The Beatles and Allen Klein- the Good and the Bad

[@ajbianchi85]

Gonna have to give Paul credit in the end. Allen Klein was a conman straight up, letting you in on the short con but setting you up for the long.

[@matthewturnage4998]

Nice way of putting it!

[@rubberchix]

@@matthewturnage4998 he got it from The Wire

[@sharonevans6864]

Very interesting video, never new too much about Klein's dealings with The Beatles and Stones just that he seemed to be bad news for both groups. You brought up some good points in his handling of the Beatles affairs that seemed to benefit them in the long run. Bought the book You Never Give Me Your Money but have yet to read it. Will definitely do so soon. Looking forward to future videos take care!

[@matthewturnage4998]

Thanks for the kind words, Sharon. I hope you enjoy You Never Give Me Your Money. I think it’s one of the very best Beatles books.

[@HEADLINEZOO]

Yes, Paul was right about Allen Klein and he wrote a fantastic song about him called “Soily”. It was brilliantly performed a few years later as an encore during his 1976 Wings Over America tour. Great vocal. Paul won Rolling Stone’s mag singer of the year award that same year.

[@matthewturnage4998]

I love Soily. Never made the connection between the lyrics and Klein. Thanks for commenting!

[@c.syde65]

I don't care what good things people have to say about Allen Klein. Regardless of his upbringing, that doesn't stop him from being a bad person. When he wanted to manage The Beatles, he only wanted to do so for his own benefits and as proven by John Lennon and George Harrison's experiences with him, he would backstab any of the people he managed in a second if it meant trying to preserve any benefits that were rightfully theirs, or if it meant punishing the people who betrayed him. The fact that he tried to influence the outcome of John's arrangement with music publisher Morris Levy regarding an alleged copyright infringement (of the Chuck Berry song 'You Can't Catch Me') in John's 1969 Beatles composition 'Come Together'. And the fact that he purchased Bright Tunes in the hopes of continuing to profit off of George who had been sued for copyright infringement pretty much confirms this. The only good thing he did that I can name right off the bat is compile The Beatles' _1962-1966_ and _1967-1970_ albums.

[@coopergleason5022]

Paul had great instincts about a lot of people. Klein certainly one of them. He also had concerns about alot of Apple employees who were stealing from them but George and John thought Paul was being paranoid and insulting to their staff. Turns out many of them were corrupt and they did take millions from Apple. Paul was on an island of his own after Brian died. George would do anything John did as did Ringo. Sad they chose the wrong leader to follow and it cost them alot of money. They chose their heroine addict band mate who had his new girlfriend sitting/ laying down in their sessions. Paul was/is The Beatles from my POV by far the most talented and the most ‘aware’ of his surroundings.

[@matthewturnage4998]

John had been there leader in many ways going back to the early days so in one sense it’s not surprising that they went along with him about Klein. It’s too bad they didn’t think about it harder, because it really ended up costing them.

[@dhaley8847]

Paul saved the Beatles business by not going along with Allen Klein, His not going the same direction as the rest of the Beatles made the other Beatles huge amounts of money that would not have happened if Paul went along with the others. That is why Paul is a Billionaire today. The others did very well but only Paul is a Billionaire. Michael Jackson has Paul McCartney to thank of much of his fortune also. Paul turned out to be a very good Businessman.

[@matthewturnage4998]

Paul certainly did turn out to be a good business man, and I think a big reason for his success was picking the right advisers. Thanks for your comments, D.

[@michaellacross5266]

Yeah right, have another beer. Paul is a billionaire despite himself. He worked 4 DECADES longer than the Beatles ever did living off the Beatles name and fans. So please, spare us all with your Paul saved the The Beatles business. Not only that, it was Paul who was the complete DUMBASS that allowed Michael Jackson to take the Beatles songs.

[@dhaley8847]

John liked Klein because he played up to Yoko . He gave her money for her art shows and John liked that very much. the others George and Ringo went along with John. Paul hated Klein! he had inlaws that were in the business of representing talent. Paul wanted the Eastman's to handle the Beatles, he thought Klein wanted too much of a cut and he didnt like him personally. This I believe was the thing that finally did in the Beatles. John later said Paul was right about Klein and was glad they fired him.

[@coopergleason5022]

Paul also offered a compromise in asking the other 3 to consider not signing with Klein or the Eastmans - a third option that they all could agree to. But Paul was outvoted and in the end we all know Klein screwed them and today McCartney is the rock and rolls only Billionaire!

[@matthewstreet1961]

Yeah that whole discussion between Glyn and The Beatles was very interesting! God bless Glyn he tried to warn them. John was very gullible. Great video Matt! Take care, Matt Street

[@matthewturnage4998]

Glyn wasn't in a position to do too much, but at least he tried! Thanks, Matt.

[@philipcone357]

Klein was able to use John’s belief that Paul and he had the same basic relationship that they had had in the early 60’s. John believed he and Paul had each got the same number of shares in their songwriting company Northern Songs. This was true when the company was set up in 1963 between Brian and Dick James. But Paul had been buying shares throughout the years. John felt Paul would have told him if he was buying more shares. Klein used this information to shock John when in a meeting early in 1969 Allen asked Paul about his buying shares in Northern Songs and Paul admitted that yes he had bought more shares. It may not sound like much but it was enough to make John wonder about ulterior motives and for John to really doubt trusting Paul’s in-laws. And as a rule of thumb if someone says they can get something for nothing, run.

[@matthewturnage4998]

Yes, sound advice. Klein’s promises were often too good to be true! Thanks for your comments, Philip.

[@mikenorton632]

Kline's efforts to increase the royalties was self-serving, because if he did aquire the rights to the music he would receive the increased royalties himself!

[@matthewturnage4998]

Great point, Mike!

[@mikenorton632]

@@matthewturnage4998 John Lennon said in a interview that Paul was right about Kline.

[@matthewturnage4998]

@@mikenorton632 yes, I always thought it was big of John to finally admit it. Too bad it took him a while to realize it.

[@christophercruz8359]

People think that Mick Jagger recommended Allen Klein to the Beatles. This is misinformation. He, in fact, told John Lennon: "He's cool, if you like that sort of thing". Klein recommended Stan Polley to Badfinger, when they were looking for a business manager.

[@matthewturnage4998]

I didn't know Klein recommended Polley to Badfinger. There are conflicting reports, but I've seen it suggested that when Jagger made that comment about Klein, Klein may have been in the room also. That may be why Jagger was more reserved in his remarks. Thanks for your comments!

[@hellsjamfleas]

I think the full story was a little more complex. You are right but before that when Allen Klein was early with the Stones they were boastful to the Beatles about how much money he had earned for them. Brian Epstein (the Beatles manage) had met with him at some point to size him up, Brain hated him and told him he would never get near the Beatles so long as he lived (according to staff). Tragically Brain did die not long after. But from early on Klein had his sights on the Beatles, asking the Stones about them, as the Stones were reasonable good friends of theirs, apparently this got bad enough to raise suspicions and Mick would try and shut down those conversations. The Beatles were somewhat aware of Klein's bad reputation and that Brain hadn't approved of him but were seething over perceived injustices form the record companies, such as not having a higher royalty rate and men in suits who made money off them. John agreed to meet Klein more out of obligation and slight curiosity. Klein really buttered him up as can be seen in Get Back and heard on the tapes, John and Yoko were totally smitten with him. Paul wasn't he sent a message to Mick (as mentioned, a friend of his), Mick returned a note saying "keep clear", Paul was the more cautious of the Beatles anyhow and his future in-laws ( the Eastmans )got back to him saying Klein was bad news and being investigated for tax fraud in the US. Paul asked Mick to speak up at a meeting about Klein and it was then Mick said "He's alright if you like that sort of thing", to which Paul seemed to be somewhat pissed off when asked about it in interviews but he did attend Micks wedding a few years later so it didn't break the friendship. I believe Mick has said that he caught up with John later in private and told him Klein was a bad idea but John wouldn't hear it. I believe Keith Richards claims to have told John the same thing in private also in his book. The Stones were unable to be fully open about what was going on because they were plotting to remove themselves from Klein, but claim that they did try. Interestingly Marianne Faithful , Mick's then girlfriends said that Mick didn't mind the Beatles getting into trouble some with Allen Klein because they were the competition. Paul has a good anecdote about arguing with John about this. Paul laid out all the dodgy facts about Klein (reported in the media and by other musicians) and John replied "Anyone with a reputation that bad can't be that bad" Paul considers this to be classic Lennon bullshit thinking, but what it comes down to was John was more likely to think that there was a conspiracy against Allen than he was guilty. (I am only 70% sure of the accuracy of this because i cobbled it together from my memory of several interviews)

[@kylofoster5560]

Hello Matt. Thanks for this Saturday's video. Have you read The Memoirs of Billy Shears?

[@matthewturnage4998]

No, I haven't. It didn't seem like the sort of thing I'd be into.

[@kylofoster5560]

@@matthewturnage4998 I gotcha. Can you add an email address into "About" in your channel description? I'd like to share something from The Sargent Peppers cover.

[@matthewturnage4998]

@@kylofoster5560 I prefer not to have an email address out there, but if it's something you can post a link to I'll take a look at it.

[@jacksonfilm]

Very interesting. Thanks for the summary.

[@matthewturnage4998]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@cephalophorenameless422]

Try reading what Keith says about Klein.

[@matthewturnage4998]

I'll look for it, thanks.

[@RonaldReaganRocks1]

Wait, why are we giving Klein any credit at all, if the higher royalties were just going to end up in his pocket? Guy was a crook.

[@slappyabromowitz]

Very well done. I really don’t believe in the end there’s a lot to be said that’s good. Remember, he couldn’t get us frisky as he did with Sam Cooke and the Rolling Stones with the Eastman’s a watchful stalking horse behind him. He was a crook through and through and I am amazed, Lennon fell for him, hook line and sinker.

[@richardbanker3910]

Klein might have got increased royalties but any extra money he got went into his pockets. Paul deserves credit for prising off Klein from the Beatles by suing the other Beatles and taking the flak for it. The guy was a croooked accountant and robber.

[@redscunthorpe5501]

This guy needs to wake up and speak up.......

[@matthewturnage4998]

I'll let him know next time I see him.

[@DDEENY]

_"The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."_ (1 Timothy 6:10)

[@matthewturnage4998]

So true!