In our ongoing discussion regarding the merits (if any) of Paul McCartney’s solo debut album Townsman misterioso posed the following thought:
…I love With a Little Luck, and that in my alternate universe it would have made a great Beatles reunion single, both thematically (“there is no end to what we can do together”) and musically (albeit with less synth and a nice George slide solo).
This got me thinking: Imagine if, during the solo Beatles years of the 1970s through John Lennon’s death, each former Beatle had the good sense and dedication to the band’s fanboys and fangirls set aside a couple of songs from his solo catalog specifically for use on an eventual Beatles reunion album. In other words, they each would have said to themselves, “You know, I’m not going to release this song on my next solo album. It really needs input from all the lads. I’m going to save this one for our eventual, inevitable reunion album.”
What 11 or 12 songs solo songs (4 or 5 by Paul, 4 or 5 by John, 2 by George, and 1 or 2 for Ringo, whether he would write them or not) would best have been served by a fully reunited Beatles?
And I should note: this isn’t intended to be a Best of the Best of the Solo Beatles collection, but an attempt at determining 11 or 12 songs from their solo careers that would have best fit the fully reunited Beatles. In other words, there might be some solo songs that best fit each Beatle as a solo artist. I don’t want us re-creating a less unified reunion album than The White Album.
Power To The People-John
Spies Like Us-Paul
When We Was Fab-George
Mind Games-John
Too Many People-Paul
Let Me Roll It-Paul
Whatever Gets You Through The Night-John
Isn’t It a Pity-George
Fame-John
Handle With Care-Ringo sings
Apple Scruffs-George
I’m Losing You-John
Maybe I’m Amazed-Paul
George gets 3-FINALLY!
Thanks for kicking off the discussion, shawnkilroy, but we’ll have to disqualify “When We Was Fab.” That’s a post-Lennon song, right? As ridiculous as this mission is, we must keep it somewhat realistic:) Same goes for the Wiburys number, but still…nice work.The thought of the reunited Beatles doing “Fame” is most intriguing!
I’ll bite here, using the standard “Beatles formula” (All John and Paul, two Georges, and one Ringo per 14 tracks). This is also the order of the album.
I.
Band On The Run-Paul
Imagine-John
Blow Away-George
Jet-Paul
Jealous Guy-John
Photograph-Ringo
Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey-Paul
II.
Nobody Told Me-John
My Love-Paul
Watching The Wheels-John
All Things Must Pass-George
Girls’ School-Paul
Whatever Gets You Thru The Night-John
Maybe I’m Amazed–Paul
**Fade in and out bonus track: A Beatle “jam” of “What You Got”…
I know there’s better songs, but I’d love hear what the four of them could have done with these selections. I’m also surprised that Paul rocks the first side while John sings the ballads. Meanwhile, the opposite is true of side two.
TB
And yes I know “My Love” is regarded as a turd, but The Beatles would have gone with this one…It’s a perfect balance to kicking off side two with a rollicking “Nobody Told Me.”
TB
Mod, are we making Lennon’s death the cut-off date, then? I’m fine with that, but just want to know the ground rules so I can devote the final hour of my fake half work day to this. I suppose any leftover Lennon demos would still be in play, under the notion that Paul would have been riding herd on him to get them into Beatle-shape for this project.
I’ll say for now, though, that I have the definitive closing number:
Lennon writes and saves “Nobody Loves You When You’re Down And Out” as either the album closer or penultimate number…to be sung by Ringo. A motivated Ringo belting this out as the final Beatle Ringo number, with John coaching him, George getting a mournful Isn’t It A Pity-style solo (that Ringo throws to him with a “Help me, George!) and Paul handpicking and personally putting the screws to the horn section?
I am suprememly confident on this making the final cut.
Spies Like Us. That’s funny, man.
I see two possible scenarios for this that if not plausible (which, at any rate, does not seem to have been a criterion), at least come close to intersecting with plausibility.
In scenario one, it is early 1970. Allen Klein is run over by a Volkswagen Beetle with the license plate 28IF, thus freeing the Beatles from his grip. John, realizing he can indulge his inner avant-garde sufficiently through the occasional side project with Yoko, agrees to soldier on as a Beatle; Paul agrees and convinces George that he will be less of a tightass in the future. Ringo, as ever, is ready and willing.
They gather at Abbey Road in the summer of 1970. The sessions are sometimes tense, but is agreed that they will continue as a group, with occasional solo projects. The finished record, which has an unprecedented two compositions by Ringo, is entitled simply “1970”.
Side 1:
Another Day
It Don’t Come Easy
I Found Out
Every Night
My Sweet Lord
Isolation
Isn’t It a Pity
Side 2:
What Is Life?
Early 1970
Remember
Junk
All Things Must Pass
Look at Me
Maybe I’m Amazed
In scenario two, it is 1973. Paul is despondent over the failure of Wings and his own lack of confidence in his writing. John is about to embark upon his “lost weekend.” George, having shot his wad on All Things Must Pass and Concert for Bangladesh, is finding it hard to put together another record. Ringo, as ever, is ready and willing.
After many tense meetings, the four agree to record together on a trial basis. The resulting album is entitled Band on the Run in recognition of the group’s struggles.
Side 1
Band on the Run
Mind Games
Photograph
Let Me Roll It
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)
My Love
#9 Dream
Side 2
Jet
What You Got
You
Junior’s Farm
Whatever Gets You Through the Night
Steel and Glass
1985/Band on the Run reprise
Girls School — hee, hee.
George and Ringo only get one my 10 track record.
Side One
Mind Games John
I’ve Had Enough Paul
I’m Losing You John
Old Siam, Sir Paul
Photograph Ringo
Side Two
What Is Life George
Arrow Through Me Paul
Gimmie Some Truth John
Getting Closer Paul
Jet Paul
Misterioso put together two great line-ups for a ’70 and ’73 version, so here’s mine for the three of them getting back together in 1979 to record an album released in early 1980.
Everest The Beatles
1. Real Love (Lennon/McCartney) Vocals by John, (b. Paul and George)
2. Only People/Lonely People* (Lennon/McCartney) – Vocals by John and Paul
3. Little Woman Love (McCartney/Lennon) Vocals by Paul (b. Linda and Yoko)
4. Cosmic Empire* (Harrison/Lennon) Vocals by George (b.John and Paul)
5. Early 1980* (Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starr) – Vocals by Ringo, Paul, John, George
6. Beware My Love (McCartney/Lennon) – Vocals by Paul
7. Nobody Told Me (Lennon/McCartney) Vocals by John
8. Flying Hour (Harrison) – Vocals by George
9. Power Cut* (McCartney/Lennon) Vocals by Paul and John
10. Wah Wah (Harrison) Vocals by George
11. Nobody Loves You (When You’re Down And Out) (Lennon/McCartney) Vocals by Ringo
12. Ain’t That A Shame (Domino/Bartholomew) – Vocals by John and Paul
Finaly tally: Three repurposed songs each by John, Paul and George. A Ringo song reworked by the whole group. An actual hybrid Lennon/McCartney song. Linda and Yoko get to sing. And a cover that both John and Paul eventually released.
*Cosmic Empire – John finishes a George demo from All Things Must Pass for the 2nd and final “Harrison/Lennon” credit in Beatles history.
*Early 1980 – Ringo shelves Early 1970, brings it up during the Reunion sessions, the year gets bumped up a decade and the other three all update and sing the verses about them.
*Only People/Lonley People – “Only People” is one of the rare Lennon songs that sounds like it could have been a Paul song from the same era. Paul provides a bridge based on what would have been “Lonely Old People”, reversing the classic Lennon/McCartney style, with John doing the happy and Paul doing the sad.
*Power Cut – John finishes off a part of the Red Rose Speedway medley. During recording sessions, Paul considers ordering George to play slide part from “Lazy Dynamite”, but says “Hey, man, just play it how you want to play it” and this leads to George telling him about writing “Wah Wah”. Paul is high and thinks it’s pretty funny, so they do it as the next song on the album, predating Paul playing on Wah Wah at the Concert For George by 22 years.
these are so good.
they’re making me sad.
I don’t have the time to create a full album sequence and backstory but I am glad to read yours!
Thinking about this I would love to hear Ringo sing Jealous Guy and remove some of the Yoko baggage from a good tune. And I tried to think of a Lennon/McCartney graft and think they could put together the thematically similar I’m Losing You and Letting Go into one rocking, wrenching number.
alexmagic, I’ve been away from my computer. Yes, John’s death is the cut-off date for submissions. I have to wonder if I can allow “Nobody Told Me.”:)
I agree with shawnkilroy. Folks have risen to this challenge!
Here’s something to chew on: How might some of the arrangements of these solo songs have had to change if all the Beatles were playing on them? For instance, I can’t imagine Ringo and the lads playing “Whatever Gets You Through the Night” the way Lennon and his hack band played it. “Fame,” which not even Lennon recorded solo, could sound a lot different, maybe tougher, with George on lead guitar and no Carlos Alomar and company. I would imagine that “Jet” could be a lot tougher and slower – or maybe not – with people other than Paul on most of the instruments.
i know we disqualified a few of my numbers, but i’m too in love with this album i came up with. I thought of the arrangements when i came up with list, so i’m gonna use this version to address your latest question.
SIDE 1
Power To The People-reminiscent of Love Me Do, but with a B3 and Leslie.
Spies Like Us-has kind of a Hey Bulldog sound.
When We Was Fab-gets the full on I Am The Walrus treatment it was hinting at.
Mind Games-very similar but with backing vocals from the boys, taking it into a more Because neighborhood.
Too Many People-more stripped down OR orchestral, like Blackbird, Yesterday, or Elanor Rigby
Let Me Roll It-EXACTLY the same, just BEATLES.
SIDE 2
Whatever Gets You Through The Night-sounds like Lady Madonna when The Beatles do it.
Fame-More like a Motown number, than a Philly soul/disco sound. This would however, be The Beatles’ Miss You.
Handle With Care-identical, but with Ringo singing.
Apple Scruffs-pretty much the same.
I’m Losing You-less harsh, better bassline, small George Martin horn section?
Maybe I’m Amazed-totally the same.
And if they had collaborated in their songwriting by combining songs they were working on alone:
Give Ireland Back to Angela Davis
Give Me Love (Give me Beef Jerky)
Mary Had A Little Apple Scruff
Wild Turkey
Let Me Roll Yoko
I think it should have “Time Passages” and “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft” on it.