One after 909

 

This is actually the first song John and Paul wrote together, possibly as far back as 1957. The Quarrymen released a version in 1960 but they were not happy with it and it got shelved. It was recorded again in 1963 but they were again dissatisfied. It didn't get ultimately released until Let it be, the last Beatles album, in 1970.

The song that made it to the album was the live version from the rooftop which perhaps explains all the energy, the band letting it all loose. The band that was too big for stadiums and had to stop touring because of all the noise and hassle was allowed to jam again publicly and show why they were the greatest rock and roll band that has ever been.

For a day they were a live band again.

Let it be is probably my least favorite album by the fab four, somewhat depressing for me, not sure why. I think it was recorded before Abbey Road but released after.

Anyway, it came on the radio the other day and forgetting that it was the Rooftop session I realized that I wasn't sure who was playing the ripping lead guitar. While George was the ostensible lead in the band, both John and Paul were quite capable and this song had some of John's punky brilliance.

I checked. It was George. And damn fine playing at that.The Beatles made their bones playing five grueling sets a day/night in Hamburg. 

"I may have been born in Liverpool, but I grew up in Hamburg." John Lennon

That is when they honed their craft, really became a band and also when they themselves thought that they did their best work.  It is nice to hear them let it loose.

John on One after 909:

"That was something I wrote when I was about seventeen. I lived at 9 Newcastle Road. I was born on the ninth of October, the ninth month [sic]. It's just a number that follows me around, but, numerologically, apparently I'm a number six or a three or something, but it's all part of nine." John Lennon