Beatles Final Flashcards
Kick ass on finals
Because
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)
Come Together
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
Golden Slumbers + Carry That Weight + The End + Her Majesty
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
Here Comes The Sun
By George - Abbey Road
Extensive Moog synthesizer usage; guitar goes through a Leslie speaker
I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
By John - Abbey Road
Love song to Yoko; vocal masking (remembering LSD)
White noise - fixed filter bank on Moog, replayed vamp
Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
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)
Mean Mr. Mustard - Sun King
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
Octopus’s Garden
by Ringo - Abbey Road
Based on Mediterranean octopi living in urns
Bubbles blowing through straw into glass of water, background Ah’s in condenser
Oh! Darling
by Paul - Abbey Road
Sang once per day to get a rawer sound, him trying to emulate the “Twist and Shout”
Polythene Pam- She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
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
Something
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
You Never Give Me Your Money
by Paul - Abbey Road
A medley of unfinished songs leading into a medley of songs that come together
Across The Universe
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
I Me Mine
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
Two Of Us
by Paul - Let It Be
Written about Linda, but tends towards descriptions of John (reminder of their duets when they were younger)
Baby You’re a Rich Man
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
Blue Jay Way
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
Fool On The Hill
Written by Paul
Speculated it was written about maharishi
Features a flute section and harmonica, plus recorder solo from Paul
Hello Goodbye
Send the song to Ed Sullivan as a promotional film
Also A-side with B-side I am the Walrus
I Am The Walrus
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
Magical Mystery Tour
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
Penny Lane
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
Strawberry Fields Forever
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
All You Need is Love
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
Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!
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
A Day in the Life
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
Fixing A Hole
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
Getting Better
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)
Good Morning Good Morning
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)
A Little Help From My Friends
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
Lovely Rita
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
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
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
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
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”
She’s Leaving Home
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
When I’m Sixty-Four
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
Within You Without You
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
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Reprise
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
The Ballad of John and Yoko
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
Don’t Let Me Down
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”
Hey Jude
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
The Inner Light
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
Lady Madonna
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
Back in the U.S.S.R.
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
Blackbird
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
Dear Prudence
by John - The White Album
About Prudence Farrow (Mia Farrow’s sister) who was shy on the Rishikesh trip
Ringo was still not back
Don’t Pass Me By
by Ringo - The White Album
First solo composition, took 5 years
Glass Onion
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
Good Night
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”
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
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
Helter Skelter
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
I’m So Tired
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
Julia
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
Long, Long, Long
by George - The White Album
One of four Harrison songs on the album (most he has on any Beatles album)
Ob La Di, Ob La Da
by Paul - The White Album
Nicky Hopkins plays piano (sideman for the Rolling Stones on tour)
Geoff Emerick quits, Ken Scott Replaces him
Piggies
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
Revolution
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
Rocky Raccoon
by Paul - The White Album
Paul - acoustic guitar, Ringo drums, John bass/harmonica
George Martin honky tonk piano
John, Paul, and George background vocals
Savoy Truffle
by George - The White Album
One of four Harrison songs on the album (most he has on any Beatles album)
Sexy Sadie
by John - The White Album
About the Maharishi, originally an obscenity-laced song which George Martin has him change
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
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
Yer Blues
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
All Together Now
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
Hey Bulldog
by John - Yellow Submarine
One of the last few songs of the psychedelic period (11/24/1966 - 2/11/1968)
It’s All Too Much
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
All Things Must Pass
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
Dark Horse
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”
Isn’t It A Pity
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
Not Guilty
by George
Not on White Album, but 102 takes
Aug 7: takes 1-46, Aug 8: 47-102
Cold Turkey
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
God
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”)
How Do You Sleep?
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
What’s the New Mary Jane
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
Too Many People
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
