Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about. It's just 'Paul Through The Looking Glass'.

Excellent, Randy...you sound as sharp as your 'Uncle Bob'....

I think we can crack this very strange case if we put all of our heads together.

My uncle sold Sanka brand and starred in Father Knows Best.

Terry, a story for you. When I was in college in the early 80's, I had a chemistry professor who noticed my name and the slightly Dylanesque look (wild curly hair, RayBans) I was sporting at the time. In front of the class he asked me whether I knew Robert Zimmerman. I casually replied, "Oh, you mean my Uncle Bob?" And I swear he almost fainted (obviously an old hippie burnout). He asked if I was musical, and I replied, "Well, I play the guitar a bit but my singing ain't as good as Bob". He treated me very strangely for the entire semester, I think he was in total awe. Too funny!

Good morning Karl and thanks for these photos of a Selmer 50.

As a follow up to the original piece regarding Macca on 'Good Morning'. I, tin ear and all, hear much of the same style, progression and sound (as from the Selmer) on a number of riffs throughout SP, notably, the title cut, reprise. Is it more Paul than George covering some of these riffs or leads?

Stan, I was thinking the same thing. As a serious Beatles fan for over thirty years, I didn't know about McCartney's guitar contribution until only a few short years ago. Even then, I thought he only played lead on a few notable numbers. I had been mistakenly attributing solos from Taxman and many other tracks to Harrison. Now that I know Paul played a lot of lead guitar, I'm hearing him all over the place, especially on Sgt. Pepper. I can't believe I never noticed his distinctive style of soloing before. I feel so stupid!

Randy: We have all "bamboozled" by marketing hype and folklore when it comes to The Beatles.

One thing seems clear. The Beatles sound changed from one album to the next as a result of experimentation with guitars, amplifiers and sound engineering.

With this view in mind, it is often difficult to say with certainty who is playing what instrument or amplifier at any given time. A key is the style of playing. As an example, we were all surprised when While My Guitar Gently Weeps first made its debut. Wow had Harrison improved!

Peter, you have tbe impressed by McCartney on so many levels. Besides his incredible skills as a songwriter, he's such a fine musician. He could sing and play guitar, bass, keyboards, or drums in anybody's band. While I've always loved Lennon's primitive guitar sound, passionate singing and originality, McCartney definitely has the musical chops. As the years go on, I find more and more to like about his contribution to the Beatles' sound.

You can hear his drumming all over a lot of the later stuff also, that I can do without, sounds like he was hitting cardboard boxes with styrofoam.

I was just listening to Ticket to Ride, and although a Lennon composition, there is so much of McCartney involved, the lead riffs, the opening, bass and according to Lewisohns book he supposedly coached Starr on how to play the drums. I listened to it over and over (being anal) trying pick out what all was used on that song. I'm sure Peter can make the distinction.

What did Ringo do when Paul was laying down drum tracks? Which leads me to another question, Could the Beatles have gone on with Pete Best or any other guy instead of Ringo and have made it? What did Ringo contribute to the band other than drumming, some vocals and malpropisms such as Hard days night or Tomorrow never knows? I'm not being critical it's just that of the 4 he seemed to be on the outside looking in, so to speak, when it came to contributing creatively to the band. Am I off base?

"he was a good drummer, but a great Beatle" -John Lennon

Drum good he did, Beatle great he was.