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1.15pm
12 April 2012
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On which songs did George play bass? I know that he played on Golden Slumbers /Carry That Weight , Maxwell’s Silver Hammer and I think he played bass on Helter Skelter . Anyway I think george was a much better bass player than george, his bass line on Maxwell’s Silver Hammer is really good. Do you know some songs on which george played bass?
Once there was a way to get back homewards. Once there was a way to get back home; sleep pretty darling do not cry. And I will sing a lullaby
1.34pm
19 September 2010
Offline Its John on Helter Skelter , for what it’s worth (no pun intended!).
Old Brown Shoe , GS/CTW, She Came In The Bathroom Window (I think – if Joe or anyone else overrules me, trust them), Maxwell. I think that’s it. He was okay… he played his basslines like guitar lines, which isn’t a terribly exciting bassline, IMO.
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
2.12pm
12 April 2012
Offline Oh, I meant Birthday not Helter Skelter
Once there was a way to get back homewards. Once there was a way to get back home; sleep pretty darling do not cry. And I will sing a lullaby
8.37pm
1 December 2009
Offline George played (unremarkably) on “She Said She Said ” too – it’s the sole every-Beatle-except-Paul track.
GEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty.
1.21am
4 December 2010
Offline GeorgeTSimpson said
Anyway I think george was a much better bass player than george,
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TheBeatlesJohn, Mr. Kite, Starr Shine?I told her I didn’t
2.03am
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Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline To add to the George-bass-Old-Brown-Shoe debate Winn has George on electric doubling with Pauls bass. I think its one of those which will be open for discussion and analysis for a long time.
As for the interview he gave, whilst George would know its not uncommon for a beatle to recall incorrectly, and George didnt remember he played bass on Golden Slumbers /Carry That Weight until after discussion (that footage is hilarious as George doesnt seem to be in the mindset for filming at times. One of the great things about Anthology is Paul taking it seriously and then cutting to George who obviously wasnt – at times).
Add it to the list of questions for Paul alongside who went “ahhhhh, ah aaaahh aaaahhhh…” on A Day In The Life . One day far into the future religions based upon the teachings of John, Paul, George and Ringo will split off into branches and wars will break out over these issues.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
8.32pm
1 December 2009
Offline The Walrus said
GeorgeTSimpson said
Anyway I think george was a much better bass player than george,
Nonsense, George wasn’t nearly as good as George.
The following people thank vonbontee for this post:
TheBeatlesJohn, Mr. Kite, Starr Shine?GEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty.
2.58pm
10 August 2011
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I agree with vonbontee on this one.
If memory serves, George can be seen playing bass on “Two of Us” in the Let It Be movie.
But I don’t know that it’s George playing on the album version.
"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)
4.53pm
12 April 2012
Offline Sorry but you really think John was a good bass player. Listen to The Long And Winding Road and then say it again. He was terrible on bass. George didn’t do mistakes and did much better basslines. And the bass line on Maxwell is really good and that’s definitely george (listen to the anthology version).
Once there was a way to get back homewards. Once there was a way to get back home; sleep pretty darling do not cry. And I will sing a lullaby
6.06pm
18 December 2011
Offline – She Said She Said (I’ve read it somewhere, Paul was not avaiable at the time they recorded it. wonder which bass he used)
– Two of Us (and it’s not even a real bass line, George playing bass notes on his guitar staying at the low notes so it’s functional as both bass and lead guitar, I think he did as well on “Maggie Mae “)
– Old Brown Shoe (I’ve read it was George, other pages it was Paul, not really sure though)
– Back in the U.S.S.R. (if there are two bass tracks on this one, the other being recorded by John which is anyway the main part)
– Hey Jude
– Birthday
John:
– Back in the U.S.S.R.
Paul:
– all songs before (if not “She Said She Said “) the release of “The White Album “.
– Polythene Pam /She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
– You Never Give Me Your Money /Sun King /Mean Mr. Mustard
– The End
– While My Guitar Gently Weeps
– Because
– and the rest I haven’t mentioned here
"Real music is made by real people playing real instruments using own creativity and skills."
6.41pm
3 May 2012
Offline GeorgeTSimpson said Oh, I meant Birthday not Helter Skelter
Paul plays bass on Birthday too
Moving along in our God given ways, safety is sat by the fire/Sanctuary from these feverish smiles, left with a mark on the door.
(Passover - I. Curtis)
9.52pm
23 January 2011
Offline GeorgeTSimpson said
Sorry but you really think John was a good bass player. Listen to The Long And Winding Road and then say it again. He was terrible on bass. George didn’t do mistakes and did much better basslines. And the bass line on Maxwell is really good and that’s definitely george (listen to the anthology version).
I second this. However, I love John’s bass playing on Helter Skelter . I think, as George Martin once said, John did a piss poor job on The Long And Winding Road and (I think) Let it Be out of spite and laziness. He just didn’t care enough to try that hard anymore.
"You can manicure a cat but can you caticure a man?"
John Lennon- Skywriting by Word of Mouth
7.43pm
12 April 2012
Offline Fabfouremily, are you sure, because wikipedia and i think also ian macdonald say that george played on birthday (of course it’s possible they’re wrong but lewissohn doesn’t say who plays on birthday, at least no in chronicle so I believed in wikipedia)
Once there was a way to get back homewards. Once there was a way to get back home; sleep pretty darling do not cry. And I will sing a lullaby
7.29am
3 May 2012
Offline GeorgeTSimpson said
Fabfouremily, are you sure, because wikipedia and i think also ian macdonald say that george played on birthday (of course it’s possible they’re wrong but lewissohn doesn’t say who plays on birthday, at least no in chronicle so I believed in wikipedia)
It says on this very site that it was Paul, but it may be wrong.
Moving along in our God given ways, safety is sat by the fire/Sanctuary from these feverish smiles, left with a mark on the door.
(Passover - I. Curtis)
9.42am
26 March 2012
Offline It’s one of those Beatle mysteries- who bassed on Birthday ? With the conflicting sources I guess we’ll never know. As an experienced bass player myself, though, I’d say the playing is more McCartney-style.
SHUT UP - Paulie's talkin'
9.10pm
12 April 2012
Offline Oh I wrote george was better than george, I didn’t notice that. And vonbontee said george wasn’t nearly as good as george 
, but I read not nearly as good as john (my mistake)
Anyway, which bass did George use? John used the Fender Bass VI I think, but I read that george played a fender jazz bass on maxwell, Golden Slumbers and Carry That Weight although the beatles rockband video shows him playing a fender bass VI and he also played that fender bass VI on the Hey Jude promo video and Maxwell’s Silver Hammer during the twickenham sessions. Does anayone know which bass george played on which song
Once there was a way to get back homewards. Once there was a way to get back home; sleep pretty darling do not cry. And I will sing a lullaby
4.42pm
3 March 2012
Offline fabfouremily said
GeorgeTSimpson said
Fabfouremily, are you sure, because wikipedia and i think also ian macdonald say that george played on birthday (of course it’s possible they’re wrong but lewissohn doesn’t say who plays on birthday, at least no in chronicle so I believed in wikipedia)
It says on this very site that it was Paul, but it may be wrong.
It has been confirmed that it’s Paul here: https://www.beatlesbible.com/f…..let-it-be/
A square is not a square when the sides are less than four...
4.45pm
3 March 2012
Offline …ontherun said
fabfouremily said
GeorgeTSimpson said
Fabfouremily, are you sure, because wikipedia and i think also ian macdonald say that george played on birthday (of course it’s possible they’re wrong but lewissohn doesn’t say who plays on birthday, at least no in chronicle so I believed in wikipedia)
It says on this very site that it was Paul, but it may be wrong.
It has just been re-confirmed that it’s Paul here: https://www.beatlesbible.com/f…..let-it-be/
A square is not a square when the sides are less than four...
5.49pm
25 September 2012
Offline GeorgeTSimpson said
Oh I wrote george was better than george, I didn’t notice that. And vonbontee said george wasn’t nearly as good as george, but I read not nearly as good as john (my mistake)
Anyway, which bass did George use? John used the Fender Bass VI I think, but I read that george played a fender jazz bass on maxwell, Golden Slumbers and Carry That Weight although the beatles rockband video shows him playing a fender bass VI and he also played that fender bass VI on the Hey Jude promo video and Maxwell’s Silver Hammer during the twickenham sessions. Does anayone know which bass george played on which song
, but I read not nearly as good as john (my mistake)I was always under the impression that every bass track played by anyone but Paul was on the Fender Bass VI. I think I remember reading somewhere that they like it because it was pretty much a guitar with real low gauge strings on it, and that was comfortable for them. Plus listen to the bass on “Old Brown Shoe “, if that Bass VI played like a guitar then it is very believable because those lines are incredibly fast in my mind. I am not much of a Bass player, and when I try “Old Brown Shoe ” on a Fender Jazz, my hands get tied into knots. Also, if George did play Bass on “Birthday ” (I know its up for debate), then in my mind he played it on the Jazz VI as well out of ease to play.
However I believe when Fender sent all those amps and instruments to The Beatles, they did send a right handed Jazz Bass, so maybe he played that during Abbey Road ?
12.50am
25 August 2012
Offline Ben Ramon said
It’s one of those Beatle mysteries- who bassed on Birthday ? With the conflicting sources I guess we’ll never know. As an experienced bass player myself, though, I’d say the playing is more McCartney-style.
Funny, I always thought the bass line of “Birthday ” had a very lumpy sound to it, i.e. not really typical of Paul’s playing. Let’s also not forget that in The Beatles: Rock Band George is shown playing the Fender VI in that song while Paul plays his Epiphone electric as well as the piano.
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