Log In
Register
3.10pm
27 December 2018
Offline
Hi everyone,
This is my 1st (of hopefully many more) posts, I’m really looking forward to geeking out on here with you all about The Beatles 🙂
Anyway, I have a question regarding John’s usage of his harmonica in the live setting if anyone might be able to help me out please? Specifically, whenever the band used to play I Should Have Known Better live. I’m aware that the band only played this song on their UK tour in 1964 and that there’s no audio existence of them playing it from any of the dates (to my knowledge 🙁 ). However, I have heard a “live” version on YouTube which I believe is from a BBC session of some kind? Apologies if I’m wrong here. On this version, John doesn’t play the famous harmonica lead on it at all, I assumed that this was probably the case for all the live versions of the song.
Then I saw this the picture attached which seems to show John with a harmonica neck brace.
I know that he used this in live versions of I’m A Loser , but is it possible that he also used it in live versions of I Should Have Known Better ?
Thanks everyone,
Craig
The following people thank ScouseWalrus for this post:
TheWalrusWasBrian9.37pm
15 November 2018
Offline Hi @ScouseWalrus ! That’s an interesting question. Sadly I don’t know the answer, but I would be interested to find out if anyone else does…
Welcome to the forum! 
The following people thank 50yearslate for this post:
ScouseWalrusLove one another.
- - -
(I'm Fiddy, not Walrian)
- - -
2018:
2019: 
2020:
10.36pm
18 December 2017
Offline
@ScouseWalrus hi, there! I’m interested to see what this answer will turn out to be, that’s a real good question! anyroad, welcome to forumpool! 
The following people thank TheWalrusWasBrian for this post:
ScouseWalrus
|
| I don’t know how to put it here. hello for the love of god hello
~~~
The Concert for Bageldesh
~~~
Walrian here! Not Fiddy, or anyone else, actually.
2.08am
27 December 2018
Offline Thank you both for the warm welcome 🙂 I was going to put a longer introduction post in an appropriate area but I couldn’t seem to locate one.
I think I may have located part of the answer by doing a bit of research on John’s red Rickenbacker in the photo. Apparently this model was only used for about a month from December 1964 which would place it slightly after the time period that I Should Have Known Better was played live. I guess my last hope would be an answer from someone that attended one of those golden shows from November 1964 who has a superb memory 🙂 I wonder how we definitely know that it was played live at all? (Presumably it’s showing in a setlist/diary or something)
I always find it fascinating that there is zero audio or footage from this tour given how huge the band were at that time.
The following people thank ScouseWalrus for this post:
sir walter raleigh3.27am
Moderators
27 November 2016
Offline Welcome @ScouseWalrus
Unfortunately I have no answer to your question (it’s a good one worth geeking out over), but this is the thread if you want to properly introduce yourself: https://www.beatlesbible.com/f…../page-204/
See you around!
The following people thank The Hole Got Fixed for this post:
ScouseWalrus#AppleHoley2024: Make America Great For The First Time
2016 awards: 
2017 awards: 
2018 awards:
2019 awards: 
2020 awards:
2021 awards:
6.08am
26 January 2017
Offline Was this the version you’re referring to, @ScouseWalrus ?
The video seems to be part A Hard Day’s Night and part various other clips but the audio seems to be a BBC session, and there is definitely the harmonica line there. Bizarrely, it seems to be playing under John’s vocals the whole time, so maybe either someone else played it or his vocals were overdubbed. Unfortunately the video description doesn’t offer any clues 
Anyway, a very warm welcome to Forumpool
The following people thank QuarryMan for this post:
ScouseWalrusI'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.
12.28pm
12 December 2018
Offline I’m not sure, @ScouseWalrus, but I’m glad you’re here! I haven’t got the chance to welcome anyone until now, I’m quite new here myself.
The following people thank silverhammerYT for this post:
ScouseWalrusReporter: Beethoven figures in one of your songs. What do you think of Beethoven?
Ringo Starr: He’s great. Especially his poetry.
4.21pm
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Offline 
Unless a recording from the UK tour turns up (only three recordings are in general circulation from that tour — Twist And Shout and I’m Happy Just To Dance With You from the ABC in Hull on 16 October and T&S from the ABC in Plymouth on 29 October — and none lasts longer than a minute) it’s impossible to know how much he used the harmonica.
It would certainly have to have been rearranged as the harmonica was overdubbed on both record and its one BBC appearance (for the fourth From Us to You, recorded on 17 July and broadcast on 3 August 1964). We know this because a false start and undubbed recording survive from that BBC session, on the broadcast overdubbed version John added harmonica and double-tracked the vocal.
The song was also included during their 16 July (recorded 14 July) appearance on Top Gear, however that broadcast used the record while doing nothing to avoid the impression that it was a BBC version recorded alongside the songs they recorded on 14 (though George M’s piano was also “flown-in” from the record on A Hard Day’s Night ).
Myself, I think there is too much overlap between the vocal and harmonica live for the harmonica not to be largely or wholly dropped.
The following people thank Ron Nasty for this post:
TheWalrusWasBrian, Richard, silverhammerYT, ScouseWalrus"I only said we were bigger than Rod... and now there's all this!" Ron Nasty
To @ Ron Nasty it's @ mja6758
The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
6.48pm
27 December 2018
Offline3.35pm
26 January 2017
Offline Myself, I think there is too much overlap between the vocal and harmonica live for the harmonica not to be largely or wholly dropped.
I agree, the first line of the harmonica leads directly into the vocal melody, not really giving time to transition. I wonder how they did it on the studio version.
I'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.
3.38pm
26 January 2017
Offline ScouseWalrus said
Thanks Ron, I’m in agreement regarding the harmonic and vocal overlap.Quarryman, this is the version I was referring to:
The description says “demo” but all the comments for the video seem to indicate it’s the rehearsal outtake from the BBC (as Ron kindly pointed out).
Wow, that audio really is something! Obviously that’s not what they sounded like, but the recording quality makes for a really cool effect, kinda My Bloody Valentine sounding… If you go to 1:10 in this video you’ll see what I mean.
Sorry, I’ve gone way off topic. I’ll give it a proper listen and get back to you.
I'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.
3.41pm
15 November 2018
Offline QuarryMan said
Myself, I think there is too much overlap between the vocal and harmonica live for the harmonica not to be largely or wholly dropped.
I agree, the first line of the harmonica leads directly into the vocal melody, not really giving time to transition. I wonder how they did it on the studio version.
There’s an outtake drifting around YouTube in which John says something along the lines of “I can’t breathe after the mouth organ bit, can we skip the mouth organ?” which makes me think that maybe it’s overdubbed or the harmonica is played on the double tracking or something along those lines.
The following people thank 50yearslate for this post:
QuarryManLove one another.
- - -
(I'm Fiddy, not Walrian)
- - -
2018: 2019: 2020:
3.53pm
Moderators
Members
Reviewers
20 August 2013
Offline 
In his main site page for the song, Joe talks about the harmonica part being added.
The following people thank Ahhh Girl for this post:
50yearslate, ScouseWalrusCan buy Joe love! Amazon | iTunes
Check here for "how do I do this" guide to the forum. 
(2017) 
(2018)
3.41am
27 December 2018
Offline I see what you mean regarding the MBV sound Quarryman, it’s almost murky in sound due to the quality. What really strikes me about it though is John’s vocal, it’s clear as a bell and is so perfectly executed.
Judging by the fact that the harmonica was omitted from the likes of Please Please Me when played live I would imagine that the same happened for when they chose to play I Should Have Known Better on that 1964 tour. As alluded to above, it’s tough enough to sing as it is without the mouth organ bits 
However, I guess we’ll never know. Who has a spare time machine lying around? Haha.
The following people thank ScouseWalrus for this post:
QuarryMan9.41am
Moderators
Members
Reviewers
20 August 2013
Offline ScouseWalrus said
However, I guess we’ll never know. Who has a spare time machine lying around? Haha.
Off-topic, but fun anyway.
https://www.beatlesbible.com/f…..e-beatles/
https://www.beatlesbible.com/f…..h-2-years/
Hope some new folks will contribute replies to those threads.
The following people thank Ahhh Girl for this post:
ScouseWalrusCan buy Joe love! Amazon | iTunes
Check here for "how do I do this" guide to the forum. (2017) (2018)
1 Guest(s)