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5.48pm
24 March 2014
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According to the ‘Beatles recording sessions’ by Mark Lewisohn, George Harrison once recorded a demo of ‘oldbrown shoes’ (among other songs) with a few vocals and guitar parts … Has anybody here ever listened to it, or knows where could i find it?
Thx and cheers!
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6.11pm
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Offline @Shamrock Womlbs If referring to the demo session George had on 25 February 1969, his 26th birthday, when he recorded versions of Old Brown Shoe , All Things Must Pass and Something , then all three songs are included on the 2nd disc of Anthology 3 .
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6.24pm
24 March 2014
Offline Ah! Thx Ron… You are the man! 
"I Need You by George Harrison"
6.46pm
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1 May 2011
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An alternate mix of the Old Brown Shoe demo taken from the 1969 acetate was booted on ‘Abbey Road: A Moggical Mystery Tour‘ for anyone interested in all the variations out there.
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1.45pm
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1 May 2011
Offline Does anyone interpret the “Let me out…” vocals during the fade out as a comment from George on him wanting to get out of the Beatles? I’ve seen it written elsewhere that it was but I presume this is more in hindsight based on the following events.
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6.14pm
6 May 2018
Online On the 1965 Christmas Record, John Lennon suggests at one point that the band should play “We’ll Gather Lilacs In An Old Brown Shoe “.
And in the end
The love you take is equal to the love you make
10.09am
22 December 2013
Offline meanmistermustard said
Does anyone interpret the “Let me out…” vocals during the fade out as a comment from George on him wanting to get out of the Beatles? I’ve seen it written elsewhere that it was but I presume this is more in hindsight based on the following events.
I always find it interesting how many people interpret this song in different ways… Probably the most common interpretation is that it means absolutely nothing… Here’s one theory, which I don’t necessarily agree with, but is fascinating nonetheless
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/…..ad.667241/
The “escaping from this zoo” bit could also be a reference to George “wanting to get out of the Beatles”, as is the title which suggests that the band is growing tired… “I’m stepping out of this old brown show”… meanmistermustard’s take does seem to make the most sense…:-)
11.50am
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Offline I’m not great at music theory but, musically, doesn’t this…
have certain musical echoes of this…
slowed down a step or two?
And then you wonder if the tune, the chords Georgie spoke of, some of the words, were an unadmitted tip of the hat to his then mentor, just as much as Ravi was, Bobby Dylan. “If I grow up I’ll be a singer…”; “It won’t be the same now I’m telling you…”; “You’ve got me escaping from this zoo…”. Who knows?
I certainly think there’s a valid musical comparison, though; that’s George’s tune is, at the least, a cousin of Bobby’s…
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4.10pm
8 January 2015
Offline There’s more than a passing resemblance there! I don’t listen to enough later 60’s Dylan to pick things like that up, but there’s no doubt it was deliberate, probably as a homage that he hoped Dylan would notice.
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5.27am
31 March 2008
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That’s very interesting, @Ron Nasty. I’d not thought of the similarity before.
Obviously Dylan had been a big influence since 1964, and they co-wrote I’d Have You Anytime in the autumn of 1968, post-White Album . Old Brown Shoe was written and recorded a short while after, so I think you’re definitely onto something.
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4.40pm
7 May 2017
Offline Okay so this is one of the greatest songs ever in my opinion and I’m listening to it on repeat. But can somebody clarify what it is exactly George sings at the end? Up until now I’ve heard or read:
“Let me ou” (???)
“You know who loves you”
“Truly, truly gone” (especially at the Concert for George)
Speaking of Concert for George, Gary Brookers rendition of Old Brown Shoe is just great too. One of the three outstanding song performances at that Concert next to Browns Horse To The Water and Prestons My Sweet Lord .
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6.30pm
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27 November 2016
Offline I totally agree, this is a total bop.
I’ve never been able to work it out – I thought it was just total gibberish, so to me this is a revelation that it might be words!
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3.29am
7 May 2017
Offline I think it was almost definitely “truly gone” at the Concert for George. Clapton, Brooker, Dhani and co. also add some “Yes, I’m” in between, so they sing “Truly, truly gone, yes I’m truly…”
For the Beatles’ recorded version I read “You know, who loves you” when looking for the lyrics online, and knowing that I think I can hear the words in the track but perhaps I’m imagining things.
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6.13am
14 June 2016
Offline I demand an Old Brown Shoe and Blue Suede Shoes medley.
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5.58pm
2 May 2013
Offline I absolutely adore Paul’s bass on this, mixed high and absolutely perfect for the song. Can’t think of a bass so prominent until this point *. If 12″ singles had been around back then a sure fire sock you in the chest and annoy the neighbours opportunity.
* With the possible honorable exception of Rain , and even then it’s not quite as to the fore
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The Hole Got Fixed, Richard12.50pm
23 January 2022
Offline I had this on repeat earlier. I hadn’t noticed Paul’s bass before, but it is the business. Actually all of Paul’s contributions to the song are ace.
I think the theory that it’s (partly) about wanting to get out of the Beatles is supported by Peter Jackson’s Get Back .
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6.02pm
26 January 2017
Offline Its a brilliant set of lyrics, if you relate it to what specifically George was going through at the time, but also any situation that any person can be in in life. Or you can take it literally, as I have before when dancing to the song and taking off an Old Brown Shoe .
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9.33pm
10 June 2022
Offline Is anyone going to talk about the remaster? Most songs are just enhanced slightly to sound better on streaming services rather than records, but for Old Brown Shoe ‘s remaster they just took Take 2 as present on Abbey Road Super Deluxe. Although it does sound better, I wonder why they didn’t just remaster the song normally.
9.21am
3 August 2012
Offline PajamaCat4 said
Is anyone going to talk about the remaster? Most songs are just enhanced slightly to sound better on streaming services rather than records, but for Old Brown Shoe ‘s remaster they just took Take 2 as present on Abbey Road Super Deluxe. Although it does sound better, I wonder why they didn’t just remaster the song normally.
Are you sure? The vocals are definitely a different take, and some of the guitar fills definitely aren’t the same as the version on Past Masters .
Times I find it hard to say / With useless words getting in my way
9.25am
3 August 2012
Offline PajamaCat4 said
Is anyone going to talk about the remaster? Most songs are just enhanced slightly to sound better on streaming services rather than records, but for Old Brown Shoe ‘s remaster they just took Take 2 as present on Abbey Road Super Deluxe. Although it does sound better, I wonder why they didn’t just remaster the song normally.
I just looked it up, the released version on Past Masters and 1967-1970 is Take 4, not Take 2
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