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11.08am
29 July 2013
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There’s a quote in “Revolution In The Head” what Lennon was once asked George Martin make his voice sound like an orange – but the quote is unsourced. Does anyone know where this comes from? I haven’t seen it in any Beatles books I’ve read. George Martin’s book “All You Need Is Ears” perhaps?
2.05pm
8 November 2012
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17 December 2012
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I seem to remember it being from a documentary, perhaps Granada’s It Was 20 Years Ago Today… programme about the recording of Sgt. Pepper on its 20th anniversary. However, I do not remember it being specifically about John’s voice. Martin was explaining the difference between John and Paul when it came to recording their songs, and how Paul would always have very specific ideas about what he wanted when he arrived at the studio, whereas John was more abstract in his thoughts, and at one time (my head is telling me he was talking about Lucy, but don’t quote me) John arrived at the studio, played his new song, and said he wanted it to sound orange, he then continued to say John’s instruction for Mr. Kite had been that he wanted to smell the sawdust.
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The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
2.27pm
8 November 2012
Offline ^^ Thanks, mja. I wonder if that was one of those moments where John was just messing with him and George wanted to say, “I’m done here,” and walk out. :->
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4.25pm
16 September 2013
Offline mja6758 said
… John arrived at the studio, played his new song, and said he wanted it to sound orange, he then continued to say John’s instruction for Mr. Kite had been that he wanted to smell the sawdust.
I vaguely recalled reading this somewhere, too. So, I looked on the internet, and found George Martin’s quote in this article: http://www.soundonsound.com/so…..eatles.htm Martin talks about John wanting “orange sounds.” So, I wonder if he wanted to sound like the color orange, or more like the fruit. As in, “make my voice more… citrus-y.” Or “pulpy.” He did manage to sound rather “juicy and sweet, with the seeds on the outside” singing “Strawberry Fields Forever .”
5.38pm
14 December 2009
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Read the thread title and assumed that some writer had actually described John’s singing voice as “like an orange”, which now that I think of it, is quite a nice evocative comparison. A little sweet, a little tart, acidic and grainy…maybe more like sweetened grapefruit juice, but certainly something citrusy.
Paul’s voice is more smooth, sweet and creamy…like some kind of milky liqueur. And I’m not sure that George’s timbre evokes any kind of drink that I can identify. Maybe some kind of bitter red wine, or even blueberry wine (which I have never tasted. But I can imagine it.)
Somebody should come up with some kind of Beatles cocktail, try to capture those 3-part harmonies in a glass!
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9.35pm
16 September 2013
Offline Von Bontee said
Somebody should come up with some kind of Beatles cocktail, try to capture those 3-part harmonies in a glass!
Now you’ve got me thinking about Beatles’ song titles that sound like trendy drinks; like… “Bartender, make me a Glass Onion .” Or, “Mix me a Maxwell’s Silver Hammer …”
If John Lennon asked George Martin to make him sound “orange,” then I can picture George Harrison wanting to sound like “Creme tangerine and Montelimar.” * (Something tells me that George Martin indulged John‘s creative whims, but he would have no patience if George Harrison requested that.)
* http://www.nougat-gerbe-d-or.f…..orique.htm Hey, after all these years, I never knew Montelimar was nougat. I just learned something here, and it is an obscure, mildly interesting Beatles trivia: Hmm, Montelimar… sweet!
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17 December 2012
Offline Bungalow Bob said
mja6758 said
… John arrived at the studio, played his new song, and said he wanted it to sound orange, he then continued to say John’s instruction for Mr. Kite had been that he wanted to smell the sawdust.I vaguely recalled reading this somewhere, too. So, I looked on the internet, and found George Martin’s quote in this article: http://www.soundonsound.com/so…..eatles.htm
It’s a similar quote that refers to the same incidents. It’s not the same quote though. Your quote dates to 2006, and the promotion of the “Love” album. It can’t be the source quote for Revolution in the Head, because that was published 12 years earlier. A good find however, as it shows it became a stock story for Martin, and the reason it may not be credited to a source in the book, is that Martin used it many times.
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The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
12.26am
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20 August 2013
Offline Bungalow Bob said
Von Bontee said
Somebody should come up with some kind of Beatles cocktail, try to capture those 3-part harmonies in a glass!
Now you’ve got me thinking about Beatles’ song titles that sound like trendy drinks; like… “Bartender, make me a Glass Onion .” Or, “Mix me a Maxwell’s Silver Hammer …”
[snip]
Whatever we call it, the drink should have Triple Sec in it.
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12.44am
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1 May 2011
Offline Ahhh Girl said
Bungalow Bob said
Von Bontee said
Somebody should come up with some kind of Beatles cocktail, try to capture those 3-part harmonies in a glass!
Now you’ve got me thinking about Beatles’ song titles that sound like trendy drinks; like… “Bartender, make me a Glass Onion .” Or, “Mix me a Maxwell’s Silver Hammer …”
[snip]
Whatever we call it, the drink should have Triple Sec in it.
What is Triple Sec?
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
12.46am
16 September 2013
Offline meanmistermustard said
Ahhh Girl said
Bungalow Bob said
Von Bontee said
Somebody should come up with some kind of Beatles cocktail, try to capture those 3-part harmonies in a glass!
Now you’ve got me thinking about Beatles’ song titles that sound like trendy drinks; like… “Bartender, make me a Glass Onion .” Or, “Mix me a Maxwell’s Silver Hammer …”
[snip]
Whatever we call it, the drink should have Triple Sec in it.
What is Triple Sec?
Triple sec is an orange-flavored liqueur, which would suit John’s voice. But then I also imagine that this Beatles cocktail should be stinking of gin, too. 
1.08am
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1 May 2011
Offline Bungalow Bob said
meanmistermustard said
Ahhh Girl said
Bungalow Bob said
Von Bontee said
Somebody should come up with some kind of Beatles cocktail, try to capture those 3-part harmonies in a glass!
Now you’ve got me thinking about Beatles’ song titles that sound like trendy drinks; like… “Bartender, make me a Glass Onion .” Or, “Mix me a Maxwell’s Silver Hammer …”
[snip]
Whatever we call it, the drink should have Triple Sec in it.
What is Triple Sec?
Triple sec is an orange-flavored liqueur, which would suit John’s voice. But then I also imagine that this Beatles cocktail should be stinking of gin, too.
Not shminking tho as that would do them in in the end and we don’t want that. Drink responsibly people.
This is sweet
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
1.21am
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20 August 2013
Offline meanmistermustard said
Bungalow Bob said
meanmistermustard said
Ahhh Girl said
Bungalow Bob said
Von Bontee said
Somebody should come up with some kind of Beatles cocktail, try to capture those 3-part harmonies in a glass!
Now you’ve got me thinking about Beatles’ song titles that sound like trendy drinks; like… “Bartender, make me a Glass Onion .” Or, “Mix me a Maxwell’s Silver Hammer …”
[snip]
Whatever we call it, the drink should have Triple Sec in it.
What is Triple Sec?
Triple sec is an orange-flavored liqueur, which would suit John’s voice. But then I also imagine that this Beatles cocktail should be stinking of gin, too.
Not shminking tho as that would do them in in the end and we don’t want that. Drink responsibly people.
This is sweet
And “Triple” in triple sec is for 3-part harmony.
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3.12am
24 April 2013
Offline mja6758 said
he then continued to say John’s instruction for Mr. Kite had been that he wanted to smell the sawdust.
I can definitely smell the sawdust in that song! Well done, George!
4.59am
1 November 2012
Offline meanmistermustard said
Not shminking tho as that would do them in in the end and we don’t want that. Drink responsibly people.
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6.14am
16 September 2013
Offline Ahhh Girl said
Whatever we call it, the drink should have Triple Sec in it.OK, so John Lennon wanted to sound “orange,” so we know the Beatles’ special drink will have orange-flavored triple sec in it. So a possible name for this cocktail might be… “Triple sec-sy Sadie.” And it must be a strong drink, because it “made a fool of everyone.”
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Ahhh Girl1.04pm
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20 August 2013
Offline Ooooo, we’re good, aren’t we? Great contributions, y’all.
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4.40pm
21 November 2012
Offline I thought he wasn’t talking about his voice, but rather about the song as a whole. I don’t know.
After reading this thread I could really do with a glass of wine.
5.04pm
16 September 2013
Offline Linde said
After reading this thread I could really do with a glass of wine.
Linde, in keeping with the spirit of this thread, may I suggest a chilled glass of Charonge orange-flavored wine?
Up until this moment, I had no idea that orange-flavored wine even existed. After a few glasses, your voice will probably sound at least a little orange.
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