Writing #1 By Nick Wehunt
The Beatles Live on the Rooftop
Considering the irony that the last live performance from the Beatles was on an English rooftop was actually a sly compromise from the weary Fab Four. Originally the movie "Let It Be" was intended to document the creation of new songs and then a show event. The historic farewell moment is probably the most heralded musical accident in the history of public events. From its conception as a return to the purity of the Beatles writing method, the project suffered one drawback after another; there were fights, legal battles, unhappy girlfriends, and big musical disagreements.
The experiment did not produce the results John, Paul, George, and Ringo originally sought. The public would not hear Let It Be until more than a year later. Spector came into the studio and hopelessly muddled much of the musical majesty away. Spector tied the songs down with elevator string nonsense and a great deal of studio trickery. For example, Spector remastered the Beatles song "Long and Winding Road" and in my eyes he made it sound too classical and plain by placing classical strings over the original instruments, the very same thing that the boys tried to get away from in the first place.
Critics can’t consider all of "Let It Be" to be a waste or a failure. They made great music and introduced another face to the band. Billy Preston added a positive vibe in the last concert and album; I think he really kept everyone from killing each other, and he played some of the best electric piano ever heard. Preston kept George in the mix as well, because George quit the band two weeks prior to Preston playing with them. I believe George was so happy about his new recruitment; he just forgot about his past arguments with the band.
To say that they played some of the songs two and three times, and that this indicates a lack of desire or boredom on the part of all those playing --- that would be incorrect. They were facing obstacles within the band. There were difficulties in the studio that had never arose in the past, and the band had a very tough time dealing with these problems. Because of these problems in the studio the Beatles had a very difficult time playing and picking the next songs they would perform. They also wanted to get the music they had recorded and mastered out there because Let It Be the album wouldn’t come out until a year later.
On both the soundtrack and during the film itself, the live music and those fleeting moments playing together as one on that roof; it was a beautiful musical happening. It was everything good about life happening at one time. It was as good as Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings. It is my fantasy today and tomorrow. The Beatles got on that rooftop and from my perspective played some of the prettiest music ever played. It is a moment that is new and magical for each new listener--- and then time and time again.
In terms of personal respect and meaning, it’s unusual the way my mind picked out this certain rock and roll moment. I could have picked a million other’s, like The Last Waltz, The Wall, or Head. I already knew about the band impending break-up, which is somewhat obvious to anyone who watches the movie "Let It Be". Which was, after all, an artistic documentation of that particular Beatles period, the music and the rooftop concert itself.
Then, of course, there’s the drama which unfolded, filled with lawyers, pointing fingers, and unwelcome studio influences such as Yoko Ono, George Martin (to some degree), and later on, Phil Spector--- who muddled the whole moment musically and distorted reality on the original album--- which is all anybody had to go buy until Let It Be Naked was finally released in 2005.
Though all these events occurred, my mind focuses on those live rooftop moments; first and foremost. In those moments, The Beatles succeeded in doing what they had always accomplished, making great music. They performed "Get Back", "Don’t Let Me Down", and other classics like they were being born at that very moment. It was like it was all just coming to them and they were sharing with those who listened. These songs became real and spontaneous forever, because that’s what they were to begin with. It was big history just as soon as the last notes faded. It was big history and everyone knew it.
Considering the irony that the last live performance from the Beatles was on an English rooftop was actually a sly compromise from the weary Fab Four. Originally the movie "Let It Be" was intended to document the creation of new songs and then a show event. The historic farewell moment is probably the most heralded musical accident in the history of public events. From its conception as a return to the purity of the Beatles writing method, the project suffered one drawback after another; there were fights, legal battles, unhappy girlfriends, and big musical disagreements.
The experiment did not produce the results John, Paul, George, and Ringo originally sought. The public would not hear Let It Be until more than a year later. Spector came into the studio and hopelessly muddled much of the musical majesty away. Spector tied the songs down with elevator string nonsense and a great deal of studio trickery. For example, Spector remastered the Beatles song "Long and Winding Road" and in my eyes he made it sound too classical and plain by placing classical strings over the original instruments, the very same thing that the boys tried to get away from in the first place.
Critics can’t consider all of "Let It Be" to be a waste or a failure. They made great music and introduced another face to the band. Billy Preston added a positive vibe in the last concert and album; I think he really kept everyone from killing each other, and he played some of the best electric piano ever heard. Preston kept George in the mix as well, because George quit the band two weeks prior to Preston playing with them. I believe George was so happy about his new recruitment; he just forgot about his past arguments with the band.
To say that they played some of the songs two and three times, and that this indicates a lack of desire or boredom on the part of all those playing --- that would be incorrect. They were facing obstacles within the band. There were difficulties in the studio that had never arose in the past, and the band had a very tough time dealing with these problems. Because of these problems in the studio the Beatles had a very difficult time playing and picking the next songs they would perform. They also wanted to get the music they had recorded and mastered out there because Let It Be the album wouldn’t come out until a year later.
On both the soundtrack and during the film itself, the live music and those fleeting moments playing together as one on that roof; it was a beautiful musical happening. It was everything good about life happening at one time. It was as good as Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings. It is my fantasy today and tomorrow. The Beatles got on that rooftop and from my perspective played some of the prettiest music ever played. It is a moment that is new and magical for each new listener--- and then time and time again.
In terms of personal respect and meaning, it’s unusual the way my mind picked out this certain rock and roll moment. I could have picked a million other’s, like The Last Waltz, The Wall, or Head. I already knew about the band impending break-up, which is somewhat obvious to anyone who watches the movie "Let It Be". Which was, after all, an artistic documentation of that particular Beatles period, the music and the rooftop concert itself.
Then, of course, there’s the drama which unfolded, filled with lawyers, pointing fingers, and unwelcome studio influences such as Yoko Ono, George Martin (to some degree), and later on, Phil Spector--- who muddled the whole moment musically and distorted reality on the original album--- which is all anybody had to go buy until Let It Be Naked was finally released in 2005.
Though all these events occurred, my mind focuses on those live rooftop moments; first and foremost. In those moments, The Beatles succeeded in doing what they had always accomplished, making great music. They performed "Get Back", "Don’t Let Me Down", and other classics like they were being born at that very moment. It was like it was all just coming to them and they were sharing with those who listened. These songs became real and spontaneous forever, because that’s what they were to begin with. It was big history just as soon as the last notes faded. It was big history and everyone knew it.
posted by nick at
11:40 AM
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