Getting Back

We were, like, #95 on the list at the library to get The Beatles: Get Back. Every week, Mr. Ginley would check to see what position we'd reached.

The album from my collection.

Eventually, our number was up, and we went to get it before the library decided to give it to someone else.

The 3-DVD set is 468 minutes. For those of you like me who aren't the swiftest at math, this translates to nearly eight hours of The Beatles trying to make a little music.

The studio sessions were recorded in January, 1969 and included tunes that would later show up on the Abbey Road and Let it Be albums. Some kindly soul (aka Peter Jackson) poured through the 150 hours of audio and 60 hours of video that featured The Beatles wrangling tunes out of themselves and each other, extracting what presumably were the best bits – including their famous London rooftop concert, which would be their last live performance as a band. 

I was fascinated by the creative process, although I did find it frustrating when they would go over and over a tune and not get the words. 

"Come on, Paul, it's 'Sweet Loretta Martin, you twit, you know this."' It was much like watching a replay of Game 5 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals and sitting on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, even though I know the good guys are going to win. (Spoiler alert: Caps win.)

Surprisingly, Mr. Ginley sat through it all with me, although admittedly, we did scoot past the parts where Yoko Ono was bleating/screeching. She may not have been responsible for the Beatles breakup, but she probably caused a few burst eardrums along the way. I could almost stand the noise, but Mr. hollered at the TV every time she took the microphone, so I did a little fast-forwarding to get through it.

Watching the interplay between the four seemingly disparate young men was fascinating, nostalgic and sad. You could see the breakup coming, not from any outside force but because they were all growing up and it was time for them to go their separate ways. 

George had to leave, obviously. He wasn't going to be able to accomplish what he did under the shadow of the Lennon/McCartney duo. Ringo looked sad and bored/stoned through most of the proceedings. (I think he was unwell through part of it which may have accounted for his demeanor). Paul was Mr. Bossy Boots, but in all honesty, I don't think anything would have gotten done if he hadn't gone full-Paul. John, hooked on heroin and in the throes of puppy love with his soon-to-be second wife, goofed and gawped for the camera but eventually got down to business (sort of).

The whole process was messy but effective. It was a treat seeing the four of them together, making obscure references about this song or that time when..., playing off one another and watching the obvious affection and connection only four lads who went through Beatlemania together could understand.

As the incumbent Beatle fan, I was in the hot seat when it came to identifying whether the song they were playing was from the Let it Be album or Abbey Road, since the band was writing songs for both during the sessions. Fun fact: although the focus was on the tunes from the Let it Be album, Abbey Road was actually released first.

I'm not sure how many people who didn't live through it will enjoy the slog, but for me, it was a bittersweet treat. So many of my early memories are tied up in those songs performed by four guys who feel like older brothers, in a way. Now, with two of them gone, I feel it, like missing teeth, rooting around for where they used to be. 

I know it had to end and they all had to go off and do their own thing. But aside from George, I think they were all at the top of their game when they were the Beatles. John tempered Paul's sappy lyrics. Paul took the edge off John. Ringo brought a kind of feng shui along with a steady backbeat to the quartet. George threw in bits here and there, although, much like family, he was  treated like the little brother and often pooh-poohed for his efforts.

Mr. Ginley asked me if I wanted to buy the DVD set, and I said no. I don't think I'd want to sit through it all again, but it was pretty cool one time around. In all likelihood, the DVDs would sit around for years before (or if) I pulled them off the shelf.

I am ready to listen to both albums again, though. 

What a ride they took us on. A sort of, I don't know, Magical Mystery Tour.

Yes, I know, a totally different album...