Comments on: ... And I hope we passed the audition.

... And I hope we passed the audition.

pruner — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:19:33 -0800

♫ Get Back ♫ - It was 38 years ago today, Sgt. Pepper and the band last played.
[Previously parodied on The Simpsons. Other notable appearances in Springfield.]

Bonus Track - 10mm B&W dailies from the 'Get Back' studio sessions.

By: GavinR

GavinR — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:25:48 -0800

"I would like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we've passed the audition"

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:28:56 -0800

Paul looked good with that beard. Ringo looked resplendant in that orange jacket. John flubbed the words to "Don't Let Me Down" but substituted a glib-glob-glooby bit which was surely inspired by the copious amounts of mind-altering chemicals he was ingesting, and George, well, George had a big bushy coat on. And it was their last concert. Fabulous.

By: pruner

pruner — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:29:10 -0800

I've been waiting more than a week to post this. :)

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:36:10 -0800

I've been waiting more than a week to post this. Why not two more years, when it would've been a nice round number, the 40th anniversary? ;)

By: pruner

pruner — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:37:21 -0800

George is awesome. When the cops shut his amp (and John's) during the final (2nd in the video... 3rd in actuality) version of "Get Back" he reaches over and plugs it right back in.

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:45:37 -0800

Loved the 'Get Back' sessions. There's a section in the 2nd part where John and Paul basically make fun of their earlier music, which I find amusingly honest.

By: pruner

pruner — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:48:16 -0800

Why not two more years, when it would've been a nice round number, the 40th anniversary? ;) I thought about it, but I figured that Apple Records^® might hit YouTube with a C&D before then, so...

By: pruner

pruner — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:13:51 -0800

George & Ringo – working on Octopus' Garden at Apple studio w/John on drums ('69). Paul acoustic Helter Skelter demo ('68) The Beatles Hey Jude studio rehearsal ('68)

By: maxwelton

maxwelton — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:15:56 -0800

Bono who? Awesome. Just awesome.

By: chillmost

chillmost — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:30:22 -0800

Beautiful. Love live the Beatles. Ringo's next.

By: pruner

pruner — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:35:26 -0800

The rooftop concert footage (1st link in FPP) is the last 22 minutes of the movie "Let It Be". Here's the first hour.

By: pruner

pruner — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:56:57 -0800

oops... I f'd up the Hey Jude rehearsal link in my earlier comment.

By: PeterMcDermott

PeterMcDermott — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 03:01:48 -0800

"Sweet Loretta Fart, she thought she was a cleaner, But she was a frying pan.."

By: emelenjr

emelenjr — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 03:05:48 -0800

As a veteran band member, the rehearsal clips are the most interesting ones to me. Whaaaa? They're sitting down?

By: baker dave

baker dave — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 03:19:34 -0800

i've been waiting 38 years

By: jfuller

jfuller — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:08:31 -0800

> i've been waiting 38 years I'm holding my breath for The Beatles Meet The Dave Clark Five From Beyond The Grave. I keep checking bittorrent...

By: caddis

caddis — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:28:13 -0800

That was great thanks.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 05:10:21 -0800

Just got around to watching those 10mm dailies. Damn, it took them a long time to get it together to play! They're so unfocussed! I've always thought that about much of the Let It Be footage that made it into the final film, and seeing these dailies reconfirms: there was so much of that aimless noodling around, ineffective communication (often noncommunication) between band members... it's a minor miracle they pulled the record off at all! And I don't want to get into the whole "Yoko broke up the Beatles" thing cause that's a tired one, and certainly an oversimplification, but it indeed must've been pretty weird for the other Beatles to have this woman sitting there, right in the middle of the group, day in and day out, while they were rehearsing, writing, arranging... sheesh. It also must've been a bit weird for Billy Preston, stepping into this bizarre dysfunctional family of British superstars, living legends of music, who could barely get through 16 bars at a stretch without falling apart or noodling themselves into a corner.

By: pracowity

pracowity — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 05:33:15 -0800

Yoko... yikes.

By: wheelieman

wheelieman — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 05:44:43 -0800

Don't blame it on Yokie! Actually, I agree that Yoko did a lot of the damage, but she's not the sole reason they broke up.

By: Sk4n

Sk4n — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 05:56:28 -0800

Pruner, you are my hero.

By: XQUZYPHYR

XQUZYPHYR — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:01:22 -0800

I love the music notes for music links as much as I hate the carets for Wikipedia links. I have no idea why my feelings on the two are polar opposites like that, but music notes = teh awes0me.

By: JeffL

JeffL — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:17:55 -0800

I always thought it was interesting that John (not George) was playing lead guitar on the rooftop concert.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:35:33 -0800

I always thought it was interesting that John (not George) was playing lead guitar on the rooftop concert. Y'know, it's not all that surprising: George's bits on record (usually the "middle eight", as they called it) were, of course, his very best takes. He could do take after take, get it right. But almost any time you hear George on Beatle bootlegs, outtakes, rehearsal situations during Let It Be, or many of the early live appearances you'll find that his solos are often marred by bum notes, awkward phrasing... Of course he had his moments, but George was certainly not one of the greatest guitar players around. He was just incredibly lucky to have been childhood chums with two phenomenally talented songwriters. *awaits storm of condemnation from George lovers everywhere*

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:47:44 -0800

I'm holding my breath for The Beatles Meet The Dave Clark Five From Beyond The Grave. 1) i'm in strawberry pieces forever 2) catch the walrus if you can 3) ob la di and over 4) glad all across the universe rumors have it that artistic differences may prevent the release of a full album

By: caddis

caddis — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:48:56 -0800

I love the music notes for music links as much as I hate the carets for Wikipedia links. me too

By: bardic

bardic — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:51:33 -0800

*awaits storm of condemnation from George lovers everywhere* If you meant to say he was over-rated as a guitar player, and under-rated as a song-writer and composer, I'd have to agree. But don't get me started on Ringo -- yes, he was limited, but Neil Peart would have ruined many a great Beatles song.

By: caddis

caddis — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:00:35 -0800

"He's not even the best drummer in The Beatles!" John Lennon, upon being asked if Ringo was the best drummer in the world.

By: fingers_of_fire

fingers_of_fire — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:04:39 -0800

Um, George plays lead on One After 909 and Dig a Pony, both from the rooftop. And his rhythm guitar part on Get Back? Absolutely perfect.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:06:50 -0800

But don't get me started on Ringo -- yes, he was limited, but Neil Peart would have ruined many a great Beatles song. Hey, you'll never hear me speak ill of Ringo, bardic. I think Ringo was fucking great. One of my all time fave drummers, up there with Howard Grimes (that's Al Greens' man), John Bonham (Led Zep), Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown) and Al Jackson (Booker T. and the MGs), to name a few. None of these guys were the technician that Neal Peart is, but... who cares? It's about groove. Laying it down so it feels right. And Ringo certainly did that for the Beatles.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:09:26 -0800

Um, George plays lead on One After 909 and Dig a Pony, both from the rooftop. And his rhythm guitar part on Get Back? Absolutely perfect. Aha! A guitarist joins the discussion! Where do you fall, f_o_f, on the George Question? That is, on his soloing?

By: zorro astor

zorro astor — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:21:09 -0800

George was never anything but a rhythm guitarist. He looked awkward in pics and on stage. Why they booted Pete Best and not him as well has always puzzled me. He did however have a brief buy memorable solo career immediately after the Beatles broke up.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:23:54 -0800

"He's not even the best drummer in The Beatles!" : John Lennon, upon being asked if Ringo was the best drummer in the world. According to your Wikipedia link, the quote is unsourced. It's a funny quote, a great quote, but Lennon may, in fact, have never actually said that. It sounds like something he could've said, but whether he said it or not, it is, of course, patently untrue.

By: fingers_of_fire

fingers_of_fire — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:24:52 -0800

well, f@m, since you asked - I don't really listen to the Beatles for instrumental prowess - I listen to them (**alot** - I'm pretty obsessed) because the overall picture is so complete - the writing is fantastic, the singing is perfect, the arrangements never fail to charm and/or amaze, the production is great, the sounds are great, etc. I do think that this applies to the guitar solos as well - they do exactly what they need to do. Are the examples of virtuosic instrumental genius? No. But they are, in my opinion, generally perfect for the context, and that to me involves a certain level of both genius and virtuosity. In this case, however, the virtuosity depends more on the mind than on the fingers, and I'm FAR more interested in that anyway, mefi-name notwithstanding. (By the way, I really meant what I said - the guitar sounds that the Beatles got were absolutely incredibly - from the mellow Jazz-like tones of "Michelle" or "Here, There, and Everywhere" to the heavier "Helter Skelter" and "The End". Even the ACOUSTIC sounds on "Blackbird", "Yesterday", "Norwegian Wood", etc. [I've been teaching people how to play "Blackbird" for 20 years, and I've watched Sir Paul play it in person, and I still have no idea how he gets his sound on that tune.] In my book, the first thing to consider when evaluating a guitarist's abilities is his sound. On that scale, ALL three of the guitar-playing members of the Beatles shine. By the same token, last time I heard Jimi at Woodstock, well - it was WAY out of tune, clearly too loud, and over-effected. I'm all for uni-vibes and what-have-you, but his guitar had no tone. But we don't talk about that, 'cuz it's **JIMI**, the greatest guitar player ever...)

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:32:19 -0800

Cool, f_o_f! Exactly the kind of thoughtful analysis I'd hoped for. Very good points you've made, and I find myself agreeing with them.

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:45:21 -0800

george had his own style as a lead guitarist, one that's pretty much identifiable as being him ... that's more than i can say for some of the "guitar gods" who followed him

By: itchylick

itchylick — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:48:07 -0800

Awesome. Thanks.

By: three blind mice

three blind mice — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:02:35 -0800

He did however have a brief buy memorable solo career immediately after the Beatles broke up. Brief? My Sweet Lord how soon they forget.

By: fingers_of_fire

fingers_of_fire — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:17:43 -0800

so, flapjax - Ringo's drumming?

By: three blind mice

three blind mice — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:24:08 -0800

Ringo's drumming? Somone once asked John if Ringo was the best drummer in the world. He replied "He's not even the best drummer in the band."

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:26:35 -0800

so, flapjax - Ringo's drumming? Please see above. I'd take this opportunity to go into more in-depth analysis of Starr's sterling stickwork but alas, I must go to sleep now. *cue Ringo singing "nowwww, it's tiiiime to saaaaay, goodnight..."

By: fingers_of_fire

fingers_of_fire — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:28:44 -0800

oops, sorry flapjax - didn't notice the author of that...

By: three blind mice

three blind mice — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:34:23 -0800

And re. Ringo not being the best drummer in the band, I didn't notice the previous comment. Glad my memory is working, if not my reading comprehension.

By: Alvy Ampersand

Alvy Ampersand — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:38:30 -0800

Great post and comments; I could listen to people talk about music all day. And I lurve the music notes! ...and miss the carets, but anyhoo.

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:46:17 -0800

Ringo was the best drummer for The Beatles. Keith Moon or Charlie Watts wouldn't have worked. George was the best guitarist for The Beatles; their sound didn't depend on have an awesome lead guitarist (although Eric Clapton did OK on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"). George also held his own on "The End," where he, John, and Paul alternate guitar solos and you can tell who's playing by their style.

By: JeffL

JeffL — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:54:07 -0800

Um, George plays lead on One After 909 and Dig a Pony, both from the rooftop. Right, I was specificially thinking about Get Back, I guess. "He's not even the best drummer in The Beatles!" That seems ridiculous, at least based on the recorded evidence. The handful of White Album songs McCartney definitely played drums on (while Ringo had temporarily quit the band) seem pretty stiff to me (especially Dear Prudence, which I otherwise love).

By: fingers_of_fire

fingers_of_fire — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 09:00:36 -0800

Wow, JeffL - I LOVE the drumming on Dear Prudence... I also love the drumming on McCartney. I don't think it really matters if Paul is a better drummer than Ringo - point is, he's a great drummer!

By: pruner

pruner — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 09:07:30 -0800

with regard to John's comment about Ringo's drumming, I've heard – but not never seen verification – that he was joking when he said it.

By: yupster

yupster — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 09:40:14 -0800

This is amazing

By: edverb

edverb — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 09:55:21 -0800

On the question of Ringo...he was the perfect drummer for that band. Understated, crisp. The man was all pocket. Can you imagine Don't Let Me Down with any other drummer (or drum part) behind it? Or Ticket to Ride? Tomorrow Never Knows? Seriously...how many drummers can you identify just by hearing them play four bars? I could count them on my fingers, and Ringo is one of them. Listening to "Love" (the remixed, remastered mashup from George Martin and his son) one can't help but think that if Ringo were mixed like that from the beginning, he might not be so underrated. On the question of George's soloing prowess...opinions vary, but he did turn into one helluva slide player. Gotta give credit there. Top post Pruner. Thanks for this.

By: potsmokinghippieoverlord

potsmokinghippieoverlord — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 11:14:22 -0800

Those cops who came to shut down the party -- they look like teens!

By: melvix

melvix — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:18:03 -0800

Great post. Thank you.

By: pruner

pruner — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 22:47:26 -0800

I'm glad that everyone who commented liked the post (and my use of musical notes)... though I'm wondering what happened to all the MeFites who are too cool for for the Beatles.

By: grubi

grubi — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 09:30:49 -0800

I love me some Beatles. All four of 'em. Re: Ringo's underratedness: I've often remarked that Ringo was like the Yogi Berra of the Beatles. He was seen as silly, goofballish, and easily overlooked as a technical player, but Ringo can drum as well as anyone I've ever heard and Yogi won three AL MVPs, for chrissakes. Nevre overlook either of them just because they are goofy. Anyway. :-)

By: David Williams

David Williams — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 14:30:17 -0800

Thank you for posting the link to these clips. Good for my perspective on life to see the times of my youth on scratchy, ancient archival footage. And without seeing this music being made, I would have forgotten the beauty of Billy Preston's playing, and its absolute impotance to the Beatles at this point in their career.

By: concrete

concrete — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 15:18:12 -0800

pruner writes "though I'm wondering what happened to all the MeFites who are too cool for for the Beatles." I think they're too busy in the U2 thread.

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 17:16:23 -0800

what happened to all the MeFites who are too cool for for the Beatles. you mean the blue meanies? ... they've all been chased out of pepperland

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 17:43:06 -0800

Funny, they don't look blueish...