A Few Words from Rob Sheffield
06 Tuesday Jun 2017
Written by Bungalow Bill in 1967, Notes/Additions/Corrections
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After weeks of nagging I finally broke down and got Rob Sheffield’s new book Dreaming the Beatles. I haven’t had time to read it yet, but I did look to see what he had to say about “It’s All Too Much,” which he considers “the great lost Beatles song.”
I’m not sure I agree, but his take is interesting:
It’s a psychedelic love song, with George dazed by the hippie minx on his futon. More than any other George song, it sounds like his tribute to Patti Boyd, the puffy-lipped sex priestess he married.
Patti (later known as “Pattie”), as we all know, would later leave George for his good friend Eric Clapton. Sheffield adds,
When Patti and Clapton got married in May 1979, George, Paul, and Ringo jammed at the wedding, playing “Get Back” and “Sgt. Pepper.” John called to complain he hadn’t been invited.
It’s strange how George was always a little stingy with the love songs. When you’ve got Patti sharing your stash box and leaving her sandals under your bed, yet you’d rather write all your songs about Lord Krishna, you can’t blame the girl for getting restless – it’s understandable she would upgrade her muse glimmer with some other rock star, preferably your best friend. No doubt Patti did it all for the songs. We owe her so much.
Not sure I would call it lost either. Does make me think of an odd category, most underrated Beatles song. I’m sure most suggestions are at least agreed to be great but just under legendary. I want to go with dear prudence or I’ve got a feeling, too understood as great to be underrated?
Underrated is in the eye of the beholder, I think.