Goo goo g'joob, I'm crying

A different type of Beatles documentary

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This week’s quick rec to kick off is an incredibly entertaining, 20-odd minute interview between Showtime talk show hosts Desus & Mero, and Denzel Washington. I’ve never seen Denzel—an actor renowned for his intensity and suffer-no-fools vibe—so loose, laid-back and funny in an interview. Desus & Mero must still be walking on air after this, because they nailed it. Maximum chemistry.

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Much to my chagrin, I still haven’t managed to watch Peter Jackson’s epic, eight-hour Beatles documentary Get Back. I refuse to just have it on in the background; I need to be able to luxuriate in every mundane, stupefying detail that I’ve been primed to expect from the rave reviews of friends and colleagues. Until that time, I’ll have to subsist on memories of an altogether different—and truly surreal—Beatles-related documentary.

In 1998, for his musical recording swan song, producer George Martin (aka the “Fifth Beatle”) compiled an LP, “In My Life”, featuring a host of cover versions of Beatles songs—much of its recording was captured for posterity in a 51-minute BBC special. An understandable, even poignant endeavor, you might think to yourself. An opportunity for the legendary, visionary producer to revisit his glorious past through the respectful interpretations of talented younger artists who’d fallen under the spell of the Fab Four. A once-in-a-lifetime chance for Jim Carrey to holler “I Am The Walrus” in the style of a man having a nervous breakdown while you, George Martin, stand in the back of the recording studio, rictus grin affixed, wondering if you’re going to make it out alive.

Hang on. You what?

Yes, it’s esoteric stuff. As well as Carrey gurning through “I Am the Walrus”, you get Goldie Hawn doing a sexy lounge version of “A Hard Day’s Night”; Celine Dion absolutely leathering through “Here There and Everywhere”; Phil Collins going characteristically HAM on an “Abbey Road” medley; and Robin Williams and Bobby McFerrin teaming up for “Come Together”. In the wake of Williams’ tragic death in 2014, it’s quite moving to watch his and McFerrin’s performance today. The pair were friends, and Williams had starred in a small, goofy role in the video for McFerrin’s 1988 one-hit-wonder “Don’t Worry Be Happy” (which was the first US number 1 hit featuring no instrumentation; yes, it’s all Bobby!)

Yet perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised at the project’s comedic, borderline avant-garde leanings: pre-Beatles, Martin produced comedy albums for Peter Sellers and The Goon Show, and in 1962 even made an early electronica record called “Time Beat” under the moniker Ray Cathode (in collaboration with electro pioneer and TV producer Maddalena Fagandini.) It’s jaunty as hell, and it rips. Fans of Paul McCartney’s later electronica sojourns, including 1980’s staggering “Secret Friend”, will find much to admire.

The documentary is as gently perplexing to witness as it is engaging. Through it all—all the screaming and clowning—Martin presides with grace; a tall and princely avuncular spirit with nothing to worry about, completely secure in his legacy, and having a ball working with, in his words, his “pals and heroes.”

There’s one notable absentee from the doc, though: Sean Connery, who closes the LP with a spoken word rendition of the wistful, titular tearjerker “In My Life”. You can listen to it if you want, but it sounds exactly as you imagine it would—there are playshes he’ll remember / shome have gone / and shome remain. I’m quipping, but as a defense mechanism. To be honest it is incredibly moving to hear, especially now that we live in a world without Connery, John Lennon, and George Martin—legends, all.

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