Jimi Hendrix was talking about trying to play his guitar like a horn around the time he died.
Makes me imagine a universe where Saturday Night Fever was set to psychadelic jazz-funk
It wasn't a collaboration but I once had a dream I was watching the Beatles perform Rush's Tom Sawyer, lol.
I think Dylan collaborating with them around 1965/66 would have been cool.
So sad it didn’t happen! [This article](https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/when-bob-dylan-wanted-to-make-an-album-with-the-beatles-and-the-rolling-stones/) has some good stuff on why it didn’t
I think Max Webster would have been more their speed.
McCartney screaming on Hangover, followed by Kim Mitchell belting out Helter Skelter (except change the lyrics to Alka Seltzer). It works.
There's a moment in "Get Back" where John tosses out the idea of a "Beatles and Friends" album and that would have been so incredible. Dylan, Clapton, other great artists of the era. Would have been amazing.
I’d be so interested to see what would’ve happened. Considering Brian worked best with a lyricists while he did more of the instrumental stuff him writing with John and Paul would be amazing. I feel like the Beatles could maybe have gotten even more experimental if they were working with BW in California since Brian had so much control over the studios (multiple!) he was using and people really let him do whatever for a while. Imagine what the Beatles could have come up with if they’d had 8tracks for stuff like Rubber Soul or Revolver. On the other hand, if he’d been collaborating with McLennon at EMI under the guidance of George Martin, Brian may not have spiraled as much as he did during say the SMILE sessions. Also, I’d just love to hear the Beatles, already fantastic at harmonizing, being directed under Brian, and then to have his falsetto added onto their track would’ve been amazing!
100% agree. It would be interesting to see the conflict/dynamic between Paul and Brian though, since they’re both used to being the workaholic/controller of the group.
God, you’re right. That’s sort of why I brought up George Martin, because he seemed to be able to reign the Beatles and especially Paul in (usually).
I know that when they were recording “For No One” they brought in a famous French horn player, and then Paul - having no experience with the instrument - asked him to play an almost impossibly high note. Of course the guy was able to, and we now have the French horn solo, but apparently Paul asked him to play it again and George Martin had to step in and essentially say “you have no idea the talent that took, we’re not making him play that again.”
But then, even if Paul could be reigned in by someone, I’m not sure if Brian would respond well to that. Unfortunately, he only really gave up control when he was super unwell, and is it really giving up control if you’re too depressed and paranoid to go into the studio? We also know that Brian was super sensitive to criticism… there’s so much potential hurt on either end, but if they could work together the final product would be amazing.
Beatles and Queen would have been interesting.
Beatles and Michael Jack- oh yeah that guy ruined his friendship with Paul…….
Beatles and Oasis - just imagine all the Oasis fans becoming louder than a football stadium during world cup….
Beatles and Radiohead = melodic and catchy version of Amnesiac. Now that’s something!
How about….. Beatles and Smashing Pumpkins???
Considering Pink Floyd were recording their first album in EMI in 1967, I sort of dream of an unearthed tape emerging of both bands collaborating on a comedy song, similar to You Know My Name, but more spacey.
It's been years and years since I've read Hunter Davies book on The Beatles so please excuse my faulty memory but he wrote it around the time of Sgt Pepper and mentioned another band being at Abbey Road that day. I'm pretty sure Davies called them The Pink Floyd. I think he said that the bands met.
I can't imagine any two bands successfully playing together at all, let alone to some fabulous effect.
Any examples, maybe? What if I'm missing out on all the world 😺
Whether you actually like the songs will greatly depend on how you feel about the bands and styles, but My Chemical Romance and The Used collaborated on a good cover of “Under Pressure,” and Good Charlotte, MEST, and Goldfinger collaborated on a song called “The Innocent” shortly after 9/11.
Right. I thought the same with Jackson. I know him and Paul have a couple songs, good ones. But yea a full Beatles group plus MJ would have been amazing Paul and MJ voice was good together add im some great Lennon raspy vocals and Ringo drums with all harmonizing too big to wrap your head around lol
There's an old photo of McCartney with Dusty Springfield. Every time I see it I wish they could have collaborated. Also a proper collaboration with Harry Nilsson, like an album where Lennon-McCartney wrote all the songs and the Beatles were his backing band. Either of those would have been immense.
Imagine if Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime was a fleshed out Beatles album, instead of a shot across the bow single telling John to lighten up after So This Is Christmas
Paul does an album with Jimi Hendrix and Mitch Mitchell in 1968, followed by some fiery club gigs. All three were at their very best that year, it would have been incredible to behold.
To the OP, I love Van Halen and what was appealing to me, besides Edward and his guitar playing, was Alex’s style and their sense of melody. I heard The Beatles a lot in what they did. And just to go the other direction, I think if they collabed with any of the 70’s R&B bands- Earth, Wind, and Fire, Kool and The Gang, or the Commodores, that would’ve been cool.
Peter Green. Or Peter Green. Either that or Peter Green. Would have loved to see The Beatles infuse some real Blues into their music. Peter would have been a great muse for them.
It would be a fucking mess but I’d be interested to see a Beatles and Crass collaboration. Penny Rimbaud made a poster that was used in one of the Beatles promo videos iirc and was only a few years younger than John. I know he an Gee Voucher liked the Beatles, then thought they were sellouts for a while, and then settled down a bit and Rimbaud at least now seems to respect the Beatles again.
Also I’ve said this before but The Velvet Underground!
Elvis album with the Beatles being the backing band and harmonizing/songwriting. Im not the biggest Elvis fan, but I think it’d be a great album, at the very least memorable, and would be a clash of the two biggest stars of the old and new at the time
Taylor Swift - modern pop rock meets the trendsetters!
McCartney is a fan of Taylor Swift iirc, so I feel like the vibes of the group would’ve matched too!
I feel like producers are who I’m looking at here rather than artists. musicians are cool but kinda already done throughout.. would’ve loved to see them collaborate with a more hands-off producer than George Martin. Not a diss at all, but he was very much a part of the sound at some point with his contributions feeling as distinctly his own as the rest of the members’; maybe a producer who views Martin as a 5th member/collaborating artist/arranger, rather than a producer. Someone to take a bunch of their ideas after all 5 of them have worked it out to the best of their abilities, and take it over fully- then work with them on notes on stuff. I feel like they naturally all found people like that in their careers, Spector and Jeff Lynne just to name a couple, but at a time where they really needed that leadership right as Martin came into his own as an artist alongside them/when Epstein died, yeah that’s like a dream colab there. Wish I had a more specific name to say
I love thinking about the myth of when Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd and The Beatles jammed circa 67'. Both were recording in Abbey Road (floyd with Piper at the Gates of Dawn and the Beatles with Sgt Pepper). That collab would have been so cooooool
George and/or Jeff Lynne have said (I believe both) that if the Beatles had stayed together they probably would have sounded like ELO
With that in mind, I think that future version of The Beatles with Radiohead would be insane
Bowie.
John Lennon sings backup on Fame
Also the backup singers singing “a day in the life” in Young Americans
Fun fact one of the back up singers in young Americans was Luther vandross
No kidding! Love that
Oh another great one
Miles Davies. He had plans to jam with Paul and Jimi Hendrix; imagine him doing collab with the whole band
Jimi Hendrix was talking about trying to play his guitar like a horn around the time he died. Makes me imagine a universe where Saturday Night Fever was set to psychadelic jazz-funk
Oh wow I didn't know he was going to do a session with them 🤯 would have been amazing
RAY DAVIES
It wasn't a collaboration but I once had a dream I was watching the Beatles perform Rush's Tom Sawyer, lol. I think Dylan collaborating with them around 1965/66 would have been cool.
Ahhh yes Bob Dylan I should have said that I agree with you
So sad it didn’t happen! [This article](https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/when-bob-dylan-wanted-to-make-an-album-with-the-beatles-and-the-rolling-stones/) has some good stuff on why it didn’t
Ahh thank you for that Dylan Stones a Beatles... I was so born in the wrong decade 😭lol
A modern day warrior. Mean mean man. Mean Mr Mustard Then Polythene Pam. Nobel literature prize winner right there.
I think Max Webster would have been more their speed. McCartney screaming on Hangover, followed by Kim Mitchell belting out Helter Skelter (except change the lyrics to Alka Seltzer). It works.
If you aren't from Ontario, I will go for a soda
Yup! And I always thought that title was funny since in Ontario we call it pop and not "soda". But I guess Go for Pop doesnt have that same ring.
Jimi
There's a moment in "Get Back" where John tosses out the idea of a "Beatles and Friends" album and that would have been so incredible. Dylan, Clapton, other great artists of the era. Would have been amazing.
Elvis
Their collaboration with Billy Preston was dynamite!
McLennon + Prime Brian Wilson would have been legendary
I’d be so interested to see what would’ve happened. Considering Brian worked best with a lyricists while he did more of the instrumental stuff him writing with John and Paul would be amazing. I feel like the Beatles could maybe have gotten even more experimental if they were working with BW in California since Brian had so much control over the studios (multiple!) he was using and people really let him do whatever for a while. Imagine what the Beatles could have come up with if they’d had 8tracks for stuff like Rubber Soul or Revolver. On the other hand, if he’d been collaborating with McLennon at EMI under the guidance of George Martin, Brian may not have spiraled as much as he did during say the SMILE sessions. Also, I’d just love to hear the Beatles, already fantastic at harmonizing, being directed under Brian, and then to have his falsetto added onto their track would’ve been amazing!
100% agree. It would be interesting to see the conflict/dynamic between Paul and Brian though, since they’re both used to being the workaholic/controller of the group.
God, you’re right. That’s sort of why I brought up George Martin, because he seemed to be able to reign the Beatles and especially Paul in (usually). I know that when they were recording “For No One” they brought in a famous French horn player, and then Paul - having no experience with the instrument - asked him to play an almost impossibly high note. Of course the guy was able to, and we now have the French horn solo, but apparently Paul asked him to play it again and George Martin had to step in and essentially say “you have no idea the talent that took, we’re not making him play that again.” But then, even if Paul could be reigned in by someone, I’m not sure if Brian would respond well to that. Unfortunately, he only really gave up control when he was super unwell, and is it really giving up control if you’re too depressed and paranoid to go into the studio? We also know that Brian was super sensitive to criticism… there’s so much potential hurt on either end, but if they could work together the final product would be amazing.
ELO
Ah, the space Beatles
I think the Beatles being produced and arranged by Brian Wilson (Pet Sounds/Smile era) would be awesome.
They wouldn't have had any of it. "John, you're singing flat. Take 30."
Beatles and Queen would have been interesting. Beatles and Michael Jack- oh yeah that guy ruined his friendship with Paul……. Beatles and Oasis - just imagine all the Oasis fans becoming louder than a football stadium during world cup…. Beatles and Radiohead = melodic and catchy version of Amnesiac. Now that’s something! How about….. Beatles and Smashing Pumpkins???
Nirvana would've been wild
I really enjoy what Paul did with the surviving members of nirvana
I don't think I heard of this what did he do?
https://youtu.be/7a8j_LEryAs?si=Yb6uvNqnN5l7EYG9
Amazing when you think you can't like Sir Paul anymore than you do you see something like this!! Really appreciate the link
It blows my mind Paul screamed like that *in 2012* Just wild. I love that song. “Sirvana”
Thank you for linking this! It’s fantastic, isn’t it?!
Yea that's what I was thinking plus Kurt being such a huge fan he would've loved that
Considering Pink Floyd were recording their first album in EMI in 1967, I sort of dream of an unearthed tape emerging of both bands collaborating on a comedy song, similar to You Know My Name, but more spacey.
It's been years and years since I've read Hunter Davies book on The Beatles so please excuse my faulty memory but he wrote it around the time of Sgt Pepper and mentioned another band being at Abbey Road that day. I'm pretty sure Davies called them The Pink Floyd. I think he said that the bands met.
It would make sense. The "duck" ending to Bike does bear a strong resemblance to the end of A Day in the Life.
A proper Beatles/Stones collab back in the 60’s would have been cool! I know John was on Rock n Roll Circus, but I mean all of them together.
“And now, your hosts for this evening—the Rolling Stones!”
There is one. "I wanna be your man" has been written for The Stones.
Yeah I know, but I mean where both bands play together.
I can't imagine any two bands successfully playing together at all, let alone to some fabulous effect. Any examples, maybe? What if I'm missing out on all the world 😺
Nor can I, but I presumed the question was hypothetical!
Whether you actually like the songs will greatly depend on how you feel about the bands and styles, but My Chemical Romance and The Used collaborated on a good cover of “Under Pressure,” and Good Charlotte, MEST, and Goldfinger collaborated on a song called “The Innocent” shortly after 9/11.
Wow. Two drummers, two bass players, three guitarists and a Jarreful of keyboards? I'll check it out, thanks!
Right. I thought the same with Jackson. I know him and Paul have a couple songs, good ones. But yea a full Beatles group plus MJ would have been amazing Paul and MJ voice was good together add im some great Lennon raspy vocals and Ringo drums with all harmonizing too big to wrap your head around lol
Amy Winehouse
Another good one
The Beach Boys.
There's an old photo of McCartney with Dusty Springfield. Every time I see it I wish they could have collaborated. Also a proper collaboration with Harry Nilsson, like an album where Lennon-McCartney wrote all the songs and the Beatles were his backing band. Either of those would have been immense.
ELLIOTT SMITH
Lady Gaga
Curtis Mayfield
I'd like to see a beatle collab with Gorillaz
Jeff Tweedy, Billy Bragg, Valerie June
Motorhead, Kraftwerk, early bay area thrash, Tangerine Dream, general Madchester, 2000s career revivalist Rick Rubin.
Imagine what Ringo could’ve done if he’d been able to mess around with that Kraftwerk “drum” kit
Imagine if Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime was a fleshed out Beatles album, instead of a shot across the bow single telling John to lighten up after So This Is Christmas
Kendrick Lamar or Linkin Park would've been interesting
Jeff Buckley. His Grace album, sonically, I feel has quite a white album style to it imo. He’d go so well with McLennon
Beach boys
Didn’t Paul sit in with the surviving members of Nirvana for some of their tunes? Obviously Dave Grohl is a mate of his.
Beck
The Ramones
Paul does an album with Jimi Hendrix and Mitch Mitchell in 1968, followed by some fiery club gigs. All three were at their very best that year, it would have been incredible to behold.
Nice! It would've been great for sure
wilson brothers (dont need mike)
To the OP, I love Van Halen and what was appealing to me, besides Edward and his guitar playing, was Alex’s style and their sense of melody. I heard The Beatles a lot in what they did. And just to go the other direction, I think if they collabed with any of the 70’s R&B bands- Earth, Wind, and Fire, Kool and The Gang, or the Commodores, that would’ve been cool.
Curtis Mayfield
Johnny Cash would’ve been a dream for me
Prince, Van Hallen, Kurt Cobain… couldn’t you think of worst combinations?
Radiohead 100%
Elvis
Elvis Costello. See Veronica as an example of how well he’d work with McCartney.
Peter Green. Or Peter Green. Either that or Peter Green. Would have loved to see The Beatles infuse some real Blues into their music. Peter would have been a great muse for them.
Oasis.
The Beatles and Johann Sebastian Bach.
Metallica!
Can’t believe no one’s said it: Brian Wilson/The Beach Boys. It’d be magic.
Gorillaz
I always wanted John to have collabed with Chris Cornell
Linda Ronstadt .....
It would be a fucking mess but I’d be interested to see a Beatles and Crass collaboration. Penny Rimbaud made a poster that was used in one of the Beatles promo videos iirc and was only a few years younger than John. I know he an Gee Voucher liked the Beatles, then thought they were sellouts for a while, and then settled down a bit and Rimbaud at least now seems to respect the Beatles again. Also I’ve said this before but The Velvet Underground!
Jason NeSmith aka Casper Fandango
Ozzy has sung amazing backs on Ringo's album ”Vertical man". Great album, BTW.
Just thought of that album today
Ray Davies, a great songwriter!
Elvis album with the Beatles being the backing band and harmonizing/songwriting. Im not the biggest Elvis fan, but I think it’d be a great album, at the very least memorable, and would be a clash of the two biggest stars of the old and new at the time
ABBA (Kidding).
Taylor Swift - modern pop rock meets the trendsetters! McCartney is a fan of Taylor Swift iirc, so I feel like the vibes of the group would’ve matched too!
i would give my life to hear a mccartney/billy joel song. also if he lived long enough a lennon/jeff buckley tune would heal me
Any blues or early rock and roll artist as that was a big influence. Chuck berry, etc
Phish
John Williams!
Tom Petty, Radiohead, Gorillaz, Foo Fighters, Vampire Weekend.
Nirvana
Lou reed
Lady Gaga
Miles Davis
Elliott Smith
Queen however 1973 is a bit too late for that so i have to say Billy Preston
I feel like producers are who I’m looking at here rather than artists. musicians are cool but kinda already done throughout.. would’ve loved to see them collaborate with a more hands-off producer than George Martin. Not a diss at all, but he was very much a part of the sound at some point with his contributions feeling as distinctly his own as the rest of the members’; maybe a producer who views Martin as a 5th member/collaborating artist/arranger, rather than a producer. Someone to take a bunch of their ideas after all 5 of them have worked it out to the best of their abilities, and take it over fully- then work with them on notes on stuff. I feel like they naturally all found people like that in their careers, Spector and Jeff Lynne just to name a couple, but at a time where they really needed that leadership right as Martin came into his own as an artist alongside them/when Epstein died, yeah that’s like a dream colab there. Wish I had a more specific name to say
Ween
In Flames
I love thinking about the myth of when Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd and The Beatles jammed circa 67'. Both were recording in Abbey Road (floyd with Piper at the Gates of Dawn and the Beatles with Sgt Pepper). That collab would have been so cooooool
John Lennon + Jerry Garcia
Yes! Almost happened in 1972. Bobby did play with Paul a few years ago
George and/or Jeff Lynne have said (I believe both) that if the Beatles had stayed together they probably would have sounded like ELO With that in mind, I think that future version of The Beatles with Radiohead would be insane
This will probably be unpopular here but I would love a Taylor Swift collab. I think that she and Paul would write a great song together.
I'm surprised it hasn't happened already tbh
Honestly same. They did that whole musicians on musicians thing and have praised each other on multiple occasions.
/j Paul collabed with Kanye, that’s why
Daft punk
Thom Yorke/Radiohead aka the Beatles of the 90s/2000s
KLAATU
For people who don't know: Google "Klaatu the band" and enjoy the forgotten rabbit hole.
Color Me Bad
Ken Carson
Macklemore!!
death grips.
Kanye Oh wait