George Martin RIP

#41
Rip Van Dan said:
The one thing he did that I didn't care for (strange to only be able to think of one thing) was "sweeten up" the Long and Winding Road.
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That was Phil Spector's doing via Lennon.

McCartney hated what he did to the song, and later on George Martin agreed with him, saying that overdubbing the overblown string arrangement on that track was an insult to Paul.
 
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#47
My morning coffee had this as a soundtrack in his honor.
image.jpg
 
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#49
Rickengeezer said:
As I am a hack producer with a small studio, Martin was one of my heroes. He could do more with four tracks than the rest of the world can now accomplish with four billion. RIP.

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This reminded me of a show I saw one time. He (George Martin) had a short-lived show where he would go and visit famous music celebs. One I saw always stuck with me. He went to visit Brian Wilson. They were sitting in Brian's studio listening to one of Brian's songs. (I'm THINKING it was "Good Vibrations", but it might have been something else.)

Anyway, George asks if Brian would mind if he fiddled with the mix on the board a bit. Of course Brian said, "Have at it!"

After about 30 seconds, Brian had a dumbfounded look on his face. Finally, he said something like, "Damn George, I worked on that mix for a LONG time. You come in here and mess around for 30 seconds and it sounds MUCH better than I had it!"

And that from one musical genius to another!
 
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#50
Chico Ruger said:
The Beatles, Martin and Epstein. Sadly, only two still standing. It's hard to believe.
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And also gone Mal Evans, Neil Aspinal, their roadies, Derek Taylor, press agent, and John, Paul and Ringos' first wives, Cynthia, Linda, and Maureen, and as stated Brian Epstein and now George Martin and of course John and George. The original Beatle family is pretty much gone now. RIP Sir George Martin, and many, many thanks. Jim
 
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#54
He will truly be missed. Yes, The Beatles had great talent ( my favorite band) but he refined their sound. Also wasn't he the only one to give them a recording contract?
For his practice of double tracking Paul, we as bassists should all love and respect him. Everyone knows we bassists deserve at least two tracks to ourselves.
And Sgt. Peppers on a 4 track machine? Knighthood for that alone. You were the soundtrack for my youth. RIP Sir George. You will be missed.
 
#55
Rip Van Dan said:
I think if was Brian Epstein who ousted Pete Best wasn't it?

No question of his influence on the Beatles. The one thing he did that I didn't care for (strange to only be able to think of one thing) was "sweeten up" the Long and Winding Road. I heard a stripped down version of that somewhere with just the piano and without all the strings and it was a far better song. AND it's the only one I can think of where I didn't like what he did. I understand the Beatle's Sgt. Pepper's album was completely done on an 8-track board...impressive!

Sad day for the music industry.
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No, it was George Martin. After he brought them in to hear them, he told them he would record them, but they had to change drummers. It was an emotional decision for the band. They brought Ringo up from Liverpool, but George hired a session drummer in case Ringo couldn't cut it.
 
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#56
A great musical intelligence. He and the Beatles were "made for each other". It was one of those happenstances that change history. In contrast, it seemed to me the American (Phil Spector/Allen Klein) involvement was anticlimactic and destructive.

George Martin wrote this arrangement for Kate Bush singing Gershwin's The Man I Love:

 
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#57
cdef said:
A great musical intelligence. He and the Beatles were "made for each other". It was one of those happenstances that change history. In contrast, it seemed to me the American (Phil Spector/Allen Klein) involvement was anticlimactic and destructive.

George Martin wrote this arrangement for Kate Bush singing Gershwin's The Man I Love:

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Did NOT expect to see that banjo appear around 1:17 in or so! It's a classy track.
 
#58
Jeff K said:
This reminded me of a show I saw one time. He (George Martin) had a short-lived show where he would go and visit famous music celebs. One I saw always stuck with me. He went to visit Brian Wilson. They were sitting in Brian's studio listening to one of Brian's songs. (I'm THINKING it was "Good Vibrations", but it might have been something else.)

Anyway, George asks if Brian would mind if he fiddled with the mix on the board a bit. Of course Brian said, "Have at it!"

After about 30 seconds, Brian had a dumbfounded look on his face. Finally, he said something like, "Damn George, I worked on that mix for a LONG time. You come in here and mess around for 30 seconds and it sounds MUCH better than I had it!"

And that from one musical genius to another!
Click to expand...
Sorry to be quoting myself, but I just found some video of that meeting between George Martin & Brian Wilson. I didn't have it exactly right above; but it was fairly close.

It was actually "God Only Knows" that they were discussing. Starts out at the piano, then they move to the studio. I think it's around the 3:00 minute mark when Brian seems to come to the conclusion that George's mix is better than the master. Very cool watching these two wizards interact!

 
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