Spoken Intro To Taxman / Best Beatle Book

8mileshigh · Post by **8mileshigh** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:44 am

I wish you'd never asked the question!! I've just played it over and over again and now my brain's turned to jelly!! Interesting question though. I would assume George would have done the fast count on his own song though?

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:52 am

My .02:

The slow count on the record was editied in from another take, and is Paul; the background fast count is Ringo.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:29 am

I thought it was George, specifically, by the way he pronounces "Three".

Isn't the solo in Taxman the one George praised Paul for having added a little Indian flavor?

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:18 pm

Yeah, Jerry I agree, both 'two' and 'three' sound like George's pronunication to me. Although where else I've heard George say the words 'two' and 'three' for the basis of my claim I couldn't tell you!

The slow count-in must have been an edit or superimposition later, anyway. Geoff Emerick said in his book that Paul had the best innate timing of the band and tended to count off their recordings.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:14 pm

I always thought it was George doing the slow count too.

congerz83 · Post by **congerz83** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:27 pm

The Lennon anthology featured many funny Lennon "Studio" moments. The John and Phil tracks, hilarious.

rumbush · Post by **rumbush** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:21 pm

"The slow count-in must have been an edit or superimposition later..."

No question about it. Even though it doesn't sound like anyone but Paul to me, he was a MASTER of changing his voice to sound like anyone but himself. Just compare "Long Tall Sally" to "Mother Nature's Son" to "Besame Mucho" from Get Back. ...And those are just the straight-up performances.

The fast count-in in the background is almost certainly "live."

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:28 am

I have always been amazing at Paul's mimicing vocal abilities. He sure can sound like several persons.

bosifis · Post by **bosifis** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:05 am

Honestly, it seems like George up front and Ringo in the background. Listen to the background "FOUR!". It really sounds like Ringo.

As for the "George" count-in.....Give a listen to "Anthology 2", I believe the song is "A Fool On The Hill" when Paul says in falsetto, "D'ya want us to do it again George?" And George replies, "Ok" in a deep voice. It sounds the same as the first count-in.

Scastles · Post by **Scastles** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 4:32 am

Not George Takei?

jt10824 · Post by **jt10824** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 4:59 am

To me, the low voice at the beginning of Taxman sounds very much like the voice saying "one more time" near the end of Piggies, which I presume is George Harrison. The high voice definitely sounds like Paul to me... and it would definitely be in character for Paul to be saying, "Go!", urging the band on.

bosifis · Post by **bosifis** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 6:18 am

David....George Harrison...And NOT George Takei, Stan!

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 7:34 am

I would be a higher voice to be George Takei wouldn't it?

bosifis · Post by **bosifis** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 10:01 am

Actually the song was "Your Mother Should Know" and that's GOTTA be G Harrison!

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 10:35 am

I think that this is obviously harder for us to be sure because all of these english guys in and associated with the Beatles seem to be able to change their voices and even mock each other intentionally.