The Beatles Appreciation Thread

[Matt]

Also, what a great time capsule that video is for the late 1960's.

[The Schofield Kid]

Also, what a great time capsule that video is for the late 1960's.

Wonder what the old guy with the flowers in his glasses was on. Far out man!

[Doug]

I'm hearing something weird with the vocals on this. It sounds like someone is singing with Paul through the actual verses, but it's not any of the Beatles. But it's too perfect, so either Paul is singing with a recorded version, or we're able to hear him through the mic and through the stage monitor at the same time. It's really noticeable at 1:35 ("The minute you let her under your skin") and then again "And anytime you feel the pain", and again 'you're waiting for someone to perform with" and through the end of the verse.  They show the other Beatles who aren't singing when you can hear the second vocal. So who is singing with Paul?    I think it's just the way it was recorded picking up his vocals twice.

Yes, I believe they did multiple recordings and then used the best audio, or something along those lines, so it's not always matching up. There may have been overdubs added later, not sure. Somewhere there's probably an official account of that performance to explain it all.

[Gant]

Controversial thought... Had McCartney gone off the boil a little as a songwriter by the time of Abby Road ?
The two stand out songs on the album are George's. I think She's So Heavy and Come Together are Lennons...
Maxwell is a pretty poor effort really as far as I'm concerned..

[Doug]

I always prefer Lennon over McCartney, but Oh! Darling is one of my favorite Paul songs, and She Came in through the Bathroom Window and the closing medley are both great, so it seems Paul held his own well enough. At least I think so. Even Maxwell's Silver Hammer is fine. It's a bit too bouncy, but the music does contrast with the deceptively dark lyrics.

[Matt]

I feel the same way as Doug. 

I don't feel like Paul was slipping on Abbey Road. He always had a tendency toward sappiness and smaltz. John pushed him to be more of a rocker, and that's when Paul was at his best, when he was competing with John.  It was just a year before Abbey Road that Paul gave us the first heavy metal tune (I could be wrong on that -- but it's definitely ONE of the first) with Helter Skelter. And yes, Oh! Darling is one of Paul's best.

I've never liked Maxwell's Silver Hammer. 

[Matt]

The minute I think of Helter Skelter, I want to hear it. I  just pulled it up on YouTube and love the comments. I'll post a few here:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/vWW2SzoAXMo" target="_blank" class="new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/vWW2SzoAXMo</a>

Critics in late 1960s: Paul is too soft musically

Paul: hold my beer

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da and Helter Skelter are on the same album

talk about variety

The Who:This is our dirtiest song ever

Paul McCartney:Hold my tea

Charles Manson: I think I understand the song.

Paul McCartney: No, I really think you don't.

Legend has it that Ringo still has blisters on his fingers

Isn't it actually John who yelled that? I thought it was Ringo forever but think I read recently it was actually John.

Somebody: “The Beatles aren’t a rock band”

Me: Puts this song on

If Helter skelter started heavy metal, she’s so heavy started doom metal

Which is an interesting thought -- John has to one-up Paul.

[Gant]

I do think Darling is a good song, but not great. Harrison steals the show with two solid gold classics but Lennon also comes up with the goods. I just feel that maybe Paul's contributions are a little less on this record..

[Gant]

This looks great... I've managed to get tickets.. Sorry, but I can't post a link...

The Beatles. Hornsby Road. By music historian Mark Lewisohn

The Beatles leading historian celebrates the golden anniversary of the Beatles last work Abby Rd.
A two hour live theatre presentation examining the album in detail and takes a very close look at the band just before they split up.
Google it to find out more, sounds fascinating..
There's a recently discovered  tape  of one of their last meetings as a band that throws a very different light on the break up..

Can't wait...

[KC]

Here is a link for you, Gant ... or rather for your fellow fans who can make it to the UK for this:

https://www.marklewisohn.net/hornsey-road/

[Gant]

Thanks KC... You always help me out in these situations... Very much appreciated...

[Gant]

So, last night I attended the aforementioned Beatles/Abbey Road lecture and what a treat it was..
As well as lots of photographs and film of the Beatles right at the end of their career that I'd never seen before,
there was the recently discovered tape recording of a meeting they had not long before the split that was very illuminating..
Thoroughly enjoyable night with lots of extracted excerpts from Abbey Road highlighting just how great musicians and singers they all were..
Truly Fab.... Everyone left the theatre with a smile on their face humming Abbey Road tunes...

[higashimori]

Tne Traveling Wilburys is a very nice album!! 

 https://youtu.be/yH7gXFnaeuI

 https://youtu.be/UMVjToYOjbM?list=PLXMCxWuyKjSH5eqZL_jhuQheAm5n1ReYP