The Beatles Anthology 2
One of the most complicated recordings of The Beatles career, and we get the chance in this Anthology to watch it grow and develop. From an early demo at John's house, to the final take at Abbey Road. Several things make this tracks tremendously interesting:
These three tracks alone make already the Anthology 2 a MUST for every Beatles fan.
A "final" version of Penny Lane, we must not forget it has been assembled in the studio by george Martin and Geoff Emerick. The piano track sounds quite different to the released single (in which several piano and keyboards overdubs were used). The bridge section lacks of the piccolo trumpet solo and features instead a cor anglais and trumpets (listen for the slight "cut" here) Paul's voice is also single tracked. Certainly a nice to see the different alternatives considered before the final version (specially remarkable is the apparition of a cello while the banker sits waiting for a trend) Very enjoyable.
Once again a mix of different takes. Basicly takes 2 and 6. Several details may be considered important. The rythm track is the basic one played by The Beatles with no additional instruments. we can clearly hear Mal Evans doing the 24 count of the bars between the two passages. We can then hear an early take of Pauls vocal for the middle part... and also hear where the echoed sounds behind the voice in the final version come from. After that it's quite interesting to hear the orchestra alone doing the crescendo. Curious at least.
A slightly different take from the one issued. Specially in the rythm track and the animal sounds and the backing vocals missing. The take was probably considered for release until Take 11 was recorded.
Take 11 of the song. Part of this take was used for the final recording with quite a lot of overdubs added (the beginning is the same) Lyrics change slightly. It's nothing very new, but certainly a Northern Song.
Nice succesion of takes which take us to the development of Mr Kite. First John outtakes number 1 in a strange trampolin singing. Paul advices on the way to sing the song. Finally George Martin requires another take (the light's on -meanig the light which indicated that the 4 track recorder was still recording, as we can hear today) The organ and calliope effects which gave the song that great fair-circus atmosphere is emphasized in this remix.
Another combination of several tracks. The basic track from take 6, the tamboura from Take 7 and the vocals in the chorus section from take 8. Certainly different but by no means a finished product by Beatles Pepper standards.
Just as in Eleanor Rigby, this is the instrumental track on top of which George Harrison would sing his lead vocal. Shows the complexity of such track and how the Indian instruments perfectly blend with the string score provided by Martin. Interesting at least.
In one of the most wonderful reprises of all times, The Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band said goodbye to their listeners. This is an even rawer number than the issued reprise. Unfortunately it's only a basic track and the vocals lack of Paul's total dedication or the outstanding backing vocals of the master take.
One of The Beatles less known songs. Issued as B-Side of Let It Be, its recording lasted two years. John mixed the original versions and left several parts out. Several friends and artists participated in the recording, making a quite strange but enjoyable sound. This track includes some of the bits left out and is also in Stereo (fantastic mix).
Probably one of the most complicated songs in Beatles career. Many overdubs were added over this basic track, including part of a Shakespirian play being broadcasted at the moment of the mix. But no song's made good by remixes. The walrus power can be felt all over this basic track (note the distortioned Lennon vocal)
First demo by Paul of the song. One can clearly percieve that 90% of the song is settled by that demo. The later master with the recorder really doesn't make that much of a difference. The other Fool on the Anthology is an alternative arrangement, with Ringo's drumming from beginning to end and two recorders appearing certainly too much. Vocals change as well from the final version. Finally, please listen carefully the ending given by Paul in the demo to the song (certainly not a bad idea)
Although the basic track of Hello Goodbye was the onefeatured in this take, it has important differences with the finished version. The most remarkable one is the prominent lead distorted guitar which replaces the backing vocals that would later be added in the chorus.
Again a mix of different takes, not specially different from the released song. Differences are: Slightly different vocals and piano, handclapping and the saxes and vocal overdubbs from take 4 (here again the "cuts" are quite audible)
This is an intimate and perfect version of Across the Universe. The Flanger effect (phasing) on John's guitar and a simple percussion, with wonderful vocals make of this track a serious competitor with the other two released versions (which were different basicly only in wildlife sounds added to one of them) A promising way to end up the Anthology 2.