"Slow Down", the sloppiest Beatle recording

If you want to know what the Beatles did onstage to become such a hot live act in Hamburg/Liverpool, pre-fame, this track gives as good a feel as anything. Yeah, the vocal is double tracked and it has piano, so isn’t literally the sound (though they sometimes did have piano onstage).

But the FEEL. The energy-over-precision. The rough edges. This FEELS like the pre-fame Beatles to me. And I always enjoy it. *. John just sings the hell out of it.

*mono only in this case

 

Similar disparity between mono 45 power and Hey Jude stereo, well, less power, for Paperback Writer.

 

The stereo satsisfaction with the prominent acoustic guitar transforms it into a near alternate take.

 

The original stereo mix of Paperback Writer sounds thin and wimpy.

 

Slow down probably doesn't even rate top ten in sloppiness for a Beatles track with me.
"Helter Skelter" and "Don't pass me by" are toward the top.

 

One of JL best Beatles (cover ) songs.

 

The stereo is not balanced, the mono is good, but I've never understood why the piano is there in the first place. It takes the edge off the riff, which is the bedrock of the song.

The BBC version is a much more enjoyable listen for me. AC30 heaven.

 

This exactly. This FEELS like a grimy sweaty cellar dance club on a Saturday night.

 

This. Hard to believe it took six takes but I love it. If George Martin didn't put the kabash on it, then my guess is that its rough edges were considered an attribute, if not, intentional.

 

Pure rock and roll heaven!!!

 

Slow Down and I'm Down are two of my favorite Beatles tracks.
Special message to OP: it's sloppiness. Sloppyness isn't a word.
Sloppy postings- first slowdown, then this!
Very disappointing.

 

Used to cover this in a garagey bar rock band I was in.

Always felt "Slow Down" was like a bar/garage rock band's secret handshake. You know the deal when your band covers this song.

 

Was that really necesary? We all know what the OP wanted to discuss, even if we do not all agree.

And yes i LOVE the two tracks you mentioned as well. Hard rockin’ Beatle fun.

 

It was intended as humor, referencing his criticism of sloppiness in the recordings. Since his posts had misspellings...get it?
JWB's contributions are great-some of the most thought-provoking on this board.
Relax.

 

Sorry didn’t get the joke. But everyone here knows that i am devoid of any humour so my bad ;-)

 

Come on-it s only a 55 year old rock n n roll track-a cover of original gangsta Larry Williams. To dissect it like it s some kind of art or whatever is bordering on Monte Python for me.
But of course to each their own
My opnion of the track-a fairly great rock n roll number bettered by the socalled mistakes. This kind of music was never about perfection anyway

 

I love "Slow Down" by the Beatles - but this is great also:

 

I think that general idea was much more the norm back then i.e. drums, rhythm section - to the back of the bus.

 

The whole Long Tall Sally EP songs were done quickly and in some cases in 1 take. The Long Tall Sally song was done in 1 take since they played the song live so many times.

 

Hey, you stole my copy of the EP. Give it back.

 

Saw Elvis and the Attractions cover this song...he was pretty red hot on it. Was fun to hear him yank that one out of the Beatles attic. Now I'm gonna have to go listen for this sloppiness.