Ringo is one of the greatest drummers in rock history. It had a lot to do with his left hand shuffle style trying to fit in to the most popular music of the day...He managed to create a signature style while not deviating enough from the norm to be off-putting... really a feat
One of my impromptu intelligence tests is to get into a conversation about Ringo. If I hear someone say he wasn't a very good drummer, well, that's a disqualifier. A zero on the musical IQ test. Ringo's weight, groove and time is simply perfect, and a busier drummer wouldn't have fit with this band.
@@daveman_50 Well said, he was just the right drummer for the right band. Edit - Just like Bonzo was perfect for Zepp, Keith Moon for the Who, Neil Pert for Rush etc... You could not just mix and match them and have the same band in the historical context. They just fit the puzzle of the bands they were in.
Ringo is like Phil Rudd of ACDC as they both avoid solos They are part of the band not doing lead drum solos for 20 minutes that were popular with more famous drummers
Ringo is completely unique, he had his own style always kept the beat fresh yet familiar, I guess you can say that about Paul too. The greatest bass drum duo in history. Somehow they all did their own thing that stood out in the song yet it fit in perfectly all together.
They sang and harmonized in key without being able to hear themselves! This was a TV show so the crowd was more controlled. They were the first to play stadium shows and it was mania. It wasn’t just loud but got very dangerous. That’s why they quit touring and once a studio band, their music got more complicated and sophisticated. But I adore early Beatles. Wish I had been alive. And I love when people react to their live shows. So fun!
Their 1966 Shea Stadium and Candlestick Park stadium gigs were 1/3 empty compared to the same gigs the previous year, however. 1965 was manic. Not so much 1966.
@@lyndoncmp5751 How cute. A Beatles bot. How many times have you trolled Beatles videos with this comment? 55,600 in attendance at Shea in ‘65, 11,000 empty seats in ‘66. So, you might want to work on your math. Also, research “the best selling group of all time.” Here we are nearly 60 years later still loving them and their music (including millions of us not alive at the time.) Take care.
Ringo was always underrated as a drummer because he played simply in a way that fit the overall music and sound, rather than show off technical chops (he actually hates doing drum solos). But he's since become much more respected as one of rock's top drummers precisely because of the way he plays, which fits the music. He can get fancy if the song requires it (Strawberry Fields Forever, She Said She Said, Rain, even Please Please Me from the early days is pretty busy drum-wise), but he'll usually go with simplicity as his default position. Even grumpy grizzled old Ginger Baker (who publicly dissed both Keith Moon and John Bonham) was complimentary of Ringo, as were many other players, including more technical drummers like Jon Hiseman. Note: whoever did the sound for this TV performance got a great drum sound out of Ringo's kit, arguably even better than George Martin's production on the drums - Martin tended to put the drums in the background of the mix.
Two other main reasons for stopping touring were that as there studio albums became more and more complex ( strings, horns, synths, tape loops and other effects) they didn't feel they could do them justice live, and the insanity of the road for them, they had no lives.
Interesting that you note their harmonies and how tight they were. Stage monitors at that point were either not very good or non-existent. A big part of why they stopped doing live show was that they got frustrated that they couldn't hear themselves.
That's always been an excuse. It was only the rare stadium gigs where the sound had go through the PA system that they couldn't hear themselves. That wasn't the case for most of their gigs by 1966 and by 1966 Beatlemania was waning and the hype wasn't as manic as before (their 1966 Shea Stadium age Candlestick Park gigs were 1/3 unsold). In 1966, the Stones, Who, Doors, Yardbirds made themselves heard. By 1967 so too did Hendrix and Cream and by 1968 Led Zeppelin did. It was more to do with the Beatles not being able to recreate their newer music on stage, because much of it was George Martin's studio wizardry. They should at least have been honest about it.
Ringo is widely considered one of the greatest rock drummers. He never did more than the song needed. His fills were brilliant, and his tempo is always perfect.
Ringo is an excellent timekeeper, and his groove moves the song along. He is not a show-off, he does not like doing drum -solo's and he has a non-serious personality. Some have taken these as a lack of drumming skills, but make no mistake professional drummers, including famous one's regard his playing with very high esteem and some consider him their inspiration to take on drumming. After the group broke up, John Lennon had said in interviews that he would like rerecord "Help" as a slower song. He said it was a real cry for help and the message was lost in its upbeat arrangement on The Beatles recording. Tina Turner recorded a great version of this song in the 80's, slower and more emotional. She must have heard John's interview.
Ringo, had very good hand/foot technique but his over all feel for music and sense of Swing made him a fantastic contributor to their songs . Even here in this video notice how Ringo's left hand strikes that snare drum on the backbeat with the most even and precise strokes. Cheers
I believe that there was some discussion within the band re. the lyrics and whether a more mellow rendition of the song should have been made. Many artists have done just that over the years. Watching the movie Get Back shows how reluctant John & George were to go back to live shows but when they performed on the roof of Apple HQ in London many years after this recording the old chemistry reappeared.
Actually, the biggest factor with the older crowds opinion of them wasn't so much the music, although it was new and different, it was their LONG HAIR! In those days, early 60's it was hair trimmed around the ear and tapered short in the back. Just look at photos of the early 60's top pop male performers like, Dion, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, and more. Short and neatly combed. It was certainly the beginning of a cultural revolution! And it took off! (much to the dismay of some of the old timers). Credit to the big variety television shows back then, like the Ed Sullivan Show, who embraced the new look and music and had many, many long-haired British and American bands on their shows.
This is the other side of the Beatles genius. On one side, you had this beautifully insane melding of Lennon and McCartney's writing, George Harrison's always knowing exactly what to play for each specific song to give it that signature Beatles sound, Ringo Starr's brilliant drumming that is SO OFTEN OVERLOOKED and George Martin right there to translate it all into the amazing and brilliant music we all know and love. Then there's this other side to them that was just as brilliant. Their ability to play live as tightly and on point as they always did and mind you most of the time the screams of the girls drowned out everything and they literally couldn't hear themselves. They were so tight as a band and their compatibility as musicians shines through with every live performance. They truly are the gold standard to which all music is held to.
The Beatles were a fresh approach to pop music that just hit the right nerves in everyone. The sound, the harmonies, the chemistry, the projection of enjoying each other and having fun playing was a magical elixir that blew everyone's mind. Pop music was never the same after them. They changed the direction of music in an incredibly dynamic way. Was nothing like them before or since. Musical Gods.
I was 9 years old in Feb. ‘64, planted in front of the TV when they first appeared on Ed Sullivan, and have been a music lover ever since. The Beatles opened my ears & mind to music and the ideas and emotions it both delivers and inspires. I later came to love other bands’ music, but am forever first a Beatle Maniac! ✌️❤️🎶
I was four, and it’s one of my earliest memories. It was the first time me and my three year old younger sister were allowed to stay up to watch the Ed Sullivan show. My Mom thought we would enjoy the Beatles ( she secretly liked them also, she was only 27 herself!). The two of us jumped up and down on the couch and screamed the whole time, it was so exciting!
@@loosilu I've never seen the press conference but the concert in Cleveland is on video I believe it was their first tour in America. I was back stage. I could see them but the screaming was to loud to hear them.
The best example of the Yin/Yang of Paul and John is on Sgt. Pepper - Paul wrote - "I've got admit it's getting better, Getting better all the time" - to which John relpied, in the backing voal - "It can't get no worse...
It’s great to be reminded how great they were live. They had been playing together since their mid- teens, and in some really tough venues over those years.
My parents wouldn't allow any type of rock (can you believe it?!) so we had sneak around, listening to the radio when they weren't around and they hated the Beatles! My husband's family was the complete opposite! His dad really didn't care and his mom thought they sounded great and were so cute LOL! I think it's true about the ying and yang with John and Paul. Paul's a balladeer mostly and John wanted to tear the roof off at times! Twist and Shout is a good example of him letting loose and that was a cover song!
I don't think there's much difference in comparing John to Paul in their tendencies toward harder or softer music. They each had plenty of both. I think Paul had the final word with the 'tearing the roof off' side of things with Helter Skelter. I think the big difference is Paul was drawn to more conventionally melodic songwriting (whether hard or soft), and John was more willing to delve into unconventional bizarreness like I Am the Walrus, Tomorrow Never Knows, Revolution #9, etc etc. even if confused the hell out of the listener at times.
This marks the end of their exciting early years and they were about mature in their playing, song writing and lyrics. Help is awesome in its exuberance. For a completely different vibe, try some tunes off Revolver which is 2 albums away. Try Tomorrow Never Knows, a psychedelic classic and studio masterpiece, one of George Martin's finest efforts. Enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎹🎶
Ringo played for the song and wasn't showy at all. Anyone who says he's a bad drummer as some used to do, is showing how little they know. I like Help! as a song. It's there in the middle between the Beatlemania days and the experimentation to come. I've read that it was originally written to be much slower, in keeping with the downbeat lyrics, but was later changed to a faster tempo.
The Help LP is the beginning of the change/growth for The Beatles. The B side to this single was I'm Down, a Paul McCartney song. It was more Boy/Girl oriented but still reflected the overall mood they had found themselves in. The isolation of fame was creeping in. Not being able to hear themselves when they were playing, along with the contractual restraints (2 LP's, 4 singles and a movie/year) had taken the fun out of it. They had started smoking the marijuana at this point and did start writing more introspective/mature songs. Their next 3 LPs (Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt. Peppers) would change the face of Pop music forever in just less than 2 years time.
Though the songs in Beatles for Sale still have the boy/girl dynamic, there is HUGE growth in John’s songwriting. He was definitely going through some kind of crisis that continued in Help! No Reply, I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party and the title song of Help! Had some gravitas that they didn’t have earlier.
Many youtube reactors have successfully posted these live beatles performances: " Don't Let Me Down ", " Get Back " ( both from the rooftop concert ), " Revolution ", and " Hey Jude ". All of these are great performances.
The single was released before the LP. In fact, I have the single of "Help!" with, under the song title, in parentheses, that it is from their new film "Eight Arms to Hold You". This is 1965 -- AFTER "A Hard Day's Night," when you begin to see more experimentation in the background singing.
People sometimes forget just how great the singing voices of the Beatles were. If you hear someone else cover a Beatles song ( with a few exceptions) it is just not the same.
Ringo is a utilitarian drummer. He played what the music needed without unecessary flash. Contemporaries like Keith Moon and Jon Bonham represented a contrast that many people considered more exciting and often conflated with 'better'. One notable thing about Ringo that has always stuck with me is that his meter is perfect. If they were in the studio playing a track at 70bpm, EVERY take would be 70bpm. This allowed the Beatles to combine segments from multiple takes to form a master in the era before computers made the practice commonplace.
I absolutely think that Paul and John were yin and yang. And what often would happen is one of them would write the verses and the other would write the chorus, or as they called it, the middle eight. And then vice versa. And then sometimes different ways of collaborating but generally, that's the way a lot of their songs or approached. Another fun thing to do with the Beatles is to go through all the songs that George Harrison saying, and then also Ringo starr. I discovered pretty quickly that I really love their songs as well. Each in its own way. All four of them were really good writers and good singers with their own personalities
@@orchidwave2574 Agree, was just trying to keep it simple because I'm not sure everybody knows what that is. But yeah perfect example of that would be a day in the life where McCartney wrote the so-called middle eight if you want to call it that.
John is a force of nature with a sharp and wicked sense of humor which he supposedly got from his mum. Did you see the performance where he asked the people in the cheap seats to applaud and the others just rattle their jewelry
If you can try to pull up "The Beatles Live At Shea Stadium 1965" and you will see Beatlemania at its crazy and wonderful peak. There were more than 56,000 fans there that night and it's a great watch. It was filmed in great color and the sound is really good and you get to see Lennon's incredible sense of humor on full display. This was a very historic concert as it was the first time anyone had ever sold out a stadium. The Beatles couldn't hear a note they were playing and yet they they were flawless, never missed a note. Every Beatles concert was only 30 minutes long because anything beyond that would have put both theirs and the fans safety in jeopardy. The concerts would reach near riot conditions and all out of love for the band. I saw your "Twist And Shout" video and you were wondering how Ringo was able to keep the beat with all of the noise. He stated that he was so use to seeing their backs and their asses that just by watching their movement's he knew where they were at in the song. As far as this debate about Ringo's drumming I look at it like this. He was the perfect drummer for the band that he was in. George Martin stated that of the four when in the studio he was the most proficient. He said that only on a couple of occasions he might have suggested to Ringo to play something a little differently then what he was doing on a track. Ringo was a true professional I'm every way and a great drummer. I hope you get to check out The 1965 Shea stadium concert. I got to see The Beatles live in Pittsburgh, Pa. in September, 1964 when I was six years old. There were over 12,500 fans there that night and the screaming was crazy. From the count in and first couple of notes of each song you really couldn't hear much, it was like barely controlled chaos as I remember it. That event is still one of my fondest memories in my life and I'm 64 now, it was crazy.
Nice review. It amazes me that the Beatles had no monitors or foldback speakers so most of the time they couldn't hear themselves. When they played live Ringo couldn't hear anything at all and just played the song as rehearsed. It worked because they were brilliant and, as you say, they had played hundreds of hours live in Germany and Liverpool.
Opened up the doors ? The doors of perception? A hint of what was an LSD experience? Just spotted that now. On November 28th Revolver at last gets the Sgt Pepoer treatment with a huge re-release. It will be massive. I don't know if that would be good for you to do then.or not. . A lot of people think Revolver is better than the more iconic Sgt Pepper
I love this one, it is from my favorite Beatles era. They have matured from their 'I love you' phase (this song is not about a simple romantic relationship) but they are not as downbeat as they became near the end of the band...
There's a story from a janitor that would clean the theater after a Beatles performance, and he would have to disinfect the seats from all the spilled urine.
It is nice to hear a new listener recognize how tight of a band they were. I've watched them since I was young and that was my first reaction " a tight band", with very good harmonies, even though they barely could hear each other live. In addition, they wrote their own songs, which wasn't very common then. Finally, Ringo was (is) a great drummer and he provided the right amount of support with solid timing.
Agree with your comments regarding hiw tight they are, how well they harmonize, and that Ringo is an underrated drummer. Would add that you note how close the live version sounds to the record. Beyond audience noise it is difficult to hear a difference.
Great insight as always! No matter the description, John & Paul were definitely opposites in many ways; Protagonist/Antagonist, Warm/Cool, Optimist/Pessimist, etc. I’m sure that played a significant part in their collective genius.
I really appreciate the fact that you mention something that isn't often talked about. Rarely do you ever see a band just get up on stage, especially now with the all electronic and computer help, and play as solid as they did, just the 4 of them, some instruments, amplifiers, mic's and raw talent - really quite remarkable. At the end of the day, they really are an amazingly tight, good (great) ol' Rock-N-Roll band!
Their musicianship in general is often taken for granted. They're all excellent musicians. Sometimes its like their personalities and creativity overshadows their skill.
Right on about the gigs in Hamburg making them a super tight live stage band. One trip there they played for 80+ straight nights of anywhere from 4 to 8 hours a night. Also, you have to know a LOT of songs to play that much, which I think was indispensable to their songwriting abilities. They were very familiar with a lot of melodies.
Oh...their classy little bow at the end of their performances always makes me smile! Love this song! And yes, John Lennon was very much a sharp cheeky, witty, complicated guy who often hid his 'dark side' with biting humor or brutal honesty. Love him, he was truly one of a kind. Having such a brilliant band with 4 unique talents and personalities, coming from the same city is something hard to wrap my head around to this day.
Just starting your reaction but my favorite thing right now is your reaction to John Lennon's stage presence. I've seen so much footage in Red so many accounts and seen interviews and stuff and it's way more than you are even thinking. Way way more. He was a bit of a bully as a kid and had a very turbulent childhood but a loving childhood from his aunt which gave him his crazy sense of humor, but he was a smart-ass and funny as hell and very smart. And charismatic. He didn't have Paul McCartney's cute little boy looks, but he was a force of Nature and he was so sarcastic and sardonic all the time. You should see him in interviews that they did now and then. Back in the day I mean.
Ringo's drumming was very tasteful. He created many of the unforgettable grooves in Beatles songs that anyone can recognize. People are down on him for not being the most technically proficient, but they overlook the fact that his non flashy style was ideal for the music they were making.
When you find time you’ve gotta hit Steely Dan- they’re perfect for your lyrical analysis and have a distinct sound. The best song to start is Reelin in the Years.
I challenge any drummer alive to play this song the way that Ringo played. Those shuffles on the hi-hat are so fast, and continue for so long, it always makes my hand cramp. I've never played a live version of this song, because it's too hard.
I'm absolutely gob-smacked every time I see this video clip from Blackpool. I think it's the best sounding live recording of the band. The screaming girl thing took on a life of its own and became a distracting pain in the ass BUT, come on !! This is pretty exciting. I appreciate your take on it, Syed.
The Beatles' musical ability was only part of the reason for their popularity. It was the combination package of good looks, unique fashion and hairstyles, those Liverpool accents, clear joy in each other's company, and wry sense of humor. You should watch "A Hard Day's Night" or "Help!"-the movies-to get an idea of their humor.
I was 13 when I saw a similar broadcast on The Ed Sullivan Show in early September 1965. The parents lost no love for The Beatles and their music and merely humored us kids whenever a song was played on the radio. HELP was a really good body of work. However, Rubber Soul was to follow and blow the lid off the pop music scene because of its maturation, imagination, and creativity. Eventually, I would hear one of my parents absentmindedly hum a Beatles tune though they would not admit it if pressed.
The way they kick in after John´s antics is stunning to me as one who has done a fair bit of live playing , Ok the last number ,but still a great start after a break,,
They were so proud of their live performances early on. It must have been tough in their later tours when they realized the audiences were not really listening.
Some people talk trash about Ringo Starr's drumming. They say he doesn't have the kind of chops that flashier drummers like Keith Moon or John Bonham have. The thing is, Ringo never wanted to be a flashy drummer or call attention to himself. The only drum solo in any Beatles song is the brief one in The End, near the end of the final track on Abbey Road. The Beatles knew this was likely to be their last time recording together in the studio, and John, Paul and George each took turns soloing on guitar, and convinced Ringo to solo as well. What makes Ringo a great drummer isn't about his chops or how quick his hands and feet are. It's his ear and his musicality. Ringo believed drumming should be in service to the song, and for each of the Beatles' songs, Ringo crafted a unique drum part that highlights and complements the other instruments and vocals beautifully.
I like your Ying Yang. comment. I find Johns works reflective and grounded, He wrote and spoke from his heart , Yeah, a cheeky and talented bloke. Miss him.
I can remember watching this particular TV show in 1965 (I was 14 years old), altogether they performed six songs......I Feel Fine, Ticket to Ride, I'm Down, Act Naturally, Yesterday and Help! They were brilliant!
As a teen during that period most parents, and even grandparents (in the UK) liked the Beatles. They would appear on the top family shows and regularly make the front page of the news. Noting at the time that throughout the arts; fashion, music, comedy, film, photography, etc it was working class people like The Beatles that were not only coming to the fore, but leading the way. Look at al the big names of that period and they were all working class. Pretty much a cultural revolution that spilled over into all walks of life.
Nice to catch this reaction to this song. Good to hear the boys in fine form. And to see you experience a gold ol' rocker by the boys is also really good. The sound systems in those days were so primitive they couldn't over power the screams.
Ringo is the most underrated drummer. He was an absolute metronome when he needed to be. George Martin said that many times Ringo would either speed up or slow down, but only when he needed to to serve the song. Otherwise, he was right on tempo. Ringo knew the job of a drummer was to play in the song, not over it. He absolutely hates drum solos and the solos he did do were a negotiation, where he didn't want to do it at all and the other band members were trying to get him to do more.
There are so many great Beatles songs I could recommend I hardly know where to start! I guess I would consider these some of the "basics", i.e. must-listens Slow/gentle: Across the Universe, Because, Something Mid-tempo: Happiness is a Warm Gun, Here Comes the Sun, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Norwegian Wood, Penny Lane, I Am the Walrus Hard/fast: Helter Skelter, Back in the USSR, Twist and Shout, I Saw Her Standing There
February 9th 1964 The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, my 10th birthday I am #11 of 13 the age gap with my dad really showed up that night May he rest in peace He freaked but I grew my hair out and picked up the guitar Goin out to play tonight and I will never stop covering The Beatles
You are exactly right. Paul was always upbeat positive, John always downbeat negative. I always think of the lyricks to the song getting better. Paul writes "i have to admit its getting better, its getting better all the time" and John counters with " can't get any worse". I always found John's lyrics a bit more cutting and because of that more interesting.
A couple of people have already said it, but for a totally different take on this song see John Farnham live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. It's an amazing performance.
The Black Pool performance is actually about 16 minutes long. John actually screws up the words to “Help” on the performance. Some how it was repaired for this shortened performance. Check it out, it’s on RUclips. He normally messed up the words to “Help” during performances.
Ringo's style is unique, due to the odd way he set up his drums. He was looked down on for a long time because he didn't play drums "the proper way", but it's only more recently that people have realised just how impressive his work is. Listen to the Beatles' song "Rain" to hear him at his most inventive. If you want to distinctly hear the different sides of Lennon and McCartney's writing, try "We Can Work It Out", with verses by Paul and bridge by John.
They called it electronic noise because the rockers used electric guitars instead of an orchestra and the lyrics were “She loves you yeah, yeah, yeah” instead of “Night and day, you are then one/ Only you beneath the blue and under the sun.” I see both sides.
My mother, who was 47 in '64 was infatuated with John in particular. She saw the fab four were true musicians. She was particularly impressed when they performed Till There Was You on the Ed Sullivan show. My parents took me to the drive-in to see A Hard Days Night. Ringo is a lefty playing a right-hand drum kit. Before he joined The Beatles, he was regarded as the best off-beat drummer in Britain. On top of all that, Ringo instinctively knows exactly which beat a song requires.
Syed, I suggest you watch the Deep Purple cover from 1968. It was a promo video. They actually slow it down, but have a great guitar solo by Richie Blackmore..
Your history knowledge and comprehension level are much greater than most people your age. Good reaction!
Ringo is one of the greatest drummers in rock history. It had a lot to do with his left hand shuffle style trying to fit in to the most popular music of the day...He managed to create a signature style while not deviating enough from the norm to be off-putting... really a feat
One of my impromptu intelligence tests is to get into a conversation about Ringo. If I hear someone say he wasn't a very good drummer, well, that's a disqualifier. A zero on the musical IQ test. Ringo's weight, groove and time is simply perfect, and a busier drummer wouldn't have fit with this band.
@@daveman_50 Well said, he was just the right drummer for the right band.
Edit - Just like Bonzo was perfect for Zepp, Keith Moon for the Who, Neil Pert for Rush etc...
You could not just mix and match them and have the same band in the historical context. They just fit the puzzle of the bands they were in.
Exactly.
Ringo is like Phil Rudd of ACDC as they both avoid solos They are part of the band not doing lead drum solos for 20 minutes that were popular with more famous drummers
Ringo is completely unique, he had his own style always kept the beat fresh yet familiar, I guess you can say that about Paul too. The greatest bass drum duo in history. Somehow they all did their own thing that stood out in the song yet it fit in perfectly all together.
They sang and harmonized in key without being able to hear themselves! This was a TV show so the crowd was more controlled. They were the first to play stadium shows and it was mania. It wasn’t just loud but got very dangerous. That’s why they quit touring and once a studio band, their music got more complicated and sophisticated. But I adore early Beatles. Wish I had been alive. And I love when people react to their live shows. So fun!
Their 1966 Shea Stadium and Candlestick Park stadium gigs were 1/3 empty compared to the same gigs the previous year, however.
1965 was manic. Not so much 1966.
@@lyndoncmp5751 How cute. A Beatles bot. How many times have you trolled Beatles videos with this comment? 55,600 in attendance at Shea in ‘65, 11,000 empty seats in ‘66. So, you might want to work on your math. Also, research “the best selling group of all time.” Here we are nearly 60 years later still loving them and their music (including millions of us not alive at the time.) Take care.
Ringo was always underrated as a drummer because he played simply in a way that fit the overall music and sound, rather than show off technical chops (he actually hates doing drum solos). But he's since become much more respected as one of rock's top drummers precisely because of the way he plays, which fits the music. He can get fancy if the song requires it (Strawberry Fields Forever, She Said She Said, Rain, even Please Please Me from the early days is pretty busy drum-wise), but he'll usually go with simplicity as his default position. Even grumpy grizzled old Ginger Baker (who publicly dissed both Keith Moon and John Bonham) was complimentary of Ringo, as were many other players, including more technical drummers like Jon Hiseman. Note: whoever did the sound for this TV performance got a great drum sound out of Ringo's kit, arguably even better than George Martin's production on the drums - Martin tended to put the drums in the background of the mix.
Come Together has Ringo greatness too.
@@TheDivayenta You Never Give Me Your Money
@@TheDivayenta In fact all of Abbey Road has pretty spectacular drumming by Ringo
@@amitabhhajela681 true!
Two other main reasons for stopping touring were that as there studio albums became more and more complex ( strings, horns, synths, tape loops and other effects) they didn't feel they could do them justice live, and the insanity of the road for them, they had no lives.
Interesting that you note their harmonies and how tight they were. Stage monitors at that point were either not very good or non-existent. A big part of why they stopped doing live show was that they got frustrated that they couldn't hear themselves.
That's always been an excuse. It was only the rare stadium gigs where the sound had go through the PA system that they couldn't hear themselves. That wasn't the case for most of their gigs by 1966 and by 1966 Beatlemania was waning and the hype wasn't as manic as before (their 1966 Shea Stadium age Candlestick Park gigs were 1/3 unsold). In 1966, the Stones, Who, Doors, Yardbirds made themselves heard. By 1967 so too did Hendrix and Cream and by 1968 Led Zeppelin did.
It was more to do with the Beatles not being able to recreate their newer music on stage, because much of it was George Martin's studio wizardry.
They should at least have been honest about it.
Ringo is widely considered one of the greatest rock drummers. He never did more than the song needed. His fills were brilliant, and his tempo is always perfect.
They're beyond tight as a band. More like telepathic.
Love when John sings lead..
Paul and George are UNREAL with the HARMONIES!!!!
Ringo is an excellent timekeeper, and his groove moves the song along. He is not a show-off, he does not like doing drum -solo's and he has a non-serious personality. Some have taken these as a lack of drumming skills, but make no mistake professional drummers, including famous one's regard his playing with very high esteem and some consider him their inspiration to take on drumming. After the group broke up, John Lennon had said in interviews that he would like rerecord "Help" as a slower song. He said it was a real cry for help and the message was lost in its upbeat arrangement on The Beatles recording. Tina Turner recorded a great version of this song in the 80's, slower and more emotional. She must have heard John's interview.
Ringo, had very good hand/foot technique but his over all feel for music and sense of Swing made him a fantastic contributor to their songs . Even here in this video notice how Ringo's left hand strikes that snare drum on the backbeat with the most even and precise strokes.
Cheers
One of my faves! Great quality recording and performance! Thank
I believe that there was some discussion within the band re. the lyrics and whether a more mellow rendition of the song should have been made. Many artists have done just that over the years.
Watching the movie Get Back shows how reluctant John & George were to go back to live shows but when they performed on the roof of Apple HQ in London many years after this recording the old chemistry reappeared.
Actually, the biggest factor with the older crowds opinion of them wasn't so much the music, although it was new and different, it was their LONG HAIR! In those days, early 60's it was hair trimmed around the ear and tapered short in the back. Just look at photos of the early 60's top pop male performers like, Dion, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, and more. Short and neatly combed. It was certainly the beginning of a cultural revolution! And it took off! (much to the dismay of some of the old timers). Credit to the big variety television shows back then, like the Ed Sullivan Show, who embraced the new look and music and had many, many long-haired British and American bands on their shows.
This is the other side of the Beatles genius. On one side, you had this beautifully insane melding of Lennon and McCartney's writing, George Harrison's always knowing exactly what to play for each specific song to give it that signature Beatles sound, Ringo Starr's brilliant drumming that is SO OFTEN OVERLOOKED and George Martin right there to translate it all into the amazing and brilliant music we all know and love. Then there's this other side to them that was just as brilliant. Their ability to play live as tightly and on point as they always did and mind you most of the time the screams of the girls drowned out everything and they literally couldn't hear themselves. They were so tight as a band and their compatibility as musicians shines through with every live performance. They truly are the gold standard to which all music is held to.
The Beatles were a fresh approach to pop music that just hit the right nerves in everyone. The sound, the harmonies, the chemistry, the projection of enjoying each other and having fun playing was a magical elixir that blew everyone's mind. Pop music was never the same after them. They changed the direction of music in an incredibly dynamic way. Was nothing like them before or since. Musical Gods.
React to some of George's songs: 🙏
Something
Here comes the sun
While my guitar gently weeps
(And so many more, ofc)
Beatlemania. You had to be there
I was 9 years old in Feb. ‘64, planted in front of the TV when they first appeared on Ed Sullivan, and have been a music lover ever since. The Beatles opened my ears & mind to music and the ideas and emotions it both delivers and inspires. I later came to love other bands’ music, but am forever first a Beatle Maniac! ✌️❤️🎶
Ditto (except I was 10)
Me too, 9 and was on my way!
I was four, and it’s one of my earliest memories. It was the first time me and my three year old younger sister were allowed to stay up to watch the Ed Sullivan show. My Mom thought we would enjoy the Beatles ( she secretly liked them also, she was only 27 herself!). The two of us
jumped up and down on the couch and screamed the whole time, it was so exciting!
@@vicprovost2561 Same here
I stood across a table from them as a kid at a press conference in the 60s. Yes, they were very cheeky and amusing. I loved them!
Which one? Is it on youtube?
@@loosilu I've never seen the press conference but the concert in Cleveland is on video I believe it was their first tour in America. I was back stage. I could see them but the screaming was to loud to hear them.
The best example of the Yin/Yang of Paul and John is on Sgt. Pepper - Paul wrote - "I've got admit it's getting better, Getting better all the time" - to which John relpied, in the backing voal - "It can't get no worse...
They were amazing! John’s voice was probably the best here in my opinion.
Why do you all give him a pass for singing flat? It's so weird. It's like his lack of competence is specifically celebrated.
I think Paul's is technically the better singer but I love the rock and roll passion in John's voice. He's really in the moment.
John was crying out for help, their popularity was getting to him.
the Bob Dylan influence is quite clear.
It’s great to be reminded how great they were live. They had been playing together since their mid- teens, and in some really tough venues over those years.
My parents wouldn't allow any type of rock (can you believe it?!) so we had sneak around, listening to the radio when they weren't around and they hated the Beatles! My husband's family was the complete opposite! His dad really didn't care and his mom thought they sounded great and were so cute LOL! I think it's true about the ying and yang with John and Paul. Paul's a balladeer mostly and John wanted to tear the roof off at times! Twist and Shout is a good example of him letting loose and that was a cover song!
I don't think there's much difference in comparing John to Paul in their tendencies toward harder or softer music. They each had plenty of both. I think Paul had the final word with the 'tearing the roof off' side of things with Helter Skelter. I think the big difference is Paul was drawn to more conventionally melodic songwriting (whether hard or soft), and John was more willing to delve into unconventional bizarreness like I Am the Walrus, Tomorrow Never Knows, Revolution #9, etc etc. even if confused the hell out of the listener at times.
This marks the end of their exciting early years and they were about mature in their playing, song writing and lyrics. Help is awesome in its exuberance. For a completely different vibe, try some tunes off Revolver which is 2 albums away. Try Tomorrow Never Knows, a psychedelic classic and studio masterpiece, one of George Martin's finest efforts. Enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎹🎶
There are a lot of call-and-response songs, but few where the response comes before the call.
Was impressed with their live playing on the eight days a week soundtrack. It was prehistoric technology at that time.
Ringo is very respected by other drummers
“Anyone can keep a beat. The talent is in the fills.” -Ringo
Ringo played for the song and wasn't showy at all. Anyone who says he's a bad drummer as some used to do, is showing how little they know.
I like Help! as a song. It's there in the middle between the Beatlemania days and the experimentation to come. I've read that it was originally written to be much slower, in keeping with the downbeat lyrics, but was later changed to a faster tempo.
Think about the music they put out between this record & SPLHCB. In two years!
Imagine if they'd have done a slower acoustic version on MTV unplugged or something if John had lived. Oh what could have been...
The Help LP is the beginning of the change/growth for The Beatles. The B side to this single was I'm Down, a Paul McCartney song. It was more Boy/Girl oriented but still reflected the overall mood they had found themselves in. The isolation of fame was creeping in. Not being able to hear themselves when they were playing, along with the contractual restraints (2 LP's, 4 singles and a movie/year) had taken the fun out of it. They had started smoking the marijuana at this point and did start writing more introspective/mature songs. Their next 3 LPs (Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt. Peppers) would change the face of Pop music forever in just less than 2 years time.
I see the Help song as that break from the Girl/Boy dynamic. Could easily be a friend.
Though the songs in Beatles for Sale still have the boy/girl dynamic, there is HUGE growth in John’s songwriting. He was definitely going through some kind of crisis that continued in Help! No Reply, I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party and the title song of Help! Had some gravitas that they didn’t have earlier.
Help-lp could have been SO much better. 4 bad songs
Those kids grew up on their parent's songs...waltzes, big band, crooners, country, marches, etc. Rock energized them.
Many youtube reactors have successfully posted these live beatles performances: " Don't Let Me Down ", " Get Back " ( both from the rooftop concert ), " Revolution ", and " Hey Jude ". All of these are great performances.
The single was released before the LP. In fact, I have the single of "Help!" with, under the song title, in parentheses, that it is from their new film "Eight Arms to Hold You".
This is 1965 -- AFTER "A Hard Day's Night," when you begin to see more experimentation in the background singing.
People sometimes forget just how great the singing voices of the Beatles were. If you hear someone else cover a Beatles song ( with a few exceptions) it is just not the same.
Can you react to A Hard Day’s Night - which shows their marvelous cheekiness? It’s a big reason we adored them.
Ringo is a utilitarian drummer. He played what the music needed without unecessary flash. Contemporaries like Keith Moon and Jon Bonham represented a contrast that many people considered more exciting and often conflated with 'better'.
One notable thing about Ringo that has always stuck with me is that his meter is perfect. If they were in the studio playing a track at 70bpm, EVERY take would be 70bpm. This allowed the Beatles to combine segments from multiple takes to form a master in the era before computers made the practice commonplace.
I absolutely think that Paul and John were yin and yang. And what often would happen is one of them would write the verses and the other would write the chorus, or as they called it, the middle eight. And then vice versa. And then sometimes different ways of collaborating but generally, that's the way a lot of their songs or approached. Another fun thing to do with the Beatles is to go through all the songs that George Harrison saying, and then also Ringo starr. I discovered pretty quickly that I really love their songs as well. Each in its own way. All four of them were really good writers and good singers with their own personalities
The 'middle 8' usually referred to what we usually call a bridge, not a chorus.
@@orchidwave2574 Agree, was just trying to keep it simple because I'm not sure everybody knows what that is. But yeah perfect example of that would be a day in the life where McCartney wrote the so-called middle eight if you want to call it that.
John is a force of nature with a sharp and wicked sense of humor which he supposedly got from his mum. Did you see the performance where he asked the people in the cheap seats to applaud and the others just rattle their jewelry
If you can try to pull up "The Beatles Live At Shea Stadium 1965" and you will see Beatlemania at its crazy and wonderful peak.
There were more than 56,000 fans there that night and it's a great watch. It was filmed in great color and the sound is really good and you get to see Lennon's incredible sense of humor on full display. This was a very historic concert as it was the first time anyone had ever sold out a stadium.
The Beatles couldn't hear a note they were playing and yet they they were flawless, never missed a note. Every Beatles concert was only 30 minutes long because anything beyond that would have put both theirs and the fans safety in jeopardy. The concerts would reach near riot conditions and all out of love for the band. I saw your "Twist And Shout" video and you were wondering how Ringo was able to keep the beat with all of the noise. He stated that he was so use to seeing their backs and their asses that just by watching their movement's he knew where they were at in the song. As far as this debate about Ringo's drumming I look at it like this. He was the perfect drummer for the band that he was in. George Martin stated that of the four when in the studio he was the most proficient. He said that only on a couple of occasions he might have suggested to Ringo to play something a little differently then what he was doing on a track.
Ringo was a true professional I'm every way and a great drummer. I hope you get to check out The 1965 Shea stadium concert. I got to see The Beatles live in Pittsburgh, Pa. in September, 1964 when I was six years old.
There were over 12,500 fans there that night and the screaming was crazy.
From the count in and first couple of notes of each song you really couldn't hear much, it was like barely controlled chaos as I remember it.
That event is still one of my fondest memories in my life and I'm 64 now, it was crazy.
Nice review. It amazes me that the Beatles had no monitors or foldback speakers so most of the time they couldn't hear themselves. When they played live Ringo couldn't hear anything at all and just played the song as rehearsed. It worked because they were brilliant and, as you say, they had played hundreds of hours live in Germany and Liverpool.
Opened up the doors ? The doors of perception? A hint of what was an LSD experience? Just spotted that now. On November 28th Revolver at last gets the Sgt Pepoer treatment with a huge re-release. It will be massive. I don't know if that would be good for you to do then.or not. . A lot of people think Revolver is better than the more iconic Sgt Pepper
I love this one, it is from my favorite Beatles era. They have matured from their 'I love you' phase (this song is not about a simple romantic relationship) but they are not as downbeat as they became near the end of the band...
There's a story from a janitor that would clean the theater after a Beatles performance, and he would have to disinfect the seats from all the spilled urine.
It is nice to hear a new listener recognize how tight of a band they were. I've watched them since I was young and that was my first reaction " a tight band", with very good harmonies, even though they barely could hear each other live. In addition, they wrote their own songs, which wasn't very common then. Finally, Ringo was (is) a great drummer and he provided the right amount of support with solid timing.
Agree with your comments regarding hiw tight they are, how well they harmonize, and that Ringo is an underrated drummer. Would add that you note how close the live version sounds to the record. Beyond audience noise it is difficult to hear a difference.
Great insight as always! No matter the description, John & Paul were definitely opposites in many ways; Protagonist/Antagonist, Warm/Cool, Optimist/Pessimist, etc. I’m sure that played a significant part in their collective genius.
If you haven't seen the movie, Help, I highly suggest doing so,
I really appreciate the fact that you mention something that isn't often talked about. Rarely do you ever see a band just get up on stage, especially now with the all electronic and computer help, and play as solid as they did, just the 4 of them, some instruments, amplifiers, mic's and raw talent - really quite remarkable. At the end of the day, they really are an amazingly tight, good (great) ol' Rock-N-Roll band!
Their musicianship in general is often taken for granted. They're all excellent musicians. Sometimes its like their personalities and creativity overshadows their skill.
The golden era. Great reaction.
P.s.... I'm 68.. bro..Beatles had a cartoon on Sat mornings
Right on about the gigs in Hamburg making them a super tight live stage band. One trip there they played for 80+ straight nights of anywhere from 4 to 8 hours a night. Also, you have to know a LOT of songs to play that much, which I think was indispensable to their songwriting abilities. They were very familiar with a lot of melodies.
Oh...their classy little bow at the end of their performances always makes me smile! Love this song! And yes, John Lennon was very much a sharp cheeky, witty, complicated guy who often hid his 'dark side' with biting humor or brutal honesty. Love him, he was truly one of a kind. Having such a brilliant band with 4 unique talents and personalities, coming from the same city is something hard to wrap my head around to this day.
Just starting your reaction but my favorite thing right now is your reaction to John Lennon's stage presence. I've seen so much footage in Red so many accounts and seen interviews and stuff and it's way more than you are even thinking. Way way more. He was a bit of a bully as a kid and had a very turbulent childhood but a loving childhood from his aunt which gave him his crazy sense of humor, but he was a smart-ass and funny as hell and very smart. And charismatic. He didn't have Paul McCartney's cute little boy looks, but he was a force of Nature and he was so sarcastic and sardonic all the time. You should see him in interviews that they did now and then. Back in the day I mean.
Ringo's drumming was very tasteful. He created many of the unforgettable grooves in Beatles songs that anyone can recognize. People are down on him for not being the most technically proficient, but they overlook the fact that his non flashy style was ideal for the music they were making.
When you find time you’ve gotta hit Steely Dan- they’re perfect for your lyrical analysis and have a distinct sound. The best song to start is Reelin in the Years.
My mom was very protective, so I missed them at Shea Stadium in NY. I was 12. 💕
I challenge any drummer alive to play this song the way that Ringo played. Those shuffles on the hi-hat are so fast, and continue for so long, it always makes my hand cramp. I've never played a live version of this song, because it's too hard.
The year 1965 and still so so fantastic to see and to hear them :) wow - I will love the Beatles for the rest of my life - yeah :)
I'm absolutely gob-smacked every time I see this video clip from Blackpool. I think it's the best sounding live recording of the band. The screaming girl thing took on a life of its own and became a distracting pain in the ass BUT, come on !! This is pretty exciting. I appreciate your take on it, Syed.
The Beatles' musical ability was only part of the reason for their popularity. It was the combination package of good looks, unique fashion and hairstyles, those Liverpool accents, clear joy in each other's company, and wry sense of humor. You should watch "A Hard Day's Night" or "Help!"-the movies-to get an idea of their humor.
I was 13 when I saw a similar broadcast on The Ed Sullivan Show in early September 1965. The parents lost no love for The Beatles and their music and merely humored us kids whenever a song was played on the radio. HELP was a really good body of work. However, Rubber Soul was to follow and blow the lid off the pop music scene because of its maturation, imagination, and creativity. Eventually, I would hear one of my parents absentmindedly hum a Beatles tune though they would not admit it if pressed.
Their last live performance was on the roof of the Apple building. THAT is worth checking out.
The way they kick in after John´s antics is stunning to me as one who has done a fair bit of live playing , Ok the last number ,but still a great start after a break,,
They were so proud of their live performances early on. It must have been tough in their later tours when they realized the audiences were not really listening.
Some people talk trash about Ringo Starr's drumming. They say he doesn't have the kind of chops that flashier drummers like Keith Moon or John Bonham have. The thing is, Ringo never wanted to be a flashy drummer or call attention to himself. The only drum solo in any Beatles song is the brief one in The End, near the end of the final track on Abbey Road. The Beatles knew this was likely to be their last time recording together in the studio, and John, Paul and George each took turns soloing on guitar, and convinced Ringo to solo as well. What makes Ringo a great drummer isn't about his chops or how quick his hands and feet are. It's his ear and his musicality. Ringo believed drumming should be in service to the song, and for each of the Beatles' songs, Ringo crafted a unique drum part that highlights and complements the other instruments and vocals beautifully.
Amazing song, lyrics and performance
It would be worth you checking out some of the songs in the Shea Stadium concert in 1965, or even just the introduction by Ed Sullivan.
I like your Ying Yang. comment. I find Johns works reflective and grounded, He wrote and spoke from his heart , Yeah, a cheeky and talented bloke. Miss him.
I think you're right about the McCartney Lennon yin and yang. It was part of the reason why the Beatles were so great
I can remember watching this particular TV show in 1965 (I was 14 years old), altogether they performed six songs......I Feel Fine, Ticket to Ride, I'm Down, Act Naturally, Yesterday and Help! They were brilliant!
As a teen during that period most parents, and even grandparents (in the UK) liked the Beatles. They would appear on the top family shows and regularly make the front page of the news. Noting at the time that throughout the arts; fashion, music, comedy, film, photography, etc it was working class people like The Beatles that were not only coming to the fore, but leading the way. Look at al the big names of that period and they were all working class. Pretty much a cultural revolution that spilled over into all walks of life.
You are absolutely right about Ringo. They never would have been quite as good without him.
Nice to catch this reaction to this song. Good to hear the boys in fine form. And to see you experience a gold ol' rocker by the boys is also really good. The sound systems in those days were so primitive they couldn't over power the screams.
Well said..Perfect analysis of Paul and John. 👍
My old mum, who was born in 1923, loved them.
Ringo is the most underrated drummer. He was an absolute metronome when he needed to be. George Martin said that many times Ringo would either speed up or slow down, but only when he needed to to serve the song. Otherwise, he was right on tempo. Ringo knew the job of a drummer was to play in the song, not over it. He absolutely hates drum solos and the solos he did do were a negotiation, where he didn't want to do it at all and the other band members were trying to get him to do more.
There are so many great Beatles songs I could recommend I hardly know where to start! I guess I would consider these some of the "basics", i.e. must-listens
Slow/gentle: Across the Universe, Because, Something
Mid-tempo: Happiness is a Warm Gun, Here Comes the Sun, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Norwegian Wood, Penny Lane, I Am the Walrus
Hard/fast: Helter Skelter, Back in the USSR, Twist and Shout, I Saw Her Standing There
Great band and great reaction sir!!!!
Greatest band in the world!!
Sina Drums did a good look and explanation as to why Ringo was such a good drummer. You might like to check out her video.
February 9th 1964 The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, my 10th birthday
I am #11 of 13
the age gap with my dad really showed up that night May he rest in peace
He freaked but I grew my hair out and picked up the guitar
Goin out to play tonight and I will never stop covering The Beatles
You are exactly right. Paul was always upbeat positive, John always downbeat negative. I always think of the lyricks to the song getting better. Paul writes "i have to admit its getting better, its getting better all the time" and John counters with " can't get any worse". I always found John's lyrics a bit more cutting and because of that more interesting.
John is my favorite Beatle. There would have never been the Beatles without John.
Those melodies will never age.
#theMasters
A couple of people have already said it, but for a totally different take on this song see John Farnham live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. It's an amazing performance.
1:45 He says "shaddup, I hear you"
The Black Pool performance is actually about 16 minutes long. John actually screws up the words to “Help” on the performance. Some how it was repaired for this shortened performance. Check it out, it’s on RUclips. He normally messed up the words to “Help” during performances.
Ringo's style is unique, due to the odd way he set up his drums. He was looked down on for a long time because he didn't play drums "the proper way", but it's only more recently that people have realised just how impressive his work is. Listen to the Beatles' song "Rain" to hear him at his most inventive. If you want to distinctly hear the different sides of Lennon and McCartney's writing, try "We Can Work It Out", with verses by Paul and bridge by John.
Intelligent comments, looking forward to a Beatles album reaction. I wonder where you will start? 🤔
They called it electronic noise because the rockers used electric guitars instead of an orchestra and the lyrics were “She loves you yeah, yeah, yeah” instead of “Night and day, you are then one/ Only you beneath the blue and under the sun.”
I see both sides.
My mother, who was 47 in '64 was infatuated with John in particular. She saw the fab four were true musicians.
She was particularly impressed when they performed Till There Was You on the Ed Sullivan show. My parents took me to the drive-in to see A Hard Days Night.
Ringo is a lefty playing a right-hand drum kit. Before he joined The Beatles, he was regarded as the best off-beat drummer in Britain.
On top of all that, Ringo instinctively knows exactly which beat a song requires.
Great reaction and understanding of the song.
Syed, I suggest you watch the Deep Purple cover from 1968. It was a promo video. They actually slow it down, but have a great guitar solo by Richie Blackmore..
Ringo was human metronome and knew exactly what the songs needed.
R I N G O ........THE PERFECT DRUMMER ? Y E S !
John is funny AF! Cheeky indeed. So quick. Plus the funny eccentric little moves, sort of like Peter Sellers or other Brit comics of the day.
John wrote it with a slower tempo in mind but it was decided to make it an uptempo 'Beatles style' pop single. John later said he regretted that.
Watch their concert at Shea Stadium if you want to see "Crazy"