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by: Andy Roman (revolver@bright.net)
Twickenham Notes - 2 January 1969 - Roll 2A
"Let It Down; Brown Eyed Handsome Man; I've Got A Feeling; Child Of Nature; I Shall Be Released."
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The sessions have just begun within the last hour. Three Beatles are here in the studio, Paul McCartney the only no-show to this point. Ringo hasn't really taken his place at the drum kit as of yet, even though Twickenham was filled with the sound of drums for a brief time earlier. George Harrison now has his turn at showing off a new work-in-progress. Like John's offerings, this one is also mellow, featuring a much more complex chord progression than any of John's works. It is quite beautiful. Coincidentally, the apparent title is not unlike John's Don't Let Me Down, introduced a few minutes ago. This one goes by the name Let It Down.
Lennon is a bit lost in the quick changes
Harrison has implemented in this new piece, prompting him to
comment, "It'll take me three weeks to learn all these fucking
chords."
George: "That's a great
chord."
John: "What is
it?"
George: "It's like. . .it's the three. .
.first, second and third on the fourth fret . . .(strums). . .just the
first, second and third. . .then with those two (plays the fourth string,
fingered on the first fret, and the fifth string, fingered on the second
fret). .and the open bottom E."
Some chord strumming ensues before George asks for a screwdriver, presumably to adjust something on his guitar. John, his wont to always return to the music of his youth, starts playing some Chuck Berry-style riffs and phrasings.
Meanwhile, Harrison is heard tightening strings,
working them back into tune. He asks John, "Is that your
first?" as he twists his knobs.
Lennon launches into
an impromptu version of Chuck Berry's Brown Eyed
Handsome Man, his vocals off-mic. After a couple of verses,
John quits, while George continues with his
tuning session.
Ringo, conspicuously quiet to this point, mentions that he needs to get some matches. George offers, "I've got a light."
As the cameras continue to roll, and The Beatles minus one do their best
to get motivated, John starts in with what is presumably
another of his works-in-progress. Again, the feel is mellow, a simple two chord
progression. He sings, "Everybody had a hard year. Everybody had a good
time. . ."
George is finalizing his tuning to
John's playing, as a second verse is sung, "Everybody had
a hard year. Everybody let their hair down. Everybody got a face lift. ."
The song then moves to a new lyric, "I've got a feeling, deep inside. .
."
Soon, both George and John are
strumming and playing arbitrarily, with George occassionally
making tuning adjustments.
Lennon again starts in with
another song, but it is apparent that George has heard this
one before, hence his joining in on the chorus, "I'm just a child of
nature. I don't need much to set me free. ."
This, too, is a slow song.
After another verse and chorus of this song, presumably written by
John during the Beatles' time with Maharishi Mahesh
Yogi, George abruptly cuts off, asking, "Where's
the console and all that?"
John: "Where's the
what?"
George: "The mixer and the eight-track, and
all that."
This, of course, is a legitimate question. There is no
console or mixing board in sight. However, these sessions here at Twickenham
are for the purpose of capturing the Beatles at rehearsal, not necessarily for
the purpose of proper recording.
More guitar strumming fills the studio floor. John
Lennon comments, "We'll probably write some fast ones here
together, you know, all of us."
George begins playing
and strumming Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released, with
John joining in on the singing of the song's title.
The remainder of Film Roll 2A features guitar strumming, essentially of this Dylan tune, with occassional lead guitar.
Earlier on January 2 1969
Behind The
Scenes.
