Beatles / Ragnarok / 3CD Wx OBI Strip

in 1960s, Beatles, Misterclaudel 2017/02/09 266 Views

Beatles / Ragnarok / 3CD Wx OBI Strip  / Misterclaudel

https://www.giginjapan.com/beatles-ragnarok/

Translated Text:
The Last Day Of Get Back Session At Apple Studio January 31,1969. Digitally Remastered

Click Image To Enlarge

When was the Beatles disbanded? It was the first time that Paul announced his withdrawal in a magazine on April 10, 1970 when the thing became public. In addition, on December 30, 1970 Paul appealed the other three to the London High Court seeking dissolution of the Beatles and elimination of Apple management. And on March 12, 1971, the court approved it, and the legal dissolution was decided. However, these are representations, movements towards it, and legal decisions.

For many Japanese people, the end of the Great East Asa War was recognized as August 15, 1954 when Tamane Broadcasting was held, but before that it was making a consultation for peace negotiations through the Soviet Union, before the congratulatory meeting of the Emperor It is said that August 10 which decided to surrender was a substantial end war. And the legal surrender is the day when Seiko Aoi signed the surrender document in the Missouri issue on September 2. The Soviet Union destroyed the Nissho Neutral Treaty and invaded the Northern Territories since August 15, when Japan disarmed, but before the September 2 the Soviet Union justified it because it was in a state of warfare . Anyway it is difficult to determine the date.

Let’s go back to the Beatles. Although there are various opinions in the history of the Beatles’ dissolution, it is probably only saying that all of them are correct and complexly entangled. And from the time of the white album, it seems that the sprouts were felt among the members. The Beatles, which had been proud of a strong unity and strong unity until then, had been transformed into a relationship that requires effort to maintain it after the white album. I think that it was the get back session of 1969 that the effect was demonstrated in a bad direction.

The Get Back Session was done on the concept that filming the state of the recording of the new song into a movie, performing only the new song, making that appearance a highlight of the movie. Photographing and recording were performed at Twickenham Studio from January 2 to 16, 1969, at Apple Studio from January 20 to 31, respectively. The famous roof top concert is taking place on 30th. The film “Let It Be” was produced from films filmed in this session, but the content is dark, and Paul and George are vividly recorded until a tense tension scene, It is reported that George had a difficulty in softening. Also, the recorded material was not George Martin, who had been responsible for producing it until now, but was newly released to Phil Spector and released as an album “Let It Be”. George and John were extremely satisfied with the work of Phil Spector and will also entrust the production of a solo album, but Paul was furious as being broken into a work by Phil Spector who had decorated excessively. In any case, it can be said that this get back session was a month that made all the cracks between Paul and other members decisive, including the result.

Again, when we confirmed the schedule of get back session, the session that began at Twickenham Studios from January 2 was held over the course of one month after transferring location to Apple studio from the middle. On January 30th it was devoted to a live show on the roof of Apple Building, and the appearance is also used as the roof top concert at the end of the movie. The main purpose of the get back session was to produce albums and movies. The roof top concert was set on the 30th to keep the last 31 days as a reserved day. It is this work that recorded on the very last January 31, the last day recording with all existing sound sources

There is no doubt that there was album production from this session in the background that the recording was done on the last day. It can be said from the fact that three songs “Two Of Us”, “The Long And Winding Road” and “Let It Be” that were not played at the roof top concert were recorded focusing on the last finish . “The Long And Winding Road” and “Let It Be” were not oriented to the live only by piano-based quiet songs, and the arrangement of “Two Of Us” was changed to an acoustic-based performance on the way It seems to have been omitted by the rooftop live. Since both are Paul’s songs, we can see that this project is still led by Paul.

This last day began with the “Two Of Us” session. Although it is Paul’s song, John started singing in the main, starting with a version that dropped quite a tempo, and it’s a warm-up atmosphere. It is because the session has just begun and the engine is not engaged, I enjoy playing songs that are not related at all. However, it seems that sessions are matured, not because they are not something like the first half of the session at the beginning of the month, but because they are playing properly. The interesting thing is that the song changes as “Take This Hammer” progresses, and later it is John ‘s solo album “Clippled Inside”. The Beatles played like this without thinking, and it was supposed to be a piece of later work by matching John ‘s good skill that keeps the lyrics that came into my mind. While incomplete, the song is completely “Clippled Inside” melody. Furthermore, it will laugh as it sticks to the punch that leads to “Run For Yourself” as it is. The important “Two Of Us” is very interesting, as you can see the process of approaching completion of songs in hand. Originally it seemed to be singing mainly by John, but Paul became the main version reversing master and slave from the middle, and the tempo has been raised close to the release version as well.

In addition to temporarily stopping “Two Of Us” and transitioning to the next “The Long And Winding Road” session, there is also recorded how various songs are still playing. “I Got Stung” is officially recorded by Paul on the album “Run Devil Run” in 30 years, but here is something like a piece of music. “Step Inside Love” is a singing version of John, playfully playing on the way and becoming a replacement for “Let It Be”. Paul will try to play “Let It Be” relatively seriously, but it will be interrupted soon. Here the members will postpone “Let It Be” and start “The Long And Winding Road”. In the beginning, John and George tune the guitar back, or while lightly sounding a sound, Paul sits on the piano and starts playing. I feel like I have not decided what kind of singing to turn with singing like shedding yet. Even so, beautiful melodies can not be hidden, and even such rehearsal take is the atmosphere of masterpieces. Listening to such a simple performance, what Paul intends and what Phil Spector finally overlapped with the chorus and orchestra are truly exquisite, like the hymns being sung in the church, Perhaps it was surprising when Paul heard the arrangement of Phil Spector for the first time. The interlude part has not been decided yet, it is also interesting that Paul is singing with a scat. After all, this song should be played in a simple way with four Beatles in this way, including Billy Preston at best. It is clearly understood by listening to this session sound source.

Were you tired of just playing the same song, Paul suddenly played “Lady Madonna”. It has been played with a hard feeling that it fairly collapsed, and there is a play that says “The Long And Winding Road” on the melody of “Lady Madonna”, and it is worth listening. And again the session returns to “The Long And Winding Road”. At this point, it seems that he did not decide how to make the ending in the plan of Paul, and the take that finishes the end properly continues, but it seems that he was planning to finish in orthodox at roughly the piano.

And finally the session will shift to “Let It Be”. Before that, “I Want You” is being played with play. Paul version of “I Want You” of truth / unknown unknown has been circulated since ancient times. True false is still unknown yet, but after that I described that Mark Lewison’s book “There is” I Want you “Paul sings”, and the credibility has increased dramatically. However, what is recorded here is “I Want You” by genuinely pole vocal. Although there are parts that are very similar to the singing of the take of the unknown truth or unknown, it is a frustrating place to say something.

“Let It Be” is a Paul confident song, it is told told to the surroundings that “When this song is announced, the world will be amazed”. Of course, it is one of the songs that represent the Beatles, Paul is an important song that is incorporated into the set list every time in a solo tour. Originally the lyrics have not been finalized yet, John suddenly played jokingly, often disturbing Paul as if it did not get angry. As well as doing other songs, you can sing with up tempo and sing and repeat trial and error on this day on the last day. However, gradually the seriousness has increased in the performance, and John also participates in the chorus quite seriously whether it has recognized the atmosphere. Especially the serious exchange of John and Paul after the song finished is very tense, and despite saying that John is okay, Paul agrees again that John agrees It is a sound source that feels even behind that entered the sanctuary, such as the start of a new take.

It seems that it was to re-play each song again to conclude the final day of this session. It would be a distraction to first play “Oh Darling” 3 take. It is strange that it is different from the one recorded in “Abbey Road” and it sounds like a get back session properly. Like the previous “Let It Be”, he is performing at Bossa Nova Arrange at the up tempo. It was Paul’s “The Long And Winding Road” that ended the long sessions over the past month. Excessive heaviness to the extent of Phil Spector is excluded, only the beautiful piano only, back is this era, the guitar effect that rolls a special ball this time, the figure of the original song is here here It can be said that there is. The interlude is not a guitar but a discreet organ solo by Billy Preston’s hand.

This work includes a session that lasted for one month as a long-term get back session from January 1969, a session after the rooftop concert, a session on the last day of January 31, including all existing sound sources become. As the final day, the song is almost final but the last session that came in the situation lacking the bridges. Three songs not played on the roof top the day before, the appearance of the four Beatles finishing the session is recorded vividly. Especially because the vocal microphone is near, realistic feeling as if it is being sung with just the ear, ear at the very beginning, will bring to those who listen to the impression that can not be replaced by anything.

While the collapse of the Beatles began to be revealed, it still keeps the sacredness to be expressed as “the twilight of the gods” unchanged. The title “Ragnarok” is the last day in Norse mythology world. Richard Wagner uses the German translation of “Ragnarok” as the title of the final chapter in the musical theater ‘Ring of Nibelung’. It can be said that it is a tight ring suitable for decorating the last chapter of the legend called the grand beatles. Permanent preservation of a beautiful picture / disk specification A tightly pressed board.

ビートルズが解散したのはいつであろうか。事が公になったのは1970年4月10日ポールが雑誌で自らの脱退を発表したのが最初である。さらに1970年12月30日にロンドン高等裁判所にビートルズ解散とアップル経営の解消を求めてポールが他の3人を訴えた。そして1971年3月12日、裁判所がそれを認め、法的に解散が決定した。もっともこれらは表明、それに向けての動き、そして法的な決定である。

多くの日本人にとって大東亜戦争の終結は玉音放送があった昭和20年8月15日と認識されているが、それ以前にソ連を通じて和平交渉の打診をしていたし、天皇臨席の御前会議で降伏を決定した8月10日が実質的な終戦とも言える。そして法的な降伏は9月2日ミズーリ号で重光葵が降伏文書に署名した日である。ソ連が日ソ中立条約を破棄し北方領土を侵略したのは日本が武装解除した8月15日以降であるが、9月2日以前はまだ交戦状態であったという理由でソ連はそれを正当化している。とかく日付の確定というのは難しい。

話をビートルズに戻そう。ビートルズが解散に至る経緯には諸説あるものの、おそらくそのどれもが正しく、複合的に絡まり出た結果であるとしか言えない。そしてホワイト・アルバムの頃からその萌芽はメンバー各人の中に感じていたのではないだろうか。それまで4人仲良く強い結束を誇っていたビートルズは、ホワイト・アルバム以降、それを維持すべく努力が必要となる関係に変貌していたのである。その努力が悪い方面に効果を発揮したのが1969年のゲット・バック・セッションであったと思うのである。

ゲット・バック・セッションは新曲のレコーディングの様子をフィルムにまとめ映画にする、新曲のみのライヴを行ない、その様子を映画のハイライトとする、というコンセプトで行なわれたものである。1969年1月2日から16日までトゥイッケンナム・スタジオで、1月20日から31日までアップル・スタジオで、それぞれ撮影とレコーディングが行なわれた。有名なルーフ・トップ・コンサートは30日に行なわれている。このセッションで撮影されたフィルムから映画『レット・イット・ビー』が制作されたが、内容は暗澹たるもので、ポールとジョージが一触即発の緊張の場面まで生々しく収録されており、生前のジョージがソフト化に難色を示したと伝えられる。またレコーディングされたマテリアルは、今までプロデュースを一手に担っていたジョージ・マーティンではなく、新たにフィル・スペクターに委ねられ、アルバム『レット・イット・ビー』としてリリースされた。フィル・スペクターの仕事に対してジョージとジョンは非常に満足し、ソロ・アルバムのプロデュースも委ねることになるが、ポールは過剰な装飾を施したフィル・スペクターに作品を壊されたとして激怒した。いずれにせよ、このゲット・バック・セッションが、その結果も含め全てポールとその他のメンバーとの亀裂を決定的にする一か月であったといえる。

再度、ゲット・バック・セッションの日程を確認すると、1月2日からトゥイッケンナム・スタジオで始まったセッションは、途中からアップル・スタジオに場所を移して一か月間に渡って行なわれた。1月30日はアップル・ビルの屋上でのライヴにあてられ、その様子はルーフ・トップ・コンサートとして映画の最後にも使われている。ゲット・バック・セッションのそもそもの目的はアルバムと映画の製作であった。ルーフ・トップ・コンサートが30日に設定されたのは、最後の31日を予備日として開けておくためであった。そのまさに1月31日、最終日のレコーディングを、現存するすべての音源で収録したのが本作である。

最終日にレコーディングが行なわれた背景には、このセッションからのアルバム制作があったことは間違いない。ルーフ・トップ・コンサートで演奏されなかった「Two Of Us」「The Long And Winding Road」「Let It Be」の3曲が最後の仕上げとばかりに重点的にレコーディングされていることからもそれが伺える。「The Long And Winding Road」と「Let It Be」はピアノ主体の静かな曲だけにライヴ向きではなかったこと、そして「Two Of Us」も途中からアコースティック主体の演奏にアレンジが変更になったことから、屋上ライヴで割愛されたと思われる。いずれもポールの曲であることから、このプロジェクトがやはりポール主導であることがわかる。

この最終日は、「Two Of Us」のセッションから始まった。ポールの曲でありながら、ジョンがメインで歌い、かなりテンポを落としたバージョンから始まり、いかにもウォームアップ的な雰囲気である。まだセッションが始まったばかりでエンジンがかかっていないからだろう、まったく関係ない曲を演奏して楽しんでいる。ただし月初めのセッション前半のようなダラダラしたものではなく、きちんと演奏していることからもセッションが成熟していることが伺える。面白いのは「Take This Hammer」が演奏を進めていく内に曲が変化していき、後にジョンのソロアルバム「Clippled Inside」になっている点である。ビートルズはこのように思いつくままに演奏をし、頭に浮かんだ歌詞を連ねるジョンの得意技を合わせ、後の作品のピースとしていたのであろう。未完成ながら曲は完全に「Clippled Inside」のメロディである。さらに、それがそのまま「Run For Yourself」に繋がるオチまでついてしまうのには笑ってしまう。肝心の「Two Of Us」は、曲が完成に近付いていく過程が手にとるようにわかり、非常に興味深い。当初はジョンがメインで歌っているような感じだったが、途中から主従逆転しポールがメインを張るバージョンになり、テンポもリリース・バージョンに近くまで上げられている。

「Two Of Us」を一旦終え、次の「The Long And Winding Road」のセッションへ移行する合間に、これまた様々な曲をお遊びで演奏している様子が収録されている。「I Got Stung」はこの30年後にポールがアルバム『ラン・デヴィル・ラン』で正式にレコーディングしているが、ここでは曲の片鱗といった程度のもの。「Step Inside Love」はジョンが歌いバージョンで、途中でふざけて「Let It Be」の替え歌になってしまっている。仕切り直しでポールが「Let It Be」を比較的真面目に演奏しようとするが、すぐに中断してしまう。ここでメンバーは「Let It Be」を後回しにして「The Long And Winding Road」に着手する。最初はバックでジョンとジョージがギターをチューニングしたり、軽く音を出している中、ポールがピアノに座って演奏を始める。まだ流したような歌い方で、どのような歌いまわしにするか決まっていない感じである。それでも美しいメロディは隠しようがなく、このようなリハーサル・テイクですら名曲の雰囲気が漂っている。このようなシンプルな演奏を聴くと、ポールが意図したものと、最終的にフィル・スペクターがコーラスやオーケストラを重ねたものは実に仰々しく、教会で歌われる讃美歌のようになっており、おそらくポールが初めてフィル・スペクターのアレンジを聴いたときは驚いたのではないだろうか。間奏部分もまだ決まっておらず、ポールがスキャットで歌っているのも興味深い。やはりこの曲は、このようにビートルズ4人に、せいぜいビリー・プレストンを入れたシンプルに演奏すべきだったのだ。それがこのセッション音源を聴いて如実にわかる。

同じ曲ばかり演奏するのに飽きたのか、ポールは突然「Lady Madonna」を演奏しだす。これがかなり崩したハードな感じで演奏されており、「Lady Madonna」のメロディに乗せて「The Long And Winding Road」を歌うという遊びもあり、一聴の価値あるというものだ。そして再びセッションは「The Long And Winding Road」に戻る。この時点で、ポールの構想の中にエンディングをどのようにするか決めていないようで、最後を適当に終わらせるテイクが続くが、おおよそピアノでオーソドックスに終わるつもりだったようだ。

そしていよいよセッションは「Let It Be」に移行する。その前に「I Want You」がお遊びで演奏されている。古くから真偽不明のポール・バージョンの「I Want You」が流通している。真偽はいまだもって不明だが、その後マークルイソンの著書で「ポールが歌う『I Want you』がある」と記述したことで、俄然信憑性が増したものである。しかし、ここに収録されているのは正真正銘ポールのヴォーカルによる「I Want You」である。聴いてみると先の真偽不明のテイクの歌いまわしと非常に類似しているところもあるが、やはり何とも言えないのがもどかしいところ。

「Let It Be」はポール自信の曲で、「この曲が発表されると世界が驚くぞ」と周囲に言ったと伝えられる。もちろんビートルズを代表する曲のひとつであり、ポールはソロ・ツアーにおいて毎回セットリストに組み込んでいる重要な曲である。当初は歌詞もまだ確定しておらず、ジョンが突然ふざけだしたりと、よくこれでポールが怒らなかったなというくらい邪魔をしている。他の曲でもよくやるように、アップテンポにして歌ってみたり、最終日のこの日においても試行錯誤を繰り返しているのがわかる。しかし、徐々に演奏に真剣さが増していき、ジョンも雰囲気を察したのか、かなり真面目にコーラスに加わっている。特に曲が終わったあとのジョンとポールの真剣なやりとりは、非常に緊張感あふれるもので、ジョンがオッケーだと言っているにもかかわらず、ポールはもう一度やろうという、それにジョンが同意して新たなテイクが始まるなど、聖域に踏み入った後ろめたさすら感じる音源である。

そして、このセッション最終日を締めくくるのは、それぞれの曲を再度演奏し直すことであったようだ。最初に「Oh Darling」を3テイク演奏しているのも気晴らしであろう。『Abbey Road』に収録のものとは趣が異なり、きちんとゲット・バック・セッションふうに聴こえるから不思議である。先の「Let It Be」と同じように、アップ・テンポで、ボサノヴァ・アレンジで演奏されてもいる。この一か月に渡る長きセッションを締めくくったのは、ポールによる「The Long And Winding Road」であった。フィル・スペクターによる過剰なまでの重厚さは排除されたままの、美しいピアノのみの、そしてバックはこの時代、この時期特有の玉を転がすようなギター・エフェクト、本来あるべき曲の姿がここにあるといえる。間奏はギターではなくビリー・プレストンの手による控えめなオルガン・ソロである。

本作は、一か月もの長期に渡る1969年1月のゲット・バック・セッションから、ルーフトップ・コンサートを終えた後のセッション、1月31日最終日のセッションを現存する音源すべて収録したタイトルになる。最終日ということもあり、曲はほぼ完成に近いながらも画竜点睛を欠く状況で臨んだ最終セッションである。前日にルーフトップで演奏されなかった3曲を中心に、セッションに仕上げにかかっているビートルズ4人の様子が生々しく収録されている。特にヴォーカル・マイクが近いため、まさにすぐ側、耳元で歌われているかのような臨場感は何物にも代えがたい感動を聴く者にもたらすであろう。

ビートルズの崩壊が露呈し始めた時期でありながら、それでいて「神々の黄昏」と表現すべき神聖さを変わらずに保っている。タイトルの「Ragnarok」とは北欧神話の世界における終末の日のことである。リヒャルト・ワーグナーは楽劇『ニーべルングの指輪』では「Ragnarok」のドイツ語訳を最終章のタイトルに用いている。まさに壮大なビートルズという伝説の最終章を飾るのに相応しいタイトリングといえる。美しいピクチャー・ディスク仕様の永久保存がっちりプレス盤。

DISC ONE
01. Roll Announcement
02. Two Of Us
03. Unknown
04. Hey Good Lookin’
05. Take This Hammer
06. Two Of Us
07. Two Of Us
08. Two Of Us
09. Two Of Us
10. Two Of Us
11. Step Inside Love
12. Friendship
13. Tales Of Frankie Rabbit
14. Two Of Us
15. Deed I Do
16. Two Of Us
17. I Got Stung
18. Step Inside Love
19. Let It Be
20. Let It Be
21. The Long And Winding Road
22. Let It Be
23. The Long And Winding Road
24. The Long And Winding Road
25. The Long And Winding Road
26. The Long And Winding Road
27. The Long And Winding Road
28. The Long And Winding Road
29. The Long And Winding Road
30. The Long And Winding Road

DISC TWO
01. The Long And Winding Road
02. The Long And Winding Road
03. The Long And Winding Road
04. The Long And Winding Road
05. Lady Madonna
06. The Long And Winding Road
07. The Long And Winding Road
08. The Long And Winding Road
09. The Long And Winding Road
10. The Long And Winding Road
11. The Long And Winding Road
12. I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
13. Let It Be
14. Let It Be
15. Let It Be
16. Let It Be
17. Build Me Up Buttercup
18. Let It Be
19. Let It Be
20. Let It Be
21. Let It Be
22. Let’s Have A Party
23. Let’s Have A Party
24. Let It Be
25. Dialogue

DISC THREE
01. Instrumental
02. Let It Be
03. Let It Be
04. Roll Announcement
05. Let It Be
06. Let It Be
07. Let It Be
08. Let It Be – 12th Street Rag
09. Let It Be
10. Oh! Darling
11. Oh! Darling
12. Oh! Darling
13. Unknown
14. Let It Be
15. Let It Be
16. Let It Be
17. Two Of Us
18. The Long And Winding Road
19. Dialogue (Two Of Us chat)
20. Dialogue (Let It Be chat)
21. Let It Be
22. Two Of Us
23. Let It Be
24. Two Of Us
25. The Long And WInding Road

Misterclaudel. MCCD-611/612/613

Klaus Voormann porfolio

Hamburg St. Pauli 1960-1962

This is a sketch of our stompin' ground in Hamburg.

Astrid's Home Getting Ready



Astrid's home, us getting ready to go to the Reeperbahn.

The Bambi Years 


This is the main entrance to the Bambi Kino. The back entrance to the Beatles rooms was round the corner.
George is feeling very cold!

They lived at the bottom of a narrow twenty-yard corridor - which Paul christened 'the canal' - in two tiny storage rooms in which you could just about swing a cat, so long as the cat had no tail!

Somehow two camp-beds were jammed into these ugly concrete rooms which were windowless and illuminated by bare lightbulbs that hung from the ceiling. Without even a hook to hang a coat on, the boys had to live out of their suitcases, and were especially disappointed since this was where they were not only expected to sleep during the day, but also to spend all their free time.

The Bambi wash room was a men’s room and wash room in one. So it could happen that a cinema guest would come for a piss while they were having their morning shave.

Kaiserkeller

It was extreme at the Kaiserkeller. There was always that threat contained in being different. It was just a matter of how we dressed against how they dressed. Kids - as we all were then - can be very cruel, and very class-conscious, looking down on people who aren’t part of the same culture. There was an attitude of not deigning to notice all these people people around us. Actually two or three of the rockers at the Kaiserkeller looked very good for their style, though I never had any desire to connect with them. For me there was also a feeling of fear of this new environment. In fact our legs were trembling as we descended into the Kaiserkeller on that first night. We were about the first in the audience, so we had a good view of the club. The room had a very low ceiling and the dance floor was surrounded by columns. Fishermen’s nets and other maritime bric-a-brac made the place look like a seaman’s tavern. The waiter hung around the left corner of the bar.

The first band plugged in their instruments and the show started. From our lifeboat we were able to watch nearly everything on the stage. I could see the drummer - Ringo Starr - very clearly and I was impressed. Then the blond-curled Rory Storm entered the stage and did all his tricks with the mic stand again.

From then on we were more often in this cellar than at home. Each time we took more of our friends with us and grew more at ease in those surroundings. Soon our crew packed the whole lifeboat. By and by the members of the band began to notice us. I know that everybody was very timid and too shy to go up to them. Jürgen suggested approaching The Beatles. He didn’t dare do it himself, so I had to.

 

I had an idea.... I’d designed the sleeve for a cover version by ’’The Typhoons’’ of The Ventures Walk Don’t Run.  I took the cover to the Kaiserkeller and waited all that night until John Lennon sat at the edge of the stage for a moment.  John was very polite and introduced me to Stuart Sutcliffe, whom he called the artist in the band. Everybody in the boat was delighted about the contact. We didn’t speak English very well, but from that day on our friendship grew very fast.

Grosse Freiheit

These are two of the doorman, standing in front of the St. Pauli clubs.

 

Koschmider, the owner of the Kaiserkeller had them arrested for burning a condom on a nail on a concrete wall in a corridor outside their room. The Beatles and Koschmider were quarreling at that time as the boys had decided to play the Top Ten Club.

Paul and Pete getting arrested just about 100 yards after they left the Bambi Kino. The police drove them to the Davidswache and put them in custody.

"Die Grosse Freiheit", one of Hamburg’s small side streets off the Reeperbahn, means the Great Freedom.

 

Paul shows the scene of the crime in a little drawing he sent me.

Tabu

I remember going around their place one weekend, and entering the bedroom to find John being prepared for something which instantly made me very curious. He was dressed in a pair of underpants and a white shirt which, for some unknown reason, he wore back to front.
Then he was handed a black jacket which he put on in the same way. Now he picked up a crucifix which was, no doubt, one of his own creations. As soon as he had hold of his crucifix he started talking like a preacher. With his arm outstretched he went straight to the window which looked out on Grosse Freiheit and, kneeling down on a chair, leaned out and showed the cross to the people in the street.  With his voice lifted to the top of its range, he carried on his preaching to the people below.
I have no idea what the people of the Grosse Freiheit thought, but this was more than just a little laugh.

Chug-ou
A very cheap Chinese restaurant called Chug-ou was one of our favourites. Some of the musicians who ate there, like The Beatles, were attracted to the pancakes the restaurant was known for, and its massive twomark servings of chicken and rice, but mainly the place was frequented by the elderly of St. Pauli, and the many battle-scarred war veterans who were still around. Paul recalls one old customer, who "parked" his wooden leg in the corner of the restaurant, while he ate at Chug-ou.




John and Stuart on their way to Chug-ou’s for a bite to eat. Chug-ou’s is just about where the VW is parked.

Star Club


George In The Rain - The Star-Club was no problem for The Beatles at all. They had played enough places up to that point to feel comfortable in a bigger venue. Sometimes after or while a concert when George felt hungry, he just went out this old cinema, going around the corner for a bite to eat.



John And Bettina - Often late at night, John was hanging over the bar, dead tired and sad. Bettina tried to cheer him up.



This was one of those nights. The Beatles were playing great, the people were dancing and having a good time. In the middle of the door stood this seductive looking creature with her back towards the band, desperately trying to look cool. John took a long and marine look over her shoulder and than, cautiously set down behind her.  "Got you!"  He quickly wrapped his legs around the girl’s belly and all we saw next was John raise his hands as if he was going to dive into her dress...

      

This band, more than any other I have seen, was never very well behaved. If the boys took a step too far, they would soon be on their way back to good old England. Those John Days... times when he would act outrageously, just out of sheer frustration, and play jokes which left you torn between laughing and crying would usually leave Paul with having to repair the damage with a thousand apologies and promises.

Top Ten


It was a strange feeling to be in the Top Ten in the early hours of the morning. The overtiredness would sometimes create a wound-up atmosphere, a very strong and tremendously intensive feeling which has stuck with me until this day. It was the quiet feeling of togetherness and friendship.



Suddenly, somebody goes to the door of the Top Ten and opens it, and then ... Woompf! Daylight slams inside and fights its way through thick swathes of smoke. The sun glistens on the table, shining like crazy. Everything changes to pallid sobriety. What minutes ago felt comfortable and safe, a world wrapped-up, far away from the here and now, suddenly comes to a blinding dead end.



Rosa, sometimes known as Muttchen, presided over the toilet of the Top Ten. From her drawer she dealt out everything one might need to master life: condoms, handkerchiefs, toilet paper and a good assortment of pills. When Rosa's Pauli came by to get his Prellies she was particularly happy. Rosa would sit in there smiling, with her heart of gold, amongst the kissing lovers and pissing drunks, and they would have a nice little natter.

Davidswache


These four boys were treated like outcasts by the establishment, mainly because of their looks, and the fact that they were musicians and artists. They were watched closely and deported at the first available opportunity. A few poor lads filed away as criminals; this was such a strange over-reaction to a little rascal's prank. In fact, the authorities' response had little to do with the actual offense. The police and the entire establishment saw something dangerous and obscene in these musicians who screamed their souls into microphones: they were seen as a threat to middle-class morality. So the imprisonment of Paul was especially unjust.

Boulevard Of Broken Strings

John after a long night of playing and drinking stumbling home, or is someone going to entice him to stumble yet into another adventure?


I tried to capture an early morning, rainy atmosphere on St. Pauli’s Reeperbahn. Have a good look at the detail.

Breakfast With John



One very late night into the early morning hours after everyone else had gone, we were having breakfast when suddenly John fell face first into his plate, fast asleep while still holding his burning cigarette!  Eventually when the cigarette burned down to his fingers, John awoke, sat up, and continued on as if nothing had happened!

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