No Beatles album for two years probably created impossible expectations. What seemed, post-Ziggy, a little disappointing can now be appreciated as a very solid album. There are a few missteps, but here is a band fully operating as a band, as the famous artwork suggests. Still, for the first time they weren't driving popular culture forward.
Though it was always billed as "some time off" the truth was no one really knew if there would be another Beatles album. It was Ringo who worked to bring everyone back together, and his new leadership is reflected in his increased presence on the album.
After the critical and commercial success of Newsagent Bacon? the Beatles came back reinvigorated with Puck! You can guess what Lennon wanted to call it. Thankfully the others' commercial instincts and Starr's newfound interest in Shakespearean comedy (playing Bottom in Peter Brook's Old Vic production of that year) led to the compromise title.
McCartney and Lennon, though still stripped back, embraced a fuller sound on this record. Their new confidence led to a reduction in Harrison's presence. Harrison and Starr still had something of a backlog to work through (because they hadn't released any solo albums of course, wink).
Imagine was released as a non-album single, so don't worry about finding it here.
Side A.
1. GIVE ME SOME TRUTH
Stomping, politics. Lennon's back.
2. ISN'T IT A PITY
George may have been marginalised on this release, but he secured second song status.
3. HEART OF THE COUNTRY
With his usual literalism Paul came up with this. He was, indeed, still living in the country.
4. JEALOUS GUY
John's first big single in a while.
5. UNCLE ALBERT/ADMIRAL HALSEY
A return to the song suite style of Abbey Road closes out the side.
Side B
1. WITHOUT HER
Ringo given the kick-off track, for once. Nice one, Ringo!
2. CRIPPLED INSIDE
3. DEAR BOY
Another McCartney song whose effortlessness puts us off a bit.
4. OH YOKO!
John really insisted this one was on the record. Almost split the band up over it.
5. THE BACK SEAT OF MY CAR
Breaking character a bit, but isn't it a choker that this wasn't the way history panned out?
6. ALL THINGS MUST PASS
This song was the last word from the Beatles for two years, leading to much speculation that they were done. As we know, this wasn't the case, and they returned in '74 with Wolfish Grin.
Couple of years back I had this idea of starting a new blog. A blog dedicated to a counter history in which instead of breaking up the Beatles had taken some time out and decided to keep it going, producing themselves with guest help.
I figured it was possible to get at least another 10 Beatles albums by cobbling together the '70s solo work. I was going to design artwork and everything.
Bonkers.
I just found an iTunes playlist for a suggested line-up. I'm not an enormous Beatles fan, but it's quite fun to listen to these songs. They're like Beatles songs, but not so overfamiliar you can't hear them anymore. This is the order I put them in back then. I'm not going to go through and edit again. You may disagree with these - I may too.
OK, here we go, the Beatles' next album: NEWSAGENT BACON?. I think it's at least as good as half of their other albums, and a nice way of getting the pleasure of listening to the Beatles without the crushing cultural weight of THE BEATLES.
SIDE A:
1. WHAT IS LIFE
George was only going to rejoin if he had a bigger influence in the band. So they let him kick it all off.
2. EVERY NIGHT
Paul had been taking it easy in a farm. Mood change! Pretty, inconsequential. McCartney!
3. REMEMBER
And here's Lennon. This isn't a brilliant song, but then again, there was always a load of filler on Beatles' albums (Doctor Robert, Run for Your Life, about a third of the White Album).
4. TEDDY BOY
Macca again. Frankly, Macca's are all a bit throwaway, but lovely in their way.
5. HOLD ON
Sounds a bit like a Paul song. Is John. Potential single. John needs one, hard to see where else it's going to come from.
6. BEAUCOUPS OF BLUES
You have to stick Ringo somewhere. May as well be here. Not actually terrible. For Ringo.
7. MY SWEET LORD (SINGLE)
And a big single from George to finish the side.
SIDE B:
1. MAYBE I'M AMAZED (SINGLE)
Paul kicks off Side B with their biggest single in years. Consider this the demo for a full Beatles production.
2. LOVE
Brings it down a bit. This might be a B-Side.
3. JUNK
4. ISOLATION
Paul and John taking it in turns at the moment.
5. WAH WAH
George brings the energy up! He was allowed 3 songs. This is his third. Not as good as the other two.
6. MAN WE WAS LONELY
Self-referential Beatles talk from Paul. They always need one of these.
7. MOTHER
Lennon insisted this be first or last on the album. The others decided last was best. More easily skippable.
Now, wasn't that fun? Might do this again.
UPDATE:
OK, here's the backstory. After Let It Be is released the Beatles are on the verge of breaking up. Peace was brokered over 10 days of air-clearing in the Welsh Black Mountains. This summit goes down in Beatles history as "the Erics", brokered as it was by Erics Clapton and Idle. Yoko is accepted, George's contribution publicly acknowledged and Ringo… carries on as before. Paul and John decide to make stripped back low-key statements and ride on the back of George's stuff for one album, at least. They make a break with the '60s by deciding to move on from George Martin's production. From now on their albums will have several producers, all under the guiding hand of "The Beatles".
