1970/71: Two of Us (Special I)

If one special chapter was enough for 1970, so why not three special chapters for 1971? Most of them are Beatles-centered, by the way!

Just in time, springtime!

Paul McCartney recording Rock and Roll Springtime.

Besides the brief hiatus, the activities from the fellow Beatles in music industry never ceased. Ringo Starr released two albums (Beaucoups of Blues and Sentimental Journey, same as our timeline), while Paul began to record his then-debut solo album, as well, as George and John did the same. As a skilled multi-instrumentalist, Paul started recording his solo album alone, alternating between Apple Studios, his home and Morgan Studios.

Despite the official sessions started by June 1970, the desire of recording a solo album comes from as early as 1969 to Paul, in a session that delivered "The Lovely Linda" and "That Would Be Something", which would be later added to The Beatles' Abbey Road. As with much of the album, McCartney sang the composition accompanied by acoustic guitar before filling the remaining tracks with a second guitar part, bass and percussive accompaniment.

As for John, he first reassembled The Dirty Mac minus Keith Richards, who was replaced by longtime friend Klaus Voormann, Eric Clapton who kept in an in-and-out of the group as a member of Derek and the Dominoes, and Mitch Mitchell, former drummer from the now-disbanded Jimi Hendrix Experience. Clapton would be eventually replaced by Hugh McCracken, a consistent session musician between Paul and John's records at the time.

Eventually the sessions were interrupted as the Beatles were returning, and after a few sessions for John's album included Ringo and George. Paul brought three of his tracks, two of which were already known by the rest of the group, Teddy Boy and Junk, and Maybe I'm Amazed. Wild Life was developed after a jam session with the entire band.

The return for the solo albums came after the first session, and it was focused to finish the records, or wait until after the release of All Things Must Pass. "That deadline fucked me, because I had a lot of work to do with 'Let It Down' and Phil [Spector]. Paul and John were the only beneficiaries with this, since they had simpler records, so I needed to wait until March to touch my album again.", George Harrison.

Ringo and Klaus Voorman during The Dirty Mac sessions.

Paul's return to his solo work started with Linda, who suggested to hire a few more musicians to help him to not get too weary recording four albums in a row (this, from Abbey Road to his solo album). Moving to New York, Paul hold auditions to work with musicians, recruiting David Spinozza and Denny Seiwell. When Spinozza became unavailable, McCracken was also hired to help Paul, suggested by Lennon.

"Paul was overwhelmed by his solo album and then by the sessions with the Beatles, so I suggested to hire some people to work with, while he was recording with the band. He would compose the songs, give it to me and the group would rehearsal until he effectively resumed the recording sessions of the album."

-Linda McCartney 

In contrast to Paul, George and John hired Phil Spector as their producer, with Spector focusing more on George's debut album rather than John's, who produced his debut album largely on his own, with a few appearances of Yoko Ono. Mitchell sometimes recalls the behavior of John changing from being upbeat to highly emotional and would discuss his feelings with Ono as they listened to playbacks in the studio control room.

"There were times at those sessions that were fucking unbearable. John would come up screaming and shouting when we were recording the damn track. The things started to get better when Ringo and George came up to the sessions, we chatted a lot there until they had to return with the group. I had my fair share of contribution to Instant Karma!, so I was quite happy to contribute something to the Beatles."

-Mitch Mitchell

Paul and Linda's album was announced along with John's to February 1971, two months before All Things Must Pass. Originally titled just "Suicide", the label preferred to add "(Call It) Suicide" to avoid backlash. Both agreed with Brian Epstein to release the album before February 20th, with Lennon's album being released two days after Rock and Roll Springtime.

Paul and Linda McCartney – Rock and Roll Springtime

Paul and Linda McCartney - Rock and Roll Springtime (1971)

Genre: Indie pop, folk rock, lo-fi

Total: 40:33

All songs written by Paul McCartney, except when mentioned.

Side A - 19:17

1. "Smile Away" - 3:51

2. "The Lovely Linda" - 0:43

3. "Long Haired Lady" (Paul and Linda McCartney) - 5:54

4. "Hot as Sun/Glasses" - 1:57

5. "(Call It) Suicide" - 2:48

6. "Momma Miss America" - 4:04

Side B - 21:16

7. "Eat at Home" (P. & L. McCartney) - 3:18

8. "Man We Was Lonely" - 2:56

9. "Every Night" - 2:31

10. "Heart of the Country" (P. & L. McCartney) - 2:21

11. "Monkberry Moon Delight" (P. & L. McCartney) - 5:21

12. "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" (P. & L. McCartney) - 4:49

Rock and Roll Springtime is the debut studio album by the husband-and-wife music duo Paul and Linda McCartney. The album was released on 17 February 1971 by Apple Records, with production credited to the duo. It is the first side-project of Paul McCartney outside the Beatles. Similarly to John Lennon/The Dirty Mac and Ringo Starr's Sentimental Journey, it was also recorded in-between the All Things Must Pass sessions. The photos of the cover were taken and arranged by Linda and Paul themselves.

Originally conceived as Paul's original debut album, Linda's inclusion came after the sessions for the album resumed after reuniting with the Beatles during the All Things Must Pass sessions, with Linda contributing and receiving credits afterwards. The first sessions happened with Paul alone, expanding to a number of session musicians in the songs credited to both Paul and Linda.

At the time, the album received negative to mixed reviews, despite being highly anticipated with The Dirty Mac. The album was harshly criticized being called 'half-baked', despite Paul's solo hit with Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, which received considerable airplay in the radio. Despite the critics, Paul album reached number 5 in the United States and number 3 in the United Kingdom.

In more recent years, reviews of Rock and Roll Springtime have been more favorable towards the record. The album was considered a crucial mark for DIY musicians, home recordings and lo-fi music styles, gaining a cult following with its successor, Another Day. It is praised by artists such as Neil Young, and even John's son Sean.

John Lennon – John Lennon/The Dirty Mac

John Lennon - John Lennon/The Dirty Mac (1971)
Genre: Rock, avant-pop
Total: 42:05
All songs written by John Lennon.

Side A - 21:47
1. "Power to the People" - 3:22
2. "Cold Turkey" - 5:01
3. "Well Well Well" - 5:59
4. "I Found Out" - 3:37
5. "Working Class Hero" - 3:48

Side B - 20:18
6. "Mother" - 5:34
7. "Hold On" - 1:52
8. "God" - 4:09
9. "Love" - 3:21
10. "Remember" - 4:33
11. "My Mummy's Dead" - 0:49

John Lennon/The Dirty Mac, sometimes simplified to just The Dirty Mac is John Lennon's debut album backed by The Dirty Mac. It was released on 19 February 1971 in tandem with the similarly titled album by his wife, Yoko Ono, and two days after Paul and Linda's Rock and Roll Springtime. It was produced by Phil Spector and has a similar cover to Yoko Ono's debut.

To record the album, John Lennon reassembled The Dirty Mac, replacing Keith Richards with Klaus Voorman in the bass, and later Eric Clapton with Hugh McCracken. The sessions for The Dirty Mac happened simultaneously with Rock and Roll Springtime and George Harrison's Let It Down, where a frequent exchange of session musicians happened, while Phil Spector also produced George album. During the same period, John was frequenting a primal scream therapy, which changed his behavior during the sessions.

John's album received mixed reviews, but it was viewed more favorably than Rock and Roll Springtime at the time, being considered "more cohesive" than the other one. "Power to the People" was John's most played track in the radio, as it was released earlier in 1970. The album reached number 10 in the United States and number 4 in the United Kingdom.

The Dirty Mac is revalued as one of John Lennon's masterpieces, and it would be quickly followed, and overshadowed, by the triple album It's So Hard, considered a response of John and Yoko to the husband-and-wife duo between Paul McCartney and Linda, igniting a friendly rivalry between the two couples.

Notes:

• Paul and Linda McCartney - Rock and Roll Springtime
• Paul McCartney - McCartney (1970)
• Paul and Linda McCartney - Ram (1971)
• John Lennon - John Lennon/The Dirty Mac
• John Lennon - John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970) plus bonus tracks
• Plastic Ono Band - Cold Turkey/Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)