He had the music for months. It came to him in a dream! He was worried it was something he'd heard somewhere. But no, his own genius. The words came later. The working lyric for 'yesterday' was 'scrambled eggs, oh how I love your legs' - I think we're all happy they worked up real lyrics :)
I saw this again recently and I was so happy. I understood a lot more things than I did when I was a kid seeing it in the theater(Everybody was screaming around me I had never heard anything like that before in my life). How much fun I had.
"Yesterday" is the most covered song in the history of recorded music with over 2,200 cover's. On "I'm Down" you can watch this live from their 1965 concert at Shea Stadium, NY. On the electric piano solo, you'll see John playing with his elbow, it hilarious! They were having so much fun in those day's. John and George were hysterically laughing on this performance, it's a great watch. Peace ❤
Your music choices are always diverse and great. But your reactions to the music, instruments, lyrics, etc., are always entertaining, enlightening, and witty. Thanks for all your hard work.
McCartney had a sneaking suspicion that he didn’t write Yesterday. That it was so good he had to have unconsciously copped it from somewhere. It really is the pinnacle of his songwriting career
Yes! I've always thought that I'm Down was killer! Their live performance of it at Shea Stadium was great to see - a short clip is out there showing John cracking up with George, as he ripped on the keyboard.
If you watch footage of the Shea Stadium gig in 1965 (some of which is on the Anthology), you'll see them perform this live. John went ballistic on the organ, playing the solo with his elbows and acting like a lunatic, while George was convulsed in laughter and barely able to play. The whole show was insane, but that moment summed it up.
Yup, at that point John must have thought WTF , we could be playing anything, no one, not even us, can really hear above all the screaming. Ringo only knew when to stop a song by the others body movements.
After their manager Brian died, Paul took it upon himself to keep the band moving forward, getting in the studio, producing new albums and photo sessions. The other three were relatively undisciplined and he once likened it to "herding cats" to get everybody in the same room at the same time.
I"m Down is one of the punkiest Beatles songs. In Canada, you could only hear this song as the flip side to the Help! 45. I had the album Help!, so I had the song Help!, but it was a while before I heard I'm Down at a friend's house who had the 45.. .so I went out and bought the 45 to get I'm Down
Yesterday was one of the most popular songs on earth (covered thousands of times) for years. I still tend to think everyone has to know it, but it's almost 60 years old. Enjoyed your reaction. Your analysis is great!
Paul said when he first wrote "Yesterday" which came to him completely finished in a dream, he first sang "Scrambled eggs, oh baby how I love your legs" until he later changed the lyrics to "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away...." He also first thought the song belonged to someone else because he literally had dreamed it into existence. But after a long time of searching and finding nothing of where the song may have come from, he realized that he had written the song and not heard it from someone else. McCartney seems to be not of this world, man. Seriously. What a talent. The Beatles music is magic and has seriously blown my mind since I was 15, and continues to do so as I am, incredibly, somehow still hearing new things in the songs that I have heard for so many years. And that makes my love and appreciation for them somehow grow even more. I am still fascinated by them and realize they have positively shaped my thinking about a lot of things. It's like more than a music thing and I know a lot of people feel like I do. As Bono of U2 once correctly said, "there's magic in them songs."
Lol lol lol. That is truly one of my favorite Beatles bangers. Oh my. John on that organ is tearing it up and of course Ringo is just going absolutely nuts. The whole thing just sounds so cool, especially for the time. It makes a really nice back to back with Yesterday; I'm glad it was released that way as the single. But yeah, having it go from this into Dear Prudence would be quite interesting.
Great contrasting songs, especially if as you say they were recorded together! Yesterday has to be the most famous pop song of all time, 2 minutes of pure perfection. Cheers.
Re: what you said. Paul was a perfectionist, they tend to wear on people who aren't. But man, what they accomplished together will never be repeated. In a way it's good that they stopped while on top of their game. Like Neil says, it's better to burn out than to fade away. peace
Yesterday & I'm Down were recorded on the same day, along with I've Just Seen A Face. The three songs are completely different to each other and all McCartney songs. Amazing day's work, especially by McCartney.
In John's "How Do You Sleep" John said, 'The only thing you done was Yesterday And Since you've gone you're just Another Day" Poking Paul about two of his songs, "Yesterday" and Paul's solo "Another Day." I loved John's word play.
Yeah, John could be a real ass to the people who loved him. Luckily they seem to have understood - I would not have been so forgiving, but they're better people than me, I guess.
@@patrickmcevoy5080 John was dark, troubled, sweet and vulnerable all at the same time. He had a pretty damn rough start in life and for his next 21 or so years. He was an ass, but he was never sneaky or dishonest. Paul also did hurtful things to John, as well. In fact, he put out McCartney with the digs at John first. And, the beetles screwing on his album cover.
From the beatles bbc sessions discs (& on youtube) theres a little richard cover they did called "oh, my soul!" ...youd prob love it....paul screams it so hard & its so fast its almost like a punk thing, its just a explosion of sound & tempo...whatever it is tho, its crazy & dope & rockin...i def think youd dig it. I def makes u comprehend how they rose up in the clubs of Hamburg, rocking the way they did.
How anyone can write a song so beautiful as Yesterday that has such poetic lyrics at such a young age is mind boggling. The song was released 4 days before he turned 23 which is unbelievable.
I was15 when the single "Help" along with the flip side "I'm down" and i just realized when you put the single together it says help I'm down and this was at the height of Beatlemania and looking back I think they were telling us something back in 65!!
Three songs laid down on the same day, Monday 14 June 1965 - they all happened to be Paul's. Quite amazing. As per Beatles Bible: "The day began at 2.30pm. Between then and 5.30pm The Beatles worked firstly on ‘I’ve Just Seen A Face’, an acoustic recording completed in six takes with a maraca overdub. Afterwards, during the same session, they completed ‘I’m Down’, McCartney’s Little Richard-inspired rocker. The group taped the rhythm track in seven attempts - the full instrumentation was drums, bass, organ, lead and rhythm guitar, bongos and vocals. After a break the day’s second session began at 7pm, and lasted three-hours. This again was dominated by McCartney, who alone performed ‘Yesterday’ on an acoustic guitar. McCartney recorded ‘Yesterday’ in two takes."
Both of the McCartney songs, Yesterday, and, Michelle, are Infamous for getting into your head and staying once you hear them just a few times. Not to mention we've all heard it a whole bunch. It is buried deep in my consciousness, I know that.
Yesterday is the most covered and recorded song in history. No song comes close. The best version of "I'm Down" is from the Shea Stadium Live Concert film, it's amazing.
One of the funnest things you can watch is The Beatles playing I'm Down at Shea stadium. John goes crazy on the electric piano. At one point they show him and George just laughing hysterically. John bangs the piano with his elbows and runs them up and down the keyboard. And of course, the contrast of these two songs is crazy. Similar to listening to the White Album and hearing 'Why Don't We Do It In The Road' followed by 'I WIll', two more Paul songs that are COMPLETELY different from one another. They were the best.
One of my older sibs was very into The Beatles, the oldest sister was into The Rolling Stones. I love The Beatles but was into The Stones as a teen. You need to watch Help!!
Paul had a dream and next day this tune was in his head except he said “scrambled eggs” instead of “yesterday” - he thought it must be an old tune he was reminded of but no- a completely new never heard before beautiful timeless song - Genius
It was always fun watching the Beatles being interviewed about something in their past. Meeting Elvis, writing songs, movie stories,.....No 2 Beatles seem to remember the same thing, the same way. Keep in mind, at the end of 1964, the Beatles were stoned most everyday, all day, and didn't retain all the info.
Recently, I listened to The Beatles Live at the BBC compilations, which were live studio/club songs from London and Hamburg from 1961-64 and was amazed how raw and rock and roll they sounded even before Beatlemania took the world by storm and their official records like "Please Please Me". I recommend a listen.
McCartney 321 on Hulu. Wonderful times w Paul and Rick Rubin. I loved listening to them talking about the different Beatles and Paul's tracks from his career and isolating bass or drums or whatever was great fun! Recommend
I am so glad to see that you appreciate the musical genius of the Beatles. They had so many completely different sounds to their music that they defy genres. I suggest that you listen to Here Comes the Sun for an uplifting experience and Oh Darling from the same album for a whole different blues feel. While you are at it, Something from the same album is a wonderful love song. Keep up the good work. I enjoy listening to your reactions. I grew up listening to this music and every time a new Beatles album came out, it was completely different from the one before. It stretched our appreciation for different types of music. And yes, I was at Woodstock for all three days and had a blast. There is nothing like that today for lots of reasons, but the kids were ripe for change at the time and we felt a kinship with each other. I don't see that today. If you want to get a feel for the antiwar movement from those days, check out Country Joe and his live Woodstock performance of the Fixin' to Die Rag.
Yesterday, which is the most covered song of all time, literally came to Paul in a dream. He woke up with the music running through his brain and went around to everyone he knew, trying to figure out where he had heard it, but no one knew. So, Paul decided to write some lyrics, with the working title "Scrambled Eggs (Baby, I Love Your Legs)" before altering the lyrics enough times that he finally changed the title to "Yesterday." He wrote it, sang it, and recorded it without the other members of The Beatles, and could have released it as a solo record, but he gave half the writing credit to John, like they both agreed to do when they first got together, and released it as a Beatles song. Much later, he tried to get Yoko to agree to a switch and place his name on the writing credits first, ahead of John's name, since John had no actual connection to the song, but she refused. I believe they finally worked it out, but I'm not sure how it happened. I just think it's awesome that Yesterday originated in a dream. ❤😎✌
'Scrambled eggs, Oh you've got such lovely legs, Scrambled eggs. Oh, my baby, how I love your legs.' The Beatles did songs that Paul had nothing to do with too, but his name was still attached for writing credit.
Great reaction, my man. It's crazy to think that "I'm Down" was only a B side single that didn't make it to an album -- until they bunched all the singles together on Past Masters, Vols. 1 and 2. Continue your sojourn down this remarkable rabbit hole. 😊
Yesterday is the most covered song in pop music history. It’s in the Guinness book of world records. A great version of “I’m down“ is the video of them at Shea Stadium. They couldn’t hear themselves or their instruments, so John started playing the keyboard with his elbows and they’re just laughing hysterically.
it is hard to believe as a boomer you have Not EVER heard this song, the most covered song of all time, it's in the record books. Martin did the string arrangement , yes. During their August 1965 tour, they debuted the song on the Ed Sullivan show later broadcast in September,with only Paul on guitar and vocals, and a string section from the TV orchestra. The girls all but stopped screaming, sitting there in awe of this performance of one of the greatest songs written that they had never heard out of Paul until that moment, , and held off until the nod of the song. That was very unusual, no screaming. that was the moment many realized the Beatles had some real talent they were hiding. The parents all loved the song, many adult type crooners covered the song. They ended every 1965 show with I'm down. Lennon is on the organ.
Actually the Beatles were in studio 2 at EMI at 10:00 AM on June or July 14, 1965 . They recorded “ I’ve Just Seen A Face “ COMPLETELY FINISHED . The they recorded “ I’m Down “ at 2:00 same day COMPLETELY FINISHED , then at the end of the SAME DAY ,Paul recorded “Yesterday” LIVE with just acoustic guitar , and voice . COMPLETED except for strings which Paul, and George Martin worked on together , and they added the strings the following day. THATS THREE MCCARTNEY SONGS COMPLETED ON THE SAME DAY !
Those two and I've Just Seen A Face all recorded on the same day. I mean, if ever there was a day in which Paul REALLY stepped into the limelight to prove his immense talent to the world, it was four days prior of his 23rd birthday, the 14th of June of 1965
"I'm Down" was considered a parody song by the Beatles, primarily John who thought the lyrics and style was a sendup of all those songs where a guy complains about how badly his lady has hurt him. He even claimed they were trying to popularize the idea of parody records as taking over from protest, which is ironic considering his early 70s period was full of protest songs (with an album entirely made up of those called Some Time in New York City). Fun and funny tune and a complete reversal of style from "Yesterday." Which was not released as a single in the UK at first, instead being tucked away on the B-side of Help! in that region while being put out as a stand-alone single in the US (debuting on an LP with the release of Yesterday and Today the next spring).
I believe Help is where the Beatles found their sound. Some claim it's Rubber Soul. The Beatles pay homage to The Bakersfield Sound with a cover from Buck Owens song Act Naturally which Ringo sings. Help is such a fantastic album.
I was 11 when the Help single was released in London,the b-sides were always superb as well,and on the back the Help single was I’m Down,their brilliant take on classic rock n roll and of course,mastered it. There can be only one GOAT,and you’ve just listened to them.
Paul was the first artist to be called "THE VOICE" back in 1962. An opposing band manager watching the Beatles in their early days, was watching them set up and said to his band, "oh sh&T!" then after they set up they started to play, "God da%$it!' then once Paul opened his mouth, he turned to his band and said, "Oh crap, They look great,...they play great,....and there is "THE VOICE". Distraught that the Beatles were a perfect package and made his band seem very amateurish. Paul has a voice that can be smooth, rough, high pitched, low pitched, gravely, silky, acid tongued or heavenly choir, his voice is like a freaking Swiss Army knife.
My father was in his mid sixties when "Yesterday" was released. So The Beatles were not really his kind of music. But after hearing this song he changed his mind a bit and was ready to accept that they were better musicians than he thought before. These two songs in a row show how great Paul was as a singer. One of the best in rock history imo.
Check out Paul's version of the blues song Summertime on his Russian album-combines both of these voices in one song (CHOBA B CCCP)--there's also a live version (audio only) from concert in New York 1989.
I don't know which two Little Richard songs you've listened to but may I be so bold as to recommend you keep a' listenin' to one o' the greatest songwriters 'n performers this world has ever known. Here are just a few o' his must hear masterpieces: Ready Teddy, Slippin' And Slidin', Long Tall Sally, Rip It Up, Keep A Knockin', Good Golly Miss Molly, Ooh My Soul, Lucille. This is just the beginnin'...dig it!
BOOK 2 isn't OUT yet, it was SUPPOSED to be by now. So now we don't know WHEN it will come out. It too Mark Lewisohn 10 years to read Vol. 1 which you are reading now, Lee. There is supposed to be a VOL.3 too.. I hope I am still around to be able to read it (I am 77 now) since Vol. 2 isn't finished yet. OH dear.
‘Yesterday,’ the most covered song in music history. I’m always surprised when people have never heard it. Also, you’d get a kick out of watching ‘I’m Down’ live.
What I've heard from some of the engineers that have been quoted. Paul started coming in with his music completely formed in his head. That was hard for the other bad members because he had their parts figured out and would tell them what to play. They weren'writing together like they used to and Ringo even said that him and John would be sitting out in the garden and Paul would call and make them go to work. So in my opinion as I think most of the world is they were just growing apart. Paul being the energizer bunny I think just irritated the other guys. and let's not forget George was starting to write then and wasn't getting any of his songs on the albums. So there was just a lot going on. They had gone from being a band of Brothers to living separate lives. And Jon and Paul's differences were starting to stand out more than they did. What I mean by that is well they were forming their own styles. It's not forget it was Paul who did not want the band to break up. I often wonder as amazing as the Beatles are and I'm sure people would be going back over their music just the same. that being said them breaking up when they did just blew everyone away because there was no one else like that. It was always the Beatles album that came out and just blew your mind. With that started all the mysteries of why did they break up who said what why and all of that. And people obsessively wanted to hear what was going to happen to them.
