mostly david ephgrave

Forty-nine years ago today, The Beatles stepped onto the roof of the Apple building on Savile Row for their last ever live performance - which was remarkably strong considering the circumstances - and while they were up there for less than an hour, they recorded two of my favourite songs of all time. One of them, I’veGot a Feeling , I’ve discussed here before, but tonight I’d like to sing the praises of their ode to the vulnerability of a new relationship; the soulful and searingly honest Don’t Let Me Down. What makes it work so well for me is John and Paul’s voices, which fit together perfectly and give the song its weight; that a cappella 5/4 bar that falls at the beginning of each phrase in the verse is a stroke of compositional genius that shouldn’t pass unnoticed as it does, yet somehow subliminally reinforces the risk the protagonist has put themselves under by revealing how much they need that other person, plus the way the vocals weave together emphasises...

While my favourite Beatles song changes with my mood - and there’s inevitably so much great material to choose from - one I always come back to for its energy and excitement, is the rooftop concert highlight I’ve Got a Feeling. It’s just so fucking robust. Anyone who doubts the band could rock need only turn to nearly every version in existence, from the footage and outtakes from the film Let it Be to the various official releases, to be put right. The swagger of John & Paul's vocals, particularly when they sing in counterpoint, is joyous, and a clear indicator that even when the group were falling apart, they were still the best. Paul’s voice in the middle eight is ridiculously high, yet still sounds effortless, and is one of so many examples of his vocal versatility. The fact he’d regularly commit takes to tape on the same day as Let it Be and The Long and Winding Road is madness. It's illustrative of how well Lennon & McC...