Topic: Why didn't John play on George's songs? (Read 7356 times)

Joost · « **on:** August 10, 2006, 07:53:38 AM »

I noticed that John usually didn't participate in the recording sessions of George's songs on the last few Beatles albums. Does anyone have any idea why he didn't?

Indica · « **Reply #1 on:** August 10, 2006, 12:04:08 PM »

I've never noticed that, but I always thought from the last photo session George seemed to get on with John the most - arguably Mccartney & Harrison having the most ill-feeling toward each other. (Although there seems to be more Abbey Road session photos of Paul & George singing harmonies together etc than George & John)

Joost · « **Reply #2 on:** August 10, 2006, 12:44:54 PM »

If you check out who did what on each song, you'll notice that on George's songs on the albums after Sgt. Pepper John is either not mentioned at all or he only did things like backing vocals and/or handclaps.

Wordno · « **Reply #3 on:** August 10, 2006, 03:46:12 PM »

I'm not really sure why either. In the Let it be movie when they are 'I me mine' John gets up and starts waltzing with Yoko. Maybe he wasn't needed. I know that in the recordings of 'Old Brown Shoe' and 'I Me Mine', John didn't play anything except backing vocals. I know those two songs were recorded during Abbey road, so maybe it was around the time John got into a car crash and could make it.

Joost · « **Reply #4 on:** August 10, 2006, 05:23:10 PM »

George's Beatles song in chronological order, plus John's contributions to them:

Don't Bother Me: rhythm guitar, tambourine
I Need You: harmony vocal, acoustic rhythm guitar
You Like Me too Much: acoustic rhythm guitar, electric piano
If I Needed Someone: harmony vocal, rhythm guitar
Think For Yourself: harmony vocal, electric piano
Love You To: -
Taxman: backing vocal
I Want To Tell You: harmony vocal, tambourine, handclaps
Only A Northern Song: piano, glockenspiel, tape-effects, noises
Within You Without You: -
It's All Too Much: harmony vocal: lead guitar
Blue Jay Way: backing vocal
The Inner Light: backing vocal
While My Guitar Gently Weeps: lead guitar
Not Guilty: harpsichord
Piggies: tape loops
Savoy Truffle: -
Long Long Long: -
For You Blue: lap steel guitar
Old Brown Shoe: backing vocal
Something: guitar
Here Comes The Sun: -
I Me Mine: -

I think it's interesting that John, who was mainly a guitarist, played guitar on just 4 of George's last 18 Beatles songs, and that he wasn't even present on 6 of them.

Maybe he knew George was a better guitarist and therefor didn't even bother to try to contribute anything to his songs guitarwise?

pc31 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 10, 2006, 08:10:23 PM »

he was kind of immersing himself in yoko...the beatles took a backseat...yoko was first and he spent most of his time with her...i maybe wrong and it was all his time...he was on drugs worse than any of the others...and i think he acted childish as hell waltzing instead of playing on i me mine...he and yoko both should have been banned from the studio..especially if he had nothing worthwhile to contribute...i will always disagree with his decsion to bring her into the studio...full time...it was a group the should have voted as a group wether john stayed or left...and i am a john fan....

zipp · « **Reply #6 on:** August 10, 2006, 08:29:59 PM »

That's an interesting list.
I think it shows Lennon wasn't too interested in George's stuff.And George took some time to realise this.After the breakup he was with Lennon for a while (guitar on How Do You Sleep) but soon realised that Lennon was inseparable from Yoko who George distrusted (he didn't want Yoko at Bangladesh concert).

Quote from: Biscuit_Power

Don't Bother Me: rhythm guitar, tambourine
I Need You: harmony vocal, acoustic rhythm guitar
You Like Me too Much: acoustic rhythm guitar, electric piano
If I Needed Someone: harmony vocal, rhythm guitar
Think For Yourself: harmony vocal, electric piano
Love You To: -
Taxman: backing vocal
I Want To Tell You: harmony vocal, tambourine, handclaps
Only A Northern Song: piano, glockenspiel, tape-effects, noises
Within You Without You: -
It's All Too Much: harmony vocal: lead guitar
Blue Jay Way: backing vocal
The Inner Light: backing vocal
While My Guitar Gently Weeps: lead guitar
Not Guilty: harpsichord
Piggies: tape loops
Savoy Truffle: -
Long Long Long: -
For You Blue: lap steel guitar
Old Brown Shoe: backing vocal
Something: guitar
Here Comes The Sun: -
I Me Mine: -

I think it's interesting that John, who was mainly a guitarist, played guitar on just 4 of George's last 18 Beatles songs, and that he wasn't even present on 6 of them.

Maybe he knew George was a better guitarist and therefor didn't even bother to try to contribute anything to his songs guitarwise?

pc31 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 10, 2006, 08:37:35 PM »

yoko was the pox...

adamzero · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2006, 01:35:40 AM »

I think you can see part of the reason in a Let it Be clip where George is running through a new song (All Things Must Pass, or something similar) and John is strumming along, complaining it would take him all bloody week to learn it.

George really uses some intricate chords and difficult progressions--especially in his later Beatles work.

Since they had the extra tracks available it was easier for George to play the parts and then overdub.  It also makes the Threetles one hell of a band in their own right!

Kevin · « **Reply #9 on:** August 11, 2006, 04:16:25 PM »

How would a list of Johns contributions to Pauls songs for '68 onwards? Was he intereseted in The Beatles much at all?

Joost · « **Reply #10 on:** August 11, 2006, 06:22:10 PM »

Lady Madonna: backing vocal, lead guitar, handclaps
Blackbird: - (George & Ringo also not present)
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da: backing vocals, piano, handclaps
Helter Skelter: backing vocal, lead guitar, bass, tenor sax
Hey Jude: backing vocal, acoustic guitar
Mother Nature's Son: - (George & Ringo also not present)
Rocky Raccoon: backing vocal, harmonica, harmonium, 6-string bass
Wild Honey Pie: - (George & Ringo also not present)
Back In The USSR: backing vocal, lead guitar, 6-string bass, handclaps, percussion
I Will: percussion
Birthday: vocal, backing vocal, lead guitar
Honey Pie: lead guitar
Marthy My Dear: - (George & Ringo also not present)
Why Don't We Do It In The Road?: - (George also not present)
I've Got A Feeling: vocal, rhythm guitar
Get Back: harmony vocal, lead guitar
Two Of Us: vocal, acoustic guitar
Let It Be: bass
The Long & Winding Road: bass
Oh! Darling: backing vocal, piano
You Never Give Me Your Money: backing vocal, guitars
Her Majesty: - (George & Ringo also not present)
Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight: chorus vocal
Maxwell's Silver Hammer: -
The End: backing vocal, lead guitar

tkitna · « **Reply #11 on:** August 12, 2006, 12:18:26 AM »

I dont have the quote in front of me, but didnt John say something to the extent that he hated when George would come to him for help on his songs. It was something to the point that he really didnt have the time or ambition to help him due to all of his and Pauls songs that needed work. I believe this was around the Rubber Soul, Revolver time. I'll find the quote one of these days.

Anyways, George developed his songwriting skills honestly. Not too much help was given. Sad.

Joost · « **Reply #12 on:** August 12, 2006, 09:51:36 AM »

Another interesting thing I found out about Ringo's two solo compositions:

- John didn't play on Don't Pass Me By
- John only played rhythm guitar on Octopus's Garden, while George, Paul and Ringo each did vocals and 2 instruments

So maybe it was just an egocentric thing for John and he just didn't want to work hard if he wouldn't get any writing credits anyway... It would be the only logical explanation I can think of... He hardly worked on the 'Starkey' and 'Harrison' songs but always kept working on the 'Lennon/McCartney' ones, even if they were mostly Paul's...

zipp · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2006, 12:37:46 PM »

Quote from: Biscuit_Power

Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight: chorus vocal

Are you sure John did backing vocals here?

Joost · « **Reply #14 on:** August 14, 2006, 02:33:02 PM »

Quote from: zipp

Are you sure John did backing vocals here?

I took all the information from the book "Revolution In The Head".

SallyG · « **Reply #15 on:** August 16, 2006, 12:01:57 AM »

I read in one of the million books out there that when George decided to leave during the 'White Album' sessions, John basically said that he could f*** off and said "Call Eric." I get the feeling that George bugged John the more time went on. Here's George being a pest when John and Cyn were dating, tagging along, then he decides he's going to leave "John's" band and John probably just got p*ssed, plus they were all going their own way by then. He said in Playboy he was hurt that he hardly got any notice in George's book.

zipp · « **Reply #16 on:** August 16, 2006, 09:33:06 PM »

Quote from: Biscuit_Power

I took all the information from the book "Revolution In The Head".

How precise is that book?
Lewisohn says the song was pretty much done and dusted on 2nd, 3rd and 4th July when John was recuperating from his car crash.
The only possible contribution he could have made is on 30th July but a lot was done on that day and I think he was only interested in his own songs on Abbey Road, so he was probablt more busy overdubbing guitar onto Come together.

zipp · « **Reply #17 on:** August 16, 2006, 09:36:10 PM »

Quote from: SallyG

I read in one of the million books out there that when George decided to leave during the 'White Album' sessions, John basically said that he could f*** off and said "Call Eric." I get the feeling that George bugged John the more time went on. Here's George being a pest when John and Cyn were dating, tagging along, then he decides he's going to leave "John's" band and John probably just got p*ssed, plus they were all going their own way by then. He said in Playboy he was hurt that he hardly got any notice in George's book.

Actually it was during the Get Back sessions.
I think John was just trying to show that he was thinking of breaking up the band and testing the others' reactions.

SallyG · « **Reply #18 on:** August 17, 2006, 08:42:28 AM »

Quote from: zipp

Actually it was during the Get Back sessions.
I think John was just trying to show that he was thinking of breaking up the band and testing the others' reactions.

No. George was upset and didn't show up for sessions during the White Album recording sessions. Ringo, everyone knows, said he was leaving, but George went on hiatus with less fanfare, and John said to get Clapton in there.

zipp · « **Reply #19 on:** August 17, 2006, 10:25:32 PM »

Quote from: SallyG

No. George was upset and didn't show up for sessions during the White Album recording sessions. Ringo, everyone knows, said he was leaving, but George went on hiatus with less fanfare, and John said to get Clapton in there.

I think you're wrong, Sally, so you're going to have to tell me which one of those million books said this.

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Author Topic: Why didn't John play on George's songs? (Read 7356 times)