DCC Archive Paul McCartney, the Beatles drummer

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Paul L., Nov 7, 2001.

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  1. Paul L.

    Paul L. New Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Earth
    Here is a tougher one: Which Beatles songs did Paul play drums on? I recall an old interview with Ringo in which he said that Paul didn't play drums on very much at all. Anybody have this info handy?
     
  2. Matt

    Matt New Member

    Location:
    Illinois
    He played drums on a few tracks: Back to the USSR, the Ballad of John & Yoko...
    Paul sat in when Ringo left the group during the White Album sessions (he returned after just a few days), and the Ballad of John & Yoko was recorded without George and Ringo (no big reason for it; they were in the studio and wanted to record the song right then and there).

    P.S. I think Paul also came up with the drum pattern Ringo played on Ticket to Ride, where he drags behind the beat on the first half of the song; Dave Marsh once pointed this song out as proof that Ringo was an underrated drummer. Ringo may not have come up with the pattern, but I still think he's underrated.

    [ November 07, 2001: Message edited by: Camarillo ]
     
  3. JPartyka

    JPartyka I Got a Home on High

    Location:
    USA
    According to Lewisohn's book, McCartney also played drums on "Dear Prudence" ... and John, Paul and George ALL had a hand on the drum track for "Back in the USSR" (found that hard to believe myself, but that's what the book says) ...

    So I think there's "Back in the USSR," "Dear Prudence," and "The Ballad of John & Yoko" for sure ... any others?

    [ November 07, 2001: Message edited by: Jeff Partyka ]
     
  4. Matt

    Matt New Member

    Location:
    Illinois
    There's apparently more on the White Album. Check this page out; it lists all the instrumentation:
    http://www.discographynet.com/beatles/bttb.html

    Just to save some time, the other two are "Why Don't We Do It In The Road?" and "Wild Honey Pie," both by McCartney, both that feature actual drums, not some other percussion device (for example, "Blackbird" lists foot-tapping by McCartney).

    [ November 07, 2001: Message edited by: Camarillo ]
     
  5. czeskleba

    czeskleba Senior Member

    Location:
    Seattle
    Didn't he also drum on Dear Prudence? And the timpani on Mother Nature's Son was him, right?

    And he apparently came up with the drum pattern for Ticket to Ride, although Ringo played it on the record.
     
  6. Gary

    Gary Nauga Gort! Staff

    Location:
    Toronto
    I remember a story where Paul redid Ringo's druming on a particular track. Ringo somehow found out about it, Paul knew Ringo found out about it and the next day, when Ringo went into the studio, the drumkit was surrounded by flowers. As an apology.

    Do I remember this right? What song was it?

    I also think it was great that the boys helped out Ringo by sending him songs for "Ringo" which produced a LOT of singles. I wish I could find the DCC version. I doubt it'll be reprinted although - if Ringo has any say in it - he might be agreeable...

    I'm dreaming again, right? :(
     
  7. jkerr

    jkerr Senior Member

    Location:
    Suffolk, VA
    the flowers - you're thinking of the story of when Ringo quit during the white album sessions and he came back to find his drums covered in flowers.

    As told in Anthology - he quit, not because of any particular track, just the bad atmosphere, he felt left out basically. Not hard to understand really, since J,P, & G sometimes used 2 or even 3 studios simultaneously.

    George Martin took a break from the sessions too. Didn't quit, just a vacation. Handed the "Production" duties to Chris White. ("'ere ya go lad! see ya!") Musta been a bitch, because Chris wasn't treated as a producer!
     
  8. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    No, in fact Chris was treated more like a bitch from the kick-off sadly. :(
     
  9. lukpac

    lukpac Senior Member

    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    Are you sure? The notes to Anthology 3 note that Ringo played drums on that track...

    BTW, it's "Cris/Chris Thomas", not Chris White.
     
  10. jkerr

    jkerr Senior Member

    Location:
    Suffolk, VA
    my memory getting as bad as George Martin's

    :rolleyes:
     
  11. Matt

    Matt New Member

    Location:
    Illinois
    It's a surprise to me, too, but that's what it said at the link I put on the post:

    Why Don't We Do It In The Road? {McCartney} (1:41)
    * Recorded: October 9, 1968 at Abbey Road, London, England
    with overdubs added October 10, 1968

    * Instrumentation:
    Paul McCartney - double-tracked lead vocal, bass guitar, lead guitar, piano, drums, hand-claps


    What does the Anthology liner notes say exactly? Ringo played on the final released recording, or just on the version on the Anthology 3?
     
  12. lukpac

    lukpac Senior Member

    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    Well, going from memory, the A3 version doesn't have drums. It's noted several places in Lewisohn that Ringo played drums...
     
  13. Mike

    Mike New Member

    Location:
    New Jersey
    Fascinating about Paul and Ticket To Ride. That's my pick for greatest drum part in a Beatles song. Now I understand why - it's Paul! Not that I have anything against Ringo of course.

    Mike
     
  14. Matt

    Matt New Member

    Location:
    Illinois
    Yeah, it's a great song...possibly the most perfectly crafted Beatles single. It may be John's song, but it's a great example of what the two could do together. Not only did Paul come up with the drum part, but supposedly he came up with that heavy guitar part as well, the part that made John refer to "Ticket To Ride" as an early heavy metal record. Of course, there's also that beautiful, ringing 12-string, and I just love how John's vocals mixes with Paul's into the most soulful blend this side of Sam & Dave. A beautiful piece of work...
     
  15. czeskleba

    czeskleba Senior Member

    Location:
    Seattle
    Didn't Paul actually *play* lead guitar on Ticket to Ride?
     
  16. Paul L.

    Paul L. New Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Earth
    Hey, that's a real good question--did Paul play lead guitar on many Beatles songs? If anyone has this info handy, I'd appreciate seeing it. I have a Lewisohn book but don't want to spend the time right now looking through it. So please answer this question only if you can do so easily. Thanks.
     
  17. JPartyka

    JPartyka I Got a Home on High

    Location:
    USA

    McCartney did play the little lead parts on "Ticket to Ride" at the ends of the middle-eights, and during the coda, on his then newly acquired Epiphone Casino. (Before long, all three guitar-playing Beatles owned and used that model of guitar.) On the same album ("Help!"), he also played lead guitar on his own song "Another Girl."

    McCartney also played the amazing guitar solo on "Taxman," the one on "Good Morning Good Morning," various parts on Side Two of "Abbey Road," probably on other things I'm not remembering ... he's underrated as a six-string guitarist.

    [ November 08, 2001: Message edited by: Jeff Partyka ]

    [ November 08, 2001: Message edited by: Jeff Partyka ]
     
  18. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host

    Not to name drop, but George Harrison told me that Paul and John did the solos on "And Your Bird Can Sing". George is just playing that downstroke rhythm pattern in the background. :cool:
     
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