At soundlounge, we work with brands to create their sonic identities. In this three part series, we’ll explore one of the most famous sonic identities of all, The Beatles. In part one, we heard the unique Beatle sounds that made them famous. Part two continues on through The Beatles discography to find the songs that further expanded their musical palette. Subscribe to this blog for part three, in which we’ll discover a few tips about creating a sonic identity that you can apply to your brand’s sound.
In just seven years of studio recordings, The Beatles created some of the most influential albums of all time. But they also created some of the most influenced albums of their time – and not just by drugs. The Beatles’ legendary status gave them freedom to travel the world and hang out with talented musical contemporaries of all kinds, from Bob Dylan to Ravi Shankar. They embraced music far beyond their Liverpudlian roots, and The Beatles Sound evolved to accommodate new instruments and styles. Let’s listen to a few of them…
Check out the YouTube playlist at the bottom of the page to listen to each remastered track.
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) – Rubber Soul (1965)
Credited as the first pop track to include an Indian sitar, “Norwegian Wood” featured George Harrison experimenting with this newfound instrument. George’s fascination with the sitar could be heard on each subsequent Beatles album – another signature instrument that was gradually integrated into the Beatles Sound.
Tomorrow Never Knows – Revolver (1966)
As the last song on an already boundary-pushing album, “Tomorrow Never Knows” was something completely different for Beatles fans at the time. Indian raga drones formed the base of the song, complemented by John’s psychedelic lyrics and seagull-like tape loop effects. Inspired by avant-garde composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, Paul created his own tape loops and encouraged the other band members to do the same.
A Day In The Life – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
By the time Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was released, The Beatles had sworn off public performances and focused their time on producing albums. In contrast to their first album, which was recorded in less than ten hours, the song “A Day In The Life” alone took 34 hours to record. The orchestral chaos during the transitions was unique not only to pop audiences, but also to the classically trained studio orchestra. Producer George Martin had to draw ambiguous squiggles rising up a music staff in order to achieve the right improvised sound from the orchestra.
All You Need Is Love – Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
Broadcast live to hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide, “All You Need Is Love” was perhaps The Beatles’ attempt to reunite with audiences they could no longer visit without risking their lives. With such a glaringly simple message, the song could have been the butt of jokes in the hands of any other band. But The Beatles pulled it off with their unique blend of humour and profundity. The musical quotations in George Martin’s orchestration add to the lively, inclusive mood, from the French National Anthem intro to the Glenn Miller “In The Mood” outro.
Revolution 9 – The Beatles (1968)
Ironically, one of The Beatles’ most controversial tracks has no lyrics. “Revolution 9” divided Beatles fans and critics alike. Some saw it as a joke. Others claimed it was the result of Yoko Ono getting her fingers into the recording sessions. Still others found something refreshing in this bizarre sound collage, something a little scary, something that kicked the doors wide open. The “White Album” as a whole was so wildly different, even from song to song, it stood as a reminder that any truly interesting band could not be defined by a certain set of chords or a distinctive haircut.
The End – Abbey Road (1969)
Though The Beatles breakup was inevitable after stressful ego battles, Paul managed to cheerlead them all back into the studio for one last hurrah. They closed the monumental Abbey Road with a joyful bang. In “The End,” each Beatle’s voice shone through his instrument, with alternating guitar solos from Paul, George, and John, respectively. Even Ringo reluctantly entered the limelight to record his only drum solo in the entire Beatles discography. And the final line “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make” was a beautifully appropriate end to The Beatles story. Almost…
Get Back – Let It Be (1970)
Released after the official breakup, Let It Be was originally conceived as a back-to-the-basics album. Inspired by their organic “Get Back” jam, The Beatles planned to record an album live and free from studio magic. But even “Get Back” required 14 takes, and eventually they spliced two takes together. Perhaps the concept fell apart when they realised “getting back” to their roots meant abandoning the editing room that had nurtured so much of their musical creativity. In their seven years of making albums, they had transformed the commercial recording studio into a sacred artistic haven. As the last chapter closed, The Beatles became forever preserved in their lovingly crafted recordings.
What do The Beatles teach us about creating a sonic identity? Check back soon (or subscribe) for part three of our “Sound of the Beatles” series.
Charlie McCarron, Sound Consultant
soundlounge
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