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John Lennon at 80: Paul McCartney talks about bandmate during SiriusXM event

Jimmie Tramel
Oct 8, 2020

 

John Lennon (center) holds his forehead as 5-year-old Debbie Fyall of London, England, sits on his shoulders at New York’s Central Park in 1964. The other two members of the Beatles in the photograph are Paul McCartney (left) and Ringo Starr. Lennon, who died in 1980, would have celebrated an 80th birthday in 2020
AP file

 

The Beatles Channel on SiriusXM satellite radio is commemorating what would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday on Friday, Oct. 9, with exclusive programming featuring special guests Paul McCartney, Alec Baldwin, Sean Ono Lennon and others.

Weekend-long programming will feature McCartney reflecting on Lennon in a conversation with Alec Baldwin. The special will air at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday on SiriusXM channel 18 and on the SiriusXM app. The special will also air multiple times on The Beatles Channel throughout the weekend and will be available on demand via the SiriusXM app after its debut.

 

Among excerpts from the McCartney-Baldwin chat:

“The three others of us in the group were massive fans of John because he was that kind of guy. He was, I mean, we always used to get asked, ‘Who’s the leader of the group?’ and I’d go, ‘Me,’ and John would go, ‘No, me.’

“I have to admit ... that it was sort of John, just his personality was a leader’s personality. Luckily, it didn’t matter. We were — we all had an equal vote and so it always worked out without worrying about that.”

“It’s lovely to think he would have been 80. And, you know, ... it’s nice to imagine him at 80. I think he would be very literate. I think he would be writing, uh, not necessarily just music because he was starting to get into (writing books).”

 

 

“When he met Yoko, she was so different. And the two of them were such a sort of tight little unit that they — she was showing him new things in life and a new kind of life. And John had always had strong women in his life.

“When Yoko came along, she was very influential, and he was very happy to be influenced. It caused a bit of problems with us till we sort of realized that he had every right to do what he was doing because he was in love. And you don’t just do what everyone expects if you’re in love. And he was really sort of mad, keen on her.”

 

Following is a schedule of specialty programming that will air during the weekend:

Sean Ono Lennon Guest DJ: Musician, songwriter, producer and the only child of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Sean Ono Lennon joins host David Fricke in a two-part series, sharing memories of his dad, along with his favorite John Lennon songs, both with and without The Beatles — part 1, noon Saturday; part 2, 11 p.m. Sunday.

The Ballad Of John And Yoko: 1969: Listen to John and Yoko talk about their lives and thoughts on many topics in their own words from 1969 — 10 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Sunday.

Eight Songs A Week, Times Two: Beatles fans are giving John Lennon a special birthday playlist composed of their 16 favorite songs with John on lead vocals — noon Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday, noon Sunday and 11 a.m. Monday.

Imagine Special: Bill Flanagan explores John Lennon’s “Imagine: The Ultimate Collection” in a two-part series. Hear the original masters, alternate versions and interviews with those who were part of the creation of the album — U.S. special, 5 p.m. Saturday; U.K. special, 2 p.m. Sunday.

Magical Lennon Maxi Concert: In honor of Lennon’s birthday, The Beatles Channel has imagined the greatest Lennon concert ever — 8 p.m. Saturday.

Fab Fourum: The Beatles Channel’s weekly live Fab Fourum talk show, hosted by Dennis Elsas and Bill Flanagan, will be dedicated to John on his birthday and feature special guests, as well as phone calls, plus the chance to win an Epiphone guitar and the new “John Lennon: Give Me Some Truth” deluxe edition box set — 6 a.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday.

Northern Songs: Beatles historian and author Bill Flanagan puts together a themed playlist of hits and rarities by the Fab Four for this weekly audio adventure. This week, it’s all about John Lennon’s songs with The Beatles — 11 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday.

Peter Asher: From Me To You: Asher, a musician, host and friend of The Beatles, explores the connection between John Lennon and legendary author Lewis Carroll, plus an “Imagine” set and more — 8 p.m. Thursday, 4 p.m. Saturday, 7 a.m. Sunday and noon Tuesday.

 Dark Horse Radio: In this weekly show dedicated to the music that George Harrison wrote, produced, sang and loved, musician and host Laura Cantrell will explore the relationship between George and John Lennon — 2 p.m. Thursday, 10 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 beatlesblogger.com

Two Lennon Books, and an Apple CD

by beatlesblogger
Posted on October 6, 2020

 

With COVID-19 restrictions now easing quite a bit in most parts of Australia (sadly still not for our friends in Melbourne, Victoria – we’re thinking of you guys!), some of the previously closed opportunity shops around Sydney are re-opening and getting back to normal.

One near us that’s been completely closed for at least six months has suddenly opened its doors once again, and so a forage there over the weekend turned up a couple of interesting items.

With what would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday looming large this coming Friday, it was a coincidence that all three of the finds where Lennon-related.

They are two books, We All Shine On – The Stories Behind Every John Lennon Song, 1970-1980 and John Lennon – In My Life.

We All Shine On – The Stories Behind Every John Lennon Song, 1970-1980 is by journalist and author Paul Du Noyer.

 

 

This is an original Australian edition paperback in a large format, dated 1997. It’s a book that’s been published and re-published numerous times over the years. According to Du Noyer’s website, the latest version is from 2020. The book is also available in German, Spanish, Italian and Czech language editions.

The title says it all: it is the track-by-track story of John Lennon’s last ten years, revealed through the music he made.

In fact we already had a revised and updated UK edition of this same title (in a small paperback format from 2010), but this earlier edition has a slightly different layout. Here are some images of what’s inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The second book is quite a fascinating account from former Lennon friend and personal assistant, Pete Shotton (as told to Nicholas Schaffner):

 

 

 

Pete Shotton’s friendship with John Lennon spanned more than thirty years, from the time they met as children in Liverpool to their last meeting in John’s Dakota apartment building in New York. They grew up together in the leafy Liverpool suburb of Woolton and Pete stayed close right through his friend’s rise to fame, wealth and stardom – not as a hanger-on, but as a trusted buddy or mate whom Lennon valued. He was someone who knew Lennon well and didn’t treat him like a star.

Nicholas Schaffner is an author and acknowledged Beatle expert – probably best known for his book The Beatles Forever. In this book Shotton and Schaffner reveal an insider’s view of many of the key public events in Beatle history, but also the private life of John Lennon throughout his career.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 As you can see, the text is accompanied by many photographs and documents to help tell the story. This book is well worth seeking out if you haven’t got it already. It was first published in 1983. Here’s the rear cover (and yes, it’s a reverse image of the front):

 

 

 Also in amongst the CD’s at the opportunity shop was this Apple recording. The photos are ‘as-found’ as they tell a bit of a story in themselves:

 

 

 

This is John Tavener’s The Whale. Tavener was a young classical composer signed to The Beatles’ Apple label in 1969. And it was John Lennon who was influential in making that happen. From the CD booklet:

“Although it was Ringo Starr who became Tavener’s main contact at Apple and who was responsible for getting The Whale onto disc, it was in fact Lennon – contrary to stories elsewhere – who took the first initiative and provided the composer with an introduction to the company. [They] first met in 1969, at a dinner party in London’s Hereford Square, and they marked the occasion by swapping tapes of their latest works. Lennon brought along his avant-garde experiments with Yoko Ono, whilst Tavener played extracts from his opera Notre Dame Des Fleurs, and the BBC recording of The Whale. On the strength of the opera, Lennon invited Tavener to join Apple, although it was The Whale which eventually sufaced on the label.”

The Whale is based on the the story of Jonah and the Whale, and has been described as both a ‘dramatic cantata’ and a ‘Biblical fantasy’. It is performed by the London Sinfonietta and the London Sinfonietta Chorus, conducted by David Atherton. It was recorded in 1970. This CD edition though came out as part of the Apple Records re-issue program in 1991/1992.

It’s interesting to note that the original purchaser of this disc (her name and address is on a sticker on the back) paid $46.99 Australian for it at the time! That’s US$33.74 by today’s exchange rate, or £26 UK pounds. That’s a lot of money – even today. It would have been a huge amount in 1992. The record store JB Hi Fi (it’s a big Australian music chain store) has put a “JB Hi Fi Special Import Sticker” on the spine of the jewel case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 www.express.co.uk

Paul McCartney on picture with John Lennon his late wife Linda took that gives him 'hope'

PAUL MCCARTNEY - The Beatles legend - has opened up about a picture his late wife Linda McCartney captured of himself and late bandmate John Lennon writing music together, which he says gives him "hope" to this day.

By Ellie Kirwi
PUBLISHED Sat, Oct 3, 2020

 Sir Paul McCartney, 78, who is best known for being one-fourth of the most influential band of all time, The Beatles, alongside John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, has opened up about how their break up was like a "divorce". However, the crooner has now said it wasn't all as "gloomy" as it may have appeared, after discovering a picture his late wife Linda McCartney took of himself and John, who died in 1980.

 

 Paul McCartney talks about picture with John Lennon that gives him 'hope' (Image: Getty)

It comes after Paul spoke to John Lennon's son, Sean Ono Lennon, in a new interview set to air tonight.

Sean brought up the "glimpses" of studio banter he has previously seen from the time The Beatles were breaking up.

He told Paul how from the footage he had seen, it looked as though they were enjoying themselves despite it nearing the end.

Paul explained that at the time, he was expecting director Peter Jackson to tell him they were looking "gloomy" in the footage, when in fact he told them they looked "jolly".

 

 Paul McCartney recalls memory with late wife Linda (Image: Getty)

Sean asked him about a picture of him and John writing together.

He divulged: "Yeah, that was a picture Linda had taken. And it really gave me hope, that picture.

"Before the Peter Jackson thing, that was one little picture I held onto. In fact, we had an exhibition where Linda's pictures were blown up and I bought one of them."

Paul continued to go into detail about the memorable photograph as he said they both looked invested in something "interesting".

 

 Paul McCartney says it made him happy to relive time with the Beatles (Image: Getty)

 "You can just see that we're into each other and we're smiling, and I will write down something, so we're engaged in doing something artistic, something interesting," he shared with BBC Radio 2’s John Lennon at 80 programme.

"And I say that every time I felt a bit down, I look at that picture and go, 'No, that's the reality.' And so I'm loving the fact that Peter Jackson discovered more of that reality."

It has now been 50 years ago since The Beatles broke up.

Lord of the Rings director Peter, who now has access to unseen footage of the time they were together in a new documentary, revealed the Let It Be film wasn't a "breakup" story at all.

 Paul McCartney opened up about time with the Beatles and John Lennon with latter's son Sean (Image: Getty)

"Even though Let It Be wasn’t filmed with the breakup in mind it was filmed 14 months earlier," he discussed.

“I can just imagine that if you were going to the cinema in May of 1970, and you just heard that The Beatles had broken up, then you’re obviously going to look at the movie through a particular filter."

He went on to say: “I think that has led to it being known as the breakup film.

"But it’s not really a breakup film in the slightest.”

 

Peter then admitted: "You get the sense that they really don’t want to break up. That’s the overriding impression I get.

“They’re a forward-moving band, but they’ve run out of places to go.”

The Beatles: Get Back is set to be released in August next year.

John Lennon at 80 airs on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds tonight (saturday) and tomorrow(sunday) at 9pm.

 

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest partners with Gibson Gives to Celebrate John's Birthday

www.britishbeatlesfanclub.co.uk

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest partners with Gibson Gives to Celebrate John's Birthday

Posted by British Beatles Fan Club
Wednesday, 30 September 2020

 

 

Gibson Gives Comes Together With John Lennon Songwriting Contest

Partnership Celebrates Lennon’s 80^th Birthday

With Live Virtual Events and Giveaways

 

NEW YORK, NY (September 21, 2020) In honor of John Lennon’s 80^th birthday, the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and the John Lennon Songwriting Contest (JLSC) have announced a partnership with Gibson Gives--the charitable arm of Gibson, the iconic American instrument brand--to support musicianship, music education and songwriting for people of all ages. Among the initiatives, 24 Lennon contest winners will receive an Epiphone LTD Edition Les Paul Quilt Top Pro and an Epiphone Zenith Masterbilt Acoustic Round Hole.  Songwriters, artists and bands are encouraged to enter the 24^th annual JLSC with over $300,000K in cash awards and giveaways. All entrants will also qualify for weekly contests, offering additional gear giveaways including a Gibson guitar.

October 9, 2020 would have been John Lennon’s 80^th birthday. His contributions to music, culture, activism, art and fashion resonate to this day. In celebration, the Lennon Bus and Contest will have a virtual Imagine Party on October 9 on the Lennon Bus’ Instagram Live (HERE). The special show will feature celebrities, JLSC winners, Lennon Bus participants and educators. Tune in to hear in depth stories around John Lennon’s Gibson guitars and the songs he wrote with them, as well as giveaways and promotions.

 

Brian Rothschild, co-founder and executive director of both the Lennon Bus and the JLSC, said, “While venues, live music and events are on hold, we’re focused on the songwriting contests and providing songwriters with even more gear each week while they are stuck at home. Contest entries help support Lennon Bus programs and Gibson Gives shares the same commitment to the next generation of players.”

“Gibson Gives is all about inspiring, creating, and supporting music one guitar at a time,” says James ‘JC’ Curleigh, CEO of Gibson. “This is our opportunity to ‘imagine’ what could be possible for future musicians by partnering with the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, especially during this challenging era.”

 

John Lennon Songwriting Contest and John Lennon Educational Tour Bus:

JLSC.COM |LENNONBUS.ORG | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK  

Gibson Gives: 

GIBSON GIVES.ORG

Gibson:

GIBSON.COM | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | GIBSON TV 

Epiphone: 

EPIPHONE.COM | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

 

 

Paul McCartney wishes Rupert The Bear a very happy 100th birthday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 www.prnewswire.com

 

Paul McCartney wishes DreamWorks Animation/Classic Media's Rupert The Bear a very happy 100th birthday!

Iconic 1984 award-winning Rupert inspired song and animated film to be re-released to commemorate this special occasion

NEWS PROVIDED BY

MPL/Capitol/UMe 

Oct 01, 2020,

 

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Remastered version of We All Stand Together - Paul McCartney and the Frog Chorus - set for release on limited edition specially shaped 7" picture disc via MPL / Capitol / UMe – November 6^th 2020 - https://PMC.lnk.to/1LPWeAllStandTogetherPR

Fully restored Rupert and The Frog Song animated film to premiere on YouTube -https://PaulMcCartney.lnk.to/RupertAndTheFrogSongPR on November 6th 2020

 

 36 years since its release and also celebrating the 40th anniversary of when Paul recorded the song at AIR Studios, London, We All Stand Together is being made available on limited edition picture disc vinyl on November 6th via MPL/Capitol/UMe – the vinyl is a limited-edition, specially shaped 7” picture disc , exactly the same as the 1984 release. The 2020 version also comes with a poster.

 

"Congratulations to Rupert on his 100^th birthday.  The great thing is he never looks a day older.  Having been a fan of his since my early days in Liverpool, I know what he means to generations of young and old kids.  In his character and attitudes to the world, he sums up the best of British tradition and reminds us of an innocence we would all love to cherish.  So, congratulations my little bear.  Your fans are celebrating your 100^th birthday and I for one think you deserve a telegram from the Queen."  Paul McCartney

36 years since its release and also celebrating the 40^th anniversary of when Paul recorded the song at AIR Studios, London, We All Stand Together is being made available on limited edition picture disc vinyl on November 6^th via MPL/Capitol/UMe  – the vinyl is specially shaped, exactly the same as the 1984 release.  The 2020 version also comes with a poster.

 

We All Stand Together has been remastered at Abbey Road Studios by Alex Wharton along with the B-side instrumental We All Stand Together (Humming Version) which was included on the original release.

Produced by George Martin and featuring The King's Singers and the choir of St Paul's Cathedral, We All Stand Together (also known as The Frog Song) was a huge hit upon release, remaining in the charts for 13 weeks, becoming a classic and a much-loved song by every school child in the 80s.

 

The song was the focal point of Rupert and The Frog Song - a short animated film that Paul began work on in 1981 with animator Geoff Dunbar.  The film has now been fully restored in 4k as well as getting a new audio mix.  Written and produced by Paul and directed by Geoff, Rupert and The Frog Song was eventually released in 1984.  The film saw Paul voice the character of Rupert and featured the voices of the beloved British TV icons June Whitfield (as Rupert's mother) and Windsor Davies (Father Frog). Released simultaneously with We All Stand Together, the film went on to become the biggest selling video of 1985 in the UK, earning Paul a Grammy nomination in the process as well as seeing him win a revered Ivor Novello Award for Best Film Soundtrack and picking up a BAFTA for Best Animated Short Film.

 

The film along with the amphibian anthem were inspired by Paul's childhood love of Rupert and a specific drawing Paul remembered from the 1958 Rupert Bear Annual.

"I've always loved animation.  It started with the Disney cartoons and went on from there. As a kid I would always get the Rupert Annual at Christmas. I remember getting the idea for a film project when looking through one of them.  There was a standout image in color and when I saw it I could imagine a concert of frogs with them all doing different parts, a choir and an orchestra, and I could almost hear the music."

The project had been in the making for a long time.  Paul's original idea had been to make a feature length film, and he set about work for this in the 70s, recording songs and writing stories that to this day remain unreleased, with one of the unreleased songs dating back to The Beatles Let It Besessions in 1969.

"I had wanted to make a Rupert feature film for a while but didn't realize what a difficult task it actually was.  I remember telling John Lennon about it and he encouraged me to have a go,which was great, but you need more than that to make a film.  There were so many different things to think about, things like securing the rights.  It was all too much.  Eventually I had the idea to make a short film with an animator I admired, Geoff Dunbar."

Like Paul, Geoff Dunbar had grown up on Rupert, and unlike other animators who were suggesting some kind of Rupert reboot, Geoff, sharing Paul's vision, believed that Rupert shouldn't change. Geoff took inspiration from the demo of We All Stand Together, and just as Paul had heard what the song might be years before when looking at the annual, Geoff started to visualize the film based on Paul's music and he and Paul would back and forth ideas on the project as it started to come to life. Rupert and The Frog Song was made in a pre-digital age, all handcrafted, and this year has undergone a painstaking and serious restoration process in which the film has been regraded and restored frame by frame. 

 

Watching the new film Geoff says: "It's delightful and absolutely thrilling.  I'm totally blown away by it and the sound quality too.  I've always maintained what a marvelous piece of work it was.  It was seriously adored and a massive hit all over the world."

The magic can be recaptured once again for existing fans and new audiences on the 6^th November when the new version will be made available on YouTube.

 

www.paulmccartney.com

SOURCE MPL/Capitol/UMe