Have you heard about this tape that has surfaced of a business meeting between John, Paul and George? (Ringo was in the hospital at the time ... so the meeting was recorded at John's suggestion so that they could communicate any new information to him in this way.)
What makes this tape so special is that it was held AFTER the "Abbey Road" album was recorded ... and just a couple of weeks before the LP was released.
Now the legend has always been that The Beatles went into the studio to record their "swan song" ... something that would allow them to go out on top. (As most of you already know, the "Let It Be" album was actually recorded BEFORE they started their sessions for what became "Abbey Road" ... but the group was in such disarray with on-going squabbles and dissension after having their every move filmed for the theatrical release that those tapes sat dormant for a year, primarily because NOBODY wanted to be bothered to sort them out.)
Paul rallied the troops to record one last album "like the good old days" and even persuaded Producer George Martin to helm the project. (Several producers were involved at various stages of "Let It Be" before John Lennon turned the project over to Phil Spector to see if he could assemble something worth releasing ... and when he did, Paul absolutely HATED it!)
Martin, too, was fed up with all the bickering back and forth ... and only agreed to come back if the band would work together in unison in a much more disciplined environment.
They all agreed and the results were amazing ... most would agree that "Abbey Road" is the best album The Beatles ever recorded ... and the time spent on assembling the medley that takes up the bulk of Side Two was nothing short of extraordinary.
Anyway, this has been the myth for the past fifty years. After "Abbey Road," they would all go their separate ways. John, George and Ringo had each quit the band at various times ... but all were persuaded to come back and finish whatever project they happened to be working on at the time.
The Beatles clearly meant more to Paul than any of the others ... he wanted to continue to set the bar high and maintain the high standard they had achieved throughout their career. (His little line to John in "Too Many People" drove that point home ... "You took your lucky break and broke it in two.") He had become the dominating (some would say overbearing) force in the studio that kept driving the band to do better and the success (and excellence) of "Abbey Road" (much like "Sgt. Pepper" before it) can be attributed to Paul's perseverance in the studio.
Well, this new tape shows that John, Paul and George were meeting to discuss their next album ... to be released AFTER "Abbey Road" ... the album that never happened ... that never was SUPPOSED to happen ... yet all were harmonious enough to sit down with each other and discuss their next, future project. (Maybe it's the fact that "Abbey Road" went SO well, they thought they could continue to heal the wounds and do it again ... and again.)
In any event, John again assumes control of the group and says that he feels that on the next album, each of them (John, Paul and George) should contribute four songs ... and that Ringo could have two "if he wants them" ... thus laying out a strategic game plan that he hoped would make everybody happy. (Years before, when the White Album was first released, there was talk about how The Beatles should do another double album with each of them taking an entire side ... thus taking the lead and having the others work as their "side men" for those sessions, but reversing the roles for each leader. Interesting as that may sound, it never happened ... and maybe it's just as well ... after "Don't Pass Me By," I don't know that I could have taken an entire side of Ringo tunes at this point in time!!!)
Anyway, after John makes the democratic offer of divvying up the real estate of their next LP, Paul immediately assumes the asshole role that ultimately drove the band apart by basically saying "Well, I don't know that George's songs are good enough yet to warrant four on the next LP," to which George replied, "All down the line people have told me that they really like my songs!" (Keep in mind that George's two most recent contributions to the "Abbey Road" album were "Something" and "Here Comes The Sun," two Beatles standards that rank right up there with the best material they ever recorded. In fact, in our Top 3333 Most Essential Classic Rock Tracks list that we're compiling, George has the top TWO Beatles songs on the countdown with "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Here Comes The Sun," which also happens to be the most-downloaded song of their entire catalog.
Anyway, the matter was never settled and John and Yoko went off and did their Plastic Ono Band / acorns for peace thing while Paul and Linda formed a new band together that eventually found their place at the top of the charts, often outselling The Beatles themselves. In the meantime, all "considerably less talented" George did was score the first Beatles solo #1 Record ("My Sweet Lord"), the first Beatles solo #1 Album ("All Things Must Pass") and organize and headline The Concert For Bangla Desh! Kinda makes you wonder how Paul feels about all of this in hindsight, doesn't it?!?! (Especially now that this tape has "gone public.") kk
More here:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beatles-audio-abbey-road-final-album-882988/
What is also particularly interesting about this conversation is that John Lennon suggests that the long-standing songwriting team of Lennon and McCartney (on paper) should finally be abolished as they rarely wrote anything together anymore at this stage of their careers. He felt that each of their solo names should appear if they were the key writer of the track.
This is significant because for DECADES now Paul has been trying to get the copyrights to properly credit the main writer. (A song like "Yesterday," for example, written 100% entirely by Paul, still bears the Lennon-McCartney songwriting credit.) He has pointed out where, in some cases, there simply isn't enough room to list BOTH names in a publication or radio identification so only Lennon's name appears ... on songs he had virtually nothing at all to do with.
But Yoko Ono has adamantly refused to grant Paul this concession. McCartney even suggested that they then list the primary writer first ... thus keeping the Lennon-McCartney "brand" alive, but showing some of Paul's key compositions as McCartney-Lennon. Yoko nixed this idea, too.
But now that there's documentation that John ALSO wanted individual credit acknowledged, perhaps Paul has a stronger case. (Of course Yoko's immediate response will be that John wanted this only for the songs written from that point forward.) If you think about it, it's a bit ridiculous to see Lennon-McCartney credited on John's "Give Peace A Chance" anthem ... or on Paul's "Magic Christian" soundtrack contribution "Come And Get It" for that matter. (On the tape, John even suggests that Paul should have given "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" to Mary Hopkin instead of putting the group through the ridiculous paces he put them thru in order to get The Beatles to record it.) kk
Interesting, too, that John (who has always seemed the most adamant member wanting to dissolve the band) was the one organizing and chairing the meeting. And that NONE of this information has EVER come to light before in the past fifty years. (No mention by ANY of the former Beatles at any point nor discussed as part of the "Anthology" series.) Perhaps they had forgotten all about it? Seems unlikely since virtually EVERYTHING they did was examined under a microscope. Perhaps Beatles history will be rewritten from this point forward to better reflect "what might have been." (kk)
Speaking of Badfinger, Joey Molland has a brand new album coming out. Produced by Mark Hudson, the LP also features a number of special guest performances.
It's currently part of a Kickstarter campaign (and all contributors automatically get a free download of the new album!)
You'll find more information here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fourchordconsulting/new-album-joey-molland-of-badfinger
Eddie Money's Stage 4 esophageal cancer treatments had to be put on hold after the singer contracted pneumonia, forcing him to cancel his chemo. Money spent three months in the hospital for heart valve replacement issues and now this ... but he keeps battling back. All concert plans have been cancelled for right now ... but a new album, more episodes of his television series "Real Money" and a resumed tour are all in the plans for early next year ... so don't count this guy out quite yet. He's a fighter! (kk)
HELPING OUT OUR READERS:
Hey Kent,
Carl over at Songfacts referred me to you ... wow, you are a find for me! I am always trying to find answers about forgotten music, forgotten songwriters, etc. Carl said if anyone can successfully dig up a past song, it's you!
In either the 1960s or early 1970s, my friend Larry Laufer was in a band whose name I can't remember. He played me a "45" vinyl of their record so I know it exists, but obviously it was not a big hit, and it was called either "Gimme, Gimme Good Lovin'" or perhaps "Gimme Good Lovin'" or maybe "Good Lovin'." (It was not by The Young Rascals nor the other by Slim ... but it was under a band's name, not Larry's name.) I dont recall the name of the band, but if you find it, I WILL recognize the name instantly!!
Happy to pass this along ... and give another listen to "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'," another one of those real good, feel good songs ...
Larry passed away at the age of 35 from multiple sclerosis and I just wish I could remember the lyrics and frame them as a remembrance of him. He was a great pianist and music was his life.
Any chance you could dig a little somewhere and find it?
He always referred to it in those days as "bubblegum music." It was a fun song to dance to and cute lyrics, but never a huge hit, and it was bought by some company and produced as a single 45 vinyl. I think it began with "Gimme, Gimme Good Lovin' ehv-a-ry nigh-ah-ight," sung loud and fast!!!
I have my fingers crossed that maybe you can find the lyrics.
Thank you for the opportunity to possibly solve this puzzle, with your help!!!
Sue Cooper
Boy, I wish they were all this easy! (lol) You have got to be talking about "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'" by Crazy Elephant from 1969 ... a MUCH bigger hit than you give it credit for, going all the way to #4 in Record World (but stopping at #12 in Billboard.) It was a Top Ten Hit (#6) in Cash Box, too ... and went all the way to #3 here in Chicago, too. (Looks like you had everything you needed except the name of the band!)
When you say "bubblegum," you're not kidding ... the brains behind this one were Kasenetz and Katz, the same guys who orchestrated hits for The Ohio Express ("Yummy Yummy Yummy"), The 1910 Fruitgum Company ("Simon Says") and The Lemon Pipers ("Green Tambourine). Their success at Buddah Records put bubblegum music on the map. (They even had a hit of their own in 1968 called "Quick Joey Small.")
Many of these featured session singer Joey Levine on lead vocals ... and this record, too, was done as a studio creation. When it took off, a band was quickly assembled to hit the road and cash in on the success of their Top Ten Hit. That's when your friend Larry joined the band.
Although they never had another hit (their next four releases only managed to "bubble under" in Billboard ... but did chart in the 70's and 80's on the Record World Chart), it was the "road" band that went back into the studio to make the subsequent 45s and album. (Larry is clearly shown as the keyboard player on their self-titled LP released in 1969.)
Although they never had another hit (their next four releases only managed to "bubble under" in Billboard ... but did chart in the 70's and 80's on the Record World Chart), it was the "road" band that went back into the studio to make the subsequent 45s and album. (Larry is clearly shown as the keyboard player on their self-titled LP released in 1969.)
I asked our FH Buddy Frank Jeckell of The 1910 Fruitgum Company if he ever had any interactions with Crazy Elephant ...
Hi Kent,
I never had a chance to interact with anyone from the band but I suspect you’re totally right about what happened. However, I do have a friend who was very involved in the K&K operation so I may be able to find out more. I’ll give it a shot and let you know what I find out.
I’m now part of another oldies act, The Royal Teens. We just completed a promo video. Check it out:
Frank
Happy to pass this along ... and give another listen to "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'," another one of those real good, feel good songs ...
Thank you, Kent, you've found them! What fun to be able to HEAR them singing it, too.
Thank you so much ... you're the best!
Sue Cooper
Hi Kent!
From our FH Buddy Bob Lind ...
To My Florida Friends and Fans -- and Those Who May Be in Florida Next Month:
And a fitting, Friday finale ...
You're about due for another excuse to show "that certain Herb Alpert album cover" ...
>>>When Sugar, Sugar came out and I was in like the 8th or 9th grade, we had a sock-hop at our grade school, with a great live band. Well, lo and behold, they played Sugar, Sugar, as well as some other songs and, being a drummer, I stopped dead in my tracks to listen ... and I'm like No Way, the Archies!?!?! In Rogue River, Oregon!?!?! So, after the crowd settled down, I asked a few teachers who were working that nite keeping us in line if that was, indeed, The Archies ... and our track coach, a nice young lady, (it was '68 or '69) nods her head yes and gives me the shhhh sign.
Evidently she was friends of one or more of the members of the band and they were visiting her that week so they played incognito for our sock hop...what do you think?
They rushed out after the party so I couldn't talk to them. (Curt)
I think the odds have got to be a zillion to one ... The Archies were not a real band and they didn't do live gigs (although it wouldn't surprise me to find out that bands PRETENDING to be The Archies were out there scamming club owners trying to make a buck!) But I have learned over the many years of doing this that ANYTHING is possible ... so I reached out to Ron Dante, lead singer of The Archies, and asked him to please comment on this (if only to give you a little peace of mind after 50 years!!! lol)
I mean, who knows ... maybe Toni Wine was friends with this high school track coach and happened to stop by to put on a surprise free concert that night for a bunch of eighth graders! (kk)
Anyway, here's what Ron told me ...
Hello Kent -
Anyway, here's what Ron told me ...
Hello Kent -
Sorry to say this was not the Archies group.
No group was ever sent out on the road to perform ... but there were many bogus groups out on the road pretending to be The Archies.
The Happy Together Tour was a blast all summer.
I met so many fans at the shows.
All the best to you bud,
Ron
People are already talking about next year's show! The Turtles, The Association, The Cowsills, Mark Lindsay, Chuck Negron and "newcomers" The Vogues. Should be quite a fun night of music.
Thanks, Ron! (kk)
While researching something else the other night I came across an album credits list that showed that Forgotten Hits Member Henry Gross played on a few tracks on Jim Croce's albums!
While researching something else the other night I came across an album credits list that showed that Forgotten Hits Member Henry Gross played on a few tracks on Jim Croce's albums!
I had to know how all of this came about ...
Jim Croce and I shared Cashman and West as producers. They liked my guitar playing and so they had me play on some songs. It was a real honor to be asked as I loved Jim’s writing and he and the great Maury Muehleisen really made a magical combination on guitar. Their complementary styles were to the guitar what The Everly Brothers accomplished with their voices. I really was delighted to be invited into that club!
Henry
From our FH Buddy Bob Lind ...
To My Florida Friends and Fans -- and Those Who May Be in Florida Next Month:
October is a sweet-looking month for me.
Two good-news items:
October 4th, Friday: I'm playing my favorite South Florida venue: The Luna Star Cafe in North Miami. It's been more than year since I played there and I'm eager to get back at you. Details are on my Website gigs page (see the link at the bottom)
October 26th, Saturday: My one-act play, "A Good Night," will be featured in the Delray Beach Playhouse Playwrights' Project. It's one of eight plays selected for the festival which runs both Saturday evening AND Sunday afternoon. This one isn't up on the Website yet, but it will be soon, and I'll send out another email or two, closer to the time. It starts at 8 at the Delray Beach Playhouse.
Bob Lind
And a fitting, Friday finale ...
Kent,
Tim Kubat
http://coolalbumreview.com/?p=32426
You know, now that you mention it, I think I HAVE seen this cover somewhere before! (kk)
http://coolalbumreview.com/?p=32426
You know, now that you mention it, I think I HAVE seen this cover somewhere before! (kk)
