1 day Ago By Dan Haygarth, Angelica Cheyenne
John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the legendary duo behind The Beatles' hits , are celebrated as some of the most iconic songwriters in history. In their salad days, Paul and John would collaborate at their childhood homes, but as time went on and their musical tastes evolved, they began crafting tunes separately before coming together to refine them. Every Beatles track penned by John and Paul was stamped with the Lennon-McCartney label, honoring a pact they made before skyrocketing to stardom.
But it wasn't all smooth sailing. Post-Beatles, John didn't hold back his thoughts on Paul's compositions, openly critiquing his contributions to Abbey Road, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and the hit single Let it Be. Reflecting on Let it Be, John remarked in a 1980 interview: "That's Paul.
What can you say? Nothing to do with The Beatles. It could've been Wings. I don't know what he's thinking when he writes 'Let It Be'.
" Not every song was a hit with the band either. Your Mother Should Know, penned by Paul at his London pad and inspired by a line from the 1961 British movie A Taste of Honey, didn't resonate with everyone. Embracing the old-timey music hall vibe similar to When I'm Sixty-Four, it was featured in the 1967 film Magical Mystery Tour, complete with a nostalgic musical sequence showcasing The Beatles in dapper white tie attire.
Paul shared a personal anecdote about the creation of a Beatles classic, saying: "I wrote it in Cavendish Avenue on the harmonium I have in the dining room there. My Aunty Jin and Uncle Harry and a couple of relatives were staying and they were in the living room just across the hall, so I just went to the dining room and spent a few hours with the door open with them listening. And I suppose because of the family atmosphere 'Your Mother Should Know' came in.
It's a very music-hall kind of thing, probably influenced by the fact that my Aunty Jin was in the house." The recording sessions for 'Magical Mystery Tour' kicked off in early 1967, but hit a snag after the title track was laid down, as George Harrison and John reportedly lacked enthusiasm for the project. Your Mother Should Know was put to tape in August and September of that year, marking the final occasion manager Brian Epstein would be present in the studio with the band before his untimely passing on August 27.
Post-Epstein's death, Paul felt strongly that the group should pour their energies into completing the film and its soundtrack as a means of channeling their grief into something productive. In the resulting film, which premiered on Boxing Day in 1967, Your Mother Should Know sets the stage for an elaborate dance number. The Beatles descend a grand staircase clad in white suits, eventually joined by RAF cadets and dancers, in what was meant to be a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the political climate of '60s Britain.
During a particular sequence, Paul McCartney breaks away for a solo dance, which many see as evidence of his greater enjoyment of the song and project compared to his Beatles bandmates. Culture critic Doyle Greene observed that George and John seemed like "they'd rather be anywhere else" during the filming. Yet Paul, who relished the moment, had a different perspective.
Reflecting on the decision to include the song in the film, Paul reminisced: "The big prop was that great big staircase that we danced down, that was where all the money went: in that particular shot on that big staircase." He insisted on a grand finale, saying, "I said, 'Sod it, you've got to have the Busby Berkeley ending,' and it is a good sequence. Just the fact of John dancing, which he did readily.
You can see by the fun expression on his face that he wasn't forced into anything." Despite the Magical Mystery Tour film's lukewarm reception, its soundtrack received more favorable reviews from critics. Norman Jopling of Record Mirror described "'Your Mother Should Know' is (a) medium tempo ballad with a corny sort of tune – but the atmosphere developed is fantastic.
It's a hazy, stoned kind of sensation which reminds you of hearing old tunes, in smoky rooms." as a "'Your Mother Should Know' is (a) medium tempo ballad with a corny sort of tune – but the atmosphere developed is fantastic. It's a hazy, stoned kind of sensation which reminds you of hearing old tunes, in smoky rooms.
" Melody Maker's review praised the entire Magical Mystery Tour EP, stating: "Six tracks which no other pop group in the world could begin to approach for originality combined with the popular touch." Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.
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