Illinois Entertainer November 2019 | Page 48

The Beatles continued from page 20 Comes the Sun” reveals that he thought of the song’s descending bridge as “son of ‘Badge’,” the song he co-wrote with Eric Clapton for Cream’s Goodbye album. Notes accompanying the demo for non-album single “The Ballad of John and Yoko” reveal that Lennon was well aware his autobiographical song would spark con- troversy, both due to Spain’s dispute with England over Gibraltar and due to recep- tion of the song’s hook by Christian con- servatives. “I’m a big Christ fan,” Lennon nonetheless insists when discussing the song. “The song is a prayer.” Given that the Beatles were approach- ing their end, it’s not shocking that Abbey Road isn’t always cohesive or representa- tive of the Beatles’ peak potential. Lennon may have put a bit more heart into contem- porary solo fare like the bracing “Cold Turkey” than he did with his miry “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” McCartney’s subversive “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” has its fans, but arguably doesn’t quite measure up to Sgt. Pepper’s “Fixing a Hole” of the White Album’s “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.” Starr’s “Octopus’s Garden” is frivolous but fun, imagining what Captain Fred might have seen on the ocean floor while cruising in his Yellow Submarine. The strength of the band’s raw ideas, however, is 48 illinoisentertainer.com november 2019 fully evident on the album’s second side. McCartney’s demo for debut Badfinger hit “Come and Get It” was recorded dur- ing the rush of a spare hour, but Macca got it just right. “Please don’t change this,” he said to the Badfinger players when pro- ducing the session soon afterward. “I can guarantee it’s a hit.” A different take of Harrison’s “Old Brown Shoe” from the version that landed on The Blue Album is ramshackle fun. Probably the best feature of the session discs is being a fly on the wall and catching the happenings behind the scenes. Following a truncated take of “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” at Trident Studio, George Martin asks the band to turn it down because a studio neighbor is complaining about the racket. “We’ll try it once more very loud,” answers Lennon. “If we don’t get it, we’ll try it quiet.” Then he adds, to the band, “Last chance to be loud!” Billy Preston makes the most of the opportunity, playing thrilling, rafter-split- ting gospel organ as the Beatles go down swinging. Rating: 9 out of 10