The Beatles That Never Were: Part 1

I have often wondered what would've happened had the Beatles not broken up in 1970. Sifting through my records, CDs and MP3s of solo Beatles albums, I thought it might be fun to create imaginary Beatles albums using the best and most "beatlesque" tracks from each members' early solo output. This has been done before and will be done again to varying results, but I thought it would be fun to post the tracklists and imaginary history behind these albums. For this first post, I will focus on the year 1970.

In doing this project, I set a few rules for myself:

1) Imaginary album lengths must be consistent with the era--usually LPs didn't exceed 50 minutes, so I have tried to keep the albums under 47 minutes (approximate length of Abbey Road)

2 I've tried to keep a roughly equal number of Paul and John songs, as was usually standard with Beatles albums. George songs are alotted less space, and Ringo might be lucky to have one song per album.

3. I have imagined the albums as two LP sides. This made it a bit more challenging to come up with good tracklists/running orders, but also more fun.

Suppose that, after the release of the less-than-stellar Let It Be, the Beatles decide to put aside their differences and focus on the music. What results is the album We All Shine On, and here is the tracklist:

Side A

Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)
Every Night
If Not For You
Remember
Teddy Boy
Working Class Hero
Hot as Sun/Glasses (instrumental)

Side B

Oo You
Well Well Well
Junk
Isolation
Beware Of Darkness
Maybe I'm Amazed

In this alternate timeline, this is the first true Beatles record released in the 1970s (Let It Be having been mostly recorded before Abbey Road). The album receives generally positive reviews, with many critics hailing it as a shorter cousin of the White Album due to the diverse range of songs and the personal and introspective nature of much of the lyrical content.

Sources:

1 - any Lennon compliation
2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 13 - McCartney (1970)
4, 6, 9, 11 - Plastic Ono Band (1970)
3, 12 - All Things Must Pass (1970)

The Primitives - The Ostrich / Sneaky Pete [7" Single]

The Primitives - The Ostrich / Sneaky Pete (7" vinyl single)

Genre - Rock and Roll, Experimental, Parody

Released - 1964

Length - 4:44

Publisher - Pickwick City Records

Tracklist

Side A: The Ostrich

Side B: Sneaky Pete

Before Lou Reed formed the legendary Velvet Underground, he worked as a staff songwriter for Pickwick City Records. This was essentially a hit factory, one of many in the early 60's. They were quite common and many famous songwriters started out at these businesses writing hits (and misses) for other singers. If anyone remember the film Grace Of My Heart, they'll know what I'm talking about. Not the best film, but it is loosely based on Carole King's early songwriting career at a songwriting firm. It was at Pickwick that Reed honed his songwriting skills and gained experience in the recording studio. Many Velvets songs were written by Reed at this time, and while songs about Heroin and NYC street life were probably not Pickwick executives' idea of marketable hits, they took notice of another song he wrote, a catchy dance number called "The Ostrich".

At first glance, it sounds like a typical flavor of the week dance tune from 1964, but the song is actually kind of subversive and revolutionary. The lyrics parody other dance tunes of the era (at one point Reed sings, "put your head on the floor and have somebody step on it"). Really worth noting is the guitar. Reed tuned every string to the note D for a droning effect (this technique would resurface on The Velvet Underground & Nico, credited as "ostrich guitar" in that album's liner notes). This impressed one of the studio musicians playing on the record, John Cale. Cale was also experimenting with drone as a member of LaMonte Young's avant garde group The Dream Syndicate (not to be confused with the 80's band). The single quickly faded into obscurity but it is notable as the first recording featuring Cale and Reed performing together, and was therefore the seed of a collaborative partnership that would produce some of the most revolutionary and original music of the late 60's.

8 out of 10

To the best my knowledge, "The Ostrich" and it's b-side "Sneaky Pete" have never been re-released, so I'm sharing it here. It's only 128 kbps mp3, so sorry about the low quality.

get it