Back In the USSR

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:03 am

I would be grateful if you could listen to the ascending lead guitar part that begins on A with the lyric "I'm back in the USSR" moving to C and then D.

My guitar playing mind, such as it is, tells me that this is played on two six strings in unison an octave apart. When listening to it last evening without headphones, however, it almost sounded as if the riff was played on a 12 string as the parts are played with such precision.

Could a 12 string have been used on this recording in this way? What do your ears tell you?

rickinroma · Post by **rickinroma** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:48 am

Peter
Guitar part was probably over and over ultra dubbed, as usual in those days

you can also hear that there are other notes (in the background) in addition to the High/Low ascending guitar part you mentioned...
Even the bass I think it was overdubbed a-la wall of sound creating something not very "clear"
The song itself sounds very compact/compressed

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 4:06 am

Francesco: The overdubbing was my first impression and I agree with you.

Perhaps I am simply looking for a late Beatles' recording with a 12 string!

With a closer listen, I do hear the other notes with less precision than I first considered.

I was, along with many others, intrigued with the appearance of this Beach Boys' style song coming from the Fab Four.

rickinroma · Post by **rickinroma** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 4:10 am

the other notes are something like a low volume counterpoint...
yes, it'd be nice if the used their 12string guitars even on late records

Scastles · Post by **Scastles** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 4:39 am

Maybe Francesco can clear this up, but is it possible there were two basses? I read somewhere the Fender VI was employed along with the Rickenbacker on USSR. It also could very well be all heresy.

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 4:46 am

Intriguing Stan. Fun to consider, whatever the outcome.

rickinroma · Post by **rickinroma** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 5:00 am

yes Stan I read that too...FenderVI+4001...the result is something (as I said) quite compressed and not very clear to pick up note by note...although very impressive

jt10824 · Post by **jt10824** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 5:27 am

Both Paul AND John were said to have played bass on this -- presumably it's John playing the six-string.

wolfgang · Post by **wolfgang** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:43 am

Yes, probably John and Paul. Or Paul double tracked? Please listen on the "love" DVD to the "right" channel(of the 5.1 soundtrack) separately. Nice bass guitar work.
Someone should do the song just with a vocal part, drums, electric rhythm guitar, 2 basses and a couple of hand clapping people.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 3:03 pm

The bass is fairly buried in the mix, and it's definitley tough to pick out what exactly is going on there. I've heard that there is even a bass track by George on there, in addition to John & Paul's.

As for the guitars, it's always sounded like a pair of Casino's to me.

scoobster28 · Post by **scoobster28** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 3:27 pm

One of their great tracks. Too bad Ringo wasn't there. Being a Beatles and a Beach Boys fan, this is a near-perfect blend of the two.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 1:33 am

I agree its a nice take on the Beach Boy theme in fun.