I think there was a personality conflict, also keep in mind the Beatles formed as a band in 1957 as the Quarrymen, when John was 16, Paul was 14, Harrison 13, and I think Ringo was maybe 15. They toured from 1957 to roughly 1966, when they got burned out on the press, fans, etc having issues with their politics, and constantly being mobbed. (This is show in the first twenty minutes of episode one of the documentary.) In 1966, they recorded all their albums in the studio - so spent very little time together, often showing up at different times to record. They might have interacted two to three times a year if that. In 1968, they did a live television appearance - I think it was 68, it may have been 67...in front of an audience, and loved playing together. So thought to do it again - the only problem was timing, they did it soon after working on and releasing a previous album. So when they met in the cold Twickerham studios (they were wearing heavy fur jackets half the time), to write the new songs - with a camera crew filming their creative process...things understandably went awry.
I mean imagine just writing and recording and releasing an album of songs, then about six months later having three weeks to come up with an additional 17 songs in less than a month's time? 17 songs. And with a live concert on the menu. Plus, PLUS being filmed while you are creating those songs. And you've not been working closely at all for years or physically together.
That's going to bring out personality conflicts. It's bound too.
[Regarding Harrison's musical career - some of that's subjective ( for example, you may just prefer his songs, musical compositions to other song-writers out there - but defending that is like defending fictional characters or fictional novels - or pumpkin pie vs. apple, at the end of the day it's just a matter of taste really. I mean taste is a personal thing, you aren't going to win in those debates nor should you.).
But in comparison to McCartney's career wise, ie. the volume of work, name recognition, popularity, etc -- due to various factors (many outside either's control) I'm not sure his career as a whole truly registers on an objective level - he didn't reach the same level of popularity or name recognition. That doesn't mean he wasn't an excellent musician in his own right, just that he lacked the charismatic presence, the drive, the song book...that say a McCartney had.. plus McCartney outlived him and unlike Harrison, was prolific song-writer, and a workaholic, who collaborated heavily with his wife, also a musician, and best friend Lennon. (I'm not sure though that Harrison came close to Lennon's song-book either, but that's hard to say - it's possible it did, he outlived Lennon, and Lennon got a bit burned out.) Harrison wasn't a workaholic, was interested more in spirituality and other things, and not as prolific. Plus he didn't really get to shine until after he left the Beatles. I know less about him - because less has been thrown in my face regarding him - and that's because he never hit that same level of popularity. I can do the same comparison with Harrison and Bob Dylan - and get the same results.]
no subject
I think there was a personality conflict, also keep in mind the Beatles formed as a band in 1957 as the Quarrymen, when John was 16, Paul was 14, Harrison 13, and I think Ringo was maybe 15. They toured from 1957 to roughly 1966, when they got burned out on the press, fans, etc having issues with their politics, and constantly being mobbed. (This is show in the first twenty minutes of episode one of the documentary.) In 1966, they recorded all their albums in the studio - so spent very little time together, often showing up at different times to record. They might have interacted two to three times a year if that. In 1968, they did a live television appearance - I think it was 68, it may have been 67...in front of an audience, and loved playing together. So thought to do it again - the only problem was timing, they did it soon after working on and releasing a previous album. So when they met in the cold Twickerham studios (they were wearing heavy fur jackets half the time), to write the new songs - with a camera crew filming their creative process...things understandably went awry.
I mean imagine just writing and recording and releasing an album of songs, then about six months later having three weeks to come up with an additional 17 songs in less than a month's time? 17 songs. And with a live concert on the menu. Plus, PLUS being filmed while you are creating those songs. And you've not been working closely at all for years or physically together.
That's going to bring out personality conflicts. It's bound too.
[Regarding Harrison's musical career - some of that's subjective ( for example, you may just prefer his songs, musical compositions to other song-writers out there - but defending that is like defending fictional characters or fictional novels - or pumpkin pie vs. apple, at the end of the day it's just a matter of taste really. I mean taste is a personal thing, you aren't going to win in those debates nor should you.).
But in comparison to McCartney's career wise, ie. the volume of work, name recognition, popularity, etc -- due to various factors (many outside either's control) I'm not sure his career as a whole truly registers on an objective level - he didn't reach the same level of popularity or name recognition. That doesn't mean he wasn't an excellent musician in his own right, just that he lacked the charismatic presence, the drive, the song book...that say a McCartney had.. plus McCartney outlived him and unlike Harrison, was prolific song-writer, and a workaholic, who collaborated heavily with his wife, also a musician, and best friend Lennon. (I'm not sure though that Harrison came close to Lennon's song-book either, but that's hard to say - it's possible it did, he outlived Lennon, and Lennon got a bit burned out.) Harrison wasn't a workaholic, was interested more in spirituality and other things, and not as prolific. Plus he didn't really get to shine until after he left the Beatles. I know less about him - because less has been thrown in my face regarding him - and that's because he never hit that same level of popularity. I can do the same comparison with Harrison and Bob Dylan - and get the same results.]