In the mid-'70s, the most coveted "rock star jam" was almost certainly John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The duo had been on awkward terms in the immediate aftermath of The Beatles’ 1970 breakup, briefly trading public jabs through lyrics and interview quotes—and even when tensions settled, they frequently faced questions about a potential Beatles reunion. Given that immense spotlight and the weight of their shared history, it was hard to expect any sort of studio team-up. (The closest they came during that era was in 1973, when all four Beatles contributed to Ringo Starr’s self-titled solo album—just never all on the same track.)
But that long-awaited Lennon-McCartney summit, widely considered their last studio encounter, did occur—just probably not in the way anyone expected. The whole thing was casual to the point of hilarity—and so musically inconsequential, the results only exist through a somewhat obscure bootleg titled A Toot and a Snore in '74. But, ironically, that backstory only makes the event more compelling. It’s worth revisiting this bizarre moment in rock history and, perhaps, pondering what could have been.
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First off, this was a particularly strange and turbulent time for Lennon, who was temporarily separated from his wife, Yoko Ono, and living in Los Angeles during a hard-partying blur that the ex-Beatle later described as his "lost weekend." (In a 1980 interview with Playboy, the songwriter recalled, "I've never drunk so much in my life. I tried to drown myself in the bottle, and I was with the heaviest drinkers in the business…We couldn't pull ourselves out. We were trying to kill ourselves.") Against this backdrop of debauchery, amid the Lennon-produced sessions for Harry Nilsson’s album Pussy Cats, the big moment happened: As People notes, McCartney arrived to Burbank Studios on March 28, 1974, sitting down behind the drums. (May Pang notes in her 1983 book, Loving John, that the kit belonged to an absent Starr, who played on Pussy Cats.) Stevie Wonder (keyboards, vocals), Nilsson (vocals), and Bobby Keys (saxophone) were also part of the sprawling jam ensemble—not that it lives up to that all-star billing.
It’s important to emphasize that this was a jam, not a proper recording with prepared material—and if you’ve ever taken part in this kind of session, you know they can sometimes be awkward, tentative, and even frustrating. Still, the resulting tracks are painfully raw and chaotic, highlighted by Lennon's aggressive complaints about his microphone and headphones. Wonder plays some nicely funky keyboards, and McCartney seems to be having a blast as he bashes the kit, but no one listens to this bootleg for the half-formed cover versions of Ben E. King’s "Stand By Me" or Little Richard’s "Lucille." They listen for the frank studio chatter and the historical relevance.
The former Beatles seemingly felt the same way. "I jammed with Paul. I did actually play with Paul," Lennon told the BBC’s The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1975. "But there were 50 other people playing too, and they were all just watching me and Paul. [Laughs.]" McCartney, in 2012, noted that they were "stoned" at the time. “I don’t think there was anyone in that room who wasn’t stoned," he told Rolling Stone. "For some ungodly reason, I decided to get on drums. It was just a party, you know. To use the word ‘disorganized’ is completely understating it. I might have made a feeble attempt to restore order—'guys, you know, let’s think of a song, that would be a good idea’—but I can’t remember if I did or not."
Ultimately, A Toot and a Snore was probably most important as a symbol of friendship. The former songwriting partners continued to grow closer over the following years—right up until Lennon was shot and killed in December 1980. "I was very glad of how we got along in those last few years, that I had some really good times with him before he was murdered," McCartney wrote in his 2023 book, The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present. "Without question, it would have been the worst thing in the world for me, had he been killed, when we still had a bad relationship. I would've thought, 'Oh, I should've, I should've, I should've…' It would have been a big guilt trip for me. But luckily, our last meeting was very friendly. We talked about how to bake bread."
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21 products that are gaslighting us into thinking they’re essential when they’re not
Some things in life are actually necessary—clean water, decent healthcare, basic human decency. But then there are the things that feel like they’re gaslighting us. The things we’re told we can’t live without, even though we survived just fine before they existed. Things like "smart" fridges, lawn fertilizer services, and yes—whole body deodorant.
Recently, our sister-site Upworthy asked their Facebook audience the question: What's a product or service that feels like it's gaslighting all of us into thinking it's necessary? More than 8,000 responses poured in. The answers were passionate, funny, and surprisingly unified.
Here are 21 products, services, and systems people called out for pretending to be essential—when they might actually be optional, overpriced, or flat-out invented.
1. Whole body deodorant
"Take a shower," said Shannon H.
“How did we ever manage all those years without it!! 😂😵💫” added Karen R.
Others noted it may help people with medical conditions—but for the average person, it's definitely a marketing creation.
2. Health insurance
It topped the list. Erica L. explained: “My doctor prescribes, the pharmacist issues meds, nurses care for people, surgeons do surgery—Health Insurance stands between health care and patients and says no, exclusively on whether they think it’s financially effective to treat you.”
Important note: Health insurance can provide life-saving access for many—but what people are frustrated by here is the profit-first system, not care itself.
3. The wedding industry
Multiple people slammed the high cost of modern weddings.
JoElla B. put it plainly: “We spend too much time and money planning one day, and not enough thought on how to blend two lives in a mutually beneficial one.”
Others called out expensive dresses, venues, and pressure to perform for social media.
4. Bottled water
Carole D. said: “Water in plastic bottles! Get a cup!”
While bottled water has value in emergencies, it’s often just filtered tap water—sold for profit in plastic.
5. Baby product overload
“Most baby products,” wrote Kelli O. “They really aren’t as needy and complicated as companies want us to think.”
6. Fabric softener
“It’s bad for clothes, bad for the Earth, bad for the wallet, and totally unnecessary,” said Gail H.
Some experts agree—many softeners contain chemicals that can reduce fabric lifespan and irritate skin.
7. Smart appliances
“Adding ‘phone controls’ to every appliance instead of making them last as long as they used to,” wrote Sherry S.
When your fridge needs a software update, something’s gone off the rails.
8. Makeup and anti-aging products
“Anything anti-aging,” said Melissa T., “Please just let me age into the gargoyle I was meant to become.”
Others questioned products designed to “fix” eyelashes, eyebrows, pores, and graying hair.
April S. added, “Products that women are convinced they MUST have in order to be ‘beautiful’ and therefore ‘loved.’”
9. Cosmetic surgery
Ron P. called out the industry as a whole. And while body autonomy matters, many commenters questioned whether insecurities are being commodified and sold back to us.
10. Ticketmaster and “convenience fees”
“Let’s go back to waiting in line at a record store,” wrote Nicole C.
Zaida B. added: “Convenience fee for online purchases—then charging $10 more at the actual event.”
11. Engagement rings
James P. didn’t mince words: “Engagement rings.”
The diamond industry has long been criticized for manufactured scarcity and marketing-fueled necessity.
12. Lawn chemicals and services
“Plant native grasses and you don’t have the pests or need for constant watering,” wrote Jamie B.
Environmental groups have raised similar concerns over runoff and unnecessary pesticide use.
13. AI and generative tech
“This stuff squeezes the lifeblood and individuality out of the human experience,” said Teresa L.
Saskia D. and others echoed skepticism about its necessity, even as many of us are being pushed to use it.
14. Funeral services
Amy W. shared: “My parents both have already paid to have themselves cremated and are very adamant that they do not want anything big done for them. In their words, ‘I won’t care, I’m dead.’”
Of course, some families find comfort in tradition—but the cost and pressure can feel overwhelming and predatory.
15. Rinse and repeat
Amy D. nailed it: “It’s just to sell more. Not even sure you need it at all.”
16. Credit Card Surcharges
Shawn S. took aim at the extra fees popping up at checkout: “That is the cost of doing business and shouldn’t be the burden of the purchaser.”
Many questioned why customers are increasingly being asked to pay extra simply for the convenience of using a card.
17. Constant phone upgrades
“Apple are notorious for releasing the same shit every year,” said Steph S.
Diana H. added, “Needing to upgrade our phones so frequently.”
Built-in obsolescence and marketing cycles drive most of the demand.
18. Vitamins and supplements
“If I took every supplement they say I NEED I wouldn’t need food. Nor could I afford it,” said Tausha L.
19. Fake pockets on women’s pants
Jessica W. said, “I have to buy men’s pants for work because women’s pants would just get torn up too fast!”
Form over function, and then they charge more for it.
20. Disposable everything
“The ‘convenience’ of disposable everything,” said Rick R.
It’s killing the planet—and draining wallets.
21. Tipping
“I’m sick of supplementing for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage,” wrote Susan V.
Tipping culture has evolved into something far removed from its original intent, and for many, it now feels like a burden shifted onto the customer.
The bigger picture
People aren’t saying all these things should vanish tomorrow. But when we start seeing convenience sold as necessity, and insecurity turned into billion-dollar markets, it's worth asking: who benefits from all of this?
And more importantly—who pays?
This article originally appeared earlier this year.