“NOTHING BRIGHT ABOUT IT”

T H E B E AT L E S – A LT E R N AT E T I M E ( 1 9 6 8 - 1 9 7 5 )

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In November 1968, the Beatles would release their self-titled double LP, which would become known as the “White
Album”. Despite this, the band was in disarray. Ringo had quit during the sessions, the first time any band member would
do so, and the band was lacking direction since the death of their manager Brian Esptein a little over a year before.
Although Paul was pushing for a concert film, there was some doubt the band would record another album. Aside from
this, the band's Apple label was in a poor financial state, and without proper management, would likely fail within the
next year.

Enter Richard Beeching.

Beeching, who was best known for his report on the British Railways in the 1960s which led to changes in the railway
system, was approached by the band to fund their Apple label. Initially John wanted to go alone, but the band and their
management persuaded him that they all go. The band (including George, who was in New York, by phone),
accompanied by Peter Brown, Neil Aspinall, Mal Evans, and Derek Brown, explained the situation in a meeting that
month. Beeching was impressed enough that he agreed, as long as someone else direct day-to-day operations of Apple.
The next month, Peter Brown would be formally named business manager of Apple Corps, with Neil Aspinall and Mal
Evans made assistants, as well as personal managers to the Beatles. George Martin would be officially hired by Apple as a
staff producer.

It was agreed that the band would scrap their concert film idea, as they only had a month before Ringo would be filming
The Magic Christian, as well as the fact that they needed a long break from each other. To keep money coming in, they
would record a single (“Let It Be” b/w “Not Guilty”), bringing in Billy Preston on the A-side, and using the unreleased
“White Album” song for the B-side.
During the break, Paul would produce several new Apple acts, including the Iveys (soon to become Badfinger), Trash,
and Mortimer, as well as marrying his wife Linda. John would start his peace movement with his new wife Yoko Ono, and
George would produce and play as a session musician on several records.

It was following his marriage and the peace campaign that John would convince Paul to return to the studio to record his
new composition. The pair briefly considered releasing the song under the Beatles name, but decided to be the first
members to release a solo single, under the name the Plastic Mac Band. The newly-formed group would use another
discarded “White Album” track, “What's the New Mary Jane”, as the B-side, adding vocals to the year-old track.

A few days later, they would be followed by George's debut solo single, which featured bandmate Ringo, Billy Preston,
Klaus Voormann and Eric Clapton.
Finally, the band returned to the studio in June 1969, having spent almost half a year away from each other as a whole.
George Martin would produce these sessions, with Geoff Emerick returning as engineer. The sessions were said to be
“the most relaxed since Revolver”, and the band found themselves more open to each others' ideas. It was with this
attitude that they would make their first live appearance in three years at the Isle of Wight Festival in August, in what
Rolling Stone called “the highlight of the night”. The new album, called Everest, and featuring a photograph of the band in
front of the titular mountain, would be supported by George Harrison's first A-side as a Beatles, “Something”.

The single would be backed by McCartney's “Teddy Boy”, an outtake from the sessions.
Weeks later, John would release his third solo single (following “Give Peace a Chance” in July 1969), his intended song to
support Timothy Leary's run for Governor of California.
1969 TRACK LISTING
April 11 1969 – The Beatles single
A - “Let It Be” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul
B - “Not Guilty” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George

May 30 1969 – The Plastic Mac Band single

A - “The Ballad of John and Yoko” (Lennon-McCartney)
B - “What's the New Mary Jane” (Lennon-McCartney)

June 4 1969 – George Harrison single

A - “Isn't It a Pity” (Harrison)
B - “Old Brown Shoe” (Harrison)

July 4 1969 – The Plastic Ono Band single

A - “Give Peace a Chance” (Lennon-McCartney)
B - “Remember Love” (Ono)

September 26 1969 – The Beatles LP Everest

Side One - “All I Want Is You” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John with Paul;
“Something” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George;
“Cold Turkey” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John with Paul;
“Oh! Darling” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul;
“Octopus's Garden” (Starkey) Lead vocal: Ringo;
“I Want You (She's So Heavy)” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John

Side Two - “Here Comes the Sun” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George;
“Because” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John, Paul and George;
“She Came in Through the Bathroom Window” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul;
“Sun King / Don't Let Me Down” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John with Paul;
“On Our Way Home” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul with John;
“Golden Slumbers” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul;
“Carry That Weight” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John, Paul, George and Ringo;
“All Things Must Pass” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George with John and Paul;
“Her Majesty” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal; Paul

September 26 1969 – The Beatles single

A - “Something” (Harrison)
B - “Teddy Boy” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul

October 20 1969 – The Plastic Ono Band single

A - “Come Together (Join the Party)” (Lennon)
B - “Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking For a Hand in the Snow)” (Ono)

December 12 1969 – Various artists LP No One's Gonna Change Our World

“Across the Universe” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John

Experimental albums Unfinished Music No. 2 (Life with the Lions), Electronic Sound, and The Wedding Album were also issued.
You can't tell the Beatles' story in 1970 without telling a major event of 1969 – the band's first live appearance in three
years. It was recorded on both audio and video and intended for release on both, as United Artists did not consider their
film Yellow Submarine “official” enough as a Beatles film. And so alongside Bob Dylan – also making his first live
appearance in three years, the Who, Joe Cocker, and several other big names, the Beatles, accompanied by Billy Preston,
would indeed step on the stage.

The band came to an unfamiliar sight – no screaming, as Lennon, approaching the microphone, thanked them for “not
screaming, maybe we can hear ourselves this time”. The band launched into a heavier version of their eventual opening
track on Everest, “All I Want Is You”. Lasting a good 6 minutes, midway through the song, Lennon would ad-lib the
chorus with another one he was credited with writing, in particular Joe Cocker's cover of “With a Little Help From My
Friends”. It didn't take long for Paul to join in, and for a good minute or so, Lennon and McCartney, along with Preston
joining in on the fun, covered Joe Cocker covering themselves. After finishing with a Ringo Starr drum-roll, Lennon asked
the crowd “how about some blues?” before launching into their “White Album” track “Yer Blues”. Following was
Harrison's turn at lead vocal, a slower and bluesier version of “Something, which was followed by the 8-minute heavier
“Cold Turkey”, which Lennon stated he had written the night before, ending with what can be described as a duel
between Lennon's screaming and Preston's fiery organ.

Upon the finishing of the previous track, the band launches into some oldies, a medley of “Rip It Up”, “Shake, Rattle and
Roll”, and “Blue Suede Shoes”. A slower cover of “You Really Got A Hold On Me” follows, led by Harrison's guitar fills
and Preston's organ. The next song is another oldie that harkens from the past, “Honey Don't”, which is started off by
Lennon, before Ringo takes over vocals for the rest of the song. Paul gets his first lead vocals of the night, where a hard
rocking “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window” is followed by an uptempo “On Our Way Home”, in a version
unlike the one on the album. During this number, Paul launches into an Elvis impression that ends with laughter, as well as
a beach ball going through the crowd finding its way on stage, before being bumped off by Paul, earning itself as a symbol
of the Beatles' show and of the entire festival that year in general.

The band then jams for a bit – started by Paul's comment that “this might go somewhere, you might even like it” - that
eventually becomes a cover of Lonnie Donegan's “Lost John”. The band then launches into a cover of “Glad All Over”,
featuring George on lead vocals, with Beatlemania-esque harmonies by John and Paul, following the conclusion of that
song, Lennon shouts “we love you, or something like that!”. Preston then swaps his organ for a piano, as the band plays
two Larry Williams covers (and Beatle tracks) in “Slow Down” and “Dizzy Miss Lizzy”, followed by the medley of “Sun
King” leading into a bluesy “Don't Let Me Down”.

The band then begins “Come Together”, a number written for Timothy Leary's campaign, and a song that would
eventually see a Lennon solo release, however the song leads into a lengthy jam that samples some parts of Eric
Clapton's solo on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. Clapton himself comes on for the last four numbers, as the
audience claps along to Harrison's “Here Comes the Sun”, before launching into the organ-led progressive “I Want You
(She's So Heavy)”. The band performs a quick “Revolution”, in what can be described as a carbon copy of the version
recorded on David Frost's program, instead featuring a Preston piano solo mimicking Nicky Hopkins' original one. The
crowning moment of the night ends up being “Hey Jude”, which leads into a lengthy “na-na-na” section. The show closes
with Harrison's “All Things Must Pass”, which at its inclusion, Lennon states “I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the
group, and for those of you who are still awake, I hope we passed the audition.”
Months later, the Isle of Wight concert would be no more than a high mark and a memory, as the band would each be
focusing on solo projects, most notably Paul working on his McCartney album with wife Linda, and Ringo recording his
Sentimental Journey album with George Martin. But that would change for a day, as John, ever impatient, requested the
other three to come in and record a song he had just written. With George Martin unavailable, Phil Spector was brought
out of retirement, and would indeed use his Wall of Sound on the eventual rush-release single, “Instant Karma! (We All
Shine On)”, backed by the three years old “You Know My Name (Look up the Number)”. This marked the first time the
band would be produced by someone other than Martin in over a decade. The single, released in February 1970, would
reach #1 for several weeks.

For the rest of the year, George would work on his acclaimed triple debut LP, called Many Roads after one of the tracks,
“Dehra Dun”, Ringo would release a second LP with Pete Drake called Beaucoups Of Blues, and John, having been
practising Primal Scream therapy in the States with Yoko, would record his acclaimed Plastic Ono Band LP. Earlier that
year, the Hey Jude LP would be released in America as the Isle of Wight show LP got delayed, which would see release
on May 8 1970, topping the album charts.
However, during all this, the four would re-unite for two days during Ringo's sessions to record another single. Paul had
written “Maybe I'm Amazed” months earlier, but decided to save it for a Beatles release. However, there were other
songs for contention. The Harrison/Starkey collaboration “It Don't Come Easy” was the leading candidate, along with
John's “Oh My Love” and “It's So Hard”, and George's “Don't Let Me Wait Too Long”. Although all five songs were
recorded, it was decided to release the former two as a double A-side single. “It Don't Come Easy” / “Maybe I'm
Amazed” would reach #1 as well.

A year mostly apart from each other had done the band well. Apple was doing better than ever, even taking on
labelmates Badfinger to a management contract, as the band turned down New York businessman Stan Polley. This
would later prove to be a good decision, as Polley would end up in prison for life years later. As the band re-convened in
October 1970 to begin sessions for their next LP, Lennon and McCartney began doodling some ideas for a concept
album. This would be furthered by a listening of the Who's Tommy, which got their gears moving a bit more...
1970 TRACK LISTING
February 6 1970 – The Beatles single
A - “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John
B - “You Know My Name (Look up the Number)” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John and Paul

February 26 1970 – The Beatles LP Hey Jude (US release)

A - Same as OT
B - “Hey Jude”; “Teddy Boy”; “Not Guilty”; “Across the Universe”; “Let It Be”

March 27 1970 – Ringo Starr LP Sentimental Journey

May 8 1970 – The Beatles LP Live at the Isle of Wight 1969

Side One - “All I Want Is You” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John with Paul;
“Yer Blues” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John;
“Something” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George;
“Cold Turkey” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John with Paul

Side Two - “Rip It Up/Shake, Rattle and Roll/Blue Suede Shoe”

(Blackwell-Marascalo-Calhoun-Perkins) Lead vocal: John and Paul;
“You Really Got a Hold on Me” (Robinson) Lead vocal: John;
“Honey Don't” (Perkins) Lead vocal: John and Ringo;
“She Came in Through the Bathroom Window” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul;
“On Our Way Home” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul with John

Side Three - “Lost John” (Donegan) Lead vocal: John with Paul;
“Glad All Over” (Perkins) Lead vocal: George;
“Dizzy Miss Lizzy” (Williams) Lead vocal: John;
“Slow Down” (Williams) Lead vocal: John;
“Oh! Darling” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul with John;
“Sun King” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John and Paul;
“Don't Let Me Down” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal; John and Paul

Side Four - “Come Together (Join the Party)” (Lennon) Lead vocal: John with Paul;
“Here Comes the Sun” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George;
“I Want You (She's so Heavy)” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John;
“Revolution” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John;
“Hey Jude” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul;
“All Things Must Pass” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George

June 18 1970 – Paul McCartney LP McCartney

All songs credited to McCartney.
Side One - “The Lovely Linda”; “That Would Be Something”; “Valentine Day”; “Every Night”;
“Hot As Sun / Glasses”; “Junk”; “Man We Was Lonely”

Side Two - “Oo You”; “Momma Miss America”; “Maxwell's Silver Hammer”; “Singalong Junk”;
“The Long and Winding Road”; “Kreen-Akrore”

September 25 1970 – Ringo Starr LP Beaucoups of Blues

October 5 1970 – The Beatles single
A- “It Don't Come Easy” (Starkey) Lead vocal: Ringo
AA - “Maybe I'm Amazed” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul

November 17 1970 – George Harrison LP Many Roads

All songs credited to Harrison except where noted
Side One - “I'd Have You Anytime” (Harrison-Dylan); “My Sweet Lord”; “Nowhere to Go” (Harrison-Dylan);
“I Live For You”

Side Two - “What Is Life”; “If Not For You” (Dylan); “Behind That Locked Door”; “Let It Down”;
“Run of the Mill”

Side Three - “Beware of Darkness”; “Cosmic Empire”; “Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)”;
“Awaiting On You All”; “Mother Divine”

Side Four - “I Dig Love”; “Dehra Dun”; “Art of Dying”; “Gopala Krishna”; “Hear Me Lord”

Side Five - “Out of the Blue”; “It's Johnny's Birthday”; “Plug Me In”

Side Six - “I Remember Jeep”; “Thanks for the Pepperoni”

December 11 1970 – John Lennon LP John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band

In 1970, the Beatles had spent most of the past year apart, only re-convening twice to record and release two #1 singles.
But the band would return to the studio in late 1970, with several songs ready to be recorded.

After some inspiration from the Who's Tommy, as well as from Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney and John Lennon began
work on a suite of songs from their snippets over the years. The suite, title “We're So Sorry Uncle Albert”, featured
McCartney's “Uncle Albert”, “Admiral Halsey”, and a little snippet called “Be a Gypsy Get Around”, and Lennon's “Mean
Mr. Mustard” and “Polythene Pam”. This would inspire the band to tackle their own concept album/rock opera, with the
plot growing from the suite into a full-fledged story. “It started off as Paul's idea”, related John to Rolling Stone in 1975,
“but it grew to become [our own].”

An early version of the LP, then titled Young Boy, was compiled in early 1971, before the band decided to work a bit
more at it and make it a full rock opera, dropping several songs, including the eventual B-sides “It's So Hard” and “Apple
Scruffs”, and Harrison's “Don't Let Me Wait Too Long”, an eventual solo hit. It would be the introduction of Lennon's
“Imagine” and the inclusion of pianist Nicky Hopkins that would change the shape of the album, as the band turned
Lennon's song from a piano ballad into a slide guitar-fuelled anthem.
September 9 1971 – The Beatles LP Imagine
Side One
1. “Give Me Some Truth” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John
We are introduced to one of our main characters, an angry young man who hates society. Inspired by the events going on in the
world at that time, you could say Lennon incorporated some autobiographical aspects into this character.

2. “Sunshine Sometime” (Lennon-McCartney)

This instrumental sets the stage for...

3. “Another Day” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul

We are introduced to the other character, a young girl who is unhappy with her life, just a cog in society with no backbone.

4. “Going Down to Golders Green” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George

The young man goes to Golders Green to eat lunch like he does every day.

5. “Beautiful Girl” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George

Upon sitting on the bench, the young man and young girl meet, and fall in love instantly.

Side Two
1. “I've Got A Feeling” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul and John
The two are hopelessly in love.

2. “Oh My Love” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John

An introspective look at the young man's love for the young girl.

3. “Dear Boy” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul

While the young man lets the young girl know how lucky he is to have her, he attacks her former boyfriend after he sees him in
public.

4. “Crippled Inside” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John

The young man calls attention to the young girl's insecurity, causing a rift between them.

5. “Oh Woman Oh Why” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul

After the young girl reveals to have cheated on him with the former boyfriend, he beats her. The young girl regains her courage,
pulls a gun on the young man, and tells him to leave her.

6. “Tomorrow” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul

The young man pleads to be let back.
Side Three
1. “Woman Don't You Cry For Me” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George
The young man, frustrated, leaves his town searching for answers.

2. “Rode All Night” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul

A long jam detailing the young man's trip, eventually ending up back in his home town with his elderly uncle Albert.

3. “We're So Sorry Uncle Albert” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul and John
At his home town, we are provided insight as to why the young man is always angry. He comes to terms with his uncle's lack of
understanding his generation, and revealing some of the characters who live there (Mean Mr. Mustard, Polythene Pam), before
he finally decides to give up anger and to choose love, and to be a gypsy and roam around. Medley of “Uncle Albert”, “Mean
Mr. Mustard”, “Polythene Pam”, “Admiral Halsey” and “Be a Gypsy Get Around”.

4. “Imagine (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John

The young man gives up everything, and decides to live for today.

Side Four
1. “Heart of the Country” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul
The young man, now older, lives as a hermit in the country.

2. “Window, Window” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George

The older man reminisces about the young girl.

3. “Child of Nature” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John

The older man feels nostalgic for the young girl.

4. “Only You (And You Alone)” (Buck Ram) Lead vocal: Ringo
Realizing he still loves her, he returns back home.

5. “Rode All Night (Reprise)” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul

A brief snippet of the earlier version as the older man returns home.

6. “When Every Song is Sung” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George and Cilla Black
The older man professes his love to the now older girl.

7. “The Back Seat of My Car” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul with John and George
The older girl reveals herself to be married with the former boyfriend, and refuses the man's attempts to run away with her. The
man becomes delusional, really just looking for someone to be rather than himself, and runs away himself.
The album is supported by two singles, of which “Another Day” tops the American charts, while “Imagine” tops the
British. “We're So Sorry Uncle Albert”, “The Back Seat of My Car”, and “When Every Song is Sung” go on to become
radio staples, with the latter being called “the natural successors to “Something”.”

The album is released to critical acclaim, with most critics praising the Beatles' ability to release a rock opera with stand-
alone tracks, often comparing the release with the Who's own Lifehouse LP, leading 1971 to become later known as “the
summer of the rock opera”. However, the Beatles' footprint in 1971 wouldn't stop with Imagine.

Alerted by friend Ravi Shankar of the growing atrocities happening overseas in Bangladesh, George Harrison became
dedicated to creating a benefit concert to help those affected. He would enlist the help of his bandmates aside from
Shankar, as well as Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Badfinger, Leon Russell, eventually Bob Dylan, and many others.
Advertised as “George Harrison and Friends”, the night included solo performances from each Beatle, as well as one for
each of the performers, and a few featuring the entire band, billed as “The Band for Bangladesh”. The concert was a
success, spawning a triple LP and a concert film, which due to Apple's involvement and connections, would make sure all
proceeds went to the victims.

Also released that year were John Lennon's “Power to the People” single, Harrison's “Bangla Desh” b/w “Deep Blue”
single, and Paul McCartney's new band Wings' debut LP Wild Life.

After their appearance at the Concert for Bangladesh, the Beatles went separate ways for the most part. Paul, as already
mentioned, would form Wings with wife Linda, ex-Moody Blue Denny Laine, and several others. Using an idea that had
been turned down by the other three Beatles, Wings would spend most of 1972 on the road, touring British colleges and
European music halls, playing several of Paul's Beatles material, but focusing on their new material, including hit single “Hi,
Hi, Hi”. John and Yoko would release their double New-York City LP, with it lead single “Mind Games”, which would
receive critical acclaim. The album would start off as an overly-political protest album, but would develop into a more
introspective look at the Lennons and their arrival in the United States. However, Lennon's activity with several protest
groups and radicals would get attention from the White House, who would start to try to deport the Lennons.
Elsewhere, George Harrison, having been able to sort out all the Bangladesh money issues earlier than expected, started
work on his record studio LP, Living in the Material World, which would be released in late 1972 (featuring two hits in
“Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” and “Don't Let Me Wait Too Long”, also helping out Ringo's own LP Ringo
and “Back Off Boogaloo” single, which would start production that year.
As John could not leave the United States, the band convened at Record Plant West Studios in Los Angeles, where Ringo
Starr's recording sessions were underway, produced by Richard Perry. Upon hearing the song “Photograph”, a Harrison-
Starkey co-write, Lennon and McCartney would add contributions to the recording, before deciding to release it as their
lead single, and employing many who played on the album, including producer Perry. As George had already used most
of his material for his latest LP, his contributions to the album were scarcer for the first time in years, being limited to the
aforementioned “Photograph”, ans his two lead vocals “So Sad (No Love of His Own)” and “Who Can See It', the latter
which would be scored by John Barham. Contributing was his growing unhappiness about being a Beatle, tensions that
would be calmed by manager Peter Brown. Ringo would earn two lead vocals for the first time on a worldwide released
LP, also duetting on the Lennon-penned “I'm The Greatest”. Most of Paul's material would be leftovers from certain
projects with Linda or Wings, leading to one footnote in Beatles history: as “Get On The Right Thing” had been written
during RAM, and credited to both Paul and Linda, the song would become the lone Lennon-McCartney song to be
credited to a non-band member. Lennon was reportedly dissatisfied at first, but eventually relented.

During the album sessions, three of the four members would experience martial difficulties (sans McCartney),
highlighting the mood of the album, with John beginning the period that he would call the “Lost Weekend”.

1973 – The Beatles LP Red Rose Speedway

Side One - “Night Out” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul with John and George;
“Photograph” (Harrison-Starkey) Lead vocal: Ringo with George;
“Get On The Right Thing” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul;
“I Know (I Know)” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John;
“So Sad (No Love of His Own)” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George;
“Out the Blue” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John

Side Two - “I'm The Greatest” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Ringo with John;
“You Are Here” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John
“Who Can See It” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George
“Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John
“My Love” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul with John and George

Original pressings would also include a Braille message on the back cover for Stevie Wonder. Meanwhile, on the front, a
lightning bolt would be added as a sly, but 5 years late, jab at Frank Zappa's We're Only In It For the Money.
Critical reaction was mixed, with some reviewers saying that the album “was united at times, but also un-united at
others”. However, there was one driving force behind the tracks chosen for the album. “We kept thinking about how
bloody miserable we were back in Beatlemania, singing about love and all” explained John to Rolling Stone that year, “but
now we're four grown men, and we're looking at love in a very cynical and grown up way, almost like putting on 3D
glasses.” “It was almost a look into our persona lives”, Paul also added, “you almost get to see every side of what we're
going through. My songs are usually happy ones, but it's really a mixed bag.” Fans would later classify this and the next
album as the “L.A. albums”, holding them to lower regard than what is called the “Trilogy” (the “White Album”, Everest,
and Imagine).

The album would be led by two singles, “Photograph”, backed by the McCartney-sung “A Love For You”, and “My Love”,
backed by the band instrumental (with Nicky Hopkins) “Great Cock and Seagull Race”. Both would top both the U.S.
and U.K. charts, however the latter would be the band's final U.K. number one in the 1970's.

After releasing Red Rose Speedway, Paul – seemingly ready to work again – went with Wings to Lagos, Nigeria to record
Band On The Run. A recent crime wave led the band to record it at a Ginger Baker's ARC studio in Ikeja. As sessions
went better, Baker ended up playing drums on the album, which spawned a hit single in “Jet”.

In the meantime, the rest of the band began work on a film adaptation of their Imagine LP. Ringo would recruit Terry
Southern, whom he had worked with on The Magic Christian, to pen the script. It was around this time that the three
Beatles would move to L.A. for a short time period, all except Lennon who would stay there with May Pang. Directed by
Richard Lester, principal photography would take place during late 1973 and most of 1974, with the Beatles filming their
parts whenever they were available. The cast included:

Pete Sutton: Ray Brooks;

Cilla Philips: Cilla Black;
Syd Roberts: Ringo Starr;
Edwin the Bus Driver: Harry Nilsson;
Uncle Albert: Victor Spinetti;
Mr. Mustard: John Lennon;
Polythene Pam: Carole Ann Ford;
Admiral Halsey: Paul McCartney;
David Hamilton (Pete's only friend): George Harrison.
Keith Moon, Peter Sellers, and Julian Lennon appeared as uncredited extras.
Once Paul returned from Lagos, the four Beatles had a private meeting to discuss their future, along with Pete Brown,
Neil Aspinall, Mal Evans, and May Pang. One of the main points was the tough juggling between the Beatles' solo careers
and their career as a group, something that dried the well for both constant revenue and album quality. Also welcome
was the inclusion of Pang, who the other three found easier to deal with and became enthusiastic about her suggestions.

Again working with producer Richard Perry, and recruiting Nicky Hopkins and Bobby Keys for the majority of the
album's tracks, the album began to take shape. However, one chance event in the album's sessions would change the
album's legacy forever.

In August, the four Beatles would visit David Bowie at Sigma Sound in Philadelphia, where he was recording his Young
Americans LP. Some chance jamming, based on the Flairs' “Foot Stompin'”, developed into a Carlos Alomar guitar riff.
Lennon and McCartney began to add words to it, shouting “aim” and “pain”, which Bowie suggested to chance to
“fame”. Harrison and Alomar began to duet on guitar, Harrison on slide, not unsimilar to Clapton and Allman on “Layla”.
By the end of the day, the sextet had finalized a future #1 single for both Bowie and the Beatles: “Fame”, as well as its B-
side, a re-recording of “Across the Universe”, which Lennon later claimed to Crawdaddy he “finally got right”. Both tracks
were included on Bowie's album, while only the A-side was included on the Beatles'.

However, despite some highlights during the sessions, strains began to appear in the band. Paul and George frequently
found themselves at odds, as well as the Beatles all having different visions for the album. Lennon became adamant that
his composition “Move Over Mrs. L” be included on the album, a song which was eventually left off and given to Keith
Moon.

By December 1974, the Beatles' 13 th studio album, Dark Horse, was finished, the name coming from both the song and
Harrison's new label. While it got mixed reviews, with some praising the hit singles included, it would prove to be the
final Beatles studio album released in the 1970's, as well as the final one released in John Lennon's lifetime.

December 1974 – The Beatles LP Dark Horse

Side One - “Let Me Roll It” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul with John and George;
“Fame” (Bowie-Harrison-Lennon-McCartney-Starkey-Alomar)
Lead vocal: David Bowie with John and Paul;
“No Words” (Lennon-McCartney-Laine) Lead vocal: Paul;
“Maya Love” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George;
“Bluebird” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul with John;
“What You Got” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John

Side Two - “Goodnight Vienna” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Ringo with John;
“Simple Shady” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George;
“#9 Dream” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John;
“Dark Horse” (Harrison) Lead vocal: George;
“Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John
1974 – The Beatles and David Bowie single
A - “Fame”
B - “Across the Universe”

1974 – The Beatles single

A - “#9 Dream”
B - “1882” (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul

As the Beatles finished Dark Horse, they undertook a large promotional campaign, of which they hadn't done in years.
Appearing on several American late night shows, performing a handful of songs from the album. The band mulled about
touring, but time constraints, as well as Lennon's ongoing immigration issues, put a stop to that. While their Imagine film
was released in 1975, notably without a soundtrack, a single – “When Every Song is Sung” b/w “The Back Seat of My
Car” – was issued in early 1975, to which it became the band's last #1 of the 1970's – in fact, the B-side would also chart
to #1.
As bootleg compilations, including the 1972 Alpha Omega LP, had been common, it was decided to compile two double
LP sets, of which they would become known as the “Red album” and “Blue album”.

Back in 1969, the band took an identical photo to their debut album cover, with the intention of using it for their
upcoming LP. Eventually, the “Everest” idea was more popular, and the photos were shelved. Now, 5 years later, the
band decided to not only use both photos for these compilations, but to take another one for each back cover, using the
same place and photographer (Angus McBean) once again. One of the Beatles' entourage had brought champagne to
celebrate the shoot, and glasses (along with the bottle) had found their way into several of the shots. One of which
Ringo held up a glass ended up being chosen.
1975 – The Beatles LP 1962-1967
Side One - “Love Me Do” Side Two - “A Hard Day's Night”
“Please Pleas Me” “I Feel Fine”
“From Me to You” “Eight Days a Week”
“She Loves You” “Ticket to Ride”
“I Want to Hold Your Hand” “Help!”
“All My Loving” “Yesterday”
“Can't Buy Me Love” “We Can Work It Out”
“And I Love Her” “Day Tripper”

Side Three - “Drive My Car” Side Four - “Strawberry Fields Forever”

“Nowhere Man” “Penny Lane”
“Michelle” “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band”
“In My Life” “With a Little Help From My Friends”
“Paperback Writer” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”
“Eleanor Rigby” “A Day in the Life”
“Yellow Submarine” “All You Need is Love”
“Tomorrow Never Knows”

1975 – The Beatles LP 1967-1975

Side One - “I Am The Walrus” Side Two - “Back in the U.S.S.R.”
“Hello, Goodbye” “Blackbird”
“Lady Madonna” “Let It Be” (with Billy Preston)
“Hey Jude” “Here Comes the Sun”
“Revolution” “All I Want Is You”
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” “Something”
“Cold Turkey”

Side Three - “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)” Side Four - “My Love”
“It Don't Come Easy” “Photograph”
“Maybe I'm Amazed” “Out the Blue”
“Imagine” “Fame” (with David Bowie)
“Another Day” “Across the Universe” (with David Bowie)
“When Every Song is Sung” (with Cilla Black) “Dark Horse”
“The Back Seat of My Car” “#9 Dream”