Quincy Jones Interview

tubegroover
AGREE with respondents that say Paul was the musical force of that group. It's so obvious when one listens to each of their subsequent solo efforts if it wasn't obvious before which it sure was to me. Speaking of their solo efforts, is there one better than the superb first of George Harrison, "All Things Must Pass" the quiet, unsung Beatle, maybe my favorite solo album of any of the Beatles. "Imagine" if you can a more mundane song than that one, never got it maybe someone can clue me in?

Uh, somebody's not paying much attention to the headlines these days.

Let's imagine some alternate reality where the Beatles never existed, but J,P,G & R still had rock and roll careers.

RINGO - bounced from band to band, becomes well-known host of pop music TV show.  Always a tech head, was early investor in Apple and is still one of the 20 largest individual shareholders.

GEORGE - long term collaborator with Donovan and then Cat Stevens.  Releases several solo albums to little commercial success.  Leaves music for a period, but returned as Stevie Winwood's touring guitarist for 20 years.

JOHN - upon his release from prison relocates to NYC and co-founds the Velvet Underground.  Convicted of leading major drug distribution ring, but claims he was framed by the FBI and flees overseas before sentencing.  Last heard of location is in the jungles of Peru with Maoist revolutionaries.

PAUL - writes 15 to 20 number one hits for other artists.  Brings Hendrix to England, produces the albums and is the original bass player in the Experience.  Later forms a band with a piano player/singer named Elton and that band sells 100 million albums.

My point is that individually they all would have had impact, but there was something magical about when they worked together.  They can't really be separated.

QJ’s comments strike me as the kind of things that a person suffering from dementia makes. Impulsive, angry, without constructive purpose. What’s the goal here? After such a brilliant career, he wants to be remembered for a handful of self-indulgently, controversially cranky comments? Really?

"All Things Must Pass" as good as at least half of the Beatle albums. "Cloud 9" and "Brainwashed" are also very strong. To me, John was the least compelling solo artist--although "Imagine" and "Instant Karma" as singles were tres cool. McCartney's first album, "Ram" and "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" were all good. I like "New" a bit as well as "Venus and Mars" but they are a bit kitchy.
Clearly each tempered the other's weaknesses.