The Beatles Get Back - A Fly On the Wall With The Fab Four
Music Review | December, 2022Regarded by many as being the most influential band in music history, Get Back, is a fly on the wall look at the inner workings behind The Beatles.
Originally released in the 1970, Get Back has left many fans and music lovers scratching their heads regarding what happened during these historic recording sessions and the lead up to The Beatles breakup.
Get Back, by Peter Jackson, puts all those questions to bed through this fascinating documentary.
A great watch for Beatles fans and music lovers who might want to see how classics such as "Let It Be" "Get Back" and "Dont Let Me Down" where conceived and recorded.
Background
Having reached the peak of their success, Get Back, was originally thought up as being a "rockumentary" capturing the Beatles in the studio.
The plan was that The Beatles would write and record new material while being recorded for film. The climax of the documentary would be a live concert performance, the first live performance since August 29, 1966 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
With the pressure of having to write and perform new songs the increasing pressure on each Beatle grew and could be seen clearly on screen.
Get Back First Release (1970)
The original release was back in 1970 with a running time of 80 minutes. The movie followed the same pattern as the recording session, scattered and poorly put together.
The movie featured clips of The Beatles in the studio with the highlight of the 80 minutes being an argument between Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Yoko Ono appearance would also add fire to the myth of her being the reason for the break up of the most famous band in history.
The original movie release is regarded as capturing The Beatles break up.
Get Back New Release
Fast forward a few decades and Peter Jacksons Get Back would cast a new light on the fab four. From an original running time of 80 minutes, Jacksons Beatles epic runs for a full 468 minutes, brought together in 3 separate episodes.
Disney Official Clip (Youtube)Get Back Concept
The final cut covers 21 days in the studio with the Beatles as they rehearse for a forthcoming album, concert and film project, and climaxes with the full 42-minute rooftop concert.
Get Back Music
The Beatles run through and work on a number of songs which will appear on the Let It Be album such as Let it Be and The Long And Winding Road.
However what stands out during these sessions is how prolific Lennon, McCartney and Harrison are at this period.
In addition to writing and recording the tracks that would eventually make up Let It Be, each Beatle also brought forward songs that would eventually appear on Abbey Road and solo projects.
George Harrison runs through future solo material such as the classic All Things Must Pass. During the sessions he also brings forward a new song he has been struggling to find lyrics for. That song would end up on Abbey Road and become the classic Something.
Lennon also brings future classics to the sessions. The acoustic driven Road To Marrakesh would be rewritten, featuring a piano, becoming Jealous Guy.
McCartney runs through a number of ideas on piano throughout the movie that would eventually end up being recorded for Abbey Road such as Maxwell Silver Hammer and Golden Slumbers. An early version of McCartneys solo, Another Day, also begins to take shape.
Paul McCartney Writes Get Back
Though most of the songs are brought to the studio, half written, a highlight of the Get Back sessions captures McCartney in the process of songwriting.
Bored and trying to bring life to the session McCartney begins picking out notes on his bass. As the chords form he begins trying out melodies to sing over his Hofner bass. Eventually the song begins to take shape and although lacking lyrics, McCartney writes the classic Get Back. All caught on camera.
Get Back, Is It Worth The Watch?
A documentary showing The Beatles recording process is always going to be interesting for all music fans. Though Get Back is more than a recording session.
Get Back captures the Beatles as never seen before. Raw and bare for all to see the documentary captures the highs and lows of being part of the 4 headed monster.
Get Back features material that will form their last two albums, while capturing the long and winding road to their break up. Although its their swansong, Get Back shows The Beatles, writing and recording, while having fun at the same time.
To top it all off, their is also the most iconic concert performance of all time. The famous roof top gig.
Check out the price of The Beatles - Get Back on amazon.
Disney Official Clip (Youtube)
