Beatles Get Back 19: January 28

As the camera catches Linda unawares in the control room, Michael asks George Martin his opinion on which songs could be best performed on the roof, under the assumption that Paul’s piano songs won’t be among them. Meanwhile, in the studio the boys are still ruminating whether they should be concentrating on songs they could perform for The Big Show or focus on making an album. John, who appears to have finally washed his hair, feels today they should work on “the ones that are all in pieces” and also “do one of George’s.” George, wearing one of his new bow ties, launches into what he has so far of the song that would become “Something”. While the band is already familiar with some of the changes, George asks for input on lyrical ideas, specifically in what she attracts him like. For their part, the others seem familiar with the song in progress and play what there is of it well.

There could be a continuity glitch here, as the wine bottles and glasses have already come out, but after a snatch of “Love Me Do” similar to that heard in the closing credits of Part 2, Paul leaves to attend his 1:30 meeting. Imbibing this early in a session didn’t usually fit their work ethic, but anything is possible.

Speaking of work ethics, John, George, Ringo, and Billy continue to hone “I’ve Got A Feeling” in Paul’s absence, John singing Paul’s parts. During a break, John starts to tell George about the meeting he had with Allen Klein the night before. He says he wants to wait until they’re all together, but he also seems to be hesitant to say too much while the cameras are rolling. Regardless of the others’ inclinations, John says, “he’s gonna look after me,” he says, having been fully won over by Klein’s promise to deliver all the financial windfalls the organization needs, including funding a relief package for the war-torn region of Biafra via the Rolling Stones’ Rock And Roll Circus TV special. (This likely did not occur, as the TV special stayed in limbo for decades, but it’s also a subtle foreshadowing of the Concert for Bangladesh two-and-a-half years later, which resulted in one of many occasions where Klein attempted to get around tax laws and failed.)

For now, though, John wants to keep working on music, and suggests some songs they haven’t perfected yet. The scene cuts to “Old Brown Shoe” with George on piano and Billy on the six-string bass. (Perhaps on the same topic, George asks Mal to find him some “ordinary black leather shoes” since he’s never in shoe shops himself. Kevin says he’ll bring someone over, and we learn that George is a size 8.) Seemingly struggling with some of the parts, George cedes the piano bench to Billy and continues singing the song while standing next to him. Then they’re distracted by John’s new Stylophone, a tiny electronic keyboard played with a stylus, which would become famous in about six months via its prominent use by David Bowie on “Space Oddity”.

Paul has returned, and they work on “Don’t Let Me Down” some more. In a bit of foreshadowing, we see Linda poking at the keys of the Lowrey organ. George Martin suggests they tune their instruments, and John responds in joking indignance: “I’ve had some wine, you know. Remember Bob Wooler?” This is a reference to an incident some six years earlier when John reacted to a friend’s teasing about his close relationship with Brian Epstein by breaking the man’s ribs. The tuning was effective, as the take that follows would be used for the B-side of the “Get Back” single. (Though not included in Jackson’s edit, the end portion of “Get Back”, with the lines about “high-heeled shoes and low-neck sweater,” is also recorded today. While faded for the record, the very end of this version will be heard over the final frames of the Let It Be film.)

We also get a snatch of a jam on what would become “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”, and a silly busk called “Half A Pound Of Greasepaint”. It’s listed as a Lennon-McCartney composition, and if it’s spontaneous, Paul’s rhymes, delivered with the last two inches of a cigar, are inspired. The day’s work over, the band heads upstairs for their first group meeting with Allen Klein.