Reunited or Not -- Beatles like to keep hungry fans guessing (1981)

 

Photo taken by Linda McCartney 

Reunited or Not -- Beatles Like to Keep Hungry Fans Guessing

By Kim Tyson

Austin American-Statesman

May 19, 1981

    The new Beatlemania.  It has hit the country, supported by rumors about a new Beatles record. The latest controversy to stir hardcore fans' memories is whether the Beatles have really joined again in tribute to the late John Lennon, and if the record is really by the Beatles.

    The record company says it can't even substantiate that all of them sing on it. "All Those Years Ago", a single by George Harrison, is already being played by radio stations and is expected to be available in some record stores this week.

    Whether it represents the long-awaited Beatles reunion has been left up to Beatles fans. Most of those associated with the industry deny it's anything like a reunion and focus their debate on the quality of the music.

     In Austin, Texas, both K98 and KLBJ began playing the three-minute 42-second single immediately after it was released for promotional purposes on May 7. The song is also a cut on Somewhere in England (Dark Horse Records, a subsidiary of Warner Bros). 

    Robb Stewart, program director for K98, called the record "a sentimental favorite" and said the station has received a "massive reaction" to it. He said the station has been receiving 5 to 6 requests an hour, and they play the single every 5 to 6 hours. "The Beatles have been famous for letting people say it's them ---no, it's not. The end product is making people talk about the Beatles. 

    "The Beatles like to cause a lot of talk about themselves, dead or alive. Beatlemania will be with us forever," Chuck Dunaway, program director for KLBJ, said. "The station has been playing it every 10 to 12 hours; it's the closest thing I think you'll get to a Beatles reunion record.

     "It's just a good commercial song, but there's nothing wrong with being commercial. It's gotten a great response, a super response," he said. 

    San Antonio's top 40 station, KTSA, played the single for three days that first week, then took it off the playlist to give it more time to prove itself. Station manager Lee Randall said, "We're debating whether to start it up again."

     "My judgment is the record is only being played because it's got three of the four remaining Beatles on it," said Randall, who added that his station had received a few calls for the song. "It sounds like a typical George Harrison record to me. The world was waiting for a Beatles record, and this is a George Harrison record. I think."

     The record has Harrison singing the lead and playing lead guitar. In the background are reputed to be Paul McCartney and his wife Linda on backup vocals, and Ringo Starr on drums, but a casual listener may have trouble picking out the background voices.

    " All Those Years Ago" has a soft rock beat and Harrison's sweet-sounding slide guitar. The lyrics contain references to John Lennon's songs, such as "All You Need Is Love", "Walls and Bridges", and "Imagine".

     "I'm shouting all about love, while they treated you like a dog. When you were the one who had made it so clear all those years ago,"  Harrison sings. 

    Local record stores said last week they hadn't received it, but Record Town Manager Charlie Caldwell said he anticipates a shipment today of the single. "We had several people a week come in and ask for it," he said.

     "It's really not that big of a deal," said Jack Cantor, manager of Inner Sanctum Records. He called the reaction "practically nil."

     "In no way is it a Beatles reunion cut," Cantor said, giving his opinion of its quality. "It's just another pop song. It's a good method for Warner Bros. to stir up some media hype on it," he said. He has heard from his customers. "Oh, it's okay, it's nothing like the Beatles."

     As for national reaction, the May 15 Radio and Records weekly tabloid, considered one of the most respected trade publications for radio and records, showed that the single set a new record in the tabloid's history for the first week acceptance. 87% of their 231 reporting stations across the country added it to their playlist the first week. 

    Cal Rudman, a Cherry Hill, New Jersey, publisher of a popular radio station tip sheet, Friday Morning Quarterback, predicted it to be a hit, no question. "Absolutely, it will be very big." Rudman, famous for forecasting the success of Christopher Cross, called the Beatles reunion idea overblown, but said the song's acceptance record is terrific. "It's a good George Harrison record", said Rudman, who views it as a quality sounding, quality produced song. 

    He added that he believes some of its popularity has been buoyed by rumors. "The word is, it was supposedly written for Ringo to do. I don't think it's fair for the American public to bill it as a Beatles reunion record. The point is, if you can't make out Paul McCartney's voice, if it's not featured predominantly, then what does it all mean?"

     Bob Merlis, publicity director for Warner Bros. Records, says the single was in some stores across the nation as early as Wednesday, and the Harrison LP is expected to be out by the first of June. The album Merlis says lists no studio information other than to say it was recorded entirely in England and gives no musician credits to Paul and Linda McCartney, who are believed to be singing background vocals on "All Those Years Ago." However, it does thank them for their help with the song. 

   "Ringo Starr is listed as one of four drummers on the album, but not listed for that specific song," Merlis said. "I've been trying to track this down for two weeks," Merlis said. About the publicity that the three remaining Beatles have gotten together for the song. "They may all three be on it, I just don't have any hard evidence," he said. 

Harrison and his manager won't comment.