Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I dont know if there is a greater into than Paul banging on that piano. Gives me goosebumps every time. It really sets the tone of the whole song.

Come to think about it, isnt it amazing how the Beatles actually live up to the hype?

Help me out with this acronym...

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

If I'm not mistaken, it was John who did that originally...Paul only in the Concert for George. What a great performance by both Eric and Paul IMHO except that Paul struggled with the lyrics the whole way through

As for the original recording, my understanding is that John showed up late to the studio that day in 68 and said "ok, guys, what are we doing," and then he sat down and banged out that little intro on the ivories.

I had always thought John played organ on the song, while Paul played piano. No clue who played bass on this one, it really could have been any of 'em.

Rumbush - I thought that story was about O Bla Di O Bla Da.

Yes, the story about John on the piano is for Ob-La-Di, Ob-La Da.

Jon

According to Lewisohn's book, Paul played the Hammond and the piano on the song. John originally did it but a re-make was done with Paul on the keyboards, which is the 'take' that appears on the album.

The idea for the fast piano opening on Ob-La-di was John's, in frustration that the already despised song was becoming a real chore to record. Besides Paul, none of others liked the song. At the time it was a slow number. John was fed up and started banging the chords, the others liked it, and the tempo changed from that point on.

"Besides Paul, none of [the] others liked the song."

Why, oh why am I not surprised? It's a portent of his then-future work!

When did Clapton do his thing for WMGGW? Was he in the studio with the Fabs or did he do his track separately?

In an interview George gave about it after the fact many years later, he said something to the effect that he had tried to do the song previously and the others weren't really interested, so he brought Clapton in to play lead guitar on it and the others were "good as gold" and played the song well. So I would guess that Clapton did it live myself, although I remember the interview goes on to say that Clapton thought the guitar track was too simple so they put it through some effect that wobbled to notes or something like that. Its been awhile since I read it and don't remember where, but that was the gist of it.

I read an interview with George from 1992 that said Paul came up with and played the galloping piano intro

The way I understand it is the rest of the fabs were there and on their best behavior. And to make it sound a bit more "George-y", they did the wobbley thing, I don't know whether to cover the Clapton-y sound or just to fit with the overall sound of the LP. It sure is a wonderful solo. Sounds very Clapton-y to me.