Prospects of a Lennon/McCartney Reunion.

Now, from everything I've read John Lennon was not the most fond of a full Beatles reunion during his life time. Even after he left his, "I hate my old band" phase, he argued that even if the music was good it was produced in a time and place that couldn't be replicated. He claimed that a true Beatles reunion was impossible, because they were no longer in their twenties, and had long since moved on in their respective lives. Also, his relationship with George Harrison was rather tense at the time of his death. However he didn't rule out working with other individual members of the group at any time in his solo career. Richard Starkey played drums on Plastic Ono Band, and Harrison played on How Do You Sleep? In one of his last interviews, Lennon claimed that other than Yoko Ono, McCartney was the only artist Lennon had chosen to work with for any real length of time. And recently uncovered interviews indicate that he wasn't as dismissive of McCartney as his interviews in 1970 would suggest. In one he goes so far to suggest that he and McCartney alone, "were the Beatles" Now of course public interviews do not paint the whole picture, and it's possible that George Harrison would have been willing to work with John and Paul again and Lennon wouldn't mind the resulting hype.

But these comments, for me at least raise an interesting question. What if John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote an album together some time after 1970, or more likely after 1980 when tension had died down. Is that at all possible? How would the album be received. Would it be viewed as a
satisfactory "Beatles reunion" or would fans and the press clamor for George Harrison's involvement? When might such an album have been produced? The most logical answer is sometime in the eighties, after Milk and Honey and possibly Lennon's musical (Which may have morphed into an album of some kind) had already been produced. If Lennon is working at his old pace, that means maybe around 1983? Thoughts?

Oh, there was an unofficial reunion in 1974. There's a bootleg of Lennon and McCartney singing "Stand by Me" together.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tVciyiTLAg
 

Sachyriel

Banned
If they released an album it would be the basis of many of todays rap samples, the music so popular and catchy you can't really resist using it as a background beat in some parts. Perhaps this helps in your idle wondering about the possibility, but perhaps not, all I know is...

boom shicka boom shika boom shika.... ECKER-ECKER-ECKER weeeeeeziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip!

[which is what I think a sample might be like?]
 
I could envision a project with Lennon/McCartney/Jeff Lynne/Starkey or another drummer. Perhaps Lennon/Mac would have a bunch of guest musicians play on the album as a sort of loose Travelling Wilburys kind of thing, but I've always thought that Lynne would be a good fit as a surrogate for George if he didn't want to play in the new project at that point. I've also thought for a long time about writing a TL where Lynne joins the stagnant Beatles, replacing George in 1975, but that's another discussion :p

No matter who plays with them, the album would be huge, as by the early 80s there was a lot of nostalgia and demand for classic rock artists getting back together as we see the first bit of reunion tours, Led Zeppelin playing together at Live Aid etc. Also the Beatles transcend age, gender, race as far as their appeal goes, so not only would their older fans buy the record, but their millions of new ones would as well. The only question remains is how would the band sound? Through the early 80s, Paul was working with Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and later on with Elvis Costello and he put out some very interesting things.

Interesting question, Glass Onion... makes me think.
 
Something I recall reading: "If the Beatles had been formed in the 80s, it would have been John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and a drum machine." So there's an obvious question: would the band be content to make music that sounds like their old releases, or would they embrace the 80's music technology? In particular, for an early 80's reunion (no assassination, of course), especially one with just Lennon and McCartney, might they release synthesizer-driven songs, similar to Wonderful Christmastime?
 
I think it's certainly possible,that the album would contain very 80's music, and that means synthesizers. Lennon always wanted to sound contemporary, and his insecurities may have led him to overproduce his music, though partially that was just a seventies thing. However I think that John and Paul would probably stick to traditional instrumentation to a degree. For example I think that Double Fantasy is a very eighties album, to the extent that I sort of prefer the new stripped version. My best guess is that album would sound something like a mix of John's work on Double Fantasy and Paul's Pipes of Peace.

The one issue that might arise is that Lennon and McCartney weren't signed to the same label at the time. So you might have record company nonsense holding back the album.
 
Great Idea!

I wonder if a good POD would be if Lennon and McCartney actually made it to 30 Rock and made that surprise appearance on SNL?

That might have been enough to make them consider working together in the studio. What do you think, Glass Onion?
 
Um, what about Wings? And Linda McCartney? It was the shock of Lennon's murder that caused Paul McCartney to put Wings on haitus. Does Linda join the "re-:rolleyes::rolleyes:union"?
 
I can't remember where I first read about this tale--possibly a Playboy interview--but here is one recap of a Lennon McCartney reunion that almost happened:
Over the years, many entertainment impresarios have offered millions of dollars to get the Beatles to reunite. None were successful, but it didn't stop them from trying.
On April 24, 1976, "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels made what would become a running gag on SNL with his offer of $3,000 to the Beatles to appear on the late-night comedy show. The camera then zoomed in for a close-up of a $3,000 check from NBC made payable to The Beatles. Having had no response from the Fab Four, a month later, on May 22, 1976, Michaels upped the ante to $3,200 - an extra $50 each, Michaels declared!
Paul McCartney has commented in interviews that he and John Lennon were watching the SNL broadcast from Lennon's apartment in the Dakota on the night when Michaels made his offer for the Beatles to reunite. McCartney reported that he and Lennon briefly toyed with the idea of going down to the NBC studios and taking Michaels up on the offer.
Here's a transcript of the offer on SNL
Lorne Michaels: Hi, I'm Lorne Michaels, the producer of "Saturday Night". Right now, we're being seen by approximately 22 million viewers, but please allow me, if I may, to address myself to just four very special people - John, Paul, George, and Ringo - the Beatles: Lately there have been a lot of rumors to the effect that the four of you might be getting back together. That would be great. In my book, the Beatles are the best thing that ever happened to music. It goes even deeper than that - you're not just a musical group, you're a part of us. We grew up with you.

It's for this reason that I am inviting you to come on our show. Now, we've heard and read a lot about personality and legal conflicts that might prevent you guys from reuniting. That's something which is none of my business. That's a personal problem. You guys will have to handle that. But it's also been said that no one has yet to come up with enough money to satisy you. Well, if it's money you want, there's no problem here.

The National Broadcasting Company has authorized me to offer you this check to be on our show.. [ holds up check ] ..a certified check for $3,000. Here it is right here. A check made out to you, the Beatles, for $3,000. All you have to do is sing three Beatles songs. "She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah." That's $1,000 right there. You know the words - it'll be easy.

Like I said, this is made out to the Beatles - you divide it up any way you want. If you want to give less to Ringo, that's up to you - I'd rather not get involved. I'm sincere about this. If this helps you to reach a decision to reunite, it's well worth the investment. You have agents - you know where I can be reached. Just think about it, okay? [ shows the check again ] Thank you.

 

Tovarich

Banned
by the early 80s there was a lot of nostalgia and demand for classic rock artists getting back together as we see the first bit of reunion tours, Led Zeppelin playing together at Live Aid etc.

Could it be that a Lennon/McCartney reunion goes almost unnoticed?

The Led Zep at LiveAid you mention was dire, yet a mere 5 years later I saw them perform as an unannounced surprise at Knebworth in 1990, and they were terrific http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czShamG0z40
Amazingly, hardly anyone who wasn't there seems to be aware of it!
At the same gig, McCartney played a great solo set: Could it be that in an ATL he played beside Lennon but nobody noticed?
 
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