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1.27pm
12 December 2019
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Everyone (now) may think the “false start” left on the North American release wasn’t to be intended…but: that doesn’t change the fact that it had already gotten to the final mixdown stage before someone decided it didn’t “belong” all of a sudden.
Why would it be made into a contentious point to even complain about(?) It’s a charming, little nuance captured on record which embellishes the organic feel the music-making process is.
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5.30pm
10 March 2017
Offline It’s most likely that Dave Dexter Jr. got an early master, as they also got an early mix for The Word . This is what happened with Sgt. Pepper which is why the inner groove isn’t present on North American pressings.
But i don’t know anyone who has a problem with it. If anything, it’s a nice little bonus like the extra verse on I’ll Cry Instead or the live excerpt of Twist And Shout on The Beatles Story.
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7.03pm
21 January 2020
Offline Finding this discussion really interesting.
What i will say is:
I think the acoustic is definitely paul. One – because i dont think it sounds like John (mainly not aggressive/raw enough) but also i dont think it sounds like his gibson. This was always ran through an amp using its weird pickup so never really sounds like a true acoustic.
I’m conflicted with the drums and might be able to make a better judgement next time i listen through some good headphones. Ringo is a great drummer (despite what ignorant people say) and these drums are both too simple for him (he usually throws in lovely but simple flourishes to make them his own) and there are a few mistakes and varying volume on the snare throughout.
Initially i agreed that the vocal did sound like 2 pauls – BUT, these harmonies were almost always recorded into one mic. Not just this though, but if you think about what the harmony does, it starts from two different notes and then the last 3 syllables are the same note with a drastically different timbre, if they were both paul i think they would match up a lot more closely and sound like one (even if paul was trying to ‘mimic’ johns voice)
and i’ve heard the isolated bass on youtube. the bass is just paul all over
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QuarryMan10.41pm
Moderators
27 November 2016
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daniels102 said
Initially i agreed that the vocal did sound like 2 pauls – BUT, these harmonies were almost always recorded into one mic. Not just this though, but if you think about what the harmony does, it starts from two different notes and then the last 3 syllables are the same note with a drastically different timbre, if they were both paul i think they would match up a lot more closely and sound like one (even if paul was trying to ‘mimic’ johns voice)
That contradicts what I’ve always heard- on Baby’s In Black , they recorded their vocals on one mic together – the only time they did so. I could be wrong, however…
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7.15am
10 March 2017
Offline I always thought it was normal for them to record that way.
As for the acoustic guitar and drums being Paul, i think Ringo’s playing the drums and tambourine simultaneously, which would explain the lack of cymbals, as well as his sloppy playing. It’s hard to say whether it’s John or Paul on acoustic though as the bass was supposedly recorded on the backing track but either way, it’s appears that Paul came up with the part and either taught it to John or played it himself.
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12.05pm
1 December 2009
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They may be using a single mic in Walrus, too, but I’m not sure.
I’ve always thought that organ tone of Ringo’s was completely unique for 1965, and (though much lower in the mix) very similar to John Cale’s sound on the Velvets’ 1967 “Sister Ray”,
Since we know there was a fuzz pedal around, is it possible they used it on the organ? I don’t know if the Hammond is capable of certain sounds on its own or not…I DO know that we have many keyboardists here, though 
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QuarryManGEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty.
12.19pm
26 January 2017
Offline Ringo playing tambourine simultaneously could explain the simplicity of the drumline.
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5.15pm
Moderators
27 November 2016
Offline And of course all of what we’re saying contradicts Joe’s page.
He has this:
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass
John Lennon: harmony vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
George Harrison: guitar, tambourine
Ringo Starr: drums, organ, percussion
And he says the only things that were overdubbed were the vocals, organ and the box of matches (percussion).
So how can George have played guitar and tambourine on the rhythm track? Unless Ringo did play them both at the same time on the rhythm track…
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5.31pm
21 January 2020
Offline ah, yes! good point! ok i’m convinced of this now. someone previously said the tambo would throw ringo off, i dont think this would be the case as you’re effectively swapping the hi hat/ride in your right hand for a constant tambourine which isnt difficult, but from my experience playing fills is next to impossible (as youre holding a tambourine and not a stick).
bass is almost definetly paul, from help onwards i think he generally overdubbed almost all his basslines and its why his playing took off so much, having the time to create and the freedom from simultaneous vocals (at least for a guide vocal) meant he could be much more creative.
6.00pm
26 January 2017
Offline I’m just a lowly layman when it comes to this sort of discussion, but the acoustic guitar doesn’t at all sound like John’s playing to me..
I've been up on the mountain, and I've seen his wondrous grace,
I've sat there on the barstool and I've looked him in the face.
He seemed a little haggard, but it did not slow him down,
he was humming to the neon of the universal sound.
7.34am
10 March 2017
Offline Joe has stated that he got most of his information from Mark Lewisohn and Ian McDonald, both of whom make mistakes, especially Ian, who likely used a decent bit of speculation himself.
According to these sources, the backing track consisted of John on acoustic, Paul on bass, George on tambourine, and Ringo on drums. This was followed by overdubs of Ringo on Hammond, George on electric, Ringo tapping a matchbox, Paul on double tracked lead vocals, Paul and John on backing vocals, and handclaps. However, there’s 2 electric guitar parts with completely different tones and styles and it would make little sense to do so many overdubs on a filler track when you can record the tambourine and an electric guitar part onto the backing track.
My guess would be this:
Track 1 (Backing Track): John on Gibson acoustic, Paul on Rickenbacker bass, George on Fender, Ringo on drums and tambourine
Track 2: Ringo on Hammond organ, Paul on Epiphone (distorted lick at the end of each verse)
Track 3: Ringo tapping on matchbox
Tracks 2 and 3 bounced, freeing up track 3
Track 3: Paul on lead vocals
Track 4: Paul on double tracked lead vocals
Tracks 3 and 4 bounced, freeing up track 4
Track 4: Backing vocals and handclaps
This would leave us with track 1 as backing track, track 2 as instrumental overdubs, track 3 as lead vocals, and track 4 as backing vocals and handclaps.
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12.41pm
14 December 2009
Offline vonbontee said
They may be using a single mic in Walrus, too, but I’m not sure.
(“Walrus?” I meant “…Bulldog”…
)
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2.45am
1 December 2009
Offline Haha just noticed there’s ONE lone tambourine hit in the middle of the third verse!
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Beatlebug, RubeGEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty.
8.06pm
7 November 2022
Offline Joe on his section for this song has a picture of what looks like an album cover, not sure if it’s regular size or a 45 jacket. Was this a 45 jacket? Was this common at the time when releasing a Beatles hit to issue these sleeves for individual songs with a picture of the Beatles on it (I assume different pics for different songs)?
Now today I find, you have changed your mind
11.10pm
Reviewers
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1 May 2011
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It will probably be a foreign single, there were plenty back in the day which had picture sleeves.
Portugal EP in 1966 according to discogs.
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