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Irish Daily Star
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
The Beatles song Paul McCartney and John Lennon had constant arguments over
The Beatles , with their iconic songs, often had members of the band recalling different versions of how these tunes came to be. Most of their music was penned by Paul McCartney and John Lennon (credited jointly as Lennon - McCartney), and the two sometimes disagreed on who contributed more to a particular song. Eleanor Rigby was one such song that John and Paul couldn't agree on who the main writer was . Similarly, they disputed over the origins of parts of In My Life and And I Love Her. Another Beatles track where John's memories didn't align with others was 'Rain'. This 1966 song was the B-side to the 'Paperback Writer' single and was recorded during the 'Revolver' album sessions. Read More Related Articles Today Show host Jenna Bush Hager supported by fans as she confesses she is 'exhausted' Read More Related Articles Bono reveals his favorite song of all time - and it's a Bob Dylan deep cut Seen as an early instance of the innovative techniques and musical style that marked the band's work in the latter half of the 1960s, it notably includes a slowed-down rhythm track and reversed vocals. John Lennon and Paul McCartney pictured in 1963 (Image:) John claimed this was his brainchild, inspired when he was under the influence. In a 1980 chat with Playboy, he shared: "I got home from the studio and I was stoned out of my mind on marijuana and, as I usually do, I listened to what I'd recorded that day." "Somehow I got it on backwards and I sat there, transfixed, with the earphones on, with a big hash joint. "I ran in the next day and said, 'I know what to do with it, I know... Listen to this!' So I made them all play it backwards. The fade is me actually singing backwards with the guitars going backwards. "[Singing backwards] Sharethsmnowthsmeaness... [Laughter] That one was the gift of God, of Ja, actually, the god of marijuana, right? So Ja gave me that one." John had claimed he had written the song alone but Paul saw it differently and said it was collaborative. In the book Many Years From Now, he said: "I don't think he brought the original idea, just when we sat down to write, he kicked it off. "Songs have traditionally treated rain as a bad thing and what we got on to was that it's no bad thing. There's no greater feeling than the rain dripping down your back. "The most interesting thing about it wasn't the writing, which was tilted 70-30 to John, but the recording of it." Producer George Martin said he, rather than John, came up with the idea of backward vocals for the recording, which took place at Abbey Road in April 1966. In the book The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, Mr Martin said: "I was always playing around with tapes and I thought it might be fun to do something extra with John's voice. So I lifted a bit of his main vocal off the four-track, put it onto another spool, turned it around and then slid it back and forth until it fitted. "John was out at the time but when he came back he was amazed. Again, it was backwards forever after that." Ringo Starr's beats on Rain earned accolades following its release in May 1966, with Rolling Stone heralding his performance as "superb". Ringo himself reflected in 1984, "I think it's the best out of all the records I've ever made. 'Rain' blows me away ... I know me and I know my playing ... and then there's 'Rain'." Paul McCartney was effusive in his compliments for Ringo, stating: "The drums became a giant drum kit... We got a big, ponderous, thunderous backing and then we worked on top of that as normal, so that it didn't sound like a slowed-down thing, it just had a big ominous noise to it. It was nice, I really enjoyed that one." The Guardian lauded 'Rain' as "perhaps the best Beatles B-side of all." Meanwhile critic Jim DeRogatis labeled it "The Beatles' first great psychedelic rock song". For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
Irish Daily Star
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Paul McCartney's favorite Beatles song is a little-known B-side - and it's 'insane'
The Beatles are well-known for their iconic hits including Eleanor Rigby and Hey Jude. However, they also had moments in which they broke away from pop music conventions. Paul McCartney pointed to one obscure B-side , You Know My Name (Look Up The Number), as a prime example of this unconventional approach. Created over numerous sessions from 1967 to 1969, You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) marked a departure from the band's typical output . Dubbed "insane" by Paul, the song is recognized for its surrealistic humor. You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) was first worked on in May 1967, but was set aside for close to two years . Read More Related Articles Jennifer Aniston moves on with Hollywood hunk after ex-husband's secret wedding Read More Related Articles Pierce Brosnan sends crystal clear message about his 31-year-long relationship When The Beatles resumed work on the song in 1969, they opted for radical change. Turning their backs on their signature style, the musicians created a mix of musical interludes and spoken word sections. The Beatles were experimenting with You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) (Image: Michael Ochs Archives) Even by the unusual standards of the late Beatles, the song broke away from conventional structures. It takes listeners on a ride through genres like lounge jazz, ska, cabaret and even includes comedic voice-overs from Paul and John Lennon. Reflecting on the song years later, Paul remarked, "People are only just discovering the B-sides of Beatles singles. They're only just discovering things like You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)." He said the song was "probably my favourite Beatles track," but admitted it was "so insane." Explaining what it's like to listen to the track, the Wings frontman said it brings back "all the memories." For all the latest news straight to your inbox, sign up for our FREE newsletters here . The song's unusual history is further enriched by Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones playing saxophone on the track, instead of his usual guitar. McCartney has shared anecdotes about how surprising Jones' involvement was. "He arrived at Abbey Road in his big Afghan coat," McCartney reminisced. "He was always nervous, a little insecure, and he was really nervous that night because he's walking in on a Beatles session." Paul continued, "He was nervous to the point of shaking, lighting ciggy after ciggy. I used to like Brian a lot." McCartney had expected Jones to join them with his guitar, "I naturally thought he'd bring a guitar along to a Beatles session and maybe chug along and do some nice rhythm guitar or a little bit of electric twelve-string or something, but to our surprise, he brought his saxophone. He opened up his sax case and started putting a reed in and warming up, playing a little bit. He was a really ropey sax player, so I thought, Ah-hah. We've got just the tune." Jones's unrefined saxophone lines added an additional unpredictable element to the track. You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) eventually became the B-side to Let It Be in 1970. For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
