A Sneak Peek...
And this time, on the mini-reunion of the three remaining "Beatles" members, to record a song in memory of their friend John Lennon.
On February 6, 1981, a kind of mini-reunion including Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr was held during the recording of the song "All Those Years Ago", written by George Harrison in memory of John Lennon, who was murdered three months earlier, on 8 December 1980.
The song appeared on Harrison's ninth solo album "Somewhere in England", which was released a few months later, on June 1, 1981.
Harrison originally wrote the song for Ringo Starr before Lennon's death, but Ringo felt that the song did not suit him vocally and also did not like some of the lyricsת so he returned the song to Harrison.
After Lennon was murdered Harrison decided to change the lyrics to the music he wrote, to make it a tribute song for his friend. In the new lyrics, George Harrison mentions how much he admired John Lennon and the sadness he felt over his death and thus in the lyrics: "I always looked up to you Now we're left cold and sad ...". The lyrics also refer to the Beatles' song "All You Need Is Love" and John Lennon's song "Imagine".
The recordings included all the remaining Beatles members, Linda McCartney and Danny Lane (members of "Wings") as well as Al Cooper on keyboards and Ray Cooper on percussion.
This is one of the few songs that is not a "Beatles" song, but still features three members of the band. Harrison and Ringo originally recorded the song in November 1980 for Ringo's album. After Lennon's death and Ringo's relinquishment of the song, Harrison removed Ringo's vocal channel, left his drums channel and recorded his singing with lyrics he rewrote in Lennon's memory.
McCartney, his wife Linda and their bandmate Danny Lane arrived to the studio on February 6, 1981 to record their vocals for the song.
In the album's booklet, Harrison also thanks George Martin - the Beatles' producer and Geoff Emerick, one of the Beatles' sound engineers, who were apparently part of the project.
This is the first collaboration of the three members since the song "I Me Mine" which was included on the album "Let it Be" in 1970, and it will take another 13 years before the three will collaborate again on the recordings of the songs "Free As a Bird" and "Real Love", included in the Beatles Anthology project.
To listen to the song: Spotify