Quincy Jones says Paul McCartney was the worst bassist he ever heard

#1,487
Brad Johnson said:
What were your first impressions of the Beatles?

:D
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Yes ... you've argued that those first impressions probably came during the Beatles' very early years, before they became proficient. I've pointed out the impossibility of that, given the inclusion of Ringo in the comments, who joined after they got signed signed to Parlophone records. So, not early, early days, and demonstrably not lacking in proficiency at that point.

So if Jones made those comments about the Beatles as the world at large came to know them, then he clearly missed the boat on the skills they DID have as musicians, and his initial perceptions would have been inaccurate in that way. The visual and aural evidence that exists shows that the group (and Paul and Ringo specifically) were objectively not "the worst musicians in the world", not by a long shot. If they were judged by some other standard (like by jazz standards, rather than pop music standards) then that would be like judging a fish for not flying.

Maybe Jones, at the time, judged them by some standard that didn't really apply, or maybe he didn't even make the statement at all, as he claimed in his apology to McCartney. Either way, he has NOT stood behind those comments. It would be misguided and inaccurate to try to use them as a way way to disparage the abilities of what was very obviously a talented group of musicians, who played and sang on more hits than than any other band in history - however one feels about their music, they demonstrably were not "the worst musicians in the world". Pretty simple, really. "Dig" it. ;)
 
#1,493
TyBo said:
Yes ... you've argued that those first impressions probably came during the Beatles' very early years, before they became proficient. I've pointed out the impossibility of that, given the inclusion of Ringo in the comments, who joined after they got signed signed to Parlophone records. So, not early, early days, and demonstrably not lacking in proficiency at that point.

So if Jones made those comments about the Beatles as the world at large came to know them, then he clearly missed the boat on the skills they DID have as musicians, and his initial perceptions would have been inaccurate in that way. The visual and aural evidence that exists shows that the group (and Paul and Ringo specifically) were objectively not "the worst musicians in the world", not by a long shot. If they were judged by some other standard (like by jazz standards, rather than pop music standards) then that would be like judging a fish for not flying.

Maybe Jones, at the time, judged them by some standard that didn't really apply, or maybe he didn't even make the statement at all, as he claimed in his apology to McCartney. Either way, he has NOT stood behind those comments. It would be misguided and inaccurate to try to use them as a way way to disparage the abilities of what was very obviously a talented group of musicians, who played and sang on more hits than than any other band in history - however one feels about their music, they demonstrably were not "the worst musicians in the world". Pretty simple, really. "Dig" it. ;)
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AGAIN, good thing you aren't digging in, which was the baseless claim you made. Fanboys be annoying.
:D
 
#1,494
Brad Johnson said:
While Quincy wasn't. Impossible!
:D

Maybe that's how others are reading the question, as if it was being asked of them. Wouldn't be at all surprising these days.
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I purposely took the posted question literally, and out of the context of the thread for levity. And redirection. I thought it had become a bit staid.
 
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#1,496
inanimate_carb said:
Q has contributed, curated, and produced more quality entertainment in music, film, and television than almost anybody else in the world. Nobody on this forum, even the famous lurkers that don’t post for obvious reasons, can claim that.

I’m not on board with the idea of Macca being a horrible player, but Quincy is. Big deal. Quincy comes from a Jazz tradition and studied with a range of known classical composers most of you have never heard of years before he encountered the Beatles. Consider the possiblity that he may have different standards than you, especially if this is the only Q interview you’ve ever read. He’s a brilliant, loyal, talented, and kind man. Even if he never did anything besides his work with Sinatra, that material will still be celebrated 100 years after whatever silly Death Metal or Alternative band you’re wild about now is totally forgotten.

I also don’t subscribe to the Talkbass notion that accomplished but opinionated musicians immediately need to be tarred and feathered simply because they’re accomplished and opinionated. You stand to miss a lot of valuable lessons if you ignore a figure like Quincy simply because he said something you didn’t like in an article.

Unbelievable. Looks like TB has a new punching bag besides Jeff Berlin and Anthony Jackson now.
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THANK YOU. Well said.
 
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#1,498
Unfortunately I’m old enough now to not be surprised by how so many people get butt hurt and start projecting all sorts of nonsense on to somebody when they read an article like this.

Quincy Jones legacy as a jazz musician alone is significant. His legacy as a producer alone is significant. His body of work as an arranger alone is significant. His complete body of work, which was performed at the highest level of competence, covers decades. Not many people in history have a comparable body of work over such a period of time. And if he hadn’t had a brain aneurysm that forced him to stop playing, his body of work as a musician would be even greater.

So he’s somebody who speaks his mind. And maybe you don’t agree. So what? Paul McCartney and the Beatles hardly need us leaping to their defense.

And to do it in a way that tears him down and dismisses him is extremely ignorant, and is essentially doing the same thing to him that you’re saying he was doing to the Beatles.
 
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#1,499
Billyzoom said:
Unfortunately I’m old enough now to not be surprised by how so many people get butt hurt and start projecting all sorts of nonsense on to somebody when they read an article like this.

Quincy Jones legacy as a jazz musician alone is significant. His legacy as a producer alone is significant. His body of work as an arranger alone is significant. His complete body of work, which was performed at the highest level of competence, covers decades. Not many people in history have a comparable body of work over such a period of time. And if he hadn’t had a brain aneurysm that forced him to stop playing, his body of work as a musician would be even greater.

So he’s somebody who speaks his mind. And maybe you don’t agree. So what? Paul McCartney and the Beatles hardly need us leaping to their defense.

And to do it in a way that tears him down and dismisses him is extremely ignorant, and is essentially doing the same thing to him that you’re saying he was doing to the Beatles.
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I like how you lead with 'unfortunately you're old enough now to not be surprised' LOL. There's no disputing Quincy Jones' legacy. As a non-jazz, non-classical trained, teenaged idiot who listened to music on a clandestine transistor radio under my pillow at night until I got a job and bought a box that had some low frequency response I loved those bass parts by the Entwistles and the McCartneys of the music world. That bass player who played for Tommy James or the one who played with the Boxtops. I do find it odd that Jones would tear down McCartney specifically and not all the other non-classical, non-jazz trained bassists who formed my musical world. What they did WORKED. And worked very well! Could Jones have written a bass part more perfect than the one Paul wrote for 'Come Together'? I really don't think so. No offense to anyone. They were in different worlds.
 
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