"Get Back" sessions
Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 12:00 am
I haven't touched this stuff in a year and a half, and then my brother shows me a 16mm print (faded, worn, but watchable), I hear the DVD's finally coming out in the fall, and now I'm wading through this again.
An 8 disc box set of the Twickenham sessions is up on bittorrent. Individual discs covering everything circulating from a specific day are also up there, but I haven't bothered with any of them because 90% of what I've heard over the years is plain bad, musically speaking. So how about suggestions for what's worth hearing?
Here's mine so far:
The Beatles - "Let It Be" Rehearsals, Vol. 1: The Legendary Rooftop Concert, January 30, 1969
Easily the best thing about these sessions is the rooftop concert, far better than the drip-drop, water torture that is the Twickenham sessions. There may be some missing takes, I'd have to check into it, but most if not all of it is here, including takes used in both "Let It Be" and "Naked" (the chatter bookending certain tracks are dead giveaway). The mix stinks, George's guitar and Preston's keyboards are really low in the mix but still audible. Paul's bass has little definition. But, this CD doesn't seem to use any NR or compression, pretty soft, very dynamic and open. There's also bonus tracks from earlier "Get Back" sessions, and on paper, it LOOKS interesting ("Stand By Me," "Across The Universe," etc.) but it's very, very disappointing to hear. "Oh Darling" and "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" get decent rehearsals, though, with the former featuring Paul singing solo (the vocal is similar to what you'd find on the Anthology 3 version, but that take was a duet with John, with John making an announcement on Yoko's divorce).
Notable outtakes:
I've Got A Feeling (incomplete take) 1/23/69
This is from the Anthology 3, and it's really good, even a wrong note at the beginning sounds right, but it breaks down (you can do a cross-fade splice with the "Let It Be" version to complete it; yeah, you're making an outfake, but it makes a nice version regardless). Apparently this is the one Glyn used for the original acetates, too.
I Lost My Little Girl - Twickenham studios 1/24/69
When I first heard this, I kind of thought John was doing a Lou Reed impression. Actually a nice outtake, and a solid performance that doesn't noodle, breakdown, or get sabotaged by bad harmonizing.
Teddy Boy ("master" take)
It's the "master" take because it's the one selected - and repeatedly rejected - for use, but like Lewisohn has said, it doesn't sound like an attempt to do a good performance. I wasn't a big fan of this on McCartney's solo debut. As much as I dislike the song, it had some charm there, but man, this version just plain stinks, partially 'cause John sings it like he hates it, too, with the square-dance calling. Phil Spector made some better-sounding mixes, one's an edit, one complete, more dynamic but the same performances. Anthology 3 takes the "master" and splices it with some other take; not an improvement.
Get Back (No Pakistanis) - Twickenham studios 1/9/69
Commonwealth Song/Enoch Powell - Twickenham studios 1/9/69
From beatles-discography.com:
The first few versions consist of nothing more than a few loose jams and some scat singing by Paul (which went on to form the basis of the second verse). He also nicked a little line (“Get back to where you once belonged,”) from George's 'Sour Milk Sea' (where he sings “Get back to where you should be”) which had just been given to Jackie Lomax. (Paul acknowledges this lift by shouting out “C'mon Jackie!” during the second verse.) Two days later Paul inserted some words from Enoch Powell's 'Rivers of Blood' speech, and started off one of the great Beatle rumours...Powell had recently caused an uproar in the press by claiming that Britain would soon be running in a “river of blood” if the current immigration levels were allowed to continue. This promptly got him demoted from his post, and booted out of the Tory Shadow Cabinet. There's a notorious bootleg going round called 'The Commonwealth Song' with a take from this day, where Paul sings: “If you don't want trouble then you better go back home”, and urging them to “get back” to where they came from. A take from the following day became known as 'No Pakistanis', and contained references to “Pakistanis taking all the people's jobs.” (You can read these lyrics here and here.) 'The Commonwealth Song' doesn't actually sound like 'Get Back' at all, but it's important because it leads directly into 'No Pakistanis' - which clearly does. If he left the lyrics the way they were, then Paul would have easily topped John's 'Revolution' for political shit-stirring. But he became so worried that his satire would be taken the wrong way he toned it down so the only words to make the master were the ones in the chorus. (But this didn't stop the papers accusing Paul of racism in the late '80s when the tape turned up!)
Anyway, sloppy, but the former is actually cool to hear because it rips through "Get Back" with Paul hooting all the way through, and the latter is a pretty amusing novelty.
Child Of Nature - Twickenham studios 1/2/69
Later redone as "Jealous Guy" for "Imagine." Not a big fan of this version, the performance never gels. The Kinfauns/Esher/White Album demo is better if you want this.
Across The Universe - Anthology 2 (Feb. 4, 1968 Take 2)
Lewisohn says it was recorded Feb. 3, but some say it was really the fourth (whatever difference a day makes). Not a "Get Back" outtake, but this is the best acoustic version, IMO. A phasing effect on John's guitar and one overdub, but it sounds like it could've been live. By "Get Back" they ditched the Indian instruments, so this sounds out of place, but I really like the arrangement and the performance. Maybe a few rough edges, but this could've been issued as is. The stripped down version with the loud kick drum that was used later on LIBN sounds too much like a demo, even though John's vocal is a bit better.
All Things Must Pass - Twickenham studios 1/8/69
The only good Beatle-era version is probably the Anthology 3 demo with just George. The best version from the "Get Back" sessions still sounds too ragged. George was trying to do something 'Band-y' with the ragged harmonies, but it doesn't work. It may be the mix (if they mixed Paul down a bit, since he overwhelms everyone else on the version I have), but the rest isn't too sharp either (John first hits the piano like a guy who's had enough; most performances later omit the piano altogether). Could've been really cool if they pulled it off, though.
The Long And Winding Road (film version) - 1/31/69 "Take 2"
I actually think the vocal on the Anthology 3 version is better, probably why Phil Spector picked it (he only needed the vocal) and the bass playing is mixed down pretty low so the mistakes can barely be heard. Johns also picked it for his acetates. The film version on LIBN does have Preston's solo that some probably want (Paul talks through that part on the A3 version); Paul still hums through Preston's solo, but I can't remember if LIBN mixed this out.
Two Of Us - early Twickenham performance
The upbeat version in the film is all right, worth finding. Words may not have been finalized, but who cares? Moves at a brisk performance, less earnest and more fun with some goofy moments. Much more interesting than the Anthology 3 version that sounds less chirpy and bit tired, FAR better than the tired and crappy "put-me-out-of-my-misery" take selected by Johns.
Dig A Pony
The rooftop versions are all you need, but Phil did pick the best take. You get that with the disc I mentioned above, with that bit Paul sings ("All I want is you...") left in, which was heard in the film, but not on "Let It Be" or LIBN. The Anthology 3 version isn't too interesting or that different; even the chatter ("like a fine wine, really...") isn't interesting.
Watching Rainbows - Twickenham studios 1/14/69
Actually a complete performance, and like Chris says, an original, not a cover (my mistake). John sings lead, and the band really gets in a groove by the end.
George also does Let It Down, Isn't It A Pity, and Hear Me Lord for the group, but they just don't give a shit about his songs, and they're MUCH better on his triple-Lp magnum opus. One sad moment in the movie is when George is playing I Me Mine for Ringo (this was going to be used for the album, but they realized how crappy that run-through really was, so they re-recorded it in 1970 to much better effect; Anthology 3 has this unadorned without the repeat-edit, with some amusing chatter at the beginning), and it looks so pathetic. John and Paul aren't around, and Ringo looks uninterested.
Sad because George seemed enthusiastic about the project, throwing out ideas like "Every Little Thing" (only plays a fragment), pushing Dylan and the Band into the music, even doing brief but earnest solo renditions of "I Shall Be Released" and "I Threw It All Away." GET BACK would've totally fit into the 1968-1969 roots movement exemplified by the Band, Dylan, the Byrds/Gram Parsons, Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones, CCR, etc. Anyway, other 'performances' like "To Kingdom Come" and even "A Quick One" (played right after George walks out on the group, pretty abruptly and non-chalantly, so much you almost miss it) don't come off so well.
I can't think of any other covers that I actually like hearing. The golden oldies, including the Lieber-Stoller covers, "The Walk," or stuff like the complete "Dig It," etc., I don't really like listening to those start to finish. Listen to "Hippy Hippy Shake" done early at Twickenham and compare it to the released BBC recording. NO comparison.
Anyway, once I sift through this some more, I'm going to do my OWN deluxe edition of "Get Back." Funny, I actually posted a recommendation a few years ago at some random audio forum about GET BACK, and how the original concept was still a good idea, how they could do a TWO disc set that's half a good album and half making-of (I think I pictured it being shuffled together, almost following the flow of the film but paced better). I feel like LIBN was kind of done that way, but with really bad results. They should've done a two-disc compilation of the best stuff, maybe even a four-disc box set: one disc for Paul's revisionism, and the other three for the best stuff like the concert and the best outtakes. Eh, it probably wouldn't have sold as well.
An 8 disc box set of the Twickenham sessions is up on bittorrent. Individual discs covering everything circulating from a specific day are also up there, but I haven't bothered with any of them because 90% of what I've heard over the years is plain bad, musically speaking. So how about suggestions for what's worth hearing?
Here's mine so far:
The Beatles - "Let It Be" Rehearsals, Vol. 1: The Legendary Rooftop Concert, January 30, 1969
Easily the best thing about these sessions is the rooftop concert, far better than the drip-drop, water torture that is the Twickenham sessions. There may be some missing takes, I'd have to check into it, but most if not all of it is here, including takes used in both "Let It Be" and "Naked" (the chatter bookending certain tracks are dead giveaway). The mix stinks, George's guitar and Preston's keyboards are really low in the mix but still audible. Paul's bass has little definition. But, this CD doesn't seem to use any NR or compression, pretty soft, very dynamic and open. There's also bonus tracks from earlier "Get Back" sessions, and on paper, it LOOKS interesting ("Stand By Me," "Across The Universe," etc.) but it's very, very disappointing to hear. "Oh Darling" and "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" get decent rehearsals, though, with the former featuring Paul singing solo (the vocal is similar to what you'd find on the Anthology 3 version, but that take was a duet with John, with John making an announcement on Yoko's divorce).
Notable outtakes:
I've Got A Feeling (incomplete take) 1/23/69
This is from the Anthology 3, and it's really good, even a wrong note at the beginning sounds right, but it breaks down (you can do a cross-fade splice with the "Let It Be" version to complete it; yeah, you're making an outfake, but it makes a nice version regardless). Apparently this is the one Glyn used for the original acetates, too.
I Lost My Little Girl - Twickenham studios 1/24/69
When I first heard this, I kind of thought John was doing a Lou Reed impression. Actually a nice outtake, and a solid performance that doesn't noodle, breakdown, or get sabotaged by bad harmonizing.
Teddy Boy ("master" take)
It's the "master" take because it's the one selected - and repeatedly rejected - for use, but like Lewisohn has said, it doesn't sound like an attempt to do a good performance. I wasn't a big fan of this on McCartney's solo debut. As much as I dislike the song, it had some charm there, but man, this version just plain stinks, partially 'cause John sings it like he hates it, too, with the square-dance calling. Phil Spector made some better-sounding mixes, one's an edit, one complete, more dynamic but the same performances. Anthology 3 takes the "master" and splices it with some other take; not an improvement.
Get Back (No Pakistanis) - Twickenham studios 1/9/69
Commonwealth Song/Enoch Powell - Twickenham studios 1/9/69
From beatles-discography.com:
The first few versions consist of nothing more than a few loose jams and some scat singing by Paul (which went on to form the basis of the second verse). He also nicked a little line (“Get back to where you once belonged,”) from George's 'Sour Milk Sea' (where he sings “Get back to where you should be”) which had just been given to Jackie Lomax. (Paul acknowledges this lift by shouting out “C'mon Jackie!” during the second verse.) Two days later Paul inserted some words from Enoch Powell's 'Rivers of Blood' speech, and started off one of the great Beatle rumours...Powell had recently caused an uproar in the press by claiming that Britain would soon be running in a “river of blood” if the current immigration levels were allowed to continue. This promptly got him demoted from his post, and booted out of the Tory Shadow Cabinet. There's a notorious bootleg going round called 'The Commonwealth Song' with a take from this day, where Paul sings: “If you don't want trouble then you better go back home”, and urging them to “get back” to where they came from. A take from the following day became known as 'No Pakistanis', and contained references to “Pakistanis taking all the people's jobs.” (You can read these lyrics here and here.) 'The Commonwealth Song' doesn't actually sound like 'Get Back' at all, but it's important because it leads directly into 'No Pakistanis' - which clearly does. If he left the lyrics the way they were, then Paul would have easily topped John's 'Revolution' for political shit-stirring. But he became so worried that his satire would be taken the wrong way he toned it down so the only words to make the master were the ones in the chorus. (But this didn't stop the papers accusing Paul of racism in the late '80s when the tape turned up!)
Anyway, sloppy, but the former is actually cool to hear because it rips through "Get Back" with Paul hooting all the way through, and the latter is a pretty amusing novelty.
Child Of Nature - Twickenham studios 1/2/69
Later redone as "Jealous Guy" for "Imagine." Not a big fan of this version, the performance never gels. The Kinfauns/Esher/White Album demo is better if you want this.
Across The Universe - Anthology 2 (Feb. 4, 1968 Take 2)
Lewisohn says it was recorded Feb. 3, but some say it was really the fourth (whatever difference a day makes). Not a "Get Back" outtake, but this is the best acoustic version, IMO. A phasing effect on John's guitar and one overdub, but it sounds like it could've been live. By "Get Back" they ditched the Indian instruments, so this sounds out of place, but I really like the arrangement and the performance. Maybe a few rough edges, but this could've been issued as is. The stripped down version with the loud kick drum that was used later on LIBN sounds too much like a demo, even though John's vocal is a bit better.
All Things Must Pass - Twickenham studios 1/8/69
The only good Beatle-era version is probably the Anthology 3 demo with just George. The best version from the "Get Back" sessions still sounds too ragged. George was trying to do something 'Band-y' with the ragged harmonies, but it doesn't work. It may be the mix (if they mixed Paul down a bit, since he overwhelms everyone else on the version I have), but the rest isn't too sharp either (John first hits the piano like a guy who's had enough; most performances later omit the piano altogether). Could've been really cool if they pulled it off, though.
The Long And Winding Road (film version) - 1/31/69 "Take 2"
I actually think the vocal on the Anthology 3 version is better, probably why Phil Spector picked it (he only needed the vocal) and the bass playing is mixed down pretty low so the mistakes can barely be heard. Johns also picked it for his acetates. The film version on LIBN does have Preston's solo that some probably want (Paul talks through that part on the A3 version); Paul still hums through Preston's solo, but I can't remember if LIBN mixed this out.
Two Of Us - early Twickenham performance
The upbeat version in the film is all right, worth finding. Words may not have been finalized, but who cares? Moves at a brisk performance, less earnest and more fun with some goofy moments. Much more interesting than the Anthology 3 version that sounds less chirpy and bit tired, FAR better than the tired and crappy "put-me-out-of-my-misery" take selected by Johns.
Dig A Pony
The rooftop versions are all you need, but Phil did pick the best take. You get that with the disc I mentioned above, with that bit Paul sings ("All I want is you...") left in, which was heard in the film, but not on "Let It Be" or LIBN. The Anthology 3 version isn't too interesting or that different; even the chatter ("like a fine wine, really...") isn't interesting.
Watching Rainbows - Twickenham studios 1/14/69
Actually a complete performance, and like Chris says, an original, not a cover (my mistake). John sings lead, and the band really gets in a groove by the end.
George also does Let It Down, Isn't It A Pity, and Hear Me Lord for the group, but they just don't give a shit about his songs, and they're MUCH better on his triple-Lp magnum opus. One sad moment in the movie is when George is playing I Me Mine for Ringo (this was going to be used for the album, but they realized how crappy that run-through really was, so they re-recorded it in 1970 to much better effect; Anthology 3 has this unadorned without the repeat-edit, with some amusing chatter at the beginning), and it looks so pathetic. John and Paul aren't around, and Ringo looks uninterested.
Sad because George seemed enthusiastic about the project, throwing out ideas like "Every Little Thing" (only plays a fragment), pushing Dylan and the Band into the music, even doing brief but earnest solo renditions of "I Shall Be Released" and "I Threw It All Away." GET BACK would've totally fit into the 1968-1969 roots movement exemplified by the Band, Dylan, the Byrds/Gram Parsons, Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones, CCR, etc. Anyway, other 'performances' like "To Kingdom Come" and even "A Quick One" (played right after George walks out on the group, pretty abruptly and non-chalantly, so much you almost miss it) don't come off so well.
I can't think of any other covers that I actually like hearing. The golden oldies, including the Lieber-Stoller covers, "The Walk," or stuff like the complete "Dig It," etc., I don't really like listening to those start to finish. Listen to "Hippy Hippy Shake" done early at Twickenham and compare it to the released BBC recording. NO comparison.
Anyway, once I sift through this some more, I'm going to do my OWN deluxe edition of "Get Back." Funny, I actually posted a recommendation a few years ago at some random audio forum about GET BACK, and how the original concept was still a good idea, how they could do a TWO disc set that's half a good album and half making-of (I think I pictured it being shuffled together, almost following the flow of the film but paced better). I feel like LIBN was kind of done that way, but with really bad results. They should've done a two-disc compilation of the best stuff, maybe even a four-disc box set: one disc for Paul's revisionism, and the other three for the best stuff like the concert and the best outtakes. Eh, it probably wouldn't have sold as well.