A Trial Separation

[Asharella]

I said when I did these four posts in Ninth Revolution: AH's Beatles Group that it wouldn't be a timeline. But I've changed my mind. I'm going to create an alternate history where the Beatles don't break up in 1969. Here are the original posts. I'll add more to the timeline in later posts here.

1970 Television Live Concert ~ part 1

According to the Wikipedia article on Allen Klein:

"Klein became the business manager of Sam Cooke, and in 1963 Klein started to take control of all aspects of Cooke's career and demanded an independent record company. The role of business manager, someone who would take the artist's side in negotiations with the recording industry, was unprecedented. Klein secured an unprecedented agreement, with Cooke starting a new label (Tracey Records, to be distributed by RCA Records) that would own the rights to all of his future recordings, site fees, gate revenues for concerts, 10 percent of all records sold, and back royalties."

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"But not long afterwards, Jagger started to doubt Klein's trustworthiness, and The Stones fired Klein in 1970. However, by that time, Klein had already secured himself ownership of all the Rolling Stones's song copyrights while under contract with Decca. He did this by surreptitiously forming Nanker Phelge (US) and exhorting the band to sign over all their material. The band members willingly obliged as they were majority owners in a U.K. company of the same name. In reality, the Stones unwillingly signed away their musical catalog to Klein, sole owner of Nanker Phelge US."

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"Klein helped Lennon and Ono with their film Imagine, and helped Harrison to organize The Concert for Bangladesh. It was here that his reputation started to unravel. Rather than prearrange matters with UNICEF, Klein waited until after the concert to approach them, leading to questions about the proceeds, and finally a U.S. Tax Investigation, which found Klein guilty.

"As Klein's relationship with Harrison disintegrated, Klein purchased Bright Tunes, the company that sued Harrison for copyright infringement, thus becoming his legal opponent. A judge later ruled that Klein had unfairly switched sides of the lawsuit."

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According to the Wikipedia article on Sam Cooke:

"Cooke died at the age of 33 on December 11, 1964, at the Hacienda Motel at 9137 South Figueroa Street, in Los Angeles, California. Answering separate reports of a shooting and of a kidnapping at the motel, police found Cooke's body, clad only in a sports jacket and shoes but no shirt, pants or underwear. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, which was later determined to have pierced his heart. The motel's manager, Bertha Franklin, said she had shot Cooke in self-defense after he broke into her office residence and attacked her. Her account was immediately questioned and disputed by friends and acquaintances."

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"The motel's owner, Evelyn Carr, claimed that she had been on the telephone with Franklin at the time of the incident. Carr claimed to have overheard Cooke's intrusion and the ensuing conflict and gunshot. Carr called the police to request that officers go to the motel, telling them she believed a shooting had occurred.

"A coroner's inquest was convened to investigate the incident. The woman who had accompanied Cooke to the motel was identified as Elisa Boyer, who had also called the police that night shortly before Carr had. Boyer had called the police from a telephone booth near the motel, telling them she had just escaped being kidnapped."

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"Some of Cooke's family and supporters, however, have rejected Boyer's version of events, as well as those given by Franklin and Carr. They believe there was a conspiracy to murder Cooke, and that the murder took place in some manner entirely different from the three official accounts. Singer Etta James viewed Cooke's body before his funeral, and questioned the accuracy of the official version of events. She wrote that the injuries she observed were well beyond the official account of Cooke having fought Franklin alone. James wrote that Cooke was so badly beaten that his head was nearly separated from his shoulders, his hands were broken and crushed, and his nose mangled."

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I am proposing a secret history that Allen Klein, of whom later events proved him to be a crook that took advantage of his clients, was involved in the conspiracy suggested by Sam Cooke's family that killed the soul singer.

My alternative history then is that the conspiracy falls apart and Klein is arrested and found guilty of conspiracy to murder Sam Cooke.

I am using this as a major POD to explain how it is that the Beatles do NOT break up in the fall of 1969 and thus are able to have a live concert in January of 1970 that is globally broadcast to theaters where fans buy tickets to watch the project show as it happens.

More to come on this idea.​

1970 Television Live Concert ~ part 2

According to the Wikipedia article on Lord Beeching:

"Richard Beeching, Baron Beeching (21 April 1913 – 23 March 1985), commonly known as Dr Beeching, was chairman of British Railways and a physicist and engineer. He became a household name in Britain in the early 1960s for his report "The Reshaping of British Railways", commonly referred to as "The Beeching Report", which led to far-reaching changes in the railway network, popularly known as the Beeching Axe."

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"On 27 March 1963, Beeching published his report on the future of the railways. Entitled "The Reshaping of British Railways", he called for the closure of one-third of the country's 7,000 railway stations."

* * * *

"Unsurprisingly, Beeching's plans were hugely controversial not only with trade unions, but with the Labour opposition and railway-using public. Beeching was undeterred and argued that too many lines were running at a loss, and that his charge to shape a profitable railway made cuts a logical starting point. As one author puts it, Beeching 'was expected to produce quick solutions to problems that were deep-seated and not susceptible to purely intellectual analysis.' For his part, Beeching was unrepentant about his role in the closures: 'I suppose I'll always be looked upon as the axe man, but it was surgery, not mad chopping.'


"Beeching was nevertheless instrumental in modernising many aspects of the railway network, particularly a greater emphasis on block trains which did not require expensive and time-consuming shunting en route."

* * * *
"The Beatles considered Lord Beeching when they were trying to find someone who could sort out the business affairs of their company Apple Corps."


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Instead of the ruthless but hidden criminal Allen Klein, the Beatles in this alt history scenario settle on the notorious Beeching Axe, who is as ruthless but also honest, to manage their business. With no Klein in the running, since he's rotting in a prison in the USA, the Beatles have a full agreement on Lord Beeching. His ruthlessness and business acumen satisfies Lennon but his honesty satisfies McCartney. The Eastmans agree too, further solidifying McCartney's approval.

The entire fall out in 1969 of our reality's disagreement on business never happens!

Lord Beeching turns out to be exactly what the Beatles need. He is active in managing them, relieving a lot of the stress on Paul, who now doesn't feel a need to step up as much, thus becoming less bossy. He is a great negotiator, helping them solve their issues with each other. He convinces John he can have a solo career AND remain in the Beatles. He convinces Paul that Cold Turkey should be a Beatles' single, because he sees how much John needs that to keep a sense of buy-in with the Beatles.

Thus the Beatles remain together into the 70s while also exploring simultaneous solo careers.

Although the Beatles would not record new material together in 1970 in the studio, they did perform together in their first live concert that was televised to audiences in theaters across the world in January of that year.

The recording of this along with material from the Get Back sessions were the only two releases of the Beatles in 1970, leaving the actual members free to work on solo material or performances.​

1970 Television Live Concert ~ part 3

The Saville Theatre had long been associated with the Beatles. Brian Epstein had leased it in 1965 and it continued to show plays but also rock and roll shows. The Beatles themselves had filmed their Hello Goodbye promotional film there in November 1967.

It came up for sale in 1969 and Lord Beecher leaped on the chance to buy it for Apple. This was all part of his plan to turn the corporation into a profitable enterprise. He installed cinema equipment so the grand theater could not only continue to do rock shows and plays, but also show films.

It was the Saville in January 1970 that the Beatles performed their live concert that was televised to theaters across the world.

Lennon's performance with the Plastic Ono Band in September had invigorated his desire to perform live. Harrison's work with Bonnie and Delaney had done the same for him. McCartney had for a long time wanted to do live shows, thus the Get Back plans that ended up on the roof, and had recently been surfacing in his ideas of the Beatles just showing up somewhere to do a show. Lennon thought it was daft and Beecher convinced McCartney it was not a good idea.

Two issues convinced him. First was that it would create resentment among those who didn't hear about it. Second as it happened word would get out and crowds would swarm the venue and cause problems.

Lennon was just wary of a live concert of the Beatles, as was Harrison. Starr was open as long as the others were convinced.

Beecher convinced them that the issues they had were totally controllable in a theater owned by Apple. They wouldn't have the hardship of touring; they'd go home afterwards. They'd control the audience, limiting it to mature people they trusted. With new technology and side men they'd be able to reproduce any sound they wanted.

The resentment issue that McCartney's idea might cause, as well as people swarming the performance, wouldn't happen precisely because people would be able to attend the performance in theaters across the world for live television broadcasts.

The final selling point was that the Beatles with this concert of previous material would also create an LP to be released in 1970, freeing them of the need to do new studio work, giving them space to do solo work.

1970 Television Live Concert ~ part 4

On Saturday, January 17th, 1970, 9:30 PM Greenwich time, the Beatles played their live concert at the Saville Theatre to a select audience. Meanwhile in theaters across the world, fans watched the live broadcast.

In Europe it was 10:30 PM, not too late for a show. In New York it was 4:30 PM in the afternoon, a good time for a late matinee. It was 1:30 PM in Los Angeles, time for an early matinee.

Only in the Far East was it a difficult time to go to the theater, yet still there were crowds in Tokyo on Sunday morning at 6:30 AM to see the live show. The same was true in Melbourne and Sidney at 7:30 AM. It wasn't as difficult to get to the show in New Zealand for the 9:30 AM show, but it did meant a lot of fans chose the Beatles over God and church.

In Bellingham, Washington, USA, one Asharella, then 15 years old and a Freshman in High School, sat in the Mount Baker Theater, a grand old theater dating back to vaudeville days, at the 1:30 matinee with a group of friends. Each one had paid $25 to get in, a lot of money then. But they all considered it well worth it.

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We'd gotten there early, hours early, to stand in line to get in. We'd bought our tickets long before that. We sat in the center section of the main floor in row F, the sixth row from the front. I was in seat 20, almost in the center.

The excitement in the place was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Everyone was talking. There wasn't an empty seat in the place. Then the lights went down and the place was as quiet as a hospital zone. The big curtains pulled back and the screen lit up.

It was a projection, but it looked real to us. What we saw were more curtains, more brown than the ones at the Mount Baker Theater. Then the music started.

We hadn't thought we'd scream. But we did as the opening strains of the Beatles playing live filled the auditorium, even if they were playing live half a world a way. We couldn't help it. I screamed.

The curtains pulled back and there they were, the Beatles on stage! With a little imagination we could believe they were right there with us. John Lennon had short hair and a trim beard. He was wearing a floral shirt with a jeans jacket over it. Paul McCartney looked like he hadn't shaved for three days and was in a black suit and tee shirt. George Harrison had the longest hair and a big beard. He was in a blue work shirt and jeans. Ringo Starr was the modest of them all, wearing a tie with his very sharp brown suit. But on stage were others: Eric Clapton, Billy Preston and a small band of horn players.

The music we heard that fateful day was Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band and we screamed our heads off.

The Beatles had recruited others to join them. Besides the small horn section, Clapton and Preston, they also used Klaus Voorman to play bass when Paul played piano and Alan White to play drums when Ringo came out to sing lead vocals on his songs. We could see the others, but it was the Fab Four who were out front.

The Set List:

Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
With a Little Help From My Friends
Cold Turkey
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Back in the U.S.S.R.
The Ballad of John and Yoko
Oh Darling
Revolution
Get Back
Something
Yellow Submarine

Come Together
Helter Skelter
Across the Universe
Let It Be
Happiness is a Warm Gun
Here Comes the Sun
Yer Blues
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End
Hey Jude

On the LP recording, the first song on the second side was Come Together.

(attached is the cover of the LP, Saville Theatre, which was released on August 31, 1970)

 

[Asharella]

Before we get into the details of the POD and the timeline, here's the playlist of the songs at the Saville Theatre concert on Spotify: Saville Theatre Set List

 

[Asharella]

Etta looked at Sam's body and the bile rose up inside her. What was going on here? The police had said he'd attacked a woman with a broom handle and she'd shot him in the chest in self defence. They were accepting that.

Then how was it that he was beaten up so much? How was it that his head looked like it was about ready to fall off his body. She looked over at Sam's sister, Agnes. "Something doesn't fit."

"You telling me. Sam wouldn't have done what they say, even if he was drunk. He was a lover."

Etta looked at the others waiting to do the viewing. There was that Jersey 'tough' guy, Allen Klein, his pipe in his mouth unlit, his soft, fat baby face not seeming to fit onto his body, and that expression like he was about to cry. She'd interacted with him over the years and had never trusted him. He was slime, preying on others' talent. In her mind his 'toughness' was only a compensation for his real softness.

Somehow that creep had attached himself to Barbara, Sam's widow. The poor woman. First little sweet Vinnie, just a todler, drowns in their pool and then Sam dies with a scandal. Etta had no doubt that Sam might pick up a girl in a bar, men were that way. But she didn't believe the woman's story that he tried to rape her or the other woman who shot him that he attacked her half naked. But Barbara was too vulnerable. Etta had already heard rumors that Klein was buying her rights to all Sam's music. But she stood there leaning on him physically, the symbol of her leaning on him emotionally and financially.

"What are we going to do?" She said to Agnes.

"We ain't going to take this lying down. We'll prove something more was going on."

Etta just wanted to get out of there. Go sit down and listen to Ray sing. Then go home and shoot up and forget all this. But she'd been clean too long this time to run away. Instead of doing that, she'd keep busy on this, maybe talk to a private detective.

POD: so the POD is that Etta James is in a period of recovery from her Heroin addiction and does more than just supsect Klein, she pursues him.

 

[Seltaeb Eht]

Really interesting POD to get Klein out of the way. Definitely watching

 

[Asharella]

Sam's biggest hit

Etta's most famous hit

Ray singing the same song he sang at Sam's funeral​

 

[Asharella]

"I didn't order anything." Allen Klein insisted.

His lawyer sighed. "You implied. Right?"

"I may have said it would be nice if the man just died."

"To a known criminal already convicted once for murder."

Klein just shrugged.

"Look, Allen. You have a choice. You can plead innocent and you know that thug will take a plea, a deal, and testify against you. They'll find you guilty of murder and he'll get off with a few years. Or. You get ahead of it. You make the deal. You get the few years and he gets the book thrown at him."

"He did do it."

"But you paid the girls off."

"Only to protect myself."

"So admit to the D.A., you'll get an obstruction of justice charge and sent to a minimum security prison."

"Damn that Etta James, I wish she'd just up and die."

"Allen! You've got to stop saying things like that."

Klein just glared. His lawyer went on. "Look, you got to decide now. Carr's* already made a plea and turned him in. They'll be getting him later today. You've got to get ahead of this. I know you've known him for years and maybe you feel some loyalty to him, but..."

"Fuck him. He got me into this. I don't care what happens to him. I'll take the plea. I'll tell them everything I know. It wasn't my idea to kill Sam, I didn't know he'd go out and do it and then ask me to pay him."

The lawyer wasn't sure Klein was telling him the truth, but it was a reasonable story and he was sure the D.A. would take the deal. He closed up his briefcase and smiled at Klein. "You made the right choice."

He got up from the little table in the L.A. County jail's meeting room and knocked on the door. Soon a guard came and escorted him out. Another one took Klein back to his cell.

*Evelyn Carr, the motel manager who supposedly killed Sam Cooke in OTL and was found not guilty due to self defence. In TTL she admits she didn't kill him, but the thug, who we don't name, did and Klein paid her to lie about it. (We don't name the thug because if this is a true secret history of OTL, we don't know who he really was, so why name him even in a alternate history?)

 

[Asharella]

BUTTERFLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now you might think that our Beatles timeline wouldn't be changed by this POD until 1969 when Klein, by then free of jail but totally anathema to anyone in the music industry, doesn't become the Beatles' manager.

But there are butterflies before that. You see in OTL Klein contacts Brian Epstein in 1964 and tries to convince him to have the Beatles break off from EMI and go with RCA. Brian, of course, said no, he felt loyalty to EMI. But in TTL Brian never gets the call because Klein is washing dishes in the kitchen of a minimun security prison by then. No big changes from Brian not getting the call, but even a slight change leads to butterflies....

So our Beatles timeline starts in 1964, not 1969. I wonder how things change?

 

[Asharella]

(One little change leads to other little changes and eventually they add up...)

On one day in the spring of 1964, Brian Epstein got a little more paper work done than he would have if he'd had to take a call that he never took. A little more work gets done each day and it adds up. By September 30th this meant he had time to take a vacation between the 1964 US tour that had ended on the 20th and the Autumn UK tour that would begin October 8th.

So it was that he was enjoying himself at the premier of a "A Scent of Flowers" at the Duke of York's theatre in the West End of London.

That was the night that Brian fell in love. He'd had many boyfriends and he'd had a few crushes. But this was different. On stage was the man who became the love of Brian's life. This was the young actor's first performance in London after years of building his craft in university work and regional theatre. It didn't make him a star, but it did make him a credible actor in the London theatre. He became a star on stage five years later playing Shakespeare's Richard II and Marlowe's Edward II. But in 1964 his work made him a star in Brian's heart.

Ian McKellen in "A Scent of Flowers"
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Ian was dating another man named Brian, but it hadn't yet developed into the partnership it might have. That would never happen after he met the Beatles' manager back stage after the premier.

 

[Unknown]

Ian McKellen and Brian Epstein?!? Talk about a pairing...

BTW, Klein's just lucky he didn't say that statement about Etta James to a eavesdropping reporter; man, would there be a firestorm on that...