|
|
Post by Michael Capasse on Apr 19, 2023 7:39:03 GMT -5
Apple Cuts & Spindles  The story of Apple is the demise of the most popular group in the world, The Beatles. In June 1963, the group began Beatles Ltd. That would be the central entity for the business structure of The Beatles. Four years later, the boys were looking for a way to control their own publishing as well as the sequencing of the product they were releasing. They renewed the partnership in a new agreement, with each Beatle owning 5% of the company and the remaining 80% would go to a new company owned by all four. That was Apple. According to Cynthia Lennon, (John's then wife), their manager had chosen the name with the idea of opening shops & boutiques. Brian Epstein, was the Beatles Manager, since 1962. He took control of all the bookings, concert tours, projects, and all business management for the group. In August 1966, the group had decided to stop touring due to the poor sound quality of the monitors drowned out by the screaming crowds. Instead, they worked on recording, and with the help of producer George Martin, began using the studio itself as a production tool in the soundscape. Backwards tape loops, sound compression, tape speed manipulation and panning the signal from left to right were only some of the tricks they used. When the records became impossible to recreate on stage, the group spent over 700 hours designing the next album to "go on tour" for them. In June of '67, the Beatles released, 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'. It was a monumental achievement in recording, songwriting and production. The album was praised the world over and ushered in an era of 'an album as art'.It would take the pop world to new heights of innovations in sound design. A few weeks later, the group was invited to the "Our World Broadcast", and submitted a live session recording of their new single 'All You Need is Love'. Next, some lectures in Bangor Wales with their newly found 'holy man', Maharishi Yogi, and it was off to Rishikesh, India, with him to study meditation. Then, on August 27, 1967, the manager Brian Epstein was found dead in the bedroom of his home on Chapel Street in London. He was 32 years old. He had handled all their business affairs thru his management company, NEMS Enterprises. Rather than continue with Brian's brother, the Beatles decided to manage themselves. Paul McCartney took of the reins and convinced the others not to go to India just yet, but to make the television film, 'Magical Mystery Tour'. Meanwhile, John Lennon had met Avant-garde artist, Yoko Ono and was quickly losing interest in The Beatles. By the Fall of 1969, John told Paul he wanted out. Paul and management advised John not to say anything. They were renegotiating the contract with Capitol and wanted nothing to disrupt that. Six months later, McCartney quit. It is a fascinating story of selfishness and spite. A battle for control of the biggest band in the world, and the constant nagging for a reunion.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Capasse on Apr 19, 2023 7:39:42 GMT -5
The Mystery Trip In early 1967, Paul McCartney got much more involved with the management of The Beatles and for awhile worked alongside Brian Epstein to learn the business. Often times he was a tough critic of Brian's way of handling certain affairs. Paul would ask tough questions but Brian was always forthright and courteous in response. Though, Epstein did say he found McCartney sometimes difficult to deal with and wrote about it in his book 'A Cellar Full of Noise', "Paul can be temperamental and moody and difficult to deal with but I know him very well and he me.
This means that we compromise on our clash of personalities. He is a great one for not wishing to hear
about things, that if he doesn't want to know, he switches himself off, settles down in a chair,
puts one booted foot across his knee and pretends to read a newspaper, having consciously made his face,
an impassable mask"It was around this time another film was being discussed or possibly a television special. While the Sgt Pepper recording process became more involved, it was clear a film project would have to be shelved. Once the record was released, it colored the musical landscape like Dorothy stepping into, "the Land of Oz". Since 1963, it has been an upward trend of success over success. In June '67, it peaked with a broadcast viewed by over 400 million people. "Our World" was a television special via satellite, featuring artist from all over the world contributing song, sculpture, painting and film. The Beatles gave a rare glimpse into their recording process, live, as they laid down the vocal tracks for their new single, 'All You Need is Love'. Then, a little more than 2 months later...Brian died. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ First FailureThe Beatles were in Bangor Wales studying transcendental meditation with The Maharishi Yogi when they heard the news that their manager had died. He told them to smile and not to worry. To send good thoughts to him, wherever he might be. The Guru did not want his new found guests to leave. George and John promised him they would make arrangements for a trip to his compound retreat in Rishikesh, India, once they get back to London. On Sept. 01 st, The Beatles met at Paul's house to discuss the future of the Beatles. They had already released a statement, they will stay with NEMS until further notice. John & George were making plans to go to India to study with the Maharishi, Paul asked that Publicist Tony Barrow come an hour early and help him talk the others into a film project. There was no story written yet, only a "cake drawing" designed by Paul to delegate the responsibility of segments to each Beatle. It was a film about the old seaside coach rides, sliced into 8 essential scenes to be produced without a formal script, or professional film crew. McCartney insisted filming begin immediately, requiring the rental and redesigning of the bus, as well as all the actors, locations, and film crews, ready to shoot. It was a disaster. Once it was completed it aired in black & white on BBC 1 the day after Christmas 1967. There was no color transmission on that network. When aired again the following month, it was in color, but fewer than 200,000 Brits had color televisions to watch it. Whatever charm the color version could bring was lost. The critics had a 'field day'. They chewed it up and spit it out as McCartney attempted to explain. "We don't say it was a good film. It was our first attempt. If we goofed, then we goofed.
It was a challenge and it didn't come off. We'll know better next time"At this time, McCartney was taking full control of the band. He was the first at the meetings and pulled together a consise agenda to keep the focus on the next required project. In November, when George began working on the soundtrack for the film, 'Wonderwall', he told director, Joe Massot, he welcomed the opportunity to have a free hand in creating a film soundtrack and that he had accepted the commission because 'Magical Mystery Tour' was "Paul's project".
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Capasse on Apr 19, 2023 7:40:08 GMT -5
Apple Seeders Before The Beatles left for India in Feb.'68, they recorded the single, 'Lady Madonna'. Meanwhile, while George was in Bombay, he wrote and recorded the basic track for, 'The Inner Light'. George was called back to London to finish these two tracks, before all four went off to India. Then, by the middle of April '68, all four Beatles were back in London and ready to work again. One year before, and before Brian died, they came up with a new company called Apple. Apple Records, Apple Electronics, Apple Films, Apple Publishing and Apple Retail, was set up to market and sell Beatles product. It is still in dispute who called it that first, some said they heard the name primarily from Paul, Cynthia Lennon credits the name to Brian. Epstein was keen on an Apple Boutique. Everything in the store would be for sale. Paul called it, "...a place where beautiful people can shop for beautiful things.." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A Fool Such As ISimon Posthuma and Marijke Koger, were Dutch fashion designers, working among the hippie community on the Spanish island of Ibiza in 1966. Karl Ferris, was a local photographer, that discovered them and sent pictures of their latest fashion to London, that were published in 'The Times' Brian Epstein, was managing the NEMS Empire, besides The Beatles, Cilla Black, Billy J. Kramer, Procol Harum, The Move, The Cream etc. When Simon & Marjike moved to London and got the attention of NEMS Public Relations, Barry Finch, Marjike asked her friend, Josje Leeger to join them as "The Fool". Soon they were designing clothes for some of the biggest stars in London, all four Beatles, including Brian and his staff, Cream, Procol Harum Donovan, and The Rolling Stones. George hired them to paint his car. Lennon had them do his limousine. George had them paint his house. Several guitars and drums were painted for George, and members of Cream. They were commissioned to design the cover for, 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'. The artwork was not approved by the Beatles, mainly Paul, and the idea was vetoed. In early Dec. 1967, after Brian had passed, and before the release of 'Magical Mystery Tour', The Beatles opened the Apple Boutique on Baker Street in London. The Fabs expended $250,000 to the boutique and allowed Simon & Marjike, aka 'The Fool' to hire a team of college students to paint a huge psychedelic mural on the face of the building. Brian Sommerville at Apple, began working with 'The Fool' to coordinate projects and such, but after a few months, The Beatles grew tired of their antics and cut the money off. Next, 'The Fool' wanted a recording contract with Apple. When the label refused, the duo went to Mercury Records where a record was actually released, but failed miserably. By following summer, The Beatles were thru with the idea of merchandising, and after going thru the store to grab the best stuff, they gave it all away in a public two day frenzy.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Capasse on Apr 19, 2023 7:40:39 GMT -5
The Road to Rishikesh John & George, arrived at the Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation retreat on the 15 th of February 1968. Paul & Ringo, arrived on the 19 th. All brought their girlfriends or wives, some brought family, such as Patty Harrison's sister, Jenny Boyd, Beatle Assistants, Mal Evans & Neil Aspinall came along as well. Celebrities such as Mia Farrow, Mike Love, Donovan, were also in attendance. Paul Saltzman was a Canadian film maker traveling to India that just happened to be there. The Starkeys, Ringo and Maureen, left March 1 st, as he had developed food poisoning and his wife hated the bugs. McCartney left a few days later, to get back to the business, and according to Donovan, "...Paul was not totally convinced about TM..." Instead, the Beatle bass player took it as a time to write songs, and prepare for the next album. When Paul mentioned this to George, Harrison exploded, "We're not fucking here to do the next album. We're here to meditate!" Still, the illusion wore of very quickly when there were rumors of 'his holiness' not acting so holy around the women of the camp. That brought on the abrupt departure of the last two. Lennon wrote a song about the acting guru and disguised it as 'Sexy Sadie'. All four Beatles have said they were grateful for what they learned in India, and have used TM throughout their lives. None were sorry they went. Saltzman said, The Beatles appeared to be very close during their time at the ashram. Although, Ravindra Damodaca worked at the camp that year and wrote: "...at times McCartney "talk[ed] mean
with George" and appeared to want to be the Beatles' boss." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Back to KinfaunsOnce the group was settled back in London, they gathered at George's bungalow at Kinfuans in Esher. There, he made recordings of the group singing the new songs. There is a freshness and spontaneity with each of the three on a guitar and Ringo banging on a case and singing these songs to each other for the first time as a group. 27 were recorded on a four track reel to reel, and a copy was made for each Beatle. 19 of them were used for 'The White Album' to be released that November. ‘Cry Baby Cry’ / ‘Child Of Nature’ / ‘The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill’ / ‘I’m So Tired’ / ‘Yer Blues’ ‘Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey’ ‘What’s The New Mary Jane’ / 'Revolution 1’ ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ / ‘Circles’ / ‘Sour Milk Sea’ / ‘Not Guilty’ / ‘Piggies’ / ‘Julia’ / ‘Blackbird’ ‘Rocky Raccoon’ / ‘Back In The USSR’ / 'Honey Pie’ / ‘Mother Nature’s Son’ / ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’ / ‘Junk’ ‘Dear Prudence’ / ‘Sexy Sadie’ / ‘Happiness Is A Warm Gun’ / ‘Mean Mr Mustard’ / ‘Polythene Pam’ / ‘Glass Onion’ In years past, Lennon & McCartney had written songs together. They would be in a hotel room or at either one's house, each one pitching lines. More recently, John or Paul had written their own songs. Or Paul would write some words hand it off and expect John to finish it. John later resented that. Something else Lennon begins to resent, and he mentions in the video, is Paul would be sure to have all his songs ready before he (Paul) would schedule the session. While doing Magical Mystery Tour, McCartney had all his segments ready, then booked the studio or film crew, while the others had to scramble to make his deadline. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ John Lennon | Playboy Sept. 1980 "Yeah, “ [Eleanor] Rigby.” Ah, the first verse was his and the rest are basically mine. But the way he did it. Well, he knew he had a song. But by that time he didn’t want to ask for my help, and we were sitting around with Mal Evans and Neil Aspinall, so he said to us, “Hey, you guys, finish up the lyrics.” "Now I was there with Mal, a telephone installer who was our road manager, and Neil, who was a student accountant, and I was insulted and hurt that Paul had just thrown it out in the air. He actually meant he wanted me to do it, and of course there isn’t a line of theirs in the song because I finally went off to a room with Paul and we finished the song. But that’s how [gestures]…that’s the kind of insensitivity he would have, which upset me in later years. That’s the kind of person he is. “Here, finish these lyrics up,” like to anybody who was around."
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Capasse on Apr 19, 2023 7:41:13 GMT -5
Come and Get It In mid-May '68, John & Paul went to New York, on "The Tonight Show", to announce Apple to the States . Unfortunately the regular host, Johnny Carson was not available. Instead, retired LA Dodger Catcher, Joe Garagiola hosted, along with guest, actress, Tallulah Bankhead. They announced to the world that they had this new company, and if anybody has an idea or product or song or film, they can come in. You won't have to beg or grovel to get a break. Apple will listen to and consider all offers. The office at Wigmore Street was barraged with tapes and letters, as well as the latest kook walking in the door wanting to make a film about a magical pill that could turn the user into any historical figure he would like, or six square miles of land in Arizona to build a rock festival that could hold 2 million people, or some lunatic raving about having broken the code that only he could understand animals. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tonight Show | May 14, 1968JOHN: "So we decided to play businessmen for a bit, because, uhh, we've got to run our own affairs now. So, we've got this thing called 'Apple' which is going to be records, films, and electronics-- which all tie-up. And to make a sort of an umbrella so people who want to make films about... grass... don't have to go on their knees in an office, you know, begging for a break. We'll try and do it like that. That's the idea. I mean, we'll find out what happens, but that's what we're trying to do." PAUL: "If you want to do something, normally you've got to go to big business and you've gotta go to 'them,' the big people, you know." JOHN: "You don't even get there. Because you can't get through the door 'cuz of the color of your shoes." PAUL: (laughs) "But you know, people are normally... Big companies are so big that if you're little and good it takes you like 60 years to make it. And so people miss out on these little good people." JOHN: "It just takes 'em longer." PAUL: "So we're trying to find a few." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ George Harrison | Beatles Anthology"I had very little to do with Apple. I was still in India when it started. I think it was basically John and Paul’s madness......their egos running away with themselves or with each other. There were a lot of ideas, but when it came down to it, the only thing we could do successfully was write songs, make records and be Beatles." "By the time I came back they’d opened the offices in Wigmore Street. I went into the office and there were rooms full of lunatics: people throwing I Ching and all kinds of hangers-on trying to get a gig. And, because it was the hippy period, everybody was super-friendly. Basically it was chaos."
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Capasse on Apr 19, 2023 7:41:42 GMT -5
Yoko Ono Yoko Ono is a conceptual artist, peace activist, musician born in Tokyo, Japan, in Feb. 1933. Her father, Eisuke Ono, was a wealthy banker and former classical pianist. His ancestry can be chased to a long line of samurai warrior-scholars. Her mother, Isoko Ono, adoptive maternal grandfather Zenjiro Yasuda, also carries a long history of samurai royalty. Just before Ono was born, her father was called away to San Francisco on business, and it was 2 years before Yoko could meet her dad. When the family returned to Japan in 1937, little Yoko was enrolled Tokyo's elite Gakushūin, and took music and piano lessons until the age of 13. In 1940, the father was transferred to New York City, only to be transferred again one year later, this time to Hanoi. The family meanwhile went to Tokyo Yoko stayed there thru World War II. The father was thought to be held prisoner, while the mother bartered for food from a wheelbarrow on the Japanese countryside. In 1945, the family, minus Yoko settled in Scarsdale, New York. Ono stayed behind at Gakushūin to finish her studies with high honors, and joined the family in 1952. Yoko enrolled in a nearby college, and got turned on to avant-garde artists like, Edgar Varèse, John Cage, and Henry Cowell. In 1957, she dropped out and moved to New York City. Once in the city and working as an artist, she met Cage thru a lecture he was giving and began working with him. She opened her own 'gallery' at 112 Chambers Street, Manhattan. In November '62, Ono married Anthony Cox, American jazz musician, film producer, and art promoter. They had one child together, Kyoko was born in August 1963. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ At The IndicaIn Sept '66, Ono was in London to participate in "Gustav Metzger's Destruction in Art Symposium" Metzger was a German Artist and Political Activist. His method of art was called, "Auto-destructive art". Redefining art by causing damage in use by everyday objects. Like patterns on a sheet created by acid or fire. Yoko was the only women invited to perform her own events. In November, she was granted a show at the Indica Art Gallery, in London. It was owned by John Dunbar, a friend of John Lennon. He invited John to see the show one night before opening. Lennon was impressed by some of the interactive pieces, such as, "hammer a nail" or climb a ladder, to look thru a spy glass hanging from a canvas that simply says, "yes" in tiny letters. But the Beatles were busy throughout 1967 and John was not able to get together with Yoko just yet. It was in the Spring of 1968, when Cynthia returned from Greece that John was caught. Once Cynthia found out Yoko was pregnant, she immediately filed for divorce. Thus began the side by side relationship of John & Yoko, and she went with him everywhere. Meanwhile the group, especially Paul were working hard on setting up Apple and in some ways this is the beginning of the end. Apple, and the Beatles is all of McCartney's world. A single guy that has dedicated his life to this thing. He was the one to set up the next film project, TV special or whatever. Whether he chose this role or simply took it on in the absence of management, it was not part John's world anymore. Once Lennon realizes it, he no longer wants to be part of it. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Paul McCartney | Beatles Anthology"Now John had to have Yoko there. I can’t blame him, they were intensely in love – in the first throes of the first passions- but it was fairly off-putting having her sitting on one of the amps. You wanted to say, ‘Excuse me, love – can I turn the volume up?’ We were always wondering how to say: ‘Could you get off my amp?’ without interfering with their relationship. It was a very difficult time. I felt that when John finally left the group he did it to clear the decks for his relationship. Anything prior to that meant the decks weren’t clear – he had all his Beatle baggage; all his having to relate to us. He just wanted to go off into the corner and look into Yoko’s eyes for hours, saying to each other, ‘It’s going to be all right.’ It was pretty freaky when we were trying to make a track. Looking at it now you can be amused by it, and it was quite a laugh, really. But at the time, this was us and it was our careers. We were The Beatles, after all, and here was this girl. It was like we were her courtiers, and it was very embarrassing. The ‘White’ album was a very tense one to make."
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Capasse on Apr 19, 2023 7:42:12 GMT -5
Fresh From Apple The first product to put out were the records. Peter Asher from the duo, 'Peter & Gordon', was the Artist and Repertoire man. By the end of Summer '68, the label was ready to release four singles from the first three artists signed and new song by The Beatles. "Hey Jude", a Paul McCartney song, that clocked in at 7:11, was the longest running 45 RPM record to hit number 1 in both the US and the UK. In Sept., they appeared in a promotional film, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg and filmed as a live performance in front of a studio audience. Later that week, the film was shown on the BBC by David Frost's,'Frost on Sunday'', and on 'The Smothers Brothers Show' in the US about a month later. Other acts the label had signed included, Billy Preston, Doris Troy, a new singer-songwriter from the US, named, James Taylor. Roadie, Mal Evans, found a quartet out of Wales, called 'The Iveys'. Guitarist, Peter Ham, is the principal songwriter, they later changed the name to 'Badfinger'. As Lennon & McCartney's message of free enterprise went around the world several times, the office at Apple was barraged with, tapes, letters and phone calls. Before Brian died, there were negotiations with a film producer, Al Brodax, to make a full length animation of The Beatles, much like the TV Cartoon series of the mid-60's. Just like the television show, the group did not agree to do the voices, although they did consent to appear live at the end of the film. And all the music was by The Beatles. The Apple Film premiere of 'Yellow Submarine', occurred in the UK on July 17, 1968, the US premiere was in November just in time for a Christmas release. It was a huge success. With its colorful 'Fantasia', like style and special effects from photographs to animations, most didn't mind the stand in voices, and of course there was all the great music. On August 30, 1968, Apple released "Our First Four". 4 Singles as an introduction to a new label, new songs, and new artists. Copies were sent to Buckingham Palace as well as other dignitaries. One can only imagine the chords of 'Sour Milk Sea' or 'Revolution' echoing thru 'The House of Windsor". +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Our First Four(click on the picture to go to the track | B-sides are highlighted in blue)
| “Hey Jude / Revolution” by The Beatles
"Hey Jude" was the first Beatles song to be recorded on eight-track recording equipment.
The sessions took place at Trident Studios in central London, midway through the recording
of the group's self-titled double album (also known as the "White Album"), and led to an
argument between McCartney and George Harrison over the song's guitar part." [Wikipedia] | 
| “Those Were The Days / Turn, Turn, Turn” by Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin was a Welsh folk singer discovered by Fashion Model, 'Twiggy',
and recommended to Paul McCartney after an appearance Hopkin did on a
British talent show, called 'Opportunity Knocks' The track was produced by Paul McCartney.
It was number one on the British and US charts immediately following 'Hey Jude'. | 
| “Sour Milk Sea / The Eagle Laughs at You”, by Jackie Lomax
'Sour Milk Sea' was a song written by George Harrison in early '68 while in India.
It was one of the demos tried out for the Fabs on 'The Esher Tapes'.
Lomax had joined The Undertakers in 1962. In 1967, he started "The Lomax Alliance'.
In '68, he signed to Apple, an all star band was recruited including, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr,
Paul McCartney, Leon Russell, and Nicky Hopkins. An album was released in March 1969.
| 
| “Thingumybob / Yellow Submarine” by The Black Dyke Mills Band
Actually called, 'John Foster & Son Black Dyke Mills Band', it is one of the oldest and best known brass bands.
It began in Queensbury, England, in 1816, without a name, but 'The Band of the Black Dyke Mills'.
In 1968, Paul McCartney called upon them to record a song he had written for London Weekend Television,
A show called 'Thingumybob'. The B-Side was their rendition of The Beatles' song, 'Yellow Submarine'. |
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Capasse on Apr 19, 2023 7:42:43 GMT -5
3 Saville Row In June of 1968, The Beatles bought the building at 3 Saville Row in London, to house the headquarters of Apple. A five story Georgian townhouse, there were offices for each member, as well as department managers & directors. The plan was to have Apple electronics wizard, 'Magic Alex Mardas' build a recording studio in the basement. Day to day life at Apple Offices has been described by the Press Officer's Assistant, Richard DiLello, as, 'The Longest Cocktail Party'. A full bar, joints, and assorted stimulants were consumed in quantity. One staff member had the daily task of rolling spliffs made of hash & tobacco. Lennon & McCartney were the only Beatles coming in on a daily basis at this time. John & Yoko set up Bag Productions for their peace efforts and art shows. George Harrison described it, "chaos", phones went unanswered, as lunatics lined the walls, hoping to grab on to the coat tails of The 'Fabs'. One year before, George had traveled to Haight-Ashbury to check out the Hippie Scene, and met a couple of The Hell's Angel's motorcycle gang. He said,"...if you are ever in London, look us up...". In December, Harrison wrote the following to the staff at Apple: "Hell's Angels will be in London within the next week, on the way to straighten out Czechoslovakia.
There will be twelve in number complete with black leather jackets and motor cycles.
They will undoubtedly arrive at Apple and I have heard they may try to make full use of Apple’s facilities.
They may look as though they are going to do you in but are very straight and do good things,
so don’t fear them or up-tight them. Try to assist them without neglecting your Apple business and
without letting them take control of Saville Row"Within the month, the Angels were gone. What remains is an example of how hap-hazard and unorganized the operation was. Any Beatle could ask for a wall to be taken down, perhaps to make a room wider, while another could ask, why is this area so open? And the room would have to be redone. There was no direct communication between the group and no direct agreement of what was to be done next. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Cast of CharactersNeil Aspinall: Ex Beatles Roadie while the band toured, Managing Director of Apple Mal Evans: The other tour roadie, Personal Assistant to The Beatles. Peter Brown: Former Assistant to Brian Epstein, Personal Assistant to The Beatles. Allistar Taylor: Former Salesman for Brian Epstein, Apple Office Manager. Derek Taylor: Former Publicist for The Byrds, Apple Press Officer. Peter Asher: Once half of the singing duo, 'Peter & Gordon', Artists and Repertoire at Apple. Ron Kass: Former President of Liberty Records, American Head of Apple Records. Dennis O'Dell: British Film Producer, Head of Apple Films. Alex Mardas: Self Proclaimed Electronics Wizard, Head of Apple Electronics. Brian Lewis: Business Consultant. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Up on the RoofIn 1968, French-Swedish director, Jean-Luc Godard, made a film with the Rolling Stones called, 'One plus One', aka 'Sympathy for the Devil'. It systematically showed the development of this 'Hot Rock' hit, interspersed with scenes of Black Panthers reading poetry amongst piles of junk cars. The film gained a cult following due to the interest in the Stones at work, and in particular Brian Jones' interaction with the band at that time. Later that year, music film maker, DA Pennebaker met Godard, and agreed to work on a film together for Public Television. The film was to be called 1 A.M. or 'One American Film", about the rise in resistance to the Vietnam War. After shooting, Jean-Luc left town, and left Pennebaker to edit the film. Then, Godard had no interest in the project. DA renamed the film, '1 P.M.' or 'One Parallel Movie', Jean-Luc jokingly called it, 'One Pennebaker Movie'. On a Tuesday, November 19, 1968, the rock group, The Jefferson Airplane were in New York, and agreed to be in Jean-Luc's film. Godard set them up on the roof of a condemned nine story building at W 45th Street in the middle of Midtown, playing for people below. It was 7:45 am, and that immediately brought the police to shut it down. But not without six minutes of, 'House at Pooneil Corners' The film was released in 1971 as a Pennebaker project, titled, '1 P.M.'. It too gained a cult following because of the Airplane scene. Beatles must have heard directly from New York what had happened. Two months later, they filmed the same stunt over the streets of London.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Capasse on Apr 19, 2023 7:43:15 GMT -5
The White Album On Nov. 22, 1968, Apple released the double album, 'The Beatles', with its stark blank cover and band named embossed on the front, it became known as "The White Album". The record is made of 30 songs recorded between May - Oct. 1968. Most were recorded at EMI and some were done on the 8 track facilities at Trident Studios. All four said it was a difficult album to make. John brought Yoko into the studio, and that created tension not previously encountered. Although exceptions had been made. There might be special occasions, for mix downs, or playbacks, even some backing vocals, but while the Fabs worked, wives and girlfriends were not allowed in the studio. JOHN: "I was too scared to break away from The Beatles, which I’d been looking to do since we stopped touring.
I was vaguely looking for somewhere to go, but didn’t have the nerve to really step out into the boat by myself,
so I hung around. And when I met Yoko and fell in love: ‘My God! This is different than anything before.
This is more than a hit record. It’s more than gold. It’s more than everything."The Lennon & McCartney songwriting team was no longer face to face, match to match. Each one brought their own songs and decided on the arrangement or style. Concurrently, George Harrison was writing more and was getting better with each pass. He became more confident that he could get additional songs on the records. This may have pushed Paul to a more controlling position when it came to his own. It was during Hey Jude, that George began adding a guitar response to Paul's singing. McCartney, declined the additional lines, and George, chose to sit quietly on the sidelines, listening to playbacks. Incidents like this remained a sore spot for both. Trident had 8 track facilities in a smaller studio set up, so Paul could go in and record all the instruments and take full control of any sound he was looking for. In August, the group was working on rehearsals for 'Back in the USSR' at EMI, Paul was directing Ringo to play the drums a certain way that he could not quite get. When McCartney kept at the drummer, Ringo grew frustrated, said, '...You play it then...' and walked out. Ringo Starr was the first to quit The Beatles. "I remember Ringo being uptight about something, I don’t remember what, and the next thing I was told
was that he’d quit the band. But work continued. They did Back In The USSR with what I seem to recall was a
composite drum track of bits and pieces, possibly with all of the other three playing drums. Within a few days
the differences had been sorted out and Ringo came back. Mal Evans completely decorated studio two with flowers..." Ken Scott | EMI Engineer++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Musique ConcrèteIn the 1940's, the French Composer, Pierre Schaeffer, coined the phrase 'Musique Concrète'. Schaffer had been experimenting in creating pieces using other recordings. Thru tape speed manipulation, tape looping, and directional changes he could drastically change the sounds and create some of the first 'electronic music' ever recorded. Then, the psychedelic times of the 1960's broke down the barriers of a 'hit song' and allowed for sound collage and montage, much like the Beatles 'Tomorrow Never Knows'. On the 'White Album', there is a sound collage called 'Revolution 9'. It comes from the tape that was used as the backing for the ending of 'Revolution 1'. The number 1 version of that song, was the first one recorded from the India writing sessions, and the Esher demo recordings. They did 18 takes before settling on the last. That take went on for about 10 1/2 minutes. The first 4:14 mins was the basic track sung, while the rest remained open for some over overdubs of tape loops and sound collage. John Lennon:
"The slow version of ‘Revolution’ on the album went on and on and on and I took the fade-out part, which is what they sometimes dowith disco records now, and just layered all this stuff over it. It was the basic rhythm of the original ‘Revolution’ going on withsome 20 loops we put on, things from the archives of EMI.
We were cutting up classical music and making different-size loops, and then I got and engineer tape on which some test engineer was saying,‘Number nine, number nine, number nine’. All those different bits of sound and noises are all compiled. There were about ten machines withpeople holding pencils on the loops – some only inches long and some a yard long. I fed them all in and mixed them live.
I did a few mixes until I got one I liked. Yoko was there for the whole thing and she made decisions about which loops to use.It was somewhat under her influence, I suppose. Once I heard her stuff – not just the screeching and the howling but her sortof word pieces and talking and breathing and all this strange stuff, I thought, My God, I got intrigued, so I wanted to do one.I spent more time on ‘Revolution 9’ than I did on half the songs I ever wrote. It was a montage."
In early June, it was decided to fade out 'Revolution 1' just beyond the 4 minute mark, and create a separate track for the tape loops and sound effects.'Revolution 9' clocked in @ over 8 minutes long. Paul & George Martin did not approve of the track. Both tried and failed, to talk John out of it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Capasse on Apr 19, 2023 7:44:03 GMT -5
Evolution 9 'Revolution 1', was the first song recorded for the 'White Album' on, May 30, 1968. The take they decided on was about 10 1/2 mins long. The song within the lyrics, took about the first 4 minutes of the track, the rest, a rhythm portion, would be filled with tape loops and sound effects. John had a small studio setup at home with multiple reels that he could make tape loops, and add sound effects he would use with The Beatles. About 10 days earlier, John had invited Yoko Ono to his house while his wife was away in Greece. They spent the night making tapes much like Revolution 9. Lennon decided he would release these sounds as his next album, in a product by, 'John & Yoko' called, Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins. The cover was a homemade picture of the two, side by side, completely naked, with full frontal nudity. 1968. It was shocking. Paul, George, & Ringo were appalled and immediately rejected the idea. RINGO: "I said, ‘Ah, come on, John. You’re doing all this stuff and it may be cool for you, but you know,
we all have to answer. It doesn’t matter; whichever one of us does something, we all have to answer for it.’
He said, ‘Oh, Ringo, you only have to answer the phone.’ I said, ‘OK, fine,’ because it was true."
PAUL: "I know it was shocking, but I’m not sure whether us lot were too shocked by it - we just knew he’d
have a bit of flack. Obviously, the minute the newspapers saw a shot like that, they were going to be on the phone.
I knew John was inviting a lot of that. In the end, he’d invited a lot more than they wanted and they started to get
busted and things."The album was released on Nov 11 th in the US and Nov. 29 th in the UK. It had taken six months to convince the other 3 to allow this record to come out. EMI or Capitol would not touch it for distribution, and had to be done privately with Track Records and Tetragrammaton. Even though it was sold under a brown paper wrapping, some stores refused to carry it. In Oct., Lennon was arrested for hashish found in a film case in the apartment he was living in at the time. That bust was led by the notorious Sergeant Norman Pilcher, the high profile Scotland Yard drug dog, that had busted all the big rock stars. John pleaded guilty to possession and paid the fine equivalent to that of a misdemeanor. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Dirty MacIn December 1968, The Rolling Stones hosted a film called "The Rock and Roll Circus". It was going to be a one hour television feature. It featured some British pop acts, The Who, Marianne Faithful, a new group called Jethro Tull, The Stones, and a super group called Dirty Mac. John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, & Mitch Mitchell performed 'Yer Blues'. It was the first time a Beatle stepped out on his own in a live performance. Mick Jagger:“As for The Rock and Roll Circus, I had this idea that I really didn’t want to do a regular performance clip,
because we had done that thing before. And I thought it would be interesting if we could put The Rolling Stones
in a location which was not a rock ‘n’ roll location. And maybe add a couple of ingredients like three others characters.
It was to be done in an unconventional carnival circus-like setting. I drew up a circle on a piece of paper.”Unfortunately, the day of filming began at 2pm on Dec 11 th, but due to camera delays, The Stones did not hit the stage until almost 5am the next morning. The band was exhausted. They were not pleased at all with their performance and canned the entire project. Later, The Who were allowed to release their performance. Audio of the Lennon portion and The Who had been released on bootlegs for years. In 1996, a clean copy that was restored from The Who's vaults was released in full. It is interesting to consider that Mick did not ask Paul McCartney on the program. It is easy to see John encouraging Yoko to step up to the mic during her performance. As 1968 ended, The Beatles had finished a treasury of 30 songs just in time for Christmas. Paul McCartney had led the process thru this very difficult record. There was some resentment from the others, not wanting one member to be the leader of The Beatles. While John has pushed his agenda of Yoko's presence without their consent. John & Yoko, naked on an album cover does not help matters in anyway. It would not be allowed if Brian was alive, or would have to pass in a more tasteful professional manner. There are more difficult times ahead for the band and for the company, as each takes sides in a bitter, selfish, game of spite.
|
|
