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Great grammy Beatles show IMHO!    Ringo is amazing for a guy about to hit 74.  Every one seemed to have a genuine good time.  Way better than I anticipated.     Hope everyone enjoyed the show!

I thought it was absolutely fantastic. After watching the Grammy's, it was refreshing to see the artists who did the Beatles catalog do them right. The liberties that were taken (Imagine Dragons, Stevie Wonder, Ed Sheeran) were very well done. And the artists who tried to emulate the original sounds did a great job. It really exceeded my expectations. It was great to see Ringo up there singing Matchbox, Boys, and Yellow Submarine and Paul, as always, was fantastic.  Loved seeing Ringo get With a Little Help all to himself while Paul sang harmony backup. It sorely missed John and George, but the artists who did their songs did them justice.

Liked it a lot more than I thought I was gonna! I think the only performances I didn't like were Katy Perry and Alicia Keys. Imagine Dragons was a highlight - I really liked what they did with Revolution. Ringo is a fantastic showman, and so is Paul obviously - Ringo's drums weren't broadcast (again, just like at the Grammys), I don't know why he isn't capable of being the only drummer on a stage and being mixed up. Could have done without the Tom Hanks audience shots, too - I get it, dude's rich and he sits front row for whatever he wants. Big deal.

It was good... I wish they hadn't invited so many vanilla performers though.

Lots of good moments. Paul and Ringo were both in fine voice and showed everybody else how it's done. Jeff Lynne also sounded really good for an old codger. I was a bit surprised that Sean Lennon didn't take the stage for something, but maybe he just didn't want to. It was so cool that Stevie Wonder was able to exactly replicate the keyboard sound for We Can Work It Out- loved that. Nice to see the Eurythmics reunion. Duds: Imagine Dragons  and Maroon 5 were flaccid and out of place. Ed Sheerhan's "guitar playing" was painful to listen to. So glad that at least 2 of the Beatles are still around after 50 years (and able to perform). God bless'em!

I wonder if George would have participated if he were still here? Him doing Something, or Here Comes The Sun would have been a huge highlight. My all time fantasy would be George doing While My Guitar Gently Weeps, with Paul harmonizing with him on the higher parts,  Ringo on drums, and Eric Clapton doing the guitar solos. Maybe throw in Billy Preston on organ.  ;D

Billy Preston's dead.... just so you know

If George can be alive in Jay's all time fantasy, why can't Billy Preston?

Anyways, I loved the special.  I had low expectations and it turned out fantastic.  The performances were top-notch, even those by artists I dislike (looking at you Ed Sheeran and Maroon 5).  Loved how happy Paul and Ringo looked to be there and the interviews they did with David Letterman at the Ed Sullivan theater.

Which is why I said just so you know  :)

Amazing show!

Was Julian Lennon there?

It was outstanding! 

Ringo was almost gleeful, and of course Sir Paul...( I noticed a Teleprompter on the side of the "rainbow" painted piano.)

Julian is currently in Africa doing his own thang.  :3d

I'm just repeating what everyone seems to be saying: I went into this not expecting a lot, thinking it would drag over 2 1/2 hours, but...

I was more than pleasantly surprised, I thought it was terrific! I really enjoyed it. And it really spotlighted the *songs* and almost more importantly the *songwriting*, the quality and timelessness of which gets lost sometimes 50 years after the fact, and in light of all these folks saying they're tired of "The Beatles" hype and everything.

The music is what makes it what it is, and how great to hear all of those musicians on stage basically sharing sentiments and feelings that I shared, and that so many musicians and people who dove in headfirst into trying to do something in the lives connected to music as a direct result of the music the Beatles created.

Great stuff all around, it was very enjoyable and at times emotional too.

I don't have the full details, but Tom Hanks has a production company called "Play-Tone" (or some variant of that spelling) which is and was involved in some of these recent productions. So he's not just the rich-guy observer VIP, he and his company (i.e. financing) were involved in some way in producing these events...and if I'm not getting that exactly right, someone feel free to correct me.

"Play Tone" by the way was the fictional record label in his film "That Thing You Do", which was also produced and basically masterminded by Tom Hanks as a tribute to his love of 60's pop music and culture. So he's not just hanging around.  ;D

I came *this close* (holds thumb and forefinger together...) to getting a song I had played guitar for and created a Motown-style intro for in the studio placed in "That Thing You Do", where they needed a Motown-style song for one of the scenes featuring a female lead. Apparently the track got to Hanks himself during the process, but they went with another tune instead.  :) It later turned up elsewhere...

One of my favorite movies! In the extended version there's a scene where The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson are mentioned.

Where did that song finally turn up?

Me too! It's Hanks' love-letter basically to the fantasy of playing in a band in the wake of Beatlemania, and getting that taste of fame that so many kids in 1964 dreamed of when they were playing in their basements and garages. It's overly stylized, and fantasy, but the period details were usually spot-on and there are a lot of in-jokes and references too. The music was great.

That song turned up in a mob film playing as the needle hits a 45rpm in a barroom jukebox, a TV movie with (the beautiful) Kellie Martin dancing to it, and from what I'm told some soap opera episodes which I still haven't been able to track down and actually see how they placed it.  :)

I enjoyed the show very much. Some random comments:

- Paul and Ringo did appear healthy for 70+ individuals, both physically and they talked NORMALLY.

- After being a little shaky vocally the last year or so, Paul sounded really good on the show.

- Yoko was really into it, dancing around; I was afraid she might her herself; not bad for an 81 year old.

- I got a little misty-eyed when Ringo got the audience going/responding to "Yellow Submarine"; same when he started singing "With A Little Help From My Friends".

- I'm sure Paul has his detractors, but he appears to be a respectful and considerate man.

- I couldn't fully enjoy the show because I kept (eerily) thinking about John and George, almost like they were somehow watching the proceedings. And, if that isn't weird enough, for some reason I also thought what Pete Best must be thinking.

- It would've been great if they could've performed a song with Paul on bass, Ringo on drums, Dhani Harrison on guitar, and Sean Lennon on guitar.

- I wanted to like Katy Perry's version of "Yesterday" because she was clearly giving her all, but it just fell a little short.

- Jeff Lynne still looks and sounds great; "Hey Bulldog" was awesome.

- It's nice that the wives/children/extended families can finally reach some degree of peace and harmony with each other; at least that they can sit together in close proximity, I mean, they didn't find a reason to NOT attend.

- I love these kind of shows - the recognition, reminiscing, sentimentality, and just finding joy in sharing the music, the feeling of community, the different generations all sharing the music for different reasons.

- I gotta admit that I was waiting for a clip or soundbite from Brian or Mike, probably explaining how The Beach Boys were eclipsed or blown away by The Beatles, and how it got their attention to step it up...

I got choked up too, several times! Hey Bulldog kicked ass!

Just on this one comment, I agree - I thought Brian at least would have been in one of the clips.

But the thought you mentioned, about stepping it up: That *is* actually included at the end of the current CNN documentary about the 60's British Invasion, it features that exact point but also in reverse, saying how Brian's work in the studio made the Beatles step up *their* game and how Brian's work in the studio and sonic experiments led directly to Revolver and then, of course, Pepper. And also mentioning Rubber Soul as an influence as a full album statement rather than a collection of songs, how that influenced Brian for Pet Sounds. But Brian in the studio was given a good chunk of time, some studio footage was shown, and the CNN show basically put a lot of the influence for spending time experimenting with new sounds in the studio on what Brian was doing in 1965-66, and how it opened up the door for something like Revolver, not as concerned with performing the songs live as much as crafting new textures and sounds using the studio.

Catch the CNN doc, it's pretty well done IMO.

And for some reason i thought Brian was to have been involved in the CBS Grammy special, I guess I read that wrong because he obviously wasn't.

Nobody's mentioned Joe Walsh and Gary Clark on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"  -- I thought their solos and guitar interplay were a real highlight.  Walsh looked good too -- I think there were a number of performers on the stage who have changed old habits.  His voice was a little thin next to Clark's, but the guitars were fine.

I did catch that CNN documentary. They devoted more time to Brian than probably any other artist (other than The Beatles) in the doc. And who would've thought Lyle Ritz would make an appearance! ;D Every time I see that 1966 footage of Brian in the studio - at the peak of his powers - it blows me away.

Yeah, I forgot to mention that; it was a highlight.

You know who else I enjoyed? Peter Frampton. He probably had a few demons of his own to exercise after what happened to his solo career, and it's nice to see he (appears?) to be in a good place as a featured guitarist and integral part of a band again.

 I was also pleasantly surprised. It was great hearing "Hey Bulldog' and I  was
surprised at how moving Annie Lennox's version of " Fool on the Hill " was.

Yes, he also seemed healthy and fine chops wise.  Even without the golden locks!

I keeping thinking of more things from the show...

As soon as Paul started "Hey Jude", I swear I was thinking that they have to show Yoko when Paul sings "Remember to let her into your heart..."  

Does anybody know if Paul ever performed "Hey Jude" with Yoko in the audience?

Walsh was great... but I have to admit, his vocal stylings aren't to my taste at all. I thought his voice sounded  awful.

They were all great!!!  At least that's what I heard.  I didn't get to watch it 'cause I got sucked into a Valentine dinner/dance last night.

I'm sure it'll be re-broadcast this Summer, won't it?  Or maybe the entire thing will be on Youtube or some other website for download? I sure hope so!

"Hey Jude" was about Julian Lennon. Sadly, Julian was not invited to the show last night, I'm assuming due to Yoko.

Based on what?

Julian is in Africa having the time of his life. He is exactly where he wants to be.

I wish P and R had played all the songs together and played the actual tunes (more of them) from the original show. Since Ringo's drums were inaudible (I heard a little on "boys"?), we never really heard him and Paul together. So sad he did not replicate his famous entry into HJ--Paul's drummer did it. . . .that was disappointing

I've watched all the clips of the show I could find, and the highlight (to me) was easily Jeff Lynne singing Something with George Harrison's son Dhani. I couldn't help but get a bit teary, they really nailed it.


Julian appeared on Jimmy Fallon (or maybe Leno, can't quite remember) 2 months ago and played one of his own songs, and the resemblance with his father was really quite eerie. Julian's voice and songwriting both channel John's own, but he is clearly his own person, not at all riding on who his father is. Or atleast, that's what I gathered from the performance. In any case, it was nice to see.

Rebroadcast is on tonight.

Worth mentioning -- in the back could be seen the Stockholm Strings.  You may remember them from the Smile tour.

Julian and Paul seem to have had a falling out recently and Julian IS a touchy person.  I know because he threw an absolute hissy fit on me on Facebook last year because I made a harmless remark about him turning 50.  Threw such a fit that I was getting scolded by May Pang! 

One thing I noticed about the show was how Pete Best was not mentioned by name whatsoever.  When they talked Ringo they said "replace their drummer".     It's an absolute shame how Pete has been treated by The Beatles and their organization over the years.    People can talk about Pete Best and call his drumming bad all they want but the Decca Tapes and Pete's Hayman's Green album from a few years ago have made me into quite a fan of his drumming and his songwriting.      Also notice that Yoko and Sean sat in the audience and were never invited on stage during the show.   That is politics also. 

Seems Julian Lennon was doing some pretty heavy duty charity work while in Africa.  Here is a link to an interview in the "Brooklyn Vegan" talking about that as well as the anniversary show:

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2014/02/an_interview_w_68.html

And an interesting quote from that interview:

BV: You mentioned seeing the Grammys and the upcoming "reunion" show as a bit too much. Your response to the anniversary of the Beatles coming to America seems to be more reflective as a kind of response to the nostalgic sense of a band reunion. What's your perspective on the reunion?

Julian: All in all, there's a lot that can be said. I've always said there never can be a reunion because, you know, two of the members are missing. It's an impossibility for there to be a reunion as such. I thought it was a bit weird that Ringo ended up playing a McCartney song more than anything else. I don't know. To me, the last thing I wanted to do was stand in the audience with everybody else, clapping my hands, and being filmed in front of millions while watching a Beatles karaoke session. Okay, some of the biggest acts in the world were there, but I felt...I don't know. Give me the originals any day. I'll listen or watch the originals any day, and that's my cup of tea. That's why I decided that I much more preferred to be in a state of reflection and appreciation and doing something much more subtle and much more heartfelt, in my mind, than the glitz and the glam of those kind of shows.

Good for him.

Oh, who cares if it was overblown and unnecessary?  It was still great and it's not like they were trying to make it a genuine Beatles reunion even though it's the closest you can get to one these days.  It was celebrating the music and how it impacted America and it was all in good fun.  Lighten up, Jude!


If he thinks it's weird for Ringo to be playing Yellow Submarine or With a Little Help from My Friends, he's probably never seen Ringo perform live in the past two decades.  It would be weird for Ringo not to play those songs if anything.

I wouldn't rush to overstate or even try to recompensate Pete Best on his legacy, because the hard truth is what happened to him happened for a reason, no matter how nice a guy he is and has been. He simply didn't fit the band, and from the earliest days he joined he was never really in the John-Paul-George circle. He didn't hang with them as much, he got more girls which made the others jealous, he could act like a loner and simply not associate with them, and if you hear some of his drum tracks he can go from competent to amateurish depending on the track. He did a specific stage beat, like the 4-on-the-floor stomp, filled the drum chair for the time he was there, but again he just wasn't the right guy for the job.

I'll defend Ringo all day and night, to me some of his beats as simple as they may sound are incredibly unique and have a terrific feel. Ask any drummer to do either the Ringo beat or even a "Ringo Shuffle" and any decent drummer will know exactly what that is. He was the right fit for the band.

I didn't mind them not mentioning him, I mean seriously...why would Ringo mention the guy he replaced? They might as well have mentioned Stu or some of the Quarrymen too, for that matter.

They didn't do anything like this for the Beach Boys...  ::)

True, but the Beach Boys can say "Hey Beatles, we have our own fucking slot machines, how about them apples!"

(http://www.trbimg.com/img-5126480b/turbine/sf-beach-boys-slot-machine-20130221/400/16x9)

While you cana argue that at their peak, the Beach Boys may have been as great if not a better band than the Beatles, they never even came close to having the same cultural impact.

My comment of "good for him (Julian Lennon)" had more to do with the work he is doing.  As for his comments about the celebration, it seems to have a dose of sour grapes but on the other hand I agree with a bit of the summary.  I've never been a fan of seeing say Lou Reed being toasted by people in tuxedos, or rock and roll being put in a museum.  So a room full of fat cats dancing stiffly doesn't do it for me.  But it doesn't really matter that much.  And I did enjoy some of the performances.

I bet if Julian were invited, he would have been there.  It's pride and sour grapes. 

You have no idea whether or not he was invited. On what are you basing your assumptions?

Pete was such a big part of the Hamburg days and their early history.  He should be remembered for that.    Also I stand by the fact Hayman's Green is one of the finest Beatles Solo albums of the past two decades.   Better than any of Ringo's work except maybe the "Ringo" album which had the other three writing songs for him.   Pete Best co-wrote all the songs on Hayman's Green with his bass player and they are melodic and fresh.    I bought the album as a curiousity and after listening to it once I was so amazed that I played it exclusively for a number of days.   Love it.   Give it a listen if u have the chance.

I missed this show, I'll have to download it tonight and watch it... can't believe they did stuff like Hey Bulldog, my god the show must have been great.  I'll watch it and reply back with what I thought.

And about Pete Best, I imagine they didn't mention Stu either and wasn't he a bigger part of the band in the early days?  If they mentioned everybody that got them where they are, they wouldn't have been able to sing anything on the show. 

About Julian's comments, the apple didn't fall far from the tree, eh?

I didn't see the whole show, only by bits, but I specifically came to this thread to say that I'm a huge Joe Walsh fan! Have a half of the James Gang catalog & all the Barnstorm recordings. To me, he is one of the best guitar players, along with Peter Green, Pete Townshend, Jimmy Page & Roy Buchanan. But what I like even more about Joe is exactly his vocal stylings. It's creaky & kind of aback as though he didn't clear his voice, yet very funky. So to each their own.

I agree with EgoHanger - "Imagine Dragons" were a real treat; their "Revolution" is a model for how to outclass the legends. And I never heard of this band before!