Early 1970
Encyclopedia
"Early 1970" is a song by Ringo Starr
, released as the B-side to Starr's Apple Records
single "It Don't Come Easy
" in April 1971. It was inspired by the recent breakup of The Beatles
, and documents his desire to continue playing music with his former bandmates, Paul McCartney
, John Lennon
and George Harrison
.
The song was written with the working title "When Four Knights Come To Town" and first recorded during sessions for John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band
album (on which Starr played drums) in October 1970. The song was subsequently finished with George Harrison who produced and contributed slide guitar.
The four verses of "Early 1970" refer to each of the Beatles in turn. The first reflects Ringo's strained relationship with Paul, who at that point was trying to leave the Beatles and Apple. The second and third verses reflect his much warmer relationships with John and George while the last verse pokes fun at his own musical shortcomings.
Allen Klein
(the manager of Ringo, George and John) suggested inviting Paul to participate in the recording of the song, thinking that if he did it would undermine any legal moves he made to quit the Beatles. No such collaboration took place however, and McCartney filed a suit in the High Court to dissolve the Beatles partnership in December 1970.
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
, released as the B-side to Starr's Apple Records
Apple Records
Apple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968, as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston...
single "It Don't Come Easy
It Don't Come Easy
"It Don't Come Easy" is a song by Ringo Starr released as an Apple Records single in April 1971, reaching number four in both the U.S. and UK singles charts. It was Starr's first solo single in the UK, but his second in the US , following the breakup of the Beatles...
" in April 1971. It was inspired by the recent breakup of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, and documents his desire to continue playing music with his former bandmates, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
.
The song was written with the working title "When Four Knights Come To Town" and first recorded during sessions for John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band was received with high critical praise upon release. Critic Greil Marcus remarked, "John's singing in the last verse of 'God' may be the finest in all of rock." In early 1971, the album reached number eight on the UK and went to number six in the US, spending eighteen...
album (on which Starr played drums) in October 1970. The song was subsequently finished with George Harrison who produced and contributed slide guitar.
The four verses of "Early 1970" refer to each of the Beatles in turn. The first reflects Ringo's strained relationship with Paul, who at that point was trying to leave the Beatles and Apple. The second and third verses reflect his much warmer relationships with John and George while the last verse pokes fun at his own musical shortcomings.
Allen Klein
Allen Klein
Allen Klein was an American businessman, talent agent and record label executive. His clients included The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.- The accountant :...
(the manager of Ringo, George and John) suggested inviting Paul to participate in the recording of the song, thinking that if he did it would undermine any legal moves he made to quit the Beatles. No such collaboration took place however, and McCartney filed a suit in the High Court to dissolve the Beatles partnership in December 1970.