Beatles Final Flashcards

Kick ass on finals

1
Q

Because

A

By John on Abbey Road

Inspired by Yoko playing Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”

9 voice harmony between John/Paul/George (this part written by George Martin)

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2
Q

Come Together

A

By John - Abbey Road

Originally written for Timothy Learly (fired for LSD experiments on students); running for Governor of California and asked for a political song (lost to Ronald Reagan)

Conflict with Chuck Berry’s “You Can’t Catch Me” because John uses “her come old flattop”

“Shoot Me!” hissed throughout the song; dark sound with Lennon’s weird

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3
Q

Golden Slumbers + Carry That Weight + The End + Her Majesty

A

Golden Slumbers, Carry that Weight, The End and Her Majesty all written by Paul - Abbey Road

Golden Slumbers: Paul encounters a book at his father’s home called “Golden Slumbers” by Thomas Dekker, a contemporary Shakespeare

Carry that Weight: Paul reflects how the Beatles’ behavior near the end will eventually catch up with them; feels bad about their ridiculousness

The End: Paul and John play Cassio guitars, Guitar plays a Les Paul
The three of them exchange through guitar solos recorded all in one take

Ringo Starr’s only drum solo and the only time drums are recorded in stereo

“And in the end the love you take/is equal to the love you make” - couplet written by Paul as the last lines in the style of Shakespeare

Her Majesty: Last Song on the album

23 seconds, shortest Beatles song ever

Little lick written by Paul for fun, originally not supposed to be on the album

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4
Q

Here Comes The Sun

A

By George - Abbey Road

Extensive Moog synthesizer usage; guitar goes through a Leslie speaker

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5
Q

I Want You (She’s So Heavy)

A

By John - Abbey Road

Love song to Yoko; vocal masking (remembering LSD)

White noise - fixed filter bank on Moog, replayed vamp

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6
Q

Maxwell’s Silver Hammer

A

by Paul - Abbey Road

Written about a serial killer (very upbeat and happy)

George Harrison’s Moog Synthesizer (analog synths)

French hornist chords and countermelody through the 2nd and 3rd verse (played by Paul)

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7
Q

Mean Mr. Mustard - Sun King

A

Both by John - Abbey Road

Recorded together

Sun King: “Los Paranoias” - made up words and such

Mean Mr. Mustard: based off of a man who died with a bunch of money under his mattress

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8
Q

Octopus’s Garden

A

by Ringo - Abbey Road

Based on Mediterranean octopi living in urns

Bubbles blowing through straw into glass of water, background Ah’s in condenser

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9
Q

Oh! Darling

A

by Paul - Abbey Road

Sang once per day to get a rawer sound, him trying to emulate the “Twist and Shout”

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10
Q

Polythene Pam- She Came in Through the Bathroom Window

A

by Paul - Abbey Road

Recorded together as a continuous mix

Polythene Pam - based off of a girl named Pat from the Beatles’ earlier days who actually ate polythene

She Came in Through the Bathroom Window - George Harrison called the youth outside Apple Studio “Apple Scruff”, some broke into Paul’s home and stole stuff to sell

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11
Q

Something

A

by George - Abbey Road

Slide guitar features in it, thought of Ray Charles when he wrote about it

Gets a lot of work for playing slide

First offered it to Joe Cocker, then recorded with the Beatles

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12
Q

You Never Give Me Your Money

A

by Paul - Abbey Road

A medley of unfinished songs leading into a medley of songs that come together

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13
Q

Across The Universe

A

by John - Let It Be

Lennon wrote this while on LSD

Written in part as a tribute to Maharishi

Meant to be next single, but Lady Madonna went first

Released on a World Wildlife Fund charity LP and later on Let It Be

John was becoming really apathetic because of his LSD use

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14
Q

I Me Mine

A

by George - Let It Be

Last song recorded in the studio

Written by George

Last song recorded together

George fed up with John and Paul’s egoism (very direct and forward song in the lyrics, not trying to disguise the meaning)

Edited by Phil Spector

“I Me Mine” is also the name of George’s biography, where he only mentions John a few times

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15
Q

Two Of Us

A

by Paul - Let It Be

Written about Linda, but tends towards descriptions of John (reminder of their duets when they were younger)

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16
Q

Baby You’re a Rich Man

A

by John - Magical Mystery Tour

Written to Brian Epstein for his “brown bag money dealings” for the Beatles

Recorded and mixed at Olympic Sound Studios in 1 night

First time they recorded and mixed at a different studio

John plays a new instrument - claviolene - an electric instrument that is kind of like an oboe

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17
Q

Blue Jay Way

A

by George - Magical Mystery Tour

Written during George and Patti’s visit to California in 1967

Written by someone who is bored, nothing too exciting musically

Drone: unfocused, blurred harmony oscillates between major and diminished chords, no guitar

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18
Q

Fool On The Hill

A

Written by Paul

Speculated it was written about maharishi

Features a flute section and harmonica, plus recorder solo from Paul

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19
Q

Hello Goodbye

A

Send the song to Ed Sullivan as a promotional film

Also A-side with B-side I am the Walrus

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20
Q

I Am The Walrus

A

Melody influenced by the sound of a police siren

Started recording on September 5

First time to bring in outside singers (Mike Sammes Singers: first outside vocalists)

Also released as B-side with Hello Goodbye

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21
Q

Magical Mystery Tour

A

by Paul - Magical Mystery Tour

The idea of a magical tour bus where magical things happen; dissuaded by friends to do so

4 trumpet players, included David Mason on one of the four trumpets

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22
Q

Penny Lane

A

by Paul - single & Magical Mystery Tour

Recorded during Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band sessions

Released in UK as double A side single with Strawberry Fields Forever in 1967, released in US on Magical Mystery Tour (because US didn’t like singles)

First Beatles single to not reach #1 in England

About a place from Paul’s childhood, in contrast with John’s Strawberry Fields

It’s a shopping district and street, roundabout (bathroom)

Paul says he has been working on it since 1965, but gets to work on it more once the Beatles become big

As many takes for this as Strawberry fields, many piano parts, vocal, guitar, bass and drums last

4 flutes, 4 trumpets, 2 piccolos, 1 flugelhorn, handbell, 2 oboes, 2 English horns, double bass

Paul liked to watch BBC TV Masterworks, played classical music on old instruments. Saw one with a Bach Concerto played by the English chamber orchestra. Saw guy playing a weird trumpet and said he wanted this particular instrument and trumpet player. His name was David Mason, paid 27 pounds and 10 shillings to play the B flat piccolo trumpet. Spend 3 hours playing it out to get it right. Actual recording was done very quickly

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23
Q

Strawberry Fields Forever

A

by John - single and Magical Mystery Tour

Double A single with Penny Lane

About his childhood, relives the happy memories of his youth, it is drug-fueled but some innocence

One of the most complex recordings they had done (backwards tapes, usage of new instruments in the band/studio/recording)

Mellotron: complicated tape machine, use recordings of taped music and can be 	played for 8 seconds at a time 

George Harrison plays a swordmandel (Celtic table harp with metal strings), also brings in slide guitar

Take 1: November 24, 1966 , 7:30 pm - 2:30 am

Paul plays Mellotron using the strings setting but sounds "canned"/fake

Peculiar vocal arrangements, lyrics are rearranged

Take 7: the feel for the song has changed

Paul plays flutes, better slide guitar

Vocal less choral, distinctive guitar style, opening is that of the final version

Take 26: Locomotive version

4 trumpets, 3 cellos, George plays swordmendel

Backwards track of Ringo playing cymbals and high-hat

Paul plays timpani - there finally is an ending (cranberry sauce)

John talks with Martin, wants to combine the different takes (light and heavy) - fade out and fade back in

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24
Q

All You Need is Love

A

by John - single for Our World international concert

5 continent international concert broadcasted on TV to 400 million viewers, first attempt to ever do something like this

BBC asks John to write a simple song, June 25, 1967

John does the verse in 7/4, the chorus in 4/4

4 tracks: 1: pre-taped rhythm track 2: bass, lead guitar solo, drums 3: orchestra 4: vocals

Begins with French national anthem, then greensleeves, then she loves you, then all you need is love then in the mood

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25
Q

Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!

A

by John - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Intermission track

Inspired by a poster of Pablo Fanque’s Circus Royal from 2/1843

John lifts most of the lyrics from the poster, wants to create a callope/carnival feel

“wants to smell the sawdust on the ground”

Martin has Emerick cut up, toss up, and randomly tape together the sound effects, eerie sound

Martin collapses on the harmonium after playing the rhythm track for so long

Henry the Horse does a waltz; more time changes

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26
Q

A Day in the Life

A

by John and Paul - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Working title: “In the life of…”

Inspired by newspaper article describing the death of Tara Brown in a car accident

Guiness heir Tara Brown dies on December 18, 1966, recorded on January 19, 	1967

John does main parts, Paul does the middle portion

40 musicians overdubbed 4X, for 160 total

4 track machine: first 3 tracks have the Beatles while the 4th has an oscillator (speed control)

On second tape machine orchestra is on four different tracks

Headphones to speaker to dynamic microphones (you can use headphones to record, not most efficient, but doable)

The Big chord at the end is like a barbershop quartet (E chord)

John, Paul, Ringo and Mal Evans play 3 pianos on big chord

9 takes and then had to overdub it 3 times

One of the most recognizable sounds of the 20th century (like "A Hard Day's 	Night")

At 53.5 seconds started to fade out

Spiral out - dog whistle

Locked groove - gibberish, edited just enough to fill the locked groove
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27
Q

Fixing A Hole

A

by Paul - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Recorded at Regent Sound where the Rolling Stones recorded because Abbey Road was full

George Martin could go as a freelance producer, but not Geoff Emerick because he is tied to EMI

Live recording, Harrison has a guitar solo

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28
Q

Getting Better

A

by Paul Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Autobiographical song, mallets are played on piano strings and Paul’s guitar, characteristic clang sound

Harrison plays tambura on the last verse, adds a profound effect since its right on the verse where Paul talks about beating his woman (didn’t actually do it, part of the effect of the song, he clears it up later in an interview)

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29
Q

Good Morning Good Morning

A

by John - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Inspired by a Kellogg’s Corn Flakes commercial

3 saxes, 2 trombones, 1 French horn in the background (very brassy)

They pull together a bunch of random animal sounds at the end and that ends the track, the last hen clucking leads into the beginning of the following track, matching the note (source of pride for Emerick)

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30
Q

A Little Help From My Friends

A

by Paul and John - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Written for Ringo

Working title “Bad Finger Boogie”

Some radio stations refused to play it because of drug reference (“I get high with a little help from my friends”)

When John and Paul wrote it, Paul’s idea

31
Q

Lovely Rita

A

by Paul - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Written about a traffic warden (Meta Davis) who gives him a parking ticket outside Abbey Road (Paul calls her a meter maid)

“looked like a Rita to me” - Paul’s quote

Martin has a piano solo while John plays a comb-and-toliet paper kazoo

32
Q

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

A

by John - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

John’s son Julian brings a drawing of a girl he liked (Lucy O’Donne), says that its “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”

Everyone else thinks its about LSD, John denies it

Psychedelic, emulating a drug-induced experience

Time changes 3/4 to 4/4 to 3/4

Donald Johanson, a paleontologist discovers and early hominid in Africa and names it Lucy

In bridge part, vocal masking (guitar and vocal play same parts)

John’s guitar through a Leslie, George plays the tambura, beginning melody uses a Hammond Organ

Banned from radio due to drug references

33
Q

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

A

Title name of album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, kind of an intro track to the album

Orchestra warming up for “A Day in the Life” used to start the album

Abbey Road tape archive has audience noises in a library (clapping, laughing), use this on track

Scream at the end from the Hollywood Bowl, audience laughs as people see them in their funky clothes, 4 French horns

Song ends when they announce Billy Sheers (Ringo), goes right into his song “A Little Help from My Friends”

34
Q

She’s Leaving Home

A

by Paul - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

A sadder song, another orchestral arrangement for Paul

Two string quartets, double bass, harp (Sheila Bromberg - first female contributor on a record)

No Beatles playing instruments, Paul does lead vocals and John backing on March 20

Mike Leander composes the score because Martin is busy, Martin is hurt but agrees to conduct on March 17, Paul absent that day because he is sick

35
Q

When I’m Sixty-Four

A

by Paul - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Supposedly written back in the days of The Cavern

More likely written because his father had recently turned 64

Clarinet trio (2 b flat soprano clarinets, one brass clarinet), scored by George Martin

36
Q

Within You Without You

A

by George - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

George does the most with Indian classical music

George on sitar/guitar, Neil Apsinal on tamboura, Anil Bhagwat on tabla, outside performers (no other Beatles)

Written on harmonium at Voorman’s home, written in Indian style classical music (very authentic)

Session 1: Tabla, swordmandel, dilruba

Session 2: 2 dilrubas

Session 3: 8 violins, 3 cellos, and sitar

Dilruba - like a bowed sitar

10/8 and 4/4 played together

37
Q

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Reprise

A

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

A compilation of random sounds and sped up versions

Aspinal’s idea for a closing number, a rockier feel

38
Q

The Ballad of John and Yoko

A

by John - single

Only John and Paul record on this song

Describes John/Yoko’s “bed in” honeymoon

Banned in the US because of the crucifixion reference

39
Q

Don’t Let Me Down

A

by John

Single, B-side of “Get Back”, 1st record released in UK to enter charts at #1

Lennon word play: “she do/does/done me”

Billy Preston on keyboards, influenced by the Band’s “I Shall Be Released”

40
Q

Hey Jude

A

by Paul

Not included on The White Album, first ever stereo single (B-side Revolution)

Writes for John’s song Julian

Doesn’t like the lyric “the movement you need is on your shoulder”, but John really likes it so he keeps it

Recorded at Trident Studios on 8 track, huge orchestra

41
Q

The Inner Light

A

by George - single

B-side to “Lady Madonna” single

Recorded while Harrison worked on score for “Wonderwall”

Based on section of Lao Tse’s Taoist holy book “Tao Te Ching”

Basic tracks recorded in Mumbai, using Indian studio musicians

42
Q

Lady Madonna

A

by Paul - single

A-side to “The Inner Light”

Paul plays boogie boogie piano, 4 piece jazz saxophone section

1st Beatles single not to reach #1 in US since “Eleanor Rigby”

Used old microphone on piano to give it older sound

43
Q

Back in the U.S.S.R.

A

by Paul - The White Album

August 22 - Ringo quits the band because he’s sick of the bullshit, so Paul plays drums

George on guitar, John bass

Segues into “Dear Prudence” by John

44
Q

Blackbird

A

by Paul - The White Album

Written in India after being awoken by a blackbird

Folk music “finger picking style”

References to black civil rights movement

Recorded by Paul alone in 6 hours

45
Q

Dear Prudence

A

by John - The White Album

About Prudence Farrow (Mia Farrow’s sister) who was shy on the Rishikesh trip

Ringo was still not back

46
Q

Don’t Pass Me By

A

by Ringo - The White Album

First solo composition, took 5 years

47
Q

Glass Onion

A

by John - The White Album

References to “Strawberry Fields Forever.” “I Am The Walrus,” “Lady Madonna,” “Fool on the Hill,” and “Fixing a Hole”

String octet featured, Ringo finally back on drums

48
Q

Good Night

A

by John - The White Album

Written as a lullaby for Julian

Last song on The White Album

Sung by Ringo, backed by Mike Sammes Singers

Variation of Cole Porter’s “True Love”

49
Q

Happiness Is A Warm Gun

A

by John - The White Album

Working title “Happiness is a warm gun in your hands”

Gun advertisement in a magazine

70 takes for rhythm track

Many meter changes, many song ideas sewn together as one track

4/4 (moody part at the beginning to 9/4 to 6/8 (mother superior) to 4/4 (happiness is a warm gun) to 3/4 to 4/4

50
Q

Helter Skelter

A

by Paul - The White Album

Take 1: 10 ‘ 40 “”

Take 2: 12 ‘ 35 “

Take 3: 27’ 11”” (longest Beatles recording ever)

Ringo on drums, Paul on bass and vocals, John/George on guitar and vocals

At the end Ringo yells “I’ve got blisters on my fingers!” because of so many takes

51
Q

I’m So Tired

A

by John - The White Album

Written in India suffering insomnia caused by meditation/marriage anxiety

Harmony: altered doo wop chord changes

Rhythm: drums loop during verse and goes into standard blues shuffle during middle 8

52
Q

Julia

A

by John - The White Album

Last song recorded for The White Album, first John only song while part of the Beatles

Julia is his mother, but one lyric says “ocean child” which is the translation of Yoko Ono

53
Q

Long, Long, Long

A

by George - The White Album

One of four Harrison songs on the album (most he has on any Beatles album)

54
Q

Ob La Di, Ob La Da

A

by Paul - The White Album

Nicky Hopkins plays piano (sideman for the Rolling Stones on tour)

Geoff Emerick quits, Ken Scott Replaces him

55
Q

Piggies

A

by George - The White Album

Chris Thomas on harpsichord, Paul on bass, Ringo on tambourine, George on acoustic guitar

Criticism on social cannibalism, many Animal Farm allegories and influences

Charles Manson listens to many songs on The White Album and hears this as a calling to arms/instruction list on how to kill people

56
Q

Revolution

A

by John - The White Album

Tape loop as a Royal Academy music exam along with a choir, backwards strings, symphony pieces, backwards mellotron

Very avant-garde Stockhausen

Uses all the two - track tape loops and plays around with them, connecting them all to the mixing console

Revolution 1

Take 18 10 minutes, last 6 was a giant pile of chaos, swing feel

Revolution

Released as single with Hey Jude on August 30, 1968

Same as #1 just rockier with loud distortion because George and John plug directly into the mixing console and push the VU meter all the way to the red

57
Q

Rocky Raccoon

A

by Paul - The White Album

Paul - acoustic guitar, Ringo drums, John bass/harmonica

George Martin honky tonk piano

John, Paul, and George background vocals

58
Q

Savoy Truffle

A

by George - The White Album

One of four Harrison songs on the album (most he has on any Beatles album)

59
Q

Sexy Sadie

A

by John - The White Album

About the Maharishi, originally an obscenity-laced song which George Martin has him change

60
Q

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

A

by George - The White Album

Originally on 4 track, moved to an 8 track

Eric Clapton (Cream) does the solo reluctantly, but they convince him because they are good friends

Beatles set their bickering aside and are on their best behavior for Clapton

Tries to mask Clapton’s playing (because he has a very unique sound) by running his Les Paul guitar through the mixing console and Leslie speaker

61
Q

Yer Blues

A

by John - The White Album

Written in India, his answer to British “blues boom” of 1968

Recorded live w/ ADT and guitars through Leslie speakers

Only Beatles tune Lennon recorded on Stones film: Rock n Roll Circus, and with Plastic Ono Band on Live Peace in Toronto

Dylan Reference-ballad of the thin man

Eric Clapton on guitar, Mick Jagger, Mitch Mitchell (drummer), Lennon, Keith Richards

62
Q

All Together Now

A

by Paul - Yellow Submarine and single (with Hey Bulldog)

Recorded during Magical Mystery Tour

Recorded and mixed in one night at Abbey Road Studios

George Martin not present, Geoff Emerick does it, the title is said 50x in 2 minutes

63
Q

Hey Bulldog

A

by John - Yellow Submarine

One of the last few songs of the psychedelic period (11/24/1966 - 2/11/1968)

64
Q

It’s All Too Much

A

by George - Yellow Submarine

Working title: Too much

A long song about death, maybe some reference to Epstein’s suicide note

David Mason is one of the 4 trumpets, bass clarinet, Hendrix homage at the start of the song

65
Q

All Things Must Pass

A

by George - solo album All Things Must Pass

Disenchantment with the Beatles, but never released by the Beatles

Themes of nature and meditation, title track of George’s first solo album All Things Must Pass 1970

66
Q

Dark Horse

A

by George

Written in 1974 after Beatles broke up, term for an underdog who succeeds

Liverpudlian term for a man with multiple affairs

About the Beatles and his dissolving marriage with Pattie Boyd

Title for his solo label “Dark Horse Records”

67
Q

Isn’t It A Pity

A

by George - solo album All Things Must Pass

Written in 1966 about the fighting within the Beatles

Show’s George’s karmic view on life, John vetoes the song

Released the song in 1970 on George’s solo album All Things Must Pass

68
Q

Not Guilty

A

by George

Not on White Album, but 102 takes

Aug 7: takes 1-46, Aug 8: 47-102

69
Q

Cold Turkey

A

by John

Written about John’s heroin withdrawal after he and Yoko were addicted in 1968

Tries to get the Beatles to put it on The White Album but they refuse

70
Q

God

A

by John - solo album Plastic Ono Band

First solo album Plastic Ono Band, released 1970

John announcing the Beatles’ myth is over, he is an individual (“I was the Walrus, and now I’m John”)

71
Q

How Do You Sleep?

A

by John - solo album Imagine

Second solo album Imagine, released 1971

John’s furious response to “Too many people” (Paul’s song) a lot more direct

George plays slide guitar, Klaus Voorman on bass

John later says the song is about him and not Paul

He regrets how angry the song is towards Paul

Ringo looked at lyrics and told him he needed to scale back, Yoko probably contributed to the lyrics

Asian influence in strings section because of Yoko

72
Q

What’s the New Mary Jane

A

by John

Not on The White Album

Very avant-garde, features Yoko Ono

Dropped from White Album, John tries to get EMI to release it as a single but they refuse

73
Q

Too Many People

A

by Paul and Linda - solo album Ram

Second solo album Ram, released 1971

Veiled reference to John and Yoko, John retaliates on his next solo album

Linda sings backup