Strawberry Fields Forever - Take 7 vs. Take 26

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Detroit Rock Citizen, Feb 15, 2020.

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  1. Detroit Rock Citizen

    Detroit Rock Citizen RetroDawg Digital Thread Starter

    Let's suppose the world was less perfect. There was no magic. George Martin wasn't able to match these two takes to create the master for Strawberry Fields Forever. What would you like to have been released?
     
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  2. Dr. Luther's Assistant

    Dr. Luther's Assistant dancing about architecture

    Location:
    San Francisco
    Really tough call.

    I'm partial to well-crafted orchestration in conjuction with well-designed "pop music", so Take 26 is right in my wheelhouse. Lennon's melody/vocal juxtaposed with the tremendous orchestral composition is a beautiful thing. But the tempo is too fast for a "soothing" listening experience.

    Conversely, Take 7 has an exquisite, lovely "flow" -- more receptive to the vocal delivery.

    I don't know. I think what ultimately transpired with the "master take" is a true marvel. It happened, and it (apparently) was supposed to happen as such.

    We are fortunate to have received it.
     
  3. autumn daze

    autumn daze I really don't belong here

    Location:
    Milton Keynes, UK
    It’s like being asked would I prefer to go live with my mum or my dad (7 or 26). You animal.

    I’d choose take 7 at a push.
     
  4. Mr.Mustache

    Mr.Mustache Forum Resident

    I love what we got. I think that by take 26 they had more time to get the song sorted out. But if I had to pick I would definitely go with NUMBER 9..........
     
  5. Hall Cat

    Hall Cat Senior Member

    Location:
    Chicago, IL USA
  6. daveidmarx

    daveidmarx Forem Residunt

    Location:
    Astoria, NY USA
    I find the story about how they discovered that takes 7 + 26 went together to be a little too perfect. I believe that the idea to join take 26 to something else was there from the start. I mean why else would the first verse be eliminated in take 26? If they wanted the take to stand on it's own, wouldn't all the lyrics be present? That said, I prefer take 7 because it sounds more like a finished song than take 26, which sounds like half a song.
     
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  7. MHP

    MHP Lover of Rock ‘n Roll

    Location:
    DK
    Take 1 starts the same way as take 26.
     
  8. daveidmarx

    daveidmarx Forem Residunt

    Location:
    Astoria, NY USA
    The "living is easy" verse isn't sung on take 26. You only hear part of it at the end.
     
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  9. MHP

    MHP Lover of Rock ‘n Roll

    Location:
    DK
    Whatever. The same ‘dog-into-a-pile-of-bowling-pins’ occurs on both intros.
     
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  10. Onder

    Onder Senior Member

    It does start the same way but on his final vocal overdub John ignored the first verse so it's missing on the four track tape of Take 26.
    However, there IS an alternate mono mix that does feature early vocal overdub and John does sing the first verse. So the decision to join Take 7 and Take 26 was made sometime between these two vocal overdubs.
     
  11. Onder

    Onder Senior Member

    But the first verse was there initially. So it probably was meant as a stand alone version. See my post above.
     
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  12. gibtti

    gibtti Forum Resident

    Location:
    Glasgow, Scotland
    There is an early mix of 26 circulating with an alternate vocal track at the original faster speed, including full ‘Living is easy’ verse vocals
    I always figured the 26 vocs were redone after it was decided to splice 7 and 26 together as the new vocals have the first verse missing (not needed) and are taped at the new slower speed, matching 7.

    My preference is 26. 7 feels more ‘Revolver’. 26 feels more ‘Sgt Pepper’...

    Chris
     
  13. daveidmarx

    daveidmarx Forem Residunt

    Location:
    Astoria, NY USA
    I suppose, though it doesn't sound like much effort was put into getting the first verse just right as it's not present on the "final" mix of take 26. It just seems odd that they jettisoned the fantastic instrumental intro that was on take 7 for take 26.
     
  14. Detroit Rock Citizen

    Detroit Rock Citizen RetroDawg Digital Thread Starter

    Great comments! Keep them coming.
     
  15. Flaming Torch

    Flaming Torch Forum Resident

    Easy for me I voted take 7. However the released version as produced by Sir George Martin is wonderful.
     
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  16. Wildest cat from montana

    Wildest cat from montana Humble Reader

    Location:
    ontario canada
    Never met a take of ' Strawberry Fields Forever ' I didn't like.
    My favourite song.
     
  17. John54

    John54 Senior Member

    Location:
    Burlington, ON
    Never let it be said there exists Beatles minutiae that the forum won't address ... :)
     
  18. LandHorses

    LandHorses I contain multitudes

    Location:
    New Joisey
    I prefer take 1 because it was recorded on the date I was born - November 24, 1966

    That's my 2 seconds of Beatles fame.
     
  19. Dr. Luther's Assistant

    Dr. Luther's Assistant dancing about architecture

    Location:
    San Francisco
    Hardy minutiae.
    Serious business.

    :cool:
     
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  20. Dr. Luther's Assistant

    Dr. Luther's Assistant dancing about architecture

    Location:
    San Francisco

    That's actually pretty f#cking cool.
     
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  21. Price.pittsburgh

    Price.pittsburgh Forum Resident

    Location:
    Florida
    Take 1.
    Never should have altered it so much IMO.
    As for the other two options take 26.
    I never cared for the overly sloggy slow take.
     
  22. The Elephant Man

    The Elephant Man Forum Resident

    It wasn't eliminated. For some reason the first lines are muted on the released version.
    It survives on the John Barrett mix.
     
  23. The Elephant Man

    The Elephant Man Forum Resident

    Agreed.
    At some point in the mid-80's I picked up the Nothing Is Real bootleg. I brought it in to play at the record store
    where I worked. We were a regional chain that did not sell boots, but it was way more important to me to play something like this rather than the 80's dreck we were supposed to be spinning in store. I remember at one point while playing the album, one of my co-workers came up to me and said something like..."How many times is this F$&@ing song on this record? I don't care if one version has a tambourine and the other has a shaker! This is f$&@ing killing me, man!" It didn't matter. It was absolutely fascinating to me to hear all these takes.
    :--)
     
  24. GLUDFSSR

    GLUDFSSR Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    When I was working at Music+ I played the 2 Ultra Rare Trax in the store. I would tell whomever asked this was coming soon.
     
  25. NumberEight

    NumberEight Came too late and stayed too long

    Take 1. Or the one before that. ;)

    it gets to the essence of the song.
     
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