This has been a popular idea for some time.
I first encountered it in the '70's when critic Robert Hilburn suggested in the LA Times that although they'd broken up, you could assemble virtual albums from their solo work.
This can be done for every year they all made albums.
The first possibility is most interesting to me.
All of these songs, except for the selections from "Plastic Ono Band" (which include Ringo), were at least written while they were still a band, if not rehearsed during "Let It Be".
Beatles '70
It's clear they were all moving in different directions, but that was also apparent on "The White Album".
This flows remarkably well.
Enjoy!
-BBJ
14 comments:
Great song choices but if done by The Beatles most of these songs would sound little like the solo versions.
The Beatles' versions would be even better. One of the great things about The Beatles was they were a perfect unit, amplifying each others strengths and minimizing the weaknesses.
Capt. Al
The only problem I have with this concept is that their production styles became so wildly different, at least initially. Paul was down home/demo quality, George had Phil Spector building a wall of sound, John was going stark and stripped down, Ringo was revisting the oldies with an orchestra ... they were all over the place production wise.
And at least in Lennon's case, a running theme in the Plastic Ono Band album was total rejection of Beatles mythology ... although it would have been interesting to end a Beatles album along the lines of "I don't believe in Beatles/I just believe in me/Yoko and Me/And that's reality."
Aside from maybe "Love," "Look at Me" and "Remember," I can't imagine anything he did on that album fitting on a Beatles album. He went off in a pretty interesting direction. Years later, I can see we're better off now that they got to breakaway from what must have been an enormous weight on each of them.
I have The Beatles rehearsing "All Things Must Pass", and as rough as it is, it's superior to the released version, which drags. In this case I used his solo demo.
Bonus track:
http://alanwalkerart.com/audio/all_things_must_pass.mp3
What i love about the various production styles are clearly shedding their skins with their nakedness not even wanting to play with any other musicians while George is like a kid in the candy store, finally having the time in the studio to shape these songs. Now we look back and can see George was led astray but back in 1970 ATMP was a revelation
Thanks for this! A couple of thoughts:
Solo, "they were all over the place production wise." - you mean like the White Album?
Never felt Hari's "All Things Must Pass" dragged. Pretty perfect, IMO. Stately would be a good adjective.
Man, did Lennon hate "Teddy Boy." I doubt he would have ever agreed to it on a Fabs record.
Again, thanks, will be a fun listen.
I snooze, I lose . . . already gone. Any chance of a reup on a friendlier data locker site? Thanks.
Noam, thinking more Let It Be/Abbey Road production differential. I can see some of the Lennon and McCartney stuff peacefully coexisting on an album, but ATMP was a massive Spector production and sounds so dense in comparison. And should we follow the solo/together album thing to its logical conclusion on "How Do You Sleep?" That would make for an interesting day in the studio with Paul on bass!
@davidwolfsonnc - maybe try again? just worked splendidly for me.
davidwolfsonnc- try again no problem I can see.
I deliberately chose "Apple Scruffs", the demo of "ATMP", and "Not Guilty" for their lack of Spectorism. Some strings and horns can be found on most Beatle albums after 1966.
John was probably not fond of "Rocky Raccoon" or "Maxwell's Siver Hammer" either.
Hello all...no, please remain seated,
Here's the thing...I've always thought the Beatles '70 album would have been better as a single disc.
RichD
Thanks for this. Anyone familiar with Ethan Hawke's 'Black Album' featured in 'Boyhood'?
The bonus track "All Things Must Pass" above is from it.
It's one of the big "what if's", isn't it? The White Album comparison is apt; the marked disparity in style, composition and presentation may well have evolved into your fab four sides, fab songs & fab artwork. It's fab & I like it (That's enough fabs - Ed). Cheers for the long weekend!
You're right BBJ - it plays remarkably well together. Nice job staying with the traditional Beatles' album composer ratio as well. Very authentic.
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