Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones with Billy Preston at a promotional party for the band's album Goats Head Soup, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, 6th September 1973. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)
The long and winding road of “The Beatles: Get Back” circles back to “Let it Be.”
Nearly three years after hosting Peter Jackson’s sprawling “Let it Be” postscript, Disney + returns to director Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s original 1970 film, which was released just after the Beatles’ split was announced. Long unavailable and restored by Jackson, “Let it Be” premieres May 8.
“It (the breakup) very much darkened the perception of the film,” Lindsay-Hogg said in a statement.
“But, in fact, how often do you get to see artists of this stature working together to make what they hear in their heads into songs? And then you get to the roof and you see their excitement, camaraderie and sheer joy in playing together again as a group and know, as we do now, that it was the final time, and we view it with full understanding of who they were and still are and a little poignancy.”
Jackson, who created “Get Back” with 60 hours of Lindsay-Hogg-shot footage, sees the two movies as complementary rather than competing.
��I now think of it all as one epic story, finally completed after five decades,” he said in a statement.
“The two projects support and enhance each other: ‘Let it Be’ is the climax of ‘Get Back,’ while ‘Get Back’ provides a vital missing context for ‘Let it Be.’”
From the sleeve of Thirty-Three & 1/3; photos by Bob Cato.
In memoriam: Hank Cicalo. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.
“Along with a handful of musicians, engineer Hank Cicalo moved to [Friar Park] for six weeks to record [‘Thirty Three and 1/3’ in 1976], and still remembers the convivial atmosphere. ‘The meals were always vegetarian, but then [pianist] Richard Tee showed up, this hulking, six-foot-plus guy, and there was no way he was gonna go for that,’ Cicalo says. ‘So George made sure they got some ribs for Richard that night. He said, “We’ve never had meat in this house since I bought the place!” But that’s how hard he tried to be accommodating. He was a very sweet and loving guy — just a joy to be around.’” - Entertainment Weekly, December 14, 2001 (x)
Bruce Springsteen (1949-) solo; leader of the E Street Band
Songs: "Born to Run," "Blinded by the Light"
Defeated Opponents: Lindsey Buckingham, Rick Danko, Otis Redding, Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam, Syd Barrett
Propaganda: "Nobody has ever looked hotter than the Boss in the video for 'Dancing in the Dark' except maybe Bruce in the video for 'I'm On Fire'"
"Bruce from the 70's to HIS 70's...enough said"
"BRUUUUUCE! (Yes, I am from New Jersey.) But really 70s-Stone Pony-Asbury Park Springsteen is truly a sight to behold."
Billy Preston (1946-2006) solo
Songs: "Nothing From Nothing," "Fancy Lady"
Defeated Opponents: Woody Guthrie, Tony Bennett, Mick Ronson, Frank Zappa, Mickey Finn
Propaganda: "Started out at 10 playing the organ for Mahalia Jackson - he played with Little Richard and Ray Charles for years and is the only man to be credited on a Beatles song that wasn't one of the fab four!"