1 PLAYLIST JAN. 22, 2017 The Beatles by the Fireside 9AM The Beatles - Mother Nature’s Son - The Beatles (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul Another Paul McCartney solo performance for the “White Album.” Paul remembers writing the song at his father’s home in Liverpool and that it was inspired by Nat “King” Cole’s recording of “Nature Boy.” After the other Beatles went home on the evening of August 9, 1968, Paul went through 25 live performances of the song, each featuring his vocal and his Martin D-28 acoustic guitar. Take 24 was deemed the best. Overdubbing 2 took place on August 20 with Paul playing drums and timpani, double-tracking his lead vocal at the end of the song, and adding a second acoustic guitar part. George Martin’s brass arrangement was also added to the mix. The Beatles - Yes It Is - Single (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocals: John, Paul and George Recorded over five hours on February 16, 1965, the rhythm track of “Yes It Is” was completed in 14 takes. John, Paul and George then spent three hours recording the vocals live, the best version being laid on top of Take 14 as an overdub. Starting in 1965 this was the new way they would record. Previously, every edit piece or overdub would have been numbered. Now they just recorded until they got it right and placed that on top of a numbered take, the ”best” rhythm track. Written primarily by John Lennon. John: “That's me trying a rewrite of ‘This Boy,’ but it didn't work.” “Yes It Is” is notable for its lush harmonies and George Harrison’s 12-string Rickenbacker played through a foot-controlled volume pedal, what is now known as a “wah-wah pedal.” The B-side of the “Ticket To Ride” single, issued April 9, 1965 in the UK and April 19, 1965 in the U.S. Capitol Records printed “From the United Artists release ‘Eight Arms To Hold You’ ” on both sides of the single. The wrong film title and this song was not included in the film. On U.S. album: Beatles VI - Capitol LP UK: Non-album single (B-side) George Harrison – The Answer’s At The End - Extra Texture ‘75 3 A highlight of the album, George took the basic lyrical idea from yet more cryptic Sir Frankie Crisp-isms immortalized on the wall of George’s Henley-On-Thames home. This was taped on April 22nd, 1975 with Jim Keltner, Paul Stallworth and David Foster providing the backing. John Lennon – Love - Plastic Ono Band ‘70 This particular track was the biggest “commercial success” on the album, as it got wide radio play (along with “Mother”), which helped further the sales of the album. This is one of the quintessential romantic tunes by John. The Beatles - And I Love Her - A Hard Day’s Night (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul Written mainly by Paul with the middle eight by John it was released as a single in the U.S. reaching #12. Recorded initially as a heavier, up-tempo number on February 25, 1964, The Beatles attempted two takes and moved on to something else. On February 26 they struggled with the simpler, now acoustic arrangement through 12 more takes and Ringo swapping his drums for congas, ultimately leaving it to be re-made the next day. Finally, on February 27, they had the arrangement to their liking and perfected the song in two completed takes (takes 20 and 21). On U.S. album: A Hard Day’s Night - United Artists LP 4 Something New - Capitol LP The Beatles - Girl - Rubber Soul (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John Written primarily by John, the song was completed in two takes on November 11, 1965. The song is notable for the naughty backing vocal (Paul and George repeating the word “tit”) and John’s heavy breathing during his vocal. John called this one of his best. On U.S. album: Rubber Soul - Capitol LP The Beatles - For You Blue - Let It Be (Harrison) Lead vocal: George Recorded on January 25, 1969, and completed in six takes. John Lennon provides the lead guitar part playing a lap steel guitar and using a shotgun shell as a slide. Paul McCartney plays piano. Nearly a year later, on January 8, 1970, George Harrison re- 5 recorded his lead vocal to the already completed backing track. During the instrumental break he ad-libbed “go Johnny go” and “Elmore James’ got nothin’ on this baby” to give the impression he was singing live with the band. Immediately prior to the start of the song, John can be heard saying "Queen says no to pot-smoking FBI members." It is one of the few inclusions of film dialogue heard on the soundtrack LP. Written by George Harrison for his wife, Pattie, “For You Blue” was a straight-forward blues song. George: “It's a simple 12-bar song following all the normal 12-bar principles, except that it's happy-go-lucky!” “For You Blue” was the flip-side of the American “The Long And Winding Road” single, released on May 11, 1970. Paul & Linda McCartney – Dear Boy /mono – Ram ‘71 Although like, Too Many People and 3 Legs, Paul never intended this song to be about John Lennon. But nonetheless, John took it as another insult. According to Paul this was really an autobiographical tune about how thankful he was to have had Linda in his life. 9.27 BREAK We are gonna kept it kind of MELLOW this morning…it’s not often we get cold rainy Sunday’s here in LA…so we react here on BWTB… 6 John Lennon – Imagine – Imagine ‘71 John’s most famous anthem, and one of the most memorable songs of all time, this was to be considered John’s “Yesterday.” It was inspired by Yoko’s poem “Cloud Piece” from 1963. It continues to have massive radio play to this very day and was infamously censored (and retracted) by Clear Channel following the 9/11 attacks. This was John’s dream – no religion, no wars, no possessions – his utopian ideal. The Beatles – Let It Be - Let It Be Paul wrote "Let It Be" in response to the constant fighting amongst band members, esp. over finances. Paul was trying to emerge as the new 'leader' of the band, since John was often absent from sessions. The other members grew tired of his poking and prodding and soon turned on him. 'Mother Mary' who gives Paul strength is actually his mother, who came to him in a dream and lifted his spirits. McCartney 1.00 7 George Harrison – The Light That Has Lighted The World - Living In The Material World ‘73 George began composing this track while working with Cilla Black on “When Every Song Is Sung,” which features a similar lack of tempo. BREAK Let’s continue that EZ listening rainy Sunday morning piano theme w/ some JL from the year 1971 John Lennon – Jealous Guy – Imagine ‘71 Originally written as “Child of Nature,” which was taken from a lecture from Marahashi Mahesh Yogi, which also inspired the Paul McCartney tune, “Mother Nature’s Son.” The musicians included are Klaus Voorman (bass), Nicky Hopkins (who played on “Revolution”) John Barham and Moody Blues keyboardist Mike Pinder (to play Mellotron). The Beatles - The Fool On The Hill - Magical Mystery Tour (EP) (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul Sitting alone at the piano, Paul McCartney recorded a mono two-track demo of “The Fool On the Hill” on September 6, 1967. A more proper recording would take place 8 September 25. On the 25th three takes of the basic rhythm track were recorded, including harmonicas played by John and George. Paul first brought the song to John’s attention in mid-March while the two were working on the lyrics for “With A Little Help From My Friends.” John said to write down the lyrics so he wouldn’t forget them. In the “Magical Mystery Tour” film you can see Paul (by himself) standing atop a hill near Nice, France, during sunrise. The scene also includes ad-libs of Paul spinning, running and dancing, and close-ups of Paul’s moving eyes. It was an interesting trip for Paul as he forgot his wallet, passport and his money! They also didn’t have the correct camera lenses. It ended up costing over 4,000 pounds to film the scene. Paul’s September 6 live piano/vocal solo demo can be found on the “Anthology 2” album. On U.S. album: Magical Mystery Tour - Capitol LP George Harrison – All Things Must Pass - All Things Must Pass ‘70 Another track that was written and rehearsed during the “Let It Be” sessions, it was considered sub-par and never considered for a Beatles album. The wait did the song wonders, as George brought it back and gave it a thorough shine. The song was also inspired by The Band’s song, “The Weight.” 9.57 BREAK 9 Ebony and Ivory/Rainclouds (single) (Paul McCartney with additional vocals by Stevie Wonder) April 10th, 1982 – UK The Beatles - Rain - Non-LP B-side (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John Recorded on April 14 and 16, 1966. The track is notable for the backwards vocal from John Lennon at the end of the song. The section is John singing part of the first verse but the tape is superimposed backwards in the mix. The song contains slowed down instruments, guitar distortion, and vocals recorded and played back at variable speed. Aside from Paul McCartney’s dominant bass part, the song features a striking drum performance from Ringo, who has called “Rain” his favorite Beatles song.