Once There Was a Way: What If The Beatles Stayed Together?
Jan 25, 2018 15:46:45 GMT -5
winstonoboogie likes this
Post by stavros on Jan 25, 2018 15:46:45 GMT -5
I purchased a copy of this book after Christmas. It is the story of how the Beatles, just about, manage to put their differences aside and carry on as a working band on into the 1970s. It's written in the style of a fictional Rock magazine and actually covers the Beatles story right up to the 21st century. Although 90% of the book focuses on the post Pepper period and the following decade.
Slight and major changes in Beatles history litter the novel. In fact a major plot line develops in parallel with the Watergate affair. With everything all coming to a head as Nixon finally walks out of the Whitehouse.
Without wanting to spoil things totally for anyone wanting to pick up a copy for themselves I'll say that the Beatles do play live concerts again, John has a brush with death and more Beatles albums and films are produced in this alternative universe. All set against a backdrop of the continuing tensions in the band with a break-up looking very much likely at certain points. While it mentions new songs and albums the book does not focus on track listings too much.
Below I'll cover a few of the small changes that have varying effects on the Beatles future to give a taster. Hopefully this doesn't spoil things too much. But if you don't want anything spoiled then click away now.
1) John agrees that the White Album is not the place for "Revolution No.9" and instead "Hey Jude" and "What's the New Mary Jane" are included. They also name the album "A Doll's House"/
2) When John and Paul appear on the Tonight Show in 1968, John demands Johnny Carson cancel his engagements to host the show as he is not prepared to talk to sit in host Joe Garagiola and wants no other guests. Johnny agrees but asks John and Paul to perform live. The show goes ahead and is not the embarrassing mess that was shown (see below).
Instead the interview goes well and John and Paul perform a couple of acoustic tracks at the end. One being "Hello Goodbye" where they have fun singing alternate lines in the style of an older Lennon/McCartney song. They later enjoy a few drinks at Danny's Hideaway with Johnny.
3) John and Yoko gatecrash Paul and Linda's wedding. Paul returns the favour a week later at John and Yoko's wedding. It created a bit of bad feeling initially but then both Beatles recorded "The Ballad of John & Yoko" b/w "Two of Us" in a much more light hearted mood.
4) Meanwhile George is working on the soundtrack for the new Beatles movie "Lord of the Rings". The film will be produced by Stanley Kubrick............
I'll leave it there for now.
Slight and major changes in Beatles history litter the novel. In fact a major plot line develops in parallel with the Watergate affair. With everything all coming to a head as Nixon finally walks out of the Whitehouse.
Without wanting to spoil things totally for anyone wanting to pick up a copy for themselves I'll say that the Beatles do play live concerts again, John has a brush with death and more Beatles albums and films are produced in this alternative universe. All set against a backdrop of the continuing tensions in the band with a break-up looking very much likely at certain points. While it mentions new songs and albums the book does not focus on track listings too much.
Below I'll cover a few of the small changes that have varying effects on the Beatles future to give a taster. Hopefully this doesn't spoil things too much. But if you don't want anything spoiled then click away now.
1) John agrees that the White Album is not the place for "Revolution No.9" and instead "Hey Jude" and "What's the New Mary Jane" are included. They also name the album "A Doll's House"/
2) When John and Paul appear on the Tonight Show in 1968, John demands Johnny Carson cancel his engagements to host the show as he is not prepared to talk to sit in host Joe Garagiola and wants no other guests. Johnny agrees but asks John and Paul to perform live. The show goes ahead and is not the embarrassing mess that was shown (see below).
Instead the interview goes well and John and Paul perform a couple of acoustic tracks at the end. One being "Hello Goodbye" where they have fun singing alternate lines in the style of an older Lennon/McCartney song. They later enjoy a few drinks at Danny's Hideaway with Johnny.
3) John and Yoko gatecrash Paul and Linda's wedding. Paul returns the favour a week later at John and Yoko's wedding. It created a bit of bad feeling initially but then both Beatles recorded "The Ballad of John & Yoko" b/w "Two of Us" in a much more light hearted mood.
4) Meanwhile George is working on the soundtrack for the new Beatles movie "Lord of the Rings". The film will be produced by Stanley Kubrick............
I'll leave it there for now.