The Beatle's musical comments on the break up

[Toothless In Seattle]

awc wrote:

Maybe ,
Let me roll it 1973 Paul , was meant as parody of Cold turkey by John, notice the guitar licks, just my opinion.

Well if it wasn't a parody by virtue of the guitar licks, then George losing the "My Sweet Lord" /"He's So Fine" subconscious plagiarism lawsuit would seem very unfair to George. This was a great pickup on the guitar similarities, AWC, I wonder if this was subconscious plagiarism as in George's case, or a deliberate swipe at John, by Paul.

[awc]

Toothless In Seattle wrote:

<quoted text>
Well if it wasn't a parody by virtue of the guitar licks, then George losing the "My Sweet Lord" /"He's So Fine" subconscious plagiarism lawsuit would seem very unfair to George. This was a great pickup on the guitar similarities, AWC, I wonder if this was subconscious plagiarism as in George's case, or a deliberate swipe at John, by Paul.

Wish I knew, but it sounds so close to Cold Turkey.

[Greg]

Oh man what I missed! I shouldn't have gone to my bed! My answer is yes of course! We'll have fun, have dinner, have music! Carmen can play piano, Jon Rick, me well,well,well...Oh, well...I'll find something. And we all can sing.

[awc]

lol.
Greg, I can play drums while you strum your guitar.
Obladi-Oblada.

[Greg]

awc wrote:

lol.
Greg, I can play drums while you strum your guitar.
Obladi-Oblada.

You will be having blisters on your fingers, Hello to you!'Cause we will play "Helter Skelter" when drunk enough, lol

[awc]

Greg wrote:

<quoted text>You will be having blisters on your fingers, Hello to you!'Cause we will play "Helter Skelter" when drunk enough, lol

27 minutes long, lol.
I got Blisters on me fingers!

[BBB]

Hi out there -

Just a few bits of insight for ya:

1)"Back Seat of My Car" (Paul) has a 'dig' at J&Y in it - the line "we believe that we can't be wrong" supposedly J&Y said this to Paul re: choosing Allen Klein as the new manager back in '69; that's why Paul repeats it over and over in the song

2) "Let Me Roll It'(Paul) was actually an apologetic song to John and yes, Paul was trying to imitate the Plastic Ono Band sound on it

3)On "Get Back" Paul had the melody / music finished but no lyrics. Paul originally penned lyrics about a news story he had read in the (British) Paper ('Daily Mail' I think) with local residents complaining about Pakistani immigrants "taking over" at a local factory. If you have ever heard "The Black Album" series of bootlegs it's even called "No Pakistanis" -

Old Enoch Powell he don't dig No Pakistanis
Taking all the peoples jobs
SO - Get Back, Get Back, Get Back to where you once belonged

Anyway, obviously he couldn't use those lyrics so he substituted some lines about Linda's ex.

Alot of people took it (John himself for awhile) that Paul was writing about Yoko. But he wasn't.

In any event, all those wounds were pretty much healed over by 1974 / 75 anyway. John & Paul actually got along better than John & George did - at least after the 1971 Bangladesh Concerts, anyway...

[awc]

BBB wrote:

Hi out there -
Just a few bits of insight for ya:
1)"Back Seat of My Car" (Paul) has a 'dig' at J&Y in it - the line "we believe that we can't be wrong" supposedly J&Y said this to Paul re: choosing Allen Klein as the new manager back in '69; that's why Paul repeats it over and over in the song
2) "Let Me Roll It'(Paul) was actually an apologetic song to John and yes, Paul was trying to imitate the Plastic Ono Band sound on it
3)On "Get Back" Paul had the melody / music finished but no lyrics. Paul originally penned lyrics about a news story he had read in the (British) Paper ('Daily Mail' I think) with local residents complaining about Pakistani immigrants "taking over" at a local factory. If you have ever heard "The Black Album" series of bootlegs it's even called "No Pakistanis" -
Old Enoch Powell he don't dig No Pakistanis
Taking all the peoples jobs
SO - Get Back, Get Back, Get Back to where you once belonged
Anyway, obviously he couldn't use those lyrics so he substituted some lines about Linda's ex.
Alot of people took it (John himself for awhile) that Paul was writing about Yoko. But he wasn't.
In any event, all those wounds were pretty much healed over by 1974 / 75 anyway. John & Paul actually got along better than John & George did - at least after the 1971 Bangladesh Concerts, anyway...

Thank you BBB,
That was extremely interesting.
I learn new things about the Beatles everyday.
Even after 24 years,I'm still learning.
Sadly John,George and Ringo were wrong about Allen Klein.
Thanks again for this info, and thanks for the baseball anology on the other thread about Love and the Beatles, it was brilliant.

[BBB]

awc -

you're very welcome. Been a Beatles fan since I was 13 (I'm 44 now).

Highlights I could share (at length perhaps another time):

The #1 highlight would be that I had the great luck of meeting John & Yoko outside the Dakota just a week before his death - the Polaroid photo that Yoko actually took and John signed still hangs in my family room to this day

#2 would be I happened to be in NYC the morning after George passed (got some nice pics of the memorial at Strawberry Fields)

#3 would be that I got into collecting Beatles stuff as a teen in the 70s and used to own ALL the albums (Beatles & solo) from "Introducing..." on VJ all the way through (Ringos)"Old Wave" ... all original pressings - even rare stuff like the Zapple albums, J&Y Wedding Album, Wonderwall, Family Way Soundtrack, etc.

Lowlight was I sold the whole collection in 1988 for peanuts. I cringe when I think of it now...probably worth $10,000 or more today.

Tthe only thing I kept from the collection was a "Butcher covered" Yesterday & Today

Nowadays I have all the group stuff on CD and a few of the solo things. Plus the movie DVDs, Anthology (VHS & DVD) a few other things...

Anyway, enough about me. I'm just happy I ran into this Forum today.

[awc]

BBB wrote:

awc -
you're very welcome. Been a Beatles fan since I was 13 (I'm 44 now).
Highlights I could share (at length perhaps another time):
The #1 highlight would be that I had the great luck of meeting John & Yoko outside the Dakota just a week before his death - the Polaroid photo that Yoko actually took and John signed still hangs in my family room to this day
#2 would be I happened to be in NYC the morning after George passed (got some nice pics of the memorial at Strawberry Fields)
#3 would be that I got into collecting Beatles stuff as a teen in the 70s and used to own ALL the albums (Beatles & solo) from "Introducing..." on VJ all the way through (Ringos)"Old Wave" ... all original pressings - even rare stuff like the Zapple albums, J&Y Wedding Album, Wonderwall, Family Way Soundtrack, etc.
Lowlight was I sold the whole collection in 1988 for peanuts. I cringe when I think of it now...probably worth $10,000 or more today.
Tthe only thing I kept from the collection was a "Butcher covered" Yesterday & Today
Nowadays I have all the group stuff on CD and a few of the solo things. Plus the movie DVDs, Anthology (VHS & DVD) a few other things...
Anyway, enough about me. I'm just happy I ran into this Forum today.

I'm so glad you dropped by.
And yes I would love to hear any stories you want to tell.
A fan for 30 years, wow.
I sold all my original american album copies around 20 years ago, when i rebought the british albums, only to have to rebuy them a year later on cd.
I own many books written by them, and many dvds by them too.
I have a deep passion for the Beatles and their solo music too.
btw, welcome to the Beatle's forum.

[Jon S]

BBB wrote:

awc -
you're very welcome. Been a Beatles fan since I was 13 (I'm 44 now).
Highlights I could share (at length perhaps another time):
The #1 highlight would be that I had the great luck of meeting John & Yoko outside the Dakota just a week before his death - the Polaroid photo that Yoko actually took and John signed still hangs in my family room to this day
#2 would be I happened to be in NYC the morning after George passed (got some nice pics of the memorial at Strawberry Fields)
#3 would be that I got into collecting Beatles stuff as a teen in the 70s and used to own ALL the albums (Beatles & solo) from "Introducing..." on VJ all the way through (Ringos)"Old Wave" ... all original pressings - even rare stuff like the Zapple albums, J&Y Wedding Album, Wonderwall, Family Way Soundtrack, etc.
Lowlight was I sold the whole collection in 1988 for peanuts. I cringe when I think of it now...probably worth $10,000 or more today.
Tthe only thing I kept from the collection was a "Butcher covered" Yesterday & Today
Nowadays I have all the group stuff on CD and a few of the solo things. Plus the movie DVDs, Anthology (VHS & DVD) a few other things...
Anyway, enough about me. I'm just happy I ran into this Forum today.

Wow BBB meeting John Lennon that's extraordinary. Really it is! I've met lots of famous people in my life but John Lennon would have been number 1 for me to.

[awc]

I waved at Ringo while he was rehearsing for his first live show ever.
He waved back and it was so cool.
Ringo opened his first ever solo tour here in Dallas.
Since then I have seen Ringo 7 times and Paul 4 times.

[BBB]

OK, I'll try to tell a "short version" of my JL story...

PART ONE

I grew up on Long Island NY .Myself, my cousin Chris & my friend Nick were all into the Bealtes. We used to sit around saying "it would be so cool to me them" but never did anything about it until one day it was like DUH! We should go to NYC and try to see John!

We were supposed to go on a Saturday but Nick had a bad cold that week so we postponed the trip until Sunday.we took the LIRR into Penn Station and then the subway to around 68th St. and then walked to the Dakota over on 72nd & Central Park West (I believe).

We each had a backpack full of stuff because we figured we would sit there all day and wait to see if we could see him. We each brought an album to get signed - I had 'Double Fantasy'. My cousin Chris brought a Polaroid camera in case we got lucky.

When we got there no one was outside; a while later we went over by the doorman and I guess he could tell we were nervous dumb kids cause he asked why we were there? He said "I'm sorry but they left several hours earlier and I don't know when they will be returning" so we were bummed but decided to stick it out.

A couple of limos pulled up in the next several hours and each time we got all ready but no John. Luckily it was warm out (for December) like 60 degrees, so we didn't freeze to death.

It was around 5 PM and the sun was going down and the streetlights just came on when another limo pulled up in front. Yoko got out first, then John. We all just froze. We were either paralyzed with nerves or fear, I don't know. They were walking right past us, arm in arm, Yoko looked over and smiled but John was squinting at a magazine and never looked up. My brain was screaming "say something you IDIOT!" but my mouth wouldn't move. They were 4 feet away and we were going to blow it!!!

Then fate intervened.

[awc]

BBB wrote:

OK, I'll try to tell a "short version" of my JL story...
PART ONE
I grew up on Long Island NY .Myself, my cousin Chris & my friend Nick were all into the Bealtes. We used to sit around saying "it would be so cool to me them" but never did anything about it until one day it was like DUH! We should go to NYC and try to see John!
We were supposed to go on a Saturday but Nick had a bad cold that week so we postponed the trip until Sunday.we took the LIRR into Penn Station and then the subway to around 68th St. and then walked to the Dakota over on 72nd & Central Park West (I believe).
We each had a backpack full of stuff because we figured we would sit there all day and wait to see if we could see him. We each brought an album to get signed - I had 'Double Fantasy'. My cousin Chris brought a Polaroid camera in case we got lucky.
When we got there no one was outside; a while later we went over by the doorman and I guess he could tell we were nervous dumb kids cause he asked why we were there? He said "I'm sorry but they left several hours earlier and I don't know when they will be returning" so we were bummed but decided to stick it out.
A couple of limos pulled up in the next several hours and each time we got all ready but no John. Luckily it was warm out (for December) like 60 degrees, so we didn't freeze to death.
It was around 5 PM and the sun was going down and the streetlights just came on when another limo pulled up in front. Yoko got out first, then John. We all just froze. We were either paralyzed with nerves or fear, I don't know. They were walking right past us, arm in arm, Yoko looked over and smiled but John was squinting at a magazine and never looked up. My brain was screaming "say something you IDIOT!" but my mouth wouldn't move. They were 4 feet away and we were going to blow it!!!
Then fate intervened.

Awesome, please continue.

[BBB]

PART 2

Just as I was watching them walk by and thinking oh crap we are blowing it! "AAACHHHOOOO!!!" Nick and his stupid cold. His wonderful stupid cold! He sneezed! Loudly. Loud enough that John looked up from his mag and slowed down. Finally I woke up and managed to open my mouth and say (weakly) "excuse me, uhhh, please ..." and held my album out.

Yoko stopped walking, whispered to John and pointed at us. John folded his mag under his arm and they came over. He said "Ah, fans, eh?" We just nodded like a bunch of morons

It seemed to happen so fast... Chris tried pulling his record out of his backpack and a bunch of stuff spilled out, including his camera. Yoko picked it up and motioned to John to move over and she took 3 pictures of john with all of us so we each got one. John signed all 3 pics on the back (he wrote "Dear Aspiring Photographer - John Lennon" on mine even though Yoko was the photographer?) In all the excitement we actually never got him to sign our records - but we were still floored that we got to meet him and had signed pics to prove it!

The whole thing lasted maybe 3 or 4 minutes; then John nodded and Yoko waved goodbye and they walked off.

We spent the whole train ride back reliving it over and over, going over every little detail. Of course we had no idea that a week later we would all be shocked and saddened beyond belief.

It was November 30, 1980...

[awc]

BBB wrote:

PART 2
Just as I was watching them walk by and thinking oh crap we are blowing it! "AAACHHHOOOO!!!" Nick and his stupid cold. His wonderful stupid cold! He sneezed! Loudly. Loud enough that John looked up from his mag and slowed down. Finally I woke up and managed to open my mouth and say (weakly) "excuse me, uhhh, please ..." and held my album out.
Yoko stopped walking, whispered to John and pointed at us. John folded his mag under his arm and they came over. He said "Ah, fans, eh?" We just nodded like a bunch of morons
It seemed to happen so fast... Chris tried pulling his record out of his backpack and a bunch of stuff spilled out, including his camera. Yoko picked it up and motioned to John to move over and she took 3 pictures of john with all of us so we each got one. John signed all 3 pics on the back (he wrote "Dear Aspiring Photographer - John Lennon" on mine even though Yoko was the photographer?) In all the excitement we actually never got him to sign our records - but we were still floored that we got to meet him and had signed pics to prove it!
The whole thing lasted maybe 3 or 4 minutes; then John nodded and Yoko waved goodbye and they walked off.
We spent the whole train ride back reliving it over and over, going over every little detail. Of course we had no idea that a week later we would all be shocked and saddened beyond belief.
It was November 30, 1980...

I'm speechless.
That was incredible.

I can't begin to understand how you felt a week later.
Thank you for sharing that with us, it was very cool.

[BBB]

My memory of John is I was surprised he was short. Not "short short" but he was a little shorter than me; I was 16 at the time and close to 6 ft tall.

I guess you always think of your heroes as "larger than life" as the saying goes.

He was nice enough but really didn't talk to us all that much. He talked more to Yoko; I remember he asked her "Can you work that now, Mother?" and laughed when she was taking the photos... he looked alot like the back photo on DF except he had sunglasses on. He was wearing a leather jacket and blue jeans. As they walked away he pulled out a cigarette and asked Yoko for a light. That was the last thing I heard him say...

Yoko was absolutely tiny. And she had a "tiny" voice, too. She was wearing jeans, too and I think a fur coat. Like a short coat. She had on big "bug eye" sunglasses and was smoking coming out of the limo.

But she actually was very nice and friendly. She smiled alot and asked where we were from, how long we had been waiting, stuff like that. And if she hadn't stopped walking when she saw why we were there I don't think we would have ever met John. And she offered to take the pics we didn't even have to ask her to.

It's one of those moments that even almost 30 years later I can remember every detail - what the city smelled like that day, the sound of John's laughter and Yokos tiny voice, etc.

Definitely my #1 highlight.

[awc]

As we see Paul,Ringo and Pete grow old gracefully I still wish John,George and Stuart could have too.
Whenever I hear Grow old with me, I wonder .......

[Jon S]

Wow BBB thank you for that. I'm 47 and had wanted to meet him my whole life.

That's really incredible. That's blessed luck, my grandmother used to say that when something great happens. Wow I'm really stunned. Thank you for sharing that.

When I was in high school a friend of mine's father who lived in Florida I think was some big record co. man and he gave his son a phone number for a Dr. Winston O Boogie in New York. He said it was John Lennons phone number. This was in 1979 and a call to NY back then would have been really expensive. We got up enough nerve to call the number one night from his house. My friend went upstairs and got on that phone and I stayed downstairs. It rang several times. I almost hung up then an asain women anserwed and I ask to speak to Mr. Lennon. She said something like "ah so sorry wrong number" and hung up. I don't think that we tried to call back but we always wondered if it was Yoko who answered the phone.

[Jon S]

BBB that was the most incredible post I've ever read on here and it sounds like Yoko was very nice. I've said some things about her in the past that maybe were not fair. I guess just sticking up for Paul during the whole break-up thing. I feel that I will always defend the four of them before I defend anyone else. Anyway shouldn't have said those things about her that I did. If John loved her was enough for me.