I watched docuseries about the music of Lennon and McCartney in the period 1973-1980 (I recommend it, lots of interesting information, although these "experts" are irritating) recently. The authors showed Wings performing "With a Little Luck" and I thought about this lovely song. The dynamics of John and Paul in the 1970s is very complex and complicated, but one thing is for sure: they wanted to write songs together again, but there was still something in the way. Paul said in 1974 that he has already received a Green Card so he is eager to write with John again. There's a quote from Linda: "Paul wanted desperately to write with John again". Lennon also considered reunion from at least 1974. He asked several people (May Pang, Art Grafunkel, Tony King) if he should do this. In 1975, McCartney invited him to New Orleans, where he recorded "Venus and Mars". John was going there but he didn't make it because Yoko let him go home after a "lost weekend". Why did John and Paul's urge to create songs again fail? There were certainly many factors: Lennon's insecurity and his feeling that he would turn out to be a worse songwriter than McCartney, especially since McCartney had been doing better commercially since 1973; his fear that Paul wants his humiliation; Apple-related business issues still unresolved; Yoko, who clearly limited John and Paul's contacts in the 1970s; and the fear of both guys that such a reunion would cause media pressure to get the Beatles back together, and I think they didn't want to (side note: my speculation is that the only Beatle who would want it was Ringo; John, Paul and George wanted to be seen as independent artists who could be successful in their own right). However, both John and Paul wanted to get back into their partnership (after all, John even had rented a studio in 1980 where he and Paul would work together on Ringo's album but his death stopped these plans). And Paul is an optimist. So I'm pretty sure 1979's "With a Little Luck" is a song about Lennon-McCartney reunification.
Hi girls, George Harrison here, lead guitar.
I’m not taking any notice of course, but the other three are skipping around the room, saying, “Hi girls! George Harrison here, lead guitar.” Well, I’ve got to introduce myself some way, haven’t I?
One thing about us Beatles is that we’re just as nutty now as we ever were. Our chart success hasn’t changed us, thank goodness. I remember the first time I ever met Paul was on the bus home from school. He was sitting laughing to himself. I thought, “We’ve a right case here,” and then I realised he could see his own reflection in the window. Well, I thought, that explains it!
John, I recall, was eating fish and chips, but his hair being so long kept getting in the way! Ringo, who I met in a club, looked moody. Then when we started talking he explained he’d been talking hard and the effort was too much for him. He can’t help it, poor lad.
I was never officially introduced to myself. In accordance with the natural custom I was born, at the time being fairly small (about twenty inches long). My mother insists that I was brought into the world singing and playing a guitar, but I think she’s joking.
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So ridiculous.
Psychotherapist Hugo G. Beigel analyzes the sexual appeal of the Beatles. Circa 1964.
John Lennon's letter to Paul McCartney | 24 November 1971
On September 19, 1964, Paul McCartney, along with his fellow Beatles, found themselves on a much-needed respite from the whirlwind of Beatlemania in Alton, Missouri. In the midst of their first American tour, the group spent a rare moment of downtime, taking in the country life and seeking solace in the tranquil setting of rural Missouri. McCartney, ever the charming and approachable star, was seen indulging in a bit of fishing—a simple pleasure far removed from the screams of adoring fans and the hectic tour schedule. This moment of calm in Alton stood in stark contrast to the intense public scrutiny and pressure that had followed The Beatles across the globe. The experience of living through such a frenzy made these fleeting moments of peace all the more valuable. It is often said that the chaos of the early years was a driving force behind McCartney’s continued creativity, inspiring some of the most iconic music of his career. As The Beatles' legacy continues to resonate across generations, the image of a young McCartney, quietly fishing in a Missouri stream, offers a rare glimpse into the life of one of the most influential musicians of all time, outside the glitzy stage lights. His personal connection to moments like these, though rarely spotlighted, showcases a more grounded, human side of a legendary figure who still holds a place in music history.
The man had some chutzpah (with good reason) to get up there and conduct an orchestra. Symphony musicians are so full of themselves.