Post by Panther on Feb 14, 2015 4:42:16 GMT -5
Hey everyone. So, I recently ordered The Beatles: Anthology book, which I've just started reading (seen the film before of course, but never read the big book).
I'm up to the end of 1963, and it's enjoyable reading. George Harrison has by far the most interesting and well-judged comments on their early days. Ringo's are good, too, but of course he wasn't present for most of the very early stuff with the other three. Still, (as Lewisohn's Tune In has underscored) Ringo's early life is very interesting and had previously been somewhat under-served. John's comments are typically off the cuff and not very thought out (often sort of inaccurate -- esp. the ones to Hunter Davies in 1967, which became oft-quoted but were mostly wrong), but emotionally honest. Unfortunately, there's too few of them, but that's the result of his passing early. Paul's comments are sometimes interesting, but typically I find his memories of Beatle-days (a) lacking in accuracy regarding happenstance, dates, details, etc., and (b) generated by P.R.-spin. None of this is new. Anyway, thank goodness for George, who is very readable (not that you would know from I, Me, Mine, one of the more boring rock-autobiographies ever). George was choosing his words carefully and telling it straight, without sugar-coating stuff -- Example: "I was quite responsible for stirring things up. I conspired to get Ringo in for good; I talked to Paul and John until they came round to the idea."
Reading this book, though, you really miss the voices of Pete Best, Allan Williams, Astrid Kirchherr, and Klaus Voorman (among others... Mike McCartney would have been good, too) at relevant times. Of course, it should be The Beatles' own story, and at least 90% of the text should be their words (which it is), but I can't figure out why they thought Neil Aspinall should be featured. If they were gonna bother having him and George Martin in it, why not have Pete, Astrid, Klaus, etc. a bit, too? Or, why not ONLY have the 4 Beatles' speaking, which would seem to have been the original concept?
One of the 'problems' with having many quotes from John from the old days -- particularly from the 1967 Hunter Davies interviews -- is that John inevitably comes across as less measured and more half-assed about his memories than the others, in particular Paul. I really think Paul would come off better (and be less predictable and boring in his comments) if they'd also included more Paul quotes from the 1960s. There are a few, but not too many. In the days before endless P.R. spins.
Anyway, to get to the point: I'm kind of amazed by certain things The Beatles themselves got wrong about their history, or flat out didn't know. Of course their memories are going to be clouded on details such as dates of gigs, and even chronology of certain important events that are now a blur. I get that, and I wouldn't expect them to get everything right. But there are a few things that jump out as being, like: "Seriously, you were still getting this wrong after 30 years of being asked about it a thousand times??"
The most obvious one (so far, in my reading) is Paul and Ringo's memories of Ringo's drumming/not drumming on "Love Me Do".
Here's what they say in Anthology, followed by my own understanding of what actually happened (correct me if I'm wrong anywhere):
RINGO: (regarding Andy White's presence on Sept. 11th): "The guy (White) was previously booked anyway, because of Pete Best."
Truth: George Martin did not invite Andy White to the previous Sept. 4th session because Brian Epstein had told him they would be bringing a new drummer. Which they did (Ringo). Andy White was then brought to the Sept. 11th session because Martin/Richards were not satisfied with either Pete Best or Ringo.
RINGO: "So Andy plays on the 'Love Me Do' single -- but I play later on the album version."
Truth: Andy plays on the album -- Ringo plays on the (original) single. In fact, there was no "album version" at all -- the track was properly recorded twice, and both for a possible single.
RINGO: "Andy wasn't doing anything so great that I couldn't copy it when we did the album."
Truth: 'Love Me Do' was never recorded during the album sessions. This is a really bizarre comment by Ringo, because he's suggesting that he in fact "copied" Andy White afterwards. In fact, Ringo played 'Love Me Do' (and it was recorded, for eventual release) before Andy White did. Very strange comment.
PAUL: "George Martin didn't like Ringo. Ringo at that point was not that steady on time. Now he is rock steady; it's always been his greatest attribute and that was why we wanted him."
Truth: Say what? So Paul says Ringo wasn't good at timekeeping in 1962, but then in the same breath says that they wanted Ringo (in 1962) because he was great at timekeeping. Thanks for clarifying, Paul (this was probably a failed attempt at a PR-spin). In truth, everybody who played in front of Ringo in the early '60s (such as Tony Sheridan) commented on what a great timekeeper he was. So, the truth is in the 2nd part of Paul's comment. (And I'm pretty sure George Martin would take issue with Paul's tasteful comment here that "George Martin didn't like Ringo".)
PAUL: "George did the...'I would like to bring in another drummer for this record.' It was very hard for us to accept that decision. We said, 'Ringo has to be the drummer; we wouldn't want to lose him as the drummer.'"
Truth: George Martin didn't tell anyone in The Beatles' camp that he was bringing in Andy White, beforehand. When they showed up, according to all accounts, they went straight to work to nail "PS I Love You" (and then later went back at "Love Me Do"). They collectively said nothing whatsoever to George Martin about Ringo on September 11th (in fairness, Paul could be right about them complaining about Andy White... but nobody there has ever remembered them saying anything, including them, so this reads as "PR Spin" to me yet again).
PAUL: "Ringo didn't drum on the first single. He only played tambourine."
Truth: Ringo drummed on the first single. He didn't drum on the second version of "Love Me Do" (on the PPM album) and only played tambourine.
PAUL: "I don't think Ringo ever got over that. He had to go back up to Liverpool and everyone asked, 'How did it go in the Smoke?' We'd say, 'B-side's good', but Ringo couldn't admit to liking the A-side, not being on it."
Truth: Ringo was on the A-side, but not on the B-side. In fact, Ringo is quoted in different interviews about being relieved to know that he was the drummer on the single (A-side), and how 'Love Me Do''s release was one of the greatest moments of his life.
What's bizarre about all this is that Ringo himself appeared (circa 1994, anyway) not to know that he in fact played on the A-side of The Beatles' first single, despite having described it himself as one of the greatest moments of his life. He also appeared to think (circa 1994) that he had "copied" Andy White, when in fact he drummed on the first recording of the song (not counting the Pete Best recording/audition much earlier in the year).
There's some other typically weird Paul stuff, such as his thinking that John engineered the "Lennon/McCartney" title (with John's name first) by cozying up to Brian Epstein and being higher in the Beatle-pecking order. In fact, as Lewisohn's access to Brian's papers has proved, Epstein specifically requested the song-publishers to list the primary composer's name first. He specifically asked for 'Love Me Do / PS I Love You' to be listed as "McCartney/Lennon", and the song publishers either didn't get the memo or got it wrong because it was published as "Lennon/McCartney". (Paul does correctly point out that the whole first album was listed as "McCartney/Lennon"... but that sort of sinks his entire theory of John cozying up to Brian).
Of course, there's other funny stuff that came up in the Anthology (film) such as each of them having no idea how many people were in Shea Stadium, and George having no memory of playing there twice. But that's the sort of stuff I would expect them to forget. The 'Love Me Do' story is different -- seriously, Ringo must have been asked a million times about it, and you'd think Apple or their press officer or whoever would have prepped them just a little for each part of the Anthology interviews.
So... what other 'Beatle myths' have the Beatles themselves been victims of? What stuff have The Beatles said happened that didn't really happen? What stuff do members of The Beatles believe, which is totally wrong?
I'm up to the end of 1963, and it's enjoyable reading. George Harrison has by far the most interesting and well-judged comments on their early days. Ringo's are good, too, but of course he wasn't present for most of the very early stuff with the other three. Still, (as Lewisohn's Tune In has underscored) Ringo's early life is very interesting and had previously been somewhat under-served. John's comments are typically off the cuff and not very thought out (often sort of inaccurate -- esp. the ones to Hunter Davies in 1967, which became oft-quoted but were mostly wrong), but emotionally honest. Unfortunately, there's too few of them, but that's the result of his passing early. Paul's comments are sometimes interesting, but typically I find his memories of Beatle-days (a) lacking in accuracy regarding happenstance, dates, details, etc., and (b) generated by P.R.-spin. None of this is new. Anyway, thank goodness for George, who is very readable (not that you would know from I, Me, Mine, one of the more boring rock-autobiographies ever). George was choosing his words carefully and telling it straight, without sugar-coating stuff -- Example: "I was quite responsible for stirring things up. I conspired to get Ringo in for good; I talked to Paul and John until they came round to the idea."
Reading this book, though, you really miss the voices of Pete Best, Allan Williams, Astrid Kirchherr, and Klaus Voorman (among others... Mike McCartney would have been good, too) at relevant times. Of course, it should be The Beatles' own story, and at least 90% of the text should be their words (which it is), but I can't figure out why they thought Neil Aspinall should be featured. If they were gonna bother having him and George Martin in it, why not have Pete, Astrid, Klaus, etc. a bit, too? Or, why not ONLY have the 4 Beatles' speaking, which would seem to have been the original concept?
One of the 'problems' with having many quotes from John from the old days -- particularly from the 1967 Hunter Davies interviews -- is that John inevitably comes across as less measured and more half-assed about his memories than the others, in particular Paul. I really think Paul would come off better (and be less predictable and boring in his comments) if they'd also included more Paul quotes from the 1960s. There are a few, but not too many. In the days before endless P.R. spins.
Anyway, to get to the point: I'm kind of amazed by certain things The Beatles themselves got wrong about their history, or flat out didn't know. Of course their memories are going to be clouded on details such as dates of gigs, and even chronology of certain important events that are now a blur. I get that, and I wouldn't expect them to get everything right. But there are a few things that jump out as being, like: "Seriously, you were still getting this wrong after 30 years of being asked about it a thousand times??"
The most obvious one (so far, in my reading) is Paul and Ringo's memories of Ringo's drumming/not drumming on "Love Me Do".
Here's what they say in Anthology, followed by my own understanding of what actually happened (correct me if I'm wrong anywhere):
RINGO: (regarding Andy White's presence on Sept. 11th): "The guy (White) was previously booked anyway, because of Pete Best."
Truth: George Martin did not invite Andy White to the previous Sept. 4th session because Brian Epstein had told him they would be bringing a new drummer. Which they did (Ringo). Andy White was then brought to the Sept. 11th session because Martin/Richards were not satisfied with either Pete Best or Ringo.
RINGO: "So Andy plays on the 'Love Me Do' single -- but I play later on the album version."
Truth: Andy plays on the album -- Ringo plays on the (original) single. In fact, there was no "album version" at all -- the track was properly recorded twice, and both for a possible single.
RINGO: "Andy wasn't doing anything so great that I couldn't copy it when we did the album."
Truth: 'Love Me Do' was never recorded during the album sessions. This is a really bizarre comment by Ringo, because he's suggesting that he in fact "copied" Andy White afterwards. In fact, Ringo played 'Love Me Do' (and it was recorded, for eventual release) before Andy White did. Very strange comment.
PAUL: "George Martin didn't like Ringo. Ringo at that point was not that steady on time. Now he is rock steady; it's always been his greatest attribute and that was why we wanted him."
Truth: Say what? So Paul says Ringo wasn't good at timekeeping in 1962, but then in the same breath says that they wanted Ringo (in 1962) because he was great at timekeeping. Thanks for clarifying, Paul (this was probably a failed attempt at a PR-spin). In truth, everybody who played in front of Ringo in the early '60s (such as Tony Sheridan) commented on what a great timekeeper he was. So, the truth is in the 2nd part of Paul's comment. (And I'm pretty sure George Martin would take issue with Paul's tasteful comment here that "George Martin didn't like Ringo".)
PAUL: "George did the...'I would like to bring in another drummer for this record.' It was very hard for us to accept that decision. We said, 'Ringo has to be the drummer; we wouldn't want to lose him as the drummer.'"
Truth: George Martin didn't tell anyone in The Beatles' camp that he was bringing in Andy White, beforehand. When they showed up, according to all accounts, they went straight to work to nail "PS I Love You" (and then later went back at "Love Me Do"). They collectively said nothing whatsoever to George Martin about Ringo on September 11th (in fairness, Paul could be right about them complaining about Andy White... but nobody there has ever remembered them saying anything, including them, so this reads as "PR Spin" to me yet again).
PAUL: "Ringo didn't drum on the first single. He only played tambourine."
Truth: Ringo drummed on the first single. He didn't drum on the second version of "Love Me Do" (on the PPM album) and only played tambourine.
PAUL: "I don't think Ringo ever got over that. He had to go back up to Liverpool and everyone asked, 'How did it go in the Smoke?' We'd say, 'B-side's good', but Ringo couldn't admit to liking the A-side, not being on it."
Truth: Ringo was on the A-side, but not on the B-side. In fact, Ringo is quoted in different interviews about being relieved to know that he was the drummer on the single (A-side), and how 'Love Me Do''s release was one of the greatest moments of his life.
What's bizarre about all this is that Ringo himself appeared (circa 1994, anyway) not to know that he in fact played on the A-side of The Beatles' first single, despite having described it himself as one of the greatest moments of his life. He also appeared to think (circa 1994) that he had "copied" Andy White, when in fact he drummed on the first recording of the song (not counting the Pete Best recording/audition much earlier in the year).
There's some other typically weird Paul stuff, such as his thinking that John engineered the "Lennon/McCartney" title (with John's name first) by cozying up to Brian Epstein and being higher in the Beatle-pecking order. In fact, as Lewisohn's access to Brian's papers has proved, Epstein specifically requested the song-publishers to list the primary composer's name first. He specifically asked for 'Love Me Do / PS I Love You' to be listed as "McCartney/Lennon", and the song publishers either didn't get the memo or got it wrong because it was published as "Lennon/McCartney". (Paul does correctly point out that the whole first album was listed as "McCartney/Lennon"... but that sort of sinks his entire theory of John cozying up to Brian).
Of course, there's other funny stuff that came up in the Anthology (film) such as each of them having no idea how many people were in Shea Stadium, and George having no memory of playing there twice. But that's the sort of stuff I would expect them to forget. The 'Love Me Do' story is different -- seriously, Ringo must have been asked a million times about it, and you'd think Apple or their press officer or whoever would have prepped them just a little for each part of the Anthology interviews.
So... what other 'Beatle myths' have the Beatles themselves been victims of? What stuff have The Beatles said happened that didn't really happen? What stuff do members of The Beatles believe, which is totally wrong?