The Beatles Use of “Outsiders” When Recording Their 1960’s Catalog.
This article explores the degree of “outsider content” that was employed to produce their historic 1960’s song catalog. This includes both their original songs as well as cover songs written by other artists.
Outsider content would be defined as employing session musicians and vocalists to improve the finished product.
The Beatles recorded 214 songs from1962 to 1970 and they were released on 12 Parlophone albums outside North America and 17 Capitol Records albums in North America.
The UK release sequence is the definitive version of the Beatles intent. So why 2 versions?
The conventional wisdom was that no foreign-based music organization could possibly understand how to successfully reach the huge American market because after all, American musical tastes were different. So, given the immensity of the US market opportunity, artists allowed their album content to be manipulated. That included the release date, deciding on which songs were to be used, editing the songs’ technical recording if deemed necessary, re-ordering the sequence of the songs, the album length, determining the optimal retail pricing, and even creating an entirely different album cover. Everything affecting the bands’ market positioning was fair play.
Market access to the US required artistic acquiescence to Capitol Records.
Importantly, this article will use the UK album release sequence, as well as their single releases (which weren’t always included on their albums). I’m going to provide you the results of my research regarding the number of outsiders participating on their recordings over that historic 8 year span. The results will surprise even the most fanatic Beatle readers. So, let’s dive in.
From their first recording session in September 1962 (“Love Me Do”) until 78 songs later in mid-1965, the only non-band member who participated on their recordings was their producer George Martin who mainly added keyboard support on 13 of those songs.
The only other exception to this point was that first recording session (“Love Me Do”) for which Martin chose to use a session drummer (Andy White) because Ringo was newly added, and he and Ringo hadn’t yet established a studio relationship. Ringo was relegated to playing the tambourine on this recording, but they later re-recorded the song with Ringo drumming.
Can you guess what song broke the nearly 2 year string of 78 songs?
“Yesterday” was their first major recording change in several ways. It featured only Paul McCartney (the writer), playing his acoustic guitar without any other band participation. He was supported by 4 classically trained string musicians.
Help (1965)
Other than the use of 1 classically trained flutist on the outro in “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” and “Yesterday” it was business as usual. So, 2 songs out of 14 used outsiders.
Rubber Soul (1965) feature no outsiders.
Revolver (1966)
Represented a profound departure from business as usual with 5 out of 14 tracks using outsiders.
· “Eleanor Rigby” featured 8 classically trained string musicians with Paul, John & George providing vocals.
· “Love You To” featured 3 Indian musicians accompanying George (writer), Paul & Ringo instrumentally.
· “Yellow Submarine” includes the full band and 7 other musicians/guests adding vocals & sound effects.
· “For No One” features only Paul & Ringo with a middle-solo by a classically trained French hornist.
· “Got To Get You In My Life” includes the full band and 5 brass session musicians.
August (1966), they stopped touring.
February (1967)
Two great single recordings were released and both used session musicians.
· “Strawberry Fields Forever” includes the full band and 10 other mostly brass & string musicians.
· “Penny Lane” includes the full band and 12 mostly brass musicians.
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band (1967)
This album expanded their exploration for complimentary outside additions to improve their original songs. In this case, 6 of the 13 tracks had outsiders.
· “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band” includes the full band and 4 French horn players & 2 backing vocalists.
· “She’s Leaving Home” features vocals only from Paul & John and 10 classic string musicians.
· “Within You Without You” feature only George (writer) and 16 other musicians with an odd mix of both Indian and mostly classic string instruments.
· “When I’m Sixty-Four” incudes the full band supported by 3 clarinetists.
· “Good Morning Good Morning” includes the full band and 6 brass session players.
· “A Day In The Life” includes the full band and half of a symphonic orchestra (42 musicians).
“Our World” (1967)
Just weeks after the release of Sgt. Pepper’s, the Beatles were chosen by the BBC to represent Great Britain on the 1st international satellite broadcast which was watched by 400 million worldwide viewers. They wrote and recorded this song for the event.
· “All You Need Is Love” includes the full band, 13 session string & brass musicians and 12 friends who provided backing vocals.
November (1967)
They released their next single several months later.
· “Hello, Goodbye” includes the full band and 2 violaists.
Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
The soundtrack release for their 3rd movie was a double Extended Play (EP) collection of 6 songs and a booklet in the UK. Based on the UK version, 4 songs used outsiders.
· “Magical Mystery Tour” includes the full band and 4 trumpet players.
· “I Am The Walrus” includes the full band and 18 brass & string musicians and 13 male & female vocalists.
· “Fool On The Hill” includes the full band and 3 flutists.
· “Blue Jay Way” includes the full band and a celloist.
The North American version was a full album with a mashed up grouping of 11 previously released & new songs.
March (1968)
The A-side of their first single release used outsiders.
· “Lady Madonna” included the full band and 4 sax players.
The Beatles…The White Album (1968)
It contained 30 songs of which 17 used outsiders.
· “Dear Prudence” included the full band and 3 vocalists adding hand claps.
· “Glass Onion” included the full band and string & brass session players.
· “Ob-La-Di-, Ob-La-Da” included the full band 3 sax players.
· “The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill” included the full band and 3 vocalists.
· “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” includes the full band and legendary Eric Clapton (lead guitar).
· “Happiness Is A Warm Gun” includes the full band and a tuba player.
· “Martha My Dear” includes only Paul accompanied by 14 string & brass studio musicians.
· “Piggies” includes the full band and 9 other string musicians.
· “Don’t Pass Me By” includes only Ringo (writer), Paul and a string musician.
· “Birthday” included the full band and 2 female vocalists.
· “Mother Nature’s Son” includes only Paul accompanied by 4 brass musicians.
· “Helter Skelter” included the full band and a trumpet player.
· “Long, Long, Long” included George (writer), Paul , Ringo and a pianist.
· “Revolution” included the full band and 6 brass players.
· “Honey Pie” included the full band and a brass section of 7 studio musicians.
· “ Savoy Truffle” included George (writer), Paul, Ringo, 6 brass players and a pianist.
· “Good Night” includes only Ringo accompanied by 26 brass & string musicians and 8 female & male vocalists.
August (1968)
Their next single release used outsiders.
· “Hey Jude” includes the full band and 36 string & brass musicians.
Yellow Submarine (1969)
This was a mash-up of 2 previously released songs, 4 new songs and a Side-2 of 6 George Martin produced instrumental songs supporting the cartoon movie based on the Beatles. Of the 4 new songs only 1 used an outsider.
· “It’s All Too Much” includes the full band, 4 trumpet & clarinet session musicians.
Of their 12 UK albums, this is the only one that failed to reach No1. It peaked at No3.
May (1969)
“Don’t Let Me Down” was released as a B-side single. It included the full band and Billy Preston (organ).
Abbey Road (1969)
This album represented their final chronological recording sessions consisting of 17 original works of which 5 used outsiders.
· “Something” includes the full band, 21 string players and Billy Preston (organ).
· “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” includes the full band and Billy Preston.
· “Here Comes The Sun” includes George (writer), Paul, Ringo and 17 classically trained session musicians.
· “Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight” includes the full band and 30 classically trained session musicians.
· “The End” includes the full band and the same 30 classically trained players in the previous song.
Let It Be (1970)
This was their final album and it was delayed by a year and was released in 1970. It has 12 songs and 9 have outsiders.
· “Dig A Pony” includes the full band and Billy Preston (organ).
· “Across The Universe” includes the full band, 35 string & brass session musicians and 16 backing vocalists.
· “Dig It” includes the full band and Billy Preston (organ).
· “Let It Be” includes the full band, 6 brass players and Billy Preston (keyboards).
· “I’ve Got A Feeling” includes the full band and Billy Preston (electric piano).
· “One After 909” includes the full band and Billy Preston (organ).
· “The Long and Winding Road” includes the full band, 35 classically trained brass & string musicians and 14 female backing vocalists.
· “Get Back” includes the full band and Billy Preston (electric piano).
· “I Me Mine” includes George (writer), Paul, Ringo and 33 string & brass session musicians. This is the final song they ever recorded. It was recorded on 1/3/70 & 4/1/70.
So, if you’re still with me, here’s a by-year summary of the songs for which they released that include outsiders (excluding George Martin). Beginning in 1967, I also included their total annual studio output and the resulting share percentage (in parentheses) of outsider’s.
· 1962–1
· 1963–0
· 1964–0
· 1965–2
· 1966–7
THEY STOPPED TOURING
· 1967–12 24 (50%)
· 1968–19 34 (56%)
· 1969–7 22 (31%)
· 1970–9 (8 of these tracks were recorded in 1969) 12 (75%)
Total — 57 (27%) of their 214 releases involved outsiders
Conclusions:
- Roughly 50% of their entire 1960’s catalog was recorded while they were still touring. Outsiders played little to no role during that 4-year span.
- The 1966 decision to stop touring opened their imaginations to new creative possibilities. Outsiders played prominently on roughly half of their tracks during their final 4-year span. Thankfully, they didn’t go all-in using only outsiders.
- Based on my analysis, 16 of the 57 songs using outsiders consisted of a adding a single musician.
- The Beatles financial importance to EMI (the owner of Abbey Road recording studio & Capitol/Parlophone records) afforded the Beatles an unimaginable recording budget during the late 1960’s.
- Their album quality benefited enormously during those final 4 years due to this new recording approach. The intentional choice of contrasting their familiar 4-member band sound intermingled with the new more complex songs involving outsiders [in my opinion] increased listener engagement.
Sources:
· All The Songs…The Story Behind Every Beatles Release by Margotin & Guesdon
· A Song-by-Song Look at What Made George Martin the Fifth Beatle by The New York Times
