"Get Back" film

[AGCurry]

Last night I watched about an hour of the first episode. I can recommend it as a great illustration of how a collaborative effort should not be executed.

I was struck by the chaos and time wasting ... the lack of individual preparation, and behavior which I wouldn't long tolerate in a rehearsal; the efforts to write songs and work them up in rehearsal while they also hadn't even agreed on the sort of show (and its venue) they would do; the incessant noodling and "messing around" from all but Ringo.

All they had to start was a date for the show, some songs from before they became famous, and some vague new-song ideas - so they had a deadline but no effective process to meet it.

It illustrated to me the inevitable arc of the "democratic" band life cycle - that it can be great in the beginning but will end with splinters. At that point in the Beatles's career, they needed leadership, if only to wrap things up gracefully. Paul reluctantly attempts to provide some; he's aware of his own ego, so he stops short of taking control in order to avoid the passive-aggressive resistance of George and John. As none of them at that point could be the leader, they needed a producer.

I was also amazed that the songwriters hadn't recorded their ideas and shared them with the other members. That left George to come up with his parts on the fly, and Ringo to do a lot of waiting and listening while details were worked out (taking hours and days).

I find the show fascinating - if for no other reason than a study of group dynamics - but my wife finds it boring, so I'll try to watch the rest of it in small doses.

 

[Oddly]

We're already discussing it over here The Beatles - “Get Back”. An in-studio fly-on-the-wall documentary with the Fab-Four | Page 6 | TalkBass.com , a thread which got slightly derailed into an anti-disney rant by some, but is now happily back on track.

I agree with your comments...and indeed it's mentioned that they seem a bit lost without 'Mister Epstein' in charge, although I hadn't thought he had much input at the musical level.
I feel they had a lot of respect for George Martin (more so than Glyn Johns)...pity he didn't take a more active role, but, not being that knowledgeable about their history, I suppose he or they had reasons for that.

 

[Mushroo]

... the incessant noodling and "messing around" from all but Ringo...

Ringo is a consummate professional and a true gentleman. Did you get to the part yet where he is at the piano, teaching the band "Taking a Trip to Carolina"?

I don't think you're there yet, but later in the episode, Ringo has some really nice things to say about Paul, like, "I could listen to him play piano for hours."

 

[51PRI]

Last night I watched about an hour of the first episode. I can recommend it as a great illustration of how a collaborative effort should not be executed.

I was struck by the chaos and time wasting ... the lack of individual preparation, and behavior which I wouldn't long tolerate in a rehearsal; the efforts to write songs and work them up in rehearsal while they also hadn't even agreed on the sort of show (and its venue) they would do; the incessant noodling and "messing around" from all but Ringo.

All they had to start was a date for the show, some songs from before they became famous, and some vague new-song ideas - so they had a deadline but no effective process to meet it.

It illustrated to me the inevitable arc of the "democratic" band life cycle - that it can be great in the beginning but will end with splinters. At that point in the Beatles's career, they needed leadership, if only to wrap things up gracefully. Paul reluctantly attempts to provide some; he's aware of his own ego, so he stops short of taking control in order to avoid the passive-aggressive resistance of George and John. As none of them at that point could be the leader, they needed a producer.

I was also amazed that the songwriters hadn't recorded their ideas and shared them with the other members. That left George to come up with his parts on the fly, and Ringo to do a lot of waiting and listening while details were worked out (taking hours and days).

I find the show fascinating - if for no other reason than a study of group dynamics - but my wife finds it boring, so I'll try to watch the rest of it in small doses.

Yeah, it's too bad they couldn't get all of those problems resolved. They might have had a chance to be a good band and have some accomplishments.

 

[AGCurry]

Yeah, it's too bad they couldn't get all of those problems resolved. They might have had a chance to be a good band and have some accomplishments.

I'm assuming sarcasm here. If so, I'm sorry you misinterpreted my post.

I've loved and respected the Beatles for about 57 years. What they did in a few years - in their twenties - is Mozartlike, made even more impressive by the fact that they did it as a group.

But the first episode of this show seems to depict a failing (musical) marriage. I get the definite feeling that all of them knew that (quoting the Rolling Stones) "this could be the last time." What was fun when climbing the mountain of success became boring at best (to Ringo) and annoying at worst (to George), and it seems clear that some preparation and discipline would have benefited them at that point in time.

 

[tothemax]

While I'd probably enjoy this series, I'm not willing to get Disney+ for one show. Hopefully it will be available somewhere down the road. That said, they did manage to pull together a classic show...

 

[StereoPlayer]

While I'd probably enjoy this series, I'm not willing to get Disney+ for one show. Hopefully it will be available somewhere down the road. That said, they did manage to pull together a classic show...

It’s cheaper than going to a movie.

 

[JimK]

Last night I watched about an hour of the first episode. I can recommend it as a great illustration of how a collaborative effort should not be executed.

I was struck by the chaos and time wasting ... the lack of individual preparation, and behavior which I wouldn't long tolerate in a rehearsal; the efforts to write songs and work them up in rehearsal while they also hadn't even agreed on the sort of show (and its venue) they would do; the incessant noodling and "messing around" from all but Ringo.

All they had to start was a date for the show, some songs from before they became famous, and some vague new-song ideas - so they had a deadline but no effective process to meet it.

It illustrated to me the inevitable arc of the "democratic" band life cycle - that it can be great in the beginning but will end with splinters. At that point in the Beatles's career, they needed leadership, if only to wrap things up gracefully. Paul reluctantly attempts to provide some; he's aware of his own ego, so he stops short of taking control in order to avoid the passive-aggressive resistance of George and John. As none of them at that point could be the leader, they needed a producer.

I was also amazed that the songwriters hadn't recorded their ideas and shared them with the other members. That left George to come up with his parts on the fly, and Ringo to do a lot of waiting and listening while details were worked out (taking hours and days).

I find the show fascinating - if for no other reason than a study of group dynamics - but my wife finds it boring, so I'll try to watch the rest of it in small doses.

I haven't seen Get Back, yet. I did watch Beato's video on it today.


From my previous readings, The Beatles had the luxury of doing it on the fly...in the studio. There were not trained composers that might work up something, write/chart it out, record it, etc. This was their way & from the amount of music that were generating within a year (like 3 LPs within 365 days?!?)...it worked.
You say they needed leadership. Agreed. Beato mentions that Brian Epstein had recently passed...his leadership was a huge loss.
Beato also mentions Andy Johns acting a Producer with George Martin as Executive Producer. This was also new territory.
I think Beato mentions that the Abbey Road sessions began shortly after the rooftop concert.

My big thing is this >>>
The Beatles were "royalty". They had not played live in a few...who decides to put a stop to a live Beatles rooftop concert?!?!

 

[Evets1987]

I’m convinced after watching part 1 that the fall of the music industry started with the Beatles. It’s just plain hard to watch. A lot of cringeworthy moments. So many bands smoked these guys back then.

 

[Oddly]

@JimK thanks for the Beato link...I'm now happily listening to the 'naked' Let It Be, as suggested, and he's so right.

As for halting the rooftop concert, it's amazing to see how polite the police were. Even when the duty sergeant, who looked like a bit of a hard man, arrived, it all remained calm.
As for the complaints, the location, Savile Row, was then probably one of the poshest, old-fashioned, upper-class shopping streets in London.
Hardly a surprise there'd be a complaint or two about the infernal racket.
I'm more surprised anyone could hear it, with that little PA set-up...but maybe they had more speakers placed in all Apple's windows?

 

[StereoPlayer]

I watched it all last night. That’s a lot to digest.
A lot of cigarettes, toast and tea.
Oh, wine and beer.

 

[51PRI]

I'm assuming sarcasm here. If so, I'm sorry you misinterpreted my post.

I've loved and respected the Beatles for about 57 years. What they did in a few years - in their twenties - is Mozartlike, made even more impressive by the fact that they did it as a group.

But the first episode of this show seems to depict a failing (musical) marriage. I get the definite feeling that all of them knew that (quoting the Rolling Stones) "this could be the last time." What was fun when climbing the mountain of success became boring at best (to Ringo) and annoying at worst (to George), and it seems clear that some preparation and discipline would have benefited them at that point in time.

I haven't seen the new documentary but I've seen many clips and listened to several interviews. I look forward to seeing it in the future. I did see the Let it Be movie back in the 1970's.

That said, why wouldn't one look at the way The Beatles work and, knowing their amount of success, fame, and musical accomplishment, say, let's work like THAT, instead of thinking how chaotic it appeared?

 

[StereoPlayer]

I haven't seen the new documentary but I've seen many clips and listened to several interviews. I look forward to seeing it in the future. I did see the Let it Be movie back in the 1970's.

That said, why wouldn't one look at the way The Beatles work and, knowing their amount of success, fame, and musical accomplishment, say, let's work like THAT, instead of thinking how chaotic it appeared?

I saw the Let It Be movie a few times. This version of the same time period is much more uplifting. The original movie was kind of depressing.

 

[kevindahl]

My wife must have asked me during the first episode, "what are they doing" 30 times We are currently halfway through the second episode.

Amazing stuff really. Although I am not a big fine of the Let it Be album it's pretty cool seeing those songs develop.

It's also mind boggling how young they were.

 

[StereoPlayer]

My wife must have asked me during the first episode, "what are they doing" 30 times We are currently halfway through the second episode.

Amazing stuff really. Although I am not a big fine of the Let it Be album it's pretty cool seeing those songs develop.

It's also mind boggling how young they were.

Were they eating toast?

 

[JRA]

haven't seen it. but i look forward to seeing it.

 

[kevindahl]

Were they eating toast?

She was confused when they were jamming and fooling around musically. She has never played in a band and didn't realize the time wasted

 

[dalkowski]

Last night I watched about an hour of the first episode. I can recommend it as a great illustration of how a collaborative effort should not be executed.

I was struck by the chaos and time wasting ... the lack of individual preparation, and behavior which I wouldn't long tolerate in a rehearsal; the efforts to write songs and work them up in rehearsal while they also hadn't even agreed on the sort of show (and its venue) they would do; the incessant noodling and "messing around" from all but Ringo.

All they had to start was a date for the show, some songs from before they became famous, and some vague new-song ideas - so they had a deadline but no effective process to meet it.

It illustrated to me the inevitable arc of the "democratic" band life cycle - that it can be great in the beginning but will end with splinters. At that point in the Beatles's career, they needed leadership, if only to wrap things up gracefully. Paul reluctantly attempts to provide some; he's aware of his own ego, so he stops short of taking control in order to avoid the passive-aggressive resistance of George and John. As none of them at that point could be the leader, they needed a producer.

I was also amazed that the songwriters hadn't recorded their ideas and shared them with the other members. That left George to come up with his parts on the fly, and Ringo to do a lot of waiting and listening while details were worked out (taking hours and days).

I find the show fascinating - if for no other reason than a study of group dynamics - but my wife finds it boring, so I'll try to watch the rest of it in small doses.

Points all well taken, but allow me to submit this possibly simplistic take: We were watching them at their nine-to-five (such as it is) where that time-wasting (the creative process) is part of the job description. Kinda like a writers' room at a TV show or a bullpen at an ad agency. Given what I know about the dynamic of the group at that point in time, I can't envision any of them doing "homework" between sessions for the betterment of the mission.

They totally needed leadership, as you describe very well.

It's never a good time watching the sausage being made.

But dang, I got a rush seeing/hearing them playing "All Things Must Pass" in the first hour. Didn't see THAT coming.

 

[Oddly]

Were they eating toast?

Almost certainly.
Seemed to me that there was no point in the entire eight hours when somebody wasn't eating it.
Maybe that's the secret to their success?
No need for genius...all you need is toast!

 

[Paul New]

I've seen most of part 1. They sure are passing around that Bass VI. I had no idea they used that thing. So that's mostly what I got out of it.