FEATURE:
Speaking Words of Wisdom
IN THIS PHOTO: The Beatles in January 1969 during their legendary rooftop gig in London/PHOTO CREDIT: Apple Corps
Will We Get a Second Get Back Documentary from The Beatles and Peter Jackson?
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THERE is always something going on…
ILLUSTRATION CREDIT: Madison Grosvenor
when it comes to The Beatles! In terms of news, exhibitions, auctions, reissues and general news, we are never short of action! Whilst we Beatles fans are blessed and lucky to have access to their music and new information about them so many years after they broke up, there are certain questions and what-ifs. I think many people wonder which album of theirs will be reissued. The previous one was Let It Be. Many would want the next reissue to be for 1965’S Rubber Soul. Giles Martin, the arbiter and super-producer in charge of all of this, has made no announcements yet. I suspect that we will get an album reissue in the next year or two. They are always so exciting to hear! I saw a recent article from Rolling Stone about the recording of Let It Be and that Peter Jackson Get Back documentary that came out in 2021:
“Producer/engineer Glyn Johns recorded the whole of the Let It Be sessions for the Beatles in 1969, and mixed a raw version of the album that wouldn’t be released for another 52 years — so he’s far from a fan of the Phil Spector-embellished album that came out in 1970. “He did a terrible job,” Johns says on the new episode of Rolling Stone Music Now. “Don’t misunderstand me — I respect Phil Spector for his early work tremendously. But somebody like Phil Spector shouldn’t ever be allowed near a band like the Beatles, in my view. Phil Spector was always the artist in the records that he made. He treated the artists like parts of the machine to make the end result. I don’t think the Beatles ever require that kind of input.”
The new episode, which also includes an interview with Ringo Starr, was recorded live at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Starr’s 83rd birthday, with Rob Sheffield and Hall of Fame vice president of education Jason Hanley joining host Brian Hiatt to interview Johns about the making of Let It Be and more. To hear the whole episode — which also includes some of Johns’ memories of working with The Rolling Stones, the Who, and Led Zeppelin — go here to the podcast provider of your choice, listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or just press play above. A few highlights follow:
Johns thinks the Beatles improved tremendously as players from their early days. “I had the good fortune to be present on a recording for a TV show they did in the very early sixties called Around the Beatles, and it was done at the studio where I was working,” Johns says. “And the backing tracks sounded pretty average, like any band really. I actually think they all developed tremendously as musicians from there, George in particular. George was not the most instinctive guitar player like Eric [Clapton] George needs time to sit and work stuff out, and when he does it is phenomenal. It’s just phenomenal. Ringo, I didn’t pay much attention to initially, but by the time I got to record them, it became apparent to me what an astonishing drummer he is, and I don’t think he gets nearly enough credit to this day. He really is quite remarkable. His feel. I’m talking about his feel. His technical ability is average, but his feel exceptional. Also, what he does, where he puts what he plays is quite remarkable. And without him, they would not have been the same band. I don’t care what anybody says.”
Starr has no idea where he got the beat he plays on the released version of “Get Back.”
In early rehearsals, as shown in Peter Jackson’s Get Back documentary, “it’s just straight rock,” Starr says. “And then it’s on the roof and I’m, I’ve got that shuffle-swing march going and I don’t know what came into me to do that. I just felt good at the time doing that. That’s how most of my drumming was actually. It’s a feeling kind of playing, not an absolute restrictive type of drumming.”
When George Harrison temporarily left the Beatles during the making of Let It Be, it felt “very real,” Johns says. “Extremely real! He even took his eight track back. Talk about throwing your toys out the pram! I was really upset: ‘Bloody hell. I’ve waited all these years to work with them. I’ve been in it for two minutes, and it looks like it’s all over already.’ And of course, that turned out not to be the case, but it was pretty disappointing”.
Reading some of that Rolling Stone article casts my mind back to Get Back. In terms of its importance, that documentary recontextualised our understanding of The Beatles’ relationship during that time. The perceived wisdom prior to that documentary was that there was a lot of in-fighting and disharmony. Many assumed that Yoko Ono added to a lot of the tension – like she was in the way or, absurdly, broke up the band. In fact, whilst there was some argument and bad moments (George Harrison walking out), there was a lot of relaxation, happiness and great moments. The bond between John Lennon and Paul McCartney is particularly striking. They still had that mutual respect and love for one another.
It was a great gift to get the documentary and the 468 minutes of the band rehearsing and recording new songs. I do wonder whether more from that time will come out. By all means, Peter Jackson would have kept material aside. There were many more hours originally filmed and directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg. The more we understand from those latter days, the more we can appreciate them anew. Future generations will also get more context and truth. We do not necessarily need a further three-part series, but more footage from those sessions would be a treasure! I think that there is a lot of curiosity regarding what was left out and how much is left. It is always brilliant to know that people around during the time The Beatles: Get Back are still with us and will talk about it. I know fans were so appreciative to Peter Jackson for bringing us this footage and, in the process, giving us a new perspective on a very important period in the band’s history! I have the feeling that there is a lot more to be seen. More than will add new layers to the greatest band ever to have lived. Let’s see what the future holds. If nothing comes about, then we can let it be. I know there will be books, albums and various other Beatles bits arriving in the coming years. It is just that the impact of that three-part documentary in 2021 was profound. If it could happen all over again, then that would really be something. From the more boring moments in the studio when the band were noodling, to that epic and iconic rooftop gig, it was a hugely emotional watch! I know Beatles fans around the world would love to spend some more time with The Beatles as they put together wonderful songs. We can never say never, because none of us know…
WHAT the future holds.