Some additional info about some of the songs listed: 1. Since Ringo stepped out for Back In The USSR, all 3 other Beatles ended up playing bass and drums on the track. Over 4 tracks, Paul played the main drum part, a jazz bass, guitar and piano while John and George both individually played the Fender VI, a snare drum and guitar. 2. Both George and Paul play bass on Rocky Raccoon. George played a bass part with a tremolo effect live alongside the rest of the band and Paul later overdubbed a jazz bass part. 3. John's bass part on The Long and Winding Road only sounds as "bad" as it does because they were still rehearsing the song. The take used on the album was the first take of that song to be recorded and it was still while John was learning the chord changes so his performance wasn't going to be perfect and no one expected it to be used for the actual album. 5 days later after actually learning the song they recorded what they expected to be the final version (which was the one used on Let It Be Naked) but when Phil Spector went to mix the album he chose the first take as it had the best vocal but not as good of a bass performance since it was basically just a rehearsal. If you listen to Take 19 on the Let It Be Super Deluxe you can hear that John's bass playing is much better than the actual album since he actually learned it for this take.
The complete "live in the studio" take, John sitting under the piano, is quite good. John plays very well and Billy does a gorgeous Hammond part, not Rhodes.
He didn't step out back, he quit. Then promptly went on a cruise on the Mediterranean where, after the captain told him some things about strange octopus behavior, came home with the bones of Octopus' Garden.
@@deanallen927 It looks like a 6 string guitar.. but it’s actually a Fender V1 6 string bass, George & John played it at times & most probably Paul.. it featured on Helter Skelter & I think Let It Be & others..
@@7colliemac John and George did use the Bass VI on Let It Be a lot but in the film you can see it's the all rosewood Telecaster. And on the record there aren't any notes too low for a guitar.
@@deanallen927 The reason you can’t hear it is Spector edited out Johns sloppy bass & concentrated on vocal harmonies & orchestrating & Pauls piano. Paul hated the edited Let it Be & The Long & Winding Road by Spector. The bass strings on the Bass V1 were very light compared to the 6 string bass we have today.
Two of us is George playing a great bass line. One small correction. You referred to Back in the U.S.S.R as the "title" track of the White album. It was the opening track. A title track is a song that has the same name as the album it's on, like Let it be.
Everyone I talk to about the Beatles agrees that John absolutely hacked The Long and Winding Road bass part. But then, it was John's band, so maybe he did that on purpose, tongue in cheek sort of thing.
@@somebodyspapa5005 It was not John's band. John was the bread baking wife beater of the group. Paul was the ambitious visionary leader and virtuoso of the group. Hope this helps.
@@vvblues Was there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOL............................... So incorrect. John hit Cynthia once. Don't push it pal. Fact - It was John's Group, WAKE UP !!!!!!!!!!!
For most long term Beatles fans, it is no surprise that the Beatles interchanged instruments. However, the one that surprised me when I learnt about it, was Paul McCartney on lead guitar on "Taxman". Amazing !!!
The “big 3 “ front line of The Beatles…since 1958 was John, Paul, George..originally all 3 on guitar and all 3 were lead vocalists. The main thing is they were their own session men. In the entire Beatles recorded catalog they played all guitars and bass parts, with the LONE EXCEPTION being Eric Clapton once on WHILE MY GUITAR….playing lead guitar.
@@peterjlake2531 Levon Helm was the main drummer but Richard Manuel played drums on some songs when he wasn't playing piano. Helm played mandolin and some other assorted things. With three legitimate singers, Rick Danko, Helm and Manuel (Robbie Robertson didn't do much singing), the lead singer could vary during different parts of songs.
We for so long missed that the Beatles never had advanced to become fantastic musicians. They, however, had superhuman skills writing songs, melodies, lyrics, arrangements, rhythms, accompaniments, and studio effects in overwhelming volume that they could play. And their singing was great, even in how their voices meshed. Such skills will perhaps always outdo musicianship.
Paul is a fantastic musician. And everything you list, "writing songs, melodies, lyrics, arrangements, rhythms, accompaniments" are parts of musicianship.
@@johnwelsh2769 alot of people are great musicians, good enough to make a handsome living at it, be it playing complicated jazz or chamber music. But few could ever write popular songs as Paul has. Even great classical composers fell short of condensing everything into breathtakingly melodies and harmonies the likes which Paul and John composed.
I don't know if you really paid attention to their music but all of the Beatles were far more advanced musicians than any other musicians. Paul McCartney mastered so many instruments during the Beatles years and after. Bands all over the world try to copy there musical style. All of the Beatles also had great solo careers.
In Barry Miles' McCartney biography (best Beatles book alongside Geoff Emerick's incredible book---both are fascinating deepdives into the actual making of the songs), Paul is quoted saying he didn't play bass on "She Said She Said", and that George did.
It’s likely Paul is misremembering this. If you listen to the backing track rehearsal from the Revolver reissue last year, you can clearly hear Paul counting the song in and playing virtually the same bass part as appears on the final record
@@iPro3million Yes, that's right. He totally rehearsed the song with them, but then left before the final take. Quoting his words from "Many Years from Now", Paul says, "John brought it in pretty much finished, I think. I'm not sure but I think it was one of the only Beatle records I never played on. I think we'd had a barney or something and I said, 'Oh, f*ck you!' and they said, 'Well, we'll do it.' I think George played bass." Either way, what this video and Andrew Freed show us is how amazing George was as a bass player!!!
@@pedrohorta6266 no, macca is playing bass on the backing track. With a 4 track machine they couldnt just take him out and put george over top. They played really loud in the studio, almost concert levels. Youd still hear the first bass track come through on the other mics. He is 100% playing bass on this song. He left before they put vocals on it so that is correct.
@@TheEvbox They recorded multiple takes---it wasn't an overdub. Paul's saying that they recorded a whole new full-band take without him (after he stormed out), this time with George on bass...
@@pedrohorta6266 Paul is wrong. He is for sure playing bass on take 15 which is the take they used as the backing track for the master. You can hear all the beatles talking before the take. You can clearly hear ringo, john and a few times you can hear paul quite clearly. On top of that early on they almost never switched the lineup unless they needed to. Theres still a chance its george I guess but I guess the only evidence we have of that is macca (infamous for not knowing his own history) saying so 20 or 30 years after it happened.
@@aaronsinger If you see the Get Back sessions you'll see John playing the bass line melody on his guitar. The bass line was pretty much defined from the very beginning. In my opinion, by Paul.
You have to compare Lennon playing on the Phil Spectre version of “the Long and winding Road” (which Paul complained about not only the strings and chorus on, but also the choice of take), and the version which is on the “Let it Be Naked” record, which was the take the Beatles themselves chose. (please note Paul‘s extremely detailed letter complaining about this to Apple and Spector, and insisting none of his songs ever again be changed without his permission), and you will see that John was learning the song during that take, not sabotaging it in any way-on their chosen chosen he plays perfectly fine- not great but truly not amateurishlly or ineptly in anyway. The truth is out there, and easily available in any record store, I mean, honestly!
Paul played bass. You can hear Paul on outtakes for the song, the Revolver remix book says it’s Paul, and Mark Lewisohn says it must be Paul because of the way it was recorded with 4 tracks
@@ewest14 correct. paul admitted there was a 'barny' during this session, but he must have walked out after the basic track recordings. thats why its only george and john on the vocals i suspect
@@ewest14 Paul was there for the recording session, but had an argument with the band and left mid-way. If you look at the song's personnel chart, it's marked that George ended up playing bass.
He’s done more than enough to have to pad his credit. He’s hands down the most gifted and versatile musician in the Beatles. His list of acknowledged credits on iconic bass, guitar, piano, Mellotron and many other instruments speaks for itself.
Sorry but the Mellotron you refer to is on ' Strawberry Fields '. That was in fact John. Paul took credit for it on The Anthology but That is not what the pictures and recording liners from Abbey Road say. He also claimed he wrote ' Cellophane Flowers of Yellow and Green ' from ' Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds ' When in a Beatles report from 1967 states by both John and Paul that John wrote it all entirely at home based on Julian's picture. Since John's Death, Paul has taken A Lot more credit than he have ought to.
@@kevinleclerc9632 that’s not true at all. All records state that Paul played the mellotron and Paul did in fact write those lines in Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds. John has corroborated that and said Paul did contribute those lines to the song
George originally played bass for paperback writer because Paul was doing lead guitar but then they recorded over George’s playing by accident with someones vocals (I thinks don’t quote me)and replaced it with Paul’s
Paul's memory is not - shall we say - definitive. As a session player of some 45 years who has happily gone through the original master tapes, let me add: The bass on 'She said, she said' was definitely George, after Paul had walked out in a huff during that session. 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' was primarily John on bass, with George doubling the bass line on guitar. 'Old Brown Shoe'...when George was interviewed about this, the interviewer said 'and McCartney going a bit mad on the bass again, eh?' to which George replied 'The bass player WAS going mad but it wasn't Paul, it was me - I played the bass on that.'
It's not George, the recent Revolver remix disproves that. There's two guitars, bass, and drums on the basic track. Paul walked out after the basic track was put down, hence why he isn't on the harmonies, but he did play bass on the track
Paul played bass. You can hear Paul on outtakes for the song, the Revolver remix book says it’s Paul, and Mark Lewisohn says it must be Paul because of the way it was recorded with 4 tracks
George played bass on Old Brown Shoe, he said so. Paul said he didn't like She Said at first and took a break and George did the bass while he was gone.
I LOVE the bass line on the Long & Winding Road. I am shocked, that it wasn't overdubbed and performed by Paul though! It seemed to have the same feel as the bass line on "Something".
Most of it though is single notes.. a lot of them bum notes. Spector claims he contacted McCartney or sent word anyway inviting him to overdub bass on to L&WR.. one wishes he had done so!
According to The Beatles Recording Reference Manual. 1.) Back In The USSR: Backing track- Harrison Drums, McCartney Casino Guitar, and Lennon Fender Bass VI. Overdub 1 McCartney Drums, McCartney (Fender Jazz) and Harrison (Fender Bass VI) on Bass simultaneously, Lennon on Snare Overdub 2 McCartney Piano, Lennon and Harrison on Lead Guitar 2.) Rocky Raccoon: Harrison on Fender Bass VI 3.) Helter Skelter: Lennon on Fender Bass VI 4.) Honey Pie: Harrison on Fender Bass VI 5.) Maxwell’s Silver Hammer: Harrison Bass (either Fender Bass VI or Fender Jazz Bass) 6.) Oh Darling: Harrison Bass (either Fender Bass VI or Fender Jazz Bass) 7.) Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight: Harrison Fender Bass VI 8.) Two of Us: Harrison on Fender Rosewood Telecaster 9.) Dig It: McCartney Hofner 500/1 Bass 10.) The Long and Winding Road: Lennon Fender Bass VI 11.) Old Brown Shoe: McCartney on Rickenbaker 4001S Bass 12.) While My Guitar Gently Weeps: McCartney on Rickenbaker 4001S Bass 13.) She Said, She Said: McCartney on Rickenbaker 4001S Bass* McCartney had recorded his bass on the track before he and Lennon had an argument with McCartney leaving.
On Naked part of the bassline is the overdub.. doesn't come in as soon as the original release though. Also.. Spector himself said later in an interview that he asked McCartney if he'd like to overdub a new bass on Long & Winding Road and he said McCartney wasn't interested at the time he was working on the album.
.. and those that weren't were played by Mick Taylor (Ventilator Blues, Dancing With Mr D) or Ron Wood (Start Me Up).. generally Keith didn't seem to trust Bill if he didn't do it just how he wanted to DESPITE Wyman's amazing style and tone that can be heard 100% of the time on their live records.
The average person (if they know the instruments at all) will think Paul was only a bass player. Bet Paul played guitar on more songs than he didn’t play bass on.
@@Versul1 we know. I doubt the mainstream public have a clue. My mom is the age that was the target group of The Beatles. My brothers and I play. She doesn’t understand that a bass is different than a guitar. Her musical knowledge is that she thought Davy Jones was cute. Knowing who played what would require more than most people invest in this.
"Gently Wheeps" - Lennon on the verses playing Fender VI. McCartney joins on choruses playing his lefty J Bass, doubling the hook. you can also hear guitar doubling the hook in octaves, most likely George, most likely playing his Ric 12.
To me those last 2 are not mysteries. On the rhythm track of she said she said paul can be heard counting in and you can hear him clearly talking right before the take. I also dont think the other 2 were good enough bassists to play what is on she said (in 1966 atleast). Its so tight with ringo in a way very few people could get. Bass on gently weeps is 100% macca. The bass 6 triples the chorus line with a 12 string and you can really hear bow different it sounds to the jazz bass. Macca used his jazz bass on a few white album songs and its really easy to hear if youve heard it in iso.
It probably is good if we don't forget that Paul was originally a guitar player. He took over the role of bass when Stu Sutcliff left the band, since George was clearly a lead player. So it shouldn't be a stretch to see that Paul enjoyed playing guitar and would happily let someone else take over bass. In those days bass was still considered by many to be something less important. Obviously we know this was just unfounded bias and, we hope, no longer a common misconception.
The bass is usually not as important. And it was typically the instrument played by the least talented member of the band with the arguable exception of the drummer. Having said, so, and some songs like rain, the base is the most important instrument in the song. And if you ever listened to Stanley, Clark or Chuck Rainey, you know that the base can be as challenging and amazing as any other instrument in the group.
Oh Darling and Maxwell's Silver Hammer are 2 of my favorite George basslines. George had a fine melodic sensitivity when he played bass. John plodded on the bass, but George played it well.
@@StuartQuinn If someone thinks that's one of rock's best basslines, I shake my head. It's barely a bassline at all. It's not even the best bassline on that side of the vinyl album.
@@kris_chico That bass line is absolutely 100% Macca. I'm a bass player. Trust me, I know. Everything from the tone to the choice of noters is Macca all day, all year long.
As a guitar player, it is difficult to play a regular 4 or 5-string bass guitar, it is un-normal. However, a Fender VI would be strung like a regular guitar but tuned down. Still, for a regular guitar player, it would feel like playing a regular guitar and you can use all the runs, and riffs you are familiar with as a guitar player and make it sound like you know what you're doing. Brilliantly!
Wait until they find out that Pet Sounds' music tracks were already recorded by session musicians BEFORE Mike Love and the rest of the boys even knew about it. The vocalists were not happy with Brian.
Actually, Ringo sang "Yesterday" He just felt sorry for Paul and let him have it for live shows....Imagine how much better the Beatles could have been if they had internet💕
Very informative in that I grew up in that era and now it seems apparent that the style in the melodic sounds of the band was ever so refreshing. And why not, if the members were exchanging their instruments to fit the narrative.
It's not surprising the Fender Base VI wS used as it is not actually considered a base but more a guitar, tuned to guitar tuning but one octave lower so it sounds like a base, with special strings. John and George would have felt more comfortable because it would have been a familiar six stringed instrument exactly like a guitar except deeper with a slightly longer fretboard.
Too bad.. i'd have loved to have heard all three Beatles guitarists play acoustic.. would have been nice in I've Just Seen a Face... Ticket to Ride.. Long Medley.. to have a three way interplay where one could focus on bassier strings another on fills.. another on off beat strumming
With the exception of George’s bass playing on Taxman-where Paul plays the great guitar lead-there are no standout memorable bass parts by John or George. The list of standout lead guitar (Taxman), piano (While My Guitar Gently Weeps), or Mellotron (Strawberry Fields Forever) and drums (Dear Prudence) is long.
@@zetmoon Paul played the lead guitar solo after George was struggling with it. You may be right about the bass part. It’s solid bass and brilliant lead guitar.
@@yoaliehecatl22 I don't even know if the bass was SO bad.. George Martin HATED to work with rock bands... he LOVED the session musicians! But I've heard that Spector suggested the same thing for Long & Winding Road but Paul wasn't participating by then and it just wouldn't have happened by March - April 1970. Martin was supervising the release of the Let It Be single.. and wouldn't have gone near the album unless they'd have specifically hired him to do so.
You left out Hey Jude! And that’s the easiest one to tell because they introduced the tune in The David Frost Show live. You can see Paul on piano, John playing rhythm on his Casino, George on the Fender 6 string and of course Ringo on drums !
I’ve seen it and I still think John played bass and Paul played the main guitar. It’s super sloppy and unlike anything Paul would play Mal Evans’ diary says John played bass, which was unusual, and Mark Lewisohn says John played bass as well WA 2018 box set goes as far as to say that John played bass on both versions, referring to both the earlier slow version from July, and that the released version from September. Listening to the studio chatter from Take 17, it seems a lot more like John is synced up with Paul’s instructions, not that Paul was instructing and playing bass.
To be fair considering that the Beatles were only in the world spotlight as a band for 7 odd years, but they changed music as we know it forever, like who writes the music for bands, selling albums not just singles, have 30 odd number ones, changed culture and genres of music to no end,.....ect. I guess what I'm saying is they were, well are massive and I don't think there will ever be a band/group/solo artist that will change the world as much in under a decade,...ever again!?! In under a decade they changed the world forever! I mean, wow, just wow;-) Respect🙂
Not sure if it’s true but I heard John did the bass line on I Will with his mouth. When you hear it isolated you can hear him taking breaths in between some notes.
I am very old now and I was brought up on the Beatles. Personally, I always regarded Paul as a singer/songwriter and never as a Bass player. I think they all played whatever was necessary to make the music work. I really don't think it mattered who played what and quite frankly I couldn't care less.
Paul "fooled" a lot of people, then, with his bass playing, as his melodic style was novel in the context of '60s pop and also highly influential. ... If you couldn't care less who played what, why on earth would you watch this video? ... or did you?
Back in the USSR is not the title track, the name of the album is The Beatles, and is referred to as the white album. Examples of title tracks include Please Please Me, Let It Be, A Hard Day's Night, Help, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine. Back in the USSR is the first track, not the title track. Young people.🙄🙄🙄
You are making the assumption that George/John created the baselines on Paul's songs. You state that George sounds just like Paul when he plays. It is just as likely that Paul created the baselines and George played them and that is why he sounds like Paul. When watching Get Back, one can see Paul telling John what he needs to do on the base because he is struggling with it.
In your story you talk about when Paul wasn't playing bass. While he wasn't playing bass, piano, or infrequent drums, he was busy playing some fabulous lead guitar for which he was under estimated! He's great at acoustic too.
None of them is 'great'. For greatness you have to look for true musicians and real nusicianship. If you seriously believe McCartney was 'fabulous' at the guitar what superlative could you exceed to to describe Segovia or Wes Montgomery?
When read the book “Revolution in the head” 25 years ago, and read some of this also Paul playing lead in a lot of 65-66 track, Paul playing drums when rings left in 68, etc.
I don't see why this is so shocking ...... if this guy is a proverbial "Beatlemaniac" as he appears to be, he should know that John and Paul occasionally played lead guitar on some songs, John and George occasionally played bass guitar on some songs, and Paul even played drums on a couple of songs when Ringo briefly left the band (Back in the USSR, and Dear Prudence.) I do think that all of this is indeed interesting, but the way that this guy acts so shocked about it is strange.
I’ve heard that Paul played drums on Old Brown Show (because Ringo was off filming The Magic Christian), and listening to it I’m inclined to agree: it lacks the nuance of Ringo’s playing and in fact sounds like a simplified version of the part Ringo played in earlier rehearsals during the Let it Be sessions. That would add more support for the theory that George played bass on the track.
No it's far from simple, it's a fast shuffle that Paul could not play. He admitted in interviews that he could not play shuffles. If you listen to Helen Wheels, a shuffle that Paul did play drums on, all the drum parts are recorded separately. It's Ringo: there was one week to go with Magic Christian, it was being filmed in London, he might have finished his filming duties anyway, and George would not have recorded the song without him.
I still think it's John on "Weeps," however McCartney remembers it. It's clearly the Fender VI, which Paul would have to have played upside down, and he's blatting out chords on it, essentially playing rhythm guitar, as on 'Dig It." Paul probably would have done something sweeter but less dramatic. It's great, unusual bassline that makes the song as much as Paul does on Come Together or Dear Prudence.
the one I don't buy is Maxwell's Silver Hammer. Paul often overdubbed the bass after the fact in the later years after playing a guide keyboard. And that one just has too much of his signature bounce to it for me to believe it's George on the final version. We know they overdubbed it for days, and when you look at George in the Get Back film he's playing a MUCH simpler bass line.
George plays that Fender bass on the semi-live version of Hey Jude. Not sure if he did on the recorded version. And I thing Lennon also played that same Fender bass on Let it be. Thanks for the video, cheers!
I think he played bass on the recorded version.. again not something that is mentioned because it was such a sore point for George that he didn't get to play the guitar like he wanted to. Even that one fill that George does late in the song is like a sop to him that must have irked him for years afterwards.
I'd suggest that the bass on 'You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)' was also played by John or George, while Paul was occupied with the piano during the recording of the basic track. Also, it's not a rumour that George played bass on 'Old Brown Shoe'; he confirmed it in an interview. And it makes sense when you consider that Paul was occupied with the drums (Ringo was filming that day, and the previous one (the 'Ballad Of John And Yoko' session)), as confirmed in the book accompanying the anniversary edition of 'Abbey Road'.
There’s no way Paul is playing drums on OBS, the booklet is wrong. The authors were not relying on any documentary evidence that Paul played drums (he did play the piano and bass, the latter at the same time as George doubling on guitar, sharing a track) but made the assumption that Ringo couldn’t have played it because Magic Christian was still in production. The fact that the movie was being made in London and that the recording session was in the evening and that perhaps Ringo had finished his acting duties by then doesn’t seem to have come into the authors’ calculations.
Ok, did you do this on purpose? In the second “segment” regarding Rocky Raccoon, you snuck in a picture of Gavin Pring, the George Harrison in The Fab Four tribute band…clever.
I've scene a vid where the interviewer claims Paul played the bass part in silver hammer and compliments him on the Tuba like approach of the part at which point Paul demonstrates the part on a bass.
So many talents shared. On Get Back, all four of them play some piano. Harrison even says something like the piano is hard as he plinks out a reasonable melody. That 6 string is handy for guitar players to fill in on.
One thing I can never find out is WHO exactly played what on "It's All Too Much" it was their only self produced session but that guitar work is indicative of Macca but so is the bass and it all seems to have been done in one take!
There is also an interview with Harrison where he claims to have played the bass on Drive My Car. He said it was a lick he stole from the Otis Redding song, Respect.
John George and Ringo are underrated because listeners w/ the Fabs tend to focus on the songs and vocals more. Macca is so huge as a muso that one cant deny regardless of opinion.
I always felt that in earlier years, they had to think how certain songs could be done in concert. If George was going to sing, then lead guitar might have been more difficult. Same problem on songs that Paul played another instrument. Someone else would have to play bass.
Idk if anyone noticed the look on George Harrison and Ringo Starr's faces during Rocky Raccoon and Maxwell's Silver Hammer, but they were pissed. George had some good music that he wanted to present but Rocky Raccoon and the other was played instead. And apparently Paul was OCD with his songs being played exactly as he wrote them and if you didn't, he played your instrument for you. This angered the other band members. To say all that, I must admit Paul has always been my favorite Beatle; maybe because I'm a bit OCD about the way I want things done. He's amazing!!
Fascinating video. Well done. Sometimes the player of the bass didn’t write the part. So, I still wonder, unless Paul, Ringo, studio notes, and someone else can confirm anything, I might still have questions.
Back in the USSR and Rocky Raccoon are tricky as far as who played the bass parts. USSR has bass parts from all three of them. John played the bass on the live track first on the Bass VI and then Paul and George overdubbed more bass on the Jazz bass and Bass VI respectively. Rocky originally did have John playing the bass on the Bass VI but apparently Paul wasn't happy with his original performance so he overdubbed two Jazz bass parts replacing John's. Old Brown Shoe is one I'm still 50/50 on as far as George or Paul on bass. My official answer is George but it could go either way with the limited documentation we have on it yet. WMGGW is actually both of them. haha It's a combination of Paul on the Jazz bass and George on the Bass VI, recorded together on the same track.
Great sound when you hear WMGGW isolated. Still unsure about Old Brown Shoe.. but I think it's the same story... Paul playing the main part with George doubling him on guitar in the middle. Also.. wasn't Rocky Raccoon Paul with a hyper overdriven acoustic guitar playing the bass notes a la Ob La Di Ob La Da?
I've listened to "Julia" on the White album and it seems that one of the Beatles vocalizethe bass. I suspect that the vocal is slowed down to give it a resonant bass sound. So, technically, there was no bass in that song.What do you think?
On the White Album, the song I Will sounds like someone going "doo doo" with the mid and treble tone controls turned down and bass tone turnd up. I wouldn't put it past these geniuses. Am I correct?
Not to split hairs but the first song on an album is not always called a "title track". A title track is a track that has the same name as the album it's on, like (in the case of these guys) "Please, Please Me" or "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" or "Let It Be". So by definition many albums don't have a title track.
John played bass on the basic tracks during the earlier July 1968 recording that produced the long 12 & 17 minute versions.. the final sped up released version is Paul on bass.
Cool video, I wasn't aware of a couple of the songs that you mentioned Paul wasn't playing bass on. I knew that he played the Taxman guitar solo and joined John and George with the dueling solos near the end of the Abbey Road medley, but it was great to learn additional info. I'm wondering if John's bass playing on The Long and Winding Road was a result of heroin, as he was riding high a lot of the time. Just sayin'
If you listen to isolated Back in the USSR bass track, there's actually two bass parts. It's been assumed that the straight ahead one is Pauls, where as the one that's all over the place is George. Also, I think a few places attributed to the Fender VI was actually a Jazz Bass. Oh Darling and While My Guitar Gently Weeps come to mind.
@@marcusphelan57I've actually heard it was George on the Jazz. But it does sound different from Golden Slumbers and the like which we know for sure George used a Jazz for.
@@MarcBarkyMarta George used a Jazz on Maxwell but I’m pretty sure he used it on Golden Slumbers/Carry that Weight. Def used it on Oh Darling cos there’s a high note that can only be played on a VI (I can’t remember off hand, on my phone, can’t check.)
To me I was such a Beatle fan that I didn't care whom played what. I was in love with the Beatles and so long as they were making music that is all that mattered to me.
You can actually hear Paul on the chatter before they record the rythm track for She Said, She Said. He wasn't there for vocals but he is playing bass on the final version. It was always a McCartney bassline, the George story got too far. It's 100% him.
Is it the original version of "Helter Skelter" you used in this video? Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me it sounds better here, than the original version ! 😆
Common mistake. Abby Road was recorded after Let it Be.
Most of it. But Let It Be was the last with Beatles touch-ups and overdubs (minus John, of course, who had left).
@@lordofthemound3890 work was done on the movie editing the album was done. Pretty sure. John wasn’t there for Free as a Bird either. 🤔😎
Let it Be mixing didn’t start until six months after Abbey Road.
"I Me Mine" was recorded in January 1970 with Paul, George & Ringo (John quit the group the previous September).
Really?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Some additional info about some of the songs listed:
1. Since Ringo stepped out for Back In The USSR, all 3 other Beatles ended up playing bass and drums on the track. Over 4 tracks, Paul played the main drum part, a jazz bass, guitar and piano while John and George both individually played the Fender VI, a snare drum and guitar.
2. Both George and Paul play bass on Rocky Raccoon. George played a bass part with a tremolo effect live alongside the rest of the band and Paul later overdubbed a jazz bass part.
3. John's bass part on The Long and Winding Road only sounds as "bad" as it does because they were still rehearsing the song. The take used on the album was the first take of that song to be recorded and it was still while John was learning the chord changes so his performance wasn't going to be perfect and no one expected it to be used for the actual album. 5 days later after actually learning the song they recorded what they expected to be the final version (which was the one used on Let It Be Naked) but when Phil Spector went to mix the album he chose the first take as it had the best vocal but not as good of a bass performance since it was basically just a rehearsal. If you listen to Take 19 on the Let It Be Super Deluxe you can hear that John's bass playing is much better than the actual album since he actually learned it for this take.
The complete "live in the studio" take, John sitting under the piano, is quite good. John plays very well and Billy does a gorgeous Hammond part, not Rhodes.
fantastic. Thank you.
@@deanallen927 very true
He didn't step out back, he quit. Then promptly went on a cruise on the Mediterranean where, after the captain told him some things about strange octopus behavior, came home with the bones of Octopus' Garden.
You can EASILY tell if Ringo is not drumming.
RINGO STARR invented MELODIC drumming
NOT 2 of the Beatles catalog has the same DRUM groove
George’s bass on the Two Of Us is superb.. love it.. it makes the song.
I agree. As a teenager, I envisioned a bearded Paul playing it on his little violin-bodied Hofner bass…and I was WRONG, lol! Ah, youth.
Yes, it kind of became the bones of the song as it developed. He did it on a guitar, that's why it sounds that way.
@@deanallen927 It looks like a 6 string guitar.. but it’s actually a Fender V1 6 string bass, George & John played it at times & most probably Paul.. it featured on Helter Skelter & I think Let It Be & others..
@@7colliemac John and George did use the Bass VI on Let It Be a lot but in the film you can see it's the all rosewood Telecaster. And on the record there aren't any notes too low for a guitar.
@@deanallen927 The reason you can’t hear it is Spector edited out Johns sloppy bass & concentrated on vocal harmonies & orchestrating & Pauls piano. Paul hated the edited Let it Be & The Long & Winding Road by Spector. The bass strings on the Bass V1 were very light compared to the 6 string bass we have today.
Two of us is George playing a great bass line.
One small correction. You referred to Back in the U.S.S.R as the "title" track of the White album. It was the opening track. A title track is a song that has the same name as the album it's on, like Let it be.
You are right! Thank you!!!!
Everyone I talk to about the Beatles agrees that John absolutely hacked The Long and Winding Road bass part. But then, it was John's band, so maybe he did that on purpose, tongue in cheek sort of thing.
@@somebodyspapa5005 If it was so bad, why didn't Paul simply re-record the bass track? The song has like a million orchestral overdubs!
@@somebodyspapa5005 It was not John's band. John was the bread baking wife beater of the group. Paul was the ambitious visionary leader and virtuoso of the group. Hope this helps.
@@vvblues Was there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOL............................... So incorrect. John hit Cynthia once. Don't push it pal. Fact - It was John's Group, WAKE UP !!!!!!!!!!!
For most long term Beatles fans, it is no surprise that the Beatles interchanged instruments. However, the one that surprised me when I learnt about it, was Paul McCartney on lead guitar on "Taxman". Amazing !!!
Paul also played the slide guitar solo on Drive My Car
@@bpabustan Paul also played the guitar solo on Good Morning.
And "Ticket To Ride" guitar motif at the end of the choruses.
Actually Paul and John both do a lot of leads.
Paul McCartney played lead on ticket to ride
The “big 3 “ front line of The Beatles…since 1958 was John, Paul, George..originally all 3 on guitar and all 3 were lead vocalists. The main thing is they were their own session men. In the entire Beatles recorded catalog they played all guitars and bass parts, with the LONE EXCEPTION being Eric Clapton once on WHILE MY GUITAR….playing lead guitar.
No other band worked in this way, swopping instruments, but it enhanced the variation and creativity song to song. One of a kind!
Listen to The Band
@@mikeormickvandyke5238 Thanks - I'll look into that!
@@peterjlake2531 Levon Helm was the main drummer but Richard Manuel played drums on some songs when he wasn't playing piano. Helm played mandolin and some other assorted things. With three legitimate singers, Rick Danko, Helm and Manuel (Robbie Robertson didn't do much singing), the lead singer could vary during different parts of songs.
We for so long missed that the Beatles never had advanced to become fantastic musicians. They, however, had superhuman skills writing songs, melodies, lyrics, arrangements, rhythms, accompaniments, and studio effects in overwhelming volume that they could play. And their singing was great, even in how their voices meshed. Such skills will perhaps always outdo musicianship.
Paul is a fantastic musician. And everything you list, "writing songs, melodies, lyrics, arrangements, rhythms, accompaniments" are parts of musicianship.
@@johnwelsh2769 alot of people are great musicians, good enough to make a handsome living at it, be it playing complicated jazz or chamber music. But few could ever write popular songs as Paul has. Even great classical composers fell short of condensing everything into breathtakingly melodies and harmonies the likes which Paul and John composed.
I don't know if you really paid attention to their music but all of the Beatles were far more advanced musicians than any other musicians. Paul McCartney mastered so many instruments during the Beatles years and after. Bands all over the world try to copy there musical style. All of the Beatles also had great solo careers.
th-cam.com/video/_pG-zwfAHDI/w-d-xo.html
@@mariannferranti7236nope
In Barry Miles' McCartney biography (best Beatles book alongside Geoff Emerick's incredible book---both are fascinating deepdives into the actual making of the songs), Paul is quoted saying he didn't play bass on "She Said She Said", and that George did.
It’s likely Paul is misremembering this. If you listen to the backing track rehearsal from the Revolver reissue last year, you can clearly hear Paul counting the song in and playing virtually the same bass part as appears on the final record
@@iPro3million Yes, that's right. He totally rehearsed the song with them, but then left before the final take. Quoting his words from "Many Years from Now", Paul says, "John brought it in pretty much finished, I think. I'm not sure but I think it was one of the only Beatle records I never played on. I think we'd had a barney or something and I said, 'Oh, f*ck you!' and they said, 'Well, we'll do it.' I think George played bass." Either way, what this video and Andrew Freed show us is how amazing George was as a bass player!!!
@@pedrohorta6266 no, macca is playing bass on the backing track. With a 4 track machine they couldnt just take him out and put george over top. They played really loud in the studio, almost concert levels. Youd still hear the first bass track come through on the other mics. He is 100% playing bass on this song. He left before they put vocals on it so that is correct.
@@TheEvbox They recorded multiple takes---it wasn't an overdub. Paul's saying that they recorded a whole new full-band take without him (after he stormed out), this time with George on bass...
@@pedrohorta6266 Paul is wrong. He is for sure playing bass on take 15 which is the take they used as the backing track for the master. You can hear all the beatles talking before the take. You can clearly hear ringo, john and a few times you can hear paul quite clearly. On top of that early on they almost never switched the lineup unless they needed to. Theres still a chance its george I guess but I guess the only evidence we have of that is macca (infamous for not knowing his own history) saying so 20 or 30 years after it happened.
I found out that George played bass on “Oh! Darling” ages ago, I love that bass line. ✌️☺️
Are you sure? I heard it was Maurice Gibb from the Bee Gees.
@@thenowchurch6419 Nah, I couldn’t have been!! 👌😂
@@aaronsinger If you see the Get Back sessions you'll see John playing the bass line melody on his guitar. The bass line was pretty much defined from the very beginning. In my opinion, by Paul.
@@aaronsinger It’s not a bad bass line when it comes to difficulty to be fair. ✌️😌
@@desoxido I haven’t seen them, I need to though. 👌☺️
My favorite bass line from the Beatles is probably Paperback Writer. Amazing 😎
BASS Reinvented.
That entire song is 🔥! The lead smokes as much as the bass line.
I love "Drive my car" bass line.
You have to compare Lennon playing on the Phil Spectre version of “the Long and winding Road” (which Paul complained about not only the strings and chorus on, but also the choice of take), and the version which is on the “Let it Be Naked” record, which was the take the Beatles themselves chose. (please note Paul‘s extremely detailed letter complaining about this to Apple and Spector, and insisting none of his songs ever again be changed without his permission), and you will see that John was learning the song during that take, not sabotaging it in any way-on their chosen chosen he plays perfectly fine- not great but truly not amateurishlly or ineptly in anyway.
The truth is out there, and easily available in any record store, I mean, honestly!
absolutely correct
George also played bass on She Said She Said from Revolver. George was a solid bass player.
Not true, geroge took over the bassline when Paul stormed out but Paul later overdubbed it with him playing the bass
Paul played bass. You can hear Paul on outtakes for the song, the Revolver remix book says it’s Paul, and Mark Lewisohn says it must be Paul because of the way it was recorded with 4 tracks
Paul hated the song and wouldn’t play for the song. The McCartney fanboys refuse to believe it, bc the song is hot, thanks to the other guys!
@@ewest14 correct. paul admitted there was a 'barny' during this session, but he must have walked out after the basic track recordings. thats why its only george and john on the vocals
i suspect
@@ewest14 Paul was there for the recording session, but had an argument with the band and left mid-way. If you look at the song's personnel chart, it's marked that George ended up playing bass.
He’s done more than enough to have to pad his credit. He’s hands down the most gifted and versatile musician in the Beatles. His list of acknowledged credits on iconic bass, guitar, piano, Mellotron and many other instruments speaks for itself.
Sorry but the Mellotron you refer to is on ' Strawberry Fields '. That was in fact John. Paul took credit for it on The Anthology but That is not what the pictures and recording liners from Abbey Road say. He also claimed he wrote ' Cellophane Flowers of Yellow and Green ' from ' Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds ' When in a Beatles report from 1967 states by both John and Paul that John wrote it all entirely at home based on Julian's picture. Since John's Death, Paul has taken A Lot more credit than he have ought to.
@@kevinleclerc9632 agreed
Who are you referring to?
@@kevinleclerc9632 The iconic beginning Mellotron (from take 7) was played Paul. John played it at the end.
@@kevinleclerc9632 that’s not true at all. All records state that Paul played the mellotron and Paul did in fact write those lines in Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds. John has corroborated that and said Paul did contribute those lines to the song
George originally played bass for paperback writer because Paul was doing lead guitar but then they recorded over George’s playing by accident with someones vocals (I thinks don’t quote me)and replaced it with Paul’s
I’m pretty sure George’s playing was always intended to be wiped.
Paul himself has said that George played bass on "She Said She Said"
What you have to remember for Let it Be sessions it was impractical for Paul to play bass as the intention was to play live, on the piano
Paul's memory is not - shall we say - definitive. As a session player of some 45 years who has happily gone through the original master tapes, let me add: The bass on 'She said, she said' was definitely George, after Paul had walked out in a huff during that session. 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' was primarily John on bass, with George doubling the bass line on guitar. 'Old Brown Shoe'...when George was interviewed about this, the interviewer said 'and McCartney going a bit mad on the bass again, eh?' to which George replied 'The bass player WAS going mad but it wasn't Paul, it was me - I played the bass on that.'
It's not George, the recent Revolver remix disproves that. There's two guitars, bass, and drums on the basic track. Paul walked out after the basic track was put down, hence why he isn't on the harmonies, but he did play bass on the track
Was McCartney trying to get back at George for the She Said, She Said, by bossing him on his guitar parts on the Let It Be sessions?
Paul played bass. You can hear Paul on outtakes for the song, the Revolver remix book says it’s Paul, and Mark Lewisohn says it must be Paul because of the way it was recorded with 4 tracks
The ballet of john and yoko...i thought was done by all 4 till i learned it was just john and paul..
George played bass on Old Brown Shoe, he said so. Paul said he didn't like She Said at first and took a break and George did the bass while he was gone.
The White Album definitely isn't called 'Back In The USSR'.
I LOVE the bass line on the Long & Winding Road. I am shocked, that it wasn't overdubbed and performed by Paul though! It seemed to have the same feel as the bass line on "Something".
Most of it though is single notes.. a lot of them bum notes. Spector claims he contacted McCartney or sent word anyway inviting him to overdub bass on to L&WR.. one wishes he had done so!
According to The Beatles Recording Reference Manual. 1.) Back In The USSR: Backing track- Harrison Drums, McCartney Casino Guitar, and Lennon Fender Bass VI. Overdub 1 McCartney Drums, McCartney (Fender Jazz) and Harrison (Fender Bass VI) on Bass simultaneously, Lennon on Snare Overdub 2 McCartney Piano, Lennon and Harrison on Lead Guitar 2.) Rocky Raccoon: Harrison on Fender Bass VI 3.) Helter Skelter: Lennon on Fender Bass VI 4.) Honey Pie: Harrison on Fender Bass VI 5.) Maxwell’s Silver Hammer: Harrison Bass (either Fender Bass VI or Fender Jazz Bass) 6.) Oh Darling: Harrison Bass (either Fender Bass VI or Fender Jazz Bass) 7.) Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight: Harrison Fender Bass VI 8.) Two of Us: Harrison on Fender Rosewood Telecaster 9.) Dig It: McCartney Hofner 500/1 Bass 10.) The Long and Winding Road: Lennon Fender Bass VI 11.) Old Brown Shoe: McCartney on Rickenbaker 4001S Bass 12.) While My Guitar Gently Weeps: McCartney on Rickenbaker 4001S Bass 13.) She Said, She Said: McCartney on Rickenbaker 4001S Bass* McCartney had recorded his bass on the track before he and Lennon had an argument with McCartney leaving.
John played bass on Let It Be, as can be seen in the movie and the Get Back documentary, but it's said that it was so bad that Paul re-recorded it.
It ain't that bad
Listen to the naked the bass is
Clear
On Naked part of the bassline is the overdub.. doesn't come in as soon as the original release though. Also.. Spector himself said later in an interview that he asked McCartney if he'd like to overdub a new bass on Long & Winding Road and he said McCartney wasn't interested at the time he was working on the album.
Similarly, many of the great Rolling Stones bass parts which I used to praise Bill Wyman for were actually played by Keith Richards!
.. and those that weren't were played by Mick Taylor (Ventilator Blues, Dancing With Mr D) or Ron Wood (Start Me Up).. generally Keith didn't seem to trust Bill if he didn't do it just how he wanted to DESPITE Wyman's amazing style and tone that can be heard 100% of the time on their live records.
The average person (if they know the instruments at all) will think Paul was only a bass player. Bet Paul played guitar on more songs than he didn’t play bass on.
Certainly only young people would think that. Paul pretty much played everything on his first solo album.
@@Versul1 we know. I doubt the mainstream public have a clue. My mom is the age that was the target group of The Beatles. My brothers and I play. She doesn’t understand that a bass is different than a guitar. Her musical knowledge is that she thought Davy Jones was cute. Knowing who played what would require more than most people invest in this.
@@explorervango880 I suppose your right. Perhaps being a multi instrumentalist myself gives me a bias.
@@Versul1 the good thing is most people think you are doing magic.
"Gently Wheeps" - Lennon on the verses playing Fender VI. McCartney joins on choruses playing his lefty J Bass, doubling the hook. you can also hear guitar doubling the hook in octaves, most likely George, most likely playing his Ric 12.
To me those last 2 are not mysteries. On the rhythm track of she said she said paul can be heard counting in and you can hear him clearly talking right before the take. I also dont think the other 2 were good enough bassists to play what is on she said (in 1966 atleast). Its so tight with ringo in a way very few people could get. Bass on gently weeps is 100% macca. The bass 6 triples the chorus line with a 12 string and you can really hear bow different it sounds to the jazz bass. Macca used his jazz bass on a few white album songs and its really easy to hear if youve heard it in iso.
It probably is good if we don't forget that Paul was originally a guitar player. He took over the role of bass when Stu Sutcliff left the band, since George was clearly a lead player. So it shouldn't be a stretch to see that Paul enjoyed playing guitar and would happily let someone else take over bass. In those days bass was still considered by many to be something less important. Obviously we know this was just unfounded bias and, we hope, no longer a common misconception.
The bass is usually not as important. And it was typically the instrument played by the least talented member of the band with the arguable exception of the drummer.
Having said, so, and some songs like rain, the base is the most important instrument in the song. And if you ever listened to Stanley, Clark or Chuck Rainey, you know that the base can be as challenging and amazing as any other instrument in the group.
Oh Darling and Maxwell's Silver Hammer are 2 of my favorite George basslines. George had a fine melodic sensitivity when he played bass. John plodded on the bass, but George played it well.
Crazy how one of rocks best basslines comes from the apparently “instrumentally ungifted” john lennon
Which one is that?
@@timothyd9543 presumably Helter Skelter?
@@StuartQuinn If someone thinks that's one of rock's best basslines, I shake my head. It's barely a bassline at all. It's not even the best bassline on that side of the vinyl album.
Might have been referring to While My Guitar Gently Weeps baseline
@@kris_chico That bass line is absolutely 100% Macca. I'm a bass player. Trust me, I know. Everything from the tone to the choice of noters is Macca all day, all year long.
As a guitar player, it is difficult to play a regular 4 or 5-string bass guitar, it is un-normal. However, a Fender VI would be strung like a regular guitar but tuned down. Still, for a regular guitar player, it would feel like playing a regular guitar and you can use all the runs, and riffs you are familiar with as a guitar player and make it sound like you know what you're doing. Brilliantly!
Wait until they find out that Pet Sounds' music tracks were already recorded by session musicians BEFORE Mike Love and the rest of the boys even knew about it. The vocalists were not happy with Brian.
Actually, Ringo sang "Yesterday"
He just felt sorry for Paul and let him have it for live shows....Imagine how much better the Beatles could have been if they had internet💕
Ive always heard that "she said she said" was the only Beatle song recorded without Maca on it
Same that's what I thought.
Well theres Revolution 9 :D
@@bryemycaz the book Beatlessongs (a must !) claims Paul’s playing piano at the beginning
@@brgreg8725 I don't even hear piano in that song? Let alone the beginning?
@@adabofeverything7120 listen again,
Very informative in that I grew up in that era and now it seems apparent that the style in the melodic sounds of the band was ever so refreshing. And why not, if the members were exchanging their instruments to fit the narrative.
This video is another example of the genius of The Beatles who were some of the greatest musician who ever lived.
Fooled you again haven't they....
It's not surprising the Fender Base VI wS used as it is not actually considered a base but more a guitar, tuned to guitar tuning but one octave lower so it sounds like a base, with special strings. John and George would have felt more comfortable because it would have been a familiar six stringed instrument exactly like a guitar except deeper with a slightly longer fretboard.
There were two bass played in Obbla Di Obbla dah. Different octaves 😊
On the bridge part of "Old Brown Shoe" it sounds like Chris Squire playing bass.
Excellent video! My only bone to pick is at 3:48: the word "homage" is pronounced "Oh-Mahzhh"
George played bass on OLD Brown shoe, and on Beatles Anthology book, George says, he played bass on Drive my Car.
George played guitars,bass and organ on Old Brown Shoes. Ringo on the drums, Paul on piano and John ...backing vocals.
@@2JorgeBeat John played piano on Old Brown Shoe, as far as I know.
As a bass player I've played this song live and didn't know that there's no bass at all on I've Just Seen A Face. Bob
Too bad.. i'd have loved to have heard all three Beatles guitarists play acoustic.. would have been nice in I've Just Seen a Face... Ticket to Ride.. Long Medley.. to have a three way interplay where one could focus on bassier strings another on fills.. another on off beat strumming
With the exception of George’s bass playing on Taxman-where Paul plays the great guitar lead-there are no standout memorable bass parts by John or George. The list of standout lead guitar (Taxman), piano (While My Guitar Gently Weeps), or Mellotron (Strawberry Fields Forever) and drums (Dear Prudence) is long.
Paul played bass on Taxman
@@zetmoon Paul played the lead guitar solo after George was struggling with it. You may be right about the bass part. It’s solid bass and brilliant lead guitar.
Paul played the solo and bass
I suspect, John also played bass on "Let it be". Paul played piano.
Originally yes, but according with George Martin the John bass was so bad than he call Paul for re-recorded it
@@yoaliehecatl22 I don't even know if the bass was SO bad.. George Martin HATED to work with rock bands... he LOVED the session musicians! But I've heard that Spector suggested the same thing for Long & Winding Road but Paul wasn't participating by then and it just wouldn't have happened by March - April 1970. Martin was supervising the release of the Let It Be single.. and wouldn't have gone near the album unless they'd have specifically hired him to do so.
You left out Hey Jude! And that’s the easiest one to tell because they introduced the tune in The David Frost Show live. You can see Paul on piano, John playing rhythm on his Casino, George on the Fender 6 string and of course Ringo on drums !
This video debunks the notion that John played bass on Helter Skelter: th-cam.com/video/fJh_zbUZWXk/w-d-xo.html
I’ve seen it and I still think John played bass and Paul played the main guitar.
It’s super sloppy and unlike anything Paul would play
Mal Evans’ diary says John played bass, which was unusual, and Mark Lewisohn says John played bass as well
WA 2018 box set goes as far as to say that John played bass on both versions, referring to both the earlier slow version from July, and that the released version from September.
Listening to the studio chatter from Take 17, it seems a lot more like John is synced up with Paul’s instructions, not that Paul was instructing and playing bass.
Hey Andrew great vid btw. Who played on You Know The Name, Look Up The Number? Maybe there's another one?
I'm pretty sure that George played bass on Think for Yourself.
It really doesn't matter who played what. They are just the greatest band there's ever been.
OR WILL BE and they were
OURS.....
Found out recently no beatles played on sgt pep shes leaving home. Great you tube vid of the lady brought in to play harp
YES you`re right and there will never be a better band they were the greatest I am almost 73 y.o. and I still listen to Beatles music
th-cam.com/video/_pG-zwfAHDI/w-d-xo.html
To be fair considering that the Beatles were only in the world spotlight as a band for 7 odd years, but they changed music as we know it forever, like who writes the music for bands, selling albums not just singles, have 30 odd number ones, changed culture and genres of music to no end,.....ect.
I guess what I'm saying is they were, well are massive and I don't think there will ever be a band/group/solo artist that will change the world as much in under a decade,...ever again!?!
In under a decade they changed the world forever!
I mean, wow, just wow;-)
Respect🙂
Not sure if it’s true but I heard John did the bass line on I Will with his mouth. When you hear it isolated you can hear him taking breaths in between some notes.
I am very old now and I was brought up on the Beatles. Personally, I always regarded Paul as a singer/songwriter and never as a Bass player. I think they all played whatever was necessary to make the music work. I really don't think it mattered who played what and quite frankly I couldn't care less.
Paul "fooled" a lot of people, then, with his bass playing, as his melodic style was novel in the context of '60s pop and also highly influential. ... If you couldn't care less who played what, why on earth would you watch this video? ... or did you?
Back in the USSR is not the title track, the name of the album is The Beatles, and is referred to as the white album. Examples of title tracks include Please Please Me, Let It Be, A Hard Day's Night, Help, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine. Back in the USSR is the first track, not the title track. Young people.🙄🙄🙄
As Mick Jagger said when asked how the Stones are going to replace Bill Wyman “How hard can it be to play Bass?
You are making the assumption that George/John created the baselines on Paul's songs. You state that George sounds just like Paul when he plays. It is just as likely that Paul created the baselines and George played them and that is why he sounds like Paul. When watching Get Back, one can see Paul telling John what he needs to do on the base because he is struggling with it.
Bass.
@@scottandrewbrass Thanks. That's what three hours of sleep does for the brain.
In your story you talk about when Paul wasn't playing bass. While he wasn't playing bass, piano, or infrequent drums, he was busy playing some fabulous lead guitar for which he was under estimated! He's great at acoustic too.
None of them is 'great'. For greatness you have to look for true musicians and real nusicianship. If you seriously believe McCartney was 'fabulous' at the guitar what superlative could you exceed to to describe Segovia or Wes Montgomery?
@@paulsawtell3991 taxman solo
When read the book “Revolution in the head” 25 years ago, and read some of this also Paul playing lead in a lot of 65-66 track, Paul playing drums when rings left in 68, etc.
I don't see why this is so shocking ...... if this guy is a proverbial "Beatlemaniac" as he appears to be, he should know that John and Paul occasionally played lead guitar on some songs, John and George occasionally played bass guitar on some songs, and Paul even played drums on a couple of songs when Ringo briefly left the band (Back in the USSR, and Dear Prudence.)
I do think that all of this is indeed interesting, but the way that this guy acts so shocked about it is strange.
The Let It Be material was recorded before Abbey Road…even though it was released afterwards.
I’ve heard that Paul played drums on Old Brown Show (because Ringo was off filming The Magic Christian), and listening to it I’m inclined to agree: it lacks the nuance of Ringo’s playing and in fact sounds like a simplified version of the part Ringo played in earlier rehearsals during the Let it Be sessions. That would add more support for the theory that George played bass on the track.
No it's far from simple, it's a fast shuffle that Paul could not play. He admitted in interviews that he could not play shuffles. If you listen to Helen Wheels, a shuffle that Paul did play drums on, all the drum parts are recorded separately. It's Ringo: there was one week to go with Magic Christian, it was being filmed in London, he might have finished his filming duties anyway, and George would not have recorded the song without him.
Sorry, it’s Ringo.
I still think it's John on "Weeps," however McCartney remembers it. It's clearly the Fender VI, which Paul would have to have played upside down, and he's blatting out chords on it, essentially playing rhythm guitar, as on 'Dig It." Paul probably would have done something sweeter but less dramatic. It's great, unusual bassline that makes the song as much as Paul does on Come Together or Dear Prudence.
Giles Martin said it was John.
There’s two basses. Paul is playing bass on WMGGW
the one I don't buy is Maxwell's Silver Hammer. Paul often overdubbed the bass after the fact in the later years after playing a guide keyboard. And that one just has too much of his signature bounce to it for me to believe it's George on the final version. We know they overdubbed it for days, and when you look at George in the Get Back film he's playing a MUCH simpler bass line.
That's George playing a bass guitar on Rocky Raccoon at 2:14
George plays that Fender bass on the semi-live version of Hey Jude. Not sure if he did on the recorded version. And I thing Lennon also played that same Fender bass on Let it be. Thanks for the video, cheers!
I think he played bass on the recorded version.. again not something that is mentioned because it was such a sore point for George that he didn't get to play the guitar like he wanted to. Even that one fill that George does late in the song is like a sop to him that must have irked him for years afterwards.
The Hey Jude video is mimed. Paul played on the released version
I'd suggest that the bass on 'You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)' was also played by John or George, while Paul was occupied with the piano during the recording of the basic track.
Also, it's not a rumour that George played bass on 'Old Brown Shoe'; he confirmed it in an interview. And it makes sense when you consider that Paul was occupied with the drums (Ringo was filming that day, and the previous one (the 'Ballad Of John And Yoko' session)), as confirmed in the book accompanying the anniversary edition of 'Abbey Road'.
There’s no way Paul is playing drums on OBS, the booklet is wrong. The authors were not relying on any documentary evidence that Paul played drums (he did play the piano and bass, the latter at the same time as George doubling on guitar, sharing a track) but made the assumption that Ringo couldn’t have played it because Magic Christian was still in production. The fact that the movie was being made in London and that the recording session was in the evening and that perhaps Ringo had finished his acting duties by then doesn’t seem to have come into the authors’ calculations.
Interesting how the bass line for Maxwells Silver Hammer and Honey Pie was very similar.
Yea
That is how George play
He tends to make the note jump
For example G to C
C to F
And like that
Ok, did you do this on purpose? In the second “segment” regarding Rocky Raccoon, you snuck in a picture of Gavin Pring, the George Harrison in The Fab Four tribute band…clever.
At 2.14, is that George playing Paul's Hofner upside down?
I've scene a vid where the interviewer claims Paul played the bass part in silver hammer and compliments him on the Tuba like approach of the part at which point Paul demonstrates the part on a bass.
I don't know about the studio versions of Hey Jude but George plays the bass on the live version that was made for the David Frost show.
So many talents shared. On Get Back, all four of them play some piano. Harrison even says something like the piano is hard as he plinks out a reasonable melody. That 6 string is handy for guitar players to fill in on.
One thing I can never find out is WHO exactly played what on "It's All Too Much" it was their only self produced session but that guitar work is indicative of Macca but so is the bass and it all seems to have been done in one take!
There is also an interview with Harrison where he claims to have played the bass on Drive My Car. He said it was a lick he stole from the Otis Redding song, Respect.
He came up with the lick and the bass (played by Paul) doubles it.
John George and Ringo are underrated because listeners w/ the Fabs tend to focus on the songs and vocals more. Macca is so huge as a muso that one cant deny regardless of opinion.
Macca played a Rickenbacker bass on a ton of Beatles songs.
I’ve also heard George is on bass Drive my Car / Taxman cos’ Paul took the lead on both!
No, George came up with the riff but bass and guitar were tracked at the same time.
I always felt that in earlier years, they had to think how certain songs could be done in concert. If George was going to sing, then lead guitar might have been more difficult. Same problem on songs that Paul played another instrument. Someone else would have to play bass.
Idk if anyone noticed the look on George Harrison and Ringo Starr's faces during Rocky Raccoon and Maxwell's Silver Hammer, but they were pissed. George had some good music that he wanted to present but Rocky Raccoon and the other was played instead. And apparently Paul was OCD with his songs being played exactly as he wrote them and if you didn't, he played your instrument for you. This angered the other band members. To say all that, I must admit Paul has always been my favorite Beatle; maybe because I'm a bit OCD about the way I want things done. He's amazing!!
Fascinating video. Well done. Sometimes the player of the bass didn’t write the part. So, I still wonder, unless Paul, Ringo, studio notes, and someone else can confirm anything, I might still have questions.
She Said She Said..Paul wasnt at that session and George played bass on this song
Back in the USSR and Rocky Raccoon are tricky as far as who played the bass parts. USSR has bass parts from all three of them. John played the bass on the live track first on the Bass VI and then Paul and George overdubbed more bass on the Jazz bass and Bass VI respectively. Rocky originally did have John playing the bass on the Bass VI but apparently Paul wasn't happy with his original performance so he overdubbed two Jazz bass parts replacing John's.
Old Brown Shoe is one I'm still 50/50 on as far as George or Paul on bass. My official answer is George but it could go either way with the limited documentation we have on it yet.
WMGGW is actually both of them. haha It's a combination of Paul on the Jazz bass and George on the Bass VI, recorded together on the same track.
Great sound when you hear WMGGW isolated. Still unsure about Old Brown Shoe.. but I think it's the same story... Paul playing the main part with George doubling him on guitar in the middle. Also.. wasn't Rocky Raccoon Paul with a hyper overdriven acoustic guitar playing the bass notes a la Ob La Di Ob La Da?
@@melamineflorentine8134 Nope. Rocky Raccoon has two overdubbed bass parts. One is played normally and the other one has a tremolo effect on it.
I've listened to "Julia" on the White album and it seems that one of the Beatles vocalizethe bass. I suspect that the vocal is slowed down to give it a resonant bass sound. So, technically, there was no bass in that song.What do you think?
Rocky Raccoon has two basses. For a long time I was very much confused with a weird sound of the bass line until I realized it has two basses.
I had seen you on Instagram before, your videos here excellent too!
Thanks a lot!🤘
Nice video, never knew most of these!!
I Think A Bit Of That Dirty Tone Comes Also From A Fender Jazz Bass And The VI Playing The Same Line On Top Of Each Other
On the White Album, the song I Will sounds like someone going "doo doo" with the mid and treble tone controls turned down and bass tone turnd up. I wouldn't put it past these geniuses. Am I correct?
Not to split hairs but the first song on an album is not always called a "title track". A title track is a track that has the same name as the album it's on, like (in the case of these guys) "Please, Please Me" or "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" or "Let It Be". So by definition many albums don't have a title track.
I love Johns playing on Helter Skelter.
John played bass on the basic tracks during the earlier July 1968 recording that produced the long 12 & 17 minute versions.. the final sped up released version is Paul on bass.
@@melamineflorentine8134 source?
Cool video, I wasn't aware of a couple of the songs that you mentioned Paul wasn't playing bass on. I knew that he played the Taxman guitar solo and joined John and George with the dueling solos near the end of the Abbey Road medley, but it was great to learn additional info. I'm wondering if John's bass playing on The Long and Winding Road was a result of heroin, as he was riding high a lot of the time. Just sayin'
good stuff/ I noticed recently the very sloppy bass playing on All you need is love. it is definitely Paul on that famous video
I was thinking Fixing A Hole could've been in the honorary mentions as some sources say Lennon played bass on it and others say McCartney
Both played bass, John on the basic track and Paul doubling the OK parts (not so many) and fixing the not so OK parts (a lot).
@@marcusphelan57 ahh okay then
If you listen to isolated Back in the USSR bass track, there's actually two bass parts. It's been assumed that the straight ahead one is Pauls, where as the one that's all over the place is George.
Also, I think a few places attributed to the Fender VI was actually a Jazz Bass. Oh Darling and While My Guitar Gently Weeps come to mind.
Oh Darling is George on the Fender VI. WMGGW is Paul on the Jazz. But yes, the attribution of the VI is wildly exaggerated.
@@marcusphelan57I've actually heard it was George on the Jazz. But it does sound different from Golden Slumbers and the like which we know for sure George used a Jazz for.
@@MarcBarkyMarta George used a Jazz on Maxwell but I’m pretty sure he used it on Golden Slumbers/Carry that Weight. Def used it on Oh Darling cos there’s a high note that can only be played on a VI (I can’t remember off hand, on my phone, can’t check.)
To me I was such a Beatle fan that I didn't care whom played what. I was in love with the Beatles and so long as they were making music that is all that mattered to me.
Paul also played lead on a couple songs
I read somewhere that George played a bass line on a guitar on I’ve Just Seen a Face
Incorrect.
It’s interesting how Maxwells shows how similar bass and lead can be (also something).
You can actually hear Paul on the chatter before they record the rythm track for She Said, She Said. He wasn't there for vocals but he is playing bass on the final version. It was always a McCartney bassline, the George story got too far. It's 100% him.
I’ve always thought so too, glad I’m not crazy after all
Is it the original version of "Helter Skelter" you used in this video? Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me it sounds better here, than the original version ! 😆
I think George played bass on the White Album "Birthday"