by Robert Wilkinson
Today we continue our weekend birthday tribute celebrating the life and music of John Lennon. Plenty of attitude, plenty of dancing music! So without further delay, let the party begin!
By 1966, John’s writing was more introspective, and he was branching out into acting and other forms of art. That year the Beatles’ music took an entirely different direction from the “cute moptops” who had cranked out a ton of infinitely great dance music up to that point. The Beatles were growing up.
This was evident in their 1966 album Rubber Soul, where John began to give us glimpses of his inner life, blowing minds and opening hearts with his beautiful compositions "It's Only Love" and "In My Life."
1966 was the last year the Beatles performed live, as their music was becoming increasingly difficult to perform live on stage due to the complexity of the instrumentation and the reality that they couldn’t hear themselves play due to the screams reaching a DB level of jet planes taking off! Sound system technology was still being developed by the Dancing Bear for the Grateful Dead, but good monitors and speaker stacks were still years away for the Beatles.
In the mid-60s, performing musicians had no PA speaker stacks, no amplifier stacks, weak monitors (if they had them at all) and sound boards which were small and primitive. This was the era preceding the rapid technological advances which came in 1968-69. Sound technology, whether for playing or recording, was still primitive in the mid-60s. Up to the White Album the Beatles were still recording with 4 track technology. While Brian Wilson and Motown both entered the world of 8 track machines in 1965, it would take several more years for 16 track boards and sound systems to be powerful enough for large outdoor shows to come into use. Relay towers came even later.
Also contributing to their decision to quit touring, in February 1966 John did an interview where he stated "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink ... We're more popular than Jesus now—I don't know which will go first, rock and roll or Christianity." Later that year the interview was quoted in a US magazine, and the American right wing flipped out, burning Beatle records and memorabilia with threats made by the KKK and others against John’s life. One would think that “Christians” wouldn’t be making death threats, but that seems to be a peculiarity of the US christofascist movement that exists to this day.
And now, we resume our musical journey with their 1966 live concerts which will lead us into the psychedelic forest that followed!
A full 15 minutes from the Summer of 1966 at Circus Krone in Munich, Germany! "Rock and Roll Music,” “Baby’s in Black,” “I Feel Fine,” “Yesterday,” “Nowhere Man,” and “I’m Down” This clip features their live performance of “Yesterday” with the usual 3 guitars with drums but no strings. Strange after hearing it the other way a gazillion times!
If you don’t want to sit through the entire show, here’s "Nowhere Man" and "I Feel Fine."
Last year I had an 8+ minute color clip of their evening performance combined with above footage, but this year it’s disappeared except for “If I Needed Someone.”
Adding to their problems, when the Beatles went to Asia on their world tour in 1966, they got death threats in Japan from ultra conservatives and the Philippines for not attending an event with despot Imelda Marcos, after which they were harassed and beaten up by a government mob trying to get to their airplane and had their concert earnings stolen. You can understand why they quit touring, since they couldn’t hear themselves and were plagued by threats the entire time.
Videos of their shows on that tour appear and disappear in a heartbeat. The Circus Krone show above was their first performance of that tour. This year their 30 minute set at Budokan has resurfaced, so for your enjoyment, The Beatles at Budokan 1966 - ”Rock and Roll Music,” “She's A Woman,” “If I Needed Someone,” “Day Tripper,” “Baby's in Black,” “I Feel Fine,” “Yesterday,” “I Wanna Be Your Man,” “Nowhere Man,” “Paperback Writer,” “I'm Down”
Because this link still works, here’s an audio-only clip of that historic performance. For your enjoyment, the Beatles at Budokan! The Beatles at Budokan 1966
Another gem from that period! It’s the original b/w promo clip of the Beatles, complete with go go dancers, doing “Day Tripper”
We now move into the psychedelic and post-psychedelic era!
John’s contributions to the 1966 album Revolver, included the very trippy "She Said She Said" and the even more psychedelic “Tomorrow Never Knows"
Here’s a score! From the Revolver sessions, the promo video for another very psychedelic song written by John, “Rain” (Ringo’s drumming is extraordinary on this song.)
From the Yellow Submarine era, here’s a clip of the Beatles live in the studio creating the great obscure gem from that movie, John’s “Hey Bulldog”
Launching into full psychedelic mode, a bunch of John’s best! From Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”
The masterpiece! “A Day in the Life”
Here's the original promo video for the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever," considered by some as the first great music video. Enjoy it while you can! I also found the original video for “Penny Lane” issued at the same time. This was the height of the Sgt. Pepper/Yellow Submarine psychedelic era, and the clothes were way out there!
Most of the music on Sgt. Pepper’s and the next one, Magical Mystery Tour were composed at the same time. From that second album, here’s another JL composition, “Baby You’re A Rich Man” which we’ll follow with the studio version of another of John’s masterpieces, my favorite JL song “I Am The Walrus.”
The original truly psychedelic video of this song has disappeared this year, but I found this “alternate” 1967 video using footage from that shoot which works! “I Am The Walrus.”
I also found the original music video of “Hello Goodbye.”
We’ll close this era with an anthem for peace and love that will ring out forever, “All You Need Is Love”
By 1968, the Beatles were fracturing into 4 separate performers rather than a band. Here are some clips from the late 60s. First, the Beatles in a live 1968 video performing John’s fuzz and distortion-drenched hard rocker from The White Album, "Revolution"
On that album, a few John wrote!
I had John with the Beatles at the end performing the Abbey Road tune "Come Together," but it’s disappeared. So instead, here’s a clip of John doing it with the Plastic Ono Band doing ”Come Together”
His other contributions to the album included "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"
In years past I’ve had the full 23 minute Beatles Rooftop Performance Concert, but this year it’s gone. Occasionally I find videos of individual tunes, but this year we have only John’s "Don't Let Me Down" and Paul’s "I Got A Feeling (Take 1)"
This year we have the complete rooftop concern audio. The Beatles "Get Back" – The Rooftop Performance
The rooftop versions of John’s "One After 909” and “Dig A Pony” are nowhere to be found, so here are the studio tracks from the Let It Be album of "I Got A Feelin’" and John’s "One After 909” and “Dig A Pony.”
After "Don't Let Me Down," his next single was autobiographical and became a hit! Here’s the official video of "The Ballad of John and Yoko"
Also from Let It Be, a tune he wrote which the Beatles allowed to be used for the World Wildlife Fund, "Across the Universe"
He and “the lads” were obviously messing around in this bootleg 1969 version of “House of the Rising Sun” which John mangles from the first note!
A Brief Interlude
Before we move into his solo career, these two clips are an amazing reproduction, note for note, of two of the Beatles' most loved tunes from the Sgt. Pepper era! For your enjoyment, an exquisite performance by “the Beatles’ Magical Orchestra” conducted by my friend, the Maestro David Amram. Very good tribute!
The Beatles’ Magical Orchestra Conducted by David Amram – “Strawberry Fields Forever”
And even though this one wasn't written by John, it's awesome anyway!
The Beatles’ Magical Orchestra Conducted by David Amram – “Within You Without You”
By 1969 he was launched into his solo career.
From December 1968 at the legendary Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, here's John playing with "The Dirty Mac" featuring Eric Clapton on lead, Keith Richards on bass, and Mitch Mitchell on drums cranking out a very gritty "Yer Blues."
From Live Peace In Toronto in 1969, here are John, Yoko, and the Plastic Ono Band (Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman, Alan White). These performances are in the order they were done at the concert. For your enjoyment,
The harrowing "Cold Turkey."
We’ll close this set with the first song he released solo while still a Beatle, "Give Peace A Chance."
If you want to see the buildup to the Plastic Ono Band, DA Pennebaker gave us this 53 minute gem of The Toronto Rock and Roll Revival – September 13, 1969 featuring Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard before John takes the stage. After the set above, Yoko takes the mic for "Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for a Hand in the Snow)" and "John, John (Let's Hope for Peace)"
The second song John released while still a Beatle, he kept Eric and Klaus and brought Ringo in to drum on the studio version this tune. Here’s the original music video of "Cold Turkey."
Here’s the video of the “Bed In” where John and Yoko were joined by Timothy Leary, Tommy Smothers, Petula Clark, Dick Gregory, Allen Ginsberg, and more to give us this classic video of "Give Peace A Chance."
From his 1970 debut solo album, the haunting ballad "Working Class Hero." Here's the live rehearsal for a 1972 MSG concert of "Working Class Hero."
Also from that first album, “Well Well Well.”
A rare unreleased video shot in February 1970 for Top of the Pops of one of his best songs and one of my all time favorites, the chillingly prescient "Instant Karma."
Here's the original 1971 music video of "Imagine," and here's his August 1972 MSG performance of "Imagine."
Here's a masterpiece of a performance at that 1972 Madison Square Garden show with John doing the rocking classic of truth "Instant Karma" and “Come Together.”
A very obscure clip of the Beatles in the studio toward the end rehearsing the phenomenal "Gimme Some Truth." We'll follow that with a great 3+ minute clip of John in the studio recording "Gimme Some Truth."
And here’s the original studio version of "Gimmie Some Truth." (Yes, that’s Sir George on the stinging slide!)
From his 1971 album Imagine, we have four big ones! First, his scathing critique of Paul when John was feeling (ahem) a bit paranoid. “How Do You Sleep” which we'll follow with two "confessionals" about his inner state, “Jealous Guy” and “Crippled Inside.” We'll finish with a very psychedelic antiwar statement, “I Don’t Want To Be A Soldier Mama”Here’s 7+ minutes of studio video in the recording of “How Do You Sleep” and here’s 6 minutes of Takes 5 & 6 of “How Do You Sleep”
Last year I had a great one hour documentary on The Making of Imagine but this year it’s gone. I think it got chopped up and retitled Gimme Some Truth which is in segments on you tube.
In late 1971, he released a Christmas Anti-war song that I play every Christmas! Here’s the original music video for "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"
This one is worth every second! It's an amazing 6 minute interview where John outlines why we must be for peace, live for peace, breathe for peace, and love for peace, followed by the song John Lennon talks about peace.
(As he put it, "I believe our society is run by insane people for insane objectives.... I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends... I'm sayin' let's give peace a chance, since nobody's ever done it before... Peace on Earth that implies no violence, no starving children, no violent minds, no violent households, no violence, no frustration, no fear...)Take two! Here’s his great live performance at Madison Square Garden in 1972! John Lennon At Madison Square Garden - 1972 (Set list: “It’s So Hard,” “Woman is the Nigger of the World,” “Instant Karma,” “Come Together,” “Cold Turkey,” and “Give Peace a Chance.”)
From the album Some Time In New York City, John and Yoko performing a live acoustic version of "The Luck of the Irish." While the live video from 1971 in Michigan of their performance of this song is gone, I found the performance on The Mike Douglas Show of "The Luck of the Irish"
Originally titled "Make Love Not War," the title track of his 4th solo album, "Mind Games." The "B" side to "Mind Games" is one of my favorite rockers from his solo period! “Meat City.”
The comeback! Live at Madison Square Garden in 1974, Elton John invites John to join him on stage to perform their #1 hit from Walls and Bridges, "Whatever Gets You Through the Night." From that same gig, they went into "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," and here's the closer, "I Saw Her Standing There."
Here's the entire 1974 album Walls and Bridges
Two music videos from that album! First, the hit! "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" and next, the music video with one of John's truly beautiful numbers on that album, "#9 Dream"
Due to a lawsuit brought by mobster Mo Levy settled out of court in 1973, John agreed to record three songs he owned. Those sessions became the album Rock 'N' Roll, but crazy Phil Spector stole the master tapes and so John did Walls and Bridges instead. The tapes were found, new sessions were scheduled, and this is what happened!
"Slippin' and Slidin'" (while you're there, the rest of the album is before and after this video.)
Also from that album, on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1975, the video of ”Stand By Me”
From his penultimate album Double Fantasy, released just 3 weeks before his assassination in December 1980, here are a few of the best!
The original video! "Just Like Starting Over"
From those same sessions, the hit from his last album Milk and Honey, "Nobody Told Me." From that same album, "I'm Steppin' Out" and "Borrowed Time."
Here’s a last look back before the close the show.
John and Yoko did a solid week as co-hosts on the Mike Douglas Show in 1972, interviewing and performing. Here’s one whole show with the Chambers Brothers! John and Yoko on Mike Douglas 1972
Also from that week in Jan 1972, 12 minutes of John Lennon and Chuck Berry talking and performing! John Lennon and Chuck Berry – “Memphis” and “Johnny B Goode”
This site, Beatles videos, has so many that you could spend a week watching them all. He claims 350, and updates them regularly. A real treasure trove for Beatle fans.
Here are some non-musical videos of the wit, wisdom, and life of John Lennon:
Here's a 9 minute clip called "The Comedy of John Lennon"
This video is funny, as it showcases Beatlemania.
Last year I had an hour and 6 minute documentary titled Making of the Beatles Rare and Unseen but it’s disappeared. However I did find this 53 minute documentary titled The Beatles – Rare and Unusual Footage
I found this 50 minute John Lennon documentary
Last year I had a 53 minute 2003 documentary titled Inside John Lennon but it’s disappeared.
We’ll close today with the song that blew America’s doors down! Last year I had their extraordinary April 1964 performance of this song on the Morecambe & Wise Show, but it’s gone this year. (The whole show was near the top of yesterday’s celebration of his early days.)
So instead, here’s the performance I saw along with about 73 million of us on February 9, 1964. This launched Beatlemania in the US! “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
For our encore, the last songs he ever "performed." From 1995's Anthology, the official music video of "Free As A Bird" and in a fitting closing tribute video to John, “Real Love”
Here's a very strange "last Beatles song." It was written by John for Paul and considered as a third "last song," along with "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love," but wasn't completed because there was too much tape noise in John's original recording and George didn’t want to do it. Still, whoever did this video did a good job with whatever is out there, and disguised it as a live show with cutaways to the other Beatles. So for what it's worth, here's the great third "last Beatle song" that was never completed! "Now And Then."
For our final encore, John Lennon’s last performance. It was 1975, and he had agreed to perform at a tribute to Lew Grade, UK music and television mogul. Lennon showed up in a bright red jumpsuit and a backing band called BOMF, short for “Brothers of MFers.” (You fill in the blanks). They had shaved heads and two faced weird masks on the back of their heads, which John supposedly said resembled Sir Lew. For your enjoyment, Sir John and the BOMF giving us “Slippin’ and Slidin’” and “Imagine.”
Here’s a clip with a crisper focus than the last one. “Imagine”
Last year I also had “Stand By Me” from this gig, but it’s disappeared.
I found this excellent 5 minute video that has each of the Beatles describing how and why the Beatles ended the way they did. Very well done! "The Beatles’ Break Up"
The Beatles very much embodied the 1960s. As I've given you before, what happened in the 60s was a glimpse of the promise, not the fulfillment of that promise. “All You Need Is Love” and “Give Peace A Chance” were songs offering a different way than the prevailing systems of those times. Our times too. That’s why they’re still relevant today. John Lennon put it this way: "The thing the 60s did was show us the possibility and the responsibility that we all had. It wasn’t the answer. It just gave us a glimpse of the possibilities."
Beatles in his 20s, adrift amidst the personal wreckage of his past in his early 30s, devoted husband and father in his late 30s, dead at 40. Here's a happy 81st RIP birthday greeting to you, John Lennon. The world is a better place for you having lived, and in your death we lost one who could rally the whole world for peace.
I suppose that's your gift to all of us, that we should stop looking to another to take the lead, and each of us take the lead instead, as best we can. Thanks for the memories and inspiration, and thanks to Yoko for her generosity with your legacy. As always, Starting Over. Gimme Some Truth. All You Need Is Love. Give Peace A Chance.
© Copyright 2022 Robert Wilkinson
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