The Dirty Mac
40 years ago today, two contrasting 'Ulster's' demonstrated the highs and lows of 'grass roots' attempts to end intolerance and prejudice in the UK and US respectively. Following some of the worst street violence in its History, Northern Ireland was preparing to be catapulted into 30 years of chaos and murder on both sides of the divide, the shock of which would reverberate around the world for decades. Messrs Lennon and McCartney would soon individually release singles which criticised the UK governments handling of the 'Irish question', betraying in both cases, a somewhat one-sided, naive and simplistic understanding of the problem.
In another 'Ulster'; Ulster County New York, close to the town of Woodstock, half a million people came together for "3 days of music and peace" during an event organised and executed as the penultimate act of the late 60's 'summer of love', as the most socially liberating decade of the 20th century drew to a close. The concert was listed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock and Roll.
Back to EMI studios on August 25th, and the completion of 'Abbey Road' was under-way, with the final master, and safety copy of the same being carted off to the Apple building for disc cutting. The symbolic handing over of the master for pressing from Geoff Emerick to Malcolm Davies, ushers in the end of an era, and the Beatles career on disc (discounting future compilations, re-issues and the 1995 'Anthology' reunion). No armed guards with master tapes or reels handcuffed to their wrists as had occurred with 'A Hard Days Night' only 5 years previous. The long and winding road had reached its final destination.
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