Did Yoko or Paul break up the Beatles

[FredSnerd]

The question says it all really. I reckon it was Paul (and no one can make me say Sir Paul)

[jjjnettie]

Her very presence during practice and recording sessions created a LOT of tension with the other band members. John wouldn't do a thing without consulting her, and her influence on his music was deplorable.
They were obviously very much in love, no denying that, and he wrote some beautiful music because of that.
But if John had stuck to business and kept her out of the studio, maybe we'd have more Beatles music to enjoy.

[renormalised]

I'll bet the other guys called her Yoko "Oh,no!!". Like Jeanette said, she was a royal pain in the butt...still is if you ask me.

[FredSnerd]

Yeah but dont you get the sense that Linda fired Paul up a bit. Both Yoko and Linda wanted to have more involvement (and even sing) with the band. Jeanette, you just like Linda more cause she was a photographer.

[jjjnettie]

That voice.:scared: Makes me shudder.
Double Fantasy would have been his best album IMO if it wasn't for her tracks.

[jjjnettie]

Linda's voice wasn't that much chop either. If she's The Cook of the House, maybe she should have stayed in the kitchen.:lol:
I know that Ringo can't hold a tune either, but his voice suited the songs he contributed. Can you imagine Yellow Submarine or Octopus's Garden sung by anyone else but him? Ringo's great isn't he.:thumbsup:

[FredSnerd]

Yeah I liked Ringo too but I reckon many of their songs were improved by others. Little help from my friends (joe cocker) and I really liked the version of Eleanor Rigby that the Zoot did. I'm sure there are others too I just cant remember them off hand.

[jjjnettie]

Heyyy, I had that single by Zoot. Cockers version of "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" is pretty cool too. He does great covers that guy.

[Wavytone]

Both Yoko and Linda were "dangerously intrusive" - determined to interfere one way or another.

However I also think the foursome had reached the limits of its musical creativity well before - IMHO their high point was the Sgt Peppers and Abbey Rd LP's, after which they sound tired, irrelevant, childish, and in some tracks plain awful to listen to.

[jjjnettie]

The Beatles didn't stick to just one style though. That was why they lasted so long. From Helter Skelter to Norwegian Wood to Yellow Submarine.
And don't ever forget how important George Martin was to them too. An invaluable influence to their music.

[FredSnerd]

Yeah i think that was the secret of their success. How does the industry put it "They were able to reinvent themselves" And they did it a few times. And yes, Absolutely about George Martin. It takes alot of the right people being at the right place at the right time to make a phenomonon like the beatles happen. And the thing is they changed the world so dramatically. I wonder if anyone else in the 21st century changed the world as much

[dpastern]

The yoko factor...

of course she did, she had him you know what whipped. Poor guy.

Dave

[jjjnettie]

He didn't seem to mind too much David.
Love is blind.

[FredSnerd]

My daughters reckon it was Yoko. It really winds them up when I say I reckon it was Linda (They loved Linda). And what about that **** digger he ended up hitching up with not long after. They were still sending out "Thanks for your well wishes" cards when that happened. I dont even wanna talk about it.

[jjjnettie]

Classic rebound. Lucky he's loaded so he could pay her off and send her on her way.

[matt]

If Yoko wasn't the reason, she certainly played a significant role in their breakup.

I've always believed they were heading that way anyway. Yoko simply expedited the process.

But let's be fair. The Beatles, especially John and Paul, were very strong-willed individuals; very savvy and very much their own men.

I don't think anyone could genuinely make either one of them do something they passionately didn't feel like doing.

So, for me, she just pushed John a little quicker down a path he was already heading.

[dpastern]

Exactly. To quote Willow from BTVS - "love makes you do the whacky".

Dave

[Octane]

Led Zeppelin.

[astroron]

No one seems to be taking Allen Klien into the equasion:rolleyes:

[astroron]

Led Zeppelin are not in the same league when it comes to world effect.

[goober]

Listen to Yoko's vocals on The Ballad of John and Yoko. There's your answer ;)

[AstralTraveller]

I think the pressure of fame played a real role as well. Also, after 12+ years together (generally very close together) they were growing up to be differnt people. I used to have a book (loaned out but not returned) by the bloke who was the assistant to the Beatles' Press Secretary. I remember at one point the situation regarding interviews was:

'Paul is touring the Scottish highlands with Linda and can't be contacted. Ringo is in Greece filming with Peter Sellers and can't be contacted. George doesn't want to talk to anyone ever again. John will talk with anyone anytime so long as it is about world peace.'

Perhaps it's a pity they weren't able to do what other bands have done; go their own ways for a while, go into semi-retirement, and then get back together when it suited them. It worked to an extent for the likes of The Who and The Stones. Then again perhaps we are better with the untarnished memories.

BTW Cocker's version 'A Little Help...' is totally awful. Believe me, I would stand up and walk out on him if I was ever unfortunate enough to get within earshot of that goose. Hmmpf!!!

[FredSnerd]

Wow, thats interesting. People I talk to always say they prefer the Cocker version (this is a first for me)

[matt]

Not I:whistle:

[FredSnerd]

I remember in the late 80s of so listenting to a radio interview with a young music idol of the day (cant remember who) said something like "John Lennon? Was he like Julian Lennons Dad.

My brother in law told me that he once had a friend from NSW, somewhere, who said that it wasnt until his early 30s that he discovered that the beatles were not Australian.

[FredSnerd]

This is a second for me

[jjjnettie]

The Floyd.
Elvis
The Rolling Stones
;)

[erick]

I still have it - played it some weeks ago!

And yes, I have Bathroom Window on my 12" wax of "Cocker Happy"! :D

[erick]

OMG! Two pages on the Beatles and only one brief mention of George!

Listen to tracks 11 and 12 on the reissued "All Things Must Pass" - his demos of "Beware of Darkness" and "Let it Down" (Amazon). Listen to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on "Love" here:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ob0PKDumjY

[FredSnerd]

I think these were great musicians and all but my feeling is that they didnt really change us in the way the beatles did. I think a new open minded way of thinking came with the beatles. Discovering yourself and being an individual was suddenly OK (remember the anxt we had to put up with about long hair - it seems silly now but people hated the nonconformity of wearing your hair longer then the standard length); Looking for alternatives in religion and politics and to war, was suddenly OK to do. I think the beatles culture kicked this off even if they did not personally intend it (which i dont think they did).

[jjjnettie]

re. George
We wouldn't have any of the Monty Python movies if it wasn't for "Bernie".
Sad the way he died.

[FredSnerd]

It broke my heart when George died and how he died, with lots of vultures circling.

[jjjnettie]

The book "Stranger in a Strange Land" played a pivotal part in defining the '60's. Heinlein created "free love", he made you question religion and politics.
There's no doubt in my mind that the Beatles, Donavan, Rolling Stones etc etc
were highly influenced by him.

[erick]

Grateful the Beatles broke up - allowed George to do his own thing.

ps. I have "Band on the Run" and "Imagine" as well :)

[FredSnerd]

So what happened. Now we just went back to doing what were told again

[AstralTraveller]

If you want to think about who changed music I'd mention the inventer of the microphone, amplifier and electric guitar (RIP Les Paul). Even before R&R, how could you have had a 'crooner' singing in front of a big band without amplification? Jazz also played a huge part in modern music, but if I start on that I'll be here all day.