Atlantic cover story on John and Paul's collaboration
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http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/06/the-power-of-two/372289/ The writer refutes the notion that John and Paul were independent of each other in the Beatles.
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This is a great article. I think the writer has really captured the magic that John and Paul had together, the sparks they struck off each other. This was a rare and magical partnership, which is why the music endures to this day. Seriously, if you were alive in 1964, ask yourself: How many acts from 1914 were still loved by millions all over the world? Yet here we are in 2014 and everyone over the age of 15 knows the Beatles.
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^^ AGREED. A quick google search brought up these names from 1900-1930 as famous singers. I bet anyone under the age of 40 never heard of most of these people. Al Bowlly Chick Bullock Bing Crosby Cab Calloway Eddie Cantor Ruth Etting Annette Hanshaw Al Jolson Helen Kane
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Excellent article. Thanks for sharing!
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Wonderful article. I hadn't known the last part where John was planning to work with Paul again in 1981.
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liv4art:
Wonderful article. I hadn't known the last part where John was planning to work with Paul again in 1981.
No chance with Yoko OHNO! around!
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MACCATTACK:
liv4art:
Wonderful article. I hadn't known the last part where John was planning to work with Paul again in 1981.
No chance with Yoko OHNO! around!
If he had lived, I like to think he would have eventually stopped drinking the Kool-Aid.
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I agree. Great article. Even though Paul & John didnt work on all the songs together, they were still "collaborators" in every sense of the word. They inspired, motivated, and gave each other self-confidence, in addition to the tactical aspects of writing lyrics and melodies. Anyone involved in the arts know the importance of the "emotional" aspects of creating something special. When they split, I think each lost a lot of the mental aspects of writing great, unique music, even though each obviously had the "toolbox" to still do it.
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liv4art:
Wonderful article. I hadn't known the last part where John was planning to work with Paul again in 1981.
That part of the article reminded me actually: John's song "I Don't Want To Face It" on MILK AND HONEY was musically-inspired by his listening to Paul's "Coming Up" (both songs having a similarly nifty, punchy riff). It further goes to show that John was still following Paul's solo work and creatively-competing with him. Which leads one to speculate on the kind of album they might have made together had they "joined forces" again in 1981 or '82. Some points to consider: - Ringo would definitely have worked with them as well, especially given that he was already working with Paul on what would become TUG OF WAR. (George probably wouldn't, however - at least not right away.) - It wouldn't have been credited as a "Beatles" album as such (assuming, as before, that George wouldn't have wanted to be involved) but rather as "Lennon & McCartney" - in the same way that Jimmy Page & Robert Plant's post- Led Zeppelin collaborations were. - George Martin or Jack Douglas (or possibly both?) would have handled the production. - Session musicians would have included Ringo, Linda and Denny Laine, as well as the likes of Eric Stuart, Hugh McCracken, Earl Slick, Andy Newmark, Stanley Clarke, Steve Gadd etc. (Though probably not Yoko!) - It would have been accompanied by a world tour around 1982-83 (though probably not to Japan!). This is all my hypothesising of course, but I think these are probably well-founded assumptions.
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Jazz Street:
liv4art:
Wonderful article. I hadn't known the last part where John was planning to work with Paul again in 1981.
That part of the article reminded me actually: John's song "I Don't Want To Face It" on MILK AND HONEY was musically-inspired by his listening to Paul's "Coming Up" (both songs having a similarly nifty, punchy riff). It further goes to show that John was still following Paul's solo work and creatively-competing with him. Which leads one to speculate on the kind of album they might have made together had they "joined forces" again in 1981 or '82. Some points to consider: - Ringo would definitely have worked with them as well, especially given that he was already working with Paul on what would become TUG OF WAR. (George probably wouldn't, however - at least not right away.) - It wouldn't have been credited as a "Beatles" album as such (assuming, as before, that George wouldn't have wanted to be involved) but rather as "Lennon & McCartney" - in the same way that Jimmy Page & Robert Plant's post- Led Zeppelin collaborations were. - George Martin or Jack Douglas (or possibly both?) would have handled the production. - Session musicians would have included Ringo, Linda and Denny Laine, as well as the likes of Eric Stuart, Hugh McCracken, Earl Slick, Andy Newmark, Stanley Clarke, Steve Gadd etc. (Though probably not Yoko!) - It would have been accompanied by a world tour around 1982-83 (though probably not to Japan!). This is all my hypothesising of course, but I think these are probably well-founded assumptions.
And not to forget: Paul, George, and John were already set to work (individually) with Ringo on the album that became "Stop And Smell The Roses." Yes, John was actually booked for early '81 for that. Paul and George did actually contribute significantly.