P.S. McCartney famously hated Spectors schmaltzy string and choral arrangements, and it wasnt put out how the Beatles intended until the Let it Be-Naked version a couple of years back.
I gotta give it to Bill with Phil Spector. I honestly don’t think George Martin had anything to do with it. Glyn Johns engineered it. Whatever the case…Merry Malarkey to you too, kev, and all the rest of you sods.
Since you were on the topic of my favorite band, I feel compelled to chime in.
In actuality, the original sessions were produced by both Glyn Johns and George Martin – at different times. One of the reasons Johns was on board was because he was in the UK film union (whereas Beatles longtime engineer Geoff Emerick was not, and not allowed to participate). As you remember, the original sessions were recorded AND filmed at Twickingham Film Studios, and the unions were not to be crossed in those days. Martin was present at some sessions, but not for all (he can be heard on some of the raw tapes). Still… when Glyn Johns was forced to fulfill an earlier obligation to engineer a Steve Miller session, the Beatles’ sessions were shut down. Martin did not pick up the slack on his own. So… the “producer” job really bounced between the two of them. Though it’s not been stated as such, many believe that Johns was supposed to handle the early, round one recordings, while Martin would “officially” produce round two, once the band worked things out and were ready to go. But, in reality… they ended up using many of the round one tapes – the rehearsals, if you will. George Martin, on the other hand, officially produced the rooftop concert, with Johns engineering. And, in the end… it was Johns alone (at Lennon’s & Harrison’s urging) who assembled the first draft of the album.
Phil Spector was called in well over a year AFTER the end of the Let It Be Sessions. Even AFTER their next sessions for Abbey Road was recorded and released. And had nothing to do with the recording of the Get Back/Let It Be. He was only a re-mixer (who also overdubbed a bunch of stuff). Only George Harrison was present for the remixing. In fact, Paul was already readying his first solo album (and his split from the band) and was surprised to learn that the “Get Back” tapes were being revisited. The main reason Spector was called in (at Harrison’s suggestion) was because Beatles “manager” Allen Klein didn’t want the money making tapes just sitting on the shelf when they could be generating revenue.
Now… aren’t you sorry you asked?
Beatlemaniacs are a nitpicky bunch.
December 20th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Phil Spector?
December 21st, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Well, no, he remixed it. It was initially produced by George Martin. Correctly listed it was credited to both George Martin AND PhIL sPECTOR.
December 21st, 2007 at 3:53 pm
P.S. McCartney famously hated Spectors schmaltzy string and choral arrangements, and it wasnt put out how the Beatles intended until the Let it Be-Naked version a couple of years back.
December 21st, 2007 at 3:56 pm
PPS…Just wanna wish all you Trivialists a Very Merry Christmas and all that malarkey!
December 21st, 2007 at 4:14 pm
I gotta give it to Bill with Phil Spector. I honestly don’t think George Martin had anything to do with it. Glyn Johns engineered it. Whatever the case…Merry Malarkey to you too, kev, and all the rest of you sods.
January 10th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Hey Newm,
Since you were on the topic of my favorite band, I feel compelled to chime in.
In actuality, the original sessions were produced by both Glyn Johns and George Martin – at different times. One of the reasons Johns was on board was because he was in the UK film union (whereas Beatles longtime engineer Geoff Emerick was not, and not allowed to participate). As you remember, the original sessions were recorded AND filmed at Twickingham Film Studios, and the unions were not to be crossed in those days. Martin was present at some sessions, but not for all (he can be heard on some of the raw tapes). Still… when Glyn Johns was forced to fulfill an earlier obligation to engineer a Steve Miller session, the Beatles’ sessions were shut down. Martin did not pick up the slack on his own. So… the “producer” job really bounced between the two of them. Though it’s not been stated as such, many believe that Johns was supposed to handle the early, round one recordings, while Martin would “officially” produce round two, once the band worked things out and were ready to go. But, in reality… they ended up using many of the round one tapes – the rehearsals, if you will. George Martin, on the other hand, officially produced the rooftop concert, with Johns engineering. And, in the end… it was Johns alone (at Lennon’s & Harrison’s urging) who assembled the first draft of the album.
Phil Spector was called in well over a year AFTER the end of the Let It Be Sessions. Even AFTER their next sessions for Abbey Road was recorded and released. And had nothing to do with the recording of the Get Back/Let It Be. He was only a re-mixer (who also overdubbed a bunch of stuff). Only George Harrison was present for the remixing. In fact, Paul was already readying his first solo album (and his split from the band) and was surprised to learn that the “Get Back” tapes were being revisited. The main reason Spector was called in (at Harrison’s suggestion) was because Beatles “manager” Allen Klein didn’t want the money making tapes just sitting on the shelf when they could be generating revenue.
Now… aren’t you sorry you asked?
Beatlemaniacs are a nitpicky bunch.
Cheers,
W
January 10th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Wow! Could you please elaborate though? ; )
January 11th, 2008 at 2:43 am
It’s an sickness… sorry.
January 11th, 2008 at 2:54 am
I love it!
January 13th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Are you sure willard isnt mark lewisohn? :-)
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