Miscellaneous Observations in Paul's Bass Playing
-
spyders — 13 years ago(February 24, 2013 07:20 PM)
Yeah, that is essentially correct. Multi track recording had arrived by the time The Beatles first started recording at Abbey Road even though it was quite limited compared to what came later but still it gave them the ability to do things like record the rhythm tracks first and add things like vocals and guitar solos later. Typically lead guitarists will lay down multiple solo attempts (sometimes as many as 20 or 30 or more) until they find one they really like.
George just couldn't come up with one that day that anyone was pleased with so Paul was given a shot at it and nailed it. Don't forget that Paul was one of the guitarists in the band long before he ever took up the Bass.
Spyders -
gpicto — 13 years ago(February 24, 2013 11:29 PM)
I can understand and empathize with George's tremendous frustration. He always said Paul made him feel as if he were terrible at the guitar. In his book "Shout", author Phillip Norman says that after the White Album was done, George took a vacation, and was praised everywhere, by fellow musicians, for his work on the album. He returned to Abbey Road studios feeling pretty good about life, but soon found himself dealing the same old Paul, for whom George could do nothing right. We all know how the two clashed over George's playing on I've Got a Feeling.
I read elsewhere that during the break-up and its legal proceedings, Ringo said in an affadivit that Paul was always making suggestions to him and George, on how to play better, and would NOT take no for an answer. Paul took exception to Ringo's claim and set out to prove it false, by going into the vaults and going through the tapes of their Help sessions. The result? Paul came back and sheepishly apologized, saying he'd had no idea how domineering he'd been.
Marriage is between one man and one woman, to the exclusion of all others. -
blaydes — 10 years ago(October 16, 2015 11:09 PM)
Your dj friend knows his stuff, until the last part. How you cannot hear the drums throughout Lady Madonna (except for the intro) is insane. It is exceptionally loud and may be the most pounding drums heard on a Beatles track. It could be compared to John Bonham.
As for, "I want to tell you", tell your dj friend the flat tone by George, Paul, and John were all intentional. The theme of the lyrics is that he is having a hard time "getting through" to someone; and the trippy, wavy, flat sound is all intended to support that theme." -
gpicto — 13 years ago(March 27, 2013 01:02 AM)
They played Maxwell's Silver Hammer the other day. At the end, the DJ said Paul made his bass sound like a tuba in the song, though he added he had no idea how McCartney did that.
Marriage is between one man and one woman, to the exclusion of all others. -
cbartal — 13 years ago(April 01, 2013 04:28 PM)
I like the interplay between everyone on this thread, especially the thoughts on Taxman. I suspect that some of what was written was based on Emerick's book, Here, There, and Everywhere.
Emerick makes Mccartney out as the dedicated, brilliant, musical genius of the group. He obviously has a preference for Mccartney.
But the fact is that he is right especially when talking about most of Harrison's solos compared to Mccartney.
For the most part, Paul reels these chaotic, frenetic solos off with the Beatles and even with Wings and his solo work.
George strains to eek out chord based, simple minded solos throughout the Beatles. And even past the Beatles, what George solos do you remember from Goerge's career?
The one caveat I have with all this is George's playing on Abbey Road. If George played all those parts on side 2, that is genius. The montage on Abbey Road definitely benefits from the guitar playing for those 15 minutes or so. I will give that to George, also I will give him the great solo on Let it Be. -
Troll_Dahl — 12 years ago(June 08, 2013 09:30 PM)
I'm a fan of George. I'd refer you to That's the Way it Goes, Cheer Down, Life Itself, Any Road, Give Me Love. I'm assuming George was responsible for most of that. And what about the instrumental Marwa Blues? George really shone with slide guitar. Possibly that was his niche. If I ever watch the Concert for George, it's wonderful, but I notice that none of them get the same slide sound he produced. Listen to his album Live on Japan. George comes out with solos that, to me, are quite engaging and complement the songs greatly. Eric Clapton is also on that album, but I think it's possible to discern who's playing what. Taxman solos=Eric but I Want to Tell You=totally George.
Also, his slide on This is Love is simply exquisite and I've always liked his work on the reunion tracks-muscular yet soulful. I admit, I have little music theory. I'm much more of a qualitative than a quantitative thinker. I just know what sounds right to me and I tend to like George's style, although he may not have been a rock guitarist in a conventional sense. That Which I have Lost from Somewhere in England would be another instance. And have you heard Poor House on the second Wilburys album? Furtherm7ecore, I'd love to know who was responsible for the spiky leads on Wilbury Twist. -
jefgg — 10 years ago(August 01, 2015 01:44 PM)
I really like the way Paul plays the bass. I remember winning the "Pipes Of Peace" album on the radio when I was a kid. Yes, I'm old. I was a little surprised Stanley Clarke was listed as the bass player. I guess Paul was probably busy singing, playing other instruments and/or co-producing with George Martin. Then I thought if Paul was going to bring in a bass player it should be a great player like Clarke.
-
blaydes — 10 years ago(October 16, 2015 11:01 PM)
Paul plays both bass and lead guitar on Taxman. The similarities between Mamunia and Rocky Raccoon are vague at best. I love alot of your commentary here, especially about what he does on Rain. I had never thought of the analogy you made, how it reminds you of rain. Some of the other things they do have thunderous or rain-like qualities. Good point, and shows where they were all headed as artists.
-
SnoozeAlarm — 10 years ago(November 19, 2015 02:33 AM)
Mamunia :
Rocky Raccoon:
I find them strikingly similar:- The bass is kind of like being "picked"
- At very regular intervals
- In a descending scalar progression
- Accompanied by strumming on the acoustic guitar
- Very sparse percussion
- Even the melody is similar
It should be against the law to use 'LOL'; unless you rea1c84lly did LOL!