All Things Must Beat. Share Anything Beatles!!

[Alkali Ike]

How do you know Paul's was the BGV harmonies? Maybe John sang the BGV harmonies!

"Baby's in Black" was recorded on 11 August 1964, and was the first song recorded for Beatles for Sale.[8] Lennon and McCartney sang their vocal parts simultaneously through the same microphone. This was done at their own insistence in order to achieve a closer feel to the performance. McCartney was subsequently contacted by their music publisher in 1964 inquiring as to which melody line was the main tune (i.e., Paul's higher or John's lower melody). McCartney later said that he told the publisher they were both the main melody.[9]​

George's elegant guitar leads were always just right, IMO. I gather that he put a lot of work, which went mostly overlooked, into making them sound so "effortless".

Since hearing so much about Ringo's drumming techniques on SiriusXM's Beatles Channel this week, due to his recent birthday, I've also gotten a new appreciation for his serendipitous addition to the group. He wasn't just a steady timekeeper, but actually came up with some 'once in a lifetime' signature song-making beats, in addition to all the overlooked many and varied essential fills! FIRE THE DRUMMER!?! I'm not sure The Beatles would have been quite so big if Brian Epstein hadn't.
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I suspect he worked hard on those leads. I don’t think he was a “natural”. But he made them seem effortless.

One of the reasons I prefer the stereo mixes is because all the instrumental parts tend to stand out so clearly in one channel or the other. They’re more buried in the mono mixes. But that’s just me.

 

[marchone]

Man, McCartney’s BGV harmonies on that song are off the chain. Especially on the part that says, “Oh how long will it take, ‘til she has seen the mistake she has made…”

Plus Harrison’s guitar work is really nice on that one.

What’s BVG harmonies?

 

[consectaneus]

Smokey Robinson sang the refrain "I'm cryin'" on the hit song Ooo Baby Baby. It turns out that the Beatles were big Smokey fans and it inspired John to use it in "I Am The Walrus". Thought that was some cool trivia.

 

[G-Dog]

What’s BVG harmonies?

BGV = BackGround Vocal harmonies

 

[RedVee]

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Not one of my favorites, but another "Beatles For Sale"/"Beatles '65" track ... ...

"Baby's in Black" is performed at a 6/8 time signature, typical of a waltz with a moderate tempo. ... ... Musicologist Alan W. Pollack notes that the song is relatively complex in format, with a refrain, bridge, and a guitar solo. He describes the song as having "mishmash" of stylistic elements—among them, "bluesy" chords and country music-inspired vocals.

The Beatles performed "Baby's in Black" live during their appearances from late 1964 until 1966 on their final tour. McCartney said they introduced the song by saying, "'And now for something different.' ... We used to put that in there, and think, 'Well, they won't know quite what to make of this, but it's cool.'"
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I quite like it. In the 8 days a week video they introduce it as a waltz I think.*

*from memory, I hope that’s correct

 

[G-Dog]

I quite like it. In the 8 days a week video they introduce it as a waltz I think.*

*from memory, I hope that’s correct

IIRC, I do believe you're right!
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[Rumble Thunder]

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Not one of my favorites, but another "Beatles For Sale"/"Beatles '65" track ... ...

"Baby's in Black" is performed at a 6/8 time signature, typical of a waltz with a moderate tempo. ... ... Musicologist Alan W. Pollack notes that the song is relatively complex in format, with a refrain, bridge, and a guitar solo. He describes the song as having "mishmash" of stylistic elements—among them, "bluesy" chords and country music-inspired vocals.

The Beatles performed "Baby's in Black" live during their appearances from late 1964 until 1966 on their final tour. McCartney said they introduced the song by saying, "'And now for something different.' ... We used to put that in there, and think, 'Well, they won't know quite what to make of this, but it's cool.'"
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Speaking of “Beatles For Sale,” I pulled that album up on Spotify to get another listen and it’s a very interesting conglomeration of tunes. Lots of covers on that one with some solid Lennon-McCartney originals as well. The toppermost for me is 1) What You’re Doing 2) No Reply 3) Eight Days A Week and 4) I’ll Follow the Sun

The best cover IMO is Rock and Roll Music with Words of Love being a fun, little surprise. The vocals are pitched in a low key and Harrison has some really tasty guitar bits in there.

It’s a fun album to listen to although it doesn’t seem to get much credit. Granted, the album isn’t a brilliant Masterpiece like so many other Beatle records yet it has an inherent charm about it. The Beatles always find a way to entertain their listeners.

 

[G-Dog]

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"A Hard Day's Night" on the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) cable channel right now!

And, my wife agrees it's the best thing on TV right now!
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[zontar]

Didn't want to be a star, wanted just to play guitar in this cockamamie business.

-George Harrison

 

[G-Dog]

Didn't want to be a star, wanted just to play guitar in this cockamamie business.

-George Harrison

Cool song. Interesting video.

.​

 

[zontar]

Beatles' song lyrics quiz

I'm sure most here will get 10/10, maybe 9/10 if you're newer at it.
But just in case...


Your score: 10 / 10
Bravo! What a performance.

We're definitely in the company of a Beatlemaniac...

 

[G-Dog]

Beatles' song lyrics quiz

I'm sure most here will get 10/10, maybe 9/10 if you're newer at it.
But just in case...


Your score: 10 / 10
Bravo! What a performance.

We're definitely in the company of a Beatlemaniac...

Fun!

Your score: 10 / 10
Bravo! What a performance.

We're definitely in the company of a Beatlemaniac
.

 

[GregC]

9/10. Penny Lane tripped me up.

 

[zontar]

9/10. Penny Lane tripped me up.

Still well done.
That was the only one I really had to stop & think--but for future reference...

 

[Jeff K]

Cool song. Interesting video.

.​

Cockamamie Business is a great song, IMO. I do tend to take a small issue with the line cited above ("...Didn't wanna' be a star, wanted just to play guitar...")

I remember how early on before they were huge, they definitely WANTED to be stars.

John Lennon: "Where we going, fellas?"
Other Beatles: "To the top, johnny!"
John Lennon: "Where's that, fellas?!"
Other Beatles: "The toppermost of the poppermost, Johnny!"
John Lennon: "Right!"

Of course I realize that the screaming and dangerous stalking wore thin after awhile. They lost all semblance of privacy. But they definitely wanted to hit it big. I just don't think they ever expected to become the phenomenon that they did.

 

[G-Dog]

Cockamamie Business is a great song, IMO. I do tend to take a small issue with the line cited above ("...Didn't wanna' be a star, wanted just to play guitar..."

I remember how early on before they were huge, they definitely WANTED to be stars.

John Lennon: "Where we going, fellas?"
Other Beatles: "To the top, johnny!"
John Lennon: "Where's that, fellas?!"
Other Beatles: "The toppermost of the poppermost, Johnny!"
John Lennon: "Right!"

Of course I realize that the screaming and dangerous stalking wore thin after awhile. They lost all semblance of privacy. But they definitely wanted to hit it big. I just don't think they ever expected to become the phenomenon that they did.

I think yer totally right, Jeff. They were very naive at first. They were just poor boys who wanted to strike it rich; to make records and rake in the dough. They had no idea about the dark side of fame and fortune.

And, at first, George was content to leave the songwriting to John & Paul, and just play his guitar, (witness "If I Fell" where he tries to nonchalantly sit on an amp, and then "And I Love Her" where he just slumps on his guitar in the middle of the song), that is until he saw Paul & John getting paid more than him! Then he decides to work at songwriting for the extra pay. But there are accounts of George's incredulity at how easily Paul could roll out so many songs (seemingly without much thought), while George really struggled with each of his early compositions.

And, yes, the invasion of privacy and the business & legal hassles of such superstardom was never what the original moptops expected. Trying to manage themselves and run Apple Corps themselves showed how little they knew of business. Especially the slap-dash productions of the Magical Mystery Tour movie, the last minute rooftop concert and the "Let It Be" album & movie showed a complete lack of entertainment business acumen. Great music! Abysmal business.

I sometimes get the idea that they might have had "happier" lives, if their popularity had faded and they had slipped from the public eye into more private, less complicated, though still financially comfortable, lives. Kind of like the John character in the "Yesterday" movie.

Hmmm, what if ... ...
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[Alkali Ike]

Beatles' song lyrics quiz

I'm sure most here will get 10/10, maybe 9/10 if you're newer at it.
But just in case...


Your score: 10 / 10
Bravo! What a performance.

We're definitely in the company of a Beatlemaniac...

10/10 but Penny Lane almost got me. I can still play back every song in my head to get me to the right response.

 

[beans-on-toast]

A new Fender revision of Rocky.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[zontar]

A new Fender revision of Rocky.

Invalid Link Removed

A bit pricey, I'm sure
But kind of cool.

 

[beans-on-toast]

A bit pricey, I'm sure
But kind of cool.

Lot of Beatle collectors with deep pockets worldwide standing in line to buy anything related. Some will buy the Stratocaster even if they don’t play.