The Beatles Bible - Topic: Paul's drumming on "Back in the U.S.S.R."

Bjway on Paul's drumming on "Back in the U.S.S.R."

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 02:06:56 +0000

I have listened to the separated 5.1 channels from the Love version of Back The USSR, and I think it's clear enough that there are indeed 3 different drum tracks and I believe Paul's is the one that is most audible. John and George seem to be just playing a simple rock pattern all the way through and Paul's is the one with fills. In the first chorus you might be able to hear John or George as Paul does not hit the snare on beat 4, so if you hear another snare it's John or George. This is just ...

Funny Paper on Paul's drumming on "Back in the U.S.S.R."

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:30:21 +0000

mja6758 said
I'm guessing here, but I imagine that all you can hear in the "multitracks" and the "isolated tracks" is what they have left audible. They may have had three or more drum tracks with parts they thought worked, bounced down the parts they wanted to use onto a single track, and it would be that single track which would make it to the master. It may be that they simply dropped in where they thought it wasn't working, and replaced what was on the tape originally with an overdub.

And so "underdubs" are not retrievable?

mja6758 on Paul's drumming on "Back in the U.S.S.R."

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:04:18 +0000

I'm guessing here, but I imagine that all you can hear in the "multitracks" and the "isolated tracks" is what they have left audible. They may have had three or more drum tracks with parts they thought worked, bounced down the parts they wanted to use onto a single track, and it would be that single track which would make it to the master. It may be that they simply dropped in where they thought it wasn't working, and replaced what was on the tape originally with an overdub.

Funny Paper on Paul's drumming on "Back in the U.S.S.R."

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:58:55 +0000

mja6758 said
Parts of several drum tracks were edited together to produce one drum track that all were happy with. The full drum tracks used doubtless are there in the vaults somewhere, but the isolated drum track is the result of the editing process. One drum track created from various "bits and pieces" from several drum tracks. So far as I understand it anyway.

But back then, producing "one track" is done by combining several tapes. Why can't we access the layers beneath the finished product -- peel back the layers, so to speak? I thought that was what this ...

mja6758 on Paul's drumming on "Back in the U.S.S.R."

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:12:18 +0000

Parts of several drum tracks were edited together to produce one drum track that all were happy with. The full drum tracks used doubtless are there in the vaults somewhere, but the isolated drum track is the result of the editing process. One drum track created from various "bits and pieces" from several drum tracks. So far as I understand it anyway.

Funny Paper on Paul's drumming on "Back in the U.S.S.R."

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 20:39:31 +0000

mja6758 said
The relevant part of Lewisohn, Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, 22 August 68:

"Someone who was there at this session was Ken Scott. '...They did Back in the USSR with what I seem to recall was a composite drum track of bits and pieces, possibly with all of the other three (ie. not Ringo) playing drums...'

"...the song was also a composite recording in other ways, with three bass guitar parts, played by John, Paul and George respectively, and both Paul and George playing lead guitar..."

If the drums are a composite, then what does the "isolated" track isolate, exactly? Shouldn't there be ...

mja6758 on Paul's drumming on "Back in the U.S.S.R."

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:14:21 +0000

The relevant part of Lewisohn, Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, 22 August 68:

"Someone who was there at this session was Ken Scott. '...They did Back in the USSR with what I seem to recall was a composite drum track of bits and pieces, possibly with all of the other three (ie. not Ringo) playing drums...'

"...the song was also a composite recording in other ways, with three bass guitar parts, played by John, Paul and George respectively, and both Paul and George playing lead guitar..."

Linde on Paul's drumming on "Back in the U.S.S.R."

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 13:56:18 +0000

Never thought it was bad. But who am I, I don't know anything about drumming.

Ben Ramon on Paul's drumming on "Back in the U.S.S.R."

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 13:49:32 +0000

Yeah, it's a composite. I do like Paul's drumming on Dear Prudence a lot.

mja6758 on Paul's drumming on "Back in the U.S.S.R."

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 13:48:21 +0000

And checking Joe's entry under Songs in main site, he also gives drumming credit to all three. Impossible to say who is drumming, where and when. It's a composite.

mja6758 on Paul's drumming on "Back in the U.S.S.R."

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 13:42:53 +0000

According to Lewisohn, the drumming on Back in the USSR is a compilation of Paul, John and George.

Gerell on Paul's drumming on "Back in the U.S.S.R."

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 05:37:47 +0000

The drumming is alright, since it Paul's songs he probably knows what's good for it. The first time I heard the track I thought that Ringo had a new style, guess it was just Paul.

Funny Paper on Paul's drumming on "Back in the U.S.S.R."

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 05:24:08 +0000

Well, I listened to the whole song with drums isolated for the first time, and I must disagree with all those people who commented to the song (up above in the Songs section outside the forum) saying they thought Paul's drumming on that song was mediocre or sloppy.

My sense is that Paul is purposefully sounding a bit almost childish (or child-like) in his drum fills and rolls, and in his almost relentlessly breathless pace because he wanted to imbue the song with energy from below, as it were.

Sometimes when accomplishing this effect, one has to be a bit off-rhythm and ...