The Beatles 1967-1970

Chapter 3

1967-1970

They went back to Abbey Road Studios in November 1966, and this time, took their own sweet time recording, wanting to make their most experimental and well produced record yet. And take their time they did, spending over 700 hours in the studio, 55 hours of that on just 1 song, Strawberry Fields Forever. However, that song didn't make the cut for what would become their 8th studio album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, released on May 26, 1967. To say this was another masterpiece is almost an understatement. Remember how I said that many music critics said Revolver is the greatest album of all time? Well many music critics also have said Sgt. Pepper's is the greatest album of all time. the album's cover is certainly among the most famous of all time. it was the 1st album to print the lyrics of every song in the artwork. It might have single handedly both started progressive rock and the entire 1960s counterculture movement. It made the concept album popular. Simply put, it literally changed pop music forever. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Band remains the UK's best selling studio album. On June 25, 1967, The Beatles performed a new single, All You Need Is Love to, you know, just 350,000,000 people via the first live global television link. That song ended up becoming a flower power anthem by the way, sung by hippies at Vietnam War protests around the world. Tragically, On August 27, 1967, the band received news that their manager, Brian Epstein had died of a drug overdose at the young age of 32. This devastated the band, and seriously made their future uncertain. In fact, they were so lost after Epstein's death,that they made a crappy movie where they filmed themselves touring the country in a psychedelic bus with a random cast of strange characters. Well that film called Magical Mystery Tour, was the first project The Beatles ever did that critics completely trashed, calling it blatant rubbish and a witless home movie. However, the soundtrack to the film of the same name, released on November 27, 1967, was praised by critics and another commercial success. Meanwhile the band had been spending more and more time following the guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. In February 1968, they even traveled to Rishikesh, India to hang out with him and attend his seminars on Transcendental Meditation. Starr and McCartney didn't stay there as Lennon and Harrison, though, and this ultimately caused some tension in the band. In Spring 1968, Lennon came back to London and began to heavily use more damaging drugs like heroin, and left his wife Cynthia Lennon for his new infatuation, a young artist named Yoko Ono. For the next 2 years, Yoko Ono was always by his side, to a point where it even further added tension to the band. Still, On May 14, 1968, Lennon and McCartney appeared on The Tonight Show to announce their new multimedia company called Apple Corps. Get it, like Apple Core. They launched the conglomerate to help new artists, but ultimately its record label, Apple Records, would be just a creative outlet for The Beatles. On July 17, 1968, a somewhat trippy animated film featuring the band called Yellow Submarine, premiered at theaters in London. In October 1968, the band finished up recording a new batch of songs, so huge that they would make up a double album, their only double album in fact. Simply called The Beatles, their 9th studio album would eventually just be known as The White Album, because, it had no graphics or text other than the band's name. They released it on November 22, 1968, 5 years after With The Beatles. The recording process was again long and drawn out, and the members of the band increasingly found themselves getting annoyed with each other, even showing up on different days to record different parts. In fact, just 16 of the album's 30 songs have all 4 band members performing. Even though there were no official singles of the album, two of the bigger hits on it included Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, and While My Guitar Gently Weeps. It was another masterpiece praised by most critics by the way. Oh, and of course eventually sold millions. Not until January 17, 1969, did they release the soundtrack to the movie released the previous year, Yellow Submarine. It was their 10th studio album, and only got mixed reviews, mostly because The Beatles kind of just threw some leftover songs on it. On Billboard's album chart, The Yellow Submarine soundtrack reached #2, just behind The White Album which held at the #1 position. Around that time, McCartney really wanted The Beatles to start playing live again, believing all this studio work was hurting the band's chemistry. The rest of the band kind of agreed and went along with the idea of touring again. However, rehearsals often did not go well. Sure, Yoko Ono famously got a lot of the blame for distracting Lennon, but all 4 Beatles were distracted. January 1969 was actually a busy month for the band. In addition to rehearsals, they started recording some songs how they used to in the early years. On January 30, 1969, the band, along with soul musician Billy Preston, played a surprise concert, right on top of The Apple Headquarters In London, or known as the rooftop.The 42 Minute Set would be the last public performance by The Beatles. Yep, they soon abandoned the idea of touring again. In Late February, they decided to record a new batch of songs the way they recorded The White Album. Recording Sessions would occur sporadically over the next few months. Preston often join them, becoming another 5th Beatle. As the months went on, it was clear that the band was drifting further and further apart. The last time that all 4 members worked together under the same roof was recording their song The End On August 18, 1969. The End? Huh, yeah that fits. By The End of 1969, each member already had their own solo projects going in full swing. John was in a band called The Plastic Ono Band With Yoko Ono with 2 hits, Give Peace a Chance and Imagine. Paul formed another band called Wings, and played concerts again, which he liked. Wings went on from 1971-1981 and he had a hit song called Maybe I'm Amazed. George Harrison had a lot of bands and had a hit song called Got My Mind Set On You. Ringo narrated a popular children's television show called Thomas & Friends and Played Mr. Conductor on Shining Time Station. He formed the All Starr Band, which continues the tour. And he had 4 hit songs called Photograph, You're Sixteen, It Don't Come Easy, and The No No Song. Lennon was the 1st to officially leave the band, privately telling them On September 20, 1969. But the general public didn't known this. 6 days later, the band released their 11th studio album, Abbey Road, which had this legendary cover, where they are crossing Abbey Road, taken just outside Abbey Road Studios. The album was another huge success, but got mixed reviews from critics. George Harrison finally got some praise for this one with 2 hits he wrote, Something, and Here Comes The Sun. Within 3 Months, Abbey Road had sold 4,000,000 copies. But by that time, the remaining 3 member barely saw each other. They have a bunch of recordings from before The Abbey Road Sessions they wanted to release though. They recorded 1 last together On January 3, 1970 called I Me Mine. The legendary producer Phil Spector came in to help that spring put a new album together. It would be their last. On April 10, 1970, The Beatles formally announced their breakup. A month later, On May 8, 1970, they released their 12th and final studio album, Let It Be. they also released a documentary a few days later. That film followed them around during their struggles in the final months of the band, with a highlight being footage of their famous rooftop concert from the previous January. Let It Be was a commercial success with the hit ballads The Long And Winding Road, and The Title Track, But this one definitely got some more negative reviews.

To Be Continued...