BWTB KLOS May 31st 2015 - Breakfast With The Beatles

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Playlist May 31st, 2015
Start today’s show with a QUIZ….Brian Wilson tix GREEK
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely H earts Club Band turns 48 years old this week!
When the Beatles decided to take it to the next level, they were the most popular live act
of all time now they would become the greatest studio band of all time.
Some of the bits including are taken from The Beatles on the Kenny Everett radio Show
promoting their new LP of 1967…
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Side 1:
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - Sgt.
Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: Paul
Recording began on February 1, 1967 for what would become the title track of the new
Beatles album. The song was written entirely by Paul McCartney. It was McCartney’s
idea to give the Beatles alter egos -- they would become Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts
Club Band -- for this album. Nine takes were attempted, two of which were complete
run-throughs. For the first time ever an instrument (Paul’s bass guitar) was directly
injected into the recording console instead of through an amplifier. Vocals were added
the following evening, and the track sat for a month while the band worked on other
material. The group returned to the title track on March 3 with the addition of four
French horns played by outside musicians. Paul also came up with the idea of simulating
a concert performance by the alter-ego band. The sound of the band warming up was
taken from the February 10 orchestra session for “A Day In The Life.” Other effects (the
crowd settling down, applause, and laughter) were taken from the vast Abbey Road
tape archives. The screaming at the end of the song was taken from the Capitolrecorded Beatles concert at the Hollywood Bowl. On the “Sgt. Pepper” album the end of
the title track segues into Ringo’s “With A Little help From My Friends.”
The Beatles - With A Little Help From My Friends - Sgt. Pepper’s
Lonely Hearts Club Band
(Lennon-McCartney)
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Lead vocal: Ringo
The first instance on a Beatles album where one song segues into another without the
usual few seconds of silence between the tracks. This was to give the listener the feeling
of a continuous concert performance. Written on the afternoon of March 29, 1967 by
Paul with help from John at Paul’s house on Cavendish Avenue in St. John’s Wood
specifically as a song for Ringo Starr to sing on the new album. It was recorded that
evening. Although he liked the song, Ringo refused to sing the original lyrics to the
opening verse. Ringo: “The original first verse to that was ‘What would
you do if I sang out of tune? Would you throw a tomato at me?’ And
I said, ‘I’m not singing that.’” John and Paul quickly changed the line to “Would
you stand up and walk out on me?” The rhythm track was recorded in ten takes the
same day Paul and John write the song, with Paul on piano, George on Hammond
organ, John on guitar and Ringo on drums. Vocals were added as Take 11. Originally
titled “Bad Finger Boogie.” The screaming at the beginning of the song was taken from
the Capitol-recorded Beatles concert at the Hollywood Bowl. On the “Sgt. Pepper” album
the end of the title track segues into “With A Little help From My Friends.”
The Beatles - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - Sgt. Pepper’s
Lonely Hearts Club Band
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: John
Recorded March 1, 1967. John Lennon’s classic song of psychedelic
imagery was inspired by a drawing brought home by son, Julian, who
was four years old at the time. In February 1967, Julian returned home from his
nursery school with a painting depicting one of his classmates, Lucy O’Donnell. Young
Lucy was pictured with a background of stars in the sky. When asked by his father
about his painting, Julian said it was “Lucy, in the sky, with diamonds.” John was so
taken with the phrase he combined it with passages similar to two books by Lewis
Carroll that he’d loved as a child, “Through The Looking Glass” and “Alice’s Adventures
in Wonderland.” Paul added the line about “newspaper taxis” and Lennon’s beloved
“Goon Show” got a shout out. Their famed “plasticine ties” merged with “Through the
Looking Glass” to become “plasticine porters with looking glass ties.” Work began on
“Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” with an evening full of rehearsals. The rhythm track
was recorded on March 1 with Paul playing the opening riff on a Lowery organ (with a
bell stop), George on acoustic guitar, Ringo on drums and John on maracas and offering
a guide vocal. John’s lead vocal and other instruments (George’s tamboura, Paul’s
melodic bass) were added the next evening.
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The Beatles - Getting Better - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club
Band
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: Paul
The title “Getting Better” was inspired by a phrase often used by
substitute Beatles drummer Jimmy Nicol. Nicol stepped in for the
ailing Ringo Starr during his bout with tonsillitis in June 1964. On the
eve of the band embarking on their first world tour Ringo collapsed at a photo shoot and
the final night of recording for the “A Hard Day’s Night” LP were scrapped, leaving the
final version with 13 songs instead of the expected 14. Nicol was called in on no notice
to rehearse the concert set list. The next day he was thrown into the crush of full scale
Beatlemania as the Fab Four landed in the Netherlands for the first of the sold out
concerts. Once on the mend, Ringo caught up with the tour in Australia. After each
show, John and Paul would ask their new drummer how he was doing. His standard
reply was “It’s getting better.” McCartney was reminded of this phrase while walking
with Beatles biographer Hunter Davies during the making of the “Sgt. Pepper” album,
and he decided to build a song around it. Recording began on the song on March 9,
1967 and the basic rhythm track was completed in seven takes. Paul described the tune
as “an optimistic song,” but noted John’s biting wit gave the lyrics the perfect
counterpoint. Paul: “I was sitting there doing ‘Getting better all the time’ and John just
said in his laconic way, ‘It couldn’t get no worse,’ and I thought, Oh, brilliant! This is
exactly why I love writing with John.”
The Beatles - Fixing A Hole - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
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(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: Paul
On February 9, 1967, the Beatles recorded “Fixing A Hole” at Regent
Sound Studio on Tottenham Court Road in London. The session was booked at
Regent by George Martin because Abbey Road was unavailable. It marks the first time
the Beatles recorded a British EMI session at a studio other than Abbey Road. No longer
on the EMI staff, Martin was free to travel with the Beatles wherever they were
recording. But engineer Geoff Emerick and the usual crew of tape operators at Abbey
Road were all EMI employees so they couldn’t go along.
The Beatles - She’s Leaving Home - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts
Club Band
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocals: Paul and John
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Recorded March 17, 1967 in six takes. Written primarily by Paul with lyrical assistance
from John, the song is based on a story appearing in the February 27, 1967, edition of
the Daily Mail about seventeen-year-old runaway Melanie Coe.
Paul begins the story about the girl leaving a note for her parents before slipping out of
the house, John provides the parents’ anguished point of view. When Paul called George
Martin to ask if he’d create a string arrangement for the song he was told that Martin
had already committed to a Cilla Black session and Paul would have to wait. Paul then
contacted Mike Leander to score the song. Paul had met Leander at the October 11,
1965, Decca Studios session for Marianne Faithfull’s cover of “Yesterday.” The score
called for four violins, two violas, two cellos, a double-bass and a harp. The harp is
played by Sheila Bromberg, who became the first woman to play on a Beatles recording.
As was the case with “Eleanor Rigby” eleven months earlier, no Beatles played an
instrument on “She’s Leaving Home.” Martin made only slight adjustments to Leander’s
arrangement when it was recorded on March 17. An interesting side note…Melanie
was a dancer on the Ready Steady Go! TV show and met the
Fabs Oct. 1963 when she won a mime contest and was
awarded prizes by the Beatles!
The Beatles - Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite! - Sgt. Pepper’s
Lonely Hearts Club Band
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: John
Recorded February 17, 1967. The lyric of “Being For The Benefit Of
Mr. Kite!” was derived almost entirely from a vintage poster
purchased by John Lennon at an antique store in Sevenoaks, Kent, on
January 31, 1967, while the Beatles were there filming the promotional clip for
“Strawberry Fields Forever.” The poster advertised the February 14, 1843 performance
of Pablo Fanque’s Circus Royal at Town-Meadows, Rochdale, Lancashire, and was hung
proudly on the living room wall of Lennon’s Weybridge house. Paul: “We pretty much
took it down word for word and then just made up some little bits and pieces to glue it
together.” The backing track consisted of John on guide vocal, Paul on bass, Ringo on
drums, George Harrison on tambourine, and George Martin on harmonium. Because the
harmonium is powered by pumping feet, the producer was exhausted after the
rehearsals and seven takes. Features Paul on lead guitar.
Out 48 years ago tomorrow …Side one SPLHCB in mono!
With clip from JPG&R courtesy of the Kenny Everett Show
May 1967
9.27 BREAK
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Take a break for Sgt. Pepper we’ll close out the show w
Side 2…and after all that Psychedelia
Let’s go back to the Beatles R&B roots…when things were
less colorful…
The Beatles - Money (That’s What I Want) – With The Beatles
(Bradford-Gordy)
Lead vocal: John
Originally recorded by Barrett Strong and released as a single on Motown’s Tamla and
Anna labels in 1959 and 1960 respectively, peaking at #23 in 1960. It was a part of The
Beatles’ live repertoire from 1960 to 1964. On July 18, 1963, the group, with George
Martin on piano, performed the song live in the studio -- vocals and all -- for six full
takes, the final take being deemed the best. Although The Beatles involvement with the
recorded track lasted this one day, George Martin continued to add overdubs and tinker
with his piano part until the song was completed to his satisfaction on September 30,
1963.
On U.S. album:
The Beatles’ Second Album - Capitol LP
The Beatles – Chains – Please Please Me
(Goffin-King)
Lead vocal: George
Recorded in four takes on February 11, 1963. Legendary Brill Building tunesmiths Gerry
Goffin and Carole King were very inspirational to the budding songwriters from
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Liverpool. This was a Top 20 hit for The Cookies in 1962. “Chains” was the first of two
songs featuring a lead vocal by George Harrison on the first Beatles album.
On U.S. albums:
Introducing… The Beatles - Vee-Jay LP
The Early Beatles - Capitol LP
The Hippy Hippy
Shake
Romero "Pop Go The Beatles" - 30th July 1963
“Matchbox”
(Perkins)
Lead vocal: Ringo
Carl Perkins is one of the few “outsiders” to be in the studio or control booth when the
Beatles rehearsed or recorded. He was in England on a promotional tour and was there
at the invitation of George Harrison, who was a huge fan. Perkins got to witness the
most famous band in the world recording one of his original compositions on June 1,
1964. Ringo Starr was given the honor of singing the lead vocal. Harrison and Perkins
remained lifelong friends. The Beatles would return to the Carl Perkins catalog once
more a few months later when George sang “Everybody’s Trying to be My Baby” for
their fourth album. Five years later John Lennon performed Perkins’ biggest hit, “Blue
Suede Shoes,” during his Plastic Ono Band appearance in Toronto in September 1969,
the live recording of which was released as “Live Peace in Toronto.” The subject matter
of the song “Matchbox” was lost on some younger American Beatles fans, many thinking
the reference was to the popular brand of miniature toy cars wildly popular with
American children at the time. In fact, it is about a box of matches used to light
cigarettes.
On U.S. album:
Something New - Capitol LP
U.K.:
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Non-album track (EP song)
The Beatles - Roll Over Beethoven – With The Beatles
(Berry)
Lead vocal: George
Chuck Berry’s rock and roll standard was released as a single in May 1956 on Chess
Records. It peaking at #29. A staple of The Beatles’ live show from the earliest days,
Beatles fans will be surprised to learn that John Lennon was the lead singer of the song
in those very early club days. In 1961 George Harrison took over lead vocals. “Roll Over
Beethoven” was the opening song at The Beatles’ first concert in America, February 11,
1964 in Washington D.C., and opens Capitol’s “The Beatles’ Second Album,” released on
April 10, 1964.
On U.S. album:
The Beatles’ Second Album - Capitol LP
BREAK
John Lennon – I’m Losing You - Double Fantasy ‘80
This was another track where Cheap Trick had provided a very “Cold Turky-ish”
backing track – that due to money issues between Cheap Trick management and
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Yoko – left them off the album for good. This version is a middle-of-the-road of
sorts with the usual cast of Double Fantasy session musicians.
The Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows - Revolver
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: John
The first song recorded for what would become the “Revolver” album. John’s
composition was unlike anything The Beatles or anyone else had ever recorded.
Lennon’s vocal is buried under a wall of sound -- an assemblage of repeating tape loops
and sound effects – placed on top of a dense one chord song with basic melody driven
by Ringo's thunderous drum pattern. The lyrics were largely taken from “The
Psychedelic Experience,” a 1964 book written by Harvard psychologists Timothy Leary
and Richard Alpert, which contained an adaptation of the ancient “Tibetan Book of the
Dead.” Each Beatle worked at home on creating strange sounds to add to the mix. Then
they were added at different speeds sometime backwards. Paul got “arranging” credit.
He had discovered that by removing the erase head on his Grundig reel-to-reel tape
machine, he could saturate a recording with sound.
9.57 BREAK
You know what song we don’t play enough….
The Beatles - Something - Abbey Road
(Harrison)
Lead vocal: George
The Beatles’ twenty-first single release for EMI, and fourth on the Apple
Records label.
Although initially crediting Lennon and McCartney as the songwriters, legendary crooner
Frank Sinatra called George Harrison’s “Something” “the greatest love song ever
written.” Commonly referred to as George’s first Beatles A-side, some sales chart makers
at the time considered the single a “double-A,” as both sides of the record received
significant radio airplay, and charted both “Something” and its flip side (John’s “Come
Together”) as one combined chart listing. The song is the first of two CLASSIC songs
George delivered for the “Abbey Road” album, the other being “Here Comes The Sun.”
It was a phenomenal one-two punch that had to have Lennon and McCartney wondering
what else Harrison had up his sleeve.
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Paul – Let’s Love – Demo
The Beatles - The Ballad Of John And Yoko - Non-LP track
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: John
The Beatles’ twentieth single release for EMI, and third on the Apple Records
label.
The first Beatles single issued in stereo in the UK, it is also the very first stereo single
issued by EMI. The “Get Back” single had been released in stereo in America by Capitol.
Recorded on April 14, 1969, by just John and Paul, the song was completed that day.
George was on vacation and Ringo was still filming the Peter Sellers’ comedy “The Magic
Christian.” Producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick, who had distanced
themselves from the group because of the constant bickering amongst the group
members, were back on board behind the recording console. The single was a complete
surprise to Beatles fans. They had waited a long seven months for the group to followup “Hey Jude” with “Get Back” and now just over a month came another new Beatles
record. The rhythm track was perfected in 11 takes (four complete) with Paul playing
drums while John played acoustic guitar and sang the lead vocal. The duo was in good
spirits during the day-long session. Prior to take four John said to drummer Paul “Go a
bit faster, Ringo!” and Paul replied “OK, George!” Overdubs featured Paul on bass
guitar, piano, backing vocal and maracas, and John on two lead guitar parts and
percussive thumping on the back of an acoustic guitar. The song recounts the chaos
surrounding John and Yoko’s getting married. Lennon had encountered visa problems
because of his November 1968 drug conviction which made his movement from one
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country to another very difficult. As an example, he was not allowed to enter the United
States at this time so the couple’s second “Bed-In” was staged in Montreal, about an
hour north of the U.S. border in Canada.
Ringo – Love Me Do – Vertical Man
BREAK FOR NEWS HERE w/
The Beatles - Eleanor Rigby - Revolver
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: Paul
The Beatles’ thirteenth single release for EMI’s Parlophone label.
Essentially a Paul McCartney solo composition, he had some help with the song’s
storyline from John, George, Ringo and John’s childhood friend Pete Shotton at
Kenwood, John’s estate in Weybridge. This marks the first time a finished Beatles
recording had no Beatle playing an instrument. The backing track, a haunting
George Martin score, featured a double string quartet (four violins, two violas
and two cellos) and was finished in 14 takes on April 28, 1966 with John and
Paul sitting in the control room.
Paul McCartney – Temporary Secretary - McCartney II ‘80
Inspired by the Alfred Marks Bureau (a job placement firm), Paul surprised the
public with this “new wave sound.” The public reaction was less than kind. The
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Alfred Marks Bureau requested this song for their advertisements and was
subsequently turned down.
ST
QUIZ
Today MAY 31 1973…Led Zep were here in LA…playing the
Forum…after the show band went back to their hotel to celebrate drummer
John Bonham’s 25th birthday…A Beatle threw a cake in Bonzo’s face…and
then Bonham threw that Beatle and that Beatles wife in the pool at the Hyatt.
Fully clothed…name that Beatle and that Beatles wife…800-955-
KLOS
10.27 BREAK
George & Pattie
Ask winner (after you tell him/her) what GH LP was out when he was
thrown in the pool?
George Harrison – Don’t Let Me Wait Too Long - Living
In The Material World ‘73
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This track was the single that should have been, almost was, but never
appeared. This is a prime piece of pop songwriting, and was scheduled as the
second single from the LP for release on September 24th, 1973. It was assigned
an Apple catalog number (Apple 1866), but was mysteriously cancelled at the
last minute.
The Beatles - I’m Looking Through You - Rubber Soul
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: Paul
Written by Paul after an argument with then-girlfriend, actress Jane Asher. Initially
recorded on October 24, 1965, the song was re-recorded from scratch on November 6,
but McCartney was still not satisfied. Four days later, on November 10, the group took
another stab at it. Paul’s lead vocal was superimposed the next day. The version issued
by Capitol Records has two false starts.
On U.S. album:
Rubber Soul - Capitol LP
John Lennon – I Found Out - Plastic Ono Band ‘70
This track was a frank estimation of all the fads and figureheads John had
latched onto over the previous thirty years, only to be let down each and every
time by them.
BREAK
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The Beatles – I’ll Follow The Sun - Beatles For Sale
100% pure McCartney. Written pre- Beatles?
Recorded Oct. 18th, 1964.
Musicians:
Paul McCartney – lead vocal, acoustic guitar; John Lennon – harmony vocal, acoustic
guitar; George Harrison – lead guitar; Ringo Starr – knees(?)
This was written in the late-fifties when Paul was sixteen years old (not bad for a little
kid – I didn’t learn to ride a bike ‘til I was twenty!). Pete Best remembered that he used to
busk it on the piano, in-between sets at The Kaiserkeller. It may well be the earliest song
that they ever committed to tape.
Nobody’s sure what Ringo’s playing, but he might be pounding out the beat on his knees.
(Or maybe it’s someone else’s knees!)
McCartney 1.00
Lead vocal Paul
US - Capitol LP Beatles '65
The Beatles - Cry Baby Cry - The Beatles
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: John
Work began in the studio on John’s “Cry Baby Cry” on July 15, 1968, with the Beatles
filling four 30-minute tapes with unnumbered rehearsal takes of the song. It is
estimated that the band played the song approximately 30 times. Proper recording took
place on July 16. Ten takes of the basic track, consisting of John’s vocal plus bass,
organ, drums, and acoustic guitar, were recorded. George Martin playing the harmonium
and John playing piano would be overdubbed onto the best take. During the July 16
session tensions amongst the band members flared and sound engineer Geoff Emerick
quit. He would be coaxed back the next year to work at their new Apple studios and at
Abbey Road Studios for the “Abbey Road” album. Emerick says he lost interest in the
“White Album” because the group was arguing amongst themselves and swearing at
each other. Emerick said, “the expletives were really flying.”
The Beatles - I’ll Be Back - A Hard Day’s Night
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: John
Recorded in 16 takes on June 1, 1964. “I'll Be Back” was written mostly by John Lennon,
and was a reworking of the chords to Del Shannon's 1961 hit “Runaway.” Beatles fans in
America would have to wait five months to hear this exquisite Beatles song, one of
Lennon finest compositions, because Capitol Records held it off their “Something New”
album and released it on “Beatles ‘65” in December 1964.
On U.S. album:
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Beatles ‘65 - Capitol LP
Ringo – Instant Amnesia –Ringo Rama
10.57 BREAK
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Side 2: our version here clocking in a 20.08
We’ll let George take it from here….(start)
The Beatles - Within You Without You - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely
Hearts Club Band
(Harrison)
Lead vocal: George
George Harrison’s initial offering for the “Sgt. Pepper” LP was “Only A Northern Song,”
but George Martin decided the song was not good enough for inclusion on the new
album. Instead, Martin earmarked Harrison’s song for the soundtrack of the upcoming
animated feature “Yellow Submarine,” for which the band was contractually obligated to
provide four new songs. Harrison went back to the drawing board and came up with
“Within You, Without You,” and the Indian-flavored song became the final song
recorded for the landmark “Sgt. Pepper” LP. Martin recalls Harrison auditioning his
newest song for him on acoustic guitar. “The tune struck me as being a bit of a dirge;
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but I found what George wanted to do with the song fascinating.” The song was written
early in 1967 at the Hampstead, London home of Klaus Voormann, a longtime friend of
the Beatles. The song was recorded on March 15, 1967, with the finished basic rhythm
track running 6:25. Instrumentation included tabla, dilruba, and tamboura. Harrision is
the only Beatle to play an instrument on this track (he covers the tamboura part along
with Neil Aspinall). The outside musicians were from the Eastern Music Circle of
Finchley, North London. Stephen Stills dug the lyrics so much he had them carved on a
monument in his backyard. John Lennon described “Within You, Without You” as “one of
George’s best songs.”
The Beatles - When I’m Sixty-Four - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts
Club Band
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: Paul
One of the oldest songs in the Beatles catalog, it was written by Paul McCartney when
he was 15 or 16 and the Beatles had performed a variation of it in their pre-fame Cavern
Club days whenever the amplifiers broke down. It was the second song recorded for the
“Sgt. Pepper” LP (following “Strawberry Fields Forever”), but when “Strawberry Fields
Forever” was pulled for release as a single, Paul’s “When I’m Sixty-Four” became the
first song recorded for the album that ended up on the album. The initial rhythm track
was finished in two takes on December 6, 1966, and consisted of Paul on guide vocal,
bass and piano, John on guitar, and Ringo on drums with brushes. On December 8, Paul
recorded his lead vocal, on December 20, John, Paul and George recorded backing
vocals and Ringo played bells. Although John helped with a few lyrics for the official
recording of Paul’s childhood song, he was later quoted as saying, “I would never even
dream of writing a song like that.”
The Beatles - Lovely Rita - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
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(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: Paul
Paul heard that in America “traffic wardens” were called “meter maids,” which he
thought was humorous and decided to see what he could rhyme with it. Written entirely
by Paul McCartney and recorded on February 23, 1967. The basic rhythm track was
completed in eight takes. Take 8 was deemed the best and it was mixed down to a
single track and the Beatles added overdubs to create the finished recording.
Specifically, Paul’s bass on Feb. 23, Paul’s lead vocal on Feb. 24, John, Paul and
George’s backing vocals on March 7, and George Martin was elected to fill the song’s
middle eight with a piano solo, recorded on March 21.
The Beatles - Good Morning Good Morning - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely
Hearts Club Band
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: John
Based on a Kellogg’s Cornflakes television commercial John heard while sitting at the
piano and feeling a bit “stuck” trying to write something for “Sgt. Pepper.” Paul plays a
stinging guitar solo and flourishes with his right-handed Fender Esquire. The basic
rhythm track was recorded on February 8, 1967 in eight takes, four of them complete.
Overdubs followed with John’s lead vocal and Paul’s bass added on February 16. A horn
section consisting of members of the Brian Epstein-managed band Sounds Inc.
(previously Sounds Incorporated) was brought in on March 13. Sounds Incorporated had
been one of the opening acts on the Beatles’ 1964 and 1965 tours.
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocals: John, Paul, George, Ringo
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The Beatles had promised EMI that they have the master tape of the “Sgt. Pepper”
album delivered no later than April 12, 1967. Paul McCartney had made arrangements to
travel to America between April 3 and April 12, so this session on April 1 would be his
last chance to add vocals or instruments to the project. Only George Harrison’s
contribution to the album (“Within You, Without You”) remained to be recorded, and
that was being performed without John, Paul or Ringo. George Martin credits Neil
Aspinall with the idea of reprising the title track on the second side of the record. For
the reprise of the title song the Beatles convened in Abbey Road’s studio one, a
cavernous space usually reserved for orchestral recordings. George Martin felt this room
enhanced the live feeling of the song, giving it an “electrifying, football stadium
atmosphere.” According to author Mark Lewisohn, all four Beatles chanted out the quickpaced vocals. Mono mix includes the audience sounds beginning more sharply, the drum
intro is four beats longer, and there are some words spoken by John as well as some
audience laughter, all of which are missing from the stereo mix. Paul ad-libs some lyrics
at the end, but it can barely be heard on the stereo version.
The Beatles - A Day In The Life - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club
Band
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocals: John and Paul
Work began on January 19, 1967, for what is quite possibly the finest LennonMcCartney collaboration of their songwriting career. On this evening, following some
rehearsal, Lennon rolled tentatively through four takes, drawing a road map for the
other Beatles and George Martin to follow. Lennon on vocals and Jumbo acoustic guitar,
McCartney on piano, Harrison on maracas and Starr on congas. Sections were
incomplete and to hold their space Mal Evans stood by a microphone and counted from
one to 24, marking the time. To cue the end of the middle eight overdub section an
alarm clock was sounded. There was no Paul McCartney vocal yet, merely instruments
at this point where his contribution would be placed. On January 20, Paul added his
section, which he would re-recorded on February 3. Lennon told Beatles biographer
Hunter Davies that the first verse was inspired by a story in the January 17, 1967,
edition of the Daily Mail about the car accident that killed Guinness heir Tara Browne.
John: “I didn’t copy the accident. Tara didn’t blow his mind out, but it was in my mind
when I was writing that verse.” The second verse was inspired by Lennon’s work on
Richard Lester’s film “How I Won The War.” According to Paul, the third verse came
from a Daily Mail article published on January 7, 1967, about 4,000 potholes in the
streets of Blackburn, Lancashire.
The Beatles - The Run-Out Groove (aka The Inner Groove) - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts
Club Band
(uncredited)
As the “Sgt. Pepper” album was in the final mixing stages, the Beatles decided to add a little uncredited surprise to
listeners: the endless nonsense in the run-out groove of the vinyl album. In addition, between the final fade of "A Day In
The Life" and the nonsense, a high-pitch whistle, audible only to dogs, was inserted. This was pitched at 15 kilocycles.
These additions were recorded April 21, 1967 and titled “Edit For LP End (take 1).” Turntables (record players) in 1967
would handle the run-out groove one of two ways. Automatic players would play a portion of the gibberish before the
pick-up arm was lifted from the record and returned to its base. Manual players would play the gibberish indefinitely until
the arm was lifted off. The run-out groove gibberish and high-pitched tone was not included on the albums issued in the
United States. Americans would have to import the UK pressing or wait until 1987 for the first compact disc release to
hear it for themselves.
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11.27 BREAK
The Beatles - Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? - The Beatles
(Lennon-McCartney)
Lead vocal: Paul
Excepting a drum track played by Ringo Starr and added as an overdub a day later,
“Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?” is a Paul McCartney solo performance, recorded in
five takes on October 9, 1968. Playing an acoustic guitar, Paul started off each track
tapping out the beat on the sounding board of his guitar. By the fifth and final take,
Paul’s ditty had turned into a raunchy rocker, showcasing McCartney’s gritty, top-flight
voice. The “Anthology 3” album features a more restrained performance of the song. On
October 10, while John and George were involved in Studio Two with George Martin’s
string overdubs for “Piggies” and “Glass Onion,” Paul invited Ringo to join him in Studio
Three and lay down a drum track. Other overdubs included handclaps, additional vocals,
and Paul playing his Rickenbacker bass guitar and an electric guitar part on his Epiphone
Casino.
Paul McCartney – Flaming Pie – Flaming Pie ‘97
The title track, it evolved out of jam between Paul and Jeff Lynne (during
recording of the track, “Souvenir”). It was recorded in a single session on
February 27th, 1996.
22
The Beatles - Octopus’s Garden - Abbey Road
(Starkey)
Lead vocal: Ringo
“Octopus’s Garden” is Ringo Starr’s second solo composition in the Beatles catalog,
credited to his real name, Richard Starkey. He got the idea for the song after he
abruptly “quit” the group for one week during the making of the “White Album, in
August 1968. He traveled to Sardinia on the Mediterranean and spent time on actor
Peter Seller’s yacht. On board, Ringo was told that octopus go around the ocean bed
and pick up stones and shiny objects and build gardens in front of their caves. The still
unfinished song was played for George on January 26, 1969. This segment was shown
in the “Let It Be” film. A proper rerecording of the song took place on April 26. The
group went through 32 takes with Ringo on drums and guide vocal, George on his
Stratocaster through a Leslie speaker, John on Epiphone casino electric guitar and Paul
on Rickenbacker bass guitar. Overdubs were recorded on July 17 and 18 with Ringo’s
lead vocal with ADT (artificial double tracking), Paul adding piano and more drums, and
backing vocals from Paul, George and Ringo. During the instrumental break Ringo can
be heard blowing through a straw into a glass of water for bubbling sounds.
Some for BOTH the kids and the adults here on BWTB…(read)
Time for one more pair of Brian Wilson tickets….
BAT QUIZ TONES JORDAN
OK… Ringo sang lead on 5 songs today on BWTB…
800-955-KLOS
First person who can name all 5 gets the tickets….
We just heard 1 OG…so you only need 4 more…(kind)
The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever - Non-LP track
(Lennon-McCartney)
23
Lead vocal: John
The Beatles’ fourteenth single release for EMI’s Parlophone label.
Recording began on November 24, 1966. Written in Spain by John several months
earlier while he was filming the Richard Lester-directed film “How I Won The War.” The
beautiful “Take 1” of this Lennon classic can be heard on the “Anthology 2” album. It is
entirely different than the finished version. Strawberry Fields was actually a Salvation
Army home in the neighborhood where Lennon grew up. John used to go to parties
there and it always brought back happy memories to him. One of the only two “honest”
songs that John says he wrote for the Beatles. The other? “Help!”
WINNER name the songs….!
1. Help form Friends
2. Matchbox
3. INSTANT AB
4. Love Me Do
5. O. Garden
Let’s make it an ever 6 Ringo songs….a Starkey Six
Pack… (right Ringo!) He listens…I know…
Thank yours HERE
Vertical Mas still out/LA De Da
START NOW!
Here’s
Ringo w/ Joe Walsh - Mark Hudson - Along w/
Paul McCartney - Steven Tyler Barbara, Nils Lofgren,
Van Dyke Parks, Timothy B. Schmit, and Lee Starkey
and 43 others….