Song Of The Week - Dear Prudence

[Hello Goodbye]

Hasn't anyone ever asked Ringo about this?

Here, Ringo remembers leaving the band and taking his family to Sardinia...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFtOd7siwiI#

He didn't say anything about drumming on Dear Prudence.  But he talked about The Beatles' farting habits.

I guess we'll never know for sure.


Anyway, here's the Esher demo...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71owuo5tnEk#

[Moogmodule]

I had a proper lookout your video HG. It is interesting and I think pretty conclusively demonstrates that the latter drumming is an overdub. And I suppose the idea that Paul did several takes and stitched them together to produce the final Ringo-esque drumming isn't implausible. There's something about the precision and tightness of it though that still says more Ringo than Paul to me. His examples of Paul drumming meant to show Paul could have done it weren't that convincing. But against that is there being no record Ringo ever overdubbed on the track. Although if there's no record of any overdubs taking place when there clearly is overdubbed drums I'm not sure that's the clinching argument he thinks it is.

We shall never know it seems. Regardless great song and love that final drumming regardless who did it.

[Loco Mo]

What a beautiful song!  It's amazing to hear the demo (no drums) and after that the final version (with drums added).  It already sounded very good in the demo but more of the song's vitality and nuance was brought out as they completed the song.  I like how the tempo changed near the middle and how, I think Paul(?) reacted with an excited falsetto sounding and approving "yes."  John was a magnificent songwriter, and his voice was perfect for whatever he sang.  He was also so great at extemporaneous dialogue (at the end).  So creative (consider Give Peace a Chance by comparison).  His words flowed so naturally forth.  What an amazing quick-witted intelligence he had.

The drums really added a lot to this song.  The guitars closing is so tender (aww).  It touches my soul.

The straight drumbeat could have been Paul, but the high-hat work sounded more skillful to me.  But yes, the steady hard beat certainly could be Paul.  So, I'm leaning for Paul and not for a Ringo overdub.

But the fills at the end (very Ringo) but also somewhat muted (Paul?).  Closing the song with a solid steady beat and then none ... 

My verdict - I think Paul.  I think they didn't want the drums to be very prominent in the mix as they wanted the focus more on the pretty melodies and tender mood of the song.

[stevie]

The drumming is definitely overdubbed in the last section of the song IMO. And the bass sounds so muddy compared to the rest of the song that it's prolly an overdub too