Re: George Martin, Beatles Producer, Rest In Peace

Pearlee · ‎06-11-2011

@naturalfan wrote:
Kind of makes me wonder - if they had worked with another producer, would they have become the sensations they were/are?

@naturalfan I sincerely doubt it. Martin ran with the Beatles' creativity. When he saw how good they were, he gave them fairly free creative rein while still guiding them and improving what they came up with. He deserves a lot of credit. And with his classical background, he integrated the instrumentals into the music.

After I read the Emerick book, I immediately thought to myself, "all the planets lined up just perfectly to create this marvelous music." And that includes the genuis of Emerick who was just in his late teens when he started with the Beatles. He came up with all those odd sounds John wanted by being very creative himself. Yes, it was a ton of talent coming together from different people at just the right moment in time to create all the fabulous music the Beatles gave us that has lasted over half a century now and will continue to last through the ages of time.

Hooty · ‎03-09-2010

He was a very smart man, may he RIP, I loved the Beatles!

Jordan2 · ‎03-16-2010

@Pearlee wrote:
George Martin died at age 90 yesterday. He was the genuis producer for the Beatles.

From Paul McCartney's website (I loved this):

"I’m so sad to hear the news of the passing of dear George Martin. I have so many wonderful memories of this great man that will be with me forever. He was a true gentleman and like a second father to me. He guided the career of The Beatles with such skill and good humour that he became a true friend to me and my family. If anyone earned the title of the fifth Beatle it was George. From the day that he gave The Beatles our first recording contract, to the last time I saw him, he was the most generous, intelligent and musical person I’ve ever had the pleasure to know.

It’s hard to choose favourite memories of my time with George, there are so many but one that comes to mind was the time I brought the song 'Yesterday’ to a recording session and the guys in the band suggested that I sang it solo and accompany myself on guitar. After I had done this George Martin said to me, "Paul I have an idea of putting a string quartet on the record". I said, “Oh no George, we are a rock and roll band and I don’t think it’s a good idea”. With the gentle bedside manner of a great producer he said to me, "Let us try it and if it doesn’t work we won’t use it and we’ll go with your solo version". I agreed to this and went round to his house the next day to work on the arrangement.

He took my chords that I showed him and spread the notes out across the piano, putting the cello in the low octave and the first violin in a high octave and gave me my first lesson in how strings were voiced for a quartet. When we recorded the string quartet at Abbey Road, it was so thrilling to know his idea was so correct that I went round telling people about it for weeks. His idea obviously worked because the song subsequently became one of the most recorded songs ever with versions by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye and thousands more.

This is just one of the many memories I have of George who went on to help me with arrangements on 'Eleanor Rigby', 'Live and Let Die' and many other songs of mine.

I am proud to have known such a fine gentleman with such a keen sense of humour, who had the ability to poke fun at himself. Even when he was Knighted by the Queen there was never the slightest trace of snobbery about him.

My family and I, to whom he was a dear friend, will miss him greatly and send our love to his wife Judy and their kids Giles and Lucy, and the grandkids.

The world has lost a truly great man who left an indelible mark on my soul and the history of British music.

God bless you George and all who sail in you!
Paul"

Link to the news story from the BBC:

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35761464

Thank you so much for posting this! The Beatles are my all time favorite group, I rather listen to their music than anyone elses'. There are times I will listen to all the CDs in order from start to finish. May George Martin RIP.

Pearlee · ‎06-11-2011

https://www.facebook.com/rockandrollhalloffame/videos/vb.21010144106/10153605676249107/?type=2&theat...

Interview with George Martin at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (He was inducted into the RRHF)

@Jordan2 This is for you. His stories about A Day In The Life are wonderful!

BTW. the interviewer is the Beatles curator at the RRHF. I once was in Cleveland and heard him give a lecture about the Beatles there. That's how I know who he is on the video - I recognize him. The Beatles exhibit there would make you cry (it did me). I'd like to go again some day; I've read that they change rotate items in it because they have more than the space they have to show them.

Jordan2 · ‎03-16-2010

@Pearlee wrote:
https://www.facebook.com/rockandrollhalloffame/videos/vb.21010144106/10153605676249107/?type=2&theat...

Interview with George Martin at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (He was inducted into the RRHF)

@Jordan2 This is for you. His stories about A Day In The Life are wonderful!

BTW. the interviewer is the Beatles curator at the RRHF. I once was in Cleveland and heard him give a lecture about the Beatles there. That's how I know who he is on the video - I recognize him. The Beatles exhibit there would make you cry (it did me). I'd like to go again some day; I've read that they change rotate items in it because they have more than the space they have to show them.

Thanks for the link, I'll read it when I get a chance. On American Idol Keith Urban mentioned George Matin's passing.

Pearlee · ‎06-11-2011

@Jordan2 wrote:
@Pearlee wrote:
https://www.facebook.com/rockandrollhalloffame/videos/vb.21010144106/10153605676249107/?type=2&theat...

Interview with George Martin at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (He was inducted into the RRHF)

@Jordan2 This is for you. His stories about A Day In The Life are wonderful!

BTW. the interviewer is the Beatles curator at the RRHF. I once was in Cleveland and heard him give a lecture about the Beatles there. That's how I know who he is on the video - I recognize him. The Beatles exhibit there would make you cry (it did me). I'd like to go again some day; I've read that they change rotate items in it because they have more than the space they have to show them.
Thanks for the link, I'll read it when I get a chance. On American Idol Keith Urban mentioned George Matin's passing.

@Jordan2 There is nothing to read. It's a video of an interview with Geo. Martin, who is on the video and has great stories about the making of A Day In The Life. Make sure you have sound when you watch it.

Jordan2 · ‎03-16-2010

@Pearlee wrote:
@Jordan2 wrote:
@Pearlee wrote:
https://www.facebook.com/rockandrollhalloffame/videos/vb.21010144106/10153605676249107/?type=2&theat...

Interview with George Martin at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (He was inducted into the RRHF)

@Jordan2 This is for you. His stories about A Day In The Life are wonderful!

BTW. the interviewer is the Beatles curator at the RRHF. I once was in Cleveland and heard him give a lecture about the Beatles there. That's how I know who he is on the video - I recognize him. The Beatles exhibit there would make you cry (it did me). I'd like to go again some day; I've read that they change rotate items in it because they have more than the space they have to show them.
Thanks for the link, I'll read it when I get a chance. On American Idol Keith Urban mentioned George Matin's passing.
@Jordan2 There is nothing to read. It's a video of an interview with Geo. Martin, who is on the video and has great stories about the making of A Day In The Life. Make sure you have sound when you watch it.

I'm sorry I just assumed it was an article. I watched it, it was very interesting. Sgt. Pepper is my favorite album and A Day In A Life is just a masterpiece! It seems George Martin let the "lads" be who they were. I just wanted to add in watching American Idol last night 3 contestants sang Beatle songs. These are kids whose parents may not have been born when The Beatles were around! It just shows the longevity of their music.

Burnsite · ‎03-10-2010

As an oboe player, Sir G Martin knew about the "cor anglaise"--"English horn," an alto oboe. He used the oboe in the background of the original version of "Penny Lane" (the more familiar is a trumpet) and "A Day in the Life." He used string quartets often to back up Paul McCartney's sweet voice, a perfect choice. Paul resisted at first.

He heard "Love, Love me Do," the Beatles first demo, and thought it sounded too sad, like Roy Orbison (an early Beatles hero) and suggested the harmonica to brighten it up.

He was brillant--not more brilliant but as brilliant as any of the four. It was he who pressured them to ditch Pete Best and with the group's approval, he hired Ringo Starr, who is a great percussionist who imo never really got his due but was also essential to the band.

Old Beatle geek here.

Pearlee · ‎06-11-2011

Old Beatle geek here.
It was he who pressured them to ditch Pete Best and with the group's approval, he hired Ringo Starr, who is a great percussionist who imo never really got his due but was also essential to the band.

I don't think that is exactly right @Burnsite. The Beatles knew Ringo from working in Germany and hearing him play in other bands. They knew him first, before meeting Geo. Martin.