The Beatles Go Solo / 40 - Think For Yourself
The recent widespread interest in reports of the 40 year mark since Paul McCartney's official announcement that the Beatles were moving on to pursue careers as solo artists is further proof of the group's endless influence - across the world and transcending generations.
Beatlefest conventions continue to draw thousands of devoted fans - from ages 5 to 95 - featuring speakers who knew some or all of the Beatles, groups who do their very best to replicate the Beatles sound and endless varieties of memorabilia. The gatherings began within a few years of the group's going their separate ways, and show every sign of continuing as a powerful attraction to Beatle devotees from everywhere for many years to come
Among true Beatles connaisseurs, it is overwhelmingly accepted and understood that none of the creative expression that any of the 4 developed on their own - and some of it is very good, indeed - can match their work as a group. A collection of their all-time top songs - "#1" - sold more records than any other album of the past decade. In the 1990's, "The Beatles Anthology" was a world-wide best-seller as a video (following television broadcasts) and on discs, featuring alternate versions of beloved songs, some previously unreleased titles and revealing interviews with the Beatles and those around them during their time together. "Real Love" and "Free As A Bird" were songs released with the 3 surviving Beatles reuniting in their final studio sessions, adding tapes of John Lennon (provided by Yoko Ono) for a full, true Beatles production. The response was gratitude, acclaim and a knowledge that the pair of songs - so many years after the split - were the absolute conclusion of any new Beatles output.
A legendary story is that John and Paul were at John's suites at the famous Dakota (on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, next to Central Park) and were very tempted to hop in a cab to join George - as surprise musical guests - during George's appearance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live." The pair held off, and the tragic loss of John (12/1980) ended any other chance for such a fun and meaningful reunion forever. There is infinite irony in the fact that rumours were starting to circulate - in the wake of John's enormously successful "Starting Over" (released soon before his passing) - that the Beatles were seriously talking about some form of getting together again, albeit on a one-off basis. 1985's "Live Aid" saw Paul telling the world that his playing with George and Ringo for a couple of numbers from London - with satellite coverage of many stars and personalities on stages all over the world - was too much pressure for John's son Julian to join them in a quasi-Beatles performance.
The legacy of the Beatles oeuvre far outlives any measure of space, time or comparison. The group ranks with the greatest classical musicians, and with Shakespeare in their use of the English language. It is absolutely vital to see their going their own ways - and all other elements of relative values - within the context of their contribution as the greatest example of a whole going infinitely beyond the sum of its parts.