours are great !!! :}. I think that this was great !!!! well done John . Thank and take care .
@@ClarenceFisher "Coming Up," "On the Way" b/w "Waterfalls," "On of These Days" would've made an very strong 1980 EP. It's bizarre that given how awful some of the material on "McCartney II" is (e.g. "Bogey Music") that it was at one point meant to be a double album. So as bad as half of "MII" is, he had a bunch more stuff he that even he didn't want to include??
Thank you for your post and your effort to steer clear of mere opinions. I recall vaguely a comment from Paul that he loved Beautiful Boy from John and would want it as one of his choices if he were on a deserted island. Did that comment ever really occur? Thank you again.
Sadly I agree with George about McCartney's solo career as a whole. He just doesn't have an edit button. Bizarrely I love Ram and think Junk & Teddy Boy as two of the best things on McCartney. And, like you, love London Town. Being old enough, you are right about it being depressing at the time. Luckily I have always been able to pick my own way rather than be lead by critics. Thanks very much, yet another great analysis. PS: I may be doing you a disservice, but I was wondering how you managed to just "have the pleasure of chatting to Yoko". One would imagine not a mere mortal like the rest of us.
I was an assistant engineer at Air Studios and could tell you stories about the Beatles in their solo years coming in and also about the chairman of the Studios George Martin and his son Giles who I partied with a few times. I was in the session where George M was looking at tracks to put on the CD version of the red and blue albums and couldn’t decide whether to include mono versions or stereo versions eventually asking me which I preferred...
Great video John. You forgot to mention John's comment from the double fantasy sessions. You know the one.... "that's the only thing we didn't have back then, a decent bass" 😉
Andrew Brooks in the 1980 playboy interview, John praises Paul, bass playing, saying, he was one of the most innovative players, and bass players are still coping his style!
In the later years, John and George just wanted to write good music, Paul still wanted to be famous and richer. In general, Paul tried to write hit music.
Paul was a hit writer right from the word go, he couldn't write a bad melody if he tried! John struggled with commerciality then the last lp was indeed accessible. Ringo just couldn't, and George made some amazing tunes - as good or better than all the other 3 at times.
@Jesse I can't disagree about staying together, but even in the band Paul's material (I.e. Yesterday and everything that was composed solely by him) was more commercial. For the career post Beatles, I don't put a timeline there except for the comparison of when George and John were alive - Paul could always compose hit records. Love or hate the bouncy, vaudeville, the hooks.... they did hook you and become earworms. Tunes you could whistle. Compulsive, childlike rhymes, simple tunes..... but like only McCartney could keep coming up with.
You know the more I read this stuff about the beatles particularly john and george wanting to just create art not produce a hit, please, this is the biggest load of crap I ever heard. Was this not an excuse for some of their music just not being popular like they had hoped? Didn’t Paul have the most number 1 hits of the group. And it was Paul who wanted to keep group together, but the others thought oh I gotta break out and do my own thing well its my opinion that nothing they did solo came close to what the beatles did except I think Paul’s “Band on the Run” was really great, hit after hit on that one, the other albums had a hit or two on them but not like that one. Personally nothing as good as they did with the Beatles but insecurity, jealousy and ego got in the way.
@@lindakelly9552 Agreed, they were greater together and any one individual. As it has been said "the sum of the parts are greater than the whole". I think they were the greatest modern band in history. Amazing they were only together 13 years and pumped out an enormous amount of work in multiple styles. They couldn't top themselves.
Of the 4 Beatles I have come to the conclusion that McCartney was easily the most musical and worked harder overall than the other 3. Ive found some of Johns efforts to be lazy but when he had a great song it was brilliant! Harrison over the years became a much better singer and songwriter and could write beautiful melodies which is a gift all the beatles had. Ringo at one point outsold the other Beatles and once he stopped drinking took real charge of his career and has always understood his strengths and weaknesses. Overall even an average song by any of them solo is usually better than most of the other stuff on the radio in the 70s and early 80s.
I think yours is a very fair assessment. McCartney was the hardest worker, which makes sense as he was also the most ambitious and people-pleasing of the group. George toured the States once, and Japan once and that was it. He had no taste for it and often spoke about retiring from his non-career "career." Likewise, John never toured and though had he lived I'm sure he would have but I don't see him ever wanting to put in the same hours as Paul.
Hello I just wanted to write some things on what you said. Even beyond exactly song writing. I want to talk about John Lennon’s talents as a musician. In a way I hate Paul so just wanted to say that. I study psychology and maybe it’s jealousy. Like I’m opened minded enough to think that Paul irritates me in interviews etc. but I don’t want to take anything away from his talents as a musician and songwriter etc But I’ll briefly try and defend John in a couple of paragraphs This may be subjective but judging a song like fame by David Bowie. I’d put that song up there with anything the Beatles ever did either as a band or individually as solo artists I read a little about the song, and as far as writing. I’m not sure how much John had to do with it. I believe that the wah wah guitar part was written by a third person i.e. not Bowie or Lennon Maybe it goes with the theme of the song? About fame etc. I should know the guys name but anyway. John’s part if you listen to it. He sings echoes David Bowie. Like Bowie will sing fame then you hear John sing fame. I read an article about John in which it partly said his biggest gift talent possible could be his voice And maybe the way to think about it was John and Paul George even ringo were all insanely gifted and worked dispite there problems well together It can be subjective too. I’m ok with someone feeling Paul was a great singer too or they like him better as a singer than John. And I really don’t know what to think. I don’t want to be too hard on Paul, like he cares lol And maybe there is a fine line between love and hate. I have other thoughts on the Beatles especially John and Paul
@@collj86 I hear what your saying and to tell the truth I was mor partial to John for a long time simply because he came off edgier than McCartney. I dont think they were geniuses but perhaps in a collective with George Martin they were. Lennons laziness in many ways worked for him because it invited great ideas from the other Beatles just as Pauls fully formed ideas worked for him. Harrison was the balance and Ringo was a left handed drummer who played a right handed kit which made his drumming so original. McCartney is a wonderful artist but he will never be The Beatles.
My views (worth precisely zero, of course) are that they made better music together. Or, perhaps if not together, with each other as a filter for the others. I think both John and Paul could be pretty abrasive in many areas of life although Paul tries to hide that. Ringo can be blunt and George develops from "the quiet one" into the considered one, with his remarks. It's a shame that they didn't do what many musicians have done since and taken sabbaticals to do their own work with perhaps breaks of a year or two, then re-convene to do some more Beatles work. We could have had so much more magic from them, although their solo work for the most part is fantastic. In their later years, they could have eclipsed all the later great stadium bands if they did some limited touring too. Ah, what could have been.
Clearly they would've tried at least one more album in the 80s. But they couldn't regroup- John saw it as moving backwards and George couldn't take Pauls bossiness ever again. Especially when he found solo success and recognition. Ringo and Paul probably would've been fine with it. I think the real solution would have been to take a break in 70/71 then reform as the "New Beatles" adding Billy Preston and Clapton.
You have totally missed the point with "The only thing you've done was Yesterday..." line in "How do you sleep". It is actually a code for this: "The only thing you've done was Yesterday (JPM) and since you've gone (dead) you are Just Another Day (William)". There was no overreacting from Lennons side. He was furious at the guy who took over his friends life and started up a solo career in the "McCartney" name. The line means that Lennon preferred "Yesterday" (A code word for James Paul McCartney) music over Williams music. The retarded "exactly the same!!!" have already been debunked since a long time ago and he has said ON CAMERA that he joined Beatles in an already set up affair. That is NOT how JPM did join the band. JPM never did have a solocareer as he died late 1966. I do not care for "Sir Pauls" muzak.
Ah what could have been... if James Paul McCartney had not died late 1966. I would not have cared for a reunion with the "Fab three" and "Billy Shears". I prefer the real James Paul McCartney.
I'm really glad John never got to hear McCartney unleashed after 1982, Imagine what he would have thought of Ebony n Ivory, The Frog Song, The Other Me, English Tea, Once upon a long ago and Pipes of peace!!! (I expect he would have liked Run Devil Run)
You run the risk of simplifying Lennon's tastes to rock and roll. For the record he could be every bit as sentimental as McCartney. Who wrote Goodnight?! I can imagine him and a young Sean enjoying the Frog Chorus!
I can imagine him laughing at the Macca-Jacko collaborations, duets, or whatever those things are called. "Say, Paulie, riding on the coat tails of that bloody kid, eh?" Something to that effect.
@@chezzer58 Frog Song is one of my favorites, and the Palace of the King of the Birds. Waterfalls. Genius. Paul was so versatile, he wanted to take every form of music and see what he could do with it.
I think John did have a tendency to lob grenades after the breakup. Maybe he felt he needed to destroy the McCartney of Lennon/McCartney before move on as a solo artist.
John deeply resented the fact that Paul's songs were more popular (in beatles after midpoint) and solo career was much more successful. In his insecurity, he had to lash out. He was always more creative and artistically deep than Paul, but the general public doesn't care about that. But artists and musicians do- so John was much more influential overall to music.
@@timothysullysullivan2571 Art is the combination of both, content and form. I too have the impression that John provided a deeper, heartfelt content to many songs, but IMO, McCartney loved to experiment with more creative forms. A great example of their chemistry together is A day in the life. After Beatles, Paul became much more commercial and pop, but still he liked to experiment with new forms sometimes (like electronic, hip hop, etc).
@@ewest14 to be more clear, let's say more adventurous and wildly experimental. of course paul is very creative- but mostly in more conservative/traditional approaches. he does get a little freer in his side projects, but never with his main stuff.
Re George's comment about Paul having run out of material: -- It's a bit ironic that "Got My Mind Set On You", the biggest hit from Cloud Nine, is itself a cover! -- Paul had a bit of a gap too, with no album between '85 (Broad Street) and '89 (Flowers), although he kept recording... that bootleg "Return To Pepperland" has some good stuff ("Squid" is really cool), though admittedly it's rather underwhelming as a Sgt. Pepper 20th anniversary statement, which may be why he released only the "Once Upon A Long Ago" single from those sessions. -- George did have a bit of a gap between Wilbury's vol.3 and Brainwashed IIRC :o) ... although that was apparently an intentional retirement, like John's in the later '70's. (Thought he'd quit for good; what a pleasant surprise Brainwashed was...) But enough trivia-riffing, and thanks for a very enjoyable & informative video!
So my assessment is George was always snarky -part of his charm really. There is an anecdote where at Carl Perkins funeral George said to a friend Tug Of War was a great album, but alas hearsay. A couple I have seen was one where John said My Love was simple and unaffected- nice quote. You would have to take my word on it but there was a Hit Parader magazine around 1976 where John gave one word answers to people, places and things and he gave the following assessments of his band mates; Paul: extraordinary, George: Lost, Ringo: Friend. It could have been personal more than musical and I wish I could find that interview as I think it was one his last before he took his hiatus and I believe it pre-dated the Playboy interview where he broke down who wrote what in some detail. Fairly recently , I did see Paul on a TV interview that he said all the Beatles where successful and created our own distinct sounds in our solo careers or something to that affect.
Haha, I agree with your and John's assessment. I always found George snarky and lost. Hello! Hare Krishna! In fact, I can't remember where I saw this interview (or heard it on the radio) where John was saying his Number Nine Dream was actually his reaction to finding himself suddenly surrounded by some loony Hare Krishnas all gesturing at him and chanting something he couldn't understand (as he represents in his Ahbowakawa poosay poosoh). People (including me) are so transported by that song, but John was actually making fun of them. Oh well - he often did seem to do his best work being mean. (You Can't Do That!)
Fantastic video, thank you so much. I knew most of the quotes but you present them in such a non judgemental way and as always are fair to everyone and in doubt always lean towards the positive meaning behind the words. i had an idea from watching this and here it is. How about you do a review of what the next Beatles album might have been using the tracks that they had written but not released while still together. You will know the tracks better than me but songs like, teddy boy, look at me, give me some truth, back seat of my car, all things must pass, not guilty etc. Just an idea but I love everything that you do anyway.
Thanks Raymond... i used to make cassette tapes of would be Beatles albums 1970-80 and came up with about four double albums...those tapes long since lost by the way...but we could do that again of course!
I did this too as john told us to do this if we missed the beatles so much. i just wndered if they had been forced to make an album at the end of 69 what would it consist of. They worked so hard and so fast. Please have a think abot the tracks that i meantioned, i'm requestion that you only make up an album of tracks while they were still together. i think we can add "another day" and "come and gett it" as well as, , teddy boy, look at me, give me some truth, back seat of my car, all things must pass, not guilty and maybe more. They were so great that enen a spill over 1970 album would be great. Another concept album could be Beatles B" consisting of the B sides. What a great album that would make and you c ould review it . ps, i love you, ask me why. thank you girl. i'll get you. this boy , you cant do that etc. just an idea but do watever you want as i love everything that you do. Thank you so much for what you do.
Hi John, an excellently researched topic and very interesting. I don't think you could expect them as individuals to continually praise everything the others did. At the end of the day music is subjective and of course their bitterness over the split certainly did not help matters. It's nice to have the belief that time is a great healer and had John been around relations could have 'healed'?
I really enjoyed your review. Kept me interested all the way through. I just wish you had a Ringo album on the wall behind you. That wasn’t meant to rhyme by the way.
9:23 - I agree, Walls and Bridges was Lennon's best album. In 1980, I thought (Just Like) Starting Over was a great song, it sounded like Orbison with some Beach Boys, particularly the "Don't Worry Baby" riff for "but when I see you darling....", but "Watching the Wheels" sounded a lot like Walls and Bridges material. I love Watching the Wheels, I think it's the best album on Double Fantasy.
Great stuff John, thank you. Have you seen Paul and Linda's 'Good Morning America 1980 interview (on RUclips, Part 2 is the interesting bit). This was recorded at Thanksgiving 1980, therefore about 2 weeks before John's death, and I reckon that Paul's words about John suggest very strongly that they were anything but the good pals Paul has being saying for years that they were at the end of John's life. (Is that the interview you refer to here ?) Paul refers to John being resentful whenever he (Paul) says anything, Paul doesn't know why, so he just keeps quiet now. What do you think ?
A superb overview - whilst the 'John Lennon Plastic Ono Band' album was not overtly political, many of the songs were to do with alienation and 'the system'. I can remember BBC Radio 1 one Sunday afternoon in late 1970 giving it a scathing review. People forget now that 'Imagine' (whose release was severely delayed by manufacturing problems in the autumn of 1971) brought a wave of euphoria - there was a feeling that somehow we had Lennon back.
All the other Beatles slagged off McCartney's solo work, whereas McCartney did not once criticise his ex bandmates offerings. And your conclusion from that is that Paul was bitter?
Paul very rarely if ever, slagged off his fellow Beatles. Even to this day, Paul will see the positive in most things about about the past. Truth is, Paul was a gentleman about the whole slagging off debacle. Considering it was 3 against 1 I think Paul was very restrained in anything he could have said.
I believe the implication is that Paul was bitter at the time because of everything surrounding the breakup. Paul's natural diplomatic tendency is not to openly criticize people using base terms. Even on the Yoko issue, Paul was always speaking about John's relationship in broad philosophical analysis. However, there is a recording where he finally admitted he hated having her in the studio. It was surprising in that he finally just said what he really felt.
Most of Paul’s early 70s stuff was third rate. He was criticised by most in the communication media and became a bit of a joke, with many shallow, poorly thought out, deliveries. Ringos “Sentimantal journey” was no surprise as no one expected much from him. George and Johns early 70s contributions were mostly very well received critically and commercially, though the press continued their “crucifixion” of John on a personal level. Paul’s deterioration into alcohol abuse and alienation might be why his early offerings brought scorn. He did get his act together though and delivered highly successful, high quality material....albeit leavened by regular embarrassing sorties into dismal ventures. He missed the guidance and quality control of his peers.....in my opinion.
I think the only generally reasonably good consistent work of a former Beatle, is that of Paul. John did some good tracks, George did that great Time Bandits tune, and Fab was great butRingo did some great little pop tunes. But I really don’t think any of them made a record as good as the Beatles apart from Paul. Jet, Maybe, Mull, Ebony, Coming Up, Just Another Day etc etc - al good little numbers. Imagine still makes me cry
To add to your list I also love “Uncle Albert” “Every Night” “Live and Let Die” “In the World Tonight” and the entire Band on The Run Album even John agreed was really good.
I thought that before John passed he was genuinely happy for Paul but surprised at how Wings did so well. He made a few digs but Paul taking on Denny Laine and paving the way for tremendous success of Wings seemed to take John a bit by surprise.
Paul really needs the right partner around to do his best work- with John, to some extent George, George Martin and even in his solo career most of the best stuff was when Denny was with him. He's still the engine of course, but music is subtle chemistry. He seems to need that sounding board or check and of course the little touches that they add to complement his main ideas.
John changed his mind on everything about 10 times who knows how he really felt, the rest I think all respected each other well enough in the end
Good point, very true!
@@Johnnywhamo No not a good point and not true. John was far more open minded and honest. George Harrison NEVER forgave John for his well motivated anti religious views after he stupidly defended the sexual harassing Maharishi which led the other three going back to England to record the biting 'Sexy Sadie' causing a rift that simmered leading to George threatening to leave. The split started here. For visual evidence watch 'the Hey Bulldog' Video. Recorded right after George rejoined them. Paul, Ringo and John for the last time have the childish joy of their early years while George is surly. After 1974 he and John never talked together again. Far worse than the temporary John Paul split!
@@vladdrakul7851 as I recall Hey Bulldog was done the same time of Lady Madonna before the Maharishi ! 🤡
@@vladdrakul7851 Vlad I don't wish to be a pain in the neck but I'm in a trance about what you are actually saying ?! 😈🎱✝️
All Things Must Pass - one of the absolute greatest albums ever made. No question.
No it is overrated. Way too much filler. Some good stuff on it though!
Vlad Drakul only the third disc could be considered filler.
Don't understand all the ATMP hype. I bought the album some thirty years go, just couldn't get into and I really wanted to. Some songs are good, none in my opinion are great. Most of the songs just drag on like melancholy dirges and George's voice is thin and reedy. Way too long and the Spector wall of sound overproduction is not my cup of tea.
@@Jalapablo They redid it give it another try
I would like to hear it De-Spectorized.
There's an 80s video where Paul is very close to crying when he's listening to John's Beautiful boy
**William.
It's from 1995 actually, or filmed in the couple of years before the release. It's from The Beatles Anthology. I heavily, heavily, heavily recommend it, even if you're not a hardcore Beatles fan. It goes through everything in the band in great detail, with lots of side interviews from all four Beatles (with John posthumously), and it works so well
There is also footage of Paul singing Here Today at a gig where he is crying whilst singing it
I’am pretty sure that the footage you talk of. Is Paul being on Desert Island disks. He didn’t choose a Beatles song, but rather summed up the whole Beatles thing. With John Lennon’s Beautiful boy, of the Double Fantasy album, with Yoko Ono. It is on RUclips, I watched it yesterday, no pun intended!!!
@@georgejamestaylor5225 Yes you are correct...its pretty moving to watch...
'Flaming Pie' is one of McCartney's understated, and underrated album gems. It may be that Linda's death a year after it debuted tended to put it in the shadows, or maybe because of the lack of quality recordings from Paul in the years running up to it. Holds an easy candle to BOTR anytime in my book.
Another good 'un is Electric Arguments
Paul McCartney is a musical giant. No one comes to close to his musical gifts.
Kinda silly how no one have really covered this subject until now. Thank you John for posting
Thank you!
Paul wrote and recorded Dear Friend (on Wings Wildlife) which is a rather sweet commentary regarding Paul's friendship with John. They were throwing barbs at each other on their albums during the early 70s, but I think they were like any two mates who had a bit of a falling out but still really loved each other like brothers.
Brilliant analysis of the Beatles views on their solo careers. Very insightful.
Thanks Mathew!
I wouldn't be surprised if the song by Paul that brought John and Yoko to tears was "Little Lamb Dragonfly" from Red Rose Speedway.
A great one- always loved it. You would think it didn't even exist now. I always thought it was very much about John. Of course, most of their songs have multiple layers and meanings- they wrote using the subconscious many times.
There is of course footage of John being interviewed during “Double Fantasy” where John is complimentary towards Paul’s “Coming Up” song.
I’m an American Beatles fan (named after Paul) and unfortunately I just barely discovered you this passed summer John. I wish I found you sooner. I LOVE your videos, and your explanations as well as references.
Sad thing about John was that his creative juices had just started flowing again when he was murdered.
Really? "Double Fantasy" is mediocre, only reaching legendary status when John learnt the hard way what living with Bungalow Bill meant.
Javier Gil Vidal Double fantasy is great if you can get past yoko. And you’re forgetting all the demos John was working on at the time which are fantastic.
That's the whole tragedy about john Lennon's death
@@TheNathanX100 yeah skip past the yoko tracks and it becomes a great album
spot on
This was a very thoughtful and original approach to a video commentary on the Beatles; thank you for your fresh idea!
I don't trust the comments John made about Paul's music right after the break up . He was so angry that Paul ask him not to announce he was leaving the band and then Paul turned around and announced he was leaving
John later remarked in an interview that his song "How Do You Sleep" was a projection of how he felt about himself.
There was so much bad blood eminating out of John that it coloured the entire picture.
Personally, I believe that The Beatles were they're own worst critics but then, that's what made them great as a band!
Post Beatles, they all finally relaxed a bit and I think that's a good thing!☺
Then why did he call Paul a cunt on one of the takes if it was about himself?
@@laussethecat When he wrote it, he definitely wrote it about Paul. John said in a later interview, after receiving some therapy, that "like everything else" it was really about him.
He said it was about him, but lyrics like "the only thing you did was yesterday" and "those freaks were right when they said you dead" are more than a little damning.
Really great survey of the post Beatles period. Thank you.
Thanks!
Another insightful and compelling analysis from Mr. Heaton, who's clearly done his own research on the topic. Bravo! I predict that soon we'll require a Top Ten 'best of' list of John Heaton's 'best of's. : )
Can I just say I can watch your videos in any mood and is always interesting!
Extremely informative video. I truly believe that, if John hadn't been murdered, the Beatles would've reunited as elder men in the mid-80's, or the mid-90's (during the Anthology project), and played until George's death in 2001. Maybe even a new album or two. The things that could've been.
They were young mid eighties.
I'm 65. I know.
Paul McCartney 40 years old in 1982. An elder man?
@@vitocorleone8323 They were all egomaniacs. George was apparently insufferable during his Hare Krishna days. He calmed down, and got wiser and more balanced, less judgemental, whilst finally hitting his stride as a guitarist in the 80's when he developed his signature sound. Paul also calmed down and became less demanding to be with, and probably would have been game to work with people who could challenge him again, as he has not done so since the Beatles, and that is sad. Ringo of course would have said 'yes' in a heartbeat. John was less of a silly c**t towards the end of the 70's, and his 'watching the wheels' shows it. He was more shy towards the end, a recluse, but with Paul's momentum, which he used since the mid-60's when the leadership of the band changed hands, I think JOhn would have made the effort to get out, record some tunes and see what happens. A concert tour would have been a whole other matter. I do not think that would EVER have happened. It would have been a nightmare of intense attention.
OneEyedKeys good comment but didn’t George’s sound come about during ATMP? Also the best thing the Beatles did was break up or die separately because now they’re irrevocably emblematic of the 1960s nostalgia
I wouldn't want the Beatles in the 80s... the great 60s and 70s artists just sounded bad and cheesy during the 80s as they didn't know what to do with the 80s sound.
Fantastic presentation-analysis. Thanks.
Had John lived there would have been a Beatles reunion sometime during the 80s!
Absolutely if only once just to shut everyone up from asking him about it nonstop lol
Adding I think he would have been playing with both his sons, until there was the inevitable fallout and split.
Yes, the late 80s or early 90s, when all those bands started having reunion. They all ran out of money. If Paul refused they would have told him to go screw and got Harry Nilsson to play bass.
@@rudolphguarnacci197 Except Nillson didn't play bass.
I would put my money on a appearance at Live Aid which would have made Freddie Mercury look like amateur hour.
Such an interesting video John. Had a great time listening to this one
Thanks mate!
After the split all four had moments of brilliance, together the chemistry was there for the whole world to see. I think the split was enevatable, they had grown apart and had other interests. Such is life.
Interesting topic; well done! I appreciate that you referenced reliable sources, peppered just enough with your editorial.
Magical Mystery Mike thanks Mike!
THANK YOU JOHN HEATON!!! Other than "The Compleat Beatles" documentary from decades ago have I been genuinely happy and intrigued with a Beatles fans observations and research. THANK YOU!!! What people tend to forget sometimes (as McCartney has attested to) was that John could be a bit acerbic at times. That's just who John was. Out of everything I've read over the decades, and which you recounted so much of and more, left no doubt that they truly loved each other. And that's the way they should be remembered.
John - love your commentary! You pull no punches . Sharp thoughts.
Excellent idea for a video John.
Thanks James!
I agree
Very nice observations, well researched and insightful.
Sucks how the other beatles members hated RAM. Even though, it's really creative and well done.
Clearly a result of their acrimony at the time. Ram is fantastic and stands out even more now
RAM is a terrific album; I view it as being more creative than commercial...even the hit--'Uncle Alberr/Admiral Halsey'--is bonafide weird. There's not a single dud on the record.
Yeah ram was fantastic
It's a shame that with some albums it takes time (and years- even decades) to shed the initial misplaced prejudices and to see it for what it is- like RAM, an outstanding LP.
RAM is amazing. It's aged really well. Honestly, I think this one and Band on the Run are the closest solo records to actual Beatles albums. I think it might just be jealousy...
Was 16 when they broke up and at the time was kinda devastated. But as time went on and all the various albums came out I began to appreciate the volume of works with the individual talents and efforts that were expressed , particularly Georges albums because he only got a couple songs on each Beatles album and I always really loved his songs.
Wonderful video on a topic I knew surprisingly little about! Great stuff
John. I’m in my 60s. I’m an American. I was there in 1964 when the Beatles came to America. We Beatlemania fans have a different experience than fans who came later. They have read these inaccurate books about the group. They also didn’t know those times, the culture the politics etc. of the 60s.
You ask how we felt after the breakup and the comments they made at each other. It hurt. We were hurting as a John changed, got strange looking, brought Yoko into everything. The shots they took at each other were distasteful because we knew them as one close unit. Suddenly they used their solo albums and the press to stab each other. All the while any Beatle fan you talked to felt the same way, this was the opposite of what we wanted. We painfully desired, painfully desired them to get back together and make more records! We wanted them to be the Beatles again!
There’s more to this.....
And don't underestimate their respective spouses and business advisers plying them off against each other. A major factor I think for J&P. Both J&P mentioned at times that when they could just sit down and talk, only the two of them, they usually worked things out. But that got lost by 69/70.
Really well done, mate. Quite enjoyed that
very interesting video John, surprised no one else has covered this subject. thanks for posting
Thank you sir!
Can you imagine the world analyzing something you said casually 40 years after you said it?
"The price of fame..."
I subscribed because of how thorough this is. Excellent, excellent work.
Many Beatles fans weren’t that upset about the infighting. After the break, people kinda moved on to other great bands of the times. I think many fans began to appreciate the Beatles a decade after the split. Some, you are correct took sides. I did not. I became more of a fan later in life, although I always liked them very much. The Stones kept making great music. Thanks for the post. I found this very informative
See Yelizovo I hear you. I really liked the Mick Taylor period, which I thought was great for the Stones. There was a lot of great music in the 70’s and 80’s.
I really enjoyed this John.
Thanks mate
great video John! I'm envious of your signed George Harrison record
Thank you sir
I didn't notice that
Among them, the four former Beatles made quite a few wonderful albums in the seventies and a slew of great singles.
My Top 5 (in no real order): Band on the Run, ATMP, Ringo, LITMW and Mind Games
George loved "I'm Carrying" from Paul's London Town album? I'm both delighted and surprised because I too think that's one of the great Paul post-Moptop songs. An absorbing post John - thanks.
I've always liked that one. It's easy and fun to play on acoustic guitar, too.
Paul had the best Solo career
Paul may have had the most success but I find George's solo output holds up better for me. Wings was unfairly knocked, they rocked pretty hard in their prime. Actually, it's John's solo work I find most frustrating. Some great things, some awful things.
@@prakis1958 I agree too. George's solo work continues to grow on me, it's made with care and there is a sincere sense of beauty. I think Paul did good work, Ringo didn't have a lot to live up to but has some nice albums & John's I find frustrating, there isn't a single solo album of his that I find a joy to listen to. There is stuff that I like, odds and ends, but as a Beatle he was fantastic, going through his solo career is like searching through the wreckage to find hints of greatness.
nope ...George
@ adran jubb Paul, out of all 4 Beatles, wrote ,or tries to write "hit"songs. He was partly successful, and I can count on one hand the names of any of his solo work. I believe John had some great songs ,but alot of bullshit as well. Ringo is Ringo.. he has fun just playing with his friends and doing live shows. George ,in my mind, was set free from being under the Lennon/McCartney combo. All Things must Pass, is an incredible album...even though Phil Spector almost ruined it with his "Wall of Sound" production. So ,all in all George,IMHO is the best solo artist....and dont forget the Travelling Wilbury`s
@adrian jubb As Lennon said (post Beatles split) "He is a great PR man Paul". You cant really compare their solo careers as 2 of them still have them and 2 don't , due to being dead.
Thoroughly enjoyed this review.
Very good, well balanced vid. Thanks mate
may paul go on "being strange" until the end of time. i'll buy "mccartney 8" the day it comes out.
This is a very interesting video John, well researched as always. Really highlights the pretty rotten remarks that were going around in the early 70s, very sad in a way. George really did seem to have a downer on Paul post split and that never seemed to completely go away.
Tim shearn yes a shame indeed...cheers Tim
I’m not a big Yoko hater but yeah she never heard of Band on the Run, just like she’d never heard of The Beatles when she met John
And you believe that she hadn't? Maybe some isolated Amazon jungle dweller mightn't have heard of them but a well educated Japanese with access to the media - give me a break.
jack freeman no I am positive that she had
I get your sarcasm. I see others don’t
She heard of them like anybody else in the world but she was a scheming bitch trying to get the spotlight and financial support for her so-called artistic production. First she turned to Paul, who addressed her to John. So she knew very well whom to get in touch with
I could believe that she never heard any of it. I know a lot of people who favor avant garde, classical and, jazz and they are not familiar with pop music.
It seems to me most of their comments had more to do with how their business dealings than the music: when they were in court, they were critical about one other's work; when things were settled, they were more complimentary.
Very much so. Just as we would be- personal/business strife colors everything.
After the bitter back and forth between John and Paul for several years after the Beatles breakup, it was nice to hear John compliment Paul's classic lp Band On The Run, which he liked very much.
Of course he liked it, Band on the Run is an OUTSTANDING ALBUM from end to end.
John your videos should be serialised on BBC4. I love them .So informative and engaging.
If you brought this up and I missed it, sorry. In the early middle seventies George was getting flak for playing new material and new arrangements on his tour and his response was something like If you was to hear the 4 mop tops go listen to Wings. John Lennon was asked for a comment and John said I don't know what George is talking about, Band on the Run was a damn good album.
and Wings weren't doing ANY Beatles songs in their shows until the 75/76 world tour.
Yes that was a strange and obviously negative comment by George in 74...I think he just wanted to distance himself from all things Beatles at the time
to John Heaton. Good work here. Like many of us from that period from Beatlemania onward know The Beatles quite well. Especially someone like myself who's watched a lot of interviews and performances, read material etc., and find your post here quite novel. It's an angle I've seen some things about, but never had it put together like this with commentary-so thank you. I didn't buy the books written, but have done what now is available quite readily with the internet to look at the genesis of the band while together and after. I tend to agree with George about Paul's work afterwards, and I do feel that directly after they split up all their material was a bit better. It seemed to erode over time, but many groups after splitting get worse for a variety of reasons. I have theories about it, but I think age is a significant factor. Running out of material to draw on another, and also personal inhibition in one way or another. They don't want to sound like their old selves as not to be accused of it for one. The loss of synergy in the end seemed paramount however. Think of Billy Joel. He stopped writing songs for display entirely. Think of David Bowie's work after the 80's. John, particularly, could be a bastard in opinion-even to himself. Despite that, I think John had the best songs after the break-up, and I do feel he was the soul or you might say, grit, of the band. His songs and leads always made me feel like it was rock n roll and progressive. Paul was a bit more musical, and really was the ballad maker. George, of course, could play, and had real heart. Ringo was underrated as a drummer and his songs are whimsical to me, nothing more. We were very lucky to part of their careers. Thanks again.
Another great video John, well done, very insightful. I have often wondered what Lennon's take would have been on Flaming Pie.
Great idea for a video John. Remember in the Lennon Letters book there is a Summer 1980 shopping list written by John and given to Fred Seaman that has 'Paul's new album' listed as one of the things Fred needs to get! So I have a hunch that Waterfalls is the track that made John and Yoko cry. Lennon was a lot more open hearted once Sean came along.
Thanks Dave...yes I think he listened to all of the solo efforts of his ex band mates. I wish we knew more...
John Heaton Waterfalls makes perfect sense as something that made them cry. In a certain mood, it can reduce me as well.
I would take anything Yoko says about John during the late 70’s with a pinch of salt.... she has a habit of embellishing a few stories as time goes on, and in the 3/4 interviews John did before his death, for a relatively short period and giving effectively the same interview script, he does seem to contradict himself in places (he did have a habit of making comments and not really thinking them through with a thought of “nobody will ever read this” (take his “Julian is a result of a bottle of whisky” comment in Playboy.... while maybe a little too honest, in his mind he is probably thinking “Julian will never read Playboy”)
@@glennjohnson2043 That and 'Wonderful Christmastime'...tears of anguish.
@@terrythekittie Maybe it was "I'm Carrying".
paul is a machine, always creating more and more music it is like an endless flow, John was great when he wanted to be creative but I think he was not as motivated to create after the first few years of the break up, in 1980 I think he was motivated to work again and Im sure great music would have been done my him had he lived
I will definitely have to be on the lookout for the Keith Badman book - I wasn't even aware of it...Nice video John, as usual..
Thanks Thomas!
Hello John hope you are having a fine weekend....this is right down the middle ace! Kudos 👏🏻 what a great idea and I was totally immersed in this...boy John always got the flack about his comments but nobody ( other than here) says anything about George and how BITING he could be....now I’m talking mainstream listeners of the Beatles, George was just so nice and John well you know bull$&/# thank you my friend for this great video - Lis
Thanks Lis!
Ironically,they were all competing with the greatest ,most original and influential bands ever-The Beatles!
All Things Must Pass and RAM are two of my all time favourite albums and Imagine is one of the greatest songs ever written IMO
Paul is the ultimate winner of the Beatles story, all of his moves, when all is even, were the best way to approach the situation IMO.
I bet the song that teared them up was Mull of Kintyre
Hi John . This was a fantastic job on this idea that you have . So of it I have herd and others I have not . I think that this feud in rock is the longest of a band braking up and still are . The wild thing I have George talking about Paul . George speaking . And he said the only time you here from Paul is win he wonts to promotes his new lp . He will start talking about the Beatles as well to promote himself !!! ... wow ... The song that you are talking about .... I think is water falls ?. I like your autographs behind you . I do have some as well solo and together . But yours are great !!! :}. I think that this was great !!!! well done John . Thank and take care .
Thanks Brad!
:}.
I really love Waterfalls. It's the best track on McCartney II.
@@ClarenceFisher "Coming Up," "On the Way" b/w "Waterfalls," "On of These Days" would've made an very strong 1980 EP. It's bizarre that given how awful some of the material on "McCartney II" is (e.g. "Bogey Music") that it was at one point meant to be a double album. So as bad as half of "MII" is, he had a bunch more stuff he that even he didn't want to include??
@@Biograph1985 MII is not bad. I don't like Bogey Music but everything else is good
A band break up is a divorce. All divorces are bitter. This was the greatest band break up of all time. It takes time for each of them to heal.
The song that he mentions at the end that they were crying to, I have read was My Love.
John also commented on Wings Wild Life saying "it's getting better."
Thank you for your post and your effort to steer clear of mere opinions. I recall vaguely a comment from Paul that he loved Beautiful Boy from John and would want it as one of his choices if he were on a deserted island. Did that comment ever really occur? Thank you again.
Sadly I agree with George about McCartney's solo career as a whole. He just doesn't have an edit button. Bizarrely I love Ram and think Junk & Teddy Boy as two of the best things on McCartney. And, like you, love London Town.
Being old enough, you are right about it being depressing at the time. Luckily I have always been able to pick my own way rather than be lead by critics. Thanks very much, yet another great analysis.
PS: I may be doing you a disservice, but I was wondering how you managed to just "have the pleasure of chatting to Yoko". One would imagine not a mere mortal like the rest of us.
Enjoyed that thanks
I have Walls and Bridges. I play the first 3 tracks every Saturday. I love it.
I was an assistant engineer at Air Studios and could tell you stories about the Beatles in their solo years coming in and also about the chairman of the Studios George Martin and his son Giles who I partied with a few times. I was in the session where George M was looking at tracks to put on the CD version of the red and blue albums and couldn’t decide whether to include mono versions or stereo versions eventually asking me which I preferred...
They Loved each other....showed great concern for each other......played well together.......BeaTles with an A
Great video man
Thanks!
Great video John. You forgot to mention John's comment from the double fantasy sessions. You know the one.... "that's the only thing we didn't have back then, a decent bass" 😉
Thanks Andrew...i think that remark was aimed at the technology back in the early 60s rather than Paul's playing :- )
Andrew Brooks in the 1980 playboy interview, John praises Paul, bass playing, saying, he was one of the most innovative players, and bass players are still coping his style!
Great stuff!
In the later years, John and George just wanted to write good music, Paul still wanted to be famous and richer. In general, Paul tried to write hit music.
Paul was a hit writer right from the word go, he couldn't write a bad melody if he tried!
John struggled with commerciality then the last lp was indeed accessible.
Ringo just couldn't, and George made some amazing tunes - as good or better than all the other 3 at times.
@Jesse I can't disagree about staying together, but even in the band Paul's material (I.e. Yesterday and everything that was composed solely by him) was more commercial.
For the career post Beatles, I don't put a timeline there except for the comparison of when George and John were alive - Paul could always compose hit records. Love or hate the bouncy, vaudeville, the hooks.... they did hook you and become earworms. Tunes you could whistle. Compulsive, childlike rhymes, simple tunes..... but like only McCartney could keep coming up with.
You know the more I read this stuff about the beatles particularly john and george wanting to just create art not produce a hit, please, this is the biggest load of crap I ever heard. Was this not an excuse for some of their music just not being popular like they had hoped? Didn’t Paul have the most number 1 hits of the group. And it was Paul who wanted to keep group together, but the others thought oh I gotta break out and do my own thing well its my opinion that nothing they did solo came close to what the beatles did except I think Paul’s “Band on the Run” was really great, hit after hit on that one, the other albums had a hit or two on them but not like that one. Personally nothing as good as they did with the Beatles but insecurity, jealousy and ego got in the way.
@@lindakelly9552 Agreed, they were greater together and any one individual. As it has been said "the sum of the parts are greater than the whole". I think they were the greatest modern band in history. Amazing they were only together 13 years and pumped out an enormous amount of work in multiple styles. They couldn't top themselves.
The Beatles will always be my favorite band ♥️🎶
Of the 4 Beatles I have come to the conclusion that McCartney was easily the most musical and worked harder overall than the other 3. Ive found some of Johns efforts to be lazy but when he had a great song it was brilliant! Harrison over the years became a much better singer and songwriter and could write beautiful melodies which is a gift all the beatles had. Ringo at one point outsold the other Beatles and once he stopped drinking took real charge of his career and has always understood his strengths and weaknesses. Overall even an average song by any of them solo is usually better than most of the other stuff on the radio in the 70s and early 80s.
I would say, and not just among themselves, but also among history great song writers, in that Paul is one the most prolific song writers., imo
I think yours is a very fair assessment. McCartney was the hardest worker, which makes sense as he was also the most ambitious and people-pleasing of the group. George toured the States once, and Japan once and that was it. He had no taste for it and often spoke about retiring from his non-career "career." Likewise, John never toured and though had he lived I'm sure he would have but I don't see him ever wanting to put in the same hours as Paul.
Hello
I just wanted to write some things on what you said.
Even beyond exactly song writing. I want to talk about John Lennon’s talents as a musician.
In a way I hate Paul so just wanted to say that. I study psychology and maybe it’s jealousy. Like I’m opened minded enough to think that Paul irritates me in interviews etc. but I don’t want to take anything away from his talents as a musician and songwriter etc
But I’ll briefly try and defend John in a couple of paragraphs
This may be subjective but judging a song like fame by David Bowie. I’d put that song up there with anything the Beatles ever did either as a band or individually as solo artists
I read a little about the song, and as far as writing. I’m not sure how much John had to do with it. I believe that the wah wah guitar part was written by a third person i.e. not Bowie or Lennon
Maybe it goes with the theme of the song? About fame etc. I should know the guys name but anyway.
John’s part if you listen to it. He sings echoes David Bowie. Like Bowie will sing fame then you hear John sing fame.
I read an article about John in which it partly said his biggest gift talent possible could be his voice
And maybe the way to think about it was John and Paul George even ringo were all insanely gifted and worked dispite there problems well together
It can be subjective too. I’m ok with someone feeling Paul was a great singer too or they like him better as a singer than John.
And I really don’t know what to think. I don’t want to be too hard on Paul, like he cares lol
And maybe there is a fine line between love and hate.
I have other thoughts on the Beatles especially John and Paul
@@collj86 I hear what your saying and to tell the truth I was mor partial to John for a long time simply because he came off edgier than McCartney. I dont think they were geniuses but perhaps in a collective with George Martin they were. Lennons laziness in many ways worked for him because it invited great ideas from the other Beatles just as Pauls fully formed ideas worked for him. Harrison was the balance and Ringo was a left handed drummer who played a right handed kit which made his drumming so original. McCartney is a wonderful artist but he will never be The Beatles.
Vincent M can I tell you a semi personal story?
I’m Irish American and try to play music but I’d like to tell you something if you have time
Very interesting and informative video, the Keith Badman book A day by day diary is a great read.
Thanks John.
Thank you yes indeed!
Flaming Pie is my favorite solo album of Paul McCartney
Quite interesting. So many hurtful comments. But in the end...the love you take....
My views (worth precisely zero, of course) are that they made better music together. Or, perhaps if not together, with each other as a filter for the others. I think both John and Paul could be pretty abrasive in many areas of life although Paul tries to hide that. Ringo can be blunt and George develops from "the quiet one" into the considered one, with his remarks. It's a shame that they didn't do what many musicians have done since and taken sabbaticals to do their own work with perhaps breaks of a year or two, then re-convene to do some more Beatles work. We could have had so much more magic from them, although their solo work for the most part is fantastic. In their later years, they could have eclipsed all the later great stadium bands if they did some limited touring too. Ah, what could have been.
what would have been is , a great finale to Live Aid....
Clearly they would've tried at least one more album in the 80s. But they couldn't regroup- John saw it as moving backwards and George couldn't take Pauls bossiness ever again. Especially when he found solo success and recognition. Ringo and Paul probably would've been fine with it. I think the real solution would have been to take a break in 70/71 then reform as the "New Beatles" adding Billy Preston and Clapton.
You have totally missed the point with "The only thing you've done was Yesterday..." line in "How do you sleep". It is actually a code for this: "The only thing you've done was Yesterday (JPM) and since you've gone (dead) you are Just Another Day (William)". There was no overreacting from Lennons side. He was furious at the guy who took over his friends life and started up a solo career in the "McCartney" name.
The line means that Lennon preferred "Yesterday" (A code word for James Paul McCartney) music over Williams music.
The retarded "exactly the same!!!" have already been debunked since a long time ago and he has said ON CAMERA that he joined Beatles in an already set up affair.
That is NOT how JPM did join the band. JPM never did have a solocareer as he died late 1966.
I do not care for "Sir Pauls" muzak.
Ah what could have been... if James Paul McCartney had not died late 1966. I would not have cared for a reunion with the "Fab three" and "Billy Shears". I prefer the real James Paul McCartney.
I'm really glad John never got to hear McCartney unleashed after 1982, Imagine what he would have thought of Ebony n Ivory, The Frog Song, The Other Me, English Tea, Once upon a long ago and Pipes of peace!!! (I expect he would have liked Run Devil Run)
You run the risk of simplifying Lennon's tastes to rock and roll. For the record he could be every bit as sentimental as McCartney. Who wrote Goodnight?! I can imagine him and a young Sean enjoying the Frog Chorus!
Thanks Jon...well maybe John's loss caused all of them to not push the boundaries. Although quite a bit of Tug Of War would have pleased John I think.
I can imagine him laughing at the Macca-Jacko collaborations, duets, or whatever those things are called. "Say, Paulie, riding on the coat tails of that bloody kid, eh?" Something to that effect.
Frog song is a classic. Once again showing Paul had a whimsical side to him as well as a rock side. Paul had it all. Genius.
@@chezzer58 Frog Song is one of my favorites, and the Palace of the King of the Birds. Waterfalls. Genius. Paul was so versatile, he wanted to take every form of music and see what he could do with it.
I think John did have a tendency to lob grenades after the breakup. Maybe he felt he needed to destroy the McCartney of Lennon/McCartney before move on as a solo artist.
Yes i think that was true at the time at least.
John deeply resented the fact that Paul's songs were more popular (in beatles after midpoint) and solo career was much more successful. In his insecurity, he had to lash out. He was always more creative and artistically deep than Paul, but the general public doesn't care about that. But artists and musicians do- so John was much more influential overall to music.
@@timothysullysullivan2571 Art is the combination of both, content and form. I too have the impression that John provided a deeper, heartfelt content to many songs, but IMO, McCartney loved to experiment with more creative forms. A great example of their chemistry together is A day in the life. After Beatles, Paul became much more commercial and pop, but still he liked to experiment with new forms sometimes (like electronic, hip hop, etc).
@@timothysullysullivan2571 John wasn't more creative than Paul
@@ewest14 to be more clear, let's say more adventurous and wildly experimental. of course paul is very creative- but mostly in more conservative/traditional approaches. he does get a little freer in his side projects, but never with his main stuff.
Re George's comment about Paul having run out of material:
-- It's a bit ironic that "Got My Mind Set On You", the biggest hit from Cloud Nine, is itself a cover!
-- Paul had a bit of a gap too, with no album between '85 (Broad Street) and '89 (Flowers), although he kept recording... that bootleg "Return To Pepperland" has some good stuff ("Squid" is really cool), though admittedly it's rather underwhelming as a Sgt. Pepper 20th anniversary statement, which may be why he released only the "Once Upon A Long Ago" single from those sessions.
-- George did have a bit of a gap between Wilbury's vol.3 and Brainwashed IIRC :o) ... although that was apparently an intentional retirement, like John's in the later '70's. (Thought he'd quit for good; what a pleasant surprise Brainwashed was...)
But enough trivia-riffing, and thanks for a very enjoyable & informative video!
So my assessment is George was always snarky -part of his charm really. There is an anecdote where at Carl Perkins funeral George said to a friend Tug Of War was a great album, but alas hearsay. A couple I have seen was one where John said My Love was simple and unaffected- nice quote. You would have to take my word on it but there was a Hit Parader magazine around 1976 where John gave one word answers to people, places and things and he gave the following assessments of his band mates; Paul: extraordinary, George: Lost, Ringo: Friend. It could have been personal more than musical and I wish I could find that interview as I think it was one his last before he took his hiatus and I believe it pre-dated the Playboy interview where he broke down who wrote what in some detail. Fairly recently , I did see Paul on a TV interview that he said all the Beatles where successful and created our own distinct sounds in our solo careers or something to that affect.
Haha, I agree with your and John's assessment. I always found George snarky and lost. Hello! Hare Krishna! In fact, I can't remember where I saw this interview (or heard it on the radio) where John was saying his Number Nine Dream was actually his reaction to finding himself suddenly surrounded by some loony Hare Krishnas all gesturing at him and chanting something he couldn't understand (as he represents in his Ahbowakawa poosay poosoh). People (including me) are so transported by that song, but John was actually making fun of them. Oh well - he often did seem to do his best work being mean. (You Can't Do That!)
Fantastic video, thank you so much. I knew most of the quotes but you present them in such a non judgemental way and as always are fair to everyone and in doubt always lean towards the positive meaning behind the words. i had an idea from watching this and here it is. How about you do a review of what the next Beatles album might have been using the tracks that they had written but not released while still together. You will know the tracks better than me but songs like, teddy boy, look at me, give me some truth, back seat of my car, all things must pass, not guilty etc. Just an idea but I love everything that you do anyway.
Thanks Raymond... i used to make cassette tapes of would be Beatles albums 1970-80 and came up with about four double albums...those tapes long since lost by the way...but we could do that again of course!
I did this too as john told us to do this if we missed the beatles so much. i just wndered if they had been forced to make an album at the end of 69 what would it consist of. They worked so hard and so fast. Please have a think abot the tracks that i meantioned, i'm requestion that you only make up an album of tracks while they were still together. i think we can add "another day" and "come and gett it" as well as, , teddy boy, look at me, give me some truth, back seat of my car, all things must pass, not guilty and maybe more. They were so great that enen a spill over 1970 album would be great. Another concept album could be Beatles B" consisting of the B sides. What a great album that would make and you c ould review it . ps, i love you, ask me why. thank you girl. i'll get you. this boy , you cant do that etc. just an idea but do watever you want as i love everything that you do. Thank you so much for what you do.
Hi John, an excellently researched topic and very interesting. I don't think you could expect them as individuals to continually praise everything the others did. At the end of the day music is subjective and of course their bitterness over the split certainly did not help matters. It's nice to have the belief that time is a great healer and had John been around relations could have 'healed'?
Thanks Clive...yes I think time is the universal healer (to quote Steve Winwood :- )
I really enjoyed your review. Kept me interested all the way through. I just wish you had a Ringo album on the wall behind you.
That wasn’t meant to rhyme by the way.
Yea, having just the three displayed did seem a bit distracting. Poor Ringo always gets the short end.
On Desert Island Discs Paul chose Lennon's Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) as his one and only record to take with him.
9:23 - I agree, Walls and Bridges was Lennon's best album. In 1980, I thought (Just Like) Starting Over was a great song, it sounded like Orbison with some Beach Boys, particularly the "Don't Worry Baby" riff for "but when I see you darling....", but "Watching the Wheels" sounded a lot like Walls and Bridges material. I love Watching the Wheels, I think it's the best album on Double Fantasy.
I like walls and bridges but it doesn't compare to Imagine
Great stuff John, thank you.
Have you seen Paul and Linda's 'Good Morning America 1980 interview (on RUclips, Part 2 is the interesting bit).
This was recorded at Thanksgiving 1980, therefore about 2 weeks before John's death, and I reckon that Paul's words about John suggest very strongly that they were anything but the good pals Paul has being saying for years that they were at the end of John's life. (Is that the interview you refer to here ?)
Paul refers to John being resentful whenever he (Paul) says anything, Paul doesn't know why, so he just keeps quiet now.
What do you think ?
A superb overview - whilst the 'John Lennon Plastic Ono Band' album was not overtly political, many of the songs were to do with alienation and 'the system'. I can remember BBC Radio 1 one Sunday afternoon in late 1970 giving it a scathing review. People forget now that 'Imagine' (whose release was severely delayed by manufacturing problems in the autumn of 1971) brought a wave of euphoria - there was a feeling that somehow we had Lennon back.
Personally I find this band fascinating and enjoy listening to you 🙏
Ugh, this honestly breaks my heart.
Well I like the ringo album where there all on it at some stage and photograph was the best of the lot for me ,
All the other Beatles slagged off McCartney's solo work, whereas McCartney did not once criticise his ex bandmates offerings. And your conclusion from that is that Paul was bitter?
Perhaps he didn't want to talk about them at all, the guys or their offerings.
Paul very rarely if ever, slagged off his fellow Beatles. Even to this day, Paul will see the positive in most things about about the past. Truth is, Paul was a gentleman about the whole slagging off debacle. Considering it was 3 against 1 I think Paul was very restrained in anything he could have said.
I specifically remember an interview Paul gave where he said John made some good music, but that a lot of it was not so good.
I believe the implication is that Paul was bitter at the time because of everything surrounding the breakup. Paul's natural diplomatic tendency is not to openly criticize people using base terms. Even on the Yoko issue, Paul was always speaking about John's relationship in broad philosophical analysis. However, there is a recording where he finally admitted he hated having her in the studio. It was surprising in that he finally just said what he really felt.
Most of Paul’s early 70s stuff was third rate. He was criticised by most in the communication media and became a bit of a joke, with many shallow, poorly thought out, deliveries. Ringos “Sentimantal journey” was no surprise as no one expected much from him. George and Johns early 70s contributions were mostly very well received critically and commercially, though the press continued their “crucifixion” of John on a personal level. Paul’s deterioration into alcohol abuse and alienation might be why his early offerings brought scorn. He did get his act together though and delivered highly successful, high quality material....albeit leavened by regular embarrassing sorties into dismal ventures. He missed the guidance and quality control of his peers.....in my opinion.
I think the only generally reasonably good consistent work of a former Beatle, is that of Paul. John did some good tracks, George did that great Time Bandits tune, and Fab was great butRingo did some great little pop tunes. But I really don’t think any of them made a record as good as the Beatles apart from Paul. Jet, Maybe, Mull, Ebony, Coming Up, Just Another Day etc etc - al good little numbers. Imagine still makes me cry
To add to your list I also love “Uncle Albert” “Every Night” “Live and Let Die” “In the World Tonight” and the entire Band on The Run Album even John agreed was really good.
I thought that before John passed he was genuinely happy for Paul but surprised at how Wings did so well. He made a few digs but Paul taking on Denny Laine and paving the way for tremendous success of Wings seemed to take John a bit by surprise.
Paul really needs the right partner around to do his best work- with John, to some extent George, George Martin and even in his solo career most of the best stuff was when Denny was with him. He's still the engine of course, but music is subtle chemistry. He seems to need that sounding board or check and of course the little touches that they add to complement his main ideas.
I listen to their solo music more than beatle music! [although its not better] great video, we think alot alike!
James D. Wheeler thanks James me too probably!
Interesting John , Thank you
Thanks Neil!