Reflections on The Beatles' split, possible '70s reunion and Anthology project.

[@adammartin7007]

Free As a Bird and Real Love are beautiful songs. I'm really glad they made them.

[@adammartin7007]

@pa59 Sure, but they used lofi sounds on their records quite often. The last verse in Tomorrow Never Knows actually has a similar sound. It sounds detached and dreamy. I dunno, it never bothered me.

[@lennoxmate4064]

Adam Martin I really like Real Love. It sounds like a more complete song. Free as a Bird sounds incomplete to me and I’m not a fan of Ringo’s plodding drums on it. Just a personal opinion.

[@Slydeil]

@@lennoxmate4064 Yeah I felt that Real Love was the strongest and should have been the lead single.

[@Oceantreasures24]

@pa59 real love i think the voice was good enough. As a kid I thought John just put an effect on his voice, not knowing it was a recording of his voice put in there

[@martinmcgrath1985]

You talking about anthology here is very interesting.. I agree that the catalogue stand alone..and free as a bird/real love and this new one are separate things and not the Beatles!

[@hungfao]

Back when Paul was making 'Venus And Mars' down in New Orleans, a guy who eventually became my drummer about 10 years later was at the studio working on something else. He told me that there was all this excitement that Paul was there in the first place, but Paul was apparently on the phone with John. There was a real possibility that John was going to come down and join Paul. That fell through. Some say Yoko discouraged it. So sad. The world somehow seemed better when these two were together.

[@robbiepeterh]

Amazing how we’re still so fascinated with them ✌🏼❤️

[@Phoebedumplings]

robbiepeterh not amazing at all, they changed pop music forever

[@wisamh1976]

I feel the work done on free as a bird was outstanding. It really makes the point clear on how Johns great output has potential but needed the other Beatles to polish it . Listening to the remastered versions of free as a bird and real love also makes it stronger

[@TomCwimpRock]

If John Lennon had not been assassinated in 1980, my gut feeling is that The Beatles might have had some sort of reunion, but it probably would have been similar to the path Simon & Garfunkel took - who also broke up in 1970. As you know, they recorded one song together after the split - "My Little Town" in 1975, collaborated together with James Taylor on a re-make of Sam Cooke's "Wonderful World" in 78' then reunited for the live concert in Central Park in 81', then planned to record the "Hearts And Bones" album together, but quarreled and never recorded together again, (as far as I know) - but did do a couple of tours together- and unfortunately, are currently not on speaking terms... I would like to think that The Beatles would have resolved their differences, but in my opinion, they most likely would have been on again, off again - but mainly off, with a few rare, brief appearances had John lived...Nice discussion, John..

[@johnheaton5667]

Thanks Thomas...I guess we'll never know. Personally I think they would not have reunited...other than as friends, especially if John had stayed with Yoko which I have no reason to doubt. And a good thing too in my opinion.

[@TomCwimpRock]

I don't think that the four of them would have performed live as The Beatles, - but I remember a comment from Paul that was quoted in the Carr & Tyler book that in the future there could be "ventures" - "things that people would like to see" -which is pretty vague...but I agree with you that it probably was for the best that The Beatles never re-united..

[@johnheaton5667]

Thomas Calden yeah I think so on balance

[@clark82]

I suspect John was not letting that much on in 1980 as he made out in his hand full of interviews.... but the pieces of the jigsaw do seem to show that something was brewing, and centres around Ringo.... 1980 he asks Paul to produce his next solo album (not simply write a song for it) and by November 1980 he had John writing him songs, with studio time booked for Feb 1981 (so you would have had Paul, John and Ringo in studio at same time.... and even though George and John were not on best of terms, no doubt George would have been roped in when he saw the other 3 were together.... reports George and John kept trying to phone each other when George heard John was in the studio, but either kept missing each other, or Yoko would be the one who answered the phone).... other missing piece of the jigsaw, in Paul’s 1980 record deal contract renewal, there was a clause in it that he was free to work with the rest of the Beatles (John did not have a record deal, Ringo was struggling to hold down a record deal, and George had his own record company, so rather unusual that Paul would ask for this in 1980). Also John seemed to be the one orchestrating the early incarnation of the Anthology Project (he seemed to speak highly of the Red and Blue albums upon their release) as he took out a court injunction about someone putting on a beatle show in the late 70’s that they could not use the title “long and winding road” as the Beatles had plans for that title. So my view on a probable timeline.... 1981 All four get back into the studio to work on Ringos solo album.... John goes on a short USA, Europe and Japan tour on back of Double Fantasy (probably appears on UK tv for the first time in 5 years and gives him that extra jump in his step).... late 81 work starts on The Long and Winding Road/Anthology.... 82 LaWR/Anthology released over 3/4 parts, with the series finale including all 4 Beatles getting together to perform live (probably filmed as part of Johns Double Fantasy tour finale in England).... next few years are probably a case of drips and drabs with nothing concrete about a full reunion until 85 with Live Aid where they close out the Wembley Show, and probably get a similar bounce that Queen got, which spurs them to get back into the studio in 86.... after this, who knows (no doubt old wounds would probably have opened up again at some point or George would have probably become disheartened and went off and recorded Cloud 9 as a result.

[@niccoolos6297]

@@johnheaton5667 how about mccartney instrumentals

[@joaomiguel30]

I really like your channel, keep doing these videos!

[@lennoxmate4064]

I’m glad they never got back together at least recording wise. It would have been an anticlimax no matter how good the material they wrote. The expectations would have been so high they never could have reached them. The truth is they were past their peak as songwriters just before they split up. They split up at just the right time. Seeing them perform live would have been great though.

[@graniterhythm53]

Past their peak as songwriters? Some might say 1970-75 shows more than a wealth of fantastic songs on their solo albums, if the desire had been there the next few Beatle albums would have been top notch in my opinion.

[@lennoxmate4064]

graniterhythm53 i think Harrison was in his peak as a songwriter when they split up. I think Lennon and McCartneys peaks were 65-68. They were still brilliant afterwards but nowhere near as consistent in my opinion. McCartney always struggled to make consistently good albums after The Beatles split up. I think the Medley on the B Side of Abbry Road proves my point. There’s some throwaway stuff on there but it’s brilliantly pieced together. I say this as a person who probably listens to Abbey Road more than any other of their albums. What I was truly saying though was if they had got back together after the break up can you imagine the hype? The expectations? Would anything they produced have lived up to the hype?

[@graniterhythm53]

@@lennoxmate4064 I get what you're saying - here's the thing, John & Paul & George had enough strong material post 1969 until 1975 that would have easily produced a number of classic Beatle albums had they continued, in my opinion. Let's not forget the expectation & hype post split - boy, you're going to carry that weight a long time as someone once said!

[@lennoxmate4064]

graniterhythm53 to a degree I agree but also a lot of those albums were seen as a disappointment at the time when compared to The Beatles back catalogue. It’s more in hindsight that they have been reappraised and very few of them are ranked as highly as The Beatles albums by fans even now.

[@graniterhythm53]

@@lennoxmate4064 What was key with The Beatles is they always moved on & progressed. It's always subjective but by 1969 I think they were still musically top of their game & when the split came in 1970 I was 17 years old & couldn't believe the solo music from John. Paul & George. Not everything was A1 but let's not forget that even the Beatle years had the occasional dodgy moment (sorry Ringo!). Back in 1970 /71 I would suggest the Beatle flag was flying high amongst my generation - that 2 year period especially would certainly have produced 2 classic Beatle albums had they continued - it's all about the songs!

[@smeringtonweeps2717]

I always find John Heaton's opinion's of the Beatles very interesting

[@offtherealm5438]

I would like to shop talk Beatles with him...but can't find any social media connection :-(

[@chrisridenhour]

Bought a book about the making of Double Fantasy that is comprised entirely of interviews with the musicians. John said they would tour and next album would be ‘Just the lads’ No doubt at some point he would have collaborated with McCartney on something.

[@rdsieben]

I am very sure they would have gotten back together with a new album with new songs and videos. But would have not toured.

[@mariofollowerofjesus8068]

The Beatles split just in time John Lennon stated we left when we where number one

[@SuperNevile]

The Beatles were the 60's like Led Zeppelin were the 70's and Margaret Thatcher was the 80's.

[@rushbeat14]

And Bill Clinton and his zipper was the 90's

[@princerogersnelson5166]

@@SuperNevile I was the 80's lol!!

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Prince Rogers Nelson - SPAAAAAAAAZ!

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

@@SuperNevile "Margaret Thatcher on a cold day! Margaret Thatcher on a cold day!"

[@moonbeamskies3346]

I am so glad to hear that George told John that Yoko was not allowed to perform at his Bangla Desh concert. John needed to hear that more often. He later pulled the same b.s. on Frank Zappa and others, and usually they acquiesced to John's demands. John needed to hear that Yoko's music sucked, bluntly and loudly. I wish someone had screamed it in his face until he realized it was the truth.

[@davecostello560]

The Anthology shows would have been amazing with Lennon still alive and with all 4 in the same room. I really like the third 'new' track, Now and Then. Several Beatle groups have done great jobs of 'completing' the song and put it on youtube.

[@johnheaton5667]

Thanks Dave. I'll listen to Now & Then again, maybe I was a bit dismissive!

[@clark82]

Now and Then is a really good song, but I can understand why George did not like it as it was the least complete of the demos given (while a bootleg version does a good job of what might have been, it’s let down by the “doo doo doooooo’s” where John did not complete the lyrics, so in George’s eyes, this would have been Paul putting words into Johns mouth and John not there to say “no way is that lyric going in my song”

[@renaud_c_h]

A nice discussion. I remember around the time of the Rock for Kampuchea benefit concert in December 1979, a Beatles reunion was all the rage. I lived in France at the time and one of the then big music magazines called Rock en Stock didn't hesitate to put a picture of the Beatles on their cover to announce the reunion. At Hammersmith Odeon, Paul McCartney was headlining the last of the four all-star concerts. There were strong rumours that John Lennon was about to come out of four years retirement and join his old mate on stage. There was some logic to this - John was about to go back in the studio to record Double Fantasy, after all. But by the time Paul was about to appear on stage, the buzz going round London was that all four Beatles would be performing. The compere, Billy Connolly, looked conspiratorially at the audience and whispered that he’d “just seen three of The Applejacks backstage”. Anyway, it didn't happen and behind the curtain was an extended line-up of what was in effect the musicians that appeared on Wings' Rockestra sessions. Another point is I've always thought the word Anthology was definitely a misleading title when presenting demos, unfinished takes and alternative versions of official songs. While I welcomed the 3 triple-cd albums they should really have been presented as a sort of "Making of" and the soundtrack to a series of 3 documentaries instead of a stand-alone collection (maybe a box set). I think the original working title The Long and Winding Road was perfect even though it is maybe linked too closely to McCartney so the other two might have decided against it...

[@johnheaton5667]

Thanks Renaud. Yes the Kampuchea rumours were strong, as they were presumably at the time of Bangla Desh. Anthology should have been a Box Set (with a disclaimer) I agree. After all it was mainly for the true hard core (or at least semi-hard core) fans

[@nielsbie8922]

I love the Anthology albums.. Great view Into Beatles archives

[@rainblaze.]

grate video john, simply loving your work. keep it up... all the best

[@JC19021]

Great*

[@markfernandes9715]

Can you imagine if John had been asked by Paul to perform at the 1979 concerts for Kampuchea and John accepted, either performing with Rockestra, and/or doing a solo spot? I think this would have made these concerts even more legendary in retrospect.

[@alexabbott7203]

Hi, love the videos. I actually got into the Beatles through the Anthology albums. I was ten when it came out. I think the Beatles spliting up was one of the best moves they ever made, they finished at their peak. They probably would have continued making amazing albums in the early 70s but doubt they could have maintained the quality. End of the 60s was the perfect time.

[@johnheaton5667]

Alex Abbott thanks Alex!

[@TheOompahRoundabout]

Great vid! I'm just glad we got them. 👍🏻😃🇦🇺✅

[@johnheaton5667]

Well said! Cheers.

[@drummer78]

I’m a bit late to the party here but what was interesting in that Peter Doggett book was the story how George had a financial mess on his hands in the early 90’s (his manager had misappropriated funds and George’s HandMade Films was in trouble financially). Because George needed an infusion of cash to maintain his lifestyle, etc. George agreed to do the Anthology series (which he had been reticent about). George did the Anthology series but was never really happy about it because it was essentially something he felt he had to do from a financial standpoint.

[@verti_calman]

Good topic, I'm old enough to remember The Beatles when they were actually together, becoming a fan when I first heard From Me To You when I was 9, so I was around 15 when they split, you could somehow feel it was coming and it was no big shock, not to me anyway - the time was definitely ready. I was on Paul's side during the days of the split even though my favourite Beatle was/is George - Paul was right not to want Allen Klein and history proved that. I've got mixed feelings for Free As A Bird and Real Love I like them as songs but like you say did they belong to the Anthology albums ? Maybe they should have had 2 stand alone singles, which is what they used to do in the 60's.As regards the Anthology albums they were a bit hit and miss for me and I've hardly played them over the years. Ringo's LP from 1973 is worth a mention as we almost had a reunion there and rumour has it that a similar project was lined up for 1981, who knows ?. But deep down I'm glad they did not reform, they belonged to the '60s so lets lets 'em there !

[@PerpetualWalkerJoe]

I love that photo of Sir Paul and Linda (R.I.P) you have visible on the wall. Linda is beautiful and Paul's tommy boy hair style is quite natural considering his essence. I recently subscribed to your channel. You are very well informed and enjoy your delivery. Dec 2020 FL USA

[@tonylaughlin6663]

Good video, good discussion. Loved Free as a Bird, Real Love was ok, had already heard a completed version of that song on the Imagine movie that came out several years earlier. Its a good thing that they never reunited when John was alive. The Anthology reunion was needed to put a bow on the whole thing. There were some nice parts on the extra DVD where they are doing a couple of songs, Blue Moon of Kentucky (which George wanted to be a short version, Paul I think would have played all day) and the Linkin with Lincoln song which I thought was charming. Plus the bit where they are play ukes, their body language looked good. Thanks for posting.

[@daytripper9222]

Glad they did not get back together. They called it a day just at the right time. Enjoyed the video John.

[@johnheaton5667]

Agree, thanks Kregg!

[@jldraw]

Another great topic John: To begin with on the breakup of The Beatles, one of the reasons I've personally held grievances against Allen Klein more so than the other parties complicit in the breakup is that he is in my view primarily responsible for making the breakup as acrimonious as it ultimately was. I just find him thoroughly detestable. It's interesting the points you bring up about "Anthology" because they were also concerns that were voiced by George Harrison in the nineteen eighties, where he brought up the point about the day coming along where novice Beatles fans would be unable to tell the difference between the demos and the masters, which is a fair point my estimation. I think also upon the release of the "Anthology" albums, I remember seeing a bit of a backlash on internet newsgroup boards from novice fans who purchased "Anthology 1" expecting it to be a compendium of familiar Beatles recordings and instead finding that it was a collecting of obscurities. Now ultimately what I believe would've happened had John Lennon not been assassinated in December of 1980 would've been what eventually came to pass in the nineties in that it would've been the "Anthology" project that ultimately brought The Beatles back together. As I'm sure you are aware of the project had been in development under the care of Neil Aspinall since the early nineteen seventies but was entitled "The Long And Winding Road". Aspinall had compiled a rough cut of the film by the end of the decade and at some point or another had sent that cut of the film to all of the former Beatles where it was apparently enthusiastically received by all parties. There are stories in particular about John Lennon showing the film to guests when they would visit at the Dakota in the late seventies and so on and so forth. For his part Lennon on 11/28/80 gave a deposition on behalf of Apple (whom at the time were trying to bring an end to the stage play "Beatlemania") where he stated that he and the other three former Beatles were planning to stage a reunion concert that would be filmed and included as the finale of a Beatles produced documentary entitled "The Long And Winding Road". Now while the exact contents of this deposition has been called into question in recent years, it does allow for the possibility that at the very least Aspinall did approach the former Beatles prior to Lennon's assassination about working on the project which eventually saw release as "The Beatles: Anthology".

[@johnheaton5667]

Thanks! Yes I think relations would have warmed but I don't see a reunion as such...maybe a concert or two (like Pink Floyd) but I am happy with them not reforming..although obviously would have preferred John to at least be alive to be able to make that decision!

[@bunkerbill]

Nice one John. Will be looking forward to Exile and Dylan my favourites.

[@carlitobrigante330]

Excellent insights, John.

[@offtherealm5438]

Very good, sincere video here. In good keeping with my own (perpetually inspired by The Beatles), I maintain my own little home recording studio and continue to write, record and release my own music. Look...I never "made it" in the greater music biz, but in my own humble way, I try and live by their example.

[@IBM704]

"Glad all over" that found this channel!

[@DJ-bj8ku]

There was one time when John and Paul were watching SNL together at the Dakota, and the running joke on the show was to reunite the Beatles. I think it was Fr. Guido Sarducci who offered them money to reunite and John and Paul considered it for a moment but passed.

[@jrh11254]

DD - it was Lorne Michaels who made the offer, holding the check up for the camera, and adding that they could split the (I believe) three thousand dollars anyway they wanted...giving Ringo less...”it’s up to you...”

[@DJ-bj8ku]

jrh11254 Right! Poor Ringo, haha. That would’ve been so cool.

[@jrh11254]

DD - here’s a link to Lorne Michaels’ pitch (not sure why the clip is repeated?). It’s as I remember it - watching it live in ‘76. As I recall I laughed uproariously at the time. It’s funny to know that The Beatles made more than $3K for their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show twelve years previously! Another little tidbit: John & Paul were allegedly together at John’s apartment at The Dakota watching it and had briefly considered driving to the NBC studios to “accept” the offer; there was even a movie made about the incident: “Two of Us,” released in 2000; directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg and starring Aidan Quinn as Paul & Jared Harris (known for his character, Lane Pryce, in “Mad Men”) as John. Interesting little movie. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ineYY61jpbR3eJo

[@gaoldias]

As fans, we'd love to see our musical heroes go on forever in peak form. This is, of course, unrealistic as everyone (even the Beatles) have an arc to their careers. The lads split at the top of their arc. Had they somehow gone on, even for a few more years, they may have begun to decline. But that didn't happen and they exited the stage leaving us wanting more. Agree with you, John that it would have been nice to see all 4 being interviewed as friends in the 80's or 90's. Alas, it was not to be.

[@tomryan943]

They did go out on top! And today (2021) they are just as popular as they were 50 years ago. Not bad for "four lads from Liverpool".

[@rocket81ful]

Thanks John great job , I loved there solo years, specially early 70s

[@johnheaton5667]

Rod Turner thanks Rod!

[@ronfowlermusic]

Impressed at how much thought you put into this. The only point I might disagree on is the Anthology albums. I was so excited when the first one came out, and we finally had a new Beatles song. Of course I had heard all the official catalog, so I wasn't approaching this like a new fan, thinking this was all new music. I had some of that stuff on bootlegs anyway. But I am glad they put those albums out. I'm not one who needs to hear every take of every song, the only part on the Anthology albums I found a bit boring was all the demos for the white album. I don't play Anthology 3 nearly as much as 1 and 2. My favorite Beatles album of the 90's, though, is Live at the BBC.

[@johnheaton5667]

Thanks Ron...yes I had all the bootlegs too. Agree that the BBC album was the best 90s release.

[@rdsieben]

In 1977 a Canadian group called Klaatu released 3:47PM (the Sun album). The the trio chose to remain anonymous on the album and listed their credits as "Klaatu". The album sounded so Beatlesque that one radio DJ thought they were actually the Beatles under the name Klaatu. The rumor became believable and their short claim to fame only lasted for a few months when the Beatle rumor was dispelled. They had great music and I am honored to know two of the members personally. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaatu_(band)

[@viralbuthow000]

It's summer time and I still want that sweater

[@q-man323]

It's funny, I just started making compilation CDs of supposed "Beatle albums" post-breakup. I'm giving them little covers and titles and everything :-) of course I love pretty much the entirety of their solo work, just thought it'd be interesting as a little project to see what kind of thing they would've produced after the breakup. Thanks John

[@krollpeter]

Band On The Run should have been a Beatles album.

[@krollpeter]

@MiamiBeach xxx They would have Beatlyfied it. What I mean is some of those edgy ideas would have added. Although it is a great album as it is.

[@BarnacleButtock]

Hate to break it to you but Band On The Run is easily one of John's least favorite of Paul's. It would have never made it to a beatle album because none of the band members would sit and learn such a stupidly complicated granma tune.

[@krollpeter]

@@BarnacleButtock Listening to Double Fantasie ... then Band On The Run is a masterpiece. To me that is.

[@BarnacleButtock]

@@krollpeter no no, I mean Band On The Run the song, not the whole album (which has plenty of other terrible ideas that would have never passed by Lennon and Yoko's judgement)

[@BarnacleButtock]

@@krollpeter and double fantasy before that album wouldn't be chronological!

[@bronzesnake7004]

Great review! Love to hear your thoughts on my all time favorite album - "The Ram album". Jack - Canada

[@clark82]

Apparently during the I’m The Greatest sessions, George is suppose to have said “we should form a band” which John froze at the thought of (there is a article somewhere of Ringo talking about forming a band around George and John called the Ladders)

[@matthewmedley8532]

Another great review filled with valid points. Look forward to your take on exile on Main Street as well. After sticky fingers my favourite stones album.

[@johnheaton5667]

Thanks Mathew!

[@timshearn8203]

Very interesting John. I would agree with you in that I am glad the Beatles didn't reform, it was best left alone. I haven't listened to the Anthology albums for some time, I remember being so excited when they were released but being a little underwhelmed when I listened to them (although still enjoyable all the same!) I will have to give them another go soon. Will look forward to some more Dylan reviews in due course!

[@johnheaton5667]

Tim shearn thanks Tim....yeah some of it was wonderful some less so...thought the tv series worked well apart from a slightly slow first episode

[@truebeatlepeople]

perhaps the BEST remards regarding Bealtes reunions ever made. I personally would have loved the boys to reunite, but then again i was young and dident know the bands dynamics as John talked about here... not in 1970's anyway as a teen and besides, i wanted them to be the Beatles 1965 which was impossible anyway.. No, a secret one album not unlike the Klattu 1976 release might have worked or a one live show at a club perhaps. Too much pressure and at the end of it all, a huge letdown probably

[@jeffreyroedel9804]

The Beatles only chance for some kind of reunion was in 1974. John was separated from Yoko, and he, Paul and Ringo were all up for it. George would have taken a little convincing, but George was recently divorced from Pattie and in need of a financial boost, so he would have done it after some conversations with the other guys. What was going on in 1974? John still owed Morris Levy three recordings of Levy-owned published songs (these were done on Lennon's Rock N Roll LP). What if John and the Beatles recorded "You Can't Catch Me" as a Beatles single in 1974 with a more progressive original tune credited to Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey on the b-side??? Even Steven. Surefire #1 single. That would have been the perfect simple and "small" studio reunion they could have pulled off, and they were all on Apple still so the release would have been easy.

[@kevinlylemartin1503]

Yeah. Love on vinyl. Makes sense.

[@Slydeil]

Puzzled why the famous SNL offer for a small session fee in 1976 wasn't mentioned, which Paul and John almost took up, as they were in New York together watching it and almost took up. But overall I feel it was all best that The Beatles were left as it was, in an almost perfect dovetail joint 1962 to 70). A great legacy, which cannot be surpassed.

[@beatlejames5745]

Interesting discussion John. I must say, I was amazed when I read the Dogget book, just how close they came on so many occasions to getting together again - not as a band necessarily, but just as individuals. I've always imagined that escaping from the Beatles in 1970 would have felt like leaving the army rather than leaving a Rugby team - at least for John and George, whereas we now know that Paul was devastated. By the way, on the subject of Beatles fantasy albums, I'll send you a link on FB.

[@johnheaton5667]

Leaving the army is right at the time but with hindsight I think they mostly recognised the good side. Cheers James.

[@JeffJacomowitz]

John Heaton is an excellent story-teller and a great Beatles fan.....like myself!

[@kevinlylemartin1503]

Thanks for all your reviews John! Been really enjoying hearing your thoughts on The Beatles music. I would love to hear a review of the Love album Giles Martin put together. Cheers!

[@johnheaton5667]

Kevin Martin thanks Kevin...yeah should do Love but would like to pick it up on vinyl first

[@fittobetiedyed5315]

Interesting topic, John. Before John's death I envisioned that the four Beatles' relationship could have been something akin to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Four artists focussed on their solo careers but occasionally coming together as a unit every few years. I guess at the time for a lot of people it would have had to been an all or nothing scenario.

[@johnheaton5667]

Thanks Paul. I personally don't think they would have reunited but we'll never know!

[@Twotontessie]

By the way John I am impressed with the clarity of your presentation. You make it look easy. It is not !

[@swansong007]

The truth is they all thought they were better than they really were. The solo careers shows this. Not one of them amounted to a fraction of the talent produced as the fab four. Plus they had huge egos and let their women interfer with things. Something the Stones never let happen ego and women wise!

[@rodrobson]

Paul was taking the other Beatles to court. It was impossible for him to perform at the concert for Bangladesh as it would have unravelled his case. There was plans for John and Paul to perform on Ringos album in January 1981. In 1980 John had fallen out with George over his biography. John did say to Jack Douglas that once George was aware of the 3 Beatles in the studio he would have joined them. A reunion of sorts was not out of the question. The now and Then song is about John's feelings towards Paul. That's the reason George didn't like it

[@sortehuse]

My favorite Anthropology track is Because

[@bazza5699]

Another great video John.. I feel The Beatles came full circle with Abbey Road as a final album, especially with the last track being The End - and each of them getting a little solo within that track.. (didn't Queen do something similar?). I'm glad they never reformed.. They had a natural arc of creativity and as much as I love ELO, I'd hate for John Lennon's prophecy of "if The Beatles had continued they'd have sounded like ELO" to come true.

[@johnheaton5667]

Yes Baz I agree, they came full circle.

[@princerogersnelson5166]

Look how acclaimed Tame Impala are, The Beatles made that sound on 'Free As A Bird' & Real Love'

[@SuperGrimupnorth]

Just found this channel/sub'd..nice work John.... Re Harrison Bangladesh gig .did he not actually take Lennons glasses off and shout at him "look me in the face, stop hiding behind those glasses..where was you when I needed you...I was always there for you"..the next time he saw him

[@delrivers4309]

The Beatles almost reunited backstage at Saturday Night Live when a check was offered by Lorne Michaels.

[@clark82]

Del Rivers not really true.... Paul was at Johns apartment and they were watching it and they joked about going, but never bothered (next day Paul is suppose to have shown up with his guitar and Lennon had to show him where the door is).... George then appeared on the show a few weeks later (where he played with Paul Simon) and joked about “can I get my cheque please?”

[@ClarenceFisher]

If John hadn't been zoned out on smack and if Allen Klein hadn't meddled, they might have stayed together, but on a looser basis. They could do the occasional solo album as an outside project and still record together.

[@johnheaton5667]

ClarenceFisher maybe but I think there were many other factors at play and I don’t really favour a genesis type solution where they would have done solo and group (personally)

[@ronmahler889]

I still buy CD's! Vinyl is too expensive.

[@clearcoat2000]

I for one think The Beatles quit at the right time and it would have been a big mistake for them to have gone back into the studio or got on stage again. Talking about Beatle reunions do you recall around 1976 a promoter offered Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr fifty million dollars, a huge amount of money at the time, to do a concert. The press was reporting all four were about to agree. They even quoted George Harrison's father as saying they had accepted the offer. John Lennon quickly denied the report and the other three just did not respond to the deadline. I remember it was very big news at the time.

[@johnheaton5667]

clearcoat2000 yes I heard about that...perhaps it was tempting but common sense prevailed

[@dr.buzzvonjellar8862]

John’s response to George Harrison’s invitation was designed to relieve him of having to do the gig. Lennon didn’t want to do it, so he insisted Yoko had to perform too, knowing full well George would take a pass.

[@somewhereupthere7]

I’m gonna be honest sometimes I just by albums just because their on the apple label because in my opinion the apple logo is so incredibly iconic

[@johnheaton5667]

Louis Cracchiolo yeah I know what you mean!

[@jamsid33]

i hope John and George finally agree to get back together

[@lennon_9dream133]

que bonitos cuadros, me encanta.

[@regulus0099]

Lets face it.....the end came when Yoko showed up to rehearsals and recordings....Paul knew that she was breaking up the connection between the guys....these guys wrote music for yrs in the studios....just the four of them....no distractions...no customers....and then Yoko and John was so over whelmed by her he did not want to let go...and Paul seen that it was bringing a separation to the group...he and the others openly protested this.....but John was being John....so Paul left the group....if only they would have said ...lets take a break....so some of you own shit....and if you write one the Beatles could do better in your opinion then ...lets get together....

[@graniterhythm53]

.....or Klein was taken on as manager by 3 Beatles, Paul said NO & in all their time together if a decision was not unanimous it was NO GO. Paul vetoed that decision & 3 Beatles broke the Golden Rule - hence the split & subsequently 3 Beatles acknowledged Paul actually saved the Beatle finances!

[@arnesaknussemm2427]

Ultimately it was the sale of Northern songs and the end of the golden goose of ‘Lennon and McCartney’ songs which did it.

[@Twotontessie]

You know what blows my mind? Do I have this right? Those photos at John’s house in late summer 1969 - believe it was used for the Hey Jude compilation- was the last time the four of them were physically together? How is that possible? Damn - 11 years.

[@tommilievemaa498]

John, thanks for your videos. You have mentioned that you met Yoko and she was not aware of Paul McCartney´s Band on the run -album, among other things. I´m reading May Pang´s book of John Lennon, and I get a feeling that Yoko wasn´t even aware, or interested, of some John Lennon albums. It seems that she had only mild interest of John´s music, compared to her own "avantgarde" work, at least during the 1973-75 period.

[@knockedoutloaded279]

Paul and Ringo have recorded Grow Old With Me......

[@simonandrewx]

Free as a bird is at the start because it mirrors the anthology on TV, you start there and then they go 'back back back' - George said that's why they put it track one. They didn't start the first programme with free as a bird, don't get me wrong, but that's why it's placed where it is. In the view of the Beatles themselves it's not out of context with the rest.

[@scottnownow]

Maybe a mention of “All Those Years Ago” was in order? A bit of a ‘Beatles Reunite’ flurry, brief and sorta inaccurate, around that record at the time.

[@Oceantreasures24]

I didn’t have an issue with them putting two new songs anthology. It’s no different than the heartbreakers recording two new tracks for the best of album they had in the early 90’s

[@rdsieben]

The closest actual Beatles reunion was the album Ringo.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Reflecting on it today (October 2019), in the wake of what would have been John Lennon’s 79th birthday, my inclination is that no reunion whatsoever would have taken place, even if John had not been shot dead. One of the abject lessons which I have learned from Peter Cetera is that, fan clamor does wonders for achieving opposite results. It is now 34 years since Peter walked out of Chicago. The only members to have died through their timeline have been guitarist Terry Kath and percussionist Laudir de Olivaria. The other cofounders are still alive, and that door was wedged open for Peter to return, even for just one performance, and he has made it abundantly clear it’s not going to happen. And yet, the fans have not stopped yelling, screaming and begging for Peter to re-join Chicago. Such would more likely than we would care to admit have been the case with the Beatles, if John had not been killed.

[@ricnightingale6558]

Love watching your videos John. Especially your Beatles ones. Any thoughts on doing Byrds, Grateful Dead or Elvis? Would love to hear your opinions on these favourites of mine too. Keep up the great work!! Always look forward to watching them. :)

[@johnheaton5667]

Thanks Ric!

[@invisibleray6987]

Do you want to do a SING OUT with the Macca Singles, as a celebration of the forthcoming release of the 7' set?

[@jake105]

John, I liked it very much. I have an opposite take on Anthology 3. I thought disc 1 the White Album demos and outtakes were absolutely brilliant. Disc 2 was a let down for me. Possibly because Let it Be, Abbey Road was bootlegged in the 70's and heard most of it already. Anyways, Happy Birthday George!!

[@johnheaton5667]

I think all of the Anthology is interesting of course...as for the White album, some outtakes work others less so. The highloight from all the Anthology in my opinion is the superb version of And Your Bird Can Sing with the uncontrollable giggling!

[@jamesboyce4000]

It's a shame they couldn't step back from the group make solo albums and then return to the group dynamic later but in that era the money side of things and personal clashes, management issues and musical differences clouded everything. Genesis in the 1980's got the balance right, they all went off and did their own thing and then came back a year or two later to do a group project.

[@johnheaton5667]

Thanks James...I see the Genesis comparison but for the Beatles to reform would have been a much bigger step I think.

[@nickwhitfield3898]

I know you probably know this, but john decided to leave the beatles in 1969, but because of business matters that klein was trying to negotiate he was persuaded not to announce this intention (at least straight away). They all had a part in breaking up the beatles, possibly writing too many songs for them to record. A decent little talk on the subject.

[@johnheaton5667]

Yes sorry Nick if I didn't point that out that they were all to blame (or otherwise) for the split.

[@knockedoutloaded279]

Free as abird and Real love were great songs, shud have done Now and Then. Shud have been a dubble A side...

[@chazs001]

John do you think you could put a Beatles album together from there first solo albums and what would be on it.

[@alexstokes9724]

Hi John, Hope all is well? Just wanted to say I'm relatively new to the channel, which is great by the way! Just wondered if you haven't already, would you be keen on doing a video on who your favourite Beatle is and why? (If you have one, of course) Cheers, Alex

[@johnheaton5667]

Alex Stokes hi Alex...interesting idea but I honestly don’t have a favorite...musically anyway...personality wise it would be John

[@paulfitzpatrick9231]

I remember exactly where I was the day the split was reported one Radio One!It was,for fans anyway a massive shock!However John,do you not think it was the right time for them to part?after all, there was a new emerging scene going on .A harder more creative scene and with Glam rock,Progrock,emerging as a tour design force along with new emerging bands ie T.Rex,Led Zeppellin etc,do you not think they would have been swamped by the new creativity they helped to create?

[@graniterhythm53]

Certainly their split left room for all the people who never quite made it in the 1960's - Bolan, Bowie, Slade, Rod the mod, the guys in Led Zeppelin. Let's not forget though their solo material frequently visited the higher reaches of the charts & Macca showed he was still an incredible live performer.

[@kcuhc84]

With hindsight, they should not have officially split, just make solo albums, until the contract ran out. Maybe they would have to make enough "Beatles" tracks to make an album a year under the band's name (George and Ringo, Paul solo, John, Yoko and Ringo) There would not have been the troubles with money and by 1975 when the contract ran out, nobody would notice the change except John retires. The Police were a very big band and never officially split and no court cases.

[@thermionic1234567]

Maybe they shoulda rereleased the red and blue albums and changed the name of the second to “1967-1995” and included the two new songs.

[@clark82]

The Bangladesh reunion story seems to have grown arms and legs, especially after George died (thus no way to back it up....).... George was reluctant to invite the Beatles (even though he knew it was a license to print money, as it would over shadow the cause....) Ringo has even came out and said that he was never actually officially invited, and just told George “tell me where you want me and what the songs are and I will be there”.... George was just fresh off working with John on Imagine, so no doubt probably had grand visions of John coming on stage and playing Imagine to the crowd (which would have fitted in with the tone of the concert).... the John refusing story seems to be rather vague, some people go with the Yoko story that John did not do it as a show of support of Yoko (Yoko does have a habit of playing rather dumb on this, as she has said in interviews that she attended the concert) while other stories say that George told John it was “just the lads” which John agreed to, but Yoko talked him out of it (it was around this time their relationship started to hit the rocks).... and in recent years Paul does seem to come out with a lot of “new” George stories that never seemed see the light of day during George’s life (while not denying their truth, Paul is a bad one at times for embellishing his stock answers to questions in interviews.

[@rdsieben]

George invited John but John refused because Yoko was not invited.

[@philipcone357]

I have read that John went to rehearsal, it was at Madison Square after all and then George said there was no room for Yoko to do a song, Eric was not getting a solo spot and neither were Badfinger.

[@clark82]

philip cone I think Eric’s lack of a solo spot was more down to not knowing if Eric would show up or not, and if he did what state he was going to be in. Bad Finger was effectively the backing band on ATMP, so made sense having them there, and they were probably held in reserve for a spot should Dylan or someone pulled out at the last minute.... my view is John probably wanted a spot, but George was probably not all that up for it (knowing he would then have to reach out to Paul) but probably liked that John offered his services.... but Yoko probably did not like it that George, John and Ringo would have got all the attention

[@yarivfreed1098]

Thanks John, Just disagree with Now and Then being "a weakish demo". You can youtube it - it's a magnificent song.

[@shadoedavis]

I read somewhere Paul and George had a horrible row during the Anthology sessions....screaming match between the three of them but I can't seem to find anything online about it.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

A trustworthy source, Shadoe?

[@shadoedavis]

@@Shred_The_Weapon Yes. It wouldn't even register with me if it wasn't. I just can't recall where I found it. Apparently it was in George's yard outside the studio. They didn't want to do it in front of the cameras.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

I’m an American, but I’ll employ a British colloquium here - BLIMEY!

[@clark82]

Story is they were to record a 3rd John song (now and then) which they basically spent a afternoon on working, but George thought it was rubbish (also it was the least worked on of the demos.... Bird and Real Love are as good as finished, Now and Then is only half finished (John Hums and “doo doo doo” his way through large parts) and would have meant putting words to Johns mouth, and George was not for doing this.

[@beatlebrad5339]

I do think that this one is just is fantastic as the first one . !!!! I do remember a lot of this playing out on TV . And in the paper . I do think real love is a better track . Just my opinion I think that is why it came out second . I have that interview were John dos say that lol and just like you I have don the same thing for years !!! Well don John take care . Ps do you think you could do a video on solo Beatles bootlegs . And take one song off each boot to make a nice new lp by the lads ?.

[@johnheaton5667]

I have loads of bootlegs and they are all fascinating. When all that got officially released it lost some of its charm perhaps. Still fascinating of course. Thanks Brad.

[@beatlebrad5339]

You are right !!! Take care John .

[@williambagley5415]

It was time 😊

[@nervo6321]

George would never have even been in the Beatles were it not for Paul yet even after becoming a multi millionaire would never ever give Paul any praise or credit for anything, and took a swipe at any given opportunity, take a look at footage with John at Tittenhurst park when he refers to them as the fab 3 can't understand it myself as Macca always supportive to George and seemed genuinely devastated at George's passing.

[@johnheaton5667]

Nervo 63 I agree....I found George’s negativity towards Paul excessive and depressing

[@charlesrusso7646]

I have to Abbey Road and the last cut on happy world we want new all lives and our generation would never be the same and we will be able and we would have to carry the weight and then when John died we know that our lives would never be the same.

[@wisamh1976]

Paul mccartney remains to be the soul of the Beatles no matter what the other Beatles thought and Yoko. Without Paul there would be no Beatles as we know them

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

Oh man all this rehashing of a reunion. Of course they would've done something if John had lived. Look how greedy McCartney has become. He would've been banging on john's door agreeing to let Yoko play just so he could get a piece of that $$$. And I'm sure George could've used the money by 1989 or '90 when all those other bands reunited and ca$hed in. We were silly to care but I can't believe how tuned into your discussions I am.

[@adamcollins915]

The Beatles were young when they split. They would have expected a 30+ year window opportunity to reform if they ever wanted to. So no hurry.

[@arnesaknussemm2427]

God bless the Rolling Stones.

[@michaelpines6089]

The Rutels

[@manny3765]

If John lived and George lived longer a Beatles reunion wouldve definitely happened

[@Beatgeneration2010]

Great video as always but the fidgeting is annoying that is out of shot. Very distracting!