The Beatles Bible - Topic: Miming

McLerristarr on Miming

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:55:00 +0000

Joe said:

Yeah, I remember seeing that when it first screened. It did look a little odd but Top Of The Pops was so full of miming in the 1980s it barely made an impact. See for yourself:

Won't play on this site apparently but I'll look it up on YouTube. Thanks.

Joe on Miming

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:39:43 +0000

Yeah, I remember seeing that when it first screened. It did look a little odd but Top Of The Pops was so full of miming in the 1980s it barely made an impact. See for yourself:

McLerristarr on Miming

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:14:13 +0000

mjb said:

This about Top of the Pops :

Miming

Initially acts performing on the show mimed to the commercially released record, but in July 1966 — just after the

show had been moved to London — and after discussions with the Musicians' Union, miming was banned.

After a few weeks during which some bands' attempts to play as well as on their records were somewhat lacking, a compromise was reached whereby a specially recorded backing track was permitted – as long as all the musicians on the track were present ...

McLerristarr on Miming

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:06:33 +0000

Why did The Beatles mime to a pre-recorded backing track on Around The Beatles? Was it simply because they wanted to do a live performance but wanted it to be perfect because it was a TV production? I'm sure time restraints came into it as well, it would have been easier to have a recording session for the music than to keep redoing takes for the TV programme.

I guess I answered my own question.

mjb on Miming

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:06:20 +0000

This about Top of the Pops :

Miming

Initially acts performing on the show mimed to the commercially released record, but in July 1966 — just after the

show had been moved to London — and after discussions with the Musicians' Union, miming was banned.

After a few weeks during which some bands' attempts to play as well as on their records were somewhat lacking, a compromise was reached whereby a specially recorded backing track was permitted – as long as all the musicians on the track were present in the ...

mjb on Miming

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:59:16 +0000

I think you're right Joe - it was all about time constraints and resources - not to mention costs!

I think it all changed around 1967 because if I remember correctly the BBC banned Hello Goodbye from being shown as they were miming and that upset the Union (as you stated).

If you go back through the Top of the Pops archives you'll notice there came a period where groups started performing live - or at least sang to a pre-recorded backing track which seemed to be acceptable.

McLerristarr on Miming

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:25:06 +0000

Joe said:

Good question. I don't know for sure but I'll give it a go.

In the UK in the 60s live music was more strictly controlled by broadcast and musicians' trade unions. There were limits for playing too much recorded music on radio, for example, which is why there were so many live sessions recorded. That's not related directly to the miming issue but might help illustrate how things were different then.

I don't know if TV and radio had similar union rules, but I think it's the reason why they did live vocals for Hey Jude/Revolution - to fool people ...

Joe on Miming

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:20:05 +0000

Good question. I don't know for sure but I'll give it a go.

In the UK in the 60s live music was more strictly controlled by broadcast and musicians' trade unions. There were limits for playing too much recorded music on radio, for example, which is why there were so many live sessions recorded. That's not related directly to the miming issue but might help illustrate how things were different then.

I don't know if TV and radio had similar union rules, but I think it's the reason why they did live vocals for Hey Jude/Revolution - to fool people into thinking ...

McLerristarr on Miming

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:07:45 +0000

On quite a few TV programmes The Beatles mime to their music but on some they don't. Why is this? Do certain programmes allow it and others don't? I read that originally the BBC had an anti-miming policy. Why didn't The Beatles always perform the songs live? They were certainly capable of it. Why did they apparantly perform live vocals for Hey Jude and Revolution but not peform live instruments?

What do people think of their various miming efforts?

Also, how do you mime to the drums? I've never understood that.

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