After thinking it over (though this may be hasty, since I haven't read the book)It really bugs me that GE has been so slipshod in his preparation. He's willing to put out quite a few questionable memories for his quick buck.
As for Martin, seems to me that for years he was very modest about his contributions, but heard recently he wants a chunk of YESTERDAY. For what, writing the string parts? If he didn't write the words OR melody, the only way is to claim INTENT. In other words, if Paul came to him and said, 'Hey, help me finish this song' or something similar that would prove intent, he'd be eligible for coauthorship.
Geoff Emerick's Book
Steve,
George Martin doesn't want any part of yesterday. I read the story weeks ago and is really a major botch up by a writer who wants to cause a fuss. Martin has always been clear about the string arrangement that he did with Paul.
http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/martin%20demands%20credit%20for%20yesterday_20_02_2006
While he may want to be known for that contribution, I don't believe for a tenth of a second that he wants a cut.
Martin has always come across as a class act. Besides, he's friend with Paul plus he has just sold AIR (his recording studio) and he his financially very well off.
BTW, I just did a google search on the Yesterday story and the above link is all I could find. Nobody else went with the story presumably because they knew it was b.s.
db
George Martin doesn't want any part of yesterday. I read the story weeks ago and is really a major botch up by a writer who wants to cause a fuss. Martin has always been clear about the string arrangement that he did with Paul.
http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/martin%20demands%20credit%20for%20yesterday_20_02_2006
While he may want to be known for that contribution, I don't believe for a tenth of a second that he wants a cut.
Martin has always come across as a class act. Besides, he's friend with Paul plus he has just sold AIR (his recording studio) and he his financially very well off.
BTW, I just did a google search on the Yesterday story and the above link is all I could find. Nobody else went with the story presumably because they knew it was b.s.
db
Just read Emerick's book. Sad. Rubbish. A bunch of half remembered, old - OLD anecdotes rewritten, and rewritten pretty poorly. The whole book lacks any ring of truth about it and the harping on GH (admittedly, a cranky guy) is silly. Right up there with Spitz' book for worst Beatle book of the year, if not ever...
WOW! Talk about cranky! I guess my question is why do you believe they are half truths? Because others say they are or because you were there?
George wasn't just cranky. My impression is that he was bitter. That is the conclusion I have come to after the Anthology and other interviews. Why does Emerick have to paint a rosy picture of George for you if he (George) wasn't that kind of person in Emerick's opinion?
Even if his memory has faded, and whose wouldn't after 40 years, I think it's great he is sharing them regardless of what anyone thinks. How awesome to have any kind of memories like that to begin with.
Worst book ever...you obviously have never read anything by Geoffrey Giuliano
George wasn't just cranky. My impression is that he was bitter. That is the conclusion I have come to after the Anthology and other interviews. Why does Emerick have to paint a rosy picture of George for you if he (George) wasn't that kind of person in Emerick's opinion?
Even if his memory has faded, and whose wouldn't after 40 years, I think it's great he is sharing them regardless of what anyone thinks. How awesome to have any kind of memories like that to begin with.
Worst book ever...you obviously have never read anything by Geoffrey Giuliano
LET THE WORLD KNOW YOU WANT PAUL TO BRING BACK THE 4001. JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP!! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=147641915268984
Yeah...well you got me on the Giuliano books. I don't even consider them serious attempts.
My question to you is why does it bother YOU so much that I think Emerick's book is a half baked crock of boring familiar stories and fleeting, vague "retellings"? I think it is indeed "awesome" that he has memories of The Beatles and his time with them, but so much of his writing and recollection is mushy, without clarity and nary a ring of truth.
As for George. I went to school with his son for four years and got to meet the man on several occasions. He was warm, hospitable, friendly, and VERY VERY funny, especially about Beatles stories. When he was moody or cranky, it nearly always came out in a wry, sarcastic manner. And his son could snap him out of it in about, oh 30 seconds.
I guess it's of some value to know Emerick's opinion of George in his early twenties and to know what your impression was after watching the anthology, but I can tell you he maligns a man who was totally at peace with himself and others and no Karmic good can come of it.
If you need someone who "was there" to inform you otherwise, or believe I "need" emerick to paint any kind of picture, well, than obviously you've already made up your mind and ANY further scholorship on The Beatles will be superfluous to you.
I don't think Lewisohn "was there", but I'll bet you his book is a damn sight more accurate, entertaining and balanced than Emerick's POS.
IMHO
My question to you is why does it bother YOU so much that I think Emerick's book is a half baked crock of boring familiar stories and fleeting, vague "retellings"? I think it is indeed "awesome" that he has memories of The Beatles and his time with them, but so much of his writing and recollection is mushy, without clarity and nary a ring of truth.
As for George. I went to school with his son for four years and got to meet the man on several occasions. He was warm, hospitable, friendly, and VERY VERY funny, especially about Beatles stories. When he was moody or cranky, it nearly always came out in a wry, sarcastic manner. And his son could snap him out of it in about, oh 30 seconds.
I guess it's of some value to know Emerick's opinion of George in his early twenties and to know what your impression was after watching the anthology, but I can tell you he maligns a man who was totally at peace with himself and others and no Karmic good can come of it.
If you need someone who "was there" to inform you otherwise, or believe I "need" emerick to paint any kind of picture, well, than obviously you've already made up your mind and ANY further scholorship on The Beatles will be superfluous to you.
I don't think Lewisohn "was there", but I'll bet you his book is a damn sight more accurate, entertaining and balanced than Emerick's POS.
IMHO
George was very cool IMO. Plus as far as I am concerned, especially in the early years before effects boxes became common, he was a great and very innovative guitar player.
“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
-
jingle_jangle
- RRF Moderator
- Posts: 22679
- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:00 am
- Contact:
Michael, you were so fortunate to actually be able to speak to the man himself. I bet those stories will stay with you forever, too.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
Michael, it doesn't bother ME at all what you think about the book. I was just asking a question. I wanted to know why you were feeling that way. I wanted to know if you were basing your feelings on other opinions or on your own. I thought that was worded clearly. You seem to have no problem ripping McCartney as being a skinflint, but I have met him and found him to be warm, hospitable, warm friendly and very clean. My feeling is George was bitter. You say he was nice. Since you are the one that has met him I would give your opinion more credibility than mine because you have first hand knowledge. That is what I was trying to get at. But I wouldn't discount Geoff's because he had worked with him and knew him on a different level.
As for the Lewisohn books, you may have a point. However, I believe Mark's books were based on more of the documentation side of things rather than first hand knowledge that Geoff is expressing.
However, I will say that the UFO thing was a bit weird for me.
Sorry if I came off like I was attacking or accusing you of something. I was merely trying to ascertain why you felt as you did and explain to you how I came to the conclusion about George that I had. Just because I felt he was bitter doesn't mean I didn't love him or still love him. And it doesn't mean I don't value your opinion, becuse I do.
As for the Lewisohn books, you may have a point. However, I believe Mark's books were based on more of the documentation side of things rather than first hand knowledge that Geoff is expressing.
However, I will say that the UFO thing was a bit weird for me.
Sorry if I came off like I was attacking or accusing you of something. I was merely trying to ascertain why you felt as you did and explain to you how I came to the conclusion about George that I had. Just because I felt he was bitter doesn't mean I didn't love him or still love him. And it doesn't mean I don't value your opinion, becuse I do.
LET THE WORLD KNOW YOU WANT PAUL TO BRING BACK THE 4001. JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP!! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=147641915268984
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
quote:
and very clean.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, a lot like his other grandfather, then?
That cracked me up!
quote:
and very clean.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, a lot like his other grandfather, then?
That cracked me up!
There Is What You Can See. There Aren’t What You Don’t See. And That’s All There Is That You Get!
It's all good Bri. I was more upset with Emerick than anyone else. Guess it did come off as cranky. Shall we hug it out?
Mr. Harrison (as I used to call him) would always joke that having Paul and Linda come to visit was like having your supercritical Aunt and Uncle come over. It DID seem like he had a brotherly yet prickly relationship with Paul.
Nice to know when you met him he was cool. Btw, the term "skinflint" comes from Maccas mouth himself. Back in '60's, when people would comment on the Hofner bass, he'd always make a point of saying he could afford a better one, but it was cheap b/c he was a "skinflint".
Brian (Medway) - I got to see George play some slide on an old, jacked up danelectro (i believe) and the tone and touch made me want to go into my woodshed with the ax and never come out.
He was quite a gentleman, though.
Mr. Harrison (as I used to call him) would always joke that having Paul and Linda come to visit was like having your supercritical Aunt and Uncle come over. It DID seem like he had a brotherly yet prickly relationship with Paul.
Nice to know when you met him he was cool. Btw, the term "skinflint" comes from Maccas mouth himself. Back in '60's, when people would comment on the Hofner bass, he'd always make a point of saying he could afford a better one, but it was cheap b/c he was a "skinflint".
Brian (Medway) - I got to see George play some slide on an old, jacked up danelectro (i believe) and the tone and touch made me want to go into my woodshed with the ax and never come out.
He was quite a gentleman, though.
Lennonon,
What a privilege it must have been to meet George!
Though I've never meet these guys, I've seen a few interviews with Macca saying he (and John I believe) thought of George as a little brother, and unfortunately treated him like that at times by being critical, and not taking him as seriously as maybe he (they) should. The references were about GH's playing and writing.
As a little brother to three older brothers, I can relate to George. I'll be 40 this year and still feel like the 6 year old trying to keep up.
What a privilege it must have been to meet George!
Though I've never meet these guys, I've seen a few interviews with Macca saying he (and John I believe) thought of George as a little brother, and unfortunately treated him like that at times by being critical, and not taking him as seriously as maybe he (they) should. The references were about GH's playing and writing.
As a little brother to three older brothers, I can relate to George. I'll be 40 this year and still feel like the 6 year old trying to keep up.
There Is What You Can See. There Aren’t What You Don’t See. And That’s All There Is That You Get!
I haven't read all this discussion here, yet,
but I just want to state what a great book this is!
You may not like the often complaining style of writing, but all these new facts about the recordings, just wonderful! And to the mood in the studio...and how high the pressure was.
Now we know who did the"Can't buy me love" high hat overdub. Or the details of recording "A hard day's night",
or the conclusion of making the Sgt. Pepper album on pp 189-192. Or that Paul played the bass in the control room on "With a little help from my friends. Or George Harrison played bass on "Rock and Roll Music" And so on and on and on. Great!!!
And I just read about 2/3rd of the book...
but I just want to state what a great book this is!
You may not like the often complaining style of writing, but all these new facts about the recordings, just wonderful! And to the mood in the studio...and how high the pressure was.
Now we know who did the"Can't buy me love" high hat overdub. Or the details of recording "A hard day's night",
or the conclusion of making the Sgt. Pepper album on pp 189-192. Or that Paul played the bass in the control room on "With a little help from my friends. Or George Harrison played bass on "Rock and Roll Music" And so on and on and on. Great!!!
And I just read about 2/3rd of the book...
-
jingle_jangle
- RRF Moderator
- Posts: 22679
- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:00 am
- Contact:
Paul is a skinflint hypercritical, warm and friendly. George is bitter, George is warm and friendly...
What's missing here is the difference between the person and the persona.
Persona is short-term and often created by press agents as well as the person himself. Press agents of opposing camps can create negative personae.
Persona is who you meet when the smiles are on and tea's on the table.
Person is long-term. It's what is seen over many interactions, when the REAL inside comes to the forefront. It's a slow thing to change. The bitter George of twenty years ago was quite different from the earnest youth.
I have no difficulty believing that Paulandlinda (The Unit) was hypercritical. They were an army of two, above the world and mere mortals, rock royalty supremo. I have always gotten a preachy, "we're superior", self-important vibe from this Unit. And it seems like Heather carries on that tradition, too. If she wasn't such a great singer/keyboardist, Macca might've hired her to play and tour!
What's missing here is the difference between the person and the persona.
Persona is short-term and often created by press agents as well as the person himself. Press agents of opposing camps can create negative personae.
Persona is who you meet when the smiles are on and tea's on the table.
Person is long-term. It's what is seen over many interactions, when the REAL inside comes to the forefront. It's a slow thing to change. The bitter George of twenty years ago was quite different from the earnest youth.
I have no difficulty believing that Paulandlinda (The Unit) was hypercritical. They were an army of two, above the world and mere mortals, rock royalty supremo. I have always gotten a preachy, "we're superior", self-important vibe from this Unit. And it seems like Heather carries on that tradition, too. If she wasn't such a great singer/keyboardist, Macca might've hired her to play and tour!
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut