"John is in fact the leader of the group" - Paul McCartney, 10/28/62

But he "rolled over".

 

Only after he died

 

Not necessarily his best song, but the most important he made for that album, the only one that trascends being just "a great song", it's a classic.

 

They could be said to have 'co-led' the band at some point(s), could they not? Not necessarily some swift and irrevocable transfer of leadership.

 

Fair enough.
It is certainly the Day In the Life of Revolver.
So is Revolution 9 now the classic off the White Album?

 

Ugh... no! That's what happens when you trade Paul McCartney for Yoko Ono

 

It is to me. I place Let it Be just behind Abbey Road among their greatest (both in the top three along with the White Album).

 

Oh, definitely. I found it fascinating as I had always considered it a Paul song, according to what IIRC both of them had said later. But this contemporary interview, with BOTH of them talking about it, definitely trumps that. Now, the song may well be more of a Paul song (concept, title, etc.) but it was definitely very much co-written.

I don't think it makes much sense to claim that they must have been lying in order to make it seem like they wrote together more than they actually did?, I mean, Occam's razor and all. The most plausible explanation is that they both simply forgot lol.

About the Elvis jam though: why are you assuming that it's Paul, George and Ringo who are misremembering here?, has any definitive evidence of the jam surfaced?

Thanks for the quote. I gotta say though, that I hear that statement as is it's established fact, and if this is the source for it, I'm not sure we should consider it so.

Plus, if they all had had equal say on what was recorded and released, George Harrison would have been a much happier chap...

 

No, Lennon's songs are superior and push the boundaries of rock music recording history, McCartneys songs are pretty much the same style he did prior to 1966 nothing revolutionary where as John (and George) was really pushing the psychedelic thing !!

 

Paul was just being kind. He didn't really mean that. Paul is a monster and was able to mold his playing, singing, and production talent quickly to quickly pass John.

 

I would take Lennon's songs on Revolver in a heartbeat.. John was still top dog on Revolver...I mean Tomorrow Never Knows? Come on now... that song is amazing...

 

You mean Yoko isn't the 5th Beatle?

 

Yeah Paul has 4 classics on Revolver IMO, Here There and Everywhere, Got to Get You Into My Life, Eleanor Rigby and For No One.
I don't consider Yellow Submarine all that great other than just being a fun little number and Good day Sunshine is borderline weak and almost filler.
John's And Your Bird Can Sing, I'm Only Sleeping, Doctor Robert, She Said, She Said and Tomorrow Never Knows has John IMO 5 to 4 or at least a tie if you drop one.
So I agree Paul had caught up on Revolver but just not passed yet.

 

Paul had always said that The Beatles were John's band. John was always the spokesperson until he didn';t want to be anymore.

 

You mean... by its use of Paul's tape loops?

People seem to forget that they were a band and therefore, more often than not, did work on songs together...

 

Paul has said the Beatles were John's band?. I'd like to see a quote.

 

I've heard him say it a couple of times, but I cannot tell you exactly where. Man! I thought this was all common knowledge to any serious Beatles fan.

 

I didn't start this pointless argument !!

 

It really is pointless.. this will go on forever and you know nothing good will come of it.. both Paul and John were really really great. .the end.

 

Paul needed John to rough up his sappy side. John needed Paul to do the reverse

 

Are you implying I'm not a serious Beatles fan, sir?

Seriously, I think the most I've heard/read Paul say (except in an early interview like the one that originated this thread) is that John was "very much the leader" or something to that effect.

 

Well, the subject of the thread really wasn't who wrote the best songs or was more experimental.

 

Revolution 9 still hasn't been "got" by many members of this forum even nearly 50 years after it was released. It is so far ahead of its time. It's bloody genius and one of the best sound collages ever done. Ian MacDonald got it.....

 

Everybody has a different take on revolution 9. To me that is why the fast forward or skip button exists

 

It's interesting but I don't find it genius. I guess I'm one of the many who don't get it. What is it that makes it so great? Honestly I'm more with Christgau than I am with MacDonald, but I'd like to keep an open mind