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stonehearted
Not according to Geoff Emerick's book.
Well, he's wrong. According Lewishon and the book REcording the Beatles, track one has "two guitars and drums." THis is before bouncing. So if Paul does have 4 hands...
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tomkQuote
stonehearted
Not according to Geoff Emerick's book.
Well, he's wrong. According Lewishon and the book REcording the Beatles, track one has "two guitars and drums." THis is before bouncing. So if Paul does have 4 hands...
But he was there--as the studio engineer. Mark Lewisohn is a second-hand source.
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billwebster
What are they supposed to play? "Beautiful Night"?
With a Little Help From My Friends
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Munichhilton
So a bass player is gonna stand up there with a drummer...and it's momentous?
What Beatles songs have only bass and drum?
Come Together...ok, I may be remembering it wrong.
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Munichhilton
So a bass player is gonna stand up there with a drummer...and it's momentous?
What Beatles songs have only bass and drum?
The Sgt. Pepper title track has only Paul and Ringo playing on it, with Paul handling all of the guitars--if Paul had four more arms, it would work live as well.
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Munichhilton
So a bass player is gonna stand up there with a drummer...and it's momentous?
What Beatles songs have only bass and drum?
The Sgt. Pepper title track has only Paul and Ringo playing on it, with Paul handling all of the guitars--if Paul had four more arms, it would work live as well.
Nah, there's a rhythm guitar by either Harrison or Lennon.
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whitem8
Well, one thing must be remembered, that often first hand memories are tricky and often in error. Case in point, watch Anthology and often there are four different stories for the same event. Emerick's book is very good, but he clearly was a Paul man, and didn't think much of George's abilities, and often the tone of his book is pretty biased. That doesn't instill a lot of faith in this as a unbiased accurate memory of the fact. Lewishon, however, is a researcher, and was granted unheard of access to all The Beatles tapes and studio notes. Often his research takes many different sources. In this case I am not sure who is correct, but I do tend to lean toward Lewishon, as he seems to be unbiased and has access to multiple sources. Emerick, for all we know, is just relying on his memories, which is a tricky place to be in for a primary source due to the passage of time and the details that get foggy.
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Shantipole
I have had a complete rethink when it comes to Macca. As far as I am concerned the guy still comes up with great music (maybe not consistently but not even Dylan does) and he just seems like a pretty cool guy. It must suck to be constantly compared to what you did in your twenties but I think he has handled it well. And he can still bring it live so its all good.
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BlackHat
If this isn't a suitable occasion for Sons of The Beatles then why not get Yoko involved? It would be great to hear her screaming!
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michaelsavage
Sunds so boring
Sons are so boring? Agreed.
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stonehearted
Emerick's book is a studio history, as he witnessed it, nothing more. His alleged biases seem to bother people. If he appears "pro Paul" and makes less than flattering observations about George, it's only because that's the way he observed them in the studio--that is, Paul the most enthusiastic in the recording process and George the most frustrated (just listen to takes 12 and 13 of George on Don't Bother Me for confirmation).
In Anthology, memories are selective over time because personal egos have rendered them as such. Emerick was an EMI studio engineer who saw it as third party observers with no real personal interest would--objectively.
And yes, Lennon had backing vocals on the track, but the issue was who plays what on it.
Why would Harrison be playing rhythm on this track? That was Lennon's role. Harrison was the lead player. As for Lennon playing rhythm, see Emerick's account about the switch he and Paul made. Why is it so hard to accept that this was Paul's song and that he took complete control of the music because he knew best what he wanted? He played the guitars and the bass, so what's the problem?
I for one was not "disappointed" in Emerick's book--because I was not expecting anything. It is what it is, a studio employee's account of what he witnessed in the studio. And his memory appears quite detailed, particularly the accounts of the Day in the Life orchestra overdub session and the nuances of George's expression of rage that day in the studio when Yoko nicked his crackers.
So, Lewisohn had access to "studio notes"--who wrote those? Perhaps even they are in error. I think in this particular case a first-hand source like Emerick merits greater consideration than an outside "researcher" who wasn't there to witness Paul suggesting to John that they swap rhythm and bass roles for the track, which is something that no "studio notes" would have mentioned.
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stonehearted
And yes, Lennon had backing vocals on the track, but the issue was who plays what on it.
Why would Harrison be playing rhythm on this track? That was Lennon's role. Harrison was the lead player. As for Lennon playing rhythm, see Emerick's account about the switch he and Paul made. Why is it so hard to accept that this was Paul's song and that he took complete control of the music because he knew best what he wanted? He played the guitars and the bass, so what's the problem?
I for one was not "disappointed" in Emerick's book--because I was not expecting anything. It is what it is, a studio employee's account of what he witnessed in the studio. And his memory appears quite detailed, particularly the accounts of the Day in the Life orchestra overdub session and the nuances of George's expression of rage that day in the studio when Yoko nicked his crackers.
So, Lewisohn had access to "studio notes"--who wrote those? Perhaps even they are in error. I think in this particular case a first-hand source like Emerick merits greater consideration than an outside "researcher" who wasn't there to witness Paul suggesting to John that they swap rhythm and bass roles for the track, which is something that no "studio notes" would have mentioned.
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michaelsavage
Sunds so boring
Sons are so boring? Agreed.
Lucky their fathers were born first...
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His MajestyQuote
stonehearted
And yes, Lennon had backing vocals on the track, but the issue was who plays what on it.
Why would Harrison be playing rhythm on this track? That was Lennon's role. Harrison was the lead player. As for Lennon playing rhythm, see Emerick's account about the switch he and Paul made. Why is it so hard to accept that this was Paul's song and that he took complete control of the music because he knew best what he wanted? He played the guitars and the bass, so what's the problem?
I for one was not "disappointed" in Emerick's book--because I was not expecting anything. It is what it is, a studio employee's account of what he witnessed in the studio. And his memory appears quite detailed, particularly the accounts of the Day in the Life orchestra overdub session and the nuances of George's expression of rage that day in the studio when Yoko nicked his crackers.
So, Lewisohn had access to "studio notes"--who wrote those? Perhaps even they are in error. I think in this particular case a first-hand source like Emerick merits greater consideration than an outside "researcher" who wasn't there to witness Paul suggesting to John that they swap rhythm and bass roles for the track, which is something that no "studio notes" would have mentioned.
You are misunderstanding. I haven't read this book nor care who did what.
George plays rhythm on lots of Beatles songs, his rhythm usually involves a more arranged approach though... meaning he tended to make up parts rather than just strum along...
There are three guitars on the song. 2 rhythm guitars and one lead.
One of the two rhythm guitars has fills that are fairly typical for George's style with Paul doing the basic chomping on the beat rhythm.
The tape itself (pre bounce down) tells you someone other than just Paul is playing rhythm guitar simply because it is impossible for Paul to have played two guitars at once on the same track.
Who plays those 2 rhythm guitars is speculation, that they were recorded at the same time with the drums as part of the same take is not.
The basic four track (pre bounce down) was such...
Track 1 - two guitars, drums
Track 2 - bass guitar (overdub)
Track 3 - backing vocals (overdub)
Track 4 - lead vocal , backing vocals (overdub)
This four track tape was then bounced down on to another machine/ four track tape like so...
Tracks 1 & 2 were mixed/bounced on to new four track tape - Track 1
Tracks 3 & 4 were mixed/bounced on to new four track tape - Track 4
This left Tracks 2 & 3 empty allowing them to overdub the audience sound effects on track 2. The brass and Paul's stinging lead guitar was recorded on to track 3
Resulting in -
Track 1 - two guitars, drums and bass
Track 2 - audience sound effects
Track 3 - french horns, lead guitar
Track 4 - lead vocals, backing vocals
Each track of this final four track tape can be heard here individually, then altogether at the end:
PS: Yoko wasn't at the A Day In The Life orchestra session. His memories may be detailed, but he supposedly gets a lot wrong. This seems to be one example. Quite understandable if he was mostly relying on memory.
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stonehearted
And yes, Lennon had backing vocals on the track, but the issue was who plays what on it.
Why would Harrison be playing rhythm on this track? That was Lennon's role. Harrison was the lead player. As for Lennon playing rhythm, see Emerick's account about the switch he and Paul made. Why is it so hard to accept that this was Paul's song and that he took complete control of the music because he knew best what he wanted? He played the guitars and the bass, so what's the problem?
I for one was not "disappointed" in Emerick's book--because I was not expecting anything. It is what it is, a studio employee's account of what he witnessed in the studio. And his memory appears quite detailed, particularly the accounts of the Day in the Life orchestra overdub session and the nuances of George's expression of rage that day in the studio when Yoko nicked his crackers.
So, Lewisohn had access to "studio notes"--who wrote those? Perhaps even they are in error. I think in this particular case a first-hand source like Emerick merits greater consideration than an outside "researcher" who wasn't there to witness Paul suggesting to John that they swap rhythm and bass roles for the track, which is something that no "studio notes" would have mentioned.
You are misunderstanding. I haven't read this book nor care who did what.
George plays rhythm on lots of Beatles songs, his rhythm usually involves a more arranged approach though... meaning he tended to make up parts rather than just strum along...
There are three guitars on the song. 2 rhythm guitars and one lead.
One of the two rhythm guitars has fills that are fairly typical for George's style with Paul doing the basic chomping on the beat rhythm.
The tape itself (pre bounce down) tells you someone other than just Paul is playing rhythm guitar simply because it is impossible for Paul to have played two guitars at once on the same track.
Who plays those 2 rhythm guitars is speculation, that they were recorded at the same time with the drums as part of the same take is not.
The basic four track (pre bounce down) was such...
Track 1 - two guitars, drums
Track 2 - bass guitar (overdub)
Track 3 - backing vocals (overdub)
Track 4 - lead vocal , backing vocals (overdub)
This four track tape was then bounced down on to another machine/ four track tape like so...
Tracks 1 & 2 were mixed/bounced on to new four track tape - Track 1
Tracks 3 & 4 were mixed/bounced on to new four track tape - Track 4
This left Tracks 2 & 3 empty allowing them to overdub the audience sound effects on track 2. The brass and Paul's stinging lead guitar was recorded on to track 3
Resulting in -
Track 1 - two guitars, drums and bass
Track 2 - audience sound effects
Track 3 - french horns, lead guitar
Track 4 - lead vocals, backing vocals
Each track of this final four track tape can be heard here individually, then altogether at the end:
PS: Yoko wasn't at the A Day In The Life orchestra session. His memories may be detailed, but he supposedly gets a lot wrong. This seems to be one example. Quite understandable if he was mostly relying on memory.
Man, that is a beautiful analysis...
I guess the point seems to be that the opening lead guitar riff is McCartney's. I don't find it difficult to believe because we now know (beyond Emerick's book) that McCartney would do the leads on occasion. I just found Emerick's book distasteful...on the other hand, who knew he'd wind up having such a grudge against the other three?
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His Majesty
How I wish such detailed information was available for The Rolling Stones 60's recordings.
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tomk
I'm also about halfway through Lewishon's new tome
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whitem8
Lewishon, however, is a researcher
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His Majesty
How I wish such detailed information was available for The Rolling Stones 60's recordings.
That's your job. Could be your calling.