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Beatles forums => The Beatles => Topic started by: chewinggum on September 26, 2012, 08:29:39 PM

Title: Who was the pianist in the beatles ?
Post by: chewinggum on September 26, 2012, 08:29:39 PM
hello

we know that macca & lennon were good pianists but is there a beatle who was the essential pianist during the 60's ?
i was wondering that when i heard penny lane & magical myst tour ... i ll check who is it .......
Title: Re: Who was the pianist in the beatles ?
Post by: Normandie on September 26, 2012, 10:52:31 PM

I'm not sure who the "essential pianist" would be, but didn't George Martin do that lovely piano bit in "In My Life"?
Title: Re: Who was the pianist in the beatles ?
Post by: nimrod on September 26, 2012, 11:15:23 PM
George Martin was higher standard than J & P and can read music.
Title: Re: Who was the pianist in the beatles ?
Post by: RICKENBACKER325 on September 27, 2012, 01:45:48 AM
I'm not sure who the "essential pianist" would be, but didn't George Martin do that lovely piano bit in "In My Life"?
I think that was John on the mellotron on "In my life" and Paul on the piano. I do know George Martin played piano on the Beatles cover of the song "Money(thats what I want)"
Title: Re: Who was the pianist in the beatles ?
Post by: Dcazz on September 27, 2012, 03:10:05 AM
I think that was John on the mellotron on "In my life" and Paul on the piano. I do know George Martin played piano on the Beatles cover of the song "Money(thats what I want)"
The Beatles Recording sessions says that George Martin overdubbed the piano at 1/2 the speed and then put it on the record at double speed to get the baroque style he was looking for. Always innovating for sure!
Title: Re: Who was the pianist in the beatles ?
Post by: nimrod on September 27, 2012, 09:16:46 AM
I think that was John on the mellotron on "In my life" and Paul on the piano. I do know George Martin played piano on the Beatles cover of the song "Money(thats what I want)"

Im pretty sure there was no mellotron on In My Life mate
Title: Re: Who was the pianist in the beatles ?
Post by: RICKENBACKER325 on September 27, 2012, 11:40:59 AM
You know i am not sure, I was going on an interview I read, so I may be completely wrong. I only one I know for sure was the song Money. The reason that stuck in my mind , was that it seemed so funny that with the classical background George Martin had, he played on such a rocking song 8)
Title: Re: Who was the pianist in the beatles ?
Post by: Hombre_de_ningun_lugar on September 27, 2012, 01:55:23 PM
George Martin played piano in early songs like "A Hard Day's Night". The piano in "In My Life" was also played by George Martin (see the back cover of the Rubber Soul LP). Later, both John and Paul played keyboards, but Paul was the most frequent pianist.
Title: Re: Who was the pianist in the beatles ?
Post by: Hombre_de_ningun_lugar on September 27, 2012, 01:58:36 PM
i was wondering that when i heard penny lane & magical myst tour ... i ll check who is it .......

In "Penny Lane" there were three pianists (John, Paul and George Martin) and in "Magical Mystery Tour" the piano was played by Paul.
Title: Re: Who was the pianist in the beatles ?
Post by: Dcazz on September 27, 2012, 04:18:55 PM
So far I found George Martins piano on Misery, You've Really Got a Hold On Me, Money, Not a Second Time, I Wanna Be Your Man (Hammond Organ), `A Hard Days Night, Slow Down, No Reply, Kansa City (barely audible) In My Life, 12 Bar Origional, The Word (harmonium), Good Day Sunshine (honky tonk middle eight), Penny Lane (John and George Martin), Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite (organ and harmonium), Getting Better (playing the strings , not keyboard), Lovely Rita (honky tonk solo), All You Need Is Love,
This is what I have found through 1967. If I didn't have to work I'd go further but maybe tommorow.
Title: Re: Who was the pianist in the beatles ?
Post by: Dcazz on October 01, 2012, 05:40:13 PM
So far I found George Martins piano on Misery, You've Really Got a Hold On Me, Money, Not a Second Time, I Wanna Be Your Man (Hammond Organ), `A Hard Days Night, Slow Down, No Reply, Kansa City (barely audible) In My Life, 12 Bar Origional, The Word (harmonium), Good Day Sunshine (honky tonk middle eight), Penny Lane (John and George Martin), Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite (organ and harmonium), Getting Better (playing the strings , not keyboard), Lovely Rita (honky tonk solo), All You Need Is Love,
This is what I have found through 1967. If I didn't have to work I'd go further but maybe tommorow.
I checked through and found that with the probability of the scored piano work on Goodnight and a harpsichord piece on Because, George Martin was pretty much absent from al finished recordings in the 68-69 period. This could be linked to his dissatisfaction with the infighting the Beatles were doing in the studio which also included nasty shouts up to the control room. Martin found it a good time to go on holiday for the White Album. He was also absent for most of Get Back/ Let It Be. George Harrison had him playing piano on the first make of Something but had Billy Preston play it as a organ on the remake. George Martin still did amazing work on their scores for classical instruments and as their producer on Abby Road.