THE BEATLES – "All You Need Is Love"

Tell you what, Tom: we knew at the time that this was schlock by Beatles standards. Think of it as half a yard over the peak of their career – and looking downhill from then on, give or take the odd hillock.

Nice costumes, though. And it WAS exciting staying up to watch it on the black and white telly.

Come to think about it, the party in the Yellow Submarine was a lot more fun . . . .

OK, it’s not great as a song but what makes it work for people who were around at the time is the circumstances in which it was recorded.

In June 1967 there were enough communication satellites orbitting to allow a world wide live TV programme to be broadcast for the first time. This was some achievement in itself, of course. Most of the countries which took part copped out on the content and, in their segments, just broadcast really boring stuff such as national dances featuring folks in funny costumes. I seem to recall that Australia showed a street corner in a city (Sydney?) from a fixed camera (hey, shades of web cams!) while Mexico had a military band playing on a roof top. Dead boring stuff only relieved by being zapped by the realisation that it was possible at all. The UK had other ideas though and broadcast The Beatles sitting around with a large bunch of stoned hippies and others recording All You Need Is Love. What better message to send to a world where the Vietnam war was at its height? So far as I’m aware the record is the recording of that event and should be heard in that context.

As for content and directness of the message, John was probably thinking along the same lines when he wrote ” Give Peace A Change”.

Writing anthems.

Brian in Canada

In another life, John Lennon would have done rather well as an advertising copywriter. All You Need Is Love. Give Peace a Chance. War is Over, if You Want It. The point about all three songs is they don’t need any further elaboration: he was trying to stick a catchphrase into the collective consciousness – and in the case of All You Need is Love, he chose just about the most direct delivery method anyone could imagine at the time (the global broadcast).

Waddaya know? It worked. Doesn’t matter that the songs were sometimes over-simplistic – it’s the straplines that are Lennon’s legacy.

(Mind you, he wrote a few good songs too…)

The best thing about this tune is its b-side.

I don’t understand why all the negative comments on this song. Is the world afraid of love. This was a worldwide event and the message was love. Love is all good as versus all evil. Upright homosapien has a higher brain. War is for beast. Human mammals have their higher brain and should be aware they have the organ, a heart that is the seat of emotions. War is one of the most irrational ideologies in existence. Violence is negative, evil, not productive. The world does need love and their simple, melodic song is what the world needs for all time. Our planet is in great trouble and if most humans had a better education, they would realize that simple fact. By 2024 and possibly sooner most of the fish will be gone!!!!! Read more, get more educated. There are amazing books out now writen by intelectuals, it is time to have heart and I think it is sad to criticize the Beatles song. Power, greed, and sexual irrationalities, and the irrational greed for money are what is destroying our planet. It is hard to realize that most of our population is not suffiently educated, and who is to blame for that here in America.

Has the whole Country gone mad, has anyone demanded that all our bridges be fixed instead of all our money being robbed by robber barons. A small percentage of humans own most of the money and resources on this planet and they are destroying our Planet. We scientist who are not being paid off to be part of the governing of our planet and intellectuals who are not paid off, should be part of governing our planet. University professors who are not being paid off, should be part of the governing body that can prevent our blue planet earth from imploding from so much toxics as an end result from a few man who are polluting our planet with no regard for their own children and grandchildren. Money and power and greed will not insulate any man. thanx I love the Beattle song and we need more groups like the Beattles singing again via Satelite world wide and we need to have all negative governments use this song and begin saving the earth with respect and love for their planet. Love Sharon Rose

I do hope no one hates me for speaking up like what happen to the sweet Dixie Chicks, An American Icon singing our heritage of Country Western music to the world. New Orleans was our historical heritage and is gone forever. What is going on out there. Has the whole world gone mad!!!! No one should ever be persecuted for speaking the truth. Mother Teresa was the most beautiful living human mammal on the earth. And thankfully there have been Human mammals like her and there are some now and hopefully in our future. Education and love for all humanity is where it is. No one wins if they do not work together for the good of everyone.

I also recall watching the global TV link-up. My family were on holiday on the Isle of Wight and I can also recall strange young adults wandering around in colourful garb and the long-haired boys being summarily dismissed as “bleeding poofs” by my Edwardian father. Thus for me, AYNIL is remembered for corresponding with a very happy and safe time for a six year-old rather than for being a great record, which it clearly is not. It was however an event, a happening, and as Lena pointed out, it is also used at the start of “Fall Out”, the last episode of “The Prisoner”, along with the magnificent “Dem Bones” by the Four Lads. To say that this record was of its time is probably the most superfluous thing you can say about it. Rather like saying that Brigitte Bardot was a girl.

I have a weakness for their throwaway Magical Mystery era stuff, before they got all deep and personal on the White Album. Fun and silly even if the naivete is a bit of a put on. “Rich Man”, “Bulldog”, “Blue Jay” – good romps.

And typically, in AYNIL, what sounds like a simplistic sing along is actually a deceptively tricky tune to pull off. An odd choice to submit to be recorded live with the world watching. Apart from the orchestral bits, the verses are in seven while the choruses in four. You can hear Ringo thinking hard to make sure not to miss the extra beat.

DESERT ISLAND DISCS WATCH:

Robert Knox-Johnston, sailor(1970)

Penelope Keith, actress(1976)

Wayne Sleep, dancer(1977)

Jackie Stewart, Formula One Driver(1986)

George Foreman, boxer(2003)

Michael Howard, politician(2004).

The telephone always rings: http://musicsoundsbetterwithtwo.blogspot.com/2011/11/dont-touch-that-dial-vikki-carr-it-must.html Merci for reading tout le monde!

Critic watch:

1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die, and 10,001 You Must Download (2010)
Bruce Pollock (USA) – The 7,500 Most Important Songs of 1944-2000 (2005)
Rolling Stone (USA) – The 100 Greatest Beatles Songs (2010) 21
Rolling Stone (USA) – The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (2004) 362
Rolling Stone (USA) – The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (Updated 2010) 370
Stephen Spignesi and Michael Lewis (USA) – The 100 Best Beatles Songs (2004) 5
Mojo (UK) – The 101 Greatest Tracks by The Beatles (2006) 28
Uncut (UK) – The 50 Greatest Beatles Tracks (2001) 35
Now & Then (Sweden) – The Beatles’ 50 Best Songs (1992) 15
Gilles Verlant and Thomas Caussé (France) – 3000 Rock Classics (2009)
Giannis Petridis (Greece) – 2004 of the Best Songs of the Century (2003)

You know it’a a weak year when even The Beatles single isn’t all that great.

I would still class this as one of their better singles, imo. 7/10.