Episode 30 – Beatles ’69 pt3

A week after walking out on the Twickenham sessions, George Harrison agreed to rejoin his bandmates to finish what would soon be referred to as the “Get Back” project...with a couple of caveats. The first being to abandon the cold, barren Twickenham for a cozier studio atmosphere which presented itself in the form of 3 Savile Row, London. The new Apple Studios was set-up by John’s friend Magic Alex, who promptly transformed the space into an incomprehensible jumble of needless technological decoration. The Beatles, however, liked the actual room itself that Alex had found, and after a redesign were back in the business of making an album together. George’s second and perhaps most fruitful caveat, was asking longtime friend and keyboard virtuoso Billy Preston to join the sessions. Billy’s abundance of talent and enthusiasm gave the project an entirely new life, and once again a tiny spark of that Beatles magic began to ignite. But just as the band rediscovered its musical footing, a new looming danger rose on the horizon in the form of Allan Klein, whom had contacted John upon hearing of Apple’s financial difficulties. A former manager of the Rolling Stones, Klein vowed to refocus the group’s direction and, with the support of John, George and Ringo, positioned himself to fill the long-vacant spot of Beatles manager. Only one man stood in Klein’s way: Paul McCartney.