Old Brown Shoe: Paul or George?

Rob Martinez · #1 01-04-2009, 04:57 PM

I read an old CREEM magazine interview with George Harrison ('87) where George said HE plays bass on OLD BROWN SHOE. I always thought that was Paul McCartney on that song! Anyone else know about this? If so, George plays a KILLER bass line on that song!

thombo · #2 01-05-2009, 10:26 AM

i love the tune, and don't know the answer, but if it was george, he probably used a fender VI... just thought i'd throw it out there.

warnergt · #3 01-05-2009, 11:08 AM

This article seems pretty knowledgeable and says it was Paul McCartney on a 1961 Fender Bass VI.

However, this article credits George Harrison with the bass.

Here is the original Creem Magazine interview.

George Harrison said he did it, so I'd say he probably did it.

D Bopp · #4 01-05-2009, 11:11 AM

Paul played drums on that song I believe. Not to say he didn't play bass, but I've never seen a pic of Paul playing a left handed Fender VI. I'd say it's George on that one.

KPAX · #5 01-05-2009, 01:59 PM

Neither, it was that ATHEIST John Lennon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Martinez

I read an old CREEM magazine interview with George Harrison ('87) where George said HE plays bass on OLD BROWN SHOE. I always thought that was Paul McCartney on that song! Anyone else know about this? If so, George plays a KILLER bass line on that song!

Rob Martinez · #6 01-05-2009, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KPAX

Neither, it was that ATHEIST John Lennon.

It couldn;t have been atheist John Lennon. He SUCKED on bass!! Listen to LONG AND WINDING ROAD if you need convincing!

No, it was either faith-filled Paul, or more likely, spiritual George!

My money is on George, since he SAID he played it.

KPAX · #7 01-06-2009, 08:22 AM

What about the happy-go-lucky Ringo?
I wasn't serious about John playing bass on it. I just wanted to use the word ATHEIST.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Martinez

It couldn;t have been atheist John Lennon. He SUCKED on bass!! Listen to LONG AND WINDING ROAD if you need convincing!

No, it was either faith-filled Paul, or more likely, spiritual George!

My money is on George, since he SAID he played it.

Rob Martinez · #8 01-06-2009, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KPAX

What about the happy-go-lucky Ringo?
I wasn't serious about John playing bass on it. I just wanted to use the word ATHEIST.

I know, but I had to respond since everyone knows atheists suck at playing bass!

Just kidding!

Everyone knows Ringo played all the basslines on the Beatles' records.

TheWalrus · #9 01-06-2009, 03:43 PM

Entirely possible, and not unlikely. There are several occasions of Paul and George switching instruments, Day Tripper and Taxman being but two examples.

Rob Martinez · #10 01-06-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWalrus

Entirely possible, and not unlikely. There are several occasions of Paul and George switching instruments, Day Tripper and Taxman being but two examples.

I know Paul plays the lead guitar on TAXMAN, but I thought that was him on bass as well. No?

And I also thought that was Paul on bass on DAYTRIPPER, he says it was a job to play and sing at the same time, though he was talking about live performances.

Lichtaffen · #11 01-07-2009, 11:21 AM

What about "She said, she said"? A knowledgeable Beatles fan said ti was George because Paul walked out of the studio that day.

KPAX · #12 01-07-2009, 11:39 AM

I believe both of those songs are PAUL on bass. Listen to them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWalrus

Entirely possible, and not unlikely. There are several occasions of Paul and George switching instruments, Day Tripper and Taxman being but two examples.

Rob Martinez · #13 01-07-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lichtaffen

What about "She said, she said"? A knowledgeable Beatles fan said ti was George because Paul walked out of the studio that day.

I read that too.

If George played bass on OLD BROWN SHOE and SHE SAID, SHE SAID, he was a pretty damn good bassplayer!

JimK · #14 01-07-2009, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Martinez

I know Paul plays the lead guitar on TAXMAN, but I thought that was him on bass as well. No?

And I also thought that was Paul on bass on DAYTRIPPER, he says it was a job to play and sing at the same time, though he was talking about live performances.

Yes, McCartney is on bass for both of those tunes.
McCartney did the guitar solo on Harrison's tune, "Taxman".
In an old Guitar Player, Harrison mentioned how he used to get compliments for that solo...he would mutter under his breath-
"That was Paul".

I'm pretty sure it's McCartney on "She Said She Said".
Not sure why Paul would have walked out on the Revolver sessions...this is where The Beatles' creativity really began to take off. The Beatles (AKA "The White Album") and Let It Be...I can see him walking out on those.

TheWalrus · #15 01-07-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

Yes, McCartney is on bass for both of those tunes.
McCartney did the guitar solo on Harrison's tune, "Taxman".
In an old Guitar Player, Harrison mentioned how he used to get compliments for that solo...he would mutter under his breath-
"That was Paul".

I'm pretty sure it's McCartney on "She Said She Said".
Not sure why Paul would have walked out on the Revolver sessions...this is where The Beatles' creativity really began to take off. The Beatles (AKA "The White Album") and Let It Be...I can see him walking out on those.

According to Geoff Emerick, their recording engineer from Revolver on, in his book "Here, There, & Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles" that was George playing bass on Taxman. It also mentions he'd played bass on Day Tripper.

JimK · #16 01-07-2009, 05:30 PM

I will look into that book...I have it.
Bass Player just did a thing on "Day Tripper" with Will Lee...they seem to believe it was Paul on bass. Lee transcribed the tune & TAB'd it with Paul's fingering.

In Ian McDonald's Revolution In The Head...those of you familiar with this book will know it has notes/info & who played what on each tune...anyway for "She Said She Said"-
John-guitar, organ
Paul-bass
George-guitar
Ringo-drums, shaker

I'm gonna go look to see what Ian has to say about "Day Tripper" & "Taxman"... I do recall a "Who played bass on "Taxman" issue before here at TB.

JimK · #17 01-07-2009, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWalrus

According to Geoff Emerick, their recording engineer from Revolver on, in his book "Here, There, & Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles" that was George playing bass on Taxman. It also mentions he'd played bass on Day Tripper.

Page numbers?
I just did a quick look-
P. 126 has some info on "Taxman"...basically Emerick is talking about Harrison's inablity to play the guitar solo (even when the track was slowed down)...so McCartney was asked to play it.
In the index, there is no "Day Tripper" page number.

What I now remember about Emerick's book...he was not a fan of George's playing.

McDonald's book has Paul on bass for both "Taxman" & "Day Tripper".

JimK · #18 01-07-2009, 06:04 PM

...and back to the original question-
McDonald's book has this for "Old Brown Shoe"-
George-guitar, organ, vocals
Paul-bass, piano, vocals
John-vocals
Ringo-drums

I know...Paul, Paul, Paul.

MR PC · #19 01-07-2009, 10:37 PM

George and John played the Fender Bass VI on lots of Beatle tracks.

Lazylion · #20 01-08-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Martinez

Everyone knows Ringo played all the basslines on the Beatles' records.

Right, because Bernard Purdie was on drums on everything...

I miss the old days, when I thought John played all the rhythm guitar, Paul played all the bass, George did all the leads, Ringo played all the drums... these days, who can keep track?