…On April 30, 1976, Apple Records’ distribution contract with EMI was to expire. Neil Aspinall, the current manager of Apple Records at the time, had a plan in store already to let it expire. But, following the Beatles’ performance on Saturday Night Live, he chose against it, and renewed it for another 5 years. The band hadn’t officially released their comeback album yet, but Neil would later say that “[He] could just feel it…he could feel that there was something special there.” And there was.
- From the
Starting Over 25th Anniversary CD booklet, 1992.
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October 1, 1977
The album releases on the newly revived Apple Records. The album cover is a picture taken during the production of the album, with the fab four in the studio rehearsing.
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Song List:
- (Just Like) Starting Over (Lennon)
- I’ve Had Enough (McCartney)
- Flight (Starr)
- Safe and Sound (McCartney, Lennon)
- Watching the Wheels (Lennon, McCartney)
- Not Guilty (Harrison)
- Beautiful Boy (Lennon, McCartney)
- Free as a Bird (Lennon, McCartney)
- With a Little Luck (McCartney)
- Blow Away (Harrison)
- Here Comes the Moon (Harrison)
- Faster (Harrison)
- Heart on My Sleeve (Starr)
- I’m Carrying (McCartney, Lennon)
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The Beatles’ announcement of their breakup in April 1970 was a shock to fans and critics alike. After just seven short years of recording music, the band was done.
And nearly 6 years later, the reuniting of John Lennon and Paul McCartney on Saturday Night Live was nearly just as much of a shock to both fans and critics alike. A year after that, the Beatles officially announced their thirteenth album, Starting Over.
With the new record, there is a definite change in sound. One similar to Abbey Road and Let it Be, but with more modern production and songwriting styles.
And yet, the album still feels like the classic Beatles we know and love. Tracks like “I’ve Had Enough” and “Safe and Sound” feel like simple Beatles tracks at their best. “Starting Over”, the big single from the album, is an amazing song from start to finish. “Blow Away” and “Not Guilty” prove George is just as good of a songwriter as John and Paul. Ringo gets in on the action, too, with “Flight” and “Heart on my Sleeve” being two of his best contributions to Beatles records yet.
-Excerpt from John Swenson’s review for
Rolling Stone, October 20, 1977
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The Beatles don’t improve on their sound in any major way, but that doesn’t detract from a great release. The songs are improvements from the band’s recent solo material, and none of them feel like solo projects forced onto a group album. The Beatles are back, and I welcome them with open arms.
A
- Robert Christgau’s review for
The Village Voice
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Three singles were released from the album:
(Just Like) Starting Over/Free as a Bird (Released October 1, 1977)
Blow Away/Flight (Released Novmber 11, 1977)
With a Little Luck/I’ve Had Enough (Released January 20, 1978)
Their chart peaks:
(Just Like) Starting Over (Peaked at #1 in US for 6 weeks, #1 in UK for 7)
Free as a Bird (Peaked at #2 in US, #2 in UK)
Blow Away (Peaked at #1 in US for 4 weeks, #1 in UK for 6)
Flight (Peaked at #4 in US, #2 in UK)
With a Little Luck (Peaked at #1 in US for 2 weeks, #1 in UK for 6)
I’ve Had Enough (Peaked at #3 in US, #2 in UK)
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Billboard #1 Hits of 1977 (Second Half):
July 2: "Gonna Fly Now (Theme From Rocky)" by Bill Conti
July 9: "Undercover Angel" by Alan O’Day
July 16: "Da Doo Ron Ron" by Shaun Cassidy
July 23: "Looks Like We Made It" by Barry Manilow
July 30: "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" by Andy Gibb
August 6: "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" by Andy Gibb
August 13: "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" by Andy Gibb
August 20: “Best of My Love” by The Emotions
August 27: “Best of My Love” by The Emotions
September 3: “Best of My Love” by The Emotions
September 10: “Best of My Love” by The Emotions
September 17: "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" by Andy Gibb
September 24: “Best of My Love” by The Emotions
October 1: "Star Wars Theme/Catina Band” by Meco
October 8: "(Just Like Starting Over)” by The Beatles
October 15: "(Just Like Starting Over)” by The Beatles
October 22: "(Just Like Starting Over)” by The Beatles
October 29: "(Just Like Starting Over)” by The Beatles
November 5: "(Just Like Starting Over)” by The Beatles
November 12: "(Just Like Starting Over)” by The Beatles
November 19: "Blow Away” - The Beatles
November 26: "Blow Away” - The Beatles
December 3: "Blow Away” - The Beatles
December 10: "Blow Away” - The Beatles
December 17: "You Light up My Life” - Debby Boone
December 24: “How Deep is Your Love” - Bee Gees
December 31: “How Deep is Your Love” - Bee Gees
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“Starting Over was absolutely massive. 3 Million copies, sold in the first week. The reason it didn’t sell more was because the stores couldn’t keep up with the demand. 32 Million copies have been sold since it came out. We were considering holding back Street Survivors until November just so Beatle fever could die down a little bit. We released it that October anyway, and it still did well. But I remember, everybody was trying to capitalize on it, the Beatles were popping up everywhere.”
- Ronnie Van Zandt being interviewed for the 2005 TV movie The Beatles: After the Breakup.
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Following the massive success of the album, Beatlemania seemed to emerge again, as Beatles-inspired media of all types sprung up.
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Voiceover: You know the Beatles, but do you know the Beagles? America’s favorite dog rock band is right here at a Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater location near you! These animatronic pups can play 16 classic Beatles hits, right here for you! So come on down to Pizza Time Theater for games, grub, and all-around fun!
- From a 1979 Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater commercial, exact date unknown
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On March 22, 1978,
All You Need is Cash, a TV movie parodying the story of the Beatles using the fictional band The Rutles, was the most watched show in its timeslot. It was reaired the following April. Thanks to the success of the original 1978 film, in June of 1979,
Trying Again, the direct sequel to the original film, was released. It chronicled the Rutles’ careers after their breakup, and their reuniting in 1976 following Ron Nasty and Dirk McQuickly playing together in a New York bar after a drunkard offers them $5 and a pretzel dog to do so. Like the previous movie, it came with a soundtrack album released later that year. The soundtrack record, also known as
Trying Again, parodies solo Beatles tracks released after the band’s breakup, as well as tracks off of the recently released
Starting Over.
Trying Again Soundtrack (Songs being parodied in parenthesis):
- I Wonder (Imagine) [No relation to the Kanye West song of the same name]
- Look Up (Isn’t it a Pity, What is Life)
- Queen Elizabeth (Band on the Run, Uncle Albert, Admiral Halsey)
- I Was the Best Rutle (I’m the Greatest, Back off Boogaloo, the No No Song)
- I’m in Love (Silly Love Songs, Maybe I’m Amazed)
- Lucked Out (Instant Karma, Working Class Hero)
- My Sweet Rut (My Sweet Lord)
- C’mon! (Jet, Live and Let Die)
- Just Don’t Call it Wings (Flight, Heart on my Sleeve)
- You’re Pissing Me Off (I’ve Had Enough, Watching the Wheels)
- Rain Clouds (Faster, Blow Away)
- Try Again (Or Just Give Up) (Starting Over)
The band were reportedly big fans of both Rutles films.