ELIOT: George, why did Capitol Records add tons of
echo and reverb onto certain songs on the American
LP releases only, like "She's a Woman" and
"I Feel Fine?"
GM: I didn't know they did it!I was VERY ANGRY about it!
I still don't know why they did it! They shouldn't have done it.
ELIOT: How much time did the Beatles
spend rehearsing tracks before recording?
GEORGE: It varied. When we started on two track tape, most of
the recordings were done live then. When we got into four
tracks, I started using three tracks for a live studio performance
and the remaining track for overdubs. By 1964-65, I would
rehearse them and try and get ONE track perfect with all of the
song. Then, that would leave the other three tracks for
overdubbing more voice work, piano, guitar.
ELIOT: Sgt. Pepper was the first album Capitol didn't
dissect. Did the "Butcher Cover" have any impact -- or were
you finally able to prevail artistically?
[NOTE: Capitol would take the English albums and pull tracks
off, mix them around, and create albums that didn't exist in any
other part of the world. For the "Yesterday and Today" album,
the group submitted a cover with them posing in butcher smocks
with parts of meat and baby dolls all over them. After parents freaked,
Capitol issued and then quickly recalled the covers--pasting a new one over it]
GEORGE: The butcher cover (a sick joke from the boys)...I laughed
too..and I told them they couldn't use it...it was too sick.
So it got scrapped. I was surprised when it came out in
America. Capitol did all kinds of things without our approval.
We finally got our way!
ELIOT: How does having worked with the group affect you now?
GEORGE: I find the BEATLES' revival a bit strange and
wonderful!!!. That the audience wants to hear work
I did over 40 years ago. When I do orchestra concerts worldwide,
the audience LOVES ME because they LOVE the
BEATLES!!!
ELIOT:
Are there any Beatles titles that you wish you could
re-record? If, so what are the titles, and why?
GM: I would like to leave the music alone. If you rerecorded
the music with the new technology, they just wouldn't be the
same. When I listen to the old outtakes, it's amazing how
good the boys were working in four tracks. I would never wish
to re-record the songs again.
ELIOT: How did the group change over the years?
GEORGE: The change was subtle over a long period of time.
They were great "students" and soaked up the laws of the
recording studio. In the first years, they were touring, etc.
and really didn't know about using the studio--until "Sgt.
Pepper." Things changed after Brian died. They were a little
bit lost, they became more demanding on me. They were all
fighting each other during "Let It Be" and then they came back
and did "Abbey Road" with me. We all ended very happily!
echo and reverb onto certain songs on the American
LP releases only, like "She's a Woman" and
"I Feel Fine?"
GM: I didn't know they did it!I was VERY ANGRY about it!
I still don't know why they did it! They shouldn't have done it.
ELIOT: How much time did the Beatles
spend rehearsing tracks before recording?
GEORGE: It varied. When we started on two track tape, most of
the recordings were done live then. When we got into four
tracks, I started using three tracks for a live studio performance
and the remaining track for overdubs. By 1964-65, I would
rehearse them and try and get ONE track perfect with all of the
song. Then, that would leave the other three tracks for
overdubbing more voice work, piano, guitar.
ELIOT: Sgt. Pepper was the first album Capitol didn't
dissect. Did the "Butcher Cover" have any impact -- or were
you finally able to prevail artistically?
[NOTE: Capitol would take the English albums and pull tracks
off, mix them around, and create albums that didn't exist in any
other part of the world. For the "Yesterday and Today" album,
the group submitted a cover with them posing in butcher smocks
with parts of meat and baby dolls all over them. After parents freaked,
Capitol issued and then quickly recalled the covers--pasting a new one over it]
GEORGE: The butcher cover (a sick joke from the boys)...I laughed
too..and I told them they couldn't use it...it was too sick.
So it got scrapped. I was surprised when it came out in
America. Capitol did all kinds of things without our approval.
We finally got our way!
ELIOT: How does having worked with the group affect you now?
GEORGE: I find the BEATLES' revival a bit strange and
wonderful!!!. That the audience wants to hear work
I did over 40 years ago. When I do orchestra concerts worldwide,
the audience LOVES ME because they LOVE the
BEATLES!!!
ELIOT:
Are there any Beatles titles that you wish you could
re-record? If, so what are the titles, and why?
GM: I would like to leave the music alone. If you rerecorded
the music with the new technology, they just wouldn't be the
same. When I listen to the old outtakes, it's amazing how
good the boys were working in four tracks. I would never wish
to re-record the songs again.
ELIOT: How did the group change over the years?
GEORGE: The change was subtle over a long period of time.
They were great "students" and soaked up the laws of the
recording studio. In the first years, they were touring, etc.
and really didn't know about using the studio--until "Sgt.
Pepper." Things changed after Brian died. They were a little
bit lost, they became more demanding on me. They were all
fighting each other during "Let It Be" and then they came back
and did "Abbey Road" with me. We all ended very happily!
