Revolution video published
Posted by Roger Stormo
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Screen capture from "Revolution".
Today, the full video of "Revolution", directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg was published on YouTube and Vevo. This is the first of five full length music videos to be published as promotion for the upcoming new editions of Beatles 1 and the DeLuxe Beatles 1+.
"Revolution" was filmed in tandem with "Hey Jude" on Wednesday 4 September 1968 at Twickenham film studios. Whereas "Hey Jude" was introduced by David Frost to be part of his television programme Frost on Sunday, "Revolution" was filmed to act as a music video to promote John's side of the single. There were three versions of "Hey Jude" and two of "Revolution" recorded and filmed. The songs all had live vocals on top of pre-recorded elements, a method that may have been inspired by the "All You Need Is Love" session for the satellite broadcast of "Our World". As a result of this, the audio tracks to the finished versions of each video are all unique and haven't previously been released in an official capacity.
The version of "Revolution" featured here is the one where it looks like George is saying to Paul, "John smells like sh*t!"
The Beatles arrived at the studios at 1.30pm and worked until evening. For the "Revolution" clips, Paul McCartney performed the scream during the introduction, and the 'shoo-be doo-wop' backing vocals from the slower, then-unreleased "Revolution 1" was sung by Paul and George. Even Ringo joins in, but doesn't have a microphone.
The only contemporary UK screening of the "Revolution" clip was on the BBC's "Top Of The Pops" on Thursday 19 September.
Long time Beatles video collector and expert Steve Shorten informs us that when he watched this side-by-side with the original clip, he noticed some changes. In addition to trimming the beginning and end of the clip, a roughly 10-second segment of alternate footage has been inserted into the original edit of the promo at around the 1:30 mark. Shorten suspects we will be seeing several other changes of this nature throughout the disc(s).
As far as the sound is concerned, this is a new mono mix, with Nicky Hopkins' piano track added. It's a well known fact that John Lennon preferred the mono "Revolution", he didn't like the stereo mix which they released on "the blue album", Beatles 1967-1970. So it seems they have honoured his wish. Or perhaps they never had the live vocals taped separately, they may have only been recorded as part of the full mix including the backing track. Back in 1992 when Ron Furmanek remastered and remixed the promo videos for the first time, he also went with mono for "Revolution".
The next video is coming up in two days, on 22 October.
The Revolution video - a closer look
Posted by Roger Stormo
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Still from the new Revolution video.
Here is some more information about the Revolution video clip, and the various versions that have been published over the years. This info is courtesy of friend of the blog, Miguel Carrera from Mexico City - who forwarded it to us.
The first video for the soon to be released Beatles 1+ video clips collection has been published, as we posted about earlier. Some people may think there was only one version made for the “Revolution” clip, video collectors know that actually two (2) takes were made; but over the years these two films have been used to create even further versions. It could be argued that the video released today is in fact the fifth version so far.
Audio:
Both audio takes are using the original backing track, only the vocals are live. Paul’s initial scream (at the 7 second mark) is different on both takes, and take 1 does not contain Paul’s backing “Don’t you know it’s gonna be” (heard on take 2 at 0:48, 0:52, 2:49 and 2:54). Furthermore, take 1 does not include the distortion of an amplifier or a microphone that appears very constant in take 2 (before the second ‘We all want to change the world’ and also before ‘But when you talk about destruction’), this distortion has been digitally erased from the new video #5 (2015).
And using both of the video takes, 4 versions have been created, plus one variation.
The version presented on the official YouTube/Vevo channel is for the most part version #2, with a 14 second insert of Version #1 (starting at 1:26 and continuing through to 1:40).
Video:
The Beatles mimed to Revolution twice. But versions #1 and #2 are not simply takes 1 and 2. In creating the videos, director Michael Lindsay-Hogg edited in elements from both takes. Some angles and Paul’s and George’s movements are completely different on both takes.
Variations:
1. Revolution version #1 (Available on The Beatles Anthology video in 1996)
With a unique audio track, the initial video shoots are very different but also, footage from version #2 is included. This version remained unreleased until 1996.
2. Revolution version #2 (Apple Master from 1996 with Slate)
Apple Master 1996 where you can clearly see it labeled 'Revolution vers 2'.
Sent to the media as an 'alternate' videoclip to promote Anthology 3, this version features eight (8) seconds before the music begins: Paul and George are chatting and waiting for the 'one, two, three, four' cue; and at the very end, an additional six (6) seconds are available, when the lights went off but we can still see the band moving. This version also has a unique audio track, and the video also shows scenes from Version #1.
3. Revolution version #3 (Unreleased with “clean audio”, Apple Master 2005 with slate)
From a private collection, the unreleased Apple Master 2005.
Part of a batch of unreleased promos made by Apple in 2005, in-house distribution only.
Audio: same as Version #2 but in a new mix which has also been cleaned up to erase the 'hiss' present on the original take at the intro and outro, the audio distortion is also present.
Video: Identical to Version #2, but without the initial and final seconds, and also does not contain the count in cue. This version was never released or seen, it has a unique audio mix which has never been published officially or on bootleg to date. We only know about it because it circulates among a select few private collectors.
4. Revolution Version #4 (1968 –Smothers Brothers)
Clapperboard for the Smothers Brothers show with the Revolution clip
As broadcast on TV, this is the same as version #2 (and version #3) but adding yet another different audio mix, with claps over the intro and outro. This buries some elements, like the count-in and the final guitar riffs.
5. Revolution Version #5 (2015- Apple/Beatles 1+)
Yet another variation, mostly created from version #2.
Audio: A new mix, digitally erasing the distortion noises caused by high volume on some amp or mic. The level on Nicky’s piano is higher, but this sadly buries some unique elements of Paul’s live vocal.
Video: This uses version #2, editing in 14 seconds from version #1 (from 1:26 through to 1:40).
All versions includes Nicky Hopkins’ piano, contrary to what I wrote in my earlier blog post today. What confused us was that this new version mixes the piano higher than before.
So in conclusion, it seems Apple keeps feeding us variations of their original music video clips, with elements added that weren't there before. Some of these may have been added to repair damages on the original two takes. It has been reported that the inserted seconds of version #1 to the new clip disguised some picture disturbance which previously occurred just there. Incidentally, "Revolution" will also be in mono on the Beatles 1+ collection.
Filming Hey Jude and Revolution
Posted by Roger Stormo
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Stills from 'Revolution'.
Thanks to the internet and Facebook, we were able to get in touch with someone who was present at the taping of the "Hey Jude" and "Revolution" videos. Her name is Margaret Morel, and she originally saw The Beatles in concert in Liverpool on 8th November 1964. Originally from Morecambe, Lancashire, Margaret got married to a Frenchman in 1970, and has been living in France with her husband and children since 1972. Here is her story about the events surrounding the filming of "Hey Jude" and "Revolution".
I left home when I was 16, and the agreement with my parents was that I live in a YWCA where I’d not be alone. During the first year I lived in London I met the Beatles (as a fan) very often. At the time I was working as a secretary in Mayfair. After a year I went back home to the North West of England, but after a while I wanted to go back to London.
So the second time I went to live in London, I was staying with my friend’s family in Feltham, Middlesex when one evening I got a telephone call from my American pen friend, who was on holiday in London at the time. She said that my friend Coral and I should go quickly to the EMI studios in Abbey Road as The Beatles were looking for people to take part in an event. No-one knew what the event was at the time.
As Coral and I both knew Mal Evans, The Beatles road manager quite well, I phoned him at the studios. He said we should go to sign a paper if we wanted to take part. So we went along to the Abbey Road studio and asked for Mal, who brought us the papers to sign. I don’t remember exactly what we had to sign for, but if me and Coral remember correctly, it was to say we wouldn’t ask for any payment for whatever we were going to do. We still had no idea what that was.
Whilst we were sat in the waiting room filling in our papers, Paul McCartney came in and was happy to know we’d be there next day.
Split screen comparison of several 'Hey Jude' videos made from the Twickenham film recordings.
After having signed our papers, we were given instructions to go to a meeting point in London next morning at a certain time. I can’t remember exactly where the meeting point was, or the time. Wednesday September 4, 1968, the coaches were waiting for all the extras like us. As the coaches set off, we still didn’t know where we were going. It was funny that we ended up at Twickenham, because Feltham, where I was living at Coral's, was just nearby.
The weather must have been nice, because I was wearing a summer dress. Another friend of mine had made this dress about a year before. The bright yellow certainly helped me to be seen, although I didn’t realise this at the time. So of course my boss saw me on TV when the video was shown the same day, I think. (For the record: The Hey Jude film had its world premiere four days later, on 8 September 1968 on Frost On Sunday, presented by David Frost) I was supposed to be ill that day and had taken the day off. I swore it wasn’t me. He was a lovely man and just let me think he believed me.
When we arrived at the entrance of the studios, we were told that we were going to be filmed in a video with The Beatles, who were up at a window watching us all, giving us smiles and waves.
Everyone was very excited and happy, of course. Some of the people were regular fans like us, others were students, who I think had been invited from various London schools.
When we were taken inside the studio where the "Hey Jude" video was going to be filmed that morning, we were told what we had to do. It might have been the director (Michael Lindsay-Hogg) who told us, but I don’t remember. I remember David Frost being there and him doing the introduction for his show, but I'm not sure how long he stayed. When The Beatles got to the end of the song we had to go up on the stage or gather round them and sing the "na na nas". Paul helped by saying “now” when it was time to join in. We were all sitting around the studio, waiting for our cue.
The audience. Still from video.
My friend Coral and I got up onto the stage each time and stood next to George Harrison. I don’t know how we managed to do that with all the people who were scrambling to get as near as they could to The Beatles. Coral is the girl with the long blonde hair and me of course with my bright yellow dress and big hair (oh that big hair lol). There was just one take right at the end of the day when I didn’t go up on the stage….too tired of pushing and shoving!
Here is a photo from the filming of 'Hey Jude'. You can spot Margaret in her yellow dress behind
the neck of George's guitar, Coral's hair is just visible behind George's shoulder. Photo: Apple Corps Ltd.
At one point there was a break and all the extras were taken into a room where there were sandwiches and drinks for everyone. The Beatles were not with us during the break. During one of the breaks (might have been after the lunch break), we were told they were going to film the video of "Revolution" and that we could go in the studio to watch. I can’t remember too much about this but I think they just filmed "Revolution" once.
Coral with the blonde hair and Margaret with the yellow dress. Video still.
They filmed lots of takes of "Hey Jude" all day…we seemed to sing our "na na nas" dozens of times. They must have been wanting to choose the best versions of the song. If I remember correctly, they began filming during the morning and we finished about 10pm or later. My friend’s parents came to collect us with their car. We were exhausted but very happy, our heads full of all that had taken place that day.
Another video still. I believe it's the video labeled version 2
where we can't see the girls, they are present in videos #1 and #3.
Unfortunately I don't have any photos of those days. Friends took lots of photos of The Beatles in London, but my friend Coral says she hasn't got hers any more now. I've lost touch with other friends of that time. Coral and I still keep in touch and she was a bridesmaid when I got married. We met again recently when I was in London with the French group I work with, The Low Budget Men. They did a gig at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, and Coral helped me sell the merchandise for the charity the group are associated with.
Mal Evans did give me the badge from Paul McCartney's Sergeant Pepper uniform but I gave that to my American pen pal when I got married. Have lost touch with her too, so no hope of ever getting it back....my own fault!!
Like Margaret said, she is currently promoting the French band, The Low Budget Men. All the proceeds of their music (CDs, DVDs, T-shirts, concerts) go to their charity "20 000 Vies" in order to purchase Automated External Defibrillators which they then offer to towns and communities where the group plays, for use in public places. So far, they have offered 100 defibrillators!
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