Peter Jackson Beatles documentary

DdBob said:
yep that nwas exactly my image of what John did but nop he is out there wailing. I've been listening to some of his solo stuff morte indepth and have a much better appreciation for the whole John aesthetic . I mean that anarchist image was rightly deserved . He was a man whoas flamencology would say FUCKS and Fucked hard....you can hear it in the notes and the phrasing. he got some extra special sauce gpoing on much like the Blue Oyster Cult did (to me BOC was a weird sci fi hard rock BOOGIE band)....they really had a natural thi g in their playing which evoked teh boogie boogie wild bunch and John's got the same thing that Je ne sais quoi :)
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Have you been taking nips from the cooking sherry again
 
I'm pretty much just a casual Beatles fan but I fell down the rabbit hole of this film over the weekend...

Part 1 got old pretty fast, but I was actually quite charmed at John and Yoko's waltz during "I Me Mine"...I didn't quite understand George's motivation for quitting, but I could see that of the 4 he was probably the most disenchanted member of the group right from the start...the "hidden microphone" segment between John and Paul was disturbing in it's portrayal of two men who could just not break through whatever barrier to communication they had erected over the years...

It was in part2 that I started to sense just how intrusive Yoko's constant presence had become...she didn't seem to outwardly interfere with the proceedings but she still seemed to hold sway over them...I was amused when at one point Paul looked over at Billy Preston and asked him if he minded being there, I'm sure Billy was quite pleased to have an opportunity to be that big a part of a Beatles record...

The rooftop concert was much more disjointed than I imagined, but it was gratifying to see the four of them embrace being in a band and playing together, even for a short period of time...almost as if it was a catharsis for the four of them to recall what they left behind...

Overall, though, I found it a bit of a depressing portrayal of four incredibly talented individuals who could no longer stomach being in a band together...there were several moments where I wish we had been privy to some of the off-mic conversations taking place, most notably the talk that Yoko and Linda were having...I feel like much of what transpired later could have been illuminated better had we been able to listen in to moments like those as well...

And yes, Linda Eastman was incredibly cute...
 
Imagine if George hadn't come back and they'd got Buck Dharma to replace him. And then John got too fucked up on the gear to play, so they subbed in Buck Owens, because they were big Buck Owens fans.

That would have been effing awesome. Buck, Buck, Paul, Ringo, and Billy Preston. That was a missed opportunity.
 
Finished part three yesterday.

Amazing to see the process, the amount of time where they don’t seem to be doing anything and then the songs keep popping up. It’s crazy that over 22 days they created all of Let It Be and most of Abbey Road...I had no idea. My favorite part may have been when Ringo plays his first take on Octopus’s Garden to George, watching them work together and supporting each other.

I’m surprised at folks finding it depressing. There were awkward parts, but that’s almost always part of a multifaceted creative process...the facets being the creative musicians. I saw things get more comfortable once they got used to the camera’s. Surely some of that was performative throughout, but from everything else that we know it was a mix of ego (John’s being altered by drugs, Paul’s growing as a more grandiose creative force, and even George being less willing to be minimized) and the financial situation. But it was that latter exacerbated by Klein that really helped it come to a head. Also the times...today members of a band would release solo albums w/o it meaning things were over.

I got choked up quite few times, but all joyously. Watching my favorite band do their magic in the studio and in live performance. This series was an amazing gift. I’d watch ALL of the footage given the chance.
 
Motorik said:
Imagine if George hadn't come back and they'd got Buck Dharma to replace him. And then John got too fucked up on the gear to play, so they subbed in Buck Owens, because they were big Buck Owens fans.

That would have been effing awesome. Buck, Buck, Paul, Ringo, and Billy Preston. That was a missed opportunity.
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imagine that line up doing and your bird can sing>doctor robert>while don't we do it in the road..... kinda like a long winded Grateful dead jam from 73'
 
DdBob said:
imagine that line up doing and your bird can sing>doctor robert>while don't we do it in the road..... kinda like a long winded Grateful dead jam from 73'
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That would be AMAZING. Buck and Buck harmonized lead! Instead of making a TV special they could have just gone on Hee Haw. Ringo could have done some hilarious skits.

Double-Buck Beatles, it's the best timeline.
 
Motorik said:
That would be AMAZING. Buck and Buck harmonized lead! Instead of making a TV special they could have just gone on Hee Haw. Ringo could have done some hilarious skits.

Double-Buck Beatles, it's the best timeline.
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They really missed some opportunities didn't they?
 
DdBob said:
They really missed some opportunities didn't they?
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The Let It Be album would have been replaced with a better album called Buckshot, and instead of being the final Beatles LP it would have been the beginning of a string of great 5-man Beatle albums, or the 'Beatles get into fifth gear'-period as it was known.
 
Dogsinplastic said:
Finished part three yesterday.

Amazing to see the process, the amount of time where they don’t seem to be doing anything and then the songs keep popping up. It’s crazy that over 22 days they created all of Let It Be and most of Abbey Road...I had no idea. My favorite part may have been when Ringo plays his first take on Octopus’s Garden to George, watching them work together and supporting each other.

I’m surprised at folks finding it depressing. There were awkward parts, but that’s almost always part of a multifaceted creative process...the facets being the creative musicians. I saw things get more comfortable once they got used to the camera’s. Surely some of that was performative throughout, but from everything else that we know it was a mix of ego (John’s being altered by drugs, Paul’s growing as a more grandiose creative force, and even George being less willing to be minimized) and the financial situation. But it was that latter exacerbated by Klein that really helped it come to a head. Also the times...today members of a band would release solo albums w/o it meaning things were over.

I got choked up quite few times, but all joyously. Watching my favorite band do their magic in the studio and in live performance. This series was an amazing gift. I’d watch ALL of the footage given the chance.
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I'm not sure why people are finding it depressing either, they must not have watched the original Let It Be. If anything, it makes me depressed seeing how much fun they were having to just have them call it quits not long after. If I had no idea about the Beatles and watched this, I would never have guessed they broke up not long after it.
 
Motorik said:
The Let It Be album would have been replaced with a better album called Buckshot, and instead of being the final Beatles LP it would have been the beginning of a string of great 5-man Beatle albums, or the 'Beatles get into fifth gear'-period as it was known.
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one door closes/another opens
 
Chad said:
I'm not sure why people are finding it depressing either, they must not have watched the original Let It Be. If anything, it makes me depressed seeing how much fun they were having to just have them call it quits not long after. If I had no idea about the Beatles and watched this, I would never have guessed they broke up not long after it.
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That context surely colors the way people see it. It's like hearing John Lennon singing "Life is what is happening to you while you're busy making other plans" right before he died. We know the end is coming so we look for the signs.

Not many people have ever experienced the level of "celebrity" that the Beatles were dragged into, especially at such young ages. Add in the traumas that John and Paul experienced in losing parents, and it is a wonder that they were as together as they were. I just hope some option other than streaming comes along to see this as our internet doesn't handle streaming video.
 
I was amazed at how many of the songs were just fragments, or someone sitting down with a guitar and playing until they had a chorus or a single line.
Odd that George's songs weren't even considered at first, even though his songs were pretty much fleshed out before the rehearsals.

I can't believe no one strangled Yoko.
 
Dogsinplastic said:
Finished part three yesterday.

Amazing to see the process, the amount of time where they don’t seem to be doing anything and then the songs keep popping up. It’s crazy that over 22 days they created all of Let It Be and most of Abbey Road...I had no idea. My favorite part may have been when Ringo plays his first take on Octopus’s Garden to George, watching them work together and supporting each other.

I’m surprised at folks finding it depressing. There were awkward parts, but that’s almost always part of a multifaceted creative process...the facets being the creative musicians. I saw things get more comfortable once they got used to the camera’s. Surely some of that was performative throughout, but from everything else that we know it was a mix of ego (John’s being altered by drugs, Paul’s growing as a more grandiose creative force, and even George being less willing to be minimized) and the financial situation. But it was that latter exacerbated by Klein that really helped it come to a head. Also the times...today members of a band would release solo albums w/o it meaning things were over.

I got choked up quite few times, but all joyously. Watching my favorite band do their magic in the studio and in live performance. This series was an amazing gift. I’d watch ALL of the footage given the chance.
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I finally made it to part 3 and watching the rooftop concert now. I agree with your assessment of the series. Sure, it could have been cut down (a lot), but then we'd have never gotten to see all that footage. I didn't find it depressing at all, in fact quite the opposite. If you want to see a depressing depiction, check out the 1970 Let It Be film. Talk about a negative take.

I'm laughing at the two cops sent to shut down the concert. Stuck in the middle they are. Sure it's their job to shut it down, but it seems clear that they really don't want to be the guys that killed the Beatles last live performance...even if they didn't know it at that time. I also like how everyone from the receptionist, up the chain, just tried to stall as long as they could so the show could go on.

Edit: A few general observations about the Fab4 in this film,

Paul - the most serious about making the album, and making it good. Most of the time in the studio he was trying to improve the songs, pushing for another take, having the most material, etc. Sure, he mixed it up with John at times, but that was just breaking up the monotony.

John - Seemed to be along for the ride for the most part. Was the most likely to screw off and goof around during the songs and otherwise. When it came down to the finish line though, he focused and delivered.

George - Willing to play along, albeit somewhat reluctantly. He had material that he wanted to play, but was largely ignored. He even spoke about doing a solo album in Episode 3, but didn't want it to break up the band.

Ringo - The most patient and flexible guy in the band. He put up with a lot from his bandmates and it never seemed to put him off.

Billy - The catalyst that made the album happen. It was like night & day how the sessions were going before and after Billy joined. Floundering drudgery before, and energy and motivation after. I had no idea he had such an impact on them before watching this film.
 
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Devil is Dill said:
My big takeaway is Ringo is the friend I never knew I needed. If you find a Ringo to hang out with, you're doing OK in life.
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In the past couple of years I have really come to appreciate Ringo. He is aware of his strengths and weaknesses, and is out there having fun while promoting peace and love in a very hippieish way. His song Photograph is just an amazing recording, I must say.
 
I finally broke down and subscribed to Disney+, at least long enough to see this. We had a mini-watch party yesterday and saw episode 1, and episode 2 up until the point Billy Preston shows up.

I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would, even the long conversations, arguments, etc. So far I am most struck by:
  • They worked out the lyrics in detail, with all those clipboards and lyric sheets floating around, correcting things as they went along. But the music is like, "okay, C, C, now E flat..."
  • The atmosphere got way better when they moved out of the cavernous movie set building to the smaller studio. Not surprising, they all were vocal about hating the big place from Day 1. And I guess talking things through with George didn't hurt.
And, was anybody else jumping out of their seat trying to save George's red Les Paul when it started to fall over? :lol:
 
Disney is free with my phone package so I just finished the second episode and well, it sucks. Freaking Ringo man, tolerated a lot. I hope the finish turns out to make it all worth it. Great music yes, Paul, John, and George, I would not have had Ringo’s calmness. I’m sure the paychecks helped. But damn.
 
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