Paul McCartney: Isolated bass track to "Fixing a Hole" (1967)

[Skokiaan]

Yes, I understand that. My point was that at least in the case of the Sgt. Pepper album George's heart wasn't in it because of what else he was experiencing in his life. He almost didn't even have a song to contribute to it at all. This is in contrast, for example, to the previous album "Revolver" in which there had been three songs by George Harrison on there. He was experiencing what he viewed as a spiritual awakening, though, and at the same time had become disillusioned with his role in the band. However, in time some of these things would work together to be positive for the band. For instance, some of the songs for the White Album were written while the band was in India. The band continued to evolve musically (maybe with a few detours.) But Abbey Road is proof of what the Beatles could eventually become.

I recall George saying in an interview (probably in the 80s) that he wasn't involved much in Pepper beyond "Within You Without You." But....the outtakes included in the new Pepper box contradict his statement. He plays on nearly every track and can be heard making creative suggestions. He was very much involved, suggesting that his old statement was based on his mood at the time, not facts.

 

[Rocker949]

I recall George saying in an interview (probably in the 80s) that he wasn't involved much in Pepper beyond "Within You Without You." But....the outtakes included in the new Pepper box contradict his statement. He plays on nearly every track and can be heard making creative suggestions. He was very much involved, suggesting that his old statement was based on his mood at the time, not facts.

His mood was a factor, but there were other factors as well. His treatment by Paul McCartney, for instance, was another factor. Paul often brushed off George. That is well known. He never treated George's music with the consideration it deserved. Then going beyond the Sgt' Pepper album there are other things to consider. Even as a John Lennon fan, I considered "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" as the best song on the White Album. And on Abbey Road certainly Something and Here Comes the Sun are two of the best songs on the album. Beyond that, there are George Harrison's solo albums, especially the early ones which are very good.

As for George's mood during Sgt. Pepper, he was entering a deep involvement in spiritual things which lasted with him all his life. It was real and it was more important than the music itself. The spiritual meaning, for instance, in the Living in the Material World album had an impact on me which has lasted to the present, despite having first listened to it many years ago. A book which especially goes into things like this in great detail is "The Love There That's Sleeping: The Art and Spiritually of George Harrison." by Dale Allison. It was very hard to find for a while, but appears to be widely available now. The author doesn't agree with all the spiritual aspects of what Harrison believed. Neither do I. But I think he does an excellent job of analyzing him as a person. What his priorities really were in life and that sort of thing.

I haven't listened to the new Sgt. Pepper release. I do know, however, that I do best when writing songs with other people if I feel they are open and receptive to me. When I feel especially what I consider unnecessary criticism, it slows down my creativity.

There were times when George came into the studio when Paul didn't even want George to open up his guitar case until he was ready for George to start playing on a song he was working on. In other cases, Paul even had some of George's guitar parts removed. Paul had the right to do this. But I doubt if it created very much of a positive atmosphere. As far as I know, John Lennon never did any things like this with George. I'm not a Beatles aficionado as much as a Hendrix aficionado. I haven't read everything there is to read about them. But I think I have an accurate overall perception of the main points.

As this article points out, "Within You Without You" was hardly even a Beatles song at all. It also alludes to some of the things I've mentioned. From the article:

“Within You Without You” is the sound of Harrison’s first steps toward a solo career, one marked by a lengthy pursuit of spiritual awareness."

George Harrison Gets Deep on 'Within You Without You': The Story Behind Every ‘Sgt. Pepper’ Song

 

[Skokiaan]

His mood was a factor, but there were other factors as well. His treatment by Paul McCartney, for instance, was another factor. Paul often brushed off George. That is well known. He never treated George's music with the consideration it deserved. Then going beyond the Sgt' Pepper album there are other things to consider. Even as a John Lennon fan, I considered "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" as the best song on the White Album. And on Abbey Road certainly Something and Here Comes the Sun are two of the best songs on the album. Beyond that, there are George Harrison's solo albums, especially the early ones which are very good.

As for George's mood during Sgt. Pepper, he was entering a deep involvement in spiritual things which lasted with him all his life. It was real and it was more important than the music itself. The spiritual meaning, for instance, in the Living in the Material World album had an impact on me which has lasted to the present, despite having first listened to it many years ago. A book which especially goes into things like this in great detail is "The Love There That's Sleeping: The Art and Spiritually of George Harrison." by Dale Allison. It was very hard to find for a while, but appears to be widely available now. The author doesn't agree with all the spiritual aspects of what Harrison believed. Neither do I. But I think he does an excellent job of analyzing him as a person. What his priorities really were in life and that sort of thing.

I haven't listened to the new Sgt. Pepper release. I do know, however, that I do best when writing songs with other people if I feel they are open and receptive to me. When I feel especially what I consider unnecessary criticism, it slows down my creativity.

There were times when George came into the studio when Paul didn't even want George to open up his guitar case until he was ready for George to start playing on a song he was working on. In other cases, Paul even had some of George's guitar parts removed. Paul had the right to do this. But I doubt if it created very much of a positive atmosphere. As far as I know, John Lennon never did any things like this with George. I'm not a Beatles aficionado as much as a Hendrix aficionado. I haven't read everything there is to read about them. But I think I have an accurate overall perception of the main points.

As this article points out, "Within You Without You" was hardly even a Beatles song at all. It also alludes to some of the things I've mentioned. From the article:

“Within You Without You” is the sound of Harrison’s first steps toward a solo career, one marked by a lengthy pursuit of spiritual awareness."

George Harrison Gets Deep on 'Within You Without You': The Story Behind Every ‘Sgt. Pepper’ Song

During production of the Anthology, Paul acknowledged that he didn't always give George and his songs the attention they deserved. Oddly, though, many of Paul's best bass lines are in George's songs.

The claim of Paul wiping George's parts is not supported by facts. Their sessions were (surprisingly) well documented, and there is no mention of this anywhere. (This story much more often claims that Paul re-recorded many of Ringo's drum parts, which is also untrue and not supported by facts). That's not to say every bit George played made it to the record. Recording music doesn't work that way.

Documentation also does not support the claim that Paul spent very much time in the studio alone. In the time that he was there alone, the result of arriving first, it is documented that he did multiple vocal takes for "Oh Darling", recorded the demo for "Come and Get It", and did session work for others.

Yesterday on the Sirius/XM Beatles Channel they played a clip (I'm guessing from the 90s) of George saying that George Martin had recently apologized to him for not paying more attention to him and the songs he brought in. He said, "There was no reason to apologize. I was very happy with my role in the Beatles." This, too, supports the idea that his comments are dictated by his mood - a common human trait.

 

[Rocker949]

During production of the Anthology, Paul acknowledged that he didn't always give George and his songs the attention they deserved. Oddly, though, many of Paul's best bass lines are in George's songs.

The claim of Paul wiping George's parts is not supported by facts. Their sessions were (surprisingly) well documented, and there is no mention of this anywhere. (This story much more often claims that Paul re-recorded many of Ringo's drum parts, which is also untrue and not supported by facts). That's not to say every bit George played made it to the record. Recording music doesn't work that way.

Documentation also does not support the claim that Paul spent very much time in the studio alone. In the time that he was there alone, the result of arriving first, it is documented that he did multiple vocal takes for "Oh Darling", recorded the demo for "Come and Get It", and did session work for others.

Yesterday on the Sirius/XM Beatles Channel they played a clip (I'm guessing from the 90s) of George saying that George Martin had recently apologized to him for not paying more attention to him and the songs he brought in. He said, "There was no reason to apologize. I was very happy with my role in the Beatles." This, too, supports the idea that his comments are dictated by his mood - a common human trait.

I specifically remember at least one account in which the assertion is made that Paul removed George's part on a song. But I don't remember which song or where I read that. But as you said, sometimes every bit doesn't make it to the record. I can remember once I was helping a guitarist friend record a demo. The drummer brought in a guitarist who was the best in the area. I had known him for years. To make a long story short, I eventually asked the recording engineer to remove part of the ace guitarist's riffs on the song because he was essentially stealing my friend's thunder. She needed some help, but that was too much help.

I had heard about George Martin telling George Harrison he was sorry he hadn't given him more attention. My take on that is that maybe Harrison felt honored that George Martin would even say that to him in the first place.

As for George Harrison's faults, he may have had more human failings than anyone else in the Beatles. He seems to have been one of those people who had high goals for himself, but it was really hard for him to achieve those goals. I'm not judging him. Often I'm the one defending him. Life has a way of sometimes throwing a whole lot of curve balls one after the other. Also, for some reason it can be hard for someone to deal with that, especially if it's unexpected. When it comes to things of this nature, Paul McCartney was the most level-headed Beatle. Look at that example (I read recently somewhere) in which the Beatles were at a party and everyone was doing LSD. Not Paul. He was off somewhere having a great time in private with Peggy Lipton.

By the way, in an interview somewhere George did acknowledge that Paul always played great bass lines for George's songs. I just remembered that one--from a Rolling Stone article I think.

 

[leegreenman]

I personally love George's playing, but Paul was probably better at copping the big lead guitar sound in vogue at the time.

 

[Skokiaan]

By the way, in an interview somewhere George did acknowledge that Paul always played great bass lines for George's songs. I just remembered that one--from a Rolling Stone article I think.

Except "Something." George felt Paul's bass was too busy on that one. I disagree. While he did play a busy line, it somehow neither dominates nor distracts from the song.