Get Back.

[Drunk Monk]

Finished ep 3 of Behind the Scenes of “Let It Be”. This doc could have used an editor. I agree w/KB that some other tack, like following the evolution of each song, might have been a more interesting than the chronological format. The calendar constantly turned up the tension, but they could have tried to better underscore when milestones were achieved (like they actually got a successful take / the one we know and love, or someone proposed the rooftop finally!).

Also, the subtitling was inconsistent. I would have preferred it on for all the dialog, and if there were multiple people talking, to anchor each’s subtitles to a different part of the screen. 

Other thoughts:

John is a crackup. 
Ringo never looks like he’s working hard. 
Michael Higgs-Boson or whatever his name is seems like a jerk. 
The Bobbies were so patient. 
Brits (on the street) are funny. 

I want toast with marmalade. 

I think it's telling that both of our D00Musicians would've been more interested in watching the development of the individual songs chronologically, than the calendar progression. That would make for an informative recut, but I liked the chaos and pressure cooker of the calendar. I've always worked against deadlines - still do - so I could relate to that. 

I had the close captions on because I left them on after watching some foreign cinema so everything was subbed. And when the doc had subs, the CC turned off. I use CC a lot, because I tend to watch TV late at night at low volume, and I'm often munching on crunchy stuff. 

Other thoughts:
I think John was high a lot. He did say a few things - like an obscure reference to something that sounded like a pot code word, plus his request for pep pills. 
Ringo's farting confession was the most Ringo thing I've ever heard.
The only crew member who seemed like they really understood the magnitude was Parsons.
I felt badly for those Bobbies. I wonder where they are now.
Those opinions were hilarious, especially the whiners. Wonder what they'd say now?

Yes on toast with marmalade. And tea. Plus some pep pills too please.

[Greg]

At the end of Ep1, where they come back from lunch and George has left, they must be high.

[Drunk Monk]

Finally finished episode 1. Watching the Peter Jackson interview with Colbert helped. I liked the idea that the Beatles were hiding from the cameras and the microphones and basically had to be tricked to be on camera. The director hid microphones and made it look like the cameras were off when they were actually on.

tQ was confused they weren't singing the actual lyrics to the songs instead they were just mumbling nonsense. That's when we had the discussion that the songs weren't songs yet. Lightbulb moment.

You could see it coming with George Harrison. No one listened to him. Paul kept asking for songs. George would say he had songs. No one listened.

I think the show needs more smoking.

There definitely seemed to be a change in their demeanor when they knew they were on camera.

That is the funniest tQ thing I've heard in a long time.

Back in the Castle Highland daze, when DM had the place to himself, he dropped acid and listened to all the Apple label CDs in order. It was a great trip because it times out well - fast pop rock stuff when coming on, peaking around Sgt Pepper, deep space by the White Album, resolution with Past Masters. DM always liked John best because he seemed more literate. But after that trip, DM realized that the heart of the sound came from that bass line. It was always Paul. He had written Paul off as the pop cute one, but he was totally the maestro.

I really liked George's solo efforts. Crackerbox Palace is an all time fav song. It's like a personal anthem. And it's so Python (spot the looney - I mean Eric Idle - in the vid).



And as for the smoking, George did die of lung cancer.

[thatguy]

George also got stabbed in the throat during a home invasion. I think I found out about that from this doc:



--tg

[Greg]

I was thinking there was some cross over between the home invasion stabbing and his death. I believe the stabbing did lead to pneumonia which probably didn't help when fighting cancer.

[King Bob]

And I've got to give a shout out for "Here Comes the Sun," which is one of their best. I remember reading somewhere that (quoting as I remember it) "George had the misfortune of being a good songwriter in a band with two great ones."

[thatguy]

I like hearing him trying to figure out the lyric for Something. "attracts me like a pomegranate..."

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

George's stabbing was two years prior to his death but many feel it led to his cancer coming out of remission. 

"George had the misfortune of being a good songwriter in a band with two great ones."

Truth

Another anthemic tune of his for DM was Soft-Hearted Hana. Hana was a code word in DM's circles.


Can't forget his contributions to Python and the Travelling Wilburys.

[thatguy]

There's a funny bit in the Scorsese doc about Tom Petty coming to visit George and George opening the trunk of his car which was full of ukuleles and telling Tom to pick one.

From the Colbert/Jackson interview, George was ~25-26 when The Beatles broke up...wild.

--tg

[King Bob]

Another great one is "Give Me Love (Peace on Earth)"

[thatguy]

There's a bit in Get Back where they are playing some Beatle's song and George is singing lyrics to some classic rock track over it and it totally made me think of the Give Me Love/She's So Fine lawsuit. Clearly, they were all so versed in everybody's music and so many genres. He probably did subliminally crib that melody, but it was a totally unique song and just a money grab. Poor Georgie...

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

Didn't George eventually buy the rights to He's So Fine?

My Sweet Lord is a much better song. 

I really enjoyed the footage of Rishikesh. Stacy and I stayed there for a week - 'the Yoga Capital of the World'. It was an amazing place, like Shaolin but for Yoga. I went to visit the Maharishi's ashram, which was up in the foothills (most of the community is one the banks of the Ganga). For some reason, Stacy wasn't with me and I was walking up this unbeaten path alone. Then all these monkeys were staring down at me aggressively from the trees. I had several bad experiences with Rishikesh monkeys, got intimidated, and turned around, so I never made it. Feckin monkees.

Nevertheless, there were a few scenes from 'downtown' Rishikesh that were recognizable. I remember thinking whilst there of all the holy aspirants that walked those lands, and the Beatles were among them.

[thatguy]

Feckin monkees.

Watch out for aggressive monkees



--tg

[Drunk Monk]

Feckin monkees.

Watch out for aggressive monkees



--tg

right?

Full disclosure - I've seen the Monkees. Saw their reunion tour when it came to Great America. It was only three because Nesmith had moved on. Note that my date paid for it. She was a high school gf that I took to prom. I took her to the Dead at SLA, decent seats in the 200s center. She took me to the Monkees, standing in the parking lot at Great America. You can see why it didn't work out. 

Feckin Monkees.

[thatguy]

Tho it didn't show up in any of the Get Back footage, I was, in fact, the fifth Beatle:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/c0re6f7yj7nvk0...ropped.png

--tg