Obviously, to be totally inclusive could have resulted in a dry inventory of many insignificant singles and albums. A good bonus feature could have included all this, as well as a discography of all the re-issues now available on CD. On the other hand, much screen time is devoted to critiques as to why some records were more successful than others. There’s much rhapsodizing on the glories of Ono’s solo work, certainly reflecting a minority view. Perhaps the talking heads are correct when they claim releases from Billy Preston and Doris Troy suffered from musical blandness. Preston, of course, like other Apple alumni, would enjoy greater success when they moved to other labels with more support than the dying Apple could provide.
Therefore, all viewers for this film should be on notice that it’s part informative, part opinion, and not definitive. How could it be with key players, such as Neil Aspinall, president of the company before and after Klein, not being involved? All this being said, most Beatle fans will want to add this disc to their collections. There are insights many likely have never heard before. there are many musical selections rarely heard, then and now. (I must add that many of the visuals are obviously imagery stuck in simply to have background for these excerpts, and apparently one key source for some material is YouTube.) If viewers are encouraged to seek out more of this music, then Strange Fruit will have been of service to artists who may not have gotten their full due all those years ago. Just remember that, even after 162 minutes, there’s much more to the Apple legacy than captured here.
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Article comments
1 - The Madhatter
As for this review's last paragraph asking why Neil Aspinall was not involved... Well, he passed away!
2 - Paul
This documentary has over 50 copyright issues starting with the cover showing the apple copyrighted covers and actually having Beatles music in it (Penny Lane & Hey Jude)....Amazon has pulled it sale, luckily I do have one and think it is quite insightful.
3 - BeatlesandBeyond
A fair - if sometimes inaccurate - review. Apple 1 was in fact 'The Lady is a Champ' which is not difficult to research. Molland was not on 'Maybe Tomorrow' by The Iveys. I look forward to part 2 of the Apple Records Story....
4 - Wesley Britton
Perhaps my sentence on the Iveys and Badfinger wasn't clear--I thought I at least implied "successor" would suggest a second guitarist wasn't on the early releases. Didn't I say "Lady is a Champ"? Yes, easy to research--but not mentioned in the film. Of course, I couldn't mention everything either such as Harrison's "Apple Scruffs," a tribute to the girls who hung around the offices. Due to copyright issues, I'd say get it while you can--
5 - BeatleTom
Apple 1 was indeed assigned to the Sinatra acetate, but it was not a "release" as noted in the review. IT was a private pressing made to give Ringo's wife as a one-off gift. As for no mention of "Brute Force", there's actually a lengthy inteview with him included as "bonus" material
6 - Zapple Bonker
I must strongly disagree that Doris Troy's Apple LP offering is bland. I bought it when it first came out and all these years later, I'm still bowled over after I hear it, especially the Eric Clapton magic.