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Beatles forums => Songs => Song Of The Week Series => Topic started by: nimrod on April 02, 2013, 12:20:46 PM

Title: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: nimrod on April 02, 2013, 12:20:46 PM
Lady Madonna
Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 3, 6 February 1968
Producer: George Martin
Engineers: Ken Scott, Geoff Emerick

Released: 15 March 1968 (UK), 18 March 1968 (US)

Paul McCartney: vocals, piano, bass, handclaps
John Lennon: backing vocals, lead guitar, handclaps
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar, handclaps
Ringo Starr: drums, handclaps
Ronnie Scott, Bill Povey: tenor saxophones
Harry Klein, Bill Jackman: baritone saxophones


"The original concept was the Virgin Mary but it quickly became symbolic of every woman; the Madonna image but as applied to ordinary working class woman. It's really a tribute to the mother figure, it's a tribute to women. Your Mother Should Know is another. I think women are very strong, they put up with a lot of sh*t, they put up with the pain of having a child, of raising it, cooking for it, they are basically skivvies a lot of their lives, so I always want to pay a tribute to them.
Lady Madonna was me sitting down at the piano trying to write a bluesy boogie-woogie thing. I got my left hand doing an arpeggio thing with the chord, an ascending boogie-woogie left hand, then a descending right hand. I always liked that, the juxtaposition of a line going down meeting a line going up. That was basically what it was. It reminded me of Fats Domino for some reason, so I started singing a Fats Domino impression. It took my voice to a very odd place."

Paul McCartney.


The Beatles began recording Lady Madonna on 3 February 1968. They began by recording three takes of the basic rhythm track, with McCartney on piano and Starr playing the drums with brushes.

McCartney added a bass part that evening, and Lennon and Harrison both played fuzz-toned guitars through the same amplifier. Starr also added another drum track.
During the same session McCartney added his vocals, which were later double tracked, and Lennon and Harrison provided backing vocals.
The Beatles returned to the song three days later. McCartney added his second vocal and another piano track, and all Beatles contributed handclaps. McCartney, Lennon and Harrison also recorded their "See how they run" vocals, and the vocalised imitation brass during the middle eight.

That evening four sax players were contacted to complete the song. They were called in at the last minute, without any prepared music, and their lines were largely improvised.

"Paul went through the song on the piano and we were each given a scrap of manuscript paper and a pencil to write out some notes. Had there been music we would have been in and out in about 10 minutes. As it was, it took most of the evening, recording it in A major pitch with the rhythm track playing in our headphones."

Bill Jackman, baritone saxophonist

CHART SUCCESS

Lady Madonna was released in the UK on 15 March 1968, with Harrison's The Inner Light as the b-side. It entered the charts at number five on 20 March, and a week later climbed to the top. It remained there for a second week, and spent eight weeks altogether in the chart.

In the US it was released on 18 March. It fared less well, peaking at number four on 23 March.

Lady Madonna

Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
Who find the money when you pay the rent
Did you think that money was heaven sent

Friday night arrives without a suitcase
Sunday morning creeping like a nun
Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlegs
See how they run

Lady Madonna, baby at your breast
Wonders how you manage to feed the rest
Pa pa pa pa...
See how they run

Lady Madonna lying on the bed
Listen to the music playing in your head

Tuesday afternoon is never ending
Wednesday morning papers didn't come
Thursday night you stocking needed mending
See how they run

Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: tkitna on April 03, 2013, 12:33:44 AM
I've never liked the song, but thats no secret. The heavy bass infected production is a killer for me. I also hate the Pa, Pa, Pa, Pa's and think it sounds silly. I just have never liked the song for some reason. My buddy loves it and used to argue with me, but its all just opinion anyways.
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: nimrod on April 03, 2013, 05:59:46 AM
I've never liked the song, but thats no secret. The heavy bass infected production is a killer for me. I also hate the Pa, Pa, Pa, Pa's and think it sounds silly. I just have never liked the song for some reason. My buddy loves it and used to argue with me, but its all just opinion anyways.

it always eemed odd to me that after all (and during) the psych stuff they threw in this R & B single..
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Ovi on April 03, 2013, 08:11:29 AM
it always eemed odd to me that after all (and during) the psych stuff they threw in this R & B single..

Wasn't 1968 the "back to the roots" year? The Band released 'Music From The Big Pink', Dylan 'John Wesley Harding' - a modest (yet brilliant) folk/country album coming after the ambitious, diverse 'Blonde on Blonde' and The Rolling Stones did 'Beggars Banquet' -a blues/country record after the out of hand psychedelia of 'Satanic Majesties'.

For the record, I think it's a brilliant song. Love the piano melody, Paul's voice, the "see how they run" parts, the brass joining in for the second verse, the sax solo and the "Sunday morning creeping like a nun/Mondays child has learned to tie his bootlace" lyric.
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: nimrod on April 03, 2013, 08:14:45 AM
I must admit, I like it, always did.
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Dcazz on April 03, 2013, 02:32:49 PM
I always liked it as well. I think it's the first up front lead piano songs Paul wrote! I really like the guitar work bettween John and George but at one point the guitar work was mixed down maybe when it was released in stereo(?). I think it sounds the best when they're louder.
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: nimrod on April 03, 2013, 11:47:34 PM
IMO this is a classic case of 'mono is better'
It annoys me a bit that the lead vocal drums and Guitars are mainly on one stereo side and piano is on the other, mono just sounds way better for me.

I love Paul vocal and I like his Elvis-like inflection he puts in his voice, I also really like the harmony vocals on 'See How They Run' Johns voice is very distinctive and clear and blends perfectly.
The Sax solo fits very well but would be better without the PaPaPaPaaa's, although for me its a bit of comedy, maybe Johns idea, no doubt George Martin as a producer of comedy wouldve approved ?

A great catchy tune, I forgive Paul for nicking the Piano riff :D
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Dcazz on April 04, 2013, 02:38:48 AM
IMO this is a classic case of 'mono is better'
It annoys me a bit that the lead vocal drums and Guitars are mainly on one stereo side and piano is on the other, mono just sounds way better for me.

I love Paul vocal and I like his Elvis-like inflection he puts in his voice, I also really like the harmony vocals on 'See How They Run' Johns voice is very distinctive and clear and blends perfectly.
The Sax solo fits very well but would be better without the PaPaPaPaaa's, although for me its a bit of comedy, maybe Johns idea, no doubt George Martin as a producer of comedy wouldve approved ?

A great catchy tune, I forgive Paul for nicking the Piano riff :D
"See how they run might be the best part" with Georges descending guitar riff right after!
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Dcazz on April 04, 2013, 02:41:58 AM
IMO this is a classic case of 'mono is better'
It annoys me a bit that the lead vocal drums and Guitars are mainly on one stereo side and piano is on the other, mono just sounds way better for me.

I love Paul vocal and I like his Elvis-like inflection he puts in his voice, I also really like the harmony vocals on 'See How They Run' Johns voice is very distinctive and clear and blends perfectly.
The Sax solo fits very well but would be better without the PaPaPaPaaa's, although for me its a bit of comedy, maybe Johns idea, no doubt George Martin as a producer of comedy wouldve approved ?

A great catchy tune, I forgive Paul for nicking the Piano riff :D
Oop's!
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: nimrod on April 04, 2013, 03:00:47 AM
Fats Domino - Lady Madonna (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1OdbPpvFYg#)
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Hello Goodbye on April 04, 2013, 03:12:00 AM
^

Yay Fats!
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Hello Goodbye on April 04, 2013, 03:13:31 AM
I like this song!  :)

I really do.  I remember when I first heard it on AM radio.  I had no idea it was The Beatles until the "See how they run!"  I thought I heard John in the background vocal.

And it was The Beatles.  I liked the piano and saxophones.  Yes, I remember hearing the "pa pa pas" the first time I heard the song and didn't think it was so bad.  It actually made more sense than the lyrics.  I had absolutely no idea what they were singing about! 

It was on the charts for several weeks in the Spring of 1968 here in the United States.
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Hello Goodbye on April 04, 2013, 03:16:03 AM
I forgive Paul for nicking the Piano riff :D

Yeah.  He did, didn't he?
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Tamara on April 04, 2013, 06:43:44 AM
Yeah.  He did, didn't he?


Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band 1956 Bad Penny Blues (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5odaPQ0eVo#)
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: nimrod on April 04, 2013, 06:59:47 AM
^

thats the one :D
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Dcazz on April 04, 2013, 01:44:10 PM
Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band 1956 Bad Penny Blues ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5odaPQ0eVo#[/url])
Ringo's drumming is the same as well!
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Dcazz on April 04, 2013, 01:46:58 PM
I like this song!  :)

I really do.  I remember when I first heard it on AM radio.  I had no idea it was The Beatles until the "See how they run!"  I thought I heard John in the background vocal.

And it was The Beatles.  I liked the piano and saxophones.  Yes, I remember hearing the "pa pa pas" the first time I heard the song and didn't think it was so bad.  It actually made more sense than the lyrics.  I had absolutely no idea what they were singing about! 

It was on the charts for several weeks in the Spring of 1968 here in the United States.
My mom and I had a similar freindly argument when Obla Di - Obla Da came on the radio for the first time!
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Hello Goodbye on April 05, 2013, 03:29:46 AM
My mom and I had a similar freindly argument when Obla Di - Obla Da came on the radio for the first time!

Well, I'm sure your mom was right.  After all, your mother should know.
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Klang on April 05, 2013, 10:19:33 AM

First time I heard it on the radio I didn't recognize who it was. Was surprised and amused when they named it afterwards.

Somehow a bunch of us got the idea that kazoos were used in the song - like in the middle part - so the local music store had a big run on them. Me and all my pals had them and it became the new "hip" sound around town. Much cheaper than a sitar, for sure. Hilarious.

I like it a lot.

 :)

Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Kevin on April 05, 2013, 11:28:01 AM
I quite like the song.
But I think it demonstrates why McCartney can get up folks noses sometimes. It's as if he's woken up, noticed the trend towards blues based rock and thought  "I'll write a blues based rock song", and bang the boy knocks out a number 1 hit.
Now this is a rare talent which few of us on this earth possess. But it can mean that at times his music can seem disingenious. Sometimes he lacks soul. So it is with Lady madonna. It lacks heart.
Now all this can be forgiven if the song is meant as parody, and you could argue that the blatant Elivisness of the vocal makes this blindingly obvious. And The beatles always were the biggest magpies in the flock - in almost every song you can hear some kind of American act, from Dylan to The Byrds to The Beach Boys to The Chiffons. Not a bad thing mind. they were the masters of parody and pastiche.
I think if I was a moody teenager in 1968* I would have found more to identify with in The Stones angry Jumping Jack Flash than this toe-tappingly good tune.

* Alas I was only 10, and more torn between The Monkees and the Mighty Rolf Harris.
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Dcazz on April 05, 2013, 12:00:14 PM
Well, I'm sure your mom was right.  After all, your mother should know.
Not this time! She didn't think it was the Beatles!
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: nimrod on April 05, 2013, 11:09:47 PM
I quite like the song.
But I think it demonstrates why McCartney can get up folks noses sometimes. It's as if he's woken up, noticed the trend towards blues based rock and thought  "I'll write a blues based rock song", and bang the boy knocks out a number 1 hit.
Now this is a rare talent which few of us on this earth possess. But it can mean that at times his music can seem disingenious. Sometimes he lacks soul. So it is with Lady madonna. It lacks heart.

Thats very interesting Kevin....... and it got me wondering if this has something to do with me not being a fan of Paul's solo work ie the other Beatles wernt there to give it some heart  ???
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: blmeanie on April 06, 2013, 12:23:05 AM
But it can mean that at times his music can seem disingenious. Sometimes he lacks soul. So it is with Lady madonna. It lacks heart.

too simple to say it was an issue with McCartney and how he could "pop" one out.  If every song out of a songwriter was gut wrenching and emotional from the heart that performer would be dead rather quickly and his/her fans would also be bored with the same "voice".  John and George certainly have plenty of soulful songs to their credit.  They also have beautifully disingenuous songs like Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite (John gets a ton of credit for copying lyrics from a circus poster) to name one.  Having multiple tones or voices is one of the incredible talents I love about each of them.  There are days I would rather hear Lady Madonna than something more soulful.  Other days it doesn't necessarily fit the mood and Let it Be does (for instance).
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: nimrod on April 06, 2013, 06:43:22 AM
too simple to say it was an issue with McCartney and how he could "pop" one out.  If every song out of a songwriter was gut wrenching and emotional from the heart that performer would be dead rather quickly and his/her fans would also be bored with the same "voice".  John and George certainly have plenty of soulful songs to their credit.  They also have beautifully disingenuous songs like Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite (John gets a ton of credit for copying lyrics from a circus poster) to name one.  Having multiple tones or voices is one of the incredible talents I love about each of them.  There are days I would rather hear Lady Madonna than something more soulful.  Other days it doesn't necessarily fit the mood and Let it Be does (for instance).

yes...good points :)
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Kevin on April 06, 2013, 11:44:27 AM
I think McCartney at his best is untouchable. But no one is perfect, and if I had to criticise him for something it is that you hear nothing of the man in his songs. That doesn't mean he doesn't make great, amazing music.
But i do get the feeling that he can write great songs in his sleep ( reckons he did with Yesterday.) I just wish that sometimes he would bare his soul a little. Not saying he has to do it all the time, or that all great music has to have some inner emotion. ( but maybe it does)
McCartney can be a little Stock-Aitken-Waterman sometimes. Great tunes, but strangely heartless. As I've said before I wouldn't put Paul on at 2 am. But I would on a nice sunny day.
And I agree, The Beatles are at their best when John and Paul's styles are contrasted, like Paul's pure pop of Penny Lane and Hello Goodbye against John's haunting Strawberry Fields and I Am The Walrus. Rock and roll genius.
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Kevin on April 06, 2013, 12:12:44 PM
Thats very interesting Kevin....... and it got me wondering if this has something to do with me not being a fan of Paul's solo work ie the other Beatles wernt there to give it some heart  ???

Hi mate. Yes, and I think it works both ways. If some find Paul on his own just a little too relentlessly chipper, then some find John's constant self pitying and George's cloying sanctimonity  equalling as off putting.
But put them together...and hey presto.
Like I've said before, if you gather the best songs from their contemporary 70's albums (not the performances, but the songs themselves performed by the lads) and I think you would end up with a very respectable Beatle's album.
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: nimrod on April 06, 2013, 02:24:26 PM
I think McCartney at his best is untouchable. But no one is perfect, and if I had to criticise him for something it is that you hear nothing of the man in his songs.

Im wondering if this is why my favourite McCartney solo album is McCartney

I suspect that we did see glimpses of the real him on that album, I think its definitely the most personal album of his, maybe it was the working on his own without seemingly a care in the world for No 1 hits or commercialisation or catchy poppy tunes, the album doesnt even sound finished as far as production goes. But for me it has a sense of honesty & realism, a sort of 'this is me and where Im at' .....this is a kind of introspective Paul that I really dig.
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Hello Goodbye on April 07, 2013, 01:41:14 AM
Im wondering if this is why my favourite McCartney solo album is McCartney

I suspect that we did see glimpses of the real him on that album, I think its definitely the most personal album of his, maybe it was the working on his own without seemingly a care in the world for No 1 hits or commercialisation or catchy poppy tunes, the album doesnt even sound finished as far as production goes. But for me it has a sense of honesty & realism, a sort of 'this is me and where Im at' .....this is a kind of introspective Paul that I really dig.

Yes!  Several songs on McCartney were personal like The Lovely Linda, That Would Be Something, Every Night, Man We Was Lonely, and Maybe I'm Amazed.

I'm still trying to make sense of Kreen-Akrore forty-two years later!   ;D
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: nimrod on April 07, 2013, 05:12:52 AM
Yes!  Several songs on McCartney were personal like The Lovely Linda, That Would Be Something, Every Night, Man We Was Lonely, and Maybe I'm Amazed.

I'm still trying to make sense of Kreen-Akrore forty-two years later!   ;D

and Junk is a wonderful whimsical melody, reminds me of a rainy Sunday Autumn afternoon (evocative of that for me anyway)
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Hello Goodbye on April 07, 2013, 05:44:02 AM
and Junk is a wonderful whimsical melody, reminds me of a rainy Sunday Autumn afternoon (evocative of that for me anyway)

I forgot about Junk.  Yes, that too!
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Dcazz on April 07, 2013, 12:29:22 PM
I was reading a while ago that The Beatles were always trying to make their voices (and instruments) sound different. The Pa pa pa paa's I think were an atempt to sound something like an instrument.
I listened to The Cirque CD and at the begining of LM the Paa's are isolated and they sound interesting if not really good! You can hear the individual contributions fairly clear!
I like the Paa's!
I think some of the bass on I Will was done vocally too!
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: stevie on April 07, 2013, 11:39:33 PM
I was reading a while ago that The Beatles were always trying to make their voices (and instruments) sound different. The Pa pa pa paa's I think were an atempt to sound something like an instrument.
I listened to The Cirque CD and at the begining of LM the Paa's are isolated and they sound interesting if not really good! You can hear the individual contributions fairly clear!
I like the Paa's!
I think some of the bass on I Will was done vocally too!

Good points Dc. I love the Anthology version of 'Got To Get You Into My Life', where they are using the voices as an instrument.
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Hello Goodbye on April 08, 2013, 12:34:34 AM
You gotta love Paul!  Look how many instruments he imitates here:


For No One

paul mccartney for no one solo acoustic performance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbJrXqrLtMw#)




 ;D
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Dcazz on April 08, 2013, 11:25:46 AM
You gotta love Paul!  Look how many instruments he imitates here:


For No One

paul mccartney for no one solo acoustic performance ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbJrXqrLtMw#[/url])

"Linger on" ! I never could understand what he said on the Revolver album. I seemed muddled or lost in a musical note. Cleared that one up!


 ;D
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Hello Goodbye on April 09, 2013, 02:34:05 AM
"Linger on" ! I never could understand what he said on the Revolver album. I seemed muddled or lost in a musical note. Cleared that one up!

What did you think he said, Dave?    ;D
Title: Re: Song of the week - Lady Madonna
Post by: Dcazz on April 09, 2013, 11:53:29 AM
What did you think he said, Dave?    ;D
I never could tell! I also never really tried to find out. Some of the lyrics in Georges songs get lost to me too. Old brown Shoe is another one that is hard to pick out every word with Georges accent. It seems the song is moving faster than he can sing!
I think the kindness(s) and the (l)linger blend a bit to my ears. No biggy!