Villa Blur

My other musical obsession. Yes, yes, I know. Me and millions of others. Not exactly original now, is it? Never trust anyone who doesn't like The Beatles though, right?

Anyway, exciting news. Let It Be is finally seeing the light of day on something other than dodgy bootleg editions since some time back in the '80s on crappy VHS in the US I believe. Overseen by Peter Jackson. Oh, how we fans owe this man a debt of gratitude after the Get Back bonanza. (And by the way, why can't we have the extended director's cut, Disney? )

Coming to the aforementioned Disney+ on 8th May. Rumour of Blu-Ray on the way too for those who would be interested.

https://www.thebeatles.com/let-it-be-last

It will feature footage not featured in the “Get Back” docuseries. It will be fascinating to have Let It Be and Get Back alongside each other to be able to compare.

Thankfully my recently cancelled subscription ('As I never watch anything on it.' Famous last words...) runs until later in the year. Phew.

New Lennon / McCartney release! Er, that's Sean and James...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68825172

Called Primrose Hill (immediately thought of For Tomorrow).

https://youtu.be/8ntPFNFbPb0

Pretty enough little song. Must be such a curse to be the son of a legend. Always compared, rarely favourably.

Busy week of news.

News hot on the heels of the Let It Be announcement is that Wings One Hand Clapping is getting released in June. Big news for something that never saw the light of day for 50 years. Various bits and pieces have got out over the years on bootlegs and / or official McCartney Archive releases but never the whole thing until now.

https://qthemusic.com/p/paul-mccartney- ... g-release/

I didn't bother with the recent Band on the Run 'Underdubbed' release, felt a bit unnecessary and something I can easily live without, already owning several copies but this feels more exciting.

There's a 2 x LP + 7" single deluxe and a 2 x CD version. These include the unreleased track "Blackpool," the Beatles' iconic "Blackbird," Wings B-side "Country Dreamer," and cover versions of Eddie Cochran’s "Twenty Flight Rock" (the first song McCartney played to John Lennon when they met in 1957). Running order as follows:

One Hand Clapping 2LP + 7"

*previously released 2010 Band on the Run Archive Collection DVD

**previously released as bonus audio on Archive Collection releases

Disc 1

SIDE ONE

One Hand Clapping* 02:15

Jet* 03:59

Soily* 03:55

C Moon/Little Woman Love* 03:19

Maybe I’m Amazed* 04:52

My Love* 04:15

SIDE TWO

Bluebird* 03:27

Let’s Love* 01:09

All of You* 02:04

I’ll Give You a Ring* 02:03

Band on the Run* 05:20

Live and Let Die* 03:26

Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five* 05:50

Baby Face* 01:56

Disc 2

SIDE ONE

Let Me Roll It** 04:28

Blue Moon of Kentucky 03:05

Power Cut 01:33

Love My Baby 01:13

Let It Be 01:02

The Long and Winding Road/Lady Madonna 02:10

SIDE TWO

Junior’s Farm 04:17

Sally G 03:28

Tomorrow 02:12

Go Now 03:35

Wild Life 04:30

Hi, Hi, Hi 03:57

Disc 3 (7")

SIDE ONE

Blackpool 01:43

Blackbird 02:27

Country Dreamer** 02:17

SIDE TWO

Twenty Flight Rock 02:08

Peggy Sue 01:24

I’m Gonna Love You Too 01:10

In George news, Dhani Harrison mentioned in a recent podcast that remixes have been done for the Concert for Bangladesh and Living in the Material World. No word whatsoever on when these might be released but clearly planned for some point. I'm guessing later this year for at least one of them. No idea on extras or just straight releases.

And the final quarter of the year could well see the next Super Deluxe Box Set – most likely Rubber Soul but they could throw us a curveball.

New footage recently sold at auction of The Beatles on Ready, Steady, Go 1963.

Been licensed to Getty Images it seems. Incredible how these films keep turning up after all these years.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nJNn2vE-fPk

https://www.thebeatles.com/

Let It Be official trailer

I remember downloading it off of Limewire ages ago. But I can't remember much of the film now, so it'll be nice to be able to watch it again.

Limewire… that takes me back!

I haven’t watched it in years either. Had a bootleg copy. Should be a fun watch to see it through the lens of the Get Back film and how it now stacks up. I’m sure Peter Jackson has cleaned it up a good deal too.

Sitting down to make a start on Let It Be on Disney+ tonight. Going to pace myself though – feeling tired so I might watch most tomorrow.

Interestingly, they have a short five minute or so chat with Peter Jackson and Michael Lindsey-Hogg at the start by way of an introduction to the main film. What got me was that all these years later, ML-H was still banging on about his amphitheatre with 2,000 Arabs! As if that was EVER a good idea, and yet he is still taken with it. 'I was SO close...' he says. Actually Michael, I don't think you were. Even with all the passing of time, still can't see it. It would have been, and remains, a terrible idea for The Beatles. Clearly seduced by the grand sweep, ML-H can't see how unsuited the idea is to everything about the band. Can you imagine them there, singing, I don't know – Penny Lane. It's a vision for the likes of Pink Floyd, for grandiose statements. Something about Michael Lindsey-Hogg, I want to feel sorry for him in a way for being the butt of the joke in Get Back but he sort of deserves it.

Never ever been into them, as all I knew was they did Penny Lane and Yellow Submarine, which were just silly to me. I can say I enjoy My Guitar... and Helter Skelter. I reckon they are far better than I realise but I don't have the inclination to bother listening to their back catalogue

No point me evangelising freestyle45, but if you’ve never given it a go, try side two of Abbey Road. All of it, but specifically ‘the long one’, the medley after Because, but all that side is gorgeous. Production / tracks on Abbey Road probably most likely to appeal based on the tracks you picked out as liking.