Log In
Register
Read the original blog post
1.50pm
31 March 2008
Offline
Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 11 February 1963
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: 22 March 1963 (UK), 22 July 1963 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass, handclaps
John Lennon: backing vocals, rhythm guitar, handclaps
George Harrison: lead guitar, handclaps
Ringo Starr: drums, handclaps
Available on:
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!
11.22am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline I’ve decided that George playing the solo 45k different ways in the 44k performances of the song was the reason for Paul becoming fixated on the songs being replicated exactly when played live. I can see Paul thinking “what the hell!!!!” every time George started playing his guitar part as none are the same. I have zero evidence to back that up but it’s where I am settling.
It’s really good fun listening to the performances since there is always a difference.
The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:
Beatlebug, Von Bontee, lovelyritametermaid, sir walter raleigh, The Hole Got Fixed, WeepingAtlasCedars"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
12.22pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline
^That makes sense. I imagine Paul is someone who isn’t terribly keen on too much unpredictability when playing live.
The following people thank Beatlebug for this post:
QuarryMan([{BRACKETS!}])
New to Forumpool? You can introduce yourself here.
If you love The Beatles Bible, and you have adblock, don't forget to white-list this site! 
1.09pm
14 December 2009
Offline Indeed – the more variations, the better. With the exception of the rare solo where every note is perfect, like “Something ” or “Stairway to Heaven” or something, it’s unexciting to hear the same unvarying solo every time. (On the other hand, I DO get very annoyed when they leave it out entirely; same goes for the repeat of the bridge.)
That Paul could sing such a powerful vocal SIMULTANEOUSLY with playing a tricky bass part that bass-ically drives the whole song is 
The following people thank Von Bontee for this post:
Beatlebug, lovelyritametermaid, QuarryMan, The Hole Got Fixed, WeepingAtlasCedarsPaul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
1.24pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline Von Bontee said
Indeed – the more variations, the better. With the exception of the rare solo where every note is perfect, like “Something ” or “Stairway to Heaven” or something, it’s unexciting to hear the same unvarying solo every time. (On the other hand, I DO get very annoyed when they leave it out entirely; same goes for the repeat of the bridge.)
I don’t know, I even like to hear solos like those spiced up a little. Maybe I have a certain perspective because I, myself, am the type of guitarist to improvise at least half the time, but I really like to hear what can be done with incorporating the trademark licks of the recording into a more spontaneous performance with some interesting new licks.
Also Jimmy Page never played “Stairway” the same way twice 
That Paul could sing such a powerful vocal SIMULTANEOUSLY with playing a tricky bass part that bass-ically drives the whole song is
Respecccc
The following people thank Beatlebug for this post:
lovelyritametermaid, Von Bontee([{BRACKETS!}])
New to Forumpool? You can introduce yourself here.
If you love The Beatles Bible, and you have adblock, don't forget to white-list this site!
2.53pm
14 December 2009
Offline Beatlebug said
Von Bontee said
Indeed – the more variations, the better. With the exception of the rare solo where every note is perfect, like “Something ” or “Stairway to Heaven” or something, it’s unexciting to hear the same unvarying solo every time. (On the other hand, I DO get very annoyed when they leave it out entirely; same goes for the repeat of the bridge.)
I don’t know, I even like to hear solos like those spiced up a little. Maybe I have a certain perspective because I, myself, am the type of guitarist to improvise at least half the time, but I really like to hear what can be done with incorporating the trademark licks of the recording into a more spontaneous performance with some interesting new licks.
Also Jimmy Page never played “Stairway” the same way twice
Respecccc
What are you trying to do, Bebu, get me to eat my words?
Anyways, I said solos like “Stairway”. 
Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
3.39pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline Von Bontee said
What are you trying to do, Bebu, get me to eat my words?
Anyways, I said solos like “Stairway”.
No, I’m just arguing with you cuz I’m an argumentative mf. I was talking about solos like Stairway too.
The following people thank Beatlebug for this post:
Von Bontee([{BRACKETS!}])
New to Forumpool? You can introduce yourself here.
If you love The Beatles Bible, and you have adblock, don't forget to white-list this site!
5.03pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline I don’t think I’ve ever heard ‘Stairway To Heaven’ the whole way thru.
No harm changing things up when performing live. I cannot see why anyone would be sitting there watching the concert and getting pissed that a solo has been changed (unless it’s radical like performing it on a xylophone blindfold).
The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:
The Hole Got Fixed"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
5.15pm
26 January 2017
Offline I like George’s solo here, but I can’t help but feel that his playing just feels rather timid during this period – the same goes for his somewhat scuffed intro lick to Roll Over Beethoven later on the same year. The song is so punchy that I do wish George had played with a little more confidence.
The following people thank QuarryMan for this post:
BeatlebugI've been up on the mountain, and I've seen his wondrous grace,
I've sat there on the barstool and I've looked him in the face.
He seemed a little haggard, but it did not slow him down,
he was humming to the neon of the universal sound.
5.38pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline @QuarryMan said
I like George’s solo here, but I can’t help but feel that his playing just feels rather timid during this period – the same goes for his somewhat scuffed intro lick to Roll Over Beethoven later on the same year. The song is so punchy that I do wish George had played with a little more confidence.
I’ve always sort of vaguely felt that as well – and perhaps some of it has to do with the equipment/technology he was using at the time, as well. He was playing country guitars (Gretsches) on those dinky early 60’s amps in a rock n’ roll band, and it always struck me as a bit underwhelming, tone-wise. And if you think I’m spoiled by dousing my ears with copious amounts of Zeppelin, latter-day Gilmour, and Muse’s crazy guitar tones, well, you’re probably right, but I think there were contemporary acts that could occasionally manage spicier guitar sounds, such as the Beach Boys with their surfy guitars.
Later, when the Beatles got the Strats and the Epiphones, and the Beatles started experimenting more with guitar sounds (among other things), his lead lines really started to shine. Among his early solos, the ones that stick out are things like And I Love Her , where he was playing an acoustic guitar and it was a taste of clean, gently emotive, melodic solos to come (yes I know he was basically playing the vocal melody but still).
The following people thank Beatlebug for this post:
QuarryMan, Von Bontee([{BRACKETS!}])
New to Forumpool? You can introduce yourself here.
If you love The Beatles Bible, and you have adblock, don't forget to white-list this site!
5.59pm
26 January 2017
Offline Agreed, I think while obviously allowance has to be given for the time and equipment, I do feel that his tone and style could reasonably have been a little more aggressive. After all, you can find some pretty gnarly solos on 50s rock and roll recordings (‘Hound Dog’ comes to mind), and even just a year later The Kinks were going absolutely ham with their proto-punk riffs and manic solos.
The following people thank QuarryMan for this post:
The Hole Got Fixed, Beatlebug, Von BonteeI've been up on the mountain, and I've seen his wondrous grace,
I've sat there on the barstool and I've looked him in the face.
He seemed a little haggard, but it did not slow him down,
he was humming to the neon of the universal sound.
7.20pm
14 December 2009
Offline Beatlebug said
Von Bontee said
No, I’m just arguing with you cuz I’m an argumentative mf.
WELL I NEVER! Nobody would ever accuse me of such a thing! 
Full agreement on the too-tame guitar/amplifier sounds. But honestly, I put that decision down to George Martin and the EMI team, as well as the BBC engineers. Honestly, I suspect that distorted guitar sounds (like say, those little amps above…7?) weren’t a thing that Mr. Martin or his corporate overlords found acceptable or desirable, at least until the Kinks/Stones made it more widespread. The Hamburg tapes document a band with much more guitar roar than was documented at Abbey Road until about 1964ish. But I’m just guessing, really…
The following people thank Von Bontee for this post:
Beatlebug, QuarryManPaul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
10.40pm
14 June 2016
Offline meanmistermustard said
…[Paul] playing the solo 45k different ways in the 44k performances of the [Let It Be ]…
Here | There | Everywhere
It's ya boi! The one and only Billy Shears (AKA Paul's Replacement)
"Sometimes I wish I was just George Harrison" - John Lennon
11.26pm
14 June 2016
Offline This will be playing in my head if I can meet up with my (girl) friend when restrictions ease. “She wouldn’t dance with another, oooooooh, when I Saw Her Standing There .”
1.The Beatles 2.Sgt. Pepper 3.Abbey Road 4.Magical Mystery Tour 5.Rubber Soul 6.Revolver 7.Help! 8.Let It Be
9.A Hard Day’s Night 10.Please Please Me 11.Beatles For Sale 12.With The Beatles 13.Yellow Submarine
Most Avid John Fan 2020 and 2021: 
3.08am
26 January 2017
Offline Timothy said
This will be playing in my head if I can meet up with my (girl) friend when restrictions ease. “She wouldn’t dance with another, oooooooh, when I Saw Her Standing There .”
I’m in the same boat @Timothy
Here There And Everywhere is one that i’ve been thinking of a lot
The following people thank sir walter raleigh for this post:
Timothy"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
6.33am
26 January 2017
Offline On another note, I really wish this had been their first single. ‘Love Me Do ‘ is cool in that you can compare it to the later stuff and be like “awww, look how far they went in such a short time”, but ‘I Saw Her Standing There ‘ would be up there with the classic debut singles, like ‘Hey Joe’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’ (fun fact: in writing this post, I got distracted and listened to like 5 or 6 Jimi Hendrix songs before remembering why I was doing so)
The following people thank QuarryMan for this post:
BeatlebugI've been up on the mountain, and I've seen his wondrous grace,
I've sat there on the barstool and I've looked him in the face.
He seemed a little haggard, but it did not slow him down,
he was humming to the neon of the universal sound.
6.53am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline ‘Love Me Do ‘ was a great way to get their foot in the door so they could then batter the country door down with ‘PPM ‘, it was so different to anything else going about in the charts. Now everyone looks back almost 60 years later and misses that since they very quickly progressed. I don’t think tracks like ‘ISHST’ would have provided such a means to do so. It’s a great track but I don’t think the time was yet right.
The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:
Beatlebug"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
10.55pm
25 August 2020
Offline First song from the first album
what a phenomenal beginning! Please Please Me and Love Me Do were the 2 bigger hits from the album
but in my opinion this and There’s a Place were the 2 best songs, so full of pure energy..
9.48pm
4 September 2019
Offline meanmistermustard said
I’ve decided that George playing the solo 45k different ways in the 44k performances of the song was the reason for Paul becoming fixated on the songs being replicated exactly when played live. I can see Paul thinking “what the hell!!!!” every time George started playing his guitar part as none are the same.
George is a guitar player, and guitar players like to improvise. To them, that is a unique skill that presents a challenge and also keeps the songs fresh. I could see Paul not liking it though. We know Paul can and does improvise also, he is a musician after all. But it seems like once he reaches a point where a song has been hammered out, he likes to keep things set.
1.53am
24 June 2019
Offline forn said
meanmistermustard said
I’ve decided that George playing the solo 45k different ways in the 44k performances of the song was the reason for Paul becoming fixated on the songs being replicated exactly when played live. I can see Paul thinking “what the hell!!!!” every time George started playing his guitar part as none are the same.
George is a guitar player, and guitar players like to improvise. To them, that is a unique skill that presents a challenge and also keeps the songs fresh. I could see Paul not liking it though. We know Paul can and does improvise also, he is a musician after all. But it seems like once he reaches a point where a song has been hammered out, he likes to keep things set.
To me, part of the point of live music is to get something a little different and unique in the way the song is presented. Short of playing it backwards or upside down, the lead break is a good place to do that. I played lead in a band year’s ago and when things were really rocking, I was always inspired to not only change the lead break, but also extend it a few (thousand) bars.
Turn off your stream, relax and float down mind
1 Guest(s)