The Beatles

by Bob Spitz

  “I liked the words”: Miles, Paul McCartney, pp. 557–58.

  “He was driving for the first time”: Stanley Parkes, 1/19/85, AGA.

  John required seventeen stitches: Lewisohn, 25 Years in the Life, pp. 120–21.

  “a tribute to [their] survival”: Author interview with Peter Brown, 12/12/97.

  Everyone knew it also functioned: Les Anthony, 5/85, AGA.

  “I think that until now”: Fawcett, John Lennon: One Day at a Time, p. 96.

  which George wrote while meandering: “It was written on a nice sunny day in Eric Clapton’s garden.” “Abbey Road Heading for Fame,” Washington Post, 10/5/69.

  “The three of us didn’t quite get it”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 552.

  “ ‘Come together’ was an expression”: Sheff, Playboy Interviews, p. 170.

  John acknowledged the debt: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 553.

  “Let’s slow it down”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 339.

  “querying bass line”: Riley, Tell Me Why, p. 312.

  “On the finished record”: Lewisohn, Sessions, p. 181.

  “a group thing”: McCabe & Schonfeld, John Lennon: For the Record, p. 23.

  “something slick to preserve the myth”: Goldman, Lives of John Lennon, pp. 353–54.

  “People would be walking out”: Lewisohn, Sessions, p. 193.

  “getting fairly dodgy”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 340.

  “There was a great sort of theater”: Author interview with Alan Brown, 3/28/97.

  “a fantastic toy”: Author interview with Alistair Taylor, 1/17/98.

  “hundreds of jackplugs”: George Harrison in Anthology, p. 340.

  Everest: Paul McCartney in ibid., p. 337.

  “someone mentioned the possibility”: Lewisohn, Sessions, p. 193.

  “just go outside”: Ibid.

  “it was a very hot day”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 341.

  “all leonine”: Rolling Stone, record review, Abbey Road, 11/15/69.

  “Come on, hurry up”: John Lennon, undated interview, in Anthology, p. 342.

  “It had been left there”: Iain Macmillan in Badman, Off the Record, p. 459.

  “Barefoot, nice warm day”: Ibid.

  “a pleasant but unadventurous”: “Beatles in the Web,” Newsweek, 10/20/69.

  “sincere”/“rather dull”: “Abbey Road by Beatles Marked by Moderation,” New York Times, 10/4/69.

  In Britain, advance orders: “George’s ‘Abbey Road’ Track as Beatles’ New U.S. Single,” NME, 9/27/69.

  “at 5 o’clock on a rainswept”: Newsweek, 11/3/69, p. 62.

  Fred LaBour: “This fantastic death wish seems to have been stimulated by a University of Michigan undergraduate named Fred LaBour.” “No, No, No, Paul McCartney Is Not Dead,” New York Times, 11/2/69.

  Others who played the entire: “The Magical McCartney Mystery,” LIFE, 11/7/69, p. 104.

  “I’m alive and well”: “Paul Makes It Clear: ‘I Feel Fine,’ ” Associated Press wire story, 10/23/69.

  “millions of youthful fans”: Newsweek, 11/3/69.

  Sgt. Pepper’s reappeared: Billboard, 11/2/69.

  “Can you spread it around”: “The Magical McCartney Mystery,” LIFE, 11/7/69, p. 105.

  Then, on September 25: “Beatles Lose Fight for Control of Firm,” New York Times, 10/27/69.

  “I told Allen I was leaving”: Wenner, Lennon Remembers, p. 60.

  alongside “all the great rockers”: John Lennon, 1969 interview in Anthology, p. 347.

  Everyone knew the old standards: “I’ve played all these numbers before… so I know them.” Eric Clapton, NME, 12/20/69.

  “can’t remember when I had such a good time”: “John Lennon Finds Worm in Beatles’ Apple,” Variety, 10/26/69.

  In separate conversations: “I told Eric Clapton and Klaus that I was leaving.” Wenner, Lennon Remembers, p. 60.

  “it was not an easy decision”: Fawcett, John Lennon: One Day at a Time, p. 101.

  “What do you mean?”: Wenner, Lennon Remembers, p. 60.

  “Everybody had tried to leave”: George Harrison in Anthology, p. 348.

  “they knew it was for real”: John Lennon, 1978 interview, in Anthology, p. 348.

  “Everyone blanched except John”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 561.

  “John burst into the room”: Fawcett, John Lennon: One Day at a Time, p. 101.

  it felt like “a relief”: Ringo Starr in Anthology, p. 348.

  “we knew it was [a] good [decision]”: Ibid., p. 347.

  “I wanted out myself”: George Harrison in ibid.

  To Paul’s relief: “Paul and Allen said they were glad I wasn’t going to announce it.” Wenner, Lennon Remembers, p. 61.

  “since I’d been seventeen”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 349.

  “Then, if I did get up”: Miles, Paul McCartney, pp. 568–69.

  “We were each other’s intimates”: Ibid., p. 566.

  “nobody… quite knew”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 349.

  “John’s in love with Yoko”: Evening Standard, 4/70; author interview with Ray Connolly, 8/7/97.

  “songs Ringo likes”: Apple Records press release, reported in “Ringo May Be Guesting,” NME, 11/8/69.

  “I’d like to do it with the Beatles”: NME, 12/20/69.

  “frequently perplexed audience”: “John and Yoko Films,” Washington Post, 10/26/69.

  Peace: NME, 11/8/69.

  gave away Dor Inis: “Hippies to Look Over Island Offered to Them by a Beatle,” New York Times, 11/14/69.

  his drug dealer Michael X: “The time Yoko was in hospital, I sat with her all Saturday afternoon…. Michael X turns up with this big suitcase full of grass, which he gave to John.” Author interview with Ray Connolly, 8/7/97.

  “mulling it over”: BBC interview, 11/27/69.

  “a lunatic or something”: “Why Put Down What We’re Doing?” NME, 11/22/69.

  “Clown of the Year”: Daily Mirror, 12/18/69.

  “mixed [it] instantly”: George Harrison in Anthology, p. 350.

  “fantastic… like there were fifty people”: Goldman, Lives of John Lennon, p. 370.

  “None of us could face remixing”: John Lennon, 1971 interview, in Anthology, p. 350.

  “to tidy up some of the tracks”: Evening Standard, 4/21/70.

  He threatened to sue Klein: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 576.

  “It’s stupid for Apple”: Memo, John Lennon and George Harrison, 3/5/70.

  “From my point of view”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 351.

  He even called Joe Lockwood: “I’m being sabotaged, Sir Joe.” Brown & Gaines, Love You Make, p. 365.

  “I want to get off the label”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 570.

  “Unfortunately, it was Ringo”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 351.

  “We want you to put your release date”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 573.

  “I called him everything under the sun”: Evening Standard, 4/21/70.

  “it was near enough”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 351.

  “there was no common goal”: John Lennon, 1971 interview, in Anthology, p. 352.

  “almost made me cry”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 572.

  “Beatle Paul McCartney confirmed today”: Aberdeen Evening Express, 4/10/70.

  “He was cross”: Author interview with Ray Connolly, 8/7/97.

  “It was wonderful and it’s over”: John Lennon, undated interview, in Anthology, p. 352.

  BIBLIOGRAPHY

  BOOKS

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