John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.

Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."

IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.

"Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.

On 14/01/2023 2:36 am, Norbert K wrote:
> John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.
>
> Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."
>
> IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.
>
> "Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.

Surely " ...would not ..."

geoff

On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 4:29:56 PM UTC-8, geoff wrote:
> On 14/01/2023 2:36 am, Norbert K wrote:
> > John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.
> >
> > Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."
> >
> > IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.
> >
> > "Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.
> Surely " ...would not ..."
>
> geoff

I meant what I wrote. Have you heard the "Because" demo?

On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 7:36:33 AM UTC-6, Norbert K wrote:
> John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.
>
> Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."
>
> IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.
>
> "Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.
Cleave article reference...btw, grew up in Connecticut...
https://todayincthistory.com/2022/08/04/august-4-connecticut-broadcastings-ban-the-beatles-boycott/

On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 7:18:08 AM UTC-6, Norbert K wrote:
> On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 4:29:56 PM UTC-8, geoff wrote:
> > On 14/01/2023 2:36 am, Norbert K wrote:
> > > John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.
> > >
> > > Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."
> > >
> > > IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.
> > >
> > > "Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.
> > Surely " ...would not ..."
> >
> > geoff
> I meant what I wrote. Have you heard the "Because" demo?
This one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3onNVqvN_iA

On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 7:54:08 PM UTC-8, pamel...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 7:36:33 AM UTC-6, Norbert K wrote:
> > John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.
> >
> > Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."
> >
> > IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.
> >
> > "Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.
> Cleave article reference...btw, grew up in Connecticut...
> https://todayincthistory.com/2022/08/04/august-4-connecticut-broadcastings-ban-the-beatles-boycott/

Yeah, it's the same article in which John said the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. People tend to fixate on that, and overlook the bigger picture (of JL as extremely lethargic -- and almost certainly drug-fried).

On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 7:58:10 PM UTC-8, pamel...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 7:18:08 AM UTC-6, Norbert K wrote:
> > On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 4:29:56 PM UTC-8, geoff wrote:
> > > On 14/01/2023 2:36 am, Norbert K wrote:
> > > > John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.
> > > >
> > > > Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."
> > > >
> > > > IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.
> > > >
> > > > "Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.
> > > Surely " ...would not ..."
> > >
> > > geoff
> > I meant what I wrote. Have you heard the "Because" demo?
> This one?
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3onNVqvN_iA

Yes, thank you!

Without Martin's contributions -- the distictive arpeggiated harpsichord, the meticulously-arranged vocal harmonies -- the song is not so impressive.

On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 7:58:10 PM UTC-8, pamel...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 7:18:08 AM UTC-6, Norbert K wrote:
> > On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 4:29:56 PM UTC-8, geoff wrote:
> > > On 14/01/2023 2:36 am, Norbert K wrote:
> > > > John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.
> > > >
> > > > Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."
> > > >
> > > > IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.
> > > >
> > > > "Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.
> > > Surely " ...would not ..."
> > >
> > > geoff
> > I meant what I wrote. Have you heard the "Because" demo?
> This one?
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3onNVqvN_iA

There's dispute as to whether Lennon and Cleave had an affair. I'm not sure what the truth is. I don't get the feeling from the London Evening Standard article that Cleave was particularly enamored with JL, for whatever that's worth.

On Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 4:48:04 AM UTC-6, Norbert K wrote:
> On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 7:54:08 PM UTC-8, pamel...@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 7:36:33 AM UTC-6, Norbert K wrote:
> > > John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.
> > >
> > > Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."
> > >
> > > IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.
> > >
> > > "Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.
> > Cleave article reference...btw, grew up in Connecticut...
> > https://todayincthistory.com/2022/08/04/august-4-connecticut-broadcastings-ban-the-beatles-boycott/
> Yeah, it's the same article in which John said the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. People tend to fixate on that, and overlook the bigger picture (of JL as extremely lethargic -- and almost certainly drug-fried).
I agree. There is.a lot of meat in that article...

On Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 9:09:58 AM UTC-8, pamel...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 4:48:04 AM UTC-6, Norbert K wrote:
> > On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 7:54:08 PM UTC-8, pamel...@gmail.com wrote:
> > > On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 7:36:33 AM UTC-6, Norbert K wrote:
> > > > John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.
> > > >
> > > > Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."
> > > >
> > > > IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.
> > > >
> > > > "Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.
> > > Cleave article reference...btw, grew up in Connecticut...
> > > https://todayincthistory.com/2022/08/04/august-4-connecticut-broadcastings-ban-the-beatles-boycott/
> > Yeah, it's the same article in which John said the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. People tend to fixate on that, and overlook the bigger picture (of JL as extremely lethargic -- and almost certainly drug-fried).
> I agree. There is.a lot of meat in that article...

To my mind, what Cleave depicts is a man who achieved his dreams -- only to find that he didn't know what to do with himself once he had done so.

On Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 2:50:15 AM UTC-8, Norbert K wrote:
> On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 7:58:10 PM UTC-8, pamel...@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 7:18:08 AM UTC-6, Norbert K wrote:
> > > On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 4:29:56 PM UTC-8, geoff wrote:
> > > > On 14/01/2023 2:36 am, Norbert K wrote:
> > > > > John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.
> > > > >
> > > > > Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."
> > > > >
> > > > > IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.
> > > > >
> > > > > "Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.
> > > > Surely " ...would not ..."
> > > >
> > > > geoff
> > > I meant what I wrote. Have you heard the "Because" demo?
> > This one?
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3onNVqvN_iA
> Yes, thank you!
>
> Without Martin's contributions -- the distictive arpeggiated harpsichord, the meticulously-arranged vocal harmonies -- the song is not so impressive..

The demos were basic run-throughs that showed potential for development in the finished arrangement, like looking at an unfinished abstract painting.

The personality of John Lennon sought to use music as a device for social change, he brought a cerebral quality to the proceedings with extensive influences being distilled to a new essence. In the competition with McCartney for the A-Side single, Lennon went off by himself to write the riff-based tune "I Feel Fine." The admiration of Bob Dylan led to the stylistic mask of "I'm A Loser." John and Paul considered their collaboration on the double-time waltz "Baby's In Black" to reflect their aesthetic ideals, referencing the Revolutionary Era trans-Atlantic nursery rhyme "Johnny's So Long At The Fair" - McCartney said of playing the tune in concerts, "We used to put that in there, and think, 'Well, they won't know quite what to make of this, but it's cool.'"

George Martin was capable of some instrumental performance and scoring, and the twist-editing of the "Rain" coda infers his getting ahead of the reverse-masking joke.

Marital problems emerged in "Norwegian Wood," noted by Martin when hearing an early version written while on holiday with John and Cynthia. A similar theme was perceived in "And Your Bird Can Sing," regarding the gift of a mechanized caged bird. With touring no longer planned, "Good Morning Good Morning" overtly looked to television for inspiration.

John said "Nowhere Man" was inspired by reclining passively on a sofa, but the mind is conversely active. "No one I think is in my tree" meant that no one seemed to meet his own level of 'Hip-ness,' like McCartney explained the first line from "I Saw Her Standing There" was itself a deception. The lyric says, "And you *know* what I mean," but that was the unfulfilled reality, since they knew you *don't* comprehend that 'She' is not really 'Just Seventeen,' because they have tricked the ear with the vocal delivery.

Their songs appear to become the intended entity beyond the demo stage, with careful instrumental arrangement that illuminates the lyrical and vocal tricks.

Maureen Cleave moved in with the Lennon family for about two weeks, having the two-hour interview at the conclusion. The British reaction to the entire article was a 'holier than thou' attitude was being expressed; in America incendiary snippets were publicized out of context for teen fans, leading to a perception of sacrilege that Cleave herself utterly denounced as not being the tone of Lennon's comments. When asked of prized possessions, John had indicated a Bible and Crucifix; the discussion veered into "The Passover Plot," a book about how the disciples of Christ were likely to fail as followers.

On 15/01/2023 2:18 am, Norbert K wrote:
> On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 4:29:56 PM UTC-8, geoff wrote:
>> On 14/01/2023 2:36 am, Norbert K wrote:
>>> John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.
>>>
>>> Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."
>>>
>>> IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.
>>>
>>> "Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.
>> Surely " ...would not ..."
>>
>> geoff
>
> I meant what I wrote. Have you heard the "Because" demo?
>
>

Did you mean the "low calibre of the early 70's work" ?

geoff

On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 8:36:33 AM UTC-5, Norbert K wrote:
>
I've often wondered what happened to Lennon as a creative force. Somehow I always attributed it to after the Beatles broke up. But this does seem to be correct.

Again, I've always thought his depending on the other band members is what made his work great. He functioned as a member of a band, where McCartney became a control freak.

But the international fame, the Beatles image, the money, the drugs, being imprisoned in a marriage he didn't want, the last World tour... all of those things could have collided together to cause him apathy. Nowhere Man may have been a confession of where he was in late '65, with nothing since changing his mind.

On Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 12:55:41 PM UTC-8, eagali...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 2:50:15 AM UTC-8, Norbert K wrote:
> > On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 7:58:10 PM UTC-8, pamel...@gmail.com wrote:
> > > On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 7:18:08 AM UTC-6, Norbert K wrote:
> > > > On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 4:29:56 PM UTC-8, geoff wrote:
> > > > > On 14/01/2023 2:36 am, Norbert K wrote:
> > > > > > John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.
> > > > > Surely " ...would not ..."
> > > > >
> > > > > geoff
> > > > I meant what I wrote. Have you heard the "Because" demo?
> > > This one?
> > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3onNVqvN_iA
> > Yes, thank you!
> >
> > Without Martin's contributions -- the distictive arpeggiated harpsichord, the meticulously-arranged vocal harmonies -- the song is not so impressive.
> The demos were basic run-throughs that showed potential for development in the finished arrangement, like looking at an unfinished abstract painting..
>
> The personality of John Lennon sought to use music as a device for social change, he brought a cerebral quality to the proceedings with extensive influences being distilled to a new essence. In the competition with McCartney for the A-Side single, Lennon went off by himself to write the riff-based tune "I Feel Fine." The admiration of Bob Dylan led to the stylistic mask of "I'm A Loser." John and Paul considered their collaboration on the double-time waltz "Baby's In Black" to reflect their aesthetic ideals, referencing the Revolutionary Era trans-Atlantic nursery rhyme "Johnny's So Long At The Fair" - McCartney said of playing the tune in concerts, "We used to put that in there, and think, 'Well, they won't know quite what to make of this, but it's cool.'"
>
> George Martin was capable of some instrumental performance and scoring, and the twist-editing of the "Rain" coda infers his getting ahead of the reverse-masking joke.
>
> Marital problems emerged in "Norwegian Wood," noted by Martin when hearing an early version written while on holiday with John and Cynthia. A similar theme was perceived in "And Your Bird Can Sing," regarding the gift of a mechanized caged bird. With touring no longer planned, "Good Morning Good Morning" overtly looked to television for inspiration.
>
> John said "Nowhere Man" was inspired by reclining passively on a sofa, but the mind is conversely active. "No one I think is in my tree" meant that no one seemed to meet his own level of 'Hip-ness,' like McCartney explained the first line from "I Saw Her Standing There" was itself a deception. The lyric says, "And you *know* what I mean," but that was the unfulfilled reality, since they knew you *don't* comprehend that 'She' is not really 'Just Seventeen,' because they have tricked the ear with the vocal delivery.
>
> Their songs appear to become the intended entity beyond the demo stage, with careful instrumental arrangement that illuminates the lyrical and vocal tricks.
>
> Maureen Cleave moved in with the Lennon family for about two weeks, having the two-hour interview at the conclusion. The British reaction to the entire article was a 'holier than thou' attitude was being expressed; in America incendiary snippets were publicized out of context for teen fans, leading to a perception of sacrilege that Cleave herself utterly denounced as not being the tone of Lennon's comments. When asked of prized possessions, John had indicated a Bible and Crucifix; the discussion veered into "The Passover Plot," a book about how the disciples of Christ were likely to fail as followers.

IMO, there was a marked drop in the quality of John's demos post "eating acid like candy."

Right, Maureen Cleave moved in with the Lennons! She didn't get along with Cynthia as I recall. Maybe the rumors of a Cleave-Lennon affair are true, though both were married at the time.

On Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 4:00:13 PM UTC-8, geoff wrote:
> On 15/01/2023 2:18 am, Norbert K wrote:
> > On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 4:29:56 PM UTC-8, geoff wrote:
> >> On 14/01/2023 2:36 am, Norbert K wrote:
> >>> John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.
> >>>
> >>> Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."
> >>>
> >>> IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.
> >>>
> >>> "Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.
> >> Surely " ...would not ..."
> >>
> >> geoff
> >
> > I meant what I wrote. Have you heard the "Because" demo?
> >
> >
> Did you mean the "low calibre of the early 70's work" ?

Yes, exactly.

On Monday, January 16, 2023 at 12:19:25 AM UTC-8, Laughing Jaw wrote:
> On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 8:36:33 AM UTC-5, Norbert K wrote:
> >
> I've often wondered what happened to Lennon as a creative force. Somehow I always attributed it to after the Beatles broke up. But this does seem to be correct.
>
> Again, I've always thought his depending on the other band members is what made his work great. He functioned as a member of a band, where McCartney became a control freak.
>
> But the international fame, the Beatles image, the money, the drugs, being imprisoned in a marriage he didn't want, the last World tour... all of those things could have collided together to cause him apathy. Nowhere Man may have been a confession of where he was in late '65, with nothing since changing his mind.

One can sense it even in his vocals, which dramatically lost their power at some point in the mid-60s. John relied less on his own abilities and made increasing reliance on studio effects (courtesy of Martin & Emerick) on the vocals.

On Monday, January 16, 2023 at 7:24:28 AM UTC-5, Norbert K wrote:
> On Monday, January 16, 2023 at 12:19:25 AM UTC-8, Laughing Jaw wrote:
> > On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 8:36:33 AM UTC-5, Norbert K wrote:

> > But the international fame, the Beatles image, the money, the drugs, being imprisoned in a marriage he didn't want, the last World tour... all of those things could have collided together to cause him apathy. Nowhere Man may have been a confession of where he was in late '65, with nothing since changing his mind.
> One can sense it even in his vocals, which dramatically lost their power at some point in the mid-60s. John relied less on his own abilities and made
> increasing reliance on studio effects (courtesy of Martin & Emerick) on the vocals.

I wish Lewisohn would hurry up with his vol 2. Could answer some of these questions.

On Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 3:55:41 PM UTC-5, eagali...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 2:50:15 AM UTC-8, Norbert K wrote:
> > On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 7:58:10 PM UTC-8, pamel...@gmail.com wrote:
> > > On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 7:18:08 AM UTC-6, Norbert K wrote:
> > > > On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 4:29:56 PM UTC-8, geoff wrote:
> > > > > On 14/01/2023 2:36 am, Norbert K wrote:
> > > > > > John Lennon famously urged his bandmates onward to the "Toppermost of the Poppermost." And they made it.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Yet, the John Lennon portrayed in Maureen Cleave's "How Does A Beatle Live?" article in the London Evening Standard was a man devoid of drive. Lennon admitted to Cleave that sex was the only physical activity he had any interest in; and Cleave described Lennon as "probably the laziest person in England."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > IMO, it was at some point between Revolver and Sgt. Pepper that Lennon lost his passion for songwriting and trusted the others -- Geoff Emerick, George Martin, and his bandmates -- to turn his musical fragments into complete songs.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "Strawberry Fields," "I Am the Walrus," "Come Together" and "Because" would be of the caliber of Lennon's early 70s solo work without the contributions of these cohorts.
> > > > > Surely " ...would not ..."
> > > > >
> > > > > geoff
> > > > I meant what I wrote. Have you heard the "Because" demo?
> > > This one?
> > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3onNVqvN_iA
> > Yes, thank you!
> >
> > Without Martin's contributions -- the distictive arpeggiated harpsichord, the meticulously-arranged vocal harmonies -- the song is not so impressive.
> The demos were basic run-throughs that showed potential for development in the finished arrangement, like looking at an unfinished abstract painting..
>
> The personality of John Lennon sought to use music as a device for social change, he brought a cerebral quality to the proceedings with extensive influences being distilled to a new essence. In the competition with McCartney for the A-Side single, Lennon went off by himself to write the riff-based tune "I Feel Fine." The admiration of Bob Dylan led to the stylistic mask of "I'm A Loser." John and Paul considered their collaboration on the double-time waltz "Baby's In Black" to reflect their aesthetic ideals, referencing the Revolutionary Era trans-Atlantic nursery rhyme "Johnny's So Long At The Fair" - McCartney said of playing the tune in concerts, "We used to put that in there, and think, 'Well, they won't know quite what to make of this, but it's cool.'"
>
> George Martin was capable of some instrumental performance and scoring, and the twist-editing of the "Rain" coda infers his getting ahead of the reverse-masking joke.
>
> Marital problems emerged in "Norwegian Wood," noted by Martin when hearing an early version written while on holiday with John and Cynthia. A similar theme was perceived in "And Your Bird Can Sing," regarding the gift of a mechanized caged bird. With touring no longer planned, "Good Morning Good Morning" overtly looked to television for inspiration.
>
> John said "Nowhere Man" was inspired by reclining passively on a sofa, but the mind is conversely active. "No one I think is in my tree" meant that no one seemed to meet his own level of 'Hip-ness,' like McCartney explained the first line from "I Saw Her Standing There" was itself a deception. The lyric says, "And you *know* what I mean," but that was the unfulfilled reality, since they knew you *don't* comprehend that 'She' is not really 'Just Seventeen,' because they have tricked the ear with the vocal delivery.
>
> Their songs appear to become the intended entity beyond the demo stage, with careful instrumental arrangement that illuminates the lyrical and vocal tricks.
>
> Maureen Cleave moved in with the Lennon family for about two weeks, having the two-hour interview at the conclusion. The British reaction to the entire article was a 'holier than thou' attitude was being expressed; in America incendiary snippets were publicized out of context for teen fans, leading to a perception of sacrilege that Cleave herself utterly denounced as not being the tone of Lennon's comments. When asked of prized possessions, John had indicated a Bible and Crucifix; the discussion veered into "The Passover Plot," a book about how the disciples of Christ were likely to fail as followers.

John's use of music as a device for social change, when did that start? Not when he wrote 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' or 'Please Please Me.' Or even 'Nowhere Man' or 'Norwegian Wood'. Hmm, I'm wondering on this one.

On Monday, January 16, 2023 at 7:08:37 PM UTC-8, Laughing Jaw wrote:
> On Monday, January 16, 2023 at 7:24:28 AM UTC-5, Norbert K wrote:
> > On Monday, January 16, 2023 at 12:19:25 AM UTC-8, Laughing Jaw wrote:
> > > On Friday, January 13, 2023 at 8:36:33 AM UTC-5, Norbert K wrote:
>
> > > But the international fame, the Beatles image, the money, the drugs, being imprisoned in a marriage he didn't want, the last World tour... all of those things could have collided together to cause him apathy. Nowhere Man may have been a confession of where he was in late '65, with nothing since changing his mind.
> > One can sense it even in his vocals, which dramatically lost their power at some point in the mid-60s. John relied less on his own abilities and made
> > increasing reliance on studio effects (courtesy of Martin & Emerick) on the vocals.
> I wish Lewisohn would hurry up with his vol 2. Could answer some of these questions.

I look forward to that when it does come out, but who knows how long the wait will be?

The Mal Evans book supposedly will be out this year, though it was originally due out in '22.