KEN ECKERT ...
In the last photographs of the Beatles together, we can see their body language. I realize I may read too much into them. But they look so clearly sick of being together as a band, and itching to do things on their own or with other musical friends. We can only imagine how claustrophobic being so close for years must have been. The only scenario I can imagine where they stay together is where they take a breather as a band to go off and make solo albums, and they agree to get back together in 1971 to continue as the Beatles.
Let’s say that they continue to record together for another six or seven years until the late 70s, either full-time or part-time (perhaps Paul might have still had Wings on the side, pardon the pun). I’d say the albums would still be great, but they wouldn’t be group projects. More likely each member would have an agreed quota of songs that he had full control over, and could ask other members or even outsiders to guest on them.
In essence, that is what happened, and it wouldn’t be hard to take four of each of the Beatles’ best solo songs from the early 70s and make an album mix from it (like this one, or this one). The difference is that the band members would still have had a civil working relationship allowing them to perform on TV or video together (imagine them all on SNL, and not their almost-John-&-Paul appearance) and with more playing on each other’s tracks.
