Log In
Register
Read the original blog post
12.22pm
20 January 2012
Offline
From Wikipedia :
“Good Night ” is the final song by The Beatles on their 1968 album The Beatles (also known as The White Album ). It is sung by Ringo Starr, the only Beatle to appear on the song. The music is provided by an orchestra arranged and conducted by George Martin.
Forgive my ignorance , Why Ringo was the only one ?
and :
Starr became the third member of the group (after Paul McCartney and George Harrison) to record a song credited to the group without the other members performing (Lennon was the fourth with Julia).
What was McCartney’s song ? Yesterday ?
and what was George’s song ?
...They've forgotten all about God
He's the only reason we exist...
12.32pm
31 March 2008
Offline
Yes, it was Yesterday . No other Beatles appeared on Within You Without You .
Can buy me love! Please consider supporting the Beatles Bible on Amazon
Or buy my paperback/ebook! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs
Don't miss The Bowie Bible – now live!
12.39pm
20 January 2012
Offline Thank you Joe , but still I don't know …
Why Ringo was the only one ?
...They've forgotten all about God
He's the only reason we exist...
1.04pm
31 March 2008
Offline If I remember correctly, John Lennon played piano on the original version, but they took it off. The reason why is the same as any creative decision – they thought it was better that way. I'm sure if they thought it could have been improved by other Beatles being on it they would have added something.
Can buy me love! Please consider supporting the Beatles Bible on Amazon
Or buy my paperback/ebook! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs
Don't miss The Bowie Bible – now live!
10.59pm
1 May 2010
Offline
I wish I could listen to that version. Ringo says it was very sweet…. 
Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……
Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…
Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.
Beware of Darkness…
11.23pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline 
Was part of that on Anthology 3 , the rehearsal section?
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
11.33pm
1 May 2010
Offline Is it?
Damn I need to listen my Anthology CDs more often. 
Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……
Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…
Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.
Beware of Darkness…
11.35pm
19 September 2010
Offline It was never more then John playing it for Ringo. Johns on Piano on Anthology 3 , but not singing.
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
12.41am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline Would love to hear John singing the song, if such a thing exists (Pauls unsure). Theres also a recording of the song with just Ringo singing and John on guitar. Apple should open up the vaults so they can be heard. Just think whats in there.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
1.58am
1 May 2010
Offline I knew I had read somewhere that there was no recording of that… I think Ringo said it. Thanks guys. 
Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……
Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…
Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.
Beware of Darkness…
11.04pm
10 April 2011
Offline So the version with John on Piano IS on Anthology 3 ?
"Hoop? That isn't a hoop, It's a lethal weapon, have you got a license for it?" -Ringo
(By the way, just call me Jojo)
1.30am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline Yip. Not complete tho as the orchestra comes in towards the end.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
1.11am
10 April 2011
Offline Oh okay, Thanks! 
"Hoop? That isn't a hoop, It's a lethal weapon, have you got a license for it?" -Ringo
(By the way, just call me Jojo)
12.44pm
22 March 2019
Offline I just read an interesting “rumor” online that suggests John was going to sing the song for the album – but as he sung his version made everybody in the studio/control cry – so John decided to give the song to Ringo to sing since he could give it much more gentle and resassuring voice. Thoughts? I’m thinking it sounds plausable but I also think John may have had Ringo in mind for the song all along.
2.15pm
11 September 2018
Offline The song was certainly written by John for his then four/five year old, son Julian (curiously ‘Beautiful Boy’ was written when Sean was roughly the same age). He would have either had to record a demo at home or play it for the rest of the Beatles in the studio. Either way, he certainly would’ve performed it for an audience at least once. Whether this performance was enough to make everyone in the studio cry is difficult to say, though Geoff Emerick was certainly a fan of Lennon’s performance. From what I’ve read however, Lennon always intended for Ringo to sing the song though.
3.18pm
9 March 2017
Offline Here are some photos of John instructing the orchestra that i think would interest you @Tony Japanese
If you're reading this, you are looking for something to do.
7.43pm
17 October 2013
Offline I can hear as Ian MacDonald suggests ‘True love’ (Bing Crosby in that boat with the gorgeous Grace Kelly)…But whatever it definitely shows John’s tender side.No wonder he gave it away.
Apparently the guitar demo he did for Ringo to take home and learn is lost……..Pity.
Have to admit I used to pick up the stylus when Rev 9 began and rarely played either as a kid. I always though their juxtaposition was intended. Over-the-top for want of a better word ‘innovation’ and GM’s orchestration dripping in syrup…..I couldn’t handle either.
A stripped down John acoustic would have been a different…very different matter for me.
I don’t believe Ringo has ever added this one to his live act……Perhaps he could try a stripped back approach himself, after all his repertoire isn’t all that extensive.
Maybe he scared he’d send his audience ‘off up the wooden hills to bedfordshire’
12.46am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline The takes on the 50th Deluxe ‘White Album ‘ are much more inviting recordings and some very sensible fan (Lord Reith) put together a mix where John, Paul and George are harmonizing with Ringo on take 22. The commercial version is far too much with the orchestra drenched on top along with the backing singers.
What’s more irritating tho is just how utterly pointless the ‘Anthology’ creation is. Another instance of George Martin getting it horribly wrong in giving us a new fake creation as would it have terrible to get the complete take 22 instead of a Frankenstein.
The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:
lovelyritametermaid"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
6.46pm
25 February 2020
Offline Big fan of this song which samples Good Night
The following people thank Vera Chuck and Dave for this post:
lovelyritametermaid10.18pm
4 September 2019
Offline meanmistermustard said
The takes on the 50th Deluxe ‘White Album ‘ are much more inviting recordings and some very sensible fan (Lord Reith) put together a mix where John, Paul and George are harmonizing with Ringo on take 22.
I love that version with the other Beatles harmonizing. I can’t for anything figure out why they didn’t stick with that for the final version. Didn’t have to use that take necessarily, but they should have kept the harmony.
1 Guest(s)