Does anyone know for certain that the Esher demos were 1" 4 track? Did George have a Studer? Is there any chance they were 8 track? The May 1968 time frame coincides with EMI's purchase of the 3M machines, and I seem to recall that George Harrison had a 3M machine before EMI. I asked way, way, back in the thread but didn't hear anything.
A fine song and for me it adds to the 'Pop-art'-atmosphere of the album. It is a happy tune, but the atmosphere (for some reason) seems a bit hollow and the playfulness seems a bit forced. Typical 'drum solo' from Ringo...
It would have been interesting as a one-off "novelty" single or b-side given the subject matter...The Beatles Birthday song. And it certainly could have been that, had the band shaved things down to a single LP with lots of leftovers. I love the "yes we're going to a a party, party" line... What if that was carried out into the theme of the song, and instead of calling it "Birthday" it was called "Friday" or something, and it's more of a generic song about partying on the weekend rather than specifically a Birthday party...
Do we have knowledge of whether ALL the four-track recordings from Esher still exist, or are some of those songs only available from the mono copies that were made for John and Paul?
I'm hoping that Giles just remixed as he pleased...and had someone who is familiar (really familiar) listen. And hoping that the 5.1 mix is 'out there' and not lamo like Pepper was. What's the point of 5.1 anyway if you're going to be conservative? Bern
I always thought it was "yes we're going to a private party". Much like many of McCartney's lyrics, I was disappointed to hear what it really was.
Interesting that The Beatles did a birthday song for Mike Love in India and then put this out when they came back. Do you suppose the impromptu ML birthday tune could have sparked the idea that led to this song? I wonder if it might end up on the White Album Deluxe. I'd love to hear a version of it that doesn't have Wolfman Jack talking over the instrumental break.
I guess the cynical theory is that the Esher songs we got on Anthology 3 were chosen because they were the only (or a majority of the only) songs that still existed on 4 track multis (could explain for instance why, with all the songs available, we got "Glass Onion" when it's represented elsewhere on A3, and "Junk" when it ended up a Paul solo tune rather than more well-known and not represented songs like "Revolution," "Dear Prudence")....Hopefully that's not true though and that all of them are available and able to be mixed and released in stereo! I wonder if George did, or ever thought to bring all those 4 track recordings to EMI to keep them there for reference/archiving, or did they just think of these demos as a take-home thing? I know it's common practice now, especially with digital recording, but are there any documented instances of the Beatles recording something at home (other than tape loops) and bringing a copy to Abbey Road where it was saved and archived?
Agree with grade...song probably wouldn't have made it if it were a single LP. That's why I'm glad they went the double route. Birthday started as 4 track and then bumped to 8 for overdubs. Bern
The other thing few talk about is WHY the Beatles decided to record all those demos at George's house. Was it really to catalog what compositions they all had and decide what kind of record they wanted to make next out of all that material? Or was it actually a concerted effort to see what an acoustic Beatles album with a loose camp-like vibe might sound like, with the thought of replicating that vibe closely in the studio? I've often wondered if they were inspired by Dylan and the Band to record at home. The first bootlegs of the BASEMENT TAPES would not surface until a year later, but in spring of '68 it would have been a year after the Basement Tapes were recorded...Could George and the others have caught wind that Bob and the Band were recording loose stuff at their house in Woodstock, and decided they wanted to try something similar? George, John and Donovan were all Dylan acolytes and all hanging out together in India before the Esher sessions. Then the Beatles go and do a "Basement Tapes" style document...Interesting!
My advanced copy of the "50th" Anniversary-"The Beatles" arrived Saturday compliments of EMI-Michael Bradford. Thanks Michael! The deluxe edition "box" is very similar to the "50th Anniversary" SPLHCB" from Japan in that it contains 'pop up" diorama figures of "the roof top concert". Really cool!
Guess we see things differently on this one. I see Birthday as one of the stronger tracks on the record. If the WA had been a single album (gasp), Birthday certainly would have been included, imo.
We are going in with clear heads and hoping for the best. We had hoped this time to do a lot of rehearsing before we reached the studios rather than rehearse actually on the instruments but, as it happens, all we got was one day. -Paul McCartney, 1968
It's been mentioned that the mono will be included..(although not taking up cd space)...so here's a site showing the difference with all the songs. I was raised on stereo...so I only visit the mono's on rare occasions. Mono vs Stereo: The White Album | The White Album Project Bern
Great pic! No offense against the Wolfman, he was a huge part of my music life growing up. Dude was a classic. Awoooo!
Huh? So.... the lyrics of Lovely Rita only work in the presence of a meter maid? The lyrics of Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite only work in the presence of a carnival? The lyrics of Maxwell's Silver Hammer only work in the presence of hammer-wielding murderers?
As I (mis?)understand it, George’s personal archive was completely unorganized, a collection of unlabeled tapes. At the time of Anthology I think what they used was what they could find on four track. But over time his archive has been gone through and organized and now they supposedly have all 27 demos from four track.
