Articles















The Beatles fight for NEMS / Nemperor

February 21 to August 1969














Beatles’ royalties

Apr 12, 1969


































What happened for Paul in 1969

From Wikipedia, here is what happened to The Beatles in 1969:

Although Let It Be was the Beatles’ final album release, it was largely recorded before Abbey Road. The project’s impetus came from an idea Martin attributes to McCartney, who suggested they “record an album of new material and rehearse it, then perform it before a live audience for the very first time – on record and on film”. Originally intended for a one-hour television programme to be called Beatles at Work, in the event much of the album’s content came from studio work beginning in January 1969, many hours of which were captured on film by director Michael Lindsay-Hogg. Martin said that the project was “not at all a happy recording experience. It was a time when relations between the Beatles were at their lowest ebb.” Lennon described the largely impromptu sessions as “hell … the most miserable … on Earth”, and Harrison, “the low of all-time”. Irritated by McCartney and Lennon, Harrison walked out for five days. Upon returning, he threatened to leave the band unless they “abandon[ed] all talk of live performance” and instead focused on finishing a new album, initially titled Get Back, using songs recorded for the TV special. He also demanded they cease work at Twickenham Film Studios, where the sessions had begun, and relocate to the newly finished Apple Studio. His bandmates agreed, and it was decided to salvage the footage shot for the TV production for use in a feature film.

To alleviate tensions within the band and improve the quality of their live sound, Harrison invited keyboardist Billy Preston to participate in the last nine days of sessions. Preston received label billing on the “Get Back” single – the only musician ever to receive that acknowledgment on an official Beatles release. After the rehearsals, the band could not agree on a location to film a concert, rejecting several ideas, including a boat at sea, a lunatic asylum, the Tunisian desert, and the Colosseum. Ultimately, what would be their final live performance was filmed on the rooftop of the Apple Corps building at 3 Savile Row, London, on 30 January 1969. Five weeks later, engineer Glyn Johns, whom Lewisohn describes as Get Back‘s “uncredited producer”, began work assembling an album, given “free rein” as the band “all but washed their hands of the entire project”.

New strains developed between the band members regarding the appointment of a financial adviser, the need for which had become evident without Epstein to manage business affairs. Lennon, Harrison and Starr favoured Allen Klein, who had managed the Rolling Stones and Sam Cooke; McCartney wanted Lee and John Eastman – father and brother, respectively, of Linda Eastman, whom McCartney married on 12 March. Agreement could not be reached, so both Klein and the Eastmans were temporarily appointed: Klein as the Beatles’ business manager and the Eastmans as their lawyers. Further conflict ensued, however, and financial opportunities were lost. On 8 May, Klein was named sole manager of the band, the Eastmans having previously been dismissed as the Beatles’ lawyers. McCartney refused to sign the management contract with Klein, but he was out-voted by the other Beatles.

Martin stated that he was surprised when McCartney asked him to produce another album, as the Get Back sessions had been “a miserable experience” and he had “thought it was the end of the road for all of us”. The primary recording sessions for Abbey Road began on 2 July. Lennon, who rejected Martin’s proposed format of a “continuously moving piece of music”, wanted his and McCartney’s songs to occupy separate sides of the album. The eventual format, with individually composed songs on the first side and the second consisting largely of a medley, was McCartney’s suggested compromise. Emerick noted that the replacement of the studio’s valve mixing console with a transistorised one yielded a less punchy sound, leaving the group frustrated at the thinner tone and lack of impact and contributing to its “kinder, gentler” feel relative to their previous albums.

On 4 July, the first solo single by a Beatle was released: Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance“, credited to the Plastic Ono Band. The completion and mixing of “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” on 20 August was the last occasion on which all four Beatles were together in the same studio. On 8 September, while Starr was in hospital, the other band members met to discuss recording a new album. They considered a different approach to songwriting by ending the Lennon–McCartney pretence and having four compositions apiece from Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, with two from Starr and a lead single around Christmas. On 20 September, Lennon announced his departure to the rest of the group but agreed to withhold a public announcement to avoid undermining sales of the forthcoming album.

Released on 26 September, Abbey Road sold four million copies within three months and topped the UK charts for a total of seventeen weeks. Its second track, the ballad “Something“, was issued as a single – the only Harrison composition that appeared as a Beatles A-side. Abbey Road received mixed reviews, although the medley met with general acclaim. Unterberger considers it “a fitting swan song for the group”, containing “some of the greatest harmonies to be heard on any rock record”. Musicologist and author Ian MacDonald calls the album “erratic and often hollow”, despite the “semblance of unity and coherence” offered by the medley. Martin singled it out as his favourite Beatles album; Lennon said it was “competent” but had “no life in it”.

Last updated on January 8, 2022

Films released in 1969


Get Back

1969 • For The Beatles • Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg


Goodbye

1969 • For Mary Hopkin • Directed by Tony Bramwell


Something

1969 • For The Beatles • Directed by Neil Aspinall


The Ballad Of John And Yoko

1969 • For The Beatles

Concerts, TV & radio shows


The rooftop concert

Jan 30, 1969 • United Kingdom • London • The rooftop of the Apple building, 3 Savile Row

Recording sessions in 1969


Recording "Lontano Dagli Occhi"

January 1969 ? • Songs recorded during this session appear on Lontano Dagli Occhi / The Game


Get Back sessions - January 2, 1969 - Day 1

Jan 02, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Let It Be... Naked


The "Get Back / Let It Be" sessions

January 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Let It Be (Limited Edition)


Get Back sessions - January 3, 1969 - Day 2

Jan 03, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Let It Be... Naked


Get Back sessions - January 6, 1969 - Day 3

Jan 06, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Let It Be (50th anniversary boxset)


Get Back sessions - January 7, 1969 - Day 4

Jan 07, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Let It Be (50th anniversary boxset)


Get Back sessions - January 8, 1969 - Day 5

Jan 08, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Let It Be (Limited Edition)







Get Back sessions - January 21, 1969 - Day 10

Jan 21, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Let It Be (Limited Edition)


Get Back sessions - January 22, 1969 - Day 11

Jan 22, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Anthology 3


Get Back sessions - January 23, 1969 - Day 12

Jan 23, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Anthology 3


Get Back sessions - January 24, 1969 - Day 13

Jan 24, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Let It Be (Limited Edition)


Mixing the "Get Back" album (1st compilation)

January 24 & January 26, 1969


Get Back sessions - January 25, 1969 - Day 14

Jan 25, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Let It Be (Limited Edition)


Get Back sessions - January 26, 1969 - Day 15

Jan 26, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Let It Be (Limited Edition)


Get Back sessions - January 27, 1969 - Day 16

Jan 27, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Get Back / Don't Let Me Down (UK - Mono)


Get Back sessions - January 28, 1969 - Day 17

Jan 28, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Get Back / Don't Let Me Down (UK - Mono)


Get Back sessions - January 29, 1969 - Day 18

Jan 29, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Anthology 3


Get Back sessions - January 31, 1969 - Day 20

Jan 31, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Let It Be (Limited Edition)


Home recording - "Goodbye"

February 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)


Recording "Rosetta"

Early February 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rosetta / Just Like Before



Recording "Don't Let Me Down" ?

February 18 or 19 or 20 or 21, 1969


Recording "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"

Feb 22, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


"Abbey Road" sessions

Feb 22 - Aug 25, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Editing "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"

Feb 23, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Tape copying, recording "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"

Feb 24, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road



"Goodbye" session

Mar 01-02, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Goodbye / Sparrow



Recording "Thumbin' A Ride", "Going Back to Liverpool"

Mar 11, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on New Day / Thumbin' A Ride


Mixing "Get Back"

Mar 26, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Get Back / Don't Let Me Down (UK - Mono)


Recording "Charity Bubbles", "Goose"

Circa April - Early May 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Charity Bubbles / Goose


Mixing "Get Back", "Don't Let Me Down"

Apr 03, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Get Back / Don't Let Me Down (UK - Mono)


Mixing "Get Back"

Apr 07, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Get Back / Don't Let Me Down (UK - Mono)



Recording "On Our Way Home"

Late April 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on On Our Way Home


Recording and mixing "Old Brown Shoe", recording "Something"

Apr 16, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road



Recording and mixing "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", "Oh! Darling"

Apr 20, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Mixing "Two Of Us"

Apr 25, 1969


Recording "Oh! Darling", "Octopus's Garden"

Apr 26, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording and mixing "Octopus's Garden"

Apr 29, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road



Mixing "Oh! Darling"

May 01, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Something"

May 02, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Something"

May 05, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "You Never Give Me Your Money"

May 06, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road



"My Dark Hour" session

May 09, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Brave New World




Recording "You Never Give Me Your Money"

Jul 01, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Her Majesty", "Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight"

Jul 02, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight"

Jul 03, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight"

Jul 04, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Here Comes The Sun"

Jul 07, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording and mixing "Here Comes The Sun"

Jul 08, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"

Jul 09, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording and mixing "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"

Jul 10, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road




Recording and mixing "You Never Give Me Your Money"

Jul 15, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Here Comes The Sun", "Something"

Jul 16, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Oh! Darling", "Octopus's Garden"

Jul 17, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording and mixing "Oh! Darling", "Octopus's Garden"

Jul 18, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Come Together"

Jul 21, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Oh! Darling", "Come Together"

Jul 22, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Oh! Darling", "Come Together", "The End"

Jul 23, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording and mixing "Come And Get It", "Sun King", "Mean Mr Mustard"

Jul 24, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road



Recording "Polythene Pam", "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window"

Jul 28, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Come Together", "Sun King", "Mean Mr. Mustard"

Jul 29, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road



Recording "You Never Give Me Your Money", "Golden Slumbers", "Carry That Weight"

Jul 31, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Because"

Aug 01, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Come And Get It"

Aug 02, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magic Christian Music


Recording "Because", mixing "Something", "Here Comes The Sun"

Aug 04, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "You Never Give Me Your Money", "Because", "The End"

Aug 05, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Here Comes The Sun", recording and mixing "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"

Aug 06, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Mixing "Come Together", recording "The End"

Aug 07, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "The End", "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", "Oh! Darling"

Aug 08, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", "Oh! Darling", "Here Comes The Sun"

Aug 11, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Mixing "Oh! Darling", "Because", "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"

Aug 12, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Mixing "You Never Give Me Your Money"

Aug 13, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Mixing the "Abbey Road" medley

Aug 14, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road



"Que Sera Sera" session

Aug 17, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) / Fields Of St Etienne


Recording and mixing "Golden Slumbers", "Carry That Weight", "The End"

Aug 18, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road



Mixing "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"

Aug 20, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Mixing the "Abbey Road" medley

Aug 21, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road


Recording "Carry On Till Tomorrow"

Aug 22, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magic Christian Music


Editing "Maxwell's Silver Hammer", "The End"

Aug 25, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road




Recording "Rock Of All Ages"

Sep 18, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Come And Get It / Rock Of All Ages


Mixing "Across The Universe"

Oct 02, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on No One's Gonna Change Our World


Recording "Stardust"

November 6-7, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sentimental Journey



Mixing "Lady Madonna", "Rain", "Octopus's Garden"

Dec 02, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Hey Jude


Mixing "Hey Jude", "Revolution"

Dec 05, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Hey Jude



"McCartney" home recordings

Late December 1969 to Jan 03, 1970 • Songs recorded during this session appear on McCartney


Songs written in 1969



Backwards Guitar Piece

Unreleased song


Cavendish Parade

Unreleased song


Every Night

Officially appears on McCartney


Momma Miss America

Officially appears on McCartney


Rupert Guitar

Unreleased song


That Would Be Something

Officially appears on McCartney


The Back Seat Of My Car

Officially appears on Ram



The End

Officially appears on Abbey Road


The Lovely Linda

Officially appears on McCartney


There You Are Eddie

Unreleased song


Valentine Day

Officially appears on McCartney

1969 interviews


What makes a man stylish?

1969 • From The Observer


Interview for ITV

Mar 12, 1969 • From ITV



Following their kerb drill in Abbey Road

Sep 20, 1969 • From Evening Standard


Interview for BBC Radio 1

Sep 21, 1969 • From BBC Radio 1


Interview for CBS television

Late October 1969 • From CBS


Interview for BBC

Oct 26, 1969 • From BBC


The case of the missing Beatles - Paul is still with us

Nov 07, 1969 • From Life Magazine

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