On March 8, 2016, Sir George Henry Martin died aged 90. He was musician (oboe, keyboards), music producer, arranger, composer, conductor and audio engineer, best known for his work with The Beatles and sometimes referred to as “the Fifth Beatle”. Martin had 30 number-one hit singles in the UK and 23 number-one hits in the US. In 1996, as recognition of his services to the music industry and popular culture, he was made a “Knight Bachelor”.
Tag Archives: George Martin
The Beatles: Yesterday
On March 4, 1966, “Parlaphone” label released “Yesterday” , the eleventh Beatles EP. It was recorded in 1965, at “EMI Studios” in London, and was produced by George Martin, and was released in mono only. The cover photograph was taken by Robert Whitaker.
Track listing:
- Yesterday – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- Act Naturally – Johnny Russell, Voni Morrison
- You Like Me Too Much – George Harrison
- It’s Only Love – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
The Beatles: Rubber Soul
On December 3, 1965, “Parlaphone” label released “Rubber Soul”, the sixth Beatles studio album. “Rubber Soul” was recorded in October and November 1965, at the “EMI Studios” in London, and was produced by George Martin. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Rubber Soul” on number five on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel
- John Lennon– lead, harmony and backing vocals, rhythm and acoustic guitars, electric piano
- Paul McCartney– lead, harmony and backing vocals, lead, acoustic and bass guitars, piano
- George Harrison– lead, harmony and backing vocals, lead, rhythm, acoustic and bass guitars, sitar
- Ringo Starr – drums, tambourine, maracas, cowbell, bells, cymbals, lead vocals, Hammond organ
- Mal Evans– Hammond organ
- Robert Freeman- photography
Track listing
- I’ve Just Seen a Face – Paul McCartney
- Norwegian Woods – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- You Won’t See Me – Paul McCartney
- Think for Yourself – George Harrison
- The Word – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison
- Michelle – Paul McCartney
- It’s Only Love – John Lennon
- Girl – John Lennon
- I’m Looking Through You – Paul McCartney
- In My Life – John Lennon
- Wait – Paul McCartney, John Lennon
- Run For Your Life – Paul McCartney, John Lennon
Paul McCartney: Pipes of Peace
On October 31, 1983, “Parlaphone” label released “Pipes of Peace”, the fourth Paul McCartney studio album. It was recorded October – December 1980, February–March 1981, summer 1981, September–October 1982, and February-July 1983, and was produced by George Martin.
Personnel:
- Paul McCartney – vocals, bass guitar, guitars, piano, keyboards, synthesizer, drums
- Michael Jackson – vocals
- Eric Stewart – guitars, backing vocals
- Denny Laine – vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Hughie Burn – guitar
- Geoff Whitehorn -guitar
- Linda McCartney – keyboards, backing vocals
- Chris Hammer Smith – harmonica
- Stanley Clarke – vocals, bass guitar
- Ringo Starr – drums
- Steve Gadd – drums
- Dave Mattacks – drums
- James Kippen – tabla
- Andy Mackay – saxophone
- Ernie Watts: saxophone
- Gary Grant: horns
- Jerry Hey – strings, horn
- Gary Herbig – flute
- Gavin Wright – violin
- Petalozzi’s Children’s Choir – backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Paul McCartney, except where noted..
- Pipes of Peace
- Say Say Say – Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson
- The Other Me
- Keep Under Cover
- So Bad
- The Man – Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson
- Sweetest Little Show
- Average Person
- Hey Hey – Paul McCartney, Stanley Clarke
- Tug of Peace
- Through Our Love
The Beatles: Love Me Do
On October 5, 1962, “Parlaphone” label released “Love Me Do”, the Beatles’ first single, with “P.S. I Love You” as B side. “Love Me Do” was written few years before it was released, and before the name The Beatles existed. The song is signed by Lennon and McCartney and the single was produced by George Martin. Three different versions of the song were recorded, each with a different drummer:
- 6 June 1962 – with Pete Best
- 4 September 1962 – with Ringo Starr
- 11 September 1962 – with Andy White
George Martin said: When ‘Love Me Do’ was released, it was the day the world changed.
The Beatles: Revolver
On August 5, 1966, “Parlaphone” released “Revolver” the seventh Beatles (The) album. It was recorded April – June 1966, at “EMI Studios” in London, and was produced by George Martin. The album was recognized by critics as having redefined the parameters of popular music. The album’s Grammy Award-winning cover design was created by Klaus Voormann, old band’s friend from their early years in Hamburg. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Revolver” at number three on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel
- John Lennon– lead, harmony and backing vocals, rhythm and acoustic guitars; piano, Hammond organ, harmonium; tape loops, sound effects; cowbell, tambourine, maracas, handclaps, finger snaps
- Paul McCartney– lead, harmony and backing vocals, bass, acoustic and lead guitars; piano, clavichord; tape loops, sound effects; handclaps, finger snaps
- George Harrison– lead, harmony and backing vocals, lead, acoustic, rhythm and bass guitars; sitar, tambura; tape loops, sound effects; maracas, tambourine, handclaps, finger snaps
- Ringo Starr– lead vocals, drums; tambourine, maracas, handclaps, finger snaps; tape loops
- Mal Evans– bass drum, backing vocals
- Anil Bhagwat – tabla
- Peter Coe, Alan Branscombe– tenor saxophone
- Eddie Thornton, Ian Hammer, Les Condon – trumpet
- Alan Civil– French horn
- Geoff Emerick- tape loops of the marching band
- George Martin– piano, Hammond organ, tape loops of the marching band
- Tony Gilbert, Sidney Sax, John Sharpe, Jurgen Hess
- Stephen Shingles, John Underwood – viola
- Derek Simpson, Norman Jones – cello
- Brian Jones – backing vocals
- Donovan– backing vocals
- Marianne Faithfull– backing vocals
- Neil Aspinall– backing vocals
- Pattie Boyd– backing vocals
Track listing
All tracks by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, except where noted.
- Taxman – George Harrison
- Eleanor Rigby
- I’m Only Sleeping
- Love You To – George Harrison
- Here, There and Everywhere
- Yellow Submarine
- She Said She Said
- Good Day Sunshine
- And Your Bird Can Sing
- For No One
- Doctor Robert
- I Want To Tell You – George Harrison
- Got To Get You Into My Life
- Tomorrow Never Knows
The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
On May 26, 1967, “Parlaphone” label released “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, the eighth Beatles (The) studio album. It was recorded 24 November 1966 – 21 April 1967, at “EMI Studios” and “Regent Sound Studio” in London, and was produced by George Martin. The album is regarded as the first concept and art album in popular music. “Time” magazine described it as “a historic departure in the progress of music” It was an immediate commercial and critical success, winning four “Grammy Awards” in 1968, including “Album of the Year”, becoming the first rock album to receive this award. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” at number one in its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. “Oxford Encyclopedia of British Literature” (Professor Kevin J. Dettmar) described it as “the most important and influential rock and roll album ever recorded”.
Personnel:
- John Lennon– lead, harmony and background vocals; rhythm, acoustic and lead guitars; Hammond organ and final piano E chord; harmonica, tape loops, sound effects, and comb and tissue paper; hand claps, tambourine, maracas
- Paul McCartney– lead, harmony and background vocals; bass and lead guitars; electric and acoustic pianos, Lowrey and Hammond organs; hand claps; vocalisations, tape loops, sound effects, comb, tissue paper
- George Harrison– lead, harmony and background vocals, lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars, sitar; tambourine, harmonica, kazoo, hand claps, maracas
- Ringo Starr– lead vocals, drums, congas, tambourine, maracas, handclaps and tubular bells, harmonica; final piano E chord
- Sounds Incorporated– the saxophone sextet on “Good morning, good morning”
- Neil Aspinall– tamboura, harmonica
- Geoff Emerick– audio engineering; tape loops and sound effects
- Mal Evans– counting, harmonica, alarm clock, final piano E chord
- George Martin– tape loops, sound effects, harpsichord , harmonium, Lowrey organ, glockenspiel, Hammond organ , piano , final harmonium chord
- Four French horns on “Sgt. Pep per’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”: Neill Sanders, James W. Buck, John Burden, Tony Randall, arranged and conducted by George Martin and Paul McCartney,
- String section and harp on “She’s leaving home”, arranged by Mike Leander and conducted by George Martin
- Tabla, dilrubas, tamboura and swarmandalon “Within you without you”, played by members of the Asian Music Circle, with eight violins and four cellos arranged and conducted by George Harrison and George Martin
- Clarinet trio on “When I’m Sixty-Four”: Robert Burns, Henry MacKenzie, Frank Reidy, arranged and conducted by George Martin and Paul McCartney
- Saxophones on “Good morning, good morning”, arranged and conducted by George Martin and John Lennon
- Forty-piece orchestra, including strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion; arranged by George Martin, John Lennon and Paul McCartney and conducted by George Martin and Paul McCartney.
Track listing
All tracks by John Lennon and Paul McCartney except where noted.
- Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
- With a Little Help From My Friends
- Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
- Getting Better
- Fixing a Hole
- She’s Leaving Home
- Being for the Benefit of Kite
- Within You Without You – George Harrison
- When I’m Sixty Four
- Lovely Rita
- Good Morning Good Morning
- Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – reprise
- A Day in the Life
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