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4.09am
6 October 2012
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Dear BEATLES Fans,
At the end of “Fixing A Hole “, the backing vocals sound like the harmonies are created on kazoos. Is this just some more “Sgt. Pepper ” / George Martin producing wizardry, OR are they actually using kazoos?
I noticed on this site that kazoos are not listed for “Fixing A Hole ” as one of the instruments used. However, “paper and comb” are listed for “Lovely Rita “.
Does anyone else hear what I’m talking about? Please explain.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Fab4Fan
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4.31am
16 August 2012
Offline I nominate this as “Weirdest First Post Ever”.
Welcome Fab4Fan. I have no answer to your unusually-specific question.
But it’s nice to have you here.
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8.00am
25 September 2012
Offline That is interesting, I had never even thought of that until you brought it up. So! I looked up the isolated vocals, and I think its just vocals with some studio work on them. If you listen right at the end the lower harmony misses his note too. But hey, be the judge for yourself. Hope it helps 
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Wigwam, Fab4Fan9.23am
15 September 2012
Offline Oh Man, linkjws, hearing that isolated Paul vocal is absolutely AWESOME! I cannot wait to hear more of these, I had no clue about them, and your YouTube link has made my weekend. I’m an older guy, and haven’t adapted to computers as well as most people, but I’m just knowledgable enough to keep about a year or so behind in finding new information off the internet; so, while most of you are probably more familiar with what to keep up with online, it’s links like this that people like linkjws share with fans like me on a site like this that gives me info I wouldn’t get otherwise, or in any quicker time. So thanks a lot for this.
“Fixing A Hole ” is a fundamental cornerstone of the entire Sgt Pepper foundation, alongside “Within You Without You ,” “Lucy In the Sky..,” and “A Day In The Life .” The abstract disconnection, the dream-like flow and meandering wordplay, equal to the best ‘Lennonisms’ on this or any other LP, with that searing, determined guitar rip from George, out of the ether and just- so perfect.
But Paul is at his most accomplished vocal ability on this track, on this album. Even with some double-tracking flubs, that near-final line, “I’m taking the time — for a number of things, that weren’t important –yesterday” – the world-weariness and resignation in his voice ..”and I still go-ohohohoo…”
Sweet.
For what it’s worth, Fab4Fan, I definitely hear a “paper and comb”- sounding effect right before the last refrain; given the kazoo’s unstable ability to maintain consistency in audio volume, due to the restrained and understated expulsion of low breath in emitting the subdued and controlled backing sound effect, I was able to form a comfortable supposition that utilization of kazoo or kazoo-related instrumentation was not employed; however, upon repeated replays of what I had initially believed to be the more plausible “paper and comb” accompaniment applied to the “Lovely Rita ” recording (an entirely separate incident that is way too graphic and unsettling to recount here), I have concluded that..
it is neither.
Upon the most intense inspection, I find the culprit of this paper/comb/kazoo or kazoo-related effect is, in fact, the metallic edges of Ringo’s ‘drum brushes’, casually sweeping the surface of what is most likely his snare drum, a common effect used in jazz trio instrumentals with piano and standup bass, giving a feeling of rhythm without relying on an audible ‘beat’, to put it simply.
Well, 4:21am here, I suppose there’s some sleeping or similarly-restful activity I should be attending to.
11.52am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline A very clever individual called Helter Skelter set up a blog that analysed the rock band tracks, put each individual song’s tracks (eg track 1 rhythm section, track 2 vocals, tracks 3 harmonies, track 4 overdubs) back together in the right place, and made them all available to download. He got thru all of Rubber Soul , most of Pepper & a few other tracks before life got busy.
Its more, far more, than isolating the multitracks which every one can do and are everywhere and a joy to behold. Well worth taking the time to collect and digest.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
4.45pm
25 September 2012
Offline I am glad you enjoyed that so much Wildcat The individual tracks make me incredibly happy to hear too. On some you can hear the boys messing around (on You Never Give Me Your Money you can hear Paul humming the guitar line before the “One sweet dream” part). And you can use them to practice parts around. I downloaded a lot of them so that I had them, and learned the Electric Piano, Guitar, and Bass parts to “I Am The Walrus ” to the orchestra and drum track since I could not play those myself.
Also that is a very cool link MMM, I am reading about it now. Very interesting to read what this guy pieces together about the songs.
And I would have to listen more to get a feel as to what exactly fab4fan is talking about because I feel like I am missing it. Drum brushes? Kazoos? I’ll have to dig deeper haha
7.56pm
Moderators
Members
Reviewers
20 August 2013
Offline According to this article, we don’t really know who plays the harpsichord on this this song. Joe lists George Martin at the person playing it. Do we know for sure it is 
?
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8.28pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline John C. Winn has it as George Martin in ‘That Magic Feeling’;
The backing, consisting of Paul playing bass, Ringo on drums, and George Martin on harpsichord, went onto track 1, while Paul’s guide vocal and some rhythm guitar (John or George) went onto track 3. This was perfected in three takes, the second of which was “best.” Backing vocals were added to track 4, and someone played a guitar solo on track 2. Mark Lewisohn and George Martin both claim this to be the work of George, but another source suggests it was Paul, playing hisEpiphone Casino guitar through his ancient El Pico amplifier.
. In ‘Recording Sessions’ Lewisohn doesnt mention the line-up by name but writes
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Matt Busby"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
10.39am
14 June 2016
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This is the song on Sgt Pepper that I always forget about. After listening to Sgt Peppers again in full, I got the chance to re discover this song and realize how brilliant it really is.
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"Sometimes I wish I was just George Harrison" - John Lennon
11.02am
26 January 2017
Offline Great song. The harpsichord at the beginning brings in a new theme, similar to the ‘circusy’ vibe on Mr. Kite, but George rips out a sweet distorted solo that goes way down low, increasing the psychedelic nature of the song by contrasting the classical and garage arrangements. Great vocal performance by Paul as well.
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Ahhh Girl"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
4.28pm
Moderators
27 November 2016
Offline I love the bassline in this song.. it sounds like it should resolve at the end of a bar, but rarely does.
Definitely in my top 10.
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4.30pm
26 January 2017
Offline Good to see The Hole Got Fixed loved Fixing A Hole
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The Hole Got Fixed, WeepingAtlasCedars, BeatleSnut"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
4.38pm
Moderators
27 November 2016
Offline sir walter raleigh said
Good to see The Hole Got Fixed loved Fixing A Hole
Hey, when I created this account I didn’t particularly like Fixing A Hole , but it was a good song to make a cool name with. After a while, I’ve grown to like it…
#AppleHoley2024: Make America Great For The First Time
2016 awards: 2017 awards: 2018 awards: 2019 awards: 2020 awards: 2021 awards:
6.46pm
10 March 2017
Offline Ahhh Girl said
According to this article, we don’t really know who plays the harpsichord on this this song. Joe lists George Martin at the person playing it. Do we know for sure it is?
Good question Ahhh Girl, let’s take a look at another great Beatley site, beatlesebooks.com. Geoff Emmerick claims in Here, There, And Everywhere that all 4 of the Beatles played on the backing track. The Beatles Book Monthly issue 47 claims that Paul played the harpsichord. Richard Lush claims in The Beatles Gear John played bass, more specifically a Fender Bass, which is odd considering he would’ve most likely used George’s Burns bass.
Those 3 accounts were from people who weren’t there, where George Martin, who was there, confirms that he played harpsichord and that Paul played bass. This site also claims that John Lennon recorded maracas on the backing track, which makes sense, so here’s the instrumentation:
Backing Track:
Paul McCartney : Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 4001S)
John Lennon : Maracas
George Harrison : Lead Guitar (1961 Fender Stratocaster)
Ringo Starr : Drums
George Martin: Harpsichord
Overdubs:
Paul McCartney : Lead Vocals
George Harrison : Lead Guitar (1961 Fender Stratocaster), Backing Vocals
John Lennon : Backing Vocals
If you're reading this, you are looking for something to do.
7.11pm
26 January 2017
Offline Dark Overlord said
Good question Ahhh Girl, let’s take a look at another great Beatley site, beatlesebooks.com. Geoff Emmerick claims in Here, There, And Everywhere that all 4 of the Beatles played on the backing track. The Beatles Book Monthly issue 47 claims that Paul played the harpsichord. Richard Lush claims in The Beatles Gear John played bass, more specifically a Fender Bass, which is odd considering he would’ve most likely used George’s Burns bass.
Those 3 accounts were from people who weren’t there, where George Martin, who was there, confirms that he played harpsichord and that Paul played bass. This site also claims that John Lennon recorded maracas on the backing track, which makes sense, so here’s the instrumentation:
Backing Track:
Paul McCartney : Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 4001S)
John Lennon : Maracas
George Harrison : Lead Guitar (1961 Fender Stratocaster)
Ringo Starr : Drums
George Martin: Harpsichord
Overdubs:
Paul McCartney : Lead Vocals
George Harrison : Lead Guitar (1961 Fender Stratocaster), Backing Vocals
John Lennon : Backing Vocals
Are you talking about Fixing A Hole or Here There And Everywhere .
"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
7.25pm
10 March 2017
Offline I was talking about Fixing A Hole , when I said Here, There, And Everywhere, I was referring to Geoff Emmerick’s 2006 book of the same name.
If you're reading this, you are looking for something to do.
7.36pm
26 January 2017
Offline I see. You never said the title in the explanation that’s why I was confused.
"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
9.15pm
15 March 2017
Offline I’m not posting to answer the question but I just want to say that I only really listen to Fixing A Hole when I listen to Sgt Pepper in it’s entirety and when I do I really enjoy it but I never seem to pick it if I am ever cherry picking Beatles songs but it is a great song.
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3.12pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline Elementary Penguin said
…I only really listen to Fixing A Hole when I listen to Sgt Pepper in it’s entirety and when I do I really enjoy it but I never seem to pick it if I am ever cherry picking Beatles songs but it is a great song.
Same. I don’t seek out any song on the album individually, but love listening to the album as a whole.
To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
10.06pm
15 March 2017
Offline Is that for every album?
I am that way with Sgt Pepper but other albums I will listen to a song individually if I feel like listening to it, unless it’s the Abbey Road Medley, I have to listen to that in it’s entirety.
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