The Beatles -- "Plastic Blues"

I’ve toyed around for years with the well-worn concept of what a late 1970/early 1971 Beatles album would have been like had the band stayed together. It took a while before I came up with a track list I liked.

SIDE A

1. What Is Life 

2. Well Well Well 

3. Oo You 

4. Remember 

5. Junk

6. Working Class Hero 

7. It Don't Come Easy 

SIDE B

1. I Found Out 

2. Every Night 

3. All Things Must Pass 

4. Teddy Boy 

5. Look at Me 

6. Let It Down 

7. Maybe I'm Amazed 

Other than a couple of exceptions, I decided to focus on songs that the Beatles had practiced during the Get Back/Let It Be sessions but had not made it onto a Beatles release. Also, given that the Beatles usually did not include songs they recorded for singles on their albums, I didn’t consider solo non-album singles either (except for one song from Ringo).

I led off the album with George’s “What is Life.” Of the tracks I’d selected, this one just seemed to me to be the best one to start the record with its catchy guitar riff. Plus, with the success of George’s songs on Abbey Road, I think he would take a more prominent role. Thus, we have four of his songs rather than the usual two.

I know of three versions of “All Things Must Pass”: the original released version, George’s demo from The Beatles' Anthology 3, and a workout by the Beatles that’s available via bootleg. I went with this version, and it’s therefore the only actual Beatles track on this album.

Note that each of the four Beatles has a song either opening or closing a side. Democratic, no? The democracy is throughout with three John songs to Paul’s two on the first side, and the opposite on the second. Add in the obligatory Ringo song, and you’ve got yourself a new Beatles album.

For an album title, I thought that several of the tunes had a bluesy feel, not to mention the line in “It Don’t Come Easy”: “Got to pay your dues if you want to sing the blues.” Taking a cue from the Beatles’ Rubber Soul album, I came up with Plastic Blues.

For a cover, I went dumpster diving into the web and found a photo of blue balloons with hearts attached to them. I thought that worked well.

John’s songs are from John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. Paul’s are from McCartney. George’s are from All Things Must Pass (except, somewhat ironically, "All Things Must Pass"). Ringo’s song did not make it onto an album until the compilation Blast from Your Past. I don't usually create a back cover, but made an exception here. And here's a YouTube playlist of the album.