The Beatles After 1970
Imagine This!

Here's the first three fantasy albums!
Or, click HERE for the newest installment, Band On The Mind Games!

What would have happened if the Beatles didn't break up in 1970?

Imagine it's Feb/March 1969. The Beatles release Get Back with some of the same songs and takes from Let It Be , except "Across The Universe", "I Me Mine", and "The Long And Winding Road". The single version of "Let It Be" remains on the album. (The album version of "Let it Be" and the 3 songs mentioned above were actually added with overdubs a year later.) Maybe Get Back consists of songs from A3 and other outtakes as well? How about adding "Don't Let Me Down", the B-side to "Get Back" on the album? "You Know My Name" is released as a B-side to "Give Peace A Chance" in July. The Fab Four release Abbey Road in October 1969, minus "Her Majesty".

Had the Fab Four been able to work out their problems and managed to stay together, (and away from the likes Allen Klein etc...) they would have made their post '69 & '70 albums with a combination of their best solo material, don't you think? Songwriting for them is a natural instinct so I think they would have made the same songs, only better because they had that special magic when they were on the same record. (Of cource not to mention when John and Paul wrote together).

"I don't believe in Beatles?"

Starting with 1970, if you combine all 4 members' solo albums for each year and pick the best stuff from that year, I think their albums would have been just as good and successful as their pre 1970 albums! So in 1970 there was "Plastic Ono Band", "McCartney", "All things must Pass", and "Sentimental Journey". "Beacoups of Blues" gets pushed back to "71. If they released an album or double album once year in December, the first album, simply titled Beatles '70 or Let It Be, would sound best if it would consist of in this order:

Side 1 / CD 1

• What Is Life
• Instant Karma!
• I found Out
• The Lovely Linda
• Let It Be (Let It Be album version)
• If Not For You
• Hold On
• Every Night

Side 2

• Behind That Locked Door
• Stardust
• Working Class Hero
• Look At Me
• I'd Have You Anytime
• Isn't It A Pity (version two)
• Cold Turkey
• Child of Nature/Jealous Guy
• Her Majesty

Side 3 / CD 2

• Love
• Junk/Singalong Junk
• My Sweet Lord
• Teddy Boy
• Mother
• Isolation
• I Me Mine
• Sentimental Journey
• Across The Universe

Side 4

• Wah-Wah
• Well Well Well
• Maybe I'm Amazed
• My Mummy's Dead
• God
• Isn't It A Pity (version one)
• The Long And Winding Road
• Whispering Grass (Don't Tell The Trees)

Note all the George and Ringo songs! Ringo gets 3 and George 7! ("All Things Must Pass" , in my opinion George's best solo album, had over 20 songs. No Beatle had 20 of their own songs on any album, so the first 7 are used in '70, the rest of those great songs are spread out over '71 & '72). It's part of their new understanding that George (and Ringo) get more songs, hence the double albums, since George was in his prime in '69 & '70.

It may look the same, but this
"Let It Be" is radically different!

Also note that in 1970, out of the 5 actual Beatle songs on this double LP, 3 of them; "Across The Universe", "I Me Mine", "The Long And Winding Road" and the songs from John & George's solo albums, Plastic Ono Band and All Things Must Pass, were produced by Phil Spector. If you mix them all in together it gives a more unified sound. So "Beatles '70" or "Let It Be", which ever name you perfer is produced by John, Paul, George, Phil Spector and George Martin.

Try programing your CD player or make a double tape with these songs. Pepperland strongly suggests listening to them in this order! TRUST ME, IT GIVES A TREMENDOUS ATMOSPHERE TO THIS ALBUM! Or if your'e set in your own Beatlefreak ways, pick your own order or different songs from that year if you must. Pick your own choice of songs from the above album that are used for singles. Have fun! There are so many to choose from, I doubt you'll make up your mind!

The Post-Beatles Second Album!

"This is the funny thing, isn't it? If the Beatles had continued making records, all of the solo stuff that we'd done would have been on Beatle albums. So "Cloud 9" would have been a Beatle record and all that stuff like that."

George Harrison in an interview with Paul Cashmere in Undercover magazine 1995.

For those of you who liked my articles "Imagine: The Beatles Never Broke Up.....Then What?" or "Better Than "the Red Album"", here is my suggestion for 1971.

Starting with 1970, if you combine all 4 members' solo albums for each year and pick the best stuff from that year, I think their albums would have been just as good and successful as their pre 1970 albums!

In order to come up with a realistic compilation you have to take into account not only their "best" material, (which is always debatable) but also songs THEY FELT were important to themselves.

So in 1971 there was "Imagine", " Ram", " Wild Life" and assorted singles. Also, more great songs are used from "All Things Must Pass" for 1971 because George didn't release any studio album that year and only 7 songs were used from that classic album in the Beatles '70 collection. Ringo's "Beacoups of Blues" gets pushed back to "71 also.

Before

And after

I think if they released an album or double album once year in December, the 2nd album, simply titled "Beatles '71" or "Imagine", it would sound best if it would consist of in this order:

Side 1 / CD 1

• Ram On (ver. 1 and 2 joined together with fade out and in)
• Power To the People
• Art Of Dying
• Some People Never Know
• Love Is Strange
• Wild Life
• Beacoups Of Blues
• Bip Bop Line
• Crippled Inside

Side 2

• I Wouldn't Have You Any Other Way
• Heart Of The Country
• Without Her
• Another Day
• Run Of The Mill
• Early 1970
• Too Many People
• 3 Legs
• How Do You Sleep?
• How?

Side 3 / CD 2

• Beware Of Darkness
• Uncle Albert/ Admiral Halsey
• Oh Yoko!
• Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
• It Don't Come Easy
• Oh Woman, Oh Why
• Let It Down
• Oh My Love

Side 4

• The Back Seat Of My Car
• Bangla Desh
• Silent Homecoming
• Dear Friend
• Hear Me Lord
• Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
• Awaiting on You All
• Imagine
• All Things Must Pass

Note how big this collection is, particulary all the George and Ringo songs! Ringo gets 6 and George 9. It's part of their new understanding (particulary Paul's) that George and Ringo get more songs, hence the double albums, since Ringo was in his prime from '71 through '73.

Also note the sequence of hate songs! ("Run Of The Mill" through "How Do Sleep?") We all know that these songs probably wouldn't be on this fictional album had the Fab Four not broken up. But who knows? John and Paul spoke to each other through songs on the "White Album", and besides, it's sort of interesting to hear them argue their pet peeves. So " Beatles '71" or " Imagine", which ever name you prefer is produced by John, Paul, George, Phil Spector, Pete Drake, Yoko, Linda and "Early 1970" by Ringo.

The Third Post-Breakup Fantasy Album!
"Up In Arms: Beatles '72 / Live Apple Jam"

Even the most die-hard fan has to admit that 1972 was a lean year for Beatle songs. After being spoiled during the '60s with one fantastic single after another and never having to wait long for a new Beatle album, the output in 1972 was disappointing. However, 1972 still produced a cache of music that is essential to Beatle fans. And while this album may not have the same impact of Sgt. Pepper, for example, the second CD of this set with its live jams would be played by many stoned college kids and proclaimed to be The Beatles at their best!

In 1972 there was only Sometime In New York City and various assorted singles. The last batch of great songs are used from All things must Pass for this album (mostly from the Apple Jam Bonus LP. George didn't release any studio album that year and not all songs were used from that classic album in the Beatles '70 &'71 collections. Also to fill in the gaps, 2 songs are used from Paul and Wings Wild Life, released the previous year. I think if they released an album or double album once year in December, the 3rd album, titled Beatles '72 / Live Apple Jam or Up In Arms / Live Apple Jam, would sound best if it would consist of in this order:

Side 1 / CD 1

• New York City
• Give Ireland Back To The Irish
• Woman Is The Nigger Of The World
• Little Woman Love
• Back Off Boogaloo
• Sunday Bloody Sunday
• Give Ireland Back To The Irish (Instrumental version)
• The Luck Of The Irish
• Tomorrow

Side 2

• Mary Had A Little Lamb
• C Moon
• I Dig Love
• Coochy Coochy
• John Sinclair
• Angela
• I am Your Singer
• Hi Hi Hi

Side 3 / CD 2

• Live Apple Jam
• Cold Turkey
• Out Of The Blue
• Well (Baby Please Don't Go)
• It's Johnny's Birthday
• Plug Me In

Side 4

• Jamrag
• Scumbag
• I Remember Jeep
• Mumbo/Mumbo Link
• Nashville Jam
• Thanks For The Pepperoni

Liner Notes:

CD 1

• New York City: John penned this song as an ode to his new adopted hometown
• Give Ireland Back To The Irish: Banned By the B.B.C, paul wrote this in protest of the British Occupation of Northen Ireland after the "Bloody Sunday" incident on January 3, 1972.
• Woman Is The Nigger Of The World: Banned by the B.B.C for its derogatory slang, John wrote this after his consciousness had been raised concerning woman's rights.
• Back Off Boogaloo: Written and sung by Ringo and produced by George. Boogaloo was a a name originally used by the Beatles as one of Paul's code names.
• Mary Had A Little Lamb: Inspired by Paul's baby daughter Mary liking to hear her name sung, Paul put music to this nursery ryme about loyalty, which he felt described the special relationship between the Beatles and their fans. Paul's kids sing along on the chorus. Paul once said he wrote this song as a "retort" to critics who claimed the lyrics to "Hi Hi Hi" were obscene.
• C Moon: Paul's kids sing along on the chorus of this song also. One of Paul's first reggae attempts, the song comments on the generation gap. The phrase "C Moon" is meant to be the opposite of the expression L7, which is a term meaning "square."
• John Sinclair: John wrote this song in protest of the incarceration of John Sinclair, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the possesion of marijuana. Lennon plays slide guitar.
• Angel: Co-written and co-sung by Yoko, John wrote this for Angela Davis, who was on trial for conspiring in the prison break of her boyfriend, George Jackson.
• I Am Your Singer: Written in 1971, Paul and his wife Linda dedicated this song to their parents.
• Hi Hi Hi- This McCartney composition, with it's thinly disguised drug and sex references, was the 3rd song banned by the BBC from this double album. Paul later said he regretted this song, but during this period was very fond of playing this one "live".

CD 2

• Live Apple Jam The Fab Four enlist the talent of other musicians in this bonus LP of Live & studio Jam sessions from Dec. 1969 through 1971.

  The following bands, artists and session men contributed:
  Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, Jim Gordon, Carl Radle, Bobby Witlock, Eric Clapton, Gary Wright, Jim Price, Bobby Keyes, Al Aronowitz, Mal Evans, Eddie Klein, Dave Mason, Ginger Baker, Klaus Voorman, Billy Preston, Denny Laine, Denny Seiwell, Yoko Ono, Linda McCartney.

  On Nashville Jam:
  Charlie Daniels, Dave Kirby, Chuck Howard, Sorrells Pickard, Jerry Reed, Jerry Shook, Jerry Kennedy, Pete Drake, Ben Keith, Roy Huskey Jnr, Buddy Harman Charlie McCoy, George Richey, Grover Lavender, Jim Buchanan and D.J. Fontana.

• Cold Turkey: Performed at Lycem Ballroom London Dec. 1969 for charity "Peace For Christmas" concert for UNICEF.
• Out of the Blue: George and Friends jamming in the studio.
• Well (Baby Please Don't Go): Performed live at New York's Fillmore East June 6, 1971 with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention.
• It's Johnny's Birthday: George wrote this two years earlier in honor of John's thirtieth birthday.
• Plug Me In: George again jamming.
• Jamrag, Scumbag: Live at the Fillmore East 6/6/71
• I Remember Jeep: George lets loose with friends in the studio.
• Nashville Jam: Ringo goes to Nashville and gets a bunch of his buddies to Jam Originally 28 minutes long, this track was edited down to 6:39.
• Thanks For The Pepperoni: George and his friends jam live in the studio.

Note the all the political songs by John AND Paul! Was it just a coincidence or were they on the same wavelength? It was these radical songs, particulary John's, that lead the U.S. government to pigeonhole John as "subversive." It would latter come back and haunt him when he filed for a U.S Visa.

Beatles '72 / Live Apple Jam or Up In Arms / Live Apple Jam, whichever name you prefer, is produced by John, Paul, George, Phil Spector, Pete Drake, and Yoko.