Too bad, 1975 would have maybe been a good time for that to happen but I suppose Paul was doing so well at the time he had less reason to go down that road.

There would have been an album/tour in the early 80s...absolutely

but we all know how things ended...

I think they might've done it sometime between '81 and '84 had John not met his fate.

The Beatles in the 80's might have been an awful thing though.

It's sad it never happened, but the legacy is definitely helped by never having seen THEM doing something like Say, Say, Say

NDRU said:

The Beatles in the 80's might have been an awful thing though.

It's sad it never happened, but the legacy is definitely helped by never having seen THEM doing something like Say, Say, Say

Sayx3 was a solo Macca track with MJ

Lennon would have never touched such a thing lol

I'm sure that a 80s beatles album would have been fantastic, you know, I know, we all know that early to mid-80s music sounds gorgeous, perfect. I'm thinking of something like Graceland or Parade...

JoeTyler said:

NDRU said:

The Beatles in the 80's might have been an awful thing though.

It's sad it never happened, but the legacy is definitely helped by never having seen THEM doing something like Say, Say, Say

Sayx3 was a solo Macca track with MJ

Lennon would have never touched such a thing lol

I'm sure that a 80s beatles album would have been fantastic, you know, I know, we all know that early to mid-80s music sounds gorgeous, perfect. I'm thinking of something like Graceland or Parade...

All the late beatles tracks were solo tracks.

Graceland is an optimistic notion, and not an impossibility, or a Back in the High Life or So, maybe. Parade seems less likely, as I just can't imagine that the Beatles would spend enough time together to do something so creative at that point.

I just can't help but think that the 80's were not the most flattering decade for some 60 artists. I'd much prefer to imagine one from 1975, but that is just my opinion.

Sadly, neither of our reunions happened. I'd certainly have taken one from 1985 if they offered it.

NDRU said:

All the late beatles tracks were solo tracks.

Ringo has played on solo songs from all of the other 3. George has played on some of John's stuff as well. Then there were Free As A Bird, All Those Years Ago, and Real Love. Paul also sang on Ringo's recent album Y Not.

As Beatles fans, it would have been great to see. However, if the Beatles reunited for an album in the eighties, I'm afraid the production would be bogged down in cheesy '80s synth programs, drum machines, and recording technology that would have tainted their quality music. Look at the greats from the sixties and listen to how their music wavered: Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins (Sussdio and all love his solo albums) etc.

Also, who would produce the album. George Martin, Phil Spector, Hugh Padgham, someone else?

bashraka said:

As Beatles fans, it would have been great to see. However, if the Beatles reunited for an album in the eighties, I'm afraid the production would be bogged down in cheesy '80s synth programs, drum machines, and recording technology that would have tainted their quality music. Look at the greats from the sixties and listen to how their music wavered: Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins (Sussdio and all love his solo albums) etc.

Also, who would produce the album. George Martin, Phil Spector, Hugh Padgham, someone else?

Hmm good point...

bashraka said:

As Beatles fans, it would have been great to see. However, if the Beatles reunited for an album in the eighties, I'm afraid the production would be bogged down in cheesy '80s synth programs, drum machines, and recording technology that would have tainted their quality music. Look at the greats from the sixties and listen to how their music wavered: Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins (Sussdio and all love his solo albums) etc.

Also, who would produce the album. George Martin, Phil Spector, Hugh Padgham, someone else?

Paul was already working with George (Tug Of War, Pipes Of Peace), so it seems it would be him. Phil would be a no no, since Paul didn't like what he did with the Let It Be album. Also, George later said he felt that some of the songs on All Things Must Pass were too noisy and he would have mixed it differently, and Phil shot at John when recording the Rock N Roll album.

Speaking of "Let it Be", Mickey, it says something about Phil Spector's work as a producer when there are a dozen configurations of that album. I never understood why "Don't Let Me Down" was never put on "Let It Be" or made a double A-Side.

MickyDolenz said:

NDRU said:

All the late beatles tracks were solo tracks.

Ringo has played on solo songs from all of the other 3. George has played on some of John's stuff as well. Then there were Free As A Bird, All Those Years Ago, and Real Love. Paul also sang on Ringo's recent album Y Not.

I meant that the late BEATLE tracks (ie Come Together, Get Back, Something) were written by one or the other, they were not collaborations for the most part.

So it's not inconceivble that the Beatles in the 80's could have attempted something like [gasp] Say Say Say

bashraka said:

As Beatles fans, it would have been great to see. However, if the Beatles reunited for an album in the eighties, I'm afraid the production would be bogged down in cheesy '80s synth programs, drum machines, and recording technology that would have tainted their quality music. Look at the greats from the sixties and listen to how their music wavered: Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins (Sussdio and all love his solo albums) etc.

Also, who would produce the album. George Martin, Phil Spector, Hugh Padgham, someone else?

Yes, this is exactly how I see it. The Stones were not at their best in the 80's.

Now, a 70's or 90's Beatles might have been awesome!

I think it was wishful thinking they seem to be fine doing things apart around that time.

MickyDolenz said:

bashraka said:

As Beatles fans, it would have been great to see. However, if the Beatles reunited for an album in the eighties, I'm afraid the production would be bogged down in cheesy '80s synth programs, drum machines, and recording technology that would have tainted their quality music. Look at the greats from the sixties and listen to how their music wavered: Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins (Sussdio and all love his solo albums) etc.

Also, who would produce the album. George Martin, Phil Spector, Hugh Padgham, someone else?

Paul was already working with George (Tug Of War, Pipes Of Peace), so it seems it would be him. Phil would be a no no, since Paul didn't like what he did with the Let It Be album. Also, George later said he felt that some of the songs on All Things Must Pass were too noisy and he would have mixed it differently, and Phil shot at John when recording the Rock N Roll album.

Might have been Jeff Lynne, depending on the year

bashraka said:

However, if the Beatles reunited for an album in the eighties, I'm afraid the production would be bogged down in cheesy '80s synth programs, drum machines, and recording technology that would have tainted their quality music. Look at the greats from the sixties and listen to how their music wavered: Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins (Sussdio and all love his solo albums) etc.

and here we go again

I'm still AMAZED that some people here shit on 80s productions, considering how incredibly good/fresh many 80s albums still sound (from Dirty Mind from Like a Prayer, for example) and considering that THIS is Prince.org, the king of the 80s sound

I do agree, though, that, for some reason, many 60s legends embraced the worst aspects of the 80s sound...but Lennon was too smart to fall into that trap...

NDRU said:

MickyDolenz said:

Ringo has played on solo songs from all of the other 3. George has played on some of John's stuff as well. Then there were Free As A Bird, All Those Years Ago, and Real Love. Paul also sang on Ringo's recent album Y Not.

I meant that the late BEATLE tracks (ie Come Together, Get Back, Something) were written by one or the other, they were not collaborations for the most part.

So it's not inconceivble that the Beatles in the 80's could have attempted something like [gasp] Say Say Say

Maybe they could have appeared in Shanghai Surprise or Give My Regards To Broad Street. I like Say Say Say. What's wrong with it?

I wish he was still here.

MickyDolenz said:

NDRU said:

I meant that the late BEATLE tracks (ie Come Together, Get Back, Something) were written by one or the other, they were not collaborations for the most part.

So it's not inconceivble that the Beatles in the 80's could have attempted something like [gasp] Say Say Say

Maybe they could have appeared in Shanghai Surprise or Give My Regards To Broad Street. I like Say Say Say. What's wrong with it?

Say Say Say is actually fine for what it is, but is is not right for the Beatles. Although...what might it have sounded like with live drums and slide guitar, and Lennon instead of MJ?

JoeTyler said:

bashraka said:

However, if the Beatles reunited for an album in the eighties, I'm afraid the production would be bogged down in cheesy '80s synth programs, drum machines, and recording technology that would have tainted their quality music. Look at the greats from the sixties and listen to how their music wavered: Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins (Sussdio and all love his solo albums) etc.

and here we go again

I'm still AMAZED that some people here shit on 80s productions, considering how incredibly good/fresh many 80s albums still sound (from Dirty Mind from Like a Prayer, for example) and considering that THIS is Prince.org, the king of the 80s sound

I do agree, though, that, for some reason, many 60s legends embraced the worst aspects of the 80s sound...but Lennon was too smart to fall into that trap...

That's exactly the point though. McCartney included in that group of 60's legends. But perhaps Lennon could have nudged him away from it.

NDRU said:

MickyDolenz said:

Maybe they could have appeared in Shanghai Surprise or Give My Regards To Broad Street. I like Say Say Say. What's wrong with it?

Say Say Say is actually fine for what it is, but is is not right for the Beatles. Although...what might it have sounded like with live drums and slide guitar, and Lennon instead of MJ?

Why would the Beatles do a song co-written by Mike? Although they recorded cover tunes early on, as songwriters, they never wrote anything with people outside of the group. Although, a guy that did percussion on Ob La Di, Ob La Da said he helped write it and wasn't credited.

NDRU said:

JoeTyler said:

and here we go again

I'm still AMAZED that some people here shit on 80s productions, considering how incredibly good/fresh many 80s albums still sound (from Dirty Mind from Like a Prayer, for example) and considering that THIS is Prince.org, the king of the 80s sound

I do agree, though, that, for some reason, many 60s legends embraced the worst aspects of the 80s sound...but Lennon was too smart to fall into that trap...

That's exactly the point though. McCartney included in that group of 60's legends. But perhaps Lennon could have nudged him away from it.

John might have had Yoko on the album. I wonder if Billy Preston would have been included.

MickyDolenz said:

NDRU said:

Say Say Say is actually fine for what it is, but is is not right for the Beatles. Although...what might it have sounded like with live drums and slide guitar, and Lennon instead of MJ?

Why would the Beatles do a song co-written by Mike? Although they recorded cover tunes early on, as songwriters, they never wrote anything with people outside of the group. Although, a guy that did percussion on Ob La Di, Ob La Da said he helped write it and wasn't credited.

I am talking about the production & instrumentation, not the songwriting itself.

But seeing as this is purely speculation and not really imortant, I'll concede that, okay, they would not have done that song because it was a Michael Jackson co-write! jeesh!

NDRU said:

MickyDolenz said:

Why would the Beatles do a song co-written by Mike? Although they recorded cover tunes early on, as songwriters, they never wrote anything with people outside of the group. Although, a guy that did percussion on Ob La Di, Ob La Da said he helped write it and wasn't credited.

I am talking about the production & instrumentation, not the songwriting itself.

But seeing as this is purely speculation and not really imortant, I'll concede that, okay, they would not have done that song because it was a Michael Jackson co-write! jeesh!

I think it would have been closer to the sound on Cloud Nine. I could see the group doing something like Take It Away, though. John said he liked Rock Lobster, so I wonder would there have been some New Wave influence.

MickyDolenz said:

NDRU said:

I am talking about the production & instrumentation, not the songwriting itself.

But seeing as this is purely speculation and not really imortant, I'll concede that, okay, they would not have done that song because it was a Michael Jackson co-write! jeesh!

I think it would have been closer to the sound on Cloud Nine. I could see the group doing something like Take It Away, though. John said he liked Rock Lobster, so I wonder would there have been some New Wave influence.

yeah if it was a later 80's thing I think you could be right about the Cloud Nine thing. They got Jeff Lynne to do the Anthology stuff, so that makes sense.

But, they might not want to have used anyone but George Martin. I assume they would have for the Anthology had his hearing not deteriorated.

Or they could have gotten Geoff Emerick, who'd gone from engineer to producer and done Elvis Costello's most Beatle sounding stuff on Imperial Bedroom. That could have been good.

NDRU said:

JoeTyler said:

and here we go again

I'm still AMAZED that some people here shit on 80s productions, considering how incredibly good/fresh many 80s albums still sound (from Dirty Mind from Like a Prayer, for example) and considering that THIS is Prince.org, the king of the 80s sound

I do agree, though, that, for some reason, many 60s legends embraced the worst aspects of the 80s sound...but Lennon was too smart to fall into that trap...

That's exactly the point though. McCartney included in that group of 60's legends. But perhaps Lennon could have nudged him away from it.

Lennon's production on Double Fantasy was great anyway, I'm sure he wouldn't have fallen for the cheesiest shit lol

Timmy84 said:

NDRU said:

That's exactly the point though. McCartney included in that group of 60's legends. But perhaps Lennon could have nudged him away from it.

Lennon's production on Double Fantasy was great anyway, I'm sure he wouldn't have fallen for the cheesiest shit lol

Gotta agree with this.

I could see why Paul fell for the trademarked cheezy 80's production.

But something tells me, Lennon wouldn't go that direction.

He's always been more of a naturalist, when it came to production.

It's possible that they would've finished "The Long and Winding Road", which wound up becoming "Anthology" and doing a joint interview in the studio, playing the cover songs.

I doubt "The Beatles" would've reunited but the four guys would've probably been in some sort of interview, or played a bunch of old songs the way George, Ringo and Paul did for "Anthology".

To me, the only reason they would've considered it would have had to do with their kids seeing them play together. Now all of them have at least one kid who can play music.

John stopped being joined to the hip with Yoko in 1972. Not just the lost weekend, but around 1979, she relapsed and he went boating for most of 1980. The time back in NY was pretty short. Even if he wasn't shot, odds are we would've read about him falling overboard.