The Beatles Get Back

[apes3978]

I'm guessing Ringo is like all of us …. take the money and run (see Steve Miller )

BTW, what ever happened to Steve Miller ?

I miss that guy's tunes

Steve was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016... Also, I don't know if it was just a one off thing, or if he was still regularly touring at the time, but around that time (give or take a football season), he played a special season kick-off concert in the Lambeau Field parking lot. I didn't go, but the place looked jam-packed with people around the stage.

Not sure what he's been doing since then. I would guess in the times we're in now, he probably isn't touring, but I could be wrong on that.

[Mikey]

……….

He *does* go a bit far with the whole 'Peace and Love' thing though. Not saying he doesn't believe it, but he carries it a bit far at times.

I'm guessing Ringo is like all of us …. take the money and run (see Steve Miller )

BTW, what ever happened to Steve Miller ?

I miss that guy's tunes

[Mikey]

I know some feel differently, but I think "YKMN (LUTN)" is totally

My personal opinion is that it's one of the worst things they ever did.

I love it !!!

It's the Beatles just screwing around

Almost feels like an early Fan Christmas message out-take

[apes3978]

Ringo --- God love him …

BEST BEATLE EVER !!!

Yeah, Ringo seemed/seems like a decent enough guy, and he seems like he could be the guy who was the glue to hold it all together at times.

He *does* go a bit far with the whole 'Peace and Love' thing though. Not saying he doesn't believe it, but he carries it a bit far at times.

[apes3978]

You Know My Name to liven things up

I know some feel differently, but I think "YKMN (LUTN)" is totally

My personal opinion is that it's one of the worst things they ever did.

[Mikey]

Imagine,--- All Things Must Pass, Beware of Darkness --- Isn't it a Pitty

Sprinkle on some Don't Let Me Down and even You Know My Name to liven things up

The HEY JUDE album, could have been a masterpiece rather than a quick Ron Decline cash-grab

[rykerw1701]

In the first part of the documentary in Twickenham, Paul is doing most of the heavy lifting. He's clearly the band leader at this point. He's busy composing "Get Back" and "Let it Be" while George sulks and John acts disinterested and distracted. Ringo is definitely ready when needed, but he wasn't a big part of the song writing process. But of course, George is sulking because Paul in particular isn't showing him a whole lot of respect. "All Things Must Pass" is a very good song, very worthy of being on a Beatles album, and Paul barely listened to what George was offering.

But I think knocking Paul is like knocking William Shatner. Without them, the whole things comes apart or never really gets off the ground. Both are self-absorbed, neither is the "cool" half of the partnership, but both do the heavy lifting, even if they could have shared the load a bit more.

[Megotastrophe]

I thought Pete was the "Best" Beatle.

[Mikey]

I LOVE the Beatles (the legend), but the more and more I read about these guys makes me like them less and less.

Always knew Lennon was an ******* --- People, NEVER meet your gods

McCartney --- Ned Flanders on steroids

Harrison --- How could you be so mean to your sister while preaching love and karma to the masses ---YOU are not what you THINK you are.

Ringo --- God love him …

BEST BEATLE EVER !!!

[SeattleEd]

The book is great for having the photos of the sessions and it also contains the dialog of series. It was a must for me.

[Nostalgiabuff]

Mal Evans archives are now going to be released as well. set for 2023

"Evans’ family teamed up with Beatles scholar and author Kenneth Womack for the biography, which will be published by HarperCollins’ Dey Street Books imprint. The following year, they’ll release the “Holy Grail” for Beatles fans: his archives, which fans have been speculating about for years. The collection contains diaries, manuscripts, and more."

something to look forward to

did anyone pick up the book that was released as a companion to the Get Back doc? Wondering if it is worth buying

[SeattleEd]

Had time to take it all in and have to say, it was a masterpiece.
Being an ardor fan of the Get Back sessions from numerous years and reading books on first and second hand accounts, it is refreshing to finally see what actually happened in those sessions.
Yes, what was displayed is what the Beatles wanted the public to see because they all knew they had to save face for the band and Apple. Meaning they can't make it appear the band was falling apart, when it was and it was show in Get Back. Body language was obvious so there were obvious tensions.

One scene that was not brought up was when Yoko went and took a digestive biscuit from George's amp, which angered George who then confronted John about it. This is what lead to the argument claiming they got into fisticuffs. Surprised that wasn't included and it was simply glossed over.

What was obvious was the wild card of John Lennon, not being super cooperative and hence why Paul confronted him and let him know the band needs to be serious about memorizing the songs and "straightening them" out so they presentable and stop goofing around with prolonged rehearsal sessions of the same songs and not making and advancement. Being in several bands I know that feeling and frustration when other band members just don't care.
It was obvious John was not invested and there were times where he was straight faced stoned and zoning out. Not caring. I've in bands with people with this personality. I felt empathy for Paul. But Paul was way in over his head with this project to bring on board artsy newbies.

Michael Lindsay-Hogg was a terrible director in this and is ideas were ridiculous. Not even asking the band before hand to get their thoughts and input. This is where a Brian Epstein as Executive Producer would come in and wrangle the director and band to make it cohesive.

It is hard to direct or control 4 big egos and no one could do it other than Brian. When this became evident was when they were in disagreement with George Martin about the acoustics and mic placement. John and Paul were TELLING George about acoustic properties and proximity effects of microphones. As an audio engineer, I was livid and even knew Paul and George where in the wrong and mansplaining to George Martin, their audio engineer and producer. And yet George Martin took it and backed down.

I kinda had respect for Glyn Johns prior to this but after seeing this, he is a terrible producer and engineer for this project. But to his credit he was rushed but then he didn't control the sessions since he too was afraid of the Beatles and confronting them, as was evident on how they treated him. No respect. Martin was present to help him and you could see at times Glyn asking help from Martin. Martin was in these sessions and it was clear. And didn't get credit which is BS. He gave advice and guidance on what to do as witnessed in the writing and recording of Let It Be.

One thing is clear, there is no definitive Let It Be or Get Back album. Poor versions were selected for Get Back by Glyn Johns and I don't understand why he didn't use the better takes and why the "F" did he pour massive reverb on the entire album? It sounds like s**t. When you hear the actual take of the versions used on the that album, they sound clear and tight, thanks to Giles Martin. As for the Let It Be, I really do not like what Phil did with Let It Be and Long and Winding Road, the latter my top 3 Beatles fav song. But he did do justice on the other tracks. Then there is Let It Be...Naked which fixes the Macca discrepancies and does wonders for the rooftop tracks. My vote would be to have a new Get Back album made with sourcing all three albums into a cohesive album, including the overdub FIXES to make it right. Martin and Macca overseeing it.

Now the rooftop, I will not lie, this made me cry. Got chills. Felt super elated. This is the masterpiece in the masterpiece for me. Being able to witness the entire performance and in it's best sound...priceless for me. Although I need to listen to it in surround 5.1 atmos. After decades trying to get the best sources from bootlegs audio and video, I was happy to see it all in it's splendor. This is a piece of musical history and glad to see it preserved. worth the 7 plus hours wait.

Overall, this was a great series and better than Anthology for me but then I LOVE these sessions. I've already pieced together my version of the Get Back album that is better sequenced to my liking. And one side is the Rooftop performance with the best versions and is cohesive. I hope to see more material remixed and remastered released. At least the Glyn Johns Get Back album remixed and remastered.

Lastly, many people are fixated on Yoko. Not sure why. It didn't bother me and most of the time she got lost in it. She was no more a distraction than having camera men, APs, gaffers, and boom mics in the way, which were more a problem than Yoko. Plus everyone brought in loved ones, family, business associates. Yoko was definitely no a distraction for me. If anything, John Lennon being a lose cannon.
George Harrison was indeed the one more dedicated to the music out of all of them. First thing he asks, "Where are the 8-track machines?" That is a serious musician. And to bring in his own 8-track recorder...damn. MAD RESPECT!

[Nostalgiabuff]

well said Tom. I felt that way about it too, especially when they were sitting around talking about Yoko always being there. Paul was clearly trying to be diplomatic in what he was saying but her presence was clearly irritating everyone

[MIB41]

I've really enjoyed watching the Get Back documentary. For me, it just confirms they were growing apart in a very natural way, indicative of the growing pains these four individuals were experiencing. When they were young, the band represented a safety net where they could anchor themselves to one another as they developed through this really crazy period of fame. They all had that shared experience which was so important before they had an identity for themselves. But when Brian Epstein died, they no longer had a structured environment to operate in, which meant different individuals would assert themselves to try and compensate.

I believe that's when they realized they no longer had shared goals. It seems that experience forced them into their own respective corners and they started growing lives apart from one another. By the time they got to this stage for the documentary, it feels like they were mostly tolerating one another out of respect for what they had created together. And having cameras turned on in one of the last places where they might still find refuge together was the straw that broke the camel's back. I think that forced them to see themselves as they were at that point.

I also don't really see this footage as completely candid either. I think having those cameras turned on, forced them to bite their tongues allot and the pressure of having to take the high road for the sake of what the public might see just wore them out. Sure there were plenty of great moments that were absolutely real, but I think the stress on them was palpable. Where it wasn't conveyed in words, it was obvious in their facial expressions. Those terse exchanges between George and Paul were symptomatic of what they were all feeling and I believe George was the best in trying to say what no one else knew how to. Those are just hard things to say to people you grew up with. It becomes unfathomable to wonder how that might feel if you need to state it with cameras rolling.

[Nostalgiabuff]

agreed about the rooftop concert and how great it looks and sounds. Hell, just the fact that they used 3 of those live performed songs on the album shows what an amazing band they were